Horizon Treadmill Reviews

The Horizon T101 gets top grades for possessing the greatest value of all products this company has to offer. Indeed, over 82% of owners gave this treadmill a four out of five star rating or better on Amazon and other sites too. If you're like me, you probably want a quality treadmill at a reasonable price and are willing to fore-go a lot of fancy bells and whistles. A safe and sturdy treadmill that will last a long time gets the most priority when shopping on a budget. Having researched extensively into different brands and models I realized that this is a great choice for the price, as many owners agree.

If you're just looking for the best deals on the Horizon Fitness T101, then I highly recommend Amazon. I've seen the same treadmill priced as high as $675, but Amazon has it for far less. Factor in the free shipping that they offer (which can cost close to $200) and you can save yourself a lot of money!

A similar theme came up on the many reviews I read about, regarding the Horizon T101. Owners were happy with their choice because it provided them with the best value for their money. It's "sturdy, smooth and quiet" as one owner explained. What you get is a "safe-feeling, folding treadmill with automatic incline that can easily support an average weight for walking and jogging" according to another satisfied customer.

I am also happy to report that many people find the Horizon T101 quite easy to assemble. According to the majority of reports, it will take you about an hour to put the treadmill together. There's only six parts to assemble and all the necessary tools are included. According to this owner, "assembling is relatively easy as long as you know how to use an Allen wrench to tighten a bolt". You should be aware that the machine is quite heavy. So you want to get it in the area and close to where you will use it, before you start unpacking. It weighs quite a bit, but you can roll it into place if necessary.

Here are some of the features of the Horizon Fitness T101 that owners really appreciate:

1. The wide and long belt provides a lot of space to walk and run, and gives a more secure feeling.
2. The belt runs smoothly and at a steady pace, making it easy to maintain balance.
3. The motor is quiet so you can place the treadmill anywhere you want without disturbing other family members.
4. You can quickly change speed and incline levels since there are dedicated buttons. Up and down arrow buttons allow you to fine-tune the settings.
5. The treadmill has a very good latch lowering system, which is important if you have small children or pets that could unhook the deck.
6. Unlike other treadmills, this one has a VERY slow speed setting (1/2 mph) which is perfect for seniors, or those recovering from a medical condition, who still want to get exercise.
7. It has a fan, heart rate monitor, a jack for an MP3 player, and speakers; all things that can make exercising a lot more enjoyable. The speakers are nice and they can get pretty loud, just don't expect hi-fi quality.
8. The controls are intuitive and laid out logically. Plus there are two pockets on the console to hold your MP3 player, water bottle or cell phone.

Like many other people, I feel that the T101 is a really good treadmill and offers lots of value. I did come across a few minor complaints while doing my research, which I would like to share.

It is a fold up model, but doesn't fold up a full 90 degrees, so it will take up some space while not in use. There are four wheels to help move the treadmill around, but they're too small to be of use on carpet. If you are a tall person you will probably find the fan to be useless, as one 6 foot 4 reviewer stated. You can't adjust the fan to blow directly on you.

In conclusion, the Horizon Fitness T101 is a solidly well-built treadmill that provides all the basic functions at a very reasonable price. Plus, it has many added features to make exercising that much more enjoyable. Click here for the best prices on Amazon.

A little more expensive than the T101, the Horizon T202 Treadmill is still under our target $1,000 mark. It's actually an updated version of the 102 model released for 2011, but I'm not sure that it represents as good a value as the T101. It has many more features than the T101, but of course that adds significantly to the price tag. Though it is one of the sturdier machines on the market in this price range; rated at up to 325 pounds.

Owners report that the Horizon T202 is quite easy to put together, taking anywhere up to one hour to assemble. Husbands can rejoice because as one owner put it, "My husband had no problems putting it together ". Just make sure you have someone else available to give you a hand, because it is quite heavy. One owner suggested to make sure it's in the room where you will be using it, otherwise it probably won't fit through the door!

Once you have the Horizon T202 assembled you'll find that it's extremely easy and intuitive. Setting and changing the speed and incline while using it is straight forward.That's a comment that more than a few people have made. One of the nicest features of this treadmill is its cushioned deck; as one reviewer exclaimed, "It was so much more comfortable than the higher-priced brands/models!"

However, there are a few issues you should be aware of. The pulse meter, though adequate, takes at least eight seconds to provide a correct measure. Although the amount of calories burned is provided on the program display, there's no place to enter your weight. It also would be nice if the manufacturer provided a longer power cord. As it is you will either need to set the T202 up facing the wall, or buy a heavy duty extension cord.

The Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill is a budget-priced treadmill that has received many positive responses. Over 79% of reviewers on Amazon have given it a four star rating or better. Note that the 725T Plus, an updated model, is now available at a lower price.

In my research I noticed that the comment most often made was that the "quality of this treadmill is above average for the asking price". I like the fact that the 725T is sturdy to walk on and absorbs impact, providing a cushy run. Since it runs smoothly and quietly, you can place the unit practically anywhere without disturbing other family members.

You will probably find, like many others, that the controls are extremely easy to use. The buttons on the front panel are laid out intuitively, and starting and stopping are quite simple. The pre-set routines combined with automated incline and pulse monitor are other features that many owners appreciate. What's also nice is that there's a secure place to put your drink or iPod; you don't have to worry about something getting spilled or damaged.

Assembly is a breeze with the majority of owners reporting that it took them less than one hour to put everything together. The instructions are very clear and well written; complete with well labelled parts so you won't, as one owner said, "have to play the which-bolts-are-which game".
However, there are a few complaints that I did come across in my research. One person mentioned that the safety strap can occasionally get dislocated because it's attached by a rather weak magnet. This causes the treadmill to safely stop operation. Another person did mention that, though the unit does fold up, it doesn't fold completely flat. As a result it takes up some space even when folded.

I've included the Merit Fitness 715T in order to provide a complete review of the company's major treadmill models. However I do have some reservations about this one. What I found in my research was an inordinate high number of unhappy customers. Perhaps that is why the 715T Plus has received such a high percentage of 1 star reviews. Basically the poor reviews centered on quality control issues with the treadmill, coupled with less than stellar customer service.

However, there are those that have nothing but good things to say about the 715T and 715T Plus. It's inexpensive, has a relatively quiet motor and is space efficient since it's foldable. Naturally at this price you won't get an automatic incline; rather a manual one which some have reported doesn't really adjust that much. There's space for a water bottle and a kindle or book if you so choose, so you can read while working out.