The Carbon T7 is a folding treadmill from ProForm. The Carbon T7 has a 7″ touchscreen display, ProShox deck cushioning, and 2.6 CHP motor. It also inclines to a 10% grade and supports speeds up to 10 miles per hour. What makes the Carbon T7 really appealing is that it comes free with a 3-year subscription to iFit. This means that when you buy a membership to iFit for 3 years, ProForm includes the T7 for free with that purchase. So, if you enjoy taking iFit classes, you could get this treadmill to stream the library from. iFit makes for interactive training and the Carbon T7 is ideal for walking and jogging. In this review of the ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill, we’ll go over our experience using the machine.
Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill
We test all kinds of treadmills. Whenever a new model comes into our studio, our team of reviewers spends copious amounts of time on the deck and trying out all of the features. Our goal is to present you with a thorough review so you can make informed buying decisions.
During our testing of the ProForm Carbon T7, we compared it to the ProForm Carbon T10, T14, Sole F63, and NordicTrack EXP 7i, among other models that we have in our studio.
Our ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill Video Review
- The treadmill comes free with a 3-year membership to iFit.
- iFit includes over 16,000 workout options for training on and off the treadmill.
- The 10% incline range and 10 mph max speed adds variety to your workouts.
- The cushioning feels sufficient to lessen the impact on your joints.
- The deck folds up to almost 90 degrees to save space when you’re not using it.
- There are preset control buttons for incline and speed on the console.
- The motor is responsive and consistent to handle walking, jogging, and some light running.
- The folding mechanism is manual and doesn’t include a hydraulic lift and lower assist.
- There isn’t a fan built into the console.
- The 7” touch screen might not be best for users with low visibility.
- Free with purchase of iFit
- The Carbon T7 is available for no cost when you purchase a 3-year family subscription to iFit.
- 0-12% Power Incline
- You get varied training on the Carbon T7 with multiple incline levels that range from a flat road up to a 10% grade.
- 0 – 10 MPH
- The 2.6 CHP motor will support speeds up to 10 mph. This machine is best suited for walking, jogging, and running shorter distances such as a 5K. But feel free to throw occasional sprints in there with the top speed of 10 mph.
- ProShox™ Cushioning
- The ProShox cushioning on the Carbon T7 is designed to reduce impact so you can run longer and train harder. While this isn’t the most cushioned deck on the market, you get some gentle cushioning which is a nice feature, especially on a folding treadmill.
- 2.6 CHP Motor
- This is a good size motor. While it is not as large as some of the higher-priced models, for general use it works fine. If you have multiple users and anticipate heavy training, we recommend a treadmill motor of 3.0 HP or more. However, the 2.6 CHP motor on the Carbon T7 is quiet and provides smooth speed and incline transitions.
- 22” x 55” Tread Belt
- This is a typical deck size for a folding treadmill. You can find folding treadmills that offer 60” in length, but that’s the longest we see on most folding units. The 55” in length is sufficient for most users for walking and jogging. We recommend 60” if you are looking for a treadmill primarily for running.
- 7″ Smart HD Touchscreen
- The 7″ touchscreen makes all the difference on this treadmill. iFit has impressive classes and routes that make using the treadmill much more fun. We love the outdoor routes led by a personal trainer.
- Streamlined Console
- Since the Carbon T7 uses a full-color touchscreen, much of the functionality of the console is incorporated into the screen. The Carbon T7 console is easy to navigate and operate.
Construction:
- 2.6 CHP Motor
- 1.9” Precision-Balanced Rollers
- 22” x 55” Tread Belt
- 33.5” wide by 66” long by 57” high
Console:
- 7” Smart HD Touchscreen
- CoolAire™ Fan
- Audio Auxiliary Port with Dual 2” Bluetooth Speakers
Functionality:
- 0 – 10% Power Incline
- 0 – 10 MPH Digital QuickSpeed® Control
- ProShox™ Cushioning
- Free With Purchase of 3-year iFit Subscription
- Heart Rate Tracker Sold Separately
- Weight Capacity 300 Lb.
Warranty:
- 10-Year Frame Warranty
- 2-Year Parts Warranty
- 1-Year Labor Warranty
In-depth Review of ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill
iFit
iFit is constantly adding new workouts and offers over 16,000 different classes. These are available to take on the treadmill, other fitness equipment, and on the mat. The classes are led by instructors.
There are indoor and outdoor classes. The indoor classes are filmed in professional studios and feature the instructor facing the camera. These resemble the experience of taking a studio fitness class in person. The outdoor classes are our favorite. These classes are filmed all around the world. The instructor guides you through the location. When you’re taking iFit’s classes on an enabled treadmill like the Carbon T7, the treadmill adjusts based on the format of the class. So, if you’re taking a hiking class up a mountain in Switzerland, the treadmill will adjust to match the terrain. This makes for a hands-free workout experience and is one of my favorite aspects of iFit.
You can override this feature at any time and adjust the Carbon T7 yourself, too.
For when you want to do your own thing, iFit offers a Google Map feature where you can draw your own route on a map. You can pick from any location on Earth and when you’re doing the workout, Google Images of the location display on the screen.
The only aspect that I wish was improved upon for iFit, is the music. iFit uses a Feed.FM system that works like a radio. There are different genre stations that consist of preselected playlists of songs. The music then plays in the background of every class. You can adjust the volume to play more or less of the music and the instructor’s voice. I think this format works well for outdoor classes, but it would be fun to see music incorporated into indoor classes.
Overall, iFit makes for a very engaging and interactive workout experience. We love that the ProForm Carbon T7 comes for free when you purchase a 3-year membership to iFit.
Console
As mentioned, the 7” full-color HD touchscreen certainly enhances what you get on the Carbon T7. Sometimes the iFit programs take a minute to load and buffer initially (especially if you have slower wifi), but once they begin they feature good graphics. This is a small screen, however, so even though the colors and graphics are crisp, it isn’t as easy to see as on larger screens. Also, because this is a touchscreen, you need to be able to navigate the screen to select a program, adjust your workout metrics displayed, load your profile, select your music station, etc.
The console is streamlined so the buttons are easy to see and locate beneath the touch screen. The screen sits in the center of the console for easy visibility. There are preset control buttons for speed and incline beneath the screen. These quick-touch buttons help a lot on the T7 because the screen is so small. You can control speed, incline, and volume on the console as well as on the screen. So, if the touchscreen buttons are too small, the console buttons provide a good substitute for adjusting the treadmill. We appreciate having the quick touch buttons. They make interval training easy as well.
A lower panel below the speakers and fans has six simple buttons: two for incline (up and down), two for speed (+ and -) along with a green start and red stop button. The safety key is red and centered below this panel.
For heart rate training, the T7 connects to a forearm heart rate monitor that is sold separately. You can also connect your Bluetooth headphones to the console to hear iFit’s content through the speakers. You can’t connect your phone to the console to play your own music through the speakers though.
There is a tablet holder in the center of the console just below the screen and preset control buttons. However, if you place something here it will block part or all of the screen — depending on the size. If you are trying to watch an iFit workout, placing a device here will make it hard to see the screen. But, the ledge is wide enough to support most tablets, iPads, or books and has a lifted edge to hold things securely. If you set the treadmill to manual mode and walk while reading, then it’s not a problem.
There are two water bottle pockets on the Carbon T7. These are located on either side of the console and provide enough room for a regular water bottle and/or other items that you may want on hand during your workout.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a fan built into the console. There is one on the Carbon T10 and T14 models. If you want to cool off, you will need to use your own fan.
There isn’t an extra storage tray on Carbon T7. However, working out at home has advantages so maybe you don’t need every feature to be on the treadmill. But you can use the water bottle pockets for storage if needed.
Construction Quality & Durability
Overall, the ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill has nice construction, especially considering the price point. Like other treadmills from ProForm, and even NordicTrack, the Carbon T7 comes with a nice 300 lb weight limit. This isn’t as large as treadmills from Sole, but it is large enough to handle users up to that capacity.
Frame
The Carbon T7 has a steel frame with powder-coated uprights and plastic-covered handrails. I do wish that there was a horizontal handle in front of the console. Instead, there are only two side handles to use for balance assistance. Users with balance issues might want to look into alternative models with more handles. For most, however, the T7 should be fine.
I’m a little disappointed that the T7 no longer has a hydraulic system for lifting and lowering the deck. Instead, the deck must be manually folded up. There is a pin-locking mechanism that keeps the deck in place when it’s folded. Forewarning, when you unlock the pin, the deck can come slamming down on the floor, and you if you’re in its path. When unlocked, you should hold onto the back of the deck and lower it to the floor yourself. Letting the deck fall to the ground will most likely damage the treadmill and could make it unusable.
We aren’t thrilled with this design because it requires more effort to lift and lower the deck, but it folds up to almost 90 degrees which makes it very helpful if you need a treadmill that stores easily.
Motor
The Carbon T7 has a 2.6 CHP motor which will support walking, jogging, or training by one user. The motor powers the speed and inclines and the Carbon T7 doesn’t lag when adjusting either metric. Speed picks up and slows down smoothly without any hiccups and the incline changes are gradual and steady. In our testing, we found that the motor sounds comparable to other entry-level models. It isn’t the quietest, but it isn’t overly loud either. If you are looking for a treadmill that is compact and will fold up when not in use — and you plan to mostly walk or gently run — this is an excellent buy.
Deck
The 55” is also mid-range for deck length. For users under 6 feet or those who plan to just walk or lightly jog, the deck should be fine. If you are tall, have a long stride, or plan to do lots of running, we recommend a longer 60” deck.
The ProShox cushioning is great for walking and jogging. When running the impact is greater and the ProShox system isn’t quite as cushioned as others we’ve used. It certainly beats running outdoors, however, and the ProShox absorption feature also helps mitigate impact noise from your foot strike. It doesn’t feel as soft as some of NordicTrack’s treadmills, but it doesn’t feel as firm as treadmills from Sole. This is an entry-level treadmill, so we recommend it for walking and light jogging. The cushioning is probably not sufficient to support large users (over 300 pounds) or extensive training.
The rollers are 1.9” wide and precision based to help move the belt along the top of the deck. Larger rollers provide more surface area for the belt so there is less tension. These rollers are slightly smaller than 2” which is our recommended size, so you may find the belt tension is higher on the T7.
Performance & Functionality
The Carbon T7 is a nice entry-level treadmill with some good features. If you love iFit, you definitely can’t beat the deal that ProForm offers for the Carbon T7. Overall, it is stable and feels steady, even while running. While the treadmill itself is an entry-level model, it is still well-suited for those who want to walk or jog or even do some light running.
The Carbon T7 inclines to a 10% grade. This is a respectable grade for an entry-level treadmill. Incline training has several benefits and is great for working your posterior muscles. The speed goes up to 10 mph. This speed should be sufficient for most users and works for walking and jogging. Some might even find that the max speed is at a sprinting pace for them. While the ProForm Carbon T7 does go up to 10 mph, we don’t recommend it to be used at this max speed for long periods of time. The size of the motor most likely won’t hold up well over time with this kind of heavy use.
This doesn’t change how the T7 performs. It is noticeable when the treadmill is folded and inclined though. The incline performs similarly to other models in this price range and doesn’t feel different. When folded though, this design allows the deck to fold up to be more compact. There are also transportation wheels so you can move the T7 around when needed.
Warranty
ProForm offers its standard warranty with the purchase of the Carbon T7. A 10-year warranty for the frame, a 2-year warranty for parts, and a 1-year warranty for labor are included.
Bottom Line Review: ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill
The Carbon T7 is a good entry-level treadmill from ProForm. We love that it is a part of the ProForm+ program and offered for free with a 3-year purchase of an iFit membership. The 2.6 CHP motor works well for jogging, light running as well as walking and hiking. It also supports a max user weight of up to 300 pounds which is impressive on a folding treadmill of this size. You also get a 10-year frame warranty. The ProShox cushioning system absorbs some of the foot shock from running. While this isn’t the most cushioned surface ever, it offers protection for your joints. The deck is mid-sized at 20” wide and 55” long. The 20” width is just wide enough for most users but the 55” of length may be a bit limiting for taller users or users with long running strides. We recommend a minimum of 60” in length for treadmills used primarily for running. For smaller users, shorter strides, or those who plan to mostly walk, the 55” is sufficient. The Carbon T7 also has a top speed of 10 mph and 10% max incline so you can train different muscle systems and vary your workouts to prevent boredom. The inclusion of the iFit library enhances the functionality of the Carbon T7 because it offers tons of classes, as well as runs, hikes, walking tours, and other training programs to keep you motivated. However, the 7” touchscreen is a bit small. For an entry-level treadmill, the ProForm Carbon T7 is an excellent buy with some updated tech and gentle deck cushioning.
Lucas Brown says
The features and the specifications of the ProForm Carbon T7 is a good machine for anyone who is looking for a reliable and durable treadmill that delivers smooth and steady performance thanks to the MediaTek chipset powering it. The compact size makes it a good fit for any home gym space.