Horizon T202 treadmill vs Nordictrack 8.5

This is a comparison between the Horizon T202 and Nordictrack 8.5 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get.

Follow the links for more details. Follow the links for more details and leave a comment if you have additional points to add.

You can get the most up to date content and ask direct questions on my Instagram Account.

Overview and review NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill $1399 - $1999

This is a review of the Nordictrack 8.5 S model which was originally published in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill $1399 - $1999

The T 8.5 is the small brother of the T 9.5 from Nordictrack. The main difference is an HD touch screen which 10 inches on the 8.5 instead of 14 on the T 9.5. Apart from this, you get a top speed of 12 miles an hour, 12% incline and a foldable treadmill. The full list of specifications for the T 8.5 runs as following:

10” Smart HD Touchscreen
Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Dual 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
FlexSelect™ Cushioning
20” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
Integrated Tray
0-12% Incline
0-12 MPH Speed
One Touch® Controls
3.5 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor
1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
300 Lb. User Capacity
EKG Grip Pulse
SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
50 On-Board Workout Programs
78.5” L x 35.5” W x 59” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is a treadmill for the smaller budget and a mid-range option at it. I personally do not like the middle of the road solutions and either go alls guns blazing or very low budget. Personally, I think the 1750 is more balanced or go for the T6.5 if you want to save money and space.

Pros of the NordicTrack T 8.5 treadmill

The pros of the 8.5 treadmill are:

Foldable
300 lb capacity
Cushioning

If you want to save money on a treadmill that can take a pounding this is the right choice. You can save space when storing and it takes up to 300 lbs. of weight. All of this makes it a good option for a mid-range home treadmill.

Cons of the NordicTrack T 8.5 treadmill

Cons of the Nordictrack 8.5:

Somewhere in the middle
High price to compromise

As the Nordictrack portfolio has evolved the 1750 is just the better option in terms of value for money in my opinion. With the T 8.5 you compromise on the size of the belt, incline, and screen while still paying a good bit of money. It is a reasonable price for a cardio machine compared to other machines in the market, but I would lean more towards the 1750 to spent my money wisely.

Alternatives to the NordciTrack T 8.5 treadmill

Alternatives to the T 8.5 are:

The Nordictrack 1750 is, in my opinion, the most balances option in the Nordictrack portfolio at a reasonable price. Therefore I think it is the best option for budget-conscious treadmill buyers from Nordic Track. The T 8.5 just sits a bit oddly against this as it has the same sized screen while having less incline and a smaller belt, while the prices are not that far apart.

The Nordictrack 6.5 is the ideal option for people who want to maximize saving money and space when buying a new treadmill from Nordictrack. This model comes in around $1000 and has the smallest footprint of the Nordictrack models. Ideal for walkers or limited spaces.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite if you are looking for maximum calories burned per minute. It comes in at only $700, has a small footprint and packs a hefty punch.

If you are looking for a different concept of a treadmill the True form runner is for you. This treadmill is self-propelled and therefore has no motor. The belt rests on bearing and your footstrike accelerates or breaks on the speed. This is the ideal treadmill for runners who want to simulate fast acceleration and deceleration at home.

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:

Price
Motor
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:

Console
Warranty
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.