Horizon fitness Elite T9 treadmill vs 7.4AT

This is a comparison of the Horizon Elite T9 treadmill and 7.4AT including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Horizon 7.4 AT treadmill

This is an overview of the Horizon 7.4 AT 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 7.4 AT $1.499

The Horizon 7.4 AT is the middle version of the three AT treadmills from Horizon fitness. It is slightly smaller than the 7.8 AT and still has the same belt. The main difference is the smaller motor with 3.5 horsepower. This is a big treadmill for commercial or for someone really serious about their running who weighs more than 100kg. The full list of specs is:

Frame Type: FeatherLight Folding

Running area: 22" x 60" XL Deck

Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning

Drive Motor: 3.5 CHP RapidSync Drive System

Belt: 1.6mm, Silicone

Deck Thickness: 0.8" (20mm)

Roller Size: 60mm/46mm Tapered

Speed Range: 0.5 – 12 mph

Incline Range: 0 – 15%

Extras: Accessory Tray, Aluminum Side Rails, Audio In/Out Jack, Bluetooth Speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Fan, Multi-position Tablet Holders

Weight: 318 lbs.

Assembled Dimensions: 76" x 37" x 63"

Folded Dimensions: 42" x 37" x 71"

Max User weight: 325 lbs.

Electrical Requirements: 60Hz - 120V

Home Warranty - Frame: Lifetime

Home Warranty - Motor: Lifetime

Home Warranty - Parts: 5 years

Home Warranty - Labor: 2 years

This is a great treadmill in a commercial setting. For home gym owners it is a good pick if you have a basement or garage gym to fill. If you live in a small apartment this might not be the best choice as you can not move it around a lot.

Pros of the Horizon 7.4 AT

The pros of the Horizon 7.4 AT are:

Big frame for a modest price
Strong motor for a modest price
Can be used by heavier athletes

The 7.4 AT is a great treadmill for anyone who likes their equipment big and does not want it to cost a leg and an arm. For a proper treadmill, the price is reasonable. I won’t say it’s cheap as any fitness equipment over $1000 is a considerable investment for most. What I do say is that you get a proper commercial standard frame and a massive motor for your money.

Cons of the Horizon 7.4 AT

The cons of the Horizon 7.4 AT are:

Size
Price
Console

The Horizon 7.4 AT is a big machine and is north of $1000. This means it is a considerable commitment in space and Money for any home gym. For commercial gyms, I think this is a great option to buy in bulk, as long as there are read TVs in the vicinities for entertainment. The console is sturdy but has little entertainment value. This is probably the biggest downside of the Horizon AT 7.4.

Alternatives to the Horizon 7.4 AT

The Horizon Elite T7 is the middle treadmill out of the elite line. If you want a similar machine that is a little lighter and therefore easier to move the T7 is a good pick.

The Horizon 7.8 AT is the big brother of the 7.4 AT. With a slightly bigger frame and a more powerful motor, it builds the Creme de la Creme of the AT Series. In my personal opinion, these are a better pick than the elite series and you still save $300 compared to the Elite T9.

The Horizon 7.0 AT is the option under $1000 out of the AT series. It has the smallest motor, belt, and the smallest warranty package out of the series. A commercial buyer might want to stay clear and stick with the 7.4 AT for better warranty options. Budget-conscious home gym buyers can consider this one, especially if they are not particularly heavy or go very fast.

The Rogue Echo bike is in my opinion one of the best options for cardio for home gyms. The price is fair, it is overbuilt, easy to move, and you can do proper HIIT training on it. I personally like to run outdoors and therefore do not get a lot of use out of treadmills. A low-budget option of the same idea is the TITAN fan bike.

The Assault air runner is a self-propelled treadmill. This makes it a good option for anyone who wants to do sprints but has not the space for a full basketball court or football pitch in their estate. The downsides are the price and the space needed for it. These are even bigger than regular treadmills, so really pay attention to your measurements.

Conclusion for the Horizon 7.4 AT

The Horizon 7.4 AT is a great value-for-money treadmill in the upper echelons of fitness budgets. You will get a lot of treadmill with a good motor for a modest amount of money. Be aware that you need quite a bit of space to place it.

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness Elite T9 treadmill

This is an overview of the Horizon Elite T9 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 Fitness Elite T9 $1999

The Horizon Fitness Elite T9 is the flagship treadmill from Horizon. Its main distinguishing features are the most powerful engine at 3.25 CHP, the side rails, and the touchscreen which the other models from the Horizon elite line do not have. While it is lightweight build and comes in at 275lbs, it is still the heaviest of the elite series. This makes it more stable and resistant for serious runners, but might be overkill for walkers. The full list of specifications runs as follows:

Frame Type: Feather-Light Folding

Running area: 22"x60"

Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning

Drive Motor: 3.25 Horsepower

Belt: 1.4mm, Silicone

Deck Thickness: .75

Roller Size: 2.4"

Speed range: 0.5 - 12 mph

Incline Range: 0% – 15%

Extras: Aluminum Side Rails, Built-in Speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Passport Ready, Tablet Rack, Water Bottle Holder

Weight: 275 lbs

Assembled dimensions: 78.75" x 39.38" x 63"

Folded dimensions: 47.25" x 39.38" x 71"

Max User Weight: 350

Electrical Requirements: 110 - 120V

Home Warranty Frame: Lifetime

Home Warranty Motor: Lifetime

Home Warranty Parts: 5 years

Home Warranty Labor: 2 years

This machine appeals to a wide range of walkers and runners and is best chosen in a commercial setting or when you are a serious runner who has to travel far to get to a good area for running long distances. If you want to walk only it is overkill. The same goes for anyone who does not need a lot of technology or rails on their treadmill. Here you might get a better motor for less money with other treadmills if you strip back on some other features.

Pros of the Horizon Fitness Elite T9

The pros of the Horizon Fitness Elite T9 are:

Folding mechanism
Belt tested up to 21.000 miles
Touch Screen
Sidebars
Automatic incline / decline
Polar heart rate monitor included

The folding mechanism of the Horizon fitness T9 elite is smooth and also protects you from falling onto you. The frame is reinforced compared to other Horizon models which make it a good pick for serious runners or heavier athletes.

The belt has been tested up to 21.000 miles without a need of change. For someone who runs 100 miles a week, this means that you can for 210 weeks or 4 years without changing the belt. The motor also needs no cooling as it runs with magnets.

The touch screen is another bonus over the other models from Horizon which have classic button navigation. The included sidebars make it family-friendly or more appealing when placed in a gym.

The automatic incline goes with the running programs that Horizon has included in the package. You can also purchase some extra courses in scenic locations which will make use of the INcline options too.

The whole package is rounded up by including a polar heart rate monitor which you can strap to your chest and connect to the machine for heart rate training. Walkers can also use the bars which come with heart rate monitors inbuilt.

Cons of the Horizon Fitness Elite T9

Cons for the Horizon fitness elite T9 are:

High Price
Outdated technology
Not fit for HIgh-intensity interval training
Can not be stored under the bed

$2000 for a treadmill is a big bankroll. If you are savvy with craigslist and Facebook groups you might get an entire gym with several machines and a treadmill for this budget. Of course, this takes time and connections and not everyone is a hustler like the cowboys in the good, the bad, and the ugly or patient as Nelson Mandela. But if you are into used goods and sourcing them, spending $2000 is a lot to shell out for one piece of equipment in a private setting. For a commercial setting, it depends on how many you are going to buy and who will use them. If you have a very varied clientele and only need a few treadmills to make your community happy, this is the buy and do not think about it again option. If you have to buy in bulk and cater to a narrower fitness community you might want to consider more focused / cheaper options.

The technology on this treadmill seems a little outdated and needs a facelift. If you look at the newest peloton and Nordictrack models the entertainment options far surpass the ones on offer on the horizon flagship. In fairness, there is also a $1000 gap between the Elite T9 and the X32i, but if you are already considering $2000 for what is basically a convenience upgrade within the Horizon portfolio, then you might as well go all the way.

High-intensity interval training, or ins short HIIT, has been quite a rage in the fitness industry as of late. What most treadmills have in common is that they are not particularly well suited for this type of training as the motor and belt do not accelerate and decelerate naturally. The models which come closest to a proper stop-start sprint experience are the Assault air runner and the True Form runner. Personally, I am a huge fan of Airbikes as these are great for HIIT and do not take up a lot of floor space. They are also a lot cheaper than treadmills. The model I own is the Rogue Echo Bike and its direct copycat competitor is the TITAN fan bike.

This treadmill is a beast that is great when you are serious about running and willing to give up the necessary space in your home for your hobby. If you are just an occasional runner or walker you can not store this treadmill under the bed, sofa, or in a cupboard after use. Therefore it is not recommended for use in apartments with limited space unless you also want to use it as a bed.

Alternatives to the Horizon Fitness Elite T9

Alternatives to the Horizon fitness elite T9 are:

The elite T7 has a 3.00 CHP horsepower motor and no railings. It also has no touch screen. This might be the better option for home athletes who are serious but do not want to fast for very long periods of time. If you are willing to compromise on the motor power and railings you can save yourself $500 on the sticker price within the Horizon portfolio by going with the Elite T7 instead of the T9. Definitely, the better option if there are no walkers to be expected to use the treadmill or someone who goes full throttle for an hour and weighs 200 pounds or more.

The elite T5 has a slightly smaller belt than the T9 and a 2.75 CHP motor. If you also feel that you need to save a little space because the treadmill will just about fit into your home space, then this is the one to make. You will also make some considerable compromises with the T5 on the warranty so it might not be the best option in a commercial setup. On the positive side, the T5 brings you far away from the $2000 mark and very close to the $1000 mark at $1199 retail price.

If you are willing to spend $2000 on a treadmill the Nordictrack 1750 might be a desirable option for you. This treadmill not only has incline but also a 3% decline inbuilt. The IFit software subscription for your runs is a little more up to date than what Horizon has on offer and you will get a more powerful motor at 3.75 horsepower. The warranties are also longer than with Horizon, too. The only downside is that negative feedback about the Nordictrack brand is more readily available than for Horizon. Whether this is due to a higher sales volume and therefore a higher likelihood for complaints or down to product quality and design is a matter of opinion.

Conclusion for the Horizon Fitness Elite T9

The Horizon Fitness Elite T9 is the best that Horizon has to offer. If you want a great, durable treadmill for commercial use or the very serious home athlete that presses 100 miles a week or more, this is the one to get. It might not be at the forefront of the current market developments anymore, but you are getting a lot of belt, frame, and miles for a relatively small price. All other flagship treadmills in the market usually come in at $1000 more with a massive screen included. Not everyone wants that.