When two treadmills are similar in price, like the Horizon Elite T7 and the NordicTrack Commercial 1750, many people want to know which one is the better treadmill. It is easy enough to read their product pages and see the apparent differences, but those pages are often full of marketing hype and don’t give a clear idea of how the treadmill handles.
As your treadmill review experts, we wanted to offer our unique insight into these two treadmills as we have been able to test and review both of these treadmills in-person. Through our comparison, it became clear that the Commercial 1750 was the superior treadmill. However, depending on your fitness priorities, the Elite T7 may be the right treadmill for you.
Elite T7 & Commercial 1750 General Spec Comparison
| Commercial 1750 | Elite T7 |
|---|---|
|
Cost $1,000-$1,500 price range |
Cost $1,000-$1,500 price range |
|
Weight Capacity 300 lbs |
Weight Capacity 350 lbs |
|
Available Programs 38 |
Available Programs 42 |
|
Dimensions 70” height, 81.3” length, 39.2” width |
Dimensions 60” height, 77” length, 35” width |
|
Running Surface 22” wide by 60” long, 2-ply non-stretch commercial belt |
Running Surface 20” wide by 60” long, 2-ply non-stretch commercial belt |
|
Folding Yes |
Folding Yes |
|
Motor Size 3.6 CHP |
Motor Size 3.0 CHP |
|
Incline Range -3% to 15% |
Incline Range 0% to 15% |
|
Max Speed 12 mph |
Max Speed 12 mph |
|
Fans Yes |
Fans Yes |
|
Heart Rate Monitoring Pulse grip and chest strap |
Heart Rate Monitoring Pulse grip and chest strap |
|
Treadmill Weight 310 lbs |
Treadmill Weight 227 lbs |
Cost – While sale prices may fluctuate the cost of the Elite T7 and Commercial 1750, these two treadmills are usually the same price or within $100 of each other.
Category Winner – Tied
Weight Capacity – The Commercial 1750 can accommodate a user who weighs up to 300 lbs while the Elite T7 can hold a user who weighs up to 350 lbs.
Category Winner – Horizon Elite T7
Available Programs – There are 38 workout programs available on the Commercial 1750, with more which can be unlocked with membership to iFit. On the Elite T7, users have access to 42 workout programs.
Category Winner – Horizon Elite T7
Dimensions – Considerably more compact than the Commercial 1750, the dimensions of the Elite T7 are 60” tall, 77” long, and 35” wide. Compared to those smaller measurements, the Commercial 1750 dimensions make it a much bulkier treadmill, measuring 70” tall, 81.3” long, and 39.2” wide.
Category Winner – Horizon Elite T7
Running Surface – These treadmills have similar running surface areas, with the Elite T7 having a 20” wide by 60” long treadmill belt, and the Commercial 1750 comes with a 22” wide by 60” long treadmill belt. Both treadmills have 2-ply, commercial non-stretch belts.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Folding – Having treadmills which fold is important for many users as space for workout equipment can be challenging to find. Both the Elite T7 and Commercial 1750 can fold up and come with a hydraulic lift system which allows for easier folding and hands-free treadmill deck lowering.
Their release levers are similar, both located under the deck of the treadmill. Users can just press the release spot on the Commercial 1750, while users of the Elite T7 have to lift the deck a little bit before pushing the release lever with their foot.
Category Winner – Tied
Motor Size – A clear motor size difference exists between these two treadmills. The Commercial 1750 has a 3.6 CHP motor, while the Elite T7 has a 3.0 CHP motor. Both motors do put out a humming sound, but the sound is even and easy to relegate to the background.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Incline Range – A greater incline range is available on the Commercial 1750, where the treadmill can go from a -3% decline up to 15% incline. This incline range can help people more accurately train for outdoor events as well as challenge their bodies. On the Elite T7, the incline range goes from 0% incline up to 15% incline.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
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Speed – Both treadmills can reach a top speed of 12 MPH.
Category Winner – Tied
Fans – There is a small fan situated at the top of the Elite T7 console. Its air output is fairly weak. On the Commercial 1750, the fans are located at the base of the console and have multiple speeds which can be chosen by the user or automatically set to match the user’s intensity. The air output is considerably stronger on the Commercial 1750 than on the Elite T7.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Heart Rate Monitoring – Both treadmills come with handlebar pulse grips, but these grips are generally inaccurate. Thankfully, both treadmills also come with a wireless heart rate monitoring chest strap.
The Commercial 1750 comes with an iFit chest strap, which is adjustable and allows for accurate heart rate tracking. When the battery dies on the iFit chest strap, it is easy to replace as there are little inset screws around the battery.
In contrast, the Polar chest strap which comes with the Elite T7 does not have a way to change the battery. So, while it is an accurate chest strap for heart rate monitoring, this flaw can make it tough to make the most of the Polar chest strap when it dies.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Treadmill Weight – Far lighter than the Commercial 1750, the Elite T7 weighs 227 lbs, which is surprising for a treadmill of its price. The Commercial 1750 is 83 lbs heavier and weighs a total of 310 lbs.
Category Winner – Horizon Elite T7
Look and Feel Of The Treadmill
Materials – A good deal of molded plastic makeup both the Commercial 1750 and Elite T7. However, the parts which make up these treadmills differ in quality. The Elite T7 has a slender metal frame and thin plastic parts as its side rails and console shows. The Commercial 1750 has a much thicker metal frame and solid plastic side rails which are reinforced by heavier commercial steel.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Sturdiness – The Elite T7 is not nearly as sturdy as the Commercial 1750. From the thick, balancing feet of the Commercial 1750 to the broad console, users can feel confident when using the 1750. The Elite T7 lacks a stabilizing crossbar, and it may shake when running at higher incline levels.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Moving the treadmill – One of the helpful aspects of the Elite T7 is that it is light enough to move fairly easily. Also, since it is a slim treadmill, users experience less difficulty moving the Elite T7 than with the bulkier and heavier Commercial 1750.
Category Winner – Horizon Elite T7
Cushioning – Standard Horizon, 3-Zone Variable Response cushioning comes with the Elite T7 while the Commercial 1750 comes with Flex cushioning. While the Elite T7 offers a decent amount of cushioning, the Commercial 1750 allows users to change the level of cushioning on the treadmill by using a turning lever on the side of the treadmill deck.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Assembly – Both treadmills can be tough to assemble, and two people may be needed to assemble the Commercial 1750 as it is quite heavy. Extra care should be taken around the console uprights and console arms, as these areas tend to have several wires running through them. Many people have become frustrated when their treadmill doesn’t work after assembly, not realizing that the wires are pinched.
Category Winner – Tied
User Interface
Speed and Incline Controls – The Elite T7 speed and incline control layout can be difficult to use for new treadmill owners. There is a learning curve to programming the speed and incline controls. To operate the Elite T7, users will need to:
- Select the Elite T7 “Set Incline or Set Speed”
- Input desired integers (example “3”, “0” to change the speed or incline to “3.0”)
- Total buttons pressed to adjust speed/incline = 3
Where on the Commercial 1750, the speed and incline controls are more straightforward to use. All whole integer speed and incline control buttons are available on the console of the Commercial 1750. With one press, users can set the speed or incline they want with no difficulty.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Fan Controls – There is only a single button on the Elite T7 console, which must be pressed twice to turn the fan to its higher output. However, since the breeze on the Elite T7 is weak no matter what speed, it can be difficult to know what speed the fan is at.
On the Commercial 1750, there are two buttons to control the fan speed. When pressed, the display will show what speed the fan is going for finer breeze control.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Program Selection – Choosing one of the 38 workout programs is simple on the Commercial 1750. Users can use the touchscreen first choose a workout category (i.e. – calorie burn, intensity, speed, etc.) then scroll through the variety of workouts in the selected category. The exercises will be labeled for beginners, intermediates, and advanced users, with a simple graph to show the user what the workout will be like.
On the Elite T7, the increment adjustment buttons are used to select one of the 42 workout programs. These programs require users to input some parameters such as the user’s desired distance, top incline level, max speed and other metrics depending on the selected workout.
It’s somewhat unusual to not have all of that information preset into the programs, but the larger frustration is that users cannot go back and change a previously set metric. The workout program has to be entirely exited out of then restart the whole process. There is space for two user information to be saved so these metrics may not need to be always set, but if there are more than two users, they will need to input their metrics every time.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Visual Display – There is a definite difference in the quality of the visual display on these treadmills. The Elite T7 has an 8.5” LCD screen, with a bright blue backlit screen with white lettering. While there is nothing necessarily wrong with the Elite T7 screen, it is basic and simplistic, especially when compared to the Commercial 1750.
On the Commercial 1750, users can enjoy the 7” Smart touchscreen with high-definition image quality. The screen is full color and can go from the more ordinary workout display to a Google Maps Interactive workout, where the touchscreen shows the runner faraway running locales.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Entertainment Features
Speakers – Both the Elite T7 and the Commercial 1750 have two speakers. The Commercial 1750 speakers offer high fidelity, and the sound quality remains good even at the higher volume levels. While the last several volume levels on the Elite T7 begin to deteriorate in sound quality, in general, the Elite T7 speakers are decent for users who want to be headphone-free.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
USB Port – No USB port exists on the Commercial 1750, while there is a USB port on the console of the Elite T7.
Category Winner- Horizon Elite T7
Other Entertainment Features – The Elite T7 is set up to work with Horizon’s Passport system. Users who choose to buy the Passport system will receive a USB stick to allow them to project a running path to their TV. This system had to be bought separately from the Elite T7. A tablet holder comes with the Commercial 1750, allowing users to securely place their mobile device during a workout. Also, with the 2018 Commercial 1750, each of these treadmills comes with a 30 day membership to iFit, giving the user access to immersive workouts.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Data Tracking
Data Display – Users can receive considerably more workout information when using the Commercial 1750 than on the Elite T7. Some scrolling of the Commercial 1750 touchscreen is required to see all the available data.
| Commercial 1750 | Elite T7 |
|---|---|
|
Current Incline x |
Current Incline x |
|
Vertical Gain x |
Vertical Gain – |
|
Vertical Loss x |
Vertical Loss – |
|
Current Speed x |
Current Speed x |
|
Current Pace x |
Current Pace x |
|
Average Pace x |
Average Pace – |
|
Lap Time x |
Lap Time – |
|
Distance x |
Distance x |
|
Time Elapsed x |
Time Elapsed x |
|
Current Heart Rate x |
Current Heart Rate x |
|
Average Heart Rate x |
Average Heart Rate – |
|
Current Heart Rate Zone x |
Current Heart Rate Zone – |
|
Total Calories Burned x |
Total Calories Burned x |
|
Calories Burned per Hr x |
Calories Burned per Hr – |
|
Data Graph x |
Data Graph – |
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Fitness Apps – The Elite T7 can sync with the ViaFit app. This app allows users to set goals, sync with the Elite T7 and collect workout data as well as share user achievements with others.
As previously mentioned, the Commercial 1750 can sync with iFit and comes with a free month membership to iFit. Without the free membership which comes with the user’s treadmill purchase, iFit membership costs $39 per month for up to 5 profiles. Some of the major perks of using iFit are:
- Google Maps Interactive allows users to virtually explore faraway places, from Lovatnet, Norway, to running the famous Boston Marathon course.
- Participate in livecast workouts, led by world-class personal trainers
- Utilize the extensive personal information tracking technology to record workouts.
- Follow virtual trainers through high-energy and motivating workouts.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Horizon & NordicTrack Financing Options
NordicTrack Financing
- No money down purchases
- No interest if paid in full in 18 months.
- Standard APR of 29.99% after 18 months. Interest will be charged starting from the purchase date. After 18 months, interested is backdated to the purchase date and also charged from the current date on the remaining balance (+backdated interest).
- So this is a great option if you’re able to pay the treadmill off within the promo period (18 months). But you’ll get hit with outrageous interest fees if you do not pay the treadmill off within 18 months.
- You are required to make minimum payments each month. BUT the minimum payment is not calculated to pay off the treadmill in 18 months. You’ll need to make a higher payment than the minimum in order to avoid interest fees. This calculation will vary depending on the original purchase price.
- Subject to credit approval.
Horizon Financing
- Go through third-party financing company called FuturePay.
- FuturePay charges a flat financing charge of $1.50/month for every $50 in a carried balance of $50 or more.
- No money down purchases
- Minimum payments can be as low as $25/month
- You can pay off the balance at any time
- Subject to credit approval
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
NordicTrack and ProForm Warranties
NordicTrack Warranty
- 30-day trial period. Full refund minus 10% restocking fee and shipping fees unless the machine is damaged or defective on arrival.
- Treadmill must be returned in good condition, including original packaging and paperwork. If these things are missing, you will also pay an additional 10% fee.
- 10-year warranty on frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
- Service can be performed in your home for a fee. You may also be asked to ship your treadmill for service, then being charged for the shipping.
Horizon Warranty
- 30-day trial and return period. Full refund minus freight and assembly charges.
- Returns need to be authorized through customer service (877-700-8730), and your account will be credited upon receipt of the item.
- Lifetime warranty on frame, motor, 2-year parts, with 1-year cushioning and labor.
- Parts will be shipped to your home, with labor repair provided for free for the first year.
Category Winner – NordicTrack 1750
Overall Favorite
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750
__________
Total Categories Compared: 28
Total Ties Between the 1750 and the Elite T7: 4
Total NordicTrack Favored Categories: 18
Total Horizon Favored Categories: 6
The Horizon Elite T7 is a good treadmill and may be what a “jump on and go” runner would prefer to use. However, it just doesn’t stack up to the features the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 offers users. After reading this comparison, it may make more sense why the Commercial 1750 has won so many Best Buy awards.
To bring one of these treadmills home and to save some money while you do it, feel free to use our exclusive treadmill coupons.
