Horizon fitness Elite T9 treadmill vs T202
This is a comparison of the Horizon Elite T9 treadmill and T202 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 and review of the Horizon T202 treadmill
This is an overview of the Horizon T202 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 T202 $709
The Horizon T202 is the middle treadmill in the T series of Horizon fitness. It is the middle-of-the-road approach to a treadmill in the lower-cost segment of Horizon fitness. You can go up to 12 miles an hour at an incline of 12% with this treadmill and edge away from the magical $1000 investment that many home gym owners do not want to surpass for a machine. The full specifications are:
Frame Type: FeatherLight Folding
Running area: 20" x 60"
Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning
Drive Motor: 2.75 Continuous-Duty Horsepower
Belt: 1.4mm, Silicone
Deck Thickness: 0.7" (18mm)
Roller Size: 46mm/42mm Tapered
Speed Range: 0.5 – 12 mph
Incline Range: 0 – 12%
Extras: Audio In/Out Jack, Bluetooth Speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Fan, Tablet Rack, Water Bottle Holder
Weight: 187 lbs.
Assembled dimensions: 75" x 34" x 58"
Folded dimensions: 47" x 34" x 65"
Max User weight: 325 lbs.
Electrical requirements: 60Hz - 120V
Home Warranty - Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty - Motor: Lifetime
Home Warranty - Parts: 1 year
Home Warranty - Labor: 1 year
This is a good machine for the occasional use in the home to stay fit. IT will be good for joggers and modest runners. If more than one person in the household will use it on a regular basis you might want to consider upgrading to the T303 for better warranty coverage.
Pros of the Horizon T202
The pros of the Horizon T202 are:
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Price
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Motor
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Incline
For a modestly priced treadmill below $1000, you get a decent motor and an incline up to 12%. These are nice perks against the budget of about $700. If you do not want to think too hard about your purchase and have no extra hardcore needs, this is probably the treadmill to get from Horizon fitness.
Cons of the Horizon T202
The cons of the Horizon fitness T202 are:
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Console
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Warranty
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Frame
The console of the Horizon fitness T202 is pretty basic compared to the multimedia options you can have with other models from Horizon or their competitors. If you are intending to combine your treadmill with some of your other gadgets to build an experience tailored to you, that is great. Just be ready that you will have to do some Bluetooth pairing or cabling each time you step on and off.
The warranty is only 1 year on parts and labor which makes it not a great choice for commercial use. Also if you think that there will be more than one heavy user in the house I would recommend upgrading to the T303 to have a better motor and warranty. If you put more than 200 miles a week on the machine, definitely consider a switch to the T303 or the 7.0 AT.
The last thing is the frame. If you already know that you are a berserker that makes treadmills suffer, this is not for you. I weigh 100kg and my fastest 5k was under 18 minutes. The T202 and I probably would not be good friends for long.
Alternatives to the Horizon T202
Alternatives to the Horizon T202 are:
The Horizon T101 is the most barebone treadmill you can get from Horizon on the smallest frame they provide. While you can explore this road I would recommend that you might look into walking treadmills instead which are more convenient to store. $600 can buy you a very decent walking treadmill, but you will struggle with a new treadmill that is really good. The T202 already forms the underbelly of that market in my opinion.
The Rogue Echo bike is a great alternative for anyone who is getting a treadmill to stay fit and lose weight. If running is not your passion, but only a method to the end of staying fit, consider this airbike. It is sturdy, easy to move, and well suited to proper HIIT training. If you want to go hard at it and not worry about your equipment, this is the better choice than the T202. Some people might find the design intimidating and a little too masculine. A good budget alternative to the Echo bike is the TITAN fan bike, as long as you like the big wheels on it.
The concept 2 ski erg is a great cardio machine that saves space in your home and is relatively silent. The beauty of it is that you do not have the footfall. This is the main source of noise out of a treadmill and the concept 2 ski erg eliminates this element of cardio completely. It is still able to give you a savage workout if you are willing to push yourself hard enough.
Conclusion for the Horizon T202
The Horizon Fitness T202 treadmill is a good option for a jogger who wants to pay the bare minimum for a decent running treadmill. It will take some of the spikes of your training and play along with the occasional incline run. If you are a serious runner or weigh more than 100kg, stay away from this treadmill as you will not become friends, unless you intend to walk on 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:
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Folding mechanism
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Belt tested up to 21.000 miles
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Touch Screen
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Sidebars
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Automatic incline / decline
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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:
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High Price
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Outdated technology
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Not fit for HIgh-intensity interval training
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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.
