I've Been Running on This Fold-Up Treadmill for Years, and It's Majorly Discounted Right Now
Courtesy of Merchant
shp - $649 Available at Horizon Fitness
shp - $999 Available at Horizon Fitness
shp - $1,599 Available at Horizon Fitness
shp - $1,999 Available at Horizon Fitness
Picking out a new treadmill is a huge investment. Whether you're trying to stay consistent with a new fitness routine or you're an avid runner who sometimes brings your workout indoors, finding the right treadmill can mean the difference between sticking to your goals and giving up. With so many different models available at a wide range of price points, it's tough to figure out which treadmill features you actually need and which ones you don't. However, after several years of running on a variety of treadmill brands and models, the Horizon T101 treadmill has quickly become one of my favorites.
As a competitive runner, I'll admit that I can be pretty picky about the fitness equipment I use. I prefer treadmills that have an easy-to-use interface, a wide range of speeds and inclines to accommodate different workouts, and a cushioned running belt since I'm prone to stress fractures. After completing many runs on the Horizon T101 treadmill, I found it to be a nearly perfect combination of features that can meet a variety of runners' needs, including my own. And the best part: This best-selling treadmill is currently on sale for more than $300 off. Keep reading to get a full breakdown of the T101 treadmill's features and why I think it's one of the best affordable treadmills on the market.
Buy It: Horizon Fitness T101 treadmill, $649, was $999, horizonfitness.com
Horizon Fitness Treadmill Sale
If you're looking to purchase a new treadmill, there are a variety of things to think about. First, consider the types of cardio workouts you enjoy. For people who love distance running, you'll need to find a treadmill with a longer running belt that can fit your stride while providing appropriate cushioning for your joints. If walking is your preferred pace, a more compact treadmill that can incline may be a better choice. It's also important to determine whether you'd benefit from purchasing a high-tech design (think app integration, on-demand workout classes, and streaming) rather than a more simplistic, easy-to-use interface.
Thankfully, Horizon Fitness has multiple treadmills on sale right now, including its award-winning T101 treadmill. As the brand's best-selling model, the T101 is a versatile treadmill that's great for walking, running, and incline workouts. With a maximum incline of 10 percent and a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour (which translates to a six-minute-per-mile running pace), it's great for cardio lovers of all skill levels. The T101 offers five preset workout modes, including manual mode, a timed workout, interval training, a calorie burning setting, and a weight loss mode. While I typically stick with manual mode for all of my runs, the other options are ideal if you want to hop on the treadmill and not have to think about increasing your speed or incline.
You can also shop other treadmills from Horizon Fitness for hundreds of dollars off right now, including the Studio Tread 7.0, 7.4 AT, and 7.8 AT treadmills. With bluetooth connectivity, faster speed transitions, and a bigger running belt for longer strides, these iterations of the Studio Tread are higher-tech versions of the popular T101 treadmill.
Horizon Fitness Treadmills on Sale Right Now:
T101 Treadmill, $649, was $999
7.0 Studio Tread, $999, was $1,999
7.4 AT Treadmill, $1,599, was $2,399
7.8 AT Treadmill, $1,999, was $2,699
My overall rating for the T101 treadmill: 7.6/10
Pros:
More affordable than many other treadmill models
Easy to operate
Quiet motor
Speed and incline capabilities
Built-in bluetooth speaker
Folds up for easy storage
Cons:
No app connection or built-in workout classes
Does not track progress over time
Shorter running belt
Lower maximum speed than some treadmills on the market
Horizon Fitness
My Review of the Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill
When running on the T101 treadmill, I've found its simplicity to be one of its biggest assets. The display is extremely easy to operate — which is important, because who wants to fiddle around with a confusing interface when they're in the middle of a run? You'll be able to see your running pace, amount of calories burned, elapsed time, and heart rate throughout the workout (though you have to hold onto the handlebars to see your heart rate). The T101 also offers a few high-tech features, including bluetooth connection, built-in-speakers, and a handy shelf to hold your phone or tablet, allowing you to stream a TV show or listen to your favorite workout playlist while running.
Compared to other treadmills at similar price points, I found the T101's motor to be pretty quiet, making it a great option if you live in an apartment. For people whose home gym also doubles as their living room or office space, the T101 can easily fold up when not in use. The front end of the treadmill has wheels for easy transport when you're stowing it away.
The Horizon Fitness T101 treadmill comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and the motor, so if your treadmill doesn't hold up like it's supposed to, Horizon Fitness will replace those parts free of charge. There's also a one-year home warranty on parts and labor, which provides coverage if your treadmill was built incorrectly or an element, such as the running belt, were to break.
Buy It: Horizon Fitness T101 treadmill, $649, was $999, horizonfitness.com
How to Buy Horizon Fitness Treadmills
You can purchase your own Horizon Fitness treadmill in a variety of locations, including on the manufacturer's website and at retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods and Amazon. If you're buying from the manufacturer's website, you'll be able to see a full overview of the T101's features, read customer reviews, and find delivery and assembly information. Once you've added a treadmill to your cart, you can opt to extend its parts and labor warranty from one year to three years ($120) or five years ($150). Additionally, you can decide how you'd like it to be delivered — directly to your doorstep, brought inside your home, or brought inside and fully assembled. You'll be able to schedule a date and delivery window to ensure your treadmill arrives at a time that's convenient for you.
Who Is the T101 Treadmill Best For?
One of my favorite things about the T101 treadmill is its versatility, meaning it meets a majority of runners' needs while remaining relatively affordable. For beginning and intermediate runners, it has all the basic features you're probably looking for — reasonable speeds, incline features, and easy-to-read data about how your workout is going. You can add variety to your workouts by doing a walking workout at an incline or increase the intensity with a quicker running pace, all of which can be done pretty effortlessly on this model. However, the T101 also has a few standout features, such as the bluetooth connectivity and built-in speakers that give it an edge above competing models. If you're someone who easily gets bored by a treadmill workout, having the option to watch your favorite TV show can help get you through those seemingly never-ending miles. Plus, the machine is easy to fold up and stow away when you're not using it, making it a great space-saving option.
Buy It: Horizon Fitness T101 treadmill, $649, was $999, horizonfitness.com
Who Isn't the T101 Treadmill Best For?
If you're an experienced runner who wants to get in some high-speed reps on the treadmill, the T101 might fall a little short. Since its maximum speed is a six-minute-per-mile pace, this particular model isn't quite fast enough for some runners' quick-tempo workouts. I prefer to get my speed work in outdoors, so this hasn't been a huge problem for me, but other runners may feel differently. If your goal pace is somewhere around the 6-minute mark, you'll want to shop Horizon Fitness's T202 or T303 treadmills, which have similar specs to the T101 but slightly faster speeds.
The T101 treadmill also may not be right for someone who wants a ton of high-tech features in their fitness equipment. While this treadmill has many of the basic functions most runners look for, it can't track your progress over time, connect to a fitness watch, or store workout data on your smartphone like some treadmills can. Additionally, you won't be able to connect to fitness apps like Peloton to watch an online workout class, though you can stream workouts via bluetooth with your phone or tablet.
Horizon Fitness
Horizon Fitness Customer Reviews
As Horizon Fitness's most popular treadmill, the T101 isn't lacking five-star reviews. In general, shoppers love how easy it is to operate, how quiet the motor is, and how it can be folded up to store. Based on reviews, buyers seem to vary in ability level, with some customers saying the treadmill helps them get a daily walk in while others praise the T101 for keeping them exercising in the winter.
On the Horizon Fitness website, a reviewer named Howard wrote, "It is winter, and it's dark when I finish work, so taking my daily hike is out of the question Monday through Friday. I got this treadmill so I can walk, including up a steep incline, to stay in shape and get in my daily hiking during the weekdays. This treadmill is the best!"
"We bought [the T101 treadmill] during the pandemic in the winter months and it really helped lift the mood to go on a walk/run," another reviewer named Anthraman said. "It has enough speed and incline to serve all needs and also has a bluetooth speaker that you can connect your phone/iPad to. It is well-built and sturdy and very easy to operate… All in all, this was a great purchase for us."
Some of the' lower ratings come from shoppers who said they had issues with their treadmills being delivered on time. Other negative reviews mention difficulties contacting customer service.
Are Horizon Fitness Treadmills Worth It?
Based on my experience with the T101 treadmill, I definitely think it's worth it for the price. The machine has all the basic components that beginning and intermediate walkers and runners typically need for a variety of cardio workouts, and it lets you log some solid miles. While the T101 lacks a few of the high-tech features that a more expensive treadmill might offer, the built-in device holder allows you to use a smartphone or tablet to stream a workout or watch a movie the way higher-end models can. I would absolutely recommend this treadmill to other runners.
Buy It: Horizon Fitness T101 treadmill, $649, was $999, horizonfitness.com
