Trying to choose the best treadmill for your home gym? We’ll help you decide by giving you an in-depth look at two of the most popular cardio brands. This is a showdown between Horizon vs NordicTrack treadmills, and it ain’t over until GGR sings!
Quick Company History
Horizon Fitness is a subsidiary of Johnson Health Tech, which was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Taichung, Taiwan. You might be familiar with a few of the other brands under the Johnson Health Tech umbrella, such as Matrix and Vision Fitness. Those brands typically produce commercial cardio equipment that you’d find at your local gym.
NordicTrack is also a subsidiary of a larger company, Icon Health & Fitness. Icon Health & Fitness owns iFIT, ProForm, and a few other smaller brands. They are headquartered in Logan, Utah, which is about an hour and a half away from Salt Lake City.
| Brand | Horizon | NordicTrack |
| Treadmill models | 6 models | 9 models |
| Price range | $649-$1,999 | $1,099-$4,499 |
| Interactive programming | FitU (Ability to connect various interactive programming services to their machines via Bluetooth) | iFIT programming Individual: $15/month or $180/year Family: $39/month or $396/year |
Who Should Buy Horizon Treadmills?
- People on a budget
- Those who don’t care about a touchscreen
- Someone who wants a more entry-level machine
- Individuals who want a lifetime warranty on both their frame and motor
Who Should Buy NordicTrack Treadmills?
- Serious runners
- Those who like on-demand programming
- Tech enthusiasts
- People who like knowing the horsepower of their treadmill motor
Key Similarities Between NordicTrack and Horizon Treadmills
- Oversized decks suited for tall folks
- Heavy machines with large footprints
- Both offer Bluetooth connectivity
Important Differences Between NordicTrack and Horizon Treadmills
- NordicTrack shares motor CHP with consumers and Horizon does not
- Horizon has longer frame and motor warranties than NordicTrack
- NordicTrack manufactures more expensive treadmills than Horizon
- Horizon treadmills work with a variety of fitness apps and NordicTrack machines work solely with iFIT
- Horizon models don’t have touchscreens
Treadmills Offered by NordicTrack and Horizon
My favorite treadmill that NordicTrack offers is the Commercial 1750. This super-sized cardio machine clocks in at 340 pounds when it arrives at your door, so it isn’t exactly petite.
However, if you have the space to handle the 1750’s footprint, you’ll likely really enjoy this sturdy machine and its stellar iFIT programming. The 1750 features a 14-inch touchscreen, a 22-inch-by-60-inch deck, and both incline and decline options.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
Product Highlights
- Spacious running deck
- Compatible with iFIT
- 14-inch touchscreen
- Incline and decline training
- Financing available
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compatible with iFIT
- 3.5 CHP motor
- Free trial of iFIT subscription with purchase
- Treadmill with incline and decline training
- Foldable to save space (EasyLift Assist)
- Run that feels similar to road running
- Financing options available through NordicTrack
- Generous speed range
- Wide running deck
- Cooling fan
Cons
- Big footprint
- Heavy and not the easiest to move
- Price is around $2,000
- Warranty is voided if the treadmill is used/stored in a garage
Bottom Line
If you’re looking to add a workhorse of a treadmill to your home gym, we recommend the NordicTrack Commercial 1750. It’s one of the few treadmills that has decline training capabilities and is compatible with iFIT, one of the best training programs.
Check out our full NordicTrack Commercial 1750 treadmill review.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill Specs
| Running surface size | 22” W x 60” L |
| Warranty | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor |
| User weight capacity | 300 lbs |
| Tablet holder | Yes |
| Incline range | -3% decline to 15% incline |
| Top speed | 12 MPH |
| Display | 14-inch HD touchscreen |
| Motor HP | 3.5 CHP motor |
| Metrics displayed | Incline, calorie burn, heart rate, time elapsed, distance traveled, pace, and speed |
| Footprint | 80” L x 38” W x 65” H |
Other popular treadmills from NordicTrack include:
- NordicTrack EXP 7i Treadmill
- NordicTrack Commercial X22i
- NordicTrack Commercial 2450
- NordicTrack Commercial X32i
Out of Horizon’s treadmill offerings, my personal favorite is the 7.0 AT Treadmill. As a tall woman, I particularly like the deck on the 7.0 AT. The 20-inch-by-60-inch belt is excellent for those with long legs or lengthy strides.
RELATED: Best Treadmill for Tall Runners
Plus, at under $1,000, the 7.0 AT is a budget-friendly home treadmill that still features great extras like cup holders, Bluetooth speakers, and multiple preset programs. The 7.0 AT also has a 325-pound weight capacity, which is above the industry standard of 300 pounds.
Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
Product Highlights
- Priced under $1,000
- Spacious 60-inch running deck
- Bluetooth connectivity
- QuickDial controls for both the speed and incline
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 60” running surface
- 3.0 CHP motor
- Bluetooth connectivity with apps like Zwift, Peloton, and Nike Running Club
- 325 lb weight limit
Cons
- Heavy machine at over 250 lbs
- No included touchscreen
- 3-year parts warranty and 1-year labor warranties are less than the Horizon 7.4 AT Treadmill
Bottom Line
For under $1,000, the Horizon 7.0 AT is a great option for people who want to use their treadmill to run.
Read our entire Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill review.
Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
| Running surface size | 20” W x 60” L |
| Warranty | Lifetime on frame and motor, 3-year parts, 1-year labor |
| User weight capacity | 325 lbs |
| Tablet holder | Yes |
| Incline range | Up to 15% incline |
| Top speed | 12 MPH |
| Display | LCD screen |
| Motor HP | N/A; brand doesn’t disclose |
| Metrics displayed | Calories burned, distance traveled, heart rate, incline, speed, and time |
| Footprint | 76.5″ L x 36″ W x 59″ H |
Other popular treadmills from Horizon include:
Company Policies
When choosing a treadmill, although the machine itself is the main focus, we still have to consider company policies. Imagine if you found the best treadmill in the world, but it has a terrible warranty. You’d probably pause before purchasing it, right? The same goes for everything else that relates to customer experience including assembly, returns, and financing options, which is why I break it all down below.
Warranty
Industry standard: A good frame warranty on a home fitness treadmill is generally 15 years to life
Horizon
All Horizon treadmills have a lifetime frame and motor warranty. The parts and labor guarantees can vary between a year to five years, depending on how expensive a particular model is.
NordicTrack
All NordicTrack treadmills have a 10-year frame, 2-year parts, and 1-year labor warranty. I find this slightly surprising because not even the top-of-the-line machine has a lifetime frame warranty.
Return Policies
Industry standard: 30 days from date of delivery to be eligible for a refund
Horizon
You can return your Horizon treadmill within 30 days of delivery. However, you may be charged a 20% restocking fee if you get white-glove delivery.
NordicTrack
If you don’t love your new NordicTrack treadmill, you can return it within 30 days of delivery for your money back. It is worth noting that you do have to pay a $250 fee to ship the machine back.
Financing Options
Industry standard: 0% APR over 30 or so months
Horizon
Horizon has their own financing program where you can pay as little as 0% APR, but you do have to qualify based on your credit score. It says in the fine print that the traditional APR is 29.99% for other customers.
NordicTrack
NordicTrack has great financing available––0% APR for anywhere between 12-48 months. However, you do have to qualify for these options first.
Assembly
Industry standard: Threshold delivery available, or assembling the machine would take two people no longer than 1.5 hours
Horizon
Horizon offers three different delivery and assembly options––standard delivery for $79, in-room delivery for $159, or $299 for white glove delivery. When I personally assembled the Horizon 7.0 AT, it took me over two hours and would have been less frustrating with a second set of hands.
NordicTrack
NordicTrack offers free standard delivery or you can pay an additional $299 for room of choice delivery and assembly. Although I haven’t personally assembled a NordicTrack treadmill, GGR’s Head of Content Kate Meier has, and it took her about 90 minutes with another person. I will say, Kate is particularly handy and quick at assembling machines, so your mileage may vary.
Horizon and NordicTrack FAQs
Is NordicTrack better than Horizon?
NordicTrack and Horizon are two excellent cardio brands. However, what might be best for you isn’t necessarily my best option. If you’re looking for a more tech-heavy treadmill and don’t mind paying some serious cheese for one, NordicTrack likely has your best option. If sturdiness and excellent warranties appeal to you, I would choose a Horizon treadmill.
Are NordicTrack or Horizon treadmills better cushioned?
In regards to cushioning, I personally prefer the deck of the NordicTrack treadmills. However, if you like a deck that feels akin to the outdoors, you may enjoy the Horizon treadmill cushioning best.
What interactive programming can I use with Horizon treadmills?
You can use almost any type of programming with every Horizon treadmill, but with some caveats. Certain apps like Peloton, Zwift, and Studio will show a variety of stats and be more connected to the treadmill. Other programming, like iFIT, will connect to the Bluetooth speakers on a Horizon treadmill, but won’t work in tandem to show the same metrics.
