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The Horizon 7.8 AT folding treadmill is a solid option if you are looking for a treadmill compatible with the most popular online fitness subscription services. The wide deck and high weight capacity make the treadmill a good option for all athlete heights, and it's quite comfortable to run on as well. 15% incline and a 4.0 CHP motor are well suited for HIIT and long distance running workouts alike.
Last Updated: April 29, 2022>
The Horizon 7.8 AT is one of the best overall treadmills from Horizon, and a fantastic option to consider if you are looking to join a 3rd party online workout community. The wide running area, with a cushioned silicone belt, feels great to run on and is very comfortable for short and tall athletes alike. The 4.0 CHP motor is coupled with 15% incline control, allowing you to get in high-intensity training sessions and low impact workouts alike. The 7.8 AT is designed to work well with several different online fitness subscriptions, though the major downside of the machine is that you need a separate electronic device loaded with a 3rd party app to access this feature. Furthermore, while it is a great and sturdy treadmill, this is a particularly heavy exercise machine at 330 lbs. Still, if you don’t mind the weight and you are hoping to sign up for a 3rd party online fitness subscription, the Horizon 7.8 AT is a great machine for you. Read on to learn why our team at TreadmillReviews.com loves this machine and a few concerns we have about it.
The Horizon 7.4 AT has a MSRP of $2,699 but by purchasing it directly from Horizon you can typically purchase this treadmill for $1,999 dollars but prices may vary so make sure to check. If you would prefer a finance option, the 7.8 AT is also available for 0% APR for 36 months, or 3 years. The 7.8 AT package also comes with a Bluetooth chest strap heart rate monitor, which typically costs around $50 to $100 dollars.
Motor Size: The 7.8 AT has the best motor of the three Horizon AT treadmills at 4.0 CHP. While capped at 12 MPH, it is well suited for HIIT sessions and for long distance training alike.
Running Surface: The 22’’ by 60’’ deck is great, in that it's wide enough to support short and tall athletes alike without being unnecessarily wide that the machine is excessively large. If you’ve felt cramped on other treadmills, you should feel much more comfortable on the 7.8 AT.
Belt/Deck Suspension: The belt is 1.6mm of silicone, and should feel cushy to run on with most typical gym and running shoes. This is partially because of the 3-zone variable response cushioning, which is designed to further reduce the strain of impact on your knees and other weak joints while you run. The 7.8 AT feels very stable while in use, partially because of the six major contact points and because of the heavy nature of the 330 lbs machine. The 7.8 AT has a 375 lbs recommended weight capacity, which should be more than enough for more adults who wish to use the 7.8 AT.
Space/Footprint: While the running deck size is typical of most other treadmills, you will still need quite a bit of space as the deployed, fully assembled 7.8 AT requires 20 ft² of space. When not in use, you do cut down the needed space nearly by half to 11 ft², with the long deck folding into the console. While it causes the treadmill to be rather large and require quite a bit of space, the long machine size does make it an even better option for taller athletes or those with long leg strides.
The 7.8 AT is very easy to fold, and with its transport wheels it doesn’t take too much work to move it around through carpet and hard surfaces. However, the heavy machine weight makes it very difficult to lift, as the 7.8 AT comes in at 330 lbs, the heaviest of the three Horizon AT treadmills. If you were looking for a treadmill that was easy to move and store, you will want to look at the 7.0 AT or a different treadmill entirely. However, if you don’t plan on deploying or moving the treadmill that often, then the heavy treadmill weight won’t be much of an issue.
One additional note is that, unlike the 7.0 and 74. AT, the 7.8 AT has aluminum reinforced side rails. This does weigh down the machine a bit more, but does make it more durable, provide greater weight support, and makes the machine look nicer as well.
Incline: Premium treadmills will offer even greater incline control, but the 15% incline control included with the 7.8 AT is on par with other treadmills available for this price point. The higher you set the incline, the more intense the workout will be, helping you burn calories quicker though also causing additional strain to your knees and other joints as well.
Handles: There are two spin dial handles that you can use to adjust both the speed and incline of the 7.8 AT treadmill without pressing a button. The right spin dial will control the speed, while you can use the left spin dial handle to change your incline. If you want to track your heart rate, you will also find contract grips situated beneath the dials on the handles.
Other Features:
Display:The 9.3’’, 16 digit backlit LCD display will help you track your personal performance metrics while you train on the 7.8 AT. The display will monitor the following while training:
The display itself is useful while running, but we would much prefer a 7.8 AT option that had a built in display for streaming workout subscription services. Choosing to make users rely on a secondary phone or tablet does save money on machine costs, but the 7.8 AT is already so expensive that having a treadmill option with the display built in already would be preferred.
Media Controls: Something unique to the 7.8 AT that is missing from the other two variants are the media controls below the LCD display. These controls are simple, but they do help you navigate through subscription apps and allow you to pause videos and music without disrupting your secondary device screen.
Pre-Installed Workouts: The 7.8 AT is preinstalled with 10 basic workout programs, allowing you to train even without the aid of an additional online fitness service. However, the online fitness subscription compatibility is a major reason behind the machine’s premium cost, so be sure to use the 7.8 AT with a fitness app if you are considering this workout machine.
Speakers/Audio Jack: If you want to listen to music, a podcast, or something else, you can connect your phone, tablet, or electronic device through one of two methods. The 7.8 does have enhanced 4.0 Bluetooth capabilities, though you can also just plug in a Aux cord directly into the machine. The speakers are worth using, as they’re a step above the speakers typically used for most cell phones and tablets.
Heart Rate Monitoring: If you want a general, quick check of your heart rate you can just grab the contact points below the handle dials. The 7.8 AT does have compatibility with Bluetooth heart rate chest monitors, and it even comes with a chest strap out of the box. Chest straps have the advantage of providing a more accurate reading of your heart rate than the handle contact points, besides also allowing you to maintain a normal running stance instead of awkwardly reaching for the handles.
USB Port: The USB port will help your phone, tablet, or other electronic device stay charged while synched up with the 7.8 AT treadmill. You can also use the USB port to upload your fitness data, although the 7.8 AT has a wireless synching option available as well.
Free threshold shipping is included when purchasing the 7.8 AT directly from Horizon. No premium paid shipping options, such as in home or assembly, are available from Horizon for the 7.8 AT at the time of publication of our review.
We anticipate that the Horizon 7.8 AT will take most people 15 to 30 minutes to assemble. All tools required for assembly are included with the 7.8, though we suggest having a Flathead and Phillips screwdriver, along with an adjustable wrench, to make certain components easier to install. You can find printed instructions included with your 7.8 AT treadmill, with more in depth video instructions available online. While you can assemble the 7.8 AT treadmill on your own, we would recommend having a second person help you to make assembly easier.
Horizon provides a lifetime warranty for the 7.8 AT frame and motor, with 5 year warranty coverage for parts and 2 year warranty coverage for labor. Additional 3 year protection can be purchased for $149.99, and additional 5 year protection can be purchased for $199.99.
The 7.8 AT treadmill is also covered by a 30-day full money back guarantee. If you return the 7.8 AT in its original packaging and in like new condition, you will receive a full refund outside of any freight and shipping costs. In order to avoid a restocking fee, we strongly suggest keeping the original packaging for the 7.8 AT folding treadmill for at least 30 days after delivery.
The Horizon 7.8 AT folding treadmill is a strong, durable, yet comfortable treadmill for all sorts of athletes who are looking for a machine compatible with online fitness subscription services. The 375 lbs weight capacity, along with a wide 22’’ deck, makes the machine a good option for short and tall trainees alike. The 3 variable zone cushioning reduces knee, ankle, and lower back strain for low intensity running, but there is also a 15% adjustable incline for high intensity training as well. The 7.8 AT is extremely compatible with services like Peloton, Studio, AFG, and other fitness apps for great, online interactive workout training that you can control with the treadmill itself. However, you will need a secondary device in order to link up and connect to an online training app. Furthermore, while the 7.8 AT treadmill does fold, it still takes up plenty of floor space and is difficult to move due to its high 330 lbs machine weight. If you are looking for something lighter, or a treadmill with a dedicated display for online fitness training, check out our list of Best Treadmills. However, if you don’t want to spend too much money while still having a great treadmill for joining in on streaming classes and workouts, you’ll definitely want to consider going with the Horizon 7.8 AT folding treadmill!
