In terms of price and performance, the Horizon lineup is doggone tough to beat. While touring the facilities of Johnson Fitness – the manufacturer of both Horizon and Matrix – I was quite impressed with the company’s commitment to machine quality. One of their employees remarked that their goal is to focus on the machine as opposed to particular app programming. That struck me as noteworthy as it’s the opposite approach taken by the iFit brands like NordicTrack and ProForm where the machine is designed to work with just the iFit app. And so at the top of the Horizon lineup we see the Horizon 7.8 AT which designed to allow for streaming workouts from a dozen different apps as well as 10 built-in programs. Equipped with a 9.3″ high-contrast TFT screen, the treadmill has a solid media shelf and tablet attachment designed to allow you to bring your own device if you want to use various workout apps. Priced at $1,999 with a lifetime warranty on both the frame and motor, it brings a very competitive package to the market.

Having used the machine myself I can tell you the stability is there, as is the ease of use. It’s a great folding treadmill which anyone can manipulate irrespective of physical strength. Read below to see the complete machine walkthrough and be sure to check out the links to important articles concerning decks, motors, rollers, and belts, if you have any questions about the mechanics.

Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Horizon 7.8 AT

At TreadmillReviews.net, we bring you comprehensive reviews of treadmills so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the treadmills we review. We install them, walk on them, run on them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every treadmill we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles on the deck. We listen and record the sound of the motor, we test and measure the incline/decline, try out all aspects of the console and try the treadmill’s features.

Every treadmill we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think. This particular treadmill has been around for many years, and we’ve done previous reviews of the Horizon 7.8 AT. So, in this review, we also compared it to the previous models.

Our reviewers are treadmill and fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a competitive bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert at treadmills, has been on this treadmill, and you can trust his opinion on all of the treadmills he reviews.

In Brief

The 2023 Horizon 7.8 AT represents the top-of-the-line offering in the Horizon Studio Series. Measuring 76″ x 37″ x 64″ when assembled, it folds up to 42″ x 37″ 71″ and weighs about 330 pounds, while holding a maximum user weight of 375 pounds. The 22″ x 60″ running deck is built for long runs, walks, or hikes, and features a top speed of 12mph and incline up to 15%. Patented 3-Zone Comfort Cushioning, and 2.36″ rollers come along with Bluetooth-enabling and a 4.0 CHP motor with a lifetime guarantee. If you’re wanting a top-of-the-lineup treadmill without a big rotating screen for under $2,000, this could be it.

Check Price

Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill: Pros & Cons (2024) - Key Specs:

Horizon 7.8 AT Video Review

In-Depth Review of the Horizon 7.8 AT

Why We Like It

The Horizon 7.8 AT is powerful and fun to use and priced right at $1,999. Chock full of features from Bluetooth speakers and a USB charging ports to a multi-position tablet holder and accessory tray, the 2023 model is built to work with numerous apps or built-in programs. Whether you like to exercise along with virtual programming or just music, the Horizon 7.8 AT is built for choice. A big, solid machine, it does take up some space, and that’s something you’ll want to consider when placing it in the home. That said, it’s a folding unit, and as I’ve written before, one of the great things about folding units is they’re easy to clean and maintain. 

Looking at it strictly from a running standpoint, it ticks all the boxes. It has a larger-than-standard running deck, which is great for high intensity training. A top speed of 12 mph and a max incline of 15 degrees is plenty sufficient to keep you at a brisk pace and burning plenty of calories along the way. This unit does benefit from a 4.0 CHP motor, and its output is great. Using and LED/TFT screen makes for a big improvement in legibility with its white counters being easy to read, and its green/yellow/red graphed indications easily stand out, making the display very easy to read at a quick glance.

It Comes With A Terrific Console

The biggest upgrade at hand with the 7.8 AT treadmill is a new 9.3-inch full color display screen. Previously only ever seen with basic LCD screens, this new setup still cannot be used to watch interactive training programming, however it does display all of your essential running/workout data in a crisp and clear manner that’s superior to its siblings. Much like the 7.4 AT, there is a ledge above its display for users to rest their smartphones or tablets, should they want to follow along with video training program. Whether I’m using a tablet or phone, that ledge at the bottom of the media shelf is quite secure, meaning there’s no slip-and-slide when you’re running.

Smart Programming

In addition to the readout data from workouts, which includes calories, distance, heart rate, incline, pace, speed, and time, this unit’s interface also informs you when it’s time to lubricate the belt. As I read customer complaints about treadmills not working after a few months, it becomes clear how few people actually lubricate their belt or clean out their motor cage. Both of these steps are crucial to keeping your machine going, and you can read up on that process in my article here. Moreover, this programming is also designed to work with the built-in programs which include: 5K, Calorie, Custom, Custom HR, Distance, Fat Burn, Heart Rate, Hill Climb, Manual, and Sprint 8.

Sprint 8 in its simplest form is a proprietary variation of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) designed by Johnson Health Tech, which is associated with the parent company of Horizon Fitness. The 20-minute workout takes its users through a warm-up phase, followed by intense 30-second sprints broken up by 90-second active recovery periods before a final 2.5 minute cool-down. The brand claims that significant body fat loss can be achieved in as little as 8 weeks, based on running the Sprint 8 program three times per week. You can get more details here.

Solid Parts

One thing you have to admit about the Johnson Fitness machines, they don’t skimp on parts. The steel rollers in each of their treadmills are top of the line, as are their motors. There’s a reason they offer lifetime warranties on both the frame and motor. I’m always a fan of brands that offer that kind of a guarantee. So long as you maintain the unit with proper care, there’s really no reason to ever have to replace a Horizon treadmill, meaning it should last more than 10 years. This is also demonstrated by the machine’s maximum user weight of 375 pounds. That alone tells you it’s a solid unit.

Easy to Fold and Move

Even though this treadmill weighs 330 pounds, it’s easy to pop up into a folded position and roll away. That not only makes for easy transport, but also access to maintenance. One thing you might consider before buying a treadmill is what you plan to do if ever you want to sell it. Keep in mind it’s a lot easier to move a folding treadmill out of your home fully assembled than a non-folding one. You’ll have to disassemble the non-folding unit piece by piece, whereas if you’ve selected a good spot for the folding one, you might be able to simply roll it out the door.

What We Like:

This Treadmill Could Be Right If You Want:

Our Verdict:

Looking at the 7.8 AT treadmill when compared to the competition, and when compared to Horizon’s new 7.4 AT treadmill, we think it’s a very solid choice. If you want to keep up with Peloton classes without a Peloton price, you’re in good hands with the 7.8AT. Alternatively, you could either spend less money and get the well-spec’d 7.4 AT, or consider other offerings near the $2k price point from our list of runners treadmills found here.

Giveaway:

Crush your fitness goals with Horizon’s most powerful treadmill, the Horizon 7.8AT. Connect directly to your favorite workout apps, such as Zwift or Peloton, or use the integrated Sprint 8 HIIT programming. Does this sound like the perfect addition to your home gym? Well, you’re in luck. We’re giving a Horizon 7.8AT away to one lucky reader! Fill out the form below to enter our giveaway today.

Update: Congratulations to Bijan A. of California, the winner of our Horizon 7.8AT Giveaway!

Check Price

Recent Updates

• July 13, 2021: Added some FAQs to the page.
• July 28, 2021: Updated the specs to include new offers and features.
• November 23, 2022: Updated specs and pricing
• May 12, 2023: Updated specs
• November 10, 2023: Updated specs