Horizon Treadmill Warranty Guide

In this article I'll explain how a Horizon Fitness Treadmill warranty works, what everything means, and cover some common questions most buyers and potential buyers have. The least expensive of the bunch is the Horizon T71 model and I'll be using this Horizon Treadmill as an example.

What can a warranty tell you?
A treadmill warranty can provide a savvy shopper with a lot of information; it tells a consumer how much faith the manufacturer has in it's own products. My brother bought a Hyundai when they first came out, much to his dismay. The car was shoddy at best, and rested in our driveway gathering dust between trips to the dealer mechanic. The warranty was horrible, laughable at best. Hyundai knew they were making a poor quality car, so they couldn't back it with a good warranty if they hoped to be profitable. That was about a decade ago. Today, Hyundai backs every car with a 10 year / 100,000 mile warranty, one of the best I've ever seen! Why? Because Hyundai got their act together and started manufacturing better cars.

Likewise, you can find a quality treadmill by a seasoned manufacturer if you compare the warranties. Ask yourself "Is this warranty better or worse than comparable products." It may take some time, but if you're looking for a great treadmill, it's worth it!

The Warranty
The Horizon T71 comes with a 7 year motor, 1 year parts, and 1 year labor warranty.

Motor Warranty
What does my warranty mean? Well, the motor section of your warranty covers any defect in the motor for a period of 7 years. Let's say you're running on your T71 and hear a sputtering noise and your treadmill belt comes to a stop. If there is a defect in the motor, Horizon will send out a brand new motor to replace the broken one.

Frame Warranty
99% of all treadmills come with a lifetime frame warranty, it's the same for home gyms. The reason why is because it's cheap and if you can design a frame that won't fall apart, you have no business manufacturing a treadmill. I have seen some with 30 and 50 year frame warranties, but even those are few and far between.

What is covered under the frame warranty? Well, it's easier if I cover what it excludes. The electronic board that comes with your Horizon Treadmill is not part of the frame, neither is the belt, deck, or any electronic or mechanical parts. The frame, is everything else, the handle bars and the base of the unit.

Parts Warranty
I know it sounds confusing, but the frame and motor are not considered parts. What are the parts? That's everything from transport wheels to the

A common question I receive is "Why is the motor warranty longer than the parts warranty?" Because the Parts warranty covers things like the electronics console,

What about extended warranties?
Most Treadmill purveyors offer extended warranties, but those generally run half the cost of the treadmill, and in very unlikely event that your Horizon T71 breaks down or has an issue, it's usually cheaper to have your local treadmill repairman or woman come to your home and fix it. I know, I deal with these issues all the time when I sit at the complaint desk. Extended warranties are only good for inferior quality products and Horizon Fitness does not offer inferior quality treadmills

Horizon T71 Treadmill Review - Best Treadmill Under $700

The Horizon T71 is one of the best treadmills under $700. You're not getting a commercial quality treadmill in this price range. However, units in this category are great for walking and running. The Horizon T71 Treadmill can take some abuse, but it’s not built to handle the San Francisco 49’ers defensive team.

With a deck size of 18"x20" this is the smallest treadmill of the Horizon Fitness bunch. If you're a larger person or taller than 6’1”, you might want to look into the Horizon T72, they have a longer deck that can accommodate longer legs. The motor inside the Horizon T71 Treadmill is rated at 1.75 continuous duty horsepower. It may not sound like a lot, especially if you own a Porsche or even a Lexus, but rest assured it’s plenty of power for the average treadmill user. You may see other treadmills in the $700 range with a horsepower rating of 4 or 5. That’s probably because they’re using Peak Duty to advertise their treadmills, not Continuous Duty. (For an explanation see my article on Peak and Continuous Duty.) The motor in this treadmill by Horizon Fitness is designed and manufactured by Johnson Tech. Johnson Tech supplies treadmill motors for a lot of high end treadmill lines including Matrix Fitness. When Johnson Tech makes a motor, it’s going to last.

One of the most important features of the Horizon T71 is the GellCell shock absorption system. Having run on poorly built treadmills I know the difference between quality shock absorption and putting a few springs underneath the deck. Horizon's GellCell technology goes a long way reducing impact on your joints and muscles and every time I demonstrate the functions of a Horizon Treadmill for customers in the showroom, I’m thankful when I’m asked to showcase a Horizon.

To wrap up, the Horizon T71 is great for anyone on a budget, women, shorter, and lighter treadmill enthusiasts.

Horizon T71 Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 1.75 HP
Max Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.
Folding: Yes
Max Speed: 10 MPH
Max Incline: 10%
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse grip
Programs: 8
Display: LCD
Display: RPM, watts, time, calories, heart rate, distance, and resistance
Product Weight: 195 lbs.
Flywheel Weight: 2.2 lbs.
Roller Size: 1.8"
Deck Thickness: 3/4"
Running Area: 50" x 18"
Price: $599

Welcome

I know the title is a little generic, but I promise you this blog isn't.

I started out thinking I would create a blog reviewing treadmills, having seen that market is cornered and saturated, I decided to take the smart route and only review Horizon treadmills. I may throw up a comparison between a comparable Sole or Spirit treadmill here and there, but you'll mostly see Horizon treadmill reviews on this site.

I'm sure you're asking yourself why. My coworker says I'm "limiting" myself. I can't really explain why without going over my credentials first. I started out as a Jr. Webmaster for a well known fitness retialer. After a couple years of hard work I moved into marketing and eventually ran the entire fitness equipment division. I've had to deal with everything from repair issues to delivery challenges. I know treadmills inside and out and even work with our in house technicians when they get bogged down with repair orders.

One seemingly difficult project was to reduce returns and exchanges to save on shipping costs. After reviewing our return records I noticed that one treadmill manufacturer had significantly fewer returns across their entire product line. That company is Horizon Fitness.

I bet the farm and my job that we could significantly reduce returns if we started reccomending Horizon Fitness Treadmills to customers requesting advice. A year later the data was in, returns were down an astonishing 67% saving the company thousands of dollars a year.

So, why do I only review Horizon Treadmills? Frankly, they're the best treadmill for the average user. They have a wide ranging treadmill line that will accomodate everyone from the penny pincher to the serious endurance trainer. Most people who buy a Horizon Treadmill are happy with their Horizon Treadmill.

The Horizon Treadmill Guy
Colin Colbert