Horizon Fitness 7.8 AT Treadmill Review 2023

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Last Updated: May 3, 2023

The Horizon Fitness 7.8 AT is Horizon’s highest-grade treadmill in their Studio Series lineup. Its sibling machines, the 7.0 AT and 7.4 AT provide a nice combination of performance and technology, but the 7.8 AT takes the cake with its newly redesigned console and Sprint 8 training integration. The 7.8 AT is designed for interval training with blue thumb rollers on the upright handles so you can quickly roll the dial to increase incline and resistance. These are unusual on a treadmill but are slightly more responsive than a quick touch button. Incline jumps by .5 and speed increases by .1 each time you roll the dial. This allows for very tailored speed and incline settings you can access quickly while running.

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Treadmill Awards: 2023 Best Treadmill for HIIT Training

The Horizon Fitness 7.8 AT is an impressive machine. With its easy-to-use features, performance, and technology we awarded it the Best Treadmill for HIIT training for 2023.

Why Trust Our Review Of The Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill

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 users train and use a treadmill. Performance is of course another important aspect of a treadmill. During our testing our team is sure to try out every component on a treadmill, that way we stay true to our goal of bring you at home, an informed review of our experience.

While using the Horizon 7.8 AT, we pulled out comparable models like the Sole F80 and Sole F85, as well as the NordicTrack 1750, and even the Horizon T101 Treadmill. Comparing treadmills side by side is the best way for us to thoroughly evaluate a new model.

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Our Horizon 7.8 AT Review Video

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In-depth Review of Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill

Construction

Frame

The Horizon Fitness 7.8 AT treadmill is sturdy weighing in at 330lbs. The deck will fold and lock into a vertical, upright position against the console for security when not in use. There are also four wheels under the frame so you can gently roll the 7.8 AT when it’s folded. It is a heavy machine though, so be careful when moving it. The elongated 22” wide by 60” long deck provides plenty of running space — even for taller users. The treadmill feels stable and supportive when running. Even when inclined there is minimal wobble. The console is a bit dated and we would like to see some upgraded tech in the form of a color touchscreen, but in all, the 7.8 AT provides a comfortable running feel with Variable Response cushioning and a gently textured belt.

Handlebars

There are two sets of handlebars on the 7.8 AT. The side handrails extend forward from the console and float over the aluminum step rails to provide a strong hand-hold when getting on or off the machine and/or when walking along the belt. These have a firm plastic cover that is both moisture and sweat-resistant and can be easily wiped off to sanitize. There are also curved handlebars that extend forward from the console and then bend vertically for an upright hand position. These have both heart rate sensors and the speed (right) and incline (left) roller dials on the ends. The curved bars angle gently inward which allows users to keep their hands on the handles and dials while also keeping the shoulders and elbows in alignment for comfort and ergonomics. The dial controls on the end of the handlebars are an unusual — but valuable — feature. These are only present on the 7.8 AT treadmill in the Studio Series lineup.

Deck

• Cushioning
  

  The cushioning provides nice shock absorption for your joints.

  • The Horizon 7.8 AT features their 3-Zone Variable Response cushioning which is advertised as having different levels of cushioning in 3 different zones on the deck. This allows runners to find a comfortable mid-strike foot position but then enjoy a solid toe-off with a full kickback stride extension. The cushioning is not as soft as other treadmills we’ve tested, but it is certainly an upgrade from running on outdoor surfaces. Also, the added support for a strong toe-off may feel slightly less cushioned underfoot initially but helps runners find and maintain a healthy running stroke for better joint support and spinal alignment. Good running form reduces impact injuries and the risk of postural deviations from overly tight muscles.
• Length/Width
  • The 60” long and 22” wide deck is a full size which provides plenty of lateral and fore/aft length. We recommend a minimum of 60” for tall runners, those with a long stride, or anyone looking for a bit of extra length. The 22” wide gives you just a touch more room to wander on the deck before you step onto the aluminum side rails.
• Side Rails
  • The side rails have ridges so your foot doesn’t slide off, but we could use a bit more width to them. They were barely wide enough for my foot. Be careful not to slip off the rails if the belt is still moving.
• Belt and Rollers
  • The belt and rollers on the 7.8 AT are adequate — not quite as large or thick as we see on other machines, but the feel is still supportive and gently textured underfoot. Rollers move the belt along the deck, so a larger size increases the surface area which reduces belt tension to reduce friction.

Motor

A hearty 4.0HP motor supports smooth speed and incline adjustments and should provide enough power for users at all conditioning levels. The 7.8 AT is great for gently walking since it has simple preloaded programs that work well for those who just want to get on and go. It is also a good option for runners and joggers who plan to train or run regularly. But the 7.8 AT excels at HIIT training features. The preloaded Sprint 8 programs are 20 minutes of intervals for intense HIIT training that packs a wallop and will kick up your heart rate and calorie burn. This machine was designed specifically for those who want to use HIIT intervals regularly, so if you like the Sprint 8 or similar programs, this is a great option.

Horizon claims the 7.8 AT motor responds up to 33% faster than comparable treadmills. To be honest, I didn’t notice that the response time was really any faster than other treadmills (Nordictrack 1750, ProForm 5000 or Sole F80). The dials move quickly to jump the displayed speed up (or down) but I didn’t find the response time to be noticeably different. However, the belt can only speed up so fast when running or it becomes a safety concern. I felt the 7.8 AT was about as responsive as I needed it to be, I just didn’t feel it was 33% faster.

One issue we frequently have to assess with folding treadmills is the height of the motor hood that sits at the top of the deck. Since folding treadmills typically house the motor up here in order to allow the deck to fold, it can be in the way if you stand too close to the console or the front of the deck. While the 7.8 AT does have an elevated motor hood, I didn’t find it overly intrusive in your running space. If you stand too close there is a chance you will graze your shoe on the top of the motor hood, but repositioning your body back just a few inches solves this problem.

Console/Controls

Screen

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. 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 preloaded programs are divided into a 5K, calorie burn, custom program, custom HR program, distance run, fat burn, heart rate, hill climb, manual and of course, Sprint 8. The lower panel is digital numbers that reflect your time/distance, speed/incline, etc. To be honest, I’m not sure why there are two display panels. The upper color screen displays all the same metrics as the lower digital panel. I found myself really only paying attention to the TFT screen because it’s brighter and easier to see. The only real reason to have the lower digital display is if you place a tablet on the shelf in front of the TFT screen it will block all those metrics, at which point you’ll only be able to see the lower digital readouts. However, the 7.8 AT also includes a tablet shelf at the top of the console which will hold a tablet just fine and won’t block the TFT screen from this position.

One thing I really like about the 7.8 AT is the Sprint 8 program. This is a built-in HIIT training program where the machine will challenge you with sprints followed by short recovery intervals. There are 20 different levels of difficulty in the Sprint 8 program, which is essentially 20 different programs, so you’re getting a lot of variabilities here. There is a graph display on the bottom of the TFT 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. HIIT training is more challenging than steady-state cardio and allows for higher calorie and fat burn in a shorter time. The built-in Sprint 8 program makes the 7.8 AT a great option for those who enjoy HIIT training but don’t want to pay for a subscription. You can subscribe to more Sprint 8 programs on your tablet if you want, but since you have 20 different difficulty levels built in, a subscription isn’t required.

QuickDial Controls

The roller dials are placed just under your thumb, so you can quickly roll the dial to increase or decrease speed or incline. This was easier for me than reaching up to tap a button. My only issue is you kind of have to guess how much to turn it on and then watch to see where you land. The dial on the right increases speed by .1 so even if you really give it a good spin, it’s not going to jump you from 6mph to 10mph in one turn; which is a good safety feature. The left dial increases incline by .5 with each turn.

The 7.8 AT has preset buttons for speed on the right and incline on the left of the console. These are black with white numbers. A master control panel just below the screens allows users to toggle through various programs and select metric displays. There is also a green start and red stop button here. The safety key also sits at the bottom of the console and can be attached to your clothing.

Tablet Holder

There are two places to set a phone or tablet: a center shelf just in front of the TFT screen will hold a device or you can place your tablet on the shelf on the top of the console above the TFT screen. If you use the lower shelf, it’s more centered but your device will block the screen. If you use the upper shelf, it’s a little higher and doesn’t offer as much support, but it won’t block the screen.

Storage

There are two pockets on either side of the console that will hold a small water bottle, phone, keys, etc. There is also a large storage tray that spans the width of the deck just below the console. This tray adds useful extra storage because even when running on a treadmill at home, it is nice to have personal items (TV remote, book, etc) close by for convenience.

Bluetooth

The 7.8 AT has advanced Bluetooth technology that will stream media through the integrated speakers, track your heart rate, and sync with various apps. There is also a rapid-charge USB port behind the tablet holder so you can charge your device while using it.

Fan

There is a fan; it’s not really powerful enough to be of much use. It’s also placed rather low so the air hits about sternum height but doesn’t cool your face or neck. We’d like to see increased airflow and adjustable vents that allow you to turn the breeze upwards toward your face.

Layout

The console isn’t my favorite, but it works. Once I found all the buttons I was looking for it was fine, but there’s a lot going on in this console. With two different display panels, two separate tablet holders, and lots of buttons, it can be a bit much. The 7.8 AT has all the features you want on a treadmill, but there’s a bit of visual clutter on the console.

Functionality

Performance

The 7.8 AT performs well under testing and feels comfortable underfoot. The deck itself is sturdy and our larger reviewers felt they had good support when running. Initially it doesn’t feel like it has as much cushioning as other machines, but after running for a while I found it to be supportive and not too firm. The 3-zone cushioning really seems to help provide a proper foot strike and solid toe off while retaining just enough shock absorption to keep you comfortable.

Incline / Decline range

The Horizon 7.8 AT inclines to 15%. There are several benefits to working on an incline. A steeper incline more directly engages your posterior muscle chain, consequently burning more calories than running on a flat road. It also adds different challenges when you combine various speeds with various inclines. It’s hard to get bored on a machine with this many training options. The incline feature makes it so you can really kick up that heart rate but stay low-impact for a challenging workout that burns more calories and recruits more of the powerhouse lower-body muscles.

Preloaded Programs

Horizon states there are 10 preloaded programs on the 7.8 AT — but there’s actually a lot more than this because each program has different distances, interval sessions, etc.

Programs include:

• Distance (multiple distance options: 1mile, 2 miles, 5k, 10k, 10 miles, marathon, etc)
• My First 5k
• Fat Burn
• Heart Rate
• Hill Climb
• Manual
• Sprint 8 (with 20 different levels of difficulty)

The arrow buttons on the console toggle through and select your program of choice. Also, the 7.8 AT will sync via Bluetooth with external fitness apps for additional training content. For all external apps, you must use your personal tablet which is not included. The console is not video enabled, but the 7.8 AT will keep track of your metrics while you use your phone or personal tablet.

The only issue I had with the programs were if you are in one and exit out, for some reason it stays on the “workout paused” screen and won’t let you quickly load another program. I had to wait for the console to time-out which took about 10 minutes before I was able to load another program.

Subscription Options

Horizon offers the Pro app, which is a free, no-subscription app that lets you control your workout from your device’s touchscreen. The Pro app automatically pushes workout stats to your favorite fitness apps like Fitbit and Under Armour, so you can keep track of all your data in one place. There are several apps that will sync with the treadmill, some of which come with a discount to Horizon users. All apps require their own subscription and are not included with purchase of the 7.8 AT. Horizon advertises the 7.8 AT will sync with the following apps:

• Fitbit (Fitness app with personalized metrics)
• Under Armour (Workout app)
• Horizon Pro app (Free; syncs workout data)
• Studio App (HIIT workouts on and off the treadmill)
• Peloton App (Running videos)
• AFG App (Sprint 8)
• Many others not specifically listed

Noise Level

When set to a 3.0mph pace with no one walking on it our decibel meter (on an iphone) read 63 decibels. When someone walks on it at 3mph the decibels go up to about 68. When running at a 6mph pace it produces 78 decibels of noise.

Comparatively, the Nordictrack 2450 has a base decibel level of 68 (3mph, no one walking on it) and it jumps to 72 decibels when someone walks at 3mph. Running at 6mph on the 2450 produces 82 decibels of noise.

As you can see, the 7.8 AT is quieter, especially at lower speeds. When you run at faster speeds and especially with heavier users, it will create more noise, but this is true of any treadmill.

Storage / Folding

Simply lift the deck so it pivots to lock vertically against the console. The deck doesn’t fold quite as vertically as the Nordictrack or ProForm machines, so you still have a bit of a V-shape when it’s folded. But it folds up easily and stays locked in position to clear floor space. The folded footprint is: 42″ L x 37″ W x 71″ H.