Horizon Fitness 7.8 AT Treadmill Review 2023

*TreadmillReviewGuru helps consumers find the best home fitness products. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

Last Updated: December 7, 2023

Check Best Price

Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill

The Horizon 7.8 AT is a premium, foldable treadmill made for HIIT training.

Stand out features of the 7.8 AT include the powerful, quick-adjusting motor, durable design, and easy-to-use console.

Summary Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill Review: The Bottom Line

In this Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill review, you can expect a beefy folding treadmill that is our favorite for HIIT training. The powerful 4.0 HP motor is quiet, responsive, and one of the fastest to adjust that we’ve tested. The blue roller adjustments and included Sprint 8 training program make the 7.8 AT ideal for interval training. Plus, it’s Bluetooth-enabled to use with different training apps on your own device, which means you don’t have to worry about paying for subscription content if you don’t want to.

The deck is large for all fitness levels and running strides, plus it handles up to 375 lbs. Although the Horizon 7.8 AT is the preferred treadmill we recommend for interval training, this model is durable, backed by a lifetime frame and motor warranty, and great for heavy use. Runners, walkers, and exercise enthusiasts of all abilities will enjoy this easy-to-use and powerful treadmill in their homes.

Check Best Price

HIIT Training On Treadmills For Over A Decade

We test out a lot of treadmills with all kinds of features. From touch screens to built-in workout programs, we know that programming preferences differ when it comes to how people train and use a treadmill. Performance is of course another important aspect of a treadmill. During our testing, our team tries out every component on a treadmill and runs everything through our thorough testing process. Our goal is to provide you with informed reviews of each and every treadmill that we try out. We’ve been doing this since 2010, so we rely heavily on our experience. We’ve also had the 7.8 AT for over 3 years and have continued to use it regularly to determine its durability and reliability.

Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill Review Video

Check Best Price

Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill vs Similar Treadmills

Check out this overview of how the Horizon 7.8 AT compares to other popular treadmills.

In-depth Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill Review: Testing & Analysis

Dimensions/Storability

The Horizon 7.8 AT is a fairly large treadmill that folds up. Its dimensions are 76” L x 37” W x 64” H. While the 7.8 AT isn’t as sleek as other treadmills like the NordicTrack 1750, it has a folding deck that helps to save a lot of room in your home when you’re not using it.

To fold the deck, you lift the back end. The system in the deck kicks in when you lift it so you don’t have to lift the entire weight of the deck. The 7.8 AT is heavy at 330 lbs, so this feature is really helpful. Once folded it locks into place. To unfold, you just have to push your foot against the bottom bar that has a small latch. Once unfolded, the deck lowers to the floor on its own.

The 7.8AT folds in half when you are finished.

To help you determine if the 7.8 AT will fit in your home, we recommend adding a few extra feet to the overall dimensions to factor extra room around the treadmill that you’ll need to use it safely. We especially recommend allowing some clearance at the rear of the deck for safety and to allow you to fold and unfold the deck, easily.

As far as moving, the 7.8 AT has two transport wheels mounted to the frame. When folded you just have to tilt back the treadmill to engage the wheels. This is similar to treadmills from other brands, but considering the overall size and weight of the 7.8 AT, this isn’t the easiest task for some people. It’s important to know your physical abilities and limitations, especially if you need a treadmill that you can move around periodically. The Horizon 7.8 AT can be moved but it’s a good idea to primarily keep it in the area where you plan to use it.

The deck’s height when flat from the floor to the top of the side rails is over 9” high. The deck isn’t very high but for someone who is 6’0” tall who plans to do high-intensity training on the 7.8 AT, we recommend at least an 8.5 ft high ceiling. This should allow plenty of head clearance for running and utilizing the deck’s full incline range. To determine if your ceiling height is appropriate for the 7.8 AT, check out our guidelines here.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

Many treadmills on the market come with subscription training content integrated into a touch screen. This requires you to pay a subscription fee to access the content and use all of the treadmill’s features. For those who want to feel like they’re using a treadmill at the local gym, the Horizon 7.8 AT is one to check out. The console doesn’t include a touch screen and it comes with standard onboard workout programs.

In a sea of treadmills with touch screens, we like that the 7.8 AT has a simple design and standard features.

Onboard Workouts

The Horizon 7.8 AT comes with 10 onboard workout programs. These include distance, my first 5k, fat burn, target heart rate, hill climb, custom, custom heart rate, calories, manual, and Sprint 8. Within each program, there are different distances, times, and intervals to choose from. There are 5 profiles and a guest profile for you to log and save your weight for the next time you use the treadmill.

Each program has a different icon with an indicator light that is displayed on the console.

Sprint 8 is an interval training program that is definitely a plus to have on the 7.8 AT. It’s a bit more involved than the other standard onboard workout programs. Sprint 8 is built in for HIIT training. There are 20 different levels of difficulty which is essentially 20 different programs. There is a graph display on the bottom of the 7.8’s screen that shows where you are in the program so you know when to expect a sprint or recovery. The speed adjustments are automatic, so you can just focus on your pace and heart rate while running.

Another nice aspect of the 7.8 AT is that you can pair it with external fitness apps to stream content on your device. This treadmill is Bluetooth enabled to use with apps like Peloton and Zwift. You just need your phone or tablet to do this since you can’t stream anything from the treadmill’s screen.

Of course, you can also stream whatever you want on your device or even place the 7.8 AT in front of a TV.

Console

The Horizon 7.8 AT has two display panels. A 9.3” TFT screen sits at the top of the console. It is a color screen, but it won’t show workout videos or other video content, as I mentioned. Basically, just the graph and time dial in the center are color. All program graphics are digital. The TFT screen provides workout feedback such as calories, distance, heart rate, incline, pace, speed, and time.

The bottom display is a 16-digit LED screen. This shows the treadmill’s settings and tracks your metrics, too. The numbers are bright to see clearly and the color screen is bright, too.

The console could be streamlined to eliminate one of the two tablet shelves and the lower digital readout.

Looking at the console, it is a bit dated looking. Its overall functionality could use a little facelift, too. There are a lot of adjustment buttons to easily adjust the treadmill, but there aren’t many buttons to use for selecting between the different workout programs. I wish the program icons were buttons to press to jump to each program. Instead, you push the round and black program button or use the right blue roller dial to select between the different programs and input different settings.

Adjusting the 7.8 AT is easy. There are numbered quick-adjusting buttons on either side of the console. The right side adjusts the speed to whichever numbered level you select. So, if you press 10 the treadmill adjusts to 10 mph. The same is true with the buttons on the left for the incline.

There’s also a green start button and a red stop button to start and stop the treadmill. I personally really like the blue roller dials that sit at the top of the front handles in front of the console.

The roller dials are placed just under your thumb, so you can quickly roll the dial to increase or decrease speed or incline.

These are a bit easier to reach than the numbered quick-adjustment buttons. If you flick these quickly, you kind of have to guess how much to turn it on and then watch to see where you land though. The dial on the right increases speed by 0.1 so even if you give it a good spin, it’s not going to jump you from 6 mph to 10 mph in one turn; which is a good safety feature. The left dial increases incline by 0.5 with each turn.

Along with Bluetooth connectivity to some 3rd party apps, the speakers are Bluetooth enabled so you can play music from your device through them. They’re loud to give you plenty of volume to choose from.

There is also an included Bluetooth 4.0 heart rate strap so you can track your heart rate and connect directly to the Peloton App for extra tracking when you’re using training content on your device to follow along with on the 7.8 AT. We’re glad a heart rate monitor is included.

The fan at the bottom of the console is pretty small. It isn’t very powerful and is positioned a little low, especially for folks who are taller. It hits my face but I’m only 5’1”. When you really work up a sweat, you might want to plug in your own fan.

For storage, the Horizon 7.8 AT has two cupholders for your water, two device racks for your phone or tablet, and a storage tray under the console. You have plenty of room for whatever you need nearby. We appreciate being able to use our own devices to stream whatever we want while using the 7.8 AT.

Check Best Price

Build Quality

Now, let’s get into the build quality section of this Horizon 7.8 AT review. This is Horizon’s premium treadmill that’s made for home use. It has a pretty beefy design that definitely makes this treadmill feel very stable as well as comfortable to use. It has an excellent weight limit of 375 lbs, so it handles users up to that capacity.

Frame

The frame is solid and we don’t experience any rocking or shaking on this treadmill.

The Horizon Fitness 7.8 AT treadmill is sturdy weighing in at 330 lbs. It’s on the larger and heavier side of folding treadmills. The frame is made of steel to support the base of the deck. It sits on the floor under the motor hood and front part of the deck. Front there, two large steel uprights connect to the frame and extend up to hold the console.

Along with all of the steel components that make the 7.8 AT feel incredibly stable, there is a steel crossbar mounted in between the uprights, under the console. This is under the plastic storage tray. It is multi-functional to provide extra storage and stability to the treadmill.

The side handles extend on either side of the deck. They’re pretty standard and easy to reach, although they could be a little bit longer. The two front handles are vertical to hold onto when you need extra support, as well as when you want to use the roller dial adjustments and the pulse grips. The pulse grips read your heart rate when you hold them both.

Motor

The Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill has a hearty 4.0 HP motor. This size motor is excellent to support all levels of training. So, if you are looking to train for a race or have multiple people in your household who want to run on a treadmill, the 7.8 AT is one to consider.

A big stand-out feature of the 7.8 AT’s motor is its responsiveness. This is one of the fastest-adjusting motors that we’ve tested. It only takes the treadmill about 19 seconds to adjust from 1 mph up to its full max of 12 mph. Other treadmills like the NordicTrack 1750 take around 23.5 seconds to adjust. Sole Treadmills like the F85 are slower to adjust. It takes around 41 seconds for the F85 to go from 1 up to 12 mph. It is for this reason that the Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill is our number one pick for HIIT training.

The 12 mph max speed is a 5-minute mile running pace. For most runners and exercise enthusiasts, this should be plenty of speed. For some, it might be an all-out sprint, or at the very least a quick running pace to provide challenging workouts.

The 7.8 AT has a 15% incline. It doesn’t decline. You might want to consider one of NordicTrack’s Treadmills if you’re looking for a treadmill to train downhills. For the incline range though, the 7.8 AT is quick to adjust like the drive motor for speed. It takes around 20 seconds to go from 0% up to 15%. So, if you want to factor in a challenging incline with your interval training, the 7.8 AT won’t leave you waiting for the speed or incline to adjust – you’ll just have to worry about keeping up!

The incline feature gives you more variety in your training.

The 7.8 AT is also accurate as well as quick-adjusting. The full incline measures at 14.8% which is right around the 15% that Horizon claims the full incline range to be. When flat, the deck measures at 0.9%. Considering most other treadmills that we’ve measured when set to “0” for the grade actually measure closer to 1% or even 1.5%, the 7.8 AT is pretty on par. One factor that we’re not able to accurately measure is the deck cushioning, which is the give in the deck when you run and walk. When running at the treadmill’s 0%, it feels flat so you won’t have to worry about any discrepancy, here.

As far as noise, the Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill is quiet. It’s very similar to the Sole F85 as far as noise output. When we measured the decibels, the 7.8 ranged from 46.2 dB at 3 mph up to 65.6 dB at 12 mph. This is comparable to having music playing in the background when at a walking pace, and a window fan on high at the treadmill’s higher speeds. The 7.8 AT should be appropriate for most homes.

Deck

The deck is spacious for a folding treadmill at 22” wide and 60” long. This length is accommodating to all users’ stride lengths. The width is also sufficient for all fitness levels. As long as you have room in your home, the 7.8 AT is great for most people.

The deck cushioning features Horizon’s 3-Zone Variable Response cushioning. It is said to have three different zones of cushioning in the deck. You’ll probably be hard-pressed to notice the difference in each area on the deck though. To give you an idea of how comfortable and cushioned the 7.8 AT feels to run on, it definitely feels softer than running outside.

When testing out different treadmill brands, Horizon is somewhere in the middle when it comes to cushioning. It isn’t the softest out there, and it isn’t the firmest. Treadmills with the softest are usually from NordicTrack like the 1750. The NordicTrack X22i takes it up a notch as it is a bit bouncier underfoot. Treadmills with firm deck cushioning that feel more similar to running outside on asphalt, are the Sole F85 and Bowflex Treadmill 22.

If you’re looking for a comfortable deck that will help lessen the impact on your joints when running, I would check out the 7.8 AT. I like that it isn’t too firm or too soft.

The cushioning provides nice shock absorption for your joints.

Overall, the build quality, training capabilities, and size of the Horizon 7.8 AT make this treadmill excellent for most people. We love how powerful, quiet, and quick to adjust the motor is. The motor also pairs well with the large and well-cushioned folding deck.

Warranty

The Horizon 7.8 AT comes with a lifetime frame and motor warranty. We love that Horizon includes this with all of their treadmills. It really helps to back up the solid construction. The warranty also includes 5 years for parts and 2 years for labor, which is a bit more coverage than what we see from other treadmill brands.

Should You Buy The Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill

So, should you buy the Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill? If you’re someone who wants a simple-to-use premium treadmill that’s well-priced, then yes. It is also a great option if you don’t want to pay for a subscription to use your treadmill, however, you can still follow along with subscription training content if you want to. Having the choice to stream content from your device, or just place the 7.8 AT in front of your TV is nice.

We highly recommend the 7.8 AT for HIIT training. Its quick-adjusting motor is one of the fastest to adjust the speed and incline range, making this our top treadmill for HIIT training on our best treadmills list. The Horizon 7.8 AT is also a great all-around treadmill for running if you are looking for a large, quiet, and powerful folding treadmill for your home.

Check Best Price

Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill Review FAQs / Q&As

How much horsepower does the Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill have?

The Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill has a 4.0 HP motor. This is a large motor size that can handle a lot of use like distance training and multiple users in one household.

Is the Horizon 7.8 AT a good treadmill?

The Horizon 7.8 AT is one of the best treadmills on the market, in our experts’ opinion. It has one of the fastest adjusting motors, a well-cushioned deck, simple to use console that doesn’t require a subscription, and it folds up when you’re finished. We love it for interval and HIIT training, however, it is an excellent all-around, quiet treadmill for walking and running.

Does the Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill fold?

The deck on the Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill folds up. It uses a lift assistance so you don’t have to lift the entire weight of the deck. To fold, you lift the back end of the deck and push it up to the console where the deck locks into place. To unfold, you push your foot against the latch on the metal bar under the bottom of the deck. Once unfolded, the deck slowly lowers to the floor on its own. This feature makes the 7.8 AT a lot more convenient for home use.

Is our Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill review a paid review?

We were not paid by Horizon Fitness to compile this review of the 7.8 AT Treadmill. This is a completely unbiased review that reflects our experience using this treadmill, as well as the results of our testing that we put each and every treadmill we review through. Horizon, along with other treadmill brands send us their treadmills to test and create reviews of. To earn money, we have affiliate links for these brands to receive a small commission when you buy using our links. This doesn’t cost you anything and allows us to keep creating informed reviews that reflect our testing and experience. This way, we can help you at home find the best treadmill for you.

Check Best Price

About the Author

Sydney Kaiser, ISSA-CPT, ISSA Nutritionist Certification
Sydney is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, and sports nutritionist who combines her passion for fitness, health, and wellness with her passion for writing. After graduating from UC Riverside with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, she began teaching indoor cycling and Lagree Fitness group fitness classes to people of all ages and abilities. Raised in Central Michigan, Sydney grew up training and competing on the Arabian Horse Association circuit through both Regional and National levels in Dressage and Sport Horse classes. In college, Sydney went on to compete at the collegiate level as a Division 1 equestrian athlete. Here at TRG, Sydney relies on her extensive background in fitness when reviewing and recommending all kinds of fitness, recovery, and health-related products.