Aiming for that sweet spot in Horizon’s Studio Series of treadmills, the Horizon 7.4 AT comes into the market at $1,599, in between the 7.0 AT and 7.8 AT. Built to accommodate streaming workouts via a large number of fee-free apps, this unit also brings 10 built-in programs and a high-quality media shelf for placement of your own tablet or smartphone. Definitely not the treadmill for you if what you want is a big, flashy screen that pivots and tilts, one thing I love about the Horizon lineup is that you can buy it and go without having to pay for apps if you so choose. In my experience, a good number of treadmill users get confused by interactive training and simply want a high-quality machine with which they don’t have to fiddle much. That describes the 7.4 AT to a T. It does come with a 8.25″ LCD screen with data readout including: Calories, Distance, Heartrate, Incline, Pace, Speed, and Time.

In using the machine myself, I can tell you it’s very user-friendly and doesn’t require much knowledge. It’s a solid machine that won’t wobble when you walk or run, despite being a folding treadmill which is easy to pop up and roll into a corner when not in use. Read below to see the complete machine walkthrough and be sure to check out the links to important articles concerning decks, motors, rollers, and belts, if you have any questions about the mechanics.

Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Horizon 7.4 AT

At TreadmillReviews.net, we bring you comprehensive reviews of treadmills so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the treadmills we review. We install them, walk on them, run on them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every treadmill we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles on the deck. We listen and record the sound of the motor, we test and measure the incline/decline, try out all aspects of the console and try the treadmill’s features.

Every treadmill we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think. This particular treadmill has been around for many years, and we’ve done previous reviews of the Horizon 7.4 AT. So, in this review, we also compared it to the previous models.

Our reviewers are treadmill and fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a competitive bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert at treadmills, has been on this treadmill, and you can trust his opinion on all of the treadmills he reviews.

In Brief

The 2023 Horizon 7.4 AT brings all the features you’d expect to see in a much pricier unit, save the high-definition touchscreen. Frankly, the only noticeable difference between it and the 7.8 AT is the screen size, 8.5″ versus 9.3″, a slightly smaller motor, and a difference of $400. Equipped with a 3.5 CHP motor and 22″ x 60″ deck, it offers speeds up to 12 miles per hour and a 15% incline. Built with 2.36″ rollers, it sports a lifetime guarantee on both the frame and motor and is designed to integrate with a wide range of online training programs including Studio, Daily Burn, Aaptiv, and Treo by way of your own tablet, or simply to be used with the built-in programs that I’ve found to be more than sufficient for a quad-burning workout. If I’m simply looking to exercise hard and heavy for 40-minute sessions three or four times a week and don’t care about personalized training videos, this is a big plus. Measuring 76″ x 37″ x 64″ when assembled and 42″ x 37″ x 71″, it weighs 318 pounds and carries up to 375 pounds.

Check Price

Horizon 7.4 AT Treadmill- Pros & Cons (2024) - Key Specs:

In-Depth Review of the Horizon 7.4 AT

Why We Like It

The Horizon 7.4 AT is a great folding treadmill priced right at $1,599. It’s strikingly similar to the 7.8 AT but for a smaller screen and about 12 pounds in total weight, so if you like that model you’ll love this one. It brings all the niceties like Bluetooth speakers and a USB charging ports, a multi-position tablet holder and accessory tray. A big, solid machine, it does take up some room, and that’s something you’ll want to consider when placing it. That said, it’s a folding unit, and as I’ve written before, one of the great things about folding units is they’re easy to clean and maintain. 

Looking at it strictly from a user standpoint, it answers all my questions. It has a larger-than-standard running deck at 22″ x 60″, which is great for high intensity training. From a hardware standpoint, the 7.4 AT treadmill steps things up a touch from the 7.0 AT, using a 3.5 continuous-duty horsepower motor and larger belt rollers than its sibling. This increased performance is more helpful in terms of longevity, as the treadmill has the same 12 mph top speed and 15-degree max incline. The Horizon 7.4 AT also benefits from a lengthier warranty with a lifetime guarantee on the frame and motor, five years for parts, and two years for labor.

The motor of this treadmill also benefits from Horizon’s clever Rapid Sync Technology, which is designed to allow the motor to speed up and slow down faster than a conventional treadmill motor. When it comes to more standard running programs that isn’t a feature you’d naturally hunt for, but with the advent of interval training this technology is well worth having—more on that later.

It Has a User-Friendly Console

Horizon skips the tech, allowing you to save money and bring your own smart device to the table. Oleksandr Kosheliev / TreadmilReviews.net

Rather than locking users into a specific set of programming, this new treadmill can integrate a wide range of online training programs including Studio, Daily Burn, Aaptiv, and Treo. Given the direction that the fitness world has been moving, and how much emphasis is being put on this kind of in-home digital training, this is a genuinely clever on their part, and definitely sets the Horizon 7.4 AT treadmill apart from the competition. This unit also features 10 built-in training programs for those who want to ignore the apps. Like most new treadmills these days, the machine has safety features like an emergency “Stop” button. All of your controls are within reach, and the LED screen with data readout from your workout is easy to see. In my experience on the machine, the tablet holder works great and there’s little chance of your screen falling when running.

About Sprint 8 Training:

Sprint 8 in its simplest form is a proprietary variation of HIIT derived by Johnson Health Tech—the parent company of Horizon Fitness. The 20-minute workout takes its users through a warm-up phase, followed by intense 30-second sprints broken up by 90-second active recovery periods before a final 2.5 minute cool-down. The brand claims that significant body fat loss can be achieved in as little as 8 weeks, based on running the Sprint 8 program 3 times per week. You can get more details here.

Easy to Use Controls

Horizon’s combination of QuickDial controls and proprietary Rapid Sync technology facilitates interval training. Oleksandr Kosheliev / TreadmilReviews.net

Other great features to the treadmill include the QuickDial Controls found on the handles which help make incline and speed adjustments easier. The 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning has been demonstrated to reduce joint impact by up to 30% compared to road running. This 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning provides unique levels of shock absorption to the front, middle, and back sections of the running area as they differ from runner to runner based on stride.

Easy to Fold

Horizon’s folding treadmills are easy to move about. Oleksandr Kosheliev / TreadmilReviews.net

The FeatherLight Folding mechanism provides an easy folding and unlocking system with strong safety features. The treadmill also provides a single fan found at the bottom of the control. Other machines have multiple fans or are designed to hit various height levels. Depending on the need for this cooling feature, one single fan might be judged ineffective based on user preference. When I utilize this fold-up process on any of the Horizon treadmills it typically takes about five seconds. In addition to folding treadmills being easier to move about, their also easier to clean and lubricate as I’ve written before here.

What We Like:

Horizon’s 7.4 AT treadmill features an incline range of 0% to 15%, recruiting both anterior and posterior leg muscles. Oleksandr Kosheliev / TreadmilReviews.net

What We Don’t Like:

This Treadmill Could Be Right If You Want:

Our Verdict:

We were already a fan of the more affordable 7.0 AT treadmill from Horizon, and all told there’s a good bump in features on the 7.4 AT treadmill to justify its increased price of $1,599, versus $999. It doesn’t have the same slick touchscreen consoles found on treadmills from NordicTrack and others, but from a function, features, and build quality standpoint it still delivers ample value for an affordable entry price. All in all this is definitely an effective runners treadmill.

Recent Updates

• July 28, 2021: Updated specs to include new features.
• November 23, 2022: Updated specs and pricing
• May 12, 2023: Updated specs and pricing
• November 13, 2023: Updated specs