While I don’t associate Horizon treadmills with sleek and futuristic innovation, there’s something about them that reflects extensive experience in manufacturing quality fitness equipment. Horizon’s parent company, Johnson Health Tech, knows how to make a good, affordable treadmill. From the moment I unboxed the T101, I caught little details that made all the difference.
The T101 isn’t here to dazzle you. Even with this newest, tech-enhanced upgrade, it’s still fairly simplistic. However, that’s what keeps it user-friendly and affordable—two of its biggest strengths.
Stepping onto the deck of the T101, I remembered, once again, why I like Horizon so much. The value is there, and for the price, it’s a brand that always makes sense. Scroll down to discover what limitations the T101 has, but also why it continues to rank so highly for me.
Horizon T101 Treadmill Review: Bottom Line
Horizon T101 vs Similar Treadmills
Considering other treadmills? See how the Horizon fares when compared to the competition. We’ve selected some of the T101’s top competitors for your review.
 Horizon T101 |  Sole F63 |  NordicTrack T Series 10 |  Horizon 7.0 AT |  ProForm Carbon TLX | |
| Price (MSRP) | $2,299 | $2,299 | $2,499 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | The Horizon T101’s connective console pairs with apps like JRNY, Peloton, Zwift, and more. | An entry-level treadmill with a high-quality build, impressive training options, and an easy-to-use design, all for an affordable price. | The NordicTrack T Series 10 delivers the premium iFIT training experience with trainer-led classes, streaming apps, and personalized fitness at a more affordable price. | A compact, budget-friendly running treadmill with a foldable deck, simple design, and connectivity options. | This budget treadmill is great for running and allows you to use it with or without iFIT on your device. |
| Awards Earned | |||||
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Product | Horizon T101 | Sole F63 | NordicTrack T Series 10 | Horizon 7.0 AT | ProForm Carbon TLX |
| Workout Experience | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Specs / Features | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Dimensions / Storability | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| On-Board Workouts & Apps | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Build Quality | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Overall Score | 70 | 64 | 71 | 68 | 68 |
| # of Onboard Workouts | 6 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 1 |
| Paid Programming - Cost | N/A | Free | $39/month | N/A | iFIT – $39/month |
| Netflix / 3rd Party Apps | N/A | N/A | Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify | N/A | N/A |
| Display | 4 LED Windows | 6.5″ backlit LCD | 10” touchscreen | 7.25″ LCD screen, 4 LED windows | 7″ high-contrast digital screen |
| Dimensions (In Use) | 70.5" x 33.5" x 59" | 77″L x 35″W x 67″H | 75.1” L x 34.3” W x 58.4” H | 76″ L x 35″ W x 67″ H | 74.3″ L x 35.1″ W x 59.1″ |
| Pedal Type | |||||
| # of Adjustment Points | |||||
| Bike Weight | |||||
| Weight Capacity | 300 lbs | 325 lbs | 325 lbs | 325 lbs | 300 lbs |
| Flywheel Weight | |||||
| Max Resistance | |||||
| Resistance Type | |||||
| Warranty | Lifetime frame and motor, 1-year parts and labor | lifetime frame, lifetime motor, 2-year deck, 2-year parts, 2-year wear items, 1-year labor, 90-day cosmetic items | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year tablet, and labor | lifetime frame, lifetime motor, 3-year parts, 1-year labor | 10-year frame, 1-year parts, 1-year labor |
| Additional Features | Bluetooth speakers, FTMS compatible, two tablet racks | Bluetooth speakers, storage, USB-A charging | SelectFlex adjustable cushioning, ActivePulse, Google Maps | Bluetooth, Quick Dial controls, Gymkit Technology | AutoAdjust, storage, Bluetooth |
Dimensions/Storability
Compared to most fitness treadmills, the Horizon T101 is relatively small. It measures only 70.5” long, 34” wide, and 59” tall. When folded, it’s only 46” long and 61” tall. Horizon recommends allotting an extra two feet of space on either side of the treadmill, one foot in front of the treadmill, and 6.5 feet behind the treadmill for safety.
The Horizon T101 is rather small, but allowing extra space around a treadmill is best for safety.
For the ceiling height, you will need a ceiling 1.5’ taller than the tallest treadmill user in your home. At the 10% incline, the treadmill deck is 13” tall. I recommend a few additional inches for comfort and safety, should there be any vertical movement when you are walking or running. For example, a 6’ runner would need a 7.5’ ceiling.
The T101 weighs about 180 lbs. When you need to move it, just fold it up and pull down on the deck to tilt the treadmill onto its transport wheels. The deck wobbles a bit when you roll the treadmill around, making it a little harder to transport.
To release the treadmill from its folded position, use your foot to press the kick release. The deck will then lower softly to the floor. When unfolding the treadmill, I noticed that the deck wobbles from the force of the deck dropping. I wish the T101 were a little sturdier to prevent this.
While the T101 could be sturdier during unfolding and transport, I can easily move it around.
Onboard Workouts & Apps
In a market overrun by touchscreens and subscription services, the Horizon T101 is a breath of fresh air. Not because it eschews subscription services entirely, but because it refuses to make them mandatory for the treadmill experience.
The T101 has six onboard training programs, three of which have ten levels you can progress through. As they are onboard programs, they are free to use. I noticed an error in the user manual, so I want to let you know that you should press “program” to change which program you have selected and the speed arrows to change the level and time limit.
FTMS Apps
In addition to the included programs, the T101 is compatible with FTMS, which is a protocol that makes fitness apps and exercise equipment compatible. Some popular FTMS apps you can use are JRNY, Peloton, Zwift, and Kinomap.
Because Horizon’s parent company, Johnson Health Tech, acquired Bowflex, they now promote using JRNY, which is native to Bowflex machines. JRNY includes structured workouts and trainer-led classes that start and stop the T101. However, they do not control the speed or incline. You get full control of your settings to customize the workout experience to your fitness level more effectively.
You’ll see stickers on the T101 advertising JRNY, but a subscription to JRNY is not required to use the treadmill.
Apps, like Kinomap, can control the incline settings on the treadmill. I haven’t found an app that can control the speed yet, but if you know of an app with that feature, it should work with the T101.
Console
The Horizon T101 does not have a touchscreen display, so you will have to use your phone or tablet to view the apps I mentioned above. It uses LED windows to display your metrics. There are four of these, and they show incline, time, calories, distance, heart rate, and speed. There is a button to toggle the treadmill display to see all of the metrics.
Training in a dark room? No problem! The bright blue LED windows are easy to see.
Plenty of buttons are available on the T101. They are not raised buttons, so they are not ideal for users with visual impairments. The buttons control the incline, speed, fan, and Bluetooth connectivity.
There are quick-adjust buttons for most of the speed and incline levels.
I prefer to use the speed and incline dials, which are on the ends of the stability handles. There are also EKG pulse grips here, so if you are tracking your heart rate with them, you can easily make adjustments to the performance settings.
The dials are more enclosed than previous T101 models to prevent you from accidentally hitting them.
You can also pair your device with the T101’s Bluetooth speakers to listen to audio louder. The speakers’ strength is nice and can be controlled from your phone. The T101 does not have separate volume controls on the console.
One thing you should know about the Bluetooth feature is that you can pair a heart rate monitor, but only when the T101 is not connected to a third-party app. The T101 has two settings for its Bluetooth: app or heart rate. Both cannot be active at the same time, but the speaker Bluetooth is separate, allowing you to use them at any time.
To store your phone or tablet (or both), there are two tablet racks. I feel secure setting my device in either. However, the top tablet rack makes it a little hard to see JRNY’s metrics on your phone since the ledge covers up the screen slightly.
For additional storage, you get two cup holders.
Finally, the T101 has a fan. It’s powerful and angled well. It has multiple speeds and is effective at cooling you off while you are training.
Build Quality
I test treadmills at many price points, and I really think the Horizon T101 is a standout, in terms of quality, at its price point. It’s a huge improvement over treadmills priced just $100 less. There are few treadmills as good as the T101 within its price range. At the time of writing this review, the T101 is just $599.
Frame
One of the top questions I have when reviewing a small and affordable treadmill like the T101 is whether it is sturdy. Fortunately, the T101 has a steel frame that I feel confident walking on. Even when it’s inclining, it feels stable.
I noticed that some online renderings of the T101 show it with a crossbar, but it does not have one.
The treadmill handles are really nice. They are padded for a soft and premium feel. The steel uprights are held in place on each side by three bolts, so if you need to use the handles to support yourself, you can.
I like the texture of the T101’s handles because it feels like a feature you would find on a more expensive model.
As for the footrails, they are spacious enough to stand on as needed. They are plastic and textured to help you keep your footing.
Motor
Though Horizon has removed the horsepower rating of the T101’s motor from its website, I took the motor hood off our model to investigate. It is a 2.5-horsepower motor, which is great for walking. Generally, we recommend a 3.0-horsepower motor for running, so I wouldn’t recommend the T101 as a daily running treadmill.
However, the maximum speed is 10 miles per hour. You can pick up the pace if you want, but I recommend upgrading to the Horizon 7.0 AT if you want to run regularly.
While a key feature of Horizon treadmills has long been a responsive motor, I did not find that to be the case on the T101. It took 32 seconds to accelerate from 0.5 mph to 10 mph. While this isn’t abnormally slow for a treadmill, it’s a little out of character for Horizon. Still, a slow acceleration has the advantage of feeling stable and smooth.
The Horizon 7.0 AT retains the quick-response motor we expect from the brand, but the new T101 opts for a more gentle acceleration that feels smoother.
On the other hand, the incline adjustment is fast. It takes 16 seconds to go from 0% to 10% incline. You can do incline intervals without issue.
I measured the incline and found it to be very accurate overall. It is stated to be a 0 to 10% incline range, and I got 0 to 9.6%, which is great!
As for the motor’s sound, I measured the noise output to be between 57 decibels (3 mph) and 70 dB (10 mph). The incline is quiet and does not add to the overall noise, I found. These measurements were taken without anyone walking or running on the deck, which is our standard protocol.
Deck
The T101’s smaller belt is best for walking.
While the T101’s running area is stated to be 20” wide by 55” long, I measured the belt at about 19.5” wide, so slightly narrower, but not by much. Still, the most important measurement is the length, which may be insufficient for some runners to hit the top speed (10 mph) comfortably.
Since the T101 has a low step-up height of only 7 ⅛”, you can step onto the deck more easily than bulkier treadmills.
I measured the deck’s thickness. The board is ¾”, which is pretty typical of most home treadmills. Commercial-grade machines are not much thicker at just 1”.
The cushioning is moderately soft. It’s not as soft as Horizon’s running treadmills, as the T101 has less robust shock absorbers and only two types of shocks (as far as I can tell). Overall, I like the feel of walking and jogging on this treadmill.
Warranty
The T101 has a fantastic warranty. The motor and frame are covered by a true lifetime warranty. Sometimes, “lifetime” just means the lifetime of the machine, as determined by the manufacturer. Horizon, however, states that “lifetime” applies to the lifetime or the original owner of the treadmill, which is great! Please note that this warranty is non-transferable.
As for parts and labor, they are covered for one year. While less impressive, this warranty length is standard.
Should You Buy the Horizon T101 Treadmill
The Horizon T101 is a smart buy for anyone looking for a trustworthy walking treadmill at a good price. It’s got a great build and an outstanding warranty. The T101 is one of the most affordable treadmills that you can put some real miles on without worrying about burning the motor out too soon.
You don’t need a subscription to work out on the T101. It has plenty of onboard programs. However, it has Bluetooth connectivity that connects to apps like JRNY, Zwift, and Peloton for more advanced workouts, if you want a premium training platform.
The T101 is such a good treadmill that it’s hard to find drawbacks, but I don’t recommend it for serious runners. It performs very solidly as a walking treadmill, and you can incline it from 0 to 10%.
Horizon T101 Treadmill Q&A / FAQ
Is the Horizon T101 a good treadmill?
The Horizon T101 is a high-quality treadmill at an affordable price. It is compact and folds easily for storage. The Horizon T101 is a great pick for treadmill shoppers on a budget who want a sturdy walking treadmill with a great warranty.
Can I run on the Horizon T101?
The Horizon T101 has a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour, allowing you to run. However, the T101 is best for walking due to its motor strength (2.5 miles per hour) and deck size (20” x 55”).
Is Horizon better than NordicTrack?
Horizon treadmills are more affordable than NordicTrack treadmills and do not require a subscription. They have better warranties, as they have a true lifetime warranty on the frame and motor. However, NordicTrack treadmills have more premium features and training features.
Is your review a paid review?
No, our Horizon T101 is not a paid review. We received the T101 for free in exchange for a fair review, but we were not paid for the review. Instead, we earn a commission if you choose to purchase the T101 based on our review. It will not increase the cost of the treadmill for you. Since we have this relationship with most home treadmill brands, we are not incentivized to push you toward one treadmill over the other.
