Horizon Elite T7 treadmill vs Versaclimber LX
This is a comparison between the Horizon Elite T7 and Versaclimber LX including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get. Follow the links for more details.
You can get the most up to date content and ask direct questions on my Instagram Account.
Versa climber LX Model
The VresaClimber LX comesa in at $3995 - $4200. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".
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Overview of the VersaClimber LX
The
VersaClimber range has been on the market for more than four decades. The
LX model is one of their mid-range options which sits between the SM and H models from a budget perspective. The machine is hand welded and has the following specifications:
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Weight 150lb
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Height 7’ 10’’
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Footprint 48’’x48’’
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Color black
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Climb angle 75 degrees
The VersClimber LX comes with a computer and fully assembled to stand upright in your home gym or professional facility. For $200 you can upgrade the handles for more options.
VersaClimber recommends this option for anyone taller than 6’ 3’’. For an extra $100 it comes with a branded floor mat to protect your floors from scratches and sweat.
The
VersaClimber range is a great alternative to treadmills, bikes, and towers. It offers some of the highest intensity cardiovascular workouts on the smallest possible footprint with minimum impact on the joints. Everyone who ever used this hates it. This is usually a good reference when it comes to workout machines.
Pros of the VersaClimber LX
These are the pros of the
VersaClimber LX series compared to other options you might consider:
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Small footprint
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High intensity
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Adjustable resistance
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Unfamiliar workout
Compared to most treadmills and elliptical machines you will be able to fit a lot more
VersaClimbers into your facility. When it comes to calories burned per square foot the
VersaClimber is very hard to beat. The LX offers a commercial grade machine for a lower cost than the SM model.
The
Versaclimber itself offers you and your athlete a great opportunity to power yourselves out. If the weather is bad or if you want to throw them a curve ball, this is the machine. Many climbers use this is a morning routine and climbers are usually quite good when it comes to endurance. Loss of grip means death for them so they won’t mess about with the equipment they pick.
This machine can adjust the resistance from 1-500 lb which makes it better than older models from
VersaClimber.
If you are planning on establishing the best gym in town you will be able to offer extra diversity with this machine. Especially in Europe, I have not seen many of these around which might swing some reliable clients your way instead of to the gym around the corner.
Cons of the VersaClimber LX
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Not specific
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Not for beginners
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Old computer
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Price
Most people compete in sports to which a vertical climb is irrelevant. Treadmill and cycling training is more relevant to the movement patterns for long distance runners and endurance athletes. If it is not just about burning calories but also improving technique on relevant movements the
VersaClimber might not be the right choice.
As this workout is super intense it might not be for beginners. If you have a lot of beginners in your gym you might want some alternatives for people who just walked through the door. Throwing something completely frustrating at your beginners will drive them away. You have to give them some small successes and build from there. Only very few of your clients will be like “yes another machine I can kill myself on”.
The computer unit on the LX is a bit outdated. The SM has a better one as this is the most recent update to the line. Personally, I think this does not matter that much. Most of the programs are not used anyway.
The price is a big con to the
Versaclimber LX. The H version comes in for $1000 less but has no commercial use warranty. The SM costs $1000 more. What I would really consider when I built my own gym is what else I could do for $4000. For two
VersaClimbers I can get a ten pack of concept 2 bikes to run spinning classes. For a home gym, I can get a rack fully equipped with barbell and plates.
Alternatives to the VersaClimber LX
The
Versaclimber SM leaves you with more freedom around the machine as less material of better quality is used to build the frame for the
VersaClimber. It also has a better computer and warranty. When you are in the market to buy a lot of these for commercial use, make very sure you understand the differences of the warranty and service differences between the
LX and
SM.
If you are considering a
VersaClimber for your home base go with the
H option. It will save you a lot of money and still give you the benefits. Unless money does it really make a difference (for example if you are outfitting a house that costs 10 million I personally would not be picky between a 2000 and 5000 dollar option for the home gym and just get the best of everything).
If you are not looking at the
VersaClimber for home use but for a professional setup be very mindful whether it is your first purchase. The Rogue Echo bikes are of high quality, only cost a fraction and deliver a great, challenging workout which is different from treadmills and ellipticals. This might be a better option for a bulk purchase.
Summary for the VersaClimber LX
The
Versaclimber LX is a great option but suffers the pros and cons of most middle of the range of products. Unless you very specifically want this one it is better to go with the best or lowest budget option form the portfolio. Same goes here for the
LX. I went for the H and I am happy. For a commercial gym, I would have gone for the SM and tried to argue with the bank for a loan extension pointing to the good warranty (basically you buy 2 for 1 if one breaks you get it replaced unless you threw rocks at It). Talk to other gym owners who wanted to make use of the warranty to be really sure.
Overview and review of the Horizon Elite T7 treadmill
This is an overview of the Horizon Elite T7 treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get. Follow the links for more details.
You can get the most up to date content and ask direct questions on my Instagram Account.
Overview of the Horizon Elite T7 $1.599
The
Horizon Elite T7 is the middle of the Horizon treadmill elite product range with a reinforced frame for serious runners. It has a middle motor size and no touch screen. It is considerably lighter than its bigger brother the
T9 and comes in the dimensions. This makes the
T7 a good deal for anyone that is serious about running, is big but does not want to spend close to $2.000on on their treadmill. The full specifications of this treadmill are:
Frame Type: Feather-Light Folding
Running area: 22"x60"
Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning Drive Motor: 2.75 Horsepower
Belt: 1.4mm, Silicone
Deck Thickness: .75
Roller Size: 2.4" rear 1.8"
Speed range: 0.5 - 12 mph
Incline Range: 0% – 15%
Extras: Built-in Speakers, Built-in Speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Fan, Passport Ready, Tablet Rack, Water Bottle Holder
Weight: 236 lbs.
Assembled dimensions: 77" x 35" x 60"
Folded dimensions: 44" x 35" x 69"
Max User Weight: 350
Electrical Requirements: 110 - 120V
Home Warranty Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty Motor: Lifetime
Home Warranty Parts: 5 years
Home Warranty Labor: 1 years
You make minimum concessions on the warranty and power while still getting close to the best from Horizon. If you are a budget-conscious buyer who still wants to enter the premier league, this is a good model for you.
Pros of the Horizon Elite T7
The best feature about this treadmill is that you get a big belt in a smaller footprint compared to the
T9. Combined with a price tag that is $500 lower this makes it a great option to buy in bulk for a commercial gym that is able to install some televisions within the vision of the treadmill park. If you are rowing up 5 to 10 in a line this does make a difference to other bigger models.
You are also getting a good value-for-money treadmill for serious runners who do not need all the bells and whistles. This is a sturdy and reliable treadmill that will go along
Cons of the Horizon Elite T7
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No touch screen
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No Bluetooth
The biggest con of the
Elite T7 is Technology. The screen is not a touch screen. If you want to use the digital enhancements of the Horizon fitness brand you will have to hook this treadmill up to a television. This means you have to add the cost of that television to the overall setup to get to where the
Elite T9 already is. Never mind that the setup with a TV and earphones will be a bit of a pain as there is no Bluetooth available.
Alternatives to the Horizon Elite T7
The
elite T9 is the better alternative if you want to make sure that you are at least somewhat connected to the modern age. If you just want a machine to run on for miles and listen to your music via your phone the
T7 is great. If you want to make use of Peloton-ish gamification of your runs the
T9 has at least Bluetooth and a touchscreen accommodate better for this type of training.
The Elite F5 has the smallest motor out of the Horizon fitness Elite setup, drops considerably in warranty, and has a smaller belt than the
T7 and
T9. If you are a serious runner on a budget who is mainly interested in a sturdier frame on a foldable treadmill then this is the right option. Otherwise, you might look for one of the higher-priced adventure models of Horizon fitness that offer more entertainment options on a less sturdy frame.
The
Nordictrack 1750 sits bang in the middle of the
Nordictrack lineup and is in my opinion one of the strongest competitors to the Horizon elite line. If you are willing to spend up to $2000 you get a longer warranty, a more powerful motor, and a connection to the IFit subscription to make your runs more interesting. IFit seems a bit more up-to-date than the digital alternatives from Horizon. The only downside is that you will find more negative feedback about
NordicTrack as a brand than about Horizon. Whether this up to higher sales volumes or poor quality is a bit hard to judge for definite.
Conclusion for the Horizon Elite T7
The
elite T7 is a great buy for commercial gyms that want to get a sturdy treadmill for all types of runners and walkers and already have TVs installed for entertainment. A home gym owner looking for a treadmill to put more than 100 miles a week on should ask themselves whether they want entertainment included in the treadmill or not. If yes, wait for a month or two and add the extra $500 to get to the
T9. If you don’t need entertainment go for the
T5. Before you make your final decision, have a look at the
Nordictrack 1750 for availability and whether you like the look and feel of it.