Horizon T303 treadmill vs Nordictrack 40
This is a comparison between the Horizon T303 treadmill and Nordictrack S40 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get.
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Overview and review of the NordicTrack S40 1599
This is a review of the NordicTrack S40 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in “which NordicTrack treadmill or elliptical to get in the UK”. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview of the Nordictrack S40
The main features of the
Nordictrack S40 are its 3.0 CHP motor, the 12% incline, and the one-touch controls. Unfortunately, the S series is one of the older product ranges of the Nordictrack line up and you might want to look into the
C1650 or
T7.5 as an alternative. Still, you might make a good grab on the used treadmill market for this model. The full list of features includes:
- Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
- iFit Integrated
- Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers
- 3.0 CHP Motor
- 0% - 12% Digital Incline
- 0 – 22 km/h Speed
- Onetouch™ Controls
- 1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
- 125kg Max User Weight
- EKG Handgrips
- FlexSelect™ Cushioning
- 51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
- This Machine Does Not Feature a Workout Fan
- SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
- Assembled Dimensions - 200L x 90W x 145H cm
- Product Weight 84kg
- Boxed Weight 105kg
- Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
- Boxed Dimensions - 212L x 81W x 28H cm
- Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
Have a good look at the market what you can get, but this treadmill might not be an ideal choice for buying something new.
Pros of the Nordictrack S40
- 3.0 CHP motor
- One-touch controls
The 3.0 CHP motor makes this a long-lasting treadmill for someone who runs a lot. Especially used this might be a good steal. The one-touch adjustments for speed are also a great feature of Nordictrack treadmills which make them more user friendly as you only need to push one button to get to the right space.
Cons of the Nordictrack S40
For the age of this product line, you still pay a pretty high price. This is good for Nordictrack to empty their inventory of old models, but not necessarily for your purse. If you buy new you may want to get for the newer models in the X line or the T line which have followed the C line of Nordictrack models.
Alternatives for the Nordictrack S40
Good alternatives for the
S40 are:
The Nordictrack T7,5 is, in my opinion, a better alternative to the
S40 unless you manage to get a discount on the
S40. The
T7.5 is the more modern machine and has almost the same specifications. They also punch in the same budget weight class. So stick with the
T7.5 instead of the
S40 in the Nordictrack portfolio.
The
FS5i is a good alternative for an elliptical for a home gym or commercial gym. It costs roughly the same as the
S40 and comes with Free Stride technology. The FreeStride technology puts the flywheel in the middle of the machine. This enables a longer stride and you can also use the elliptical as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper in one. This freedom comes at the price of a more error-prone design and more challenging movement patterns.
If you want to save some money and like rowing, you can go for the
Concept 2 Model D rower. This is the flagship model from
Concept 2 who has been around for years in the rowing place. You will be hard-pressed to find a major commercial gym without one of these on the floor. They come in under 1000 and might be a get alternative to consider. The only challenge is that they take up as much space as a treadmill, but are easier to move.
The
Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite for home gyms as it is compact, sturdy, and burns a lot of calories per minute if used right. This machine can be gotten at the 700 mark and will last for a lifetime. The big disadvantage is that the Echo bike has no onboard entertainment whatsoever. If you need a video or machine to motivate you to get your training in, this is not the one for you. This is a great tool for intrinsically motivated people who want to save money and space.
Summary for the Nordictrack S40
As with the entire S series you might want to opt for something else which is a little more modern and therefore will get more support from the vendor Nordictrack. Always check the US website and compare the portfolio with the Uk website to avoid that you are buying something with is being discontinued. At the time of writing the S series is not available in the US anymore where Nordictrack headquarters is situated.
Overview and review of the Horizon T303
This is an overview of the Horizon T303 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 of the Horizon T303 $999
The
Horizon T303 is the top end of the home user-friendly treadmills of horizon fitness. This is the treadmill with the most bells and whistles that are geared towards someone using it in the home. If you can stretch your budget to $1000 but not further under any circumstances then this is a great option. The full specifications are:
Frame Type: FeatherLight Folding
Running area: 20" x 60"
Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning
Drive Motor: 3.0 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: Accessory Tray, Audio In/Out Jack, Bluetooth Speakers, Custom Interval Keys, Energy Saver Mode, Fan, Multi-position Tablet Holders
Weight: 194 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: 3 year
Home Warranty - Labor: 1 year
This is a good treadmill for home use in limited spaces. Compared to other Horizon models the frame and belt are less sturdy. In return, the treadmill is easier to transport and takes up less space.
Pros of the Horizon T303
The pros is the
T303 are:
-
Strong motor
-
12% incline
-
Almost studio-grade
For the money, you pay you almost get a studio-grade treadmill including a strong motor. The 12% incline also provides extra resistance if you want to challenge yourself even more. This is a great treadmill for the stay-at-home mom or occasional runner that just wants to get their miles in without being cold or in the traffic.
Cons of the Horizon T303
-
Flimsy frame
-
Console
-
Warranty
The frame is rather flimsy which leads to more impact being transferred from the belt to the frame compared to the bigger Horizon fitness models. This means that you will have more rattling and inclines might feel a little unstable. If you are more than 100kg and intend to go ballistic at your treadmill I recommend going with the
7.0AT instaed for the same budget. This treadmill will not fall apart, it is well made, but if you really drive in the countryside you get a range rover and not a Qashqai.
The console leaves a lot to be desired for entertainment options. You can put your phone or Ipad on the treadmill, but that technically means a higher cost for the overall build. Especially if you do not want to mix work and downtime or if you do not want to run the risk of having your high-value electronics anywhere near the gym.
The last point is the warranty. While this warranty is more than enough for private use it might be ideal for commercial use, especially combined with the lighter build of the
T303 compared to other treadmills in the Horizon fitness lineup. If you are a commercial buyer looking for good value for money I personally think the /.4AT is your best betas it combines a cushy warranty package with a sturdy frame.
Alternatives to the Horizon 303
The
Horizon 7.0 AT is the trimmed-down version of the Horizon studio line. This is a good treadmill if you weigh more than 100kg, but do not want to pay more than $1000 for a frame that will hold you. The downside is that this treadmill will take up considerably more space as it is built on a sturdier frame than the T series.
If you do not want to go very fast and you are willing to compromise on the warranty options the
T202 can be a good option for your home gym to move further away from the $1000 mark. At $799 it is a great treadmill to get your miles in for 5ks and generally staying fit. For anyone who really wants to dig deep into HIIT training and going at high paces for hours, this might not be the right treadmill.
The
Horizon T101 is the most budget option from Horizon fitness's treadmills. It has the smallest motor and belt of all the products on offer. While it is an option I personally think you are better off looking into walking and foldable treadmills that can go under your bed if you go that low in the Horizon product line. What is the point of having a treadmill with a console that can not be fully folded up, when you are not planning on abusing the heck out of it anyway.
The
Rogue Echo Bike is my personal recommendation for any home gym owner. I personally like to do my runs outside and this bike dies everything I need for HIIT training. It is easy to move around & sturdy so that my 100kg clunky body can sit comfortably while giving it all I have. The price is also decent. Rogue really build a great product that is competitively priced to make serious home gym owners happy. A budget option of the
Rogue Echo bike is the
Titan fan bike.
If you want to save floor space and still get your cardio in, i personally think that the
concept 2 ski erg is one of the best options you can get. It will take up very little space in your home while you are still dealing with a serious cardio machine. Of course, you can not run on it, but why are you getting your treadmill in the first place? Most likely to lose weight and stay fit. The ski erg delivers on that.
Conclusion for the Horizon T303
The
Horizon T303 is a great treadmill for the home user that weighs less than 100kg and does not want to put their treadmill under too much stress. Nicely paced jogs and runs will be best on this treadmill with the comfort of easy incline and speed adjustments. If you weigh more than 100kg or plan on running 10Ks and half marathon s for time on this machine, then you might want to opt for something sturdier. I also would not recommend prolonged use of the incline function to simulate speedy hiking runs.