Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill Review: No-Frills Workhorse for Home Training

There are three kinds of treadmills: those that show up covered in flashy screens and boast more subscriptions than your streaming services; others that are so wobbly and unstable you feel like you’ll bust through the platform with each stride; and there are those that just let you run.

The Horizon 7.0 AT falls squarely in this last category. And honestly, that is a good thing.

Let me preface by acknowledging that I hate running. I will do it, but I would rather hike a sheer vertical face in snowshoes while carrying an elk quarter than jog in place like a hamster, chasing after my own mental health. But my body has to move, and I need to keep fit.

This is important because I live in Montana, where snow hangs around far longer than anyone would like. So the Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT became my not-so-glamorous but brutally effective solution for year-round motion.

In short: The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT is a no-frills, hard-working treadmill that delivers solid performance for runners, hikers, and weekday warriors who just need to move.

Shopping for a new treadmill? Check out our guide to the treadmills we love.

What the Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill Offers

The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT packs in specifically the features you need without inflating the price by adding junk you don’t. It runs on a 3.0 CHP motor that handles intervals, sprints, and incline hiking without sounding like it’s about to launch into orbit or vibrating itself to death.

The 20-by-60-inch deck gives plenty of room to stretch out your stride, and the variable response cushioning softens impact without feeling squishy. It inclines up to 15%, hits speeds up to 12 mph, and supports users up to 325 pounds.

Bluetooth connectivity lets you sync with training apps like Zwift or Peloton, and the QuickDial rollers make speed and incline changes fast and smooth. It folds up with a hydraulic assist that won’t crush your foot or require a full-body deadlift.

The super-basic display is a 7-inch LCD screen, but it does have a spot for your tablet or phone.

Testing

I brought this beast into my basement gym. I didn’t do it for performance bragging rights or because I am training for the Boston qualifier. I just needed a reliable way to break a sweat during off-camera Zoom meetings, climb artificial hills for pack training, and trick my body into thinking it was not hibernating through the winter.

Despite my deeply rooted treadmill skepticism, this thing showed up and did the job.

Most of my use has been split between incline rucking with a weighted pack, walking while editing (which is harder than I’d like to admit), and mid-run bursts when stress or rage demands it.

I’ve also started hopping on during long meetings. I pop the laptop on the little lip/riser, crank the incline to 10%, and suddenly those meetings that could have been emails feel slightly less soul-sucking.

The treadmill isn’t silent, but it’s not obnoxiously loud either. I can walk during calls without folks hearing me stomp like a Sasquatch.

Running feels decent. The cushioning is soft enough to take the edge off, but not so springy that you lose power. The 3.0 CHP motor keeps up with speed changes. In my particular setup, I have the treadmill on a horse stall mat, which I highly recommend over the more spongy gym mats or flooring. It has just enough give, but is firm enough to feel solid.

Built-In Training Options

The Horizon 7.0 AT built-in programming is very simple, but the treadmill still plays nice with all your favorite apps. It comes with eight built-in workouts, covering everything from hill climbs to fat-burn sessions. They’re pretty basic, but totally usable.

If you want more, this machine syncs via Bluetooth with Peloton, Zwift, Kinomap, and Horizon’s own AtZone app. You can even pair your Apple or Samsung watch for heart rate tracking that’s actually useful (one of my favorite little perks).

Horizon Fitness’s free companion app (AtZone) is pretty slick. It’s available for select cardio equipment, including the 7.0 AT treadmill. It offers a variety of workouts, like guided classes, scenic routes, and the Sprint 8 HIIT program. The app connects via Bluetooth to display real-time metrics like heart rate, speed, incline, and cadence.

The app also syncs with platforms like Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, and Strava, allowing you to track your progress across devices.

What It Does Best

The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT is not trying to be a Peloton. It’s functional, affordable, and doesn’t require a subscription to an app. It’s essentially a next-level blue-collar treadmill for people who just want to move with stability that doesn’t feel cheap and doesn’t break the bank. Whether that means pounding out speed intervals or trudging uphill like you’re chasing a bugling bull in September, it just works.

The QuickDial controls are also smart (with a caveat). You twist to change speed or incline in one motion and don’t have to stab at tiny buttons mid-run. It makes me wonder why more treadmills don’t have them.

Where It Could Improve

The screen is boring. There is no fancy color interface, and the metrics’ layout is dry. It does the job, but it is not exactly motivating unless you really love plain numbers. That being said, I couldn’t care less about the display. It works.

The fan is weak. Technically, it exists, but the airflow is more of a gentle whisper than a breeze. It also flows out at a weird angle that prefers to only grace the right side of my face.

The Bluetooth speakers are also a nice addition, but to be honest, they’re a bit lacking. Get yourself a Turtlebox and a standing fan; you’ll be golden.

Remember how I said the QuickDial controls are smart? Well, they’re only smart if you are. If you happen to give them an unexpected bump and they roll forward, suddenly your feet get whipped out from under you. Instant speed increases can definitely be a hazard. It’s only happened to me once, but once was enough to mention it.

Who Is the Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill For?

If you’re training for an ultramarathon and need more tech to calculate every single stride and every single spec, this treadmill might not be the right fit. But if you want a reliable, rugged treadmill for walking, rucking, and comfortable running, the Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT holds its own.

It’s ideal for people who do not care about brand names as much as they care about daily movement. It works well for parents working from home, lifters who need to knock out cardio, and hunters preparing for elk season. It also suits anyone who hates going to the gym but still wants to break a sweat.

The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT isn’t glamorous. It shows up, takes a beating, and keeps moving. In my world, that matters a lot more than flashy screens or boutique fitness nonsense.

If you need a way to keep your body from turning into pudding when the weather turns sour, or a no-excuses machine to stomp uphill until your calves scream, this treadmill is worth every inch of the basement floor it occupies.