Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical Review: A Great Budget Buy?

Dimensions/Storability

For starters, this isn’t a small or lightweight machine. It’s 76″ long and weighs close to 200 lbs (194, to be exact). So, the 7.0 AE is heavy and probably challenging to move around. It does have a handle built into the frame at the rear to help with moving, though.

Before purchasing the Horizon 7.0 AE, consider its dimensions of 76″ L x 24″ W x 65.5″ H. It does not fold, so it will need a permanent location.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

In our experience using the Horizon 7.8AT and Horizon T101 treadmills, we found that they include built-in workouts that don’t require Wi-Fi or a subscription. Many elliptical machines and fitness equipment, in general, nowadays offer trainer-led content that you have to pay a monthly fee for. The Horizon 7.0 AE doesn’t, which is helpful if you want to save money.

There are eight built-in program modes: 5k, calorie, custom, distance, fat burn, hill climb, manual, and target heart rate. This allows you to follow along with structured workouts or create your own. You can also do your own thing in manual mode and adjust the elliptical as you go. Compared to other equipment, this is a fair number of workout programs.

Console

The console has less tech than other models, such as the NordicTrack 14.9, but it doesn’t lack functionality. There are plenty of adjustment buttons on the console and a 7″ LCD screen to see your stats and selected mode.

As far as buttons, there are individual buttons to select whatever workout program you want. There are quick adjustment buttons for the resistance and incline, as well. Quick-touch buttons like these are our favorites on ellipticals and treadmills because they allow you to easily do interval training and make using the machine more intuitive and streamlined.

So, even though there isn’t a touch screen, we don’t think you’ll miss it.

However, there is a device rack on which you can place your phone or tablet. You can stream or read whatever you want then. The ledge to place your device is just below the LCD screen, so your device will cover the screen when you use it. There are some window displays beneath the rack, so you should still be able to see metrics like your current speed and time.

The Horizon 7.0 AE has a cup holder for your water, built-in speakers, and a fan.

While we’re unsure how effective the fan and loud the speakers are since we don’t have this in our studio yet, we’re happy to see them included on the console. The speakers are Bluetooth-enabled, so you can pair your device with them to play your music, which is awesome and much appreciated.

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Build Quality

We’re pretty impressed with the construction. Even though this elliptical is affordable, it has some great specs.

Frame

The SixStar frame doesn’t fold up, so the 7.0 AE is best to use in a designated space. It has the same frame type as the Horizon EX-59 Elliptical. The steel frame helps contribute to the overall weight and durability. Most fitness equipment is made out of steel, so we assume the 7.0 AE will feel stable and solid.

It also is rated to handle up to 325 lbs, so we anticipate that this elliptical is a pretty hearty workhorse, like other equipment from Horizon.

Pedals

The pedals appear to be oversized and textured. They don’t seem to be quite as padded as the NordicTrack 14.9, but their texture should help keep your feet in place. We assume most sized feet will fit on the pedals, too. I like that there are raised edges along the front and sides of the pedals so your feet can’t slide off.

The pedals have a 20″ stride length, comparable to the Sole E35 Elliptical. It’s slightly longer than the NordicTrack ellipticals, so we think that this length should be great for users of most heights. For reference, I’m about 5’1″, and the full stride on the NordicTrack FS14i FreeStride Trainer is 32″, which feels a bit too long for me. So, 20″ should be comfortable for most.

The motion of the pedals is like other traditional ellipticals. It moves mainly horizontally, however, there is a small amount of vertical movement. It isn’t like a star-stepper motion like on the ProForm HIIT H14.

Handles

We like that the 7.0 AE has two sets of handles: moving and stationary.

The non-moving handles are helpful for grabbing onto when you’re getting on and off the elliptical. They’re also beneficial for lower-body-focused training. These handles have pulse grips to read your heart rate when you grip them. The stationary handles also have additional adjustment buttons for the incline and resistance to quickly change these features with your thumbs.

The taller, moving handles appear to move in a typical elliptical fashion, which is forward and back. They require you to push and pull with every stride, which activates your back and arm muscles. So, not only will you get a lower body workout with the pedals, but you’ll work your upper body, too. Of course, your core will be activated as well for a total-body workout.

We can’t speak to the texture or grip on the handles, but they appear to be slim and offer a long enough surface to give you a choice of where you grip. So, if you’re shorter like me, you can most likely grip lower without feeling like you can’t reach or are overreaching.

Flywheel

The flywheel contributes to the feel of the pedal stride. A heavy flywheel typically makes for a smooth, consistent stroke. The 7.0 AE’s flywheel isn’t the heaviest we’ve seen on ellipticals, but it isn’t lightweight either. It weighs 23 lbs, which is on the lower end of what we like to see on elliptical flywheels. It should be heavy enough to make this elliptical feel solid and smooth.

The flywheel is mounted on the front, so this is a front-drive elliptical. This placement should make the console feel sturdy since the bulk weight of the machine is centered below it.

Incline

Because the flywheel is at the front, the 7.0 AE is able to incline. There are a whopping 20 levels of incline to use from. In metrics, it is displayed as 0-100%. This amount of levels are on par with the 14.9 Elliptical from NordicTrack.

The incline on other ellipticals typically offers more variety to your training and can help target the back side of your body. We assume this range of incline on the 7.0 AE should be effective with this, too.

Something to be aware of is that the incline will most likely position the pedals higher, so be sure you allow for extra headroom if you’re using this in a room with a low ceiling.

Resistance

The Horizon 7.0 AE has adjustable magnetic resistance. Like the incline feature, there are 20 levels to choose from, too. Adjustable magnetic resistance is typically smooth and pretty quiet, at least it is on other models we’ve tested. The Horizon 7.0 AE is most likely quiet and appropriate to use in most home spaces.

We can’t speak to how heavy the resistance feels, but 20 different levels is a pretty large range, so you should have a lot of tension to work with, or should I say against it?

Warranty

What helps instill our confidence in the construction is the lifetime frame and brake warranty that Horizon includes with the 7.0 AE. Lifetime warranties are great to see and it indicates that this is a well-built elliptical. The warranty package also includes three years for parts and one year for the flywheel and labor.

Should You Buy the Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical

The bottom line is that the Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical looks like a capable, durable elliptical at a nice price point. Although we haven’t tested this elliptical yet, we like what we see from the features and specs list, and considering we’ve used other equipment from Horizon, we expect the 7.0 AE to be a nice full-body, low-impact machine.

It should perform like a typical elliptical, so users up to 325 lbs should get a lot of use. The 7.0 AE has an uncomplicated design that should be easy to use. Plus, it doesn’t require a subscription and comes with onboard workouts. You can even use your device to stream something. We love that it inclines and uses quiet, adjustable magnetic resistance.

If you’re looking for an affordable elliptical for your home, check out the Horizon 7.0 AE.

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Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical Q&A / FAQ

How much does the Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical weigh?

The Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical weighs 194 lbs.

How do you move the Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical?

The Horizon 7.0 AE has a grab bar on the rear stabilizer. Lift the elliptical by this bar onto its transport wheels. Then, you can roll the elliptical around short distances.

How do I make my elliptical equivalent to running?

Most ellipticals do not allow you to move with a similar cadence to running (about 180 steps or cycles per minute). Instead, use the resistance to raise your heart rate to a desired heart rate zone. Replicating your running heart rate should elicit a similar training stimulus. However, elliptical training does not have the same impact force as running.

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