Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill Review: Affordable Treadmill For Joggers

There are two stand-out treadmills in this price range, and when I say stand out, I mean they stand a mile out from the competition; one of those treadmills is the Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill, and the other is the T 6.5s from Nordictrack, which I’ll compare with the Horizon T101 at the end of this review.

Sadly you won’t find a treadmill for running in this price bracket; however good they are, you can’t build a treadmill for runners for under $1k.

The best you can hope for is a well-built treadmill suitable for light to medium cardio, and that’s what we have here with the T101 from Horizon. Today we’re going to take a close look at everything this machine has to offer, including any drawbacks, and as I already mentioned, I’ll compare the T101 with NoridcTracks best selling low-cost treadmill, the T 6.5S.

First, let’s take a quick look at the T101 Product specs!

Why Do We Like The Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill?

The most important feature of a treadmill is the running belt. The size of the running belt determines who can use the treadmill and for what. At this price, I’m used to seeing treadmills with belts measuring anywhere between 45-50 inches, so to find anything longer than this is a bonus.

The Horizon T101 boasts a 55″ belt, which is excellent for a treadmill that currently costs under $700. A belt this length will allow users up to 6’1″ to jog on the treadmill and not feel restricted.

Belt Width is Just As Important

And it’s not just the length of the belt that is important. The width is just as important.

Too many treadmills in this price bracket are fitted with narrow belts, and the problem with narrow belts is that it’s very easy to step off the side of the treadmill in the middle of a session. Not only is this dangerous, but it also knocks your confidence to jog on the treadmill without holding onto the rails.

A wider belt gives you more space, and there’s much less chance of stepping off the treadmill. The width of a commercial treadmill belt measures 22″. This is what you find on treadmills in your local gyms; the Horizon treadmill belt width measures 20″, which isn’t far off commercial width and extremely impressive to see on a low-cost treadmill like the T101.

Easy Dial Controls

Another feature I like on this treadmill are the EasyDial Controls, this is a cool feature, and you don’t usually see them on affordable treadmills.

EasyDial controls are dials you can use to adjust speed and incline on the treadmill. They save time, and they are much easier to access while jogging than having to reach to the monitor. I know this isn’t an essential feature, but it’s the small touches like this from Horizon that sets their treadmills apart from their competitors.

Click here to check price of Horizon T101 on Amazon

10% Power Incline

An incline feature is a feature I feel is essential if you want to get the most out of your cardio sessions.

Hill running will bring that something else to your workouts. It challenges you to push harder. You’ll burn three times more calories jogging on a 10% incline; not only that, you’ll build and strengthen those hard-to-train muscles such as glutes, calves, and hamstrings.

The Horizon T101 treadmill boasts a 10% power adjustable incline meaning you can adjust the incline from the monitor or the easydials on the handrails without having to get off the machine and adjust it manually. Most treadmills under $700 use 3-level manual inclines, so finding a power-adjustable incline is impressive.

Basic Monitor – The Only Drawback?

It’s not just the Horizon T101 that suffers from a basic monitor. Nearly all low-cost treadmills come with a basic monitor. You won’t find HD screens and tons of workout programs for $700. What you get with Horizon is a basic but easy-to-use monitor.

And that’s why sometimes basic monitors are best, they’re so easy to use, and there’s nothing complicated to set up. You can get on and go.

Also another plus is that this monitor has been updated for 22/23. You now get BlueTooth and cooling fans which is nice to see for the price bracket. The only thing I feel lets this monitor down is the lack of workout programs. You only have six workout programs which is disappointing.

One Touch Controls

On the positive, you do have handrail pulse sensors and the one-touch buttons, which are another time-saving feature like the easydials. You can access everything on this monitor with one touch of a button. You don’t have lots of annoying menus to scroll though.

Overall, it really isn’t that bad, yeah, it’s basic, but I didn’t really expect much more for the price point. I love that you now have the one-touch buttons and BlueTooth; these were nice updates. Only the lack of workouts lets this monitor down. Still, you have a tablet holder, so you could always download a few free fitness apps and use those instead for some extra challenges.

Protect Your Joints With 3 Zone Cushioning

Since I can remember, these guys have been using the same deck cushioning system, and it works well. It’s said to reduce the impact of each foot strike by up to 40%, which is great for your joints, but some of the leading companies that build treadmills are starting to introduce adjustable deck cushioning.

Adjustable cushioning gives you a choice of either soft or firm, the reason this is useful is because people training for marathons can replicate road conditions by selecting the firm option. Its a handy feature because many of these deck cushioning systems are a little bouncy and can be off-putting, thankfully the Hordiczon three-zone cushioning is well thought out, and I haven’t heard any complaints of it being too bouncy.

2.5HP Motor – Only Suitable For Light To Medium Cardio

I’ve already mentioned this treadmill isn’t really suitable for running, the running belt isn’t long enough, and it doesn’t have the heavy-duty build to cope with fast-paced sessions. And then we have the motor; you need at least 3HP for running, especially if you weigh over 200lb.

2.5Hp is suited to walkers and joggers, and I’d say a max weight of around 250lb, not 300lb like Horizon stated. If you want to avoid motor early burnout, it’s always a good idea to keep below the max capacity of a treadmill by a good margin.

Anything Else Worth Mentioning?

The folding system is worth a mention, it’s a hydraulic folding system. The hydraulics do all the hard work for you, making folding the treadmill deck easy and can even be done with one hand. Always look for a hydraulic folding system when choosing a treadmill.

Easy Assembly Under an Hour

And lastly, assembly is pretty easy with this treadmill as most of the treadmill comes pre-assembled. The most challenging part is unboxing and getting the treadmill in place; it’s only here I recommend getting an extra pair of hands to help you. And once unboxed, all you’ll have to do is attach the uprights to the running deck and attach the monitor to the uprights. It shouldn’t take longer than an hour.

For maintenance: Keep the belt clean. This will prevent debris from getting into the motor and keep the belt lubricated. Instructions for belt lubrication will be in the manual. Tools for the job are included.

Alternative

NordicTrack T 6.5S Treadmill

It’s a tough choice between the NordicTrack T 6.5s and Horizons T101 because the Nordictrack Treadmill also boasts just as impressive features as the Horizon T101 treadmill, and the build quality is there too.

The NordicTrack 6.5S, like the Horizon Fitness treadmill, includes that large running belt of 20″ x 55″. It also has an impressive 10% power incline, deck cushioning system, and uses hydraulics for the folding system.

The only noticeable difference between these two treadmills is the monitor. The NordicTrack monitor offers that little bit more.

With the NordicTrack monitor, you have 20 built-in workout programs, and it’s iFit enabled, which opens up a whole world of workouts, where trainers will run alongside you, encouraging you.

There are also studio classes and global routes where you can run anywhere in the world and view it through your tablet, Google Maps, which lets you design your own routes, and my favorite feature, the auto adjust, where you can let trainers adjust the incline and speed for you which leaves you to focus fully on your workout.

Yeah, there’s a lot more to keep you entertained with this treadmill, but the downside is iFit costs over $1 a day, which is kind of expensive and to use the auto adjust feature, and Google maps and routes, you need to be subscribed to iFit which is the only drawback of this treadmill.

Of course, you can use this treadmill without iFit you still have the 20 built-in workout programs. But will you will miss out on a few cool features.

Overall, both the NordicTrack and Horizon treadmills offer a lot of bang for your buck. Both are well built and have the same 20″ x 55″ belt and incline. The NordicTrack provides more in the way of entertainment and has a better monitor. The Horizon has a better warranty and includes those easydials.

As I said, it’s a tough choice.

To Sum Up

If you’re on a budget and you need a treadmill for light to medium cardio at home, the Horizon T101 treadmill is one of the best, if not the best, choices out there right now. It doesn’t feel cheap because it’s well made and has some weight to it, the running belt is an excellent size for the price point, and you have a power incline for some hill running.

The Horizon T101 is a treadmill you can set up in under an hour, jump on it, and get going, and thats one of this treadmill’s best selling points because not only does it boast all the essentials, it has a fuss-free design making it easy to use.

Horizon T101 Treadmill FAQS

Do I need Wifi or a Subscription App To Use The Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill?

No, none of the Horizon treadmills need a wifi connection or an app to work. All the features are designed to be used without wifi or subscription apps.

How Much Does The Horizon T101 Weigh?

The updated version of the Horizon T101 Treadmill weighs 180lb which is slightly heavier than the old version. It has an inbox weight of 220lb.

Are Horizon Treadmills Any Good?

Horizon fitness are known for their treadmills’ quality and long warranties. Their treadmills are heavy duty well-made machines that offer large running belts, powerful motors, and high-weight capacities. NordicTrack, Sole Fitness, and Sunny Health & Fitness are their main competitors.

How many Workout Programs Does The Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill Have?

Disappointingly the Horizon T1010 Treadmill only includes six workout programs. However, the updated version does have BlueTooth and a tablet holder so you can download fitness apps.