The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The Horizon T101 walks the walk. With a $599 price tag and great features, this treadmill is the perfect match for anyone starting a walking routine. Keep reading to discover if the T101 is everything you need.
Updated: July 24, 2025
I’m tempted by flashy, expensive fitness machines like anyone else, but trying out an affordable treadmill, like the Horizon T101, reminds me that you don’t need a high budget to get a good treadmill. For well under a grand, the T101 is both effective and durable.
Now, if this budget-friendly treadmill were the be-all, end-all, I would never have to review another treadmill. While it’s a great value option, there are still considerations you need to make before choosing the T101.
Keep reading to decide if this treadmill is the right one for you or if you need something a little more powerful. The answer might surprise you.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “buy nice or buy it twice,” and I think that is something worth considering when you are contemplating a treadmill purchase. But where is the line between nice and affordable? The lines can be blurry, but I think the Horizon T101 represents a big jump in value. It’s affordable, but the quality is very nice.
The Horizon T101 has a lifetime warranty on its frame and motor. This warranty covers both manufacturer defects for the lifetime of the original owner. This type of warranty is rare to come by, even on much more expensive machines.
Like most treadmills, the Horizon T101 has a steel frame. I think the frame and folding mechanism could be a little sturdier when I’m unfolding the treadmill because the force of the deck lowering makes the frame wobble somewhat. However, that is the only time that this happens. The rest of the time, the T101 feels very sturdy.
The handles feel supportive, and the soft texture makes this treadmill feel far more premium than its price suggests.
The footrails are wide enough to support you standing on them. They are plastic and textured, so while they could be more substantial, they work just fine.
My detective skills came in handy for determining the motor horsepower of the T101. I’ve recently gotten a lot more comfortable with removing the treadmill motor hood, so I went snooping to find the T101’s motor rating. It’s 2.5 HP, which is unchanged from previous years’ models.
The speed range for the T101 is 0.5 to 10 miles per hour. It accelerates slower than most Horizon treadmills, which gives the T101 a smooth and stable feel. However, it’s not ideal for interval workouts.
As for the motor noise, the T101 is on par with the majority of home treadmills. It’s not outstandingly quiet or loud, with a decibel range from 57 to 70 dB. Yet, the incline adjustments are very quiet and do not add to the noise output, which is a huge strength. Many affordable treadmills have inclines that are very grating when they adjust.
I like the cushioning of the T101. It’s not overly soft or bouncy, but it feels cushioned enough for comfort.
Anyone considering the Horizon T101 for running should note that the running surface is only 55” long. It’s 20” wide (or 19.5” wide by my measurement), which falls within the normal range for a fitness treadmill (20” to 22”).
The step-up height to the T101 is just over 7”. We consider anything under 10” to be a low step-up height. As such, the T101 should fit better into rooms with lower ceilings and be more accessible for exercisers.
You don’t need a large space to house the T101, though Horizon suggests including additional space on the sides and behind the treadmill for safety. The T101 measures 70.5” x 33.5” x 59” when unfolded, but it folds to 46” x 34” x 61”.
At 180 lbs, the T101 isn’t the heaviest treadmill. I can roll it around on its transport wheels without too much difficulty. The deck wobbles a bit, so if you are holding the treadmill by the deck, it can make it a little unstable during transport. Because the T101 is so light, I didn’t have any issue maintaining control of it despite the wobble.
The folding mechanism uses a soft folding mechanism, called “FeatherLight Folding,” to gently lower the deck to the ground once you unlock it. You just press the kick release mechanism with your foot, apply a gentle pressure to the deck, and it will unfold without further intervention.
Despite being an affordable treadmill, the T101 has an automatic incline. With the push of a button, the deck inclines from 0 up to 10%. I also measured the accuracy of the incline, and it lined up very well! When flat, it was 0%, and at the top incline, I measured it at 9.6%. That’s close enough that I’m as willing to blame our uneven floor or instrumentation as I am the treadmill itself.
The incline adjustments are faster than the speed adjustments, allowing you to perform hill intervals with ease.
While the T101 doesn’t have a touchscreen, I think it has everything you need for an excellent workout. Depending on the type of workout you want, the lack of a touchscreen is actually a strength.
Compared to most treadmills, assembling the T101’s console and connecting its wires were incredibly easy. I did it on my own without any help, which is uncommon for fitness equipment. I really like Horizon’s user-friendly design here.
Part of the reason the console is so easy to assemble is that it is lightweight. It's mostly plastic and has four LED windows instead of a touchscreen. These windows show all the metrics you need, like time, distance, speed, incline, calories, and heart rate.
There are plenty of buttons for adjusting the treadmill settings and programming a workout. The only trouble I had was figuring out which buttons to push to scroll through the program options. Press “Programs” to toggle through the program options, and use the speed arrows to adjust the time limit and the difficulty level.
My favorite way to adjust the speed and incline is the roller dials. I find them convenient and intuitive to use. This edition of the T101 also has them enclosed in the handles well enough to prevent accidentally hitting them while you are training.
You can use Bluetooth on the T101 to connect to FTMS treadmill apps, like JRNY, Zwift, Peloton, and more. You can also use Bluetooth to pair a compatible heart rate monitor. Unfortunately, you cannot do both at the same time. Yet, these apps usually allow you to connect a heart rate monitor to them, which solves the problem.
Hold down the Bluetooth button to switch the T101 from app mode to HR mode before starting a workout.
Bluetooth also allows you to connect your phone or tablet to the speakers. You can use the speakers regardless of which Bluetooth mode you are in, as this Bluetooth channel is entirely separate.
While you can pair most Bluetooth heart rate monitors with the T101, you also get the option of using the EKG pulse grips. These are located on the T101’s stability handles. Though pulse grips are not as accurate as most wearable heart rate monitors, they can be useful for checking in on your heart rate occasionally.
I was strongly against the T101 as a running treadmill previously. However, this model appears to be better at supporting runs. I’m 5’4”, so keep in mind that the shorter deck doesn’t impact me as much as it could impact taller users with longer strides. Still, I clipped the motor hood a few times with my foot—not enough to impact my run, but I noticed it.
During my testing of the Horizon T101, I mostly walked, as that is the main purpose of this treadmill. I did slow and steady walks, interval walks, and hill climbs. I tested out the various programs on the T101. Overall, I think it’s a solid treadmill and couldn’t find much to complain about.
You don’t need a subscription to use the T101. If you don’t subscribe to a single training service, it won’t impact your enjoyment of this treadmill. It has six workout programs, a few of which have up to 10 intensity levels. The workouts include manual, interval, hill climb, fat burn, distance, and calories.
If you want more training options, Horizon promotes the JRNY app. This app offers the best integration with the T101, as it is owned by Horizon’s parent company. JRNY is more affordable than comparable training services, at only $20/month. It has structured scenic workouts and trainer-led classes.
JRNY is not the only app you can use with the T101. This treadmill is compatible with any FTMS app, allowing you to use Peloton, Zwift, and more.
My top three reasons for choosing the Horizon T101 are its low price, lifetime frame and motor warranty, and compact folding design. I’d even say it's the best in its price range. The T101 is ideal for anyone seeking a reliable walking treadmill on a budget.
Whenever I test out treadmills, I like to see plenty of free training options. The T101 has onboard programs and the option to connect with the training app of your choosing. Whether you want to subscribe to JRNY or Peloton, train with the onboard apps, or test out a free FTMS app, the T101 has you covered.
We’ve designated the Horizon T101 as the best walking treadmill again and again. It’s a great option that I look forward to using for my next walking workout.
