Horizon 7.8 AT vs Peloton Tread — Treadmill Comparison

Recommendation:

For most people, our top recommendation between these two treadmills is the Horizon 7.8 AT. What makes it convenient for most is the forgiving shock absorption, standard workout programs, and simple, yet easy-to-use design. This treadmill doesn’t require a subscription to use, instead, you can stream content from your phone or tablet or just park it in front of a TV.

If you’re a die-hard Peloton fan who wants to stream their workouts straight from a treadmill, then the Peloton Tread is for you. Peloton’s treadmills are the only treadmills to stream Peloton’s training content directly from. Along with trainer-led workout classes, you can also stream Netflix and play gamified workouts directly from the touch screen. Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to access all of this. Without a subscription, the Peloton Tread has minimal functionality on the screen. The Tread also doesn’t fold up. The Horizon 7.8 AT not only folds up, but you can use the Peloton App while running on it. Keep reading to find out more about why we recommend the Horizon 7.8 AT over the Peloton Tread.

In-Depth Comparison of the Horizon 7.8 AT vs Peloton Tread

Dimensions/Storability

Side by side, the Horizon 7.8 AT is definitely bulkier by design than the Peloton Tread.

Unfolded the 7.8 AT is 76” L x 37” W x 64” H.

The Peloton Tread is 68” L x 33” W x 62” H, in comparison.

The Peloton Tread doesn’t fold up, however. So, even though the 7.8 AT is a large treadmill, its folding deck makes for added convenience. To fold the deck, you lift the back end.

To unfold, you press the metal bar under the deck, and it will slowly lower to the floor.

Both treadmills have transportation wheels, but we don’t recommend moving them often. It’s best to keep them in the place where you plan on using them. The Horizon can be moved when folded. The two front wheels engage when the deck is tipped back. This is a heavy treadmill at 330 lbs, so some people might find it too difficult to move. The Peloton Tread weighs 290 lbs, but it’s also challenging to transport. If you need to move it though, there are two front wheels mounted under the frame that engage when you tip up the back end of the treadmill.

For both treadmills, we recommend factoring in the unfolded dimensions for floor space, as well as a few extra feet surrounding the treadmill in order to have room to use it. Ceiling height is also important to consider. For a 6-foot-tall runner, we recommend having an 8.5-foot high ceiling.

Horizon 7.8 AT vs Peloton Tread Content

A treadmill’s content includes the workout programs and subscription streaming options (if applicable) that come built into the console. Some treadmills have simple designs with standard workout programs, while others have touch screens. The Horizon 7.8 AT and Peloton Tread are perfect examples of each type of treadmill.

The content options and experience on each are vastly different.

Horizon 7.8 AT Content

For a more old-school approach, the Horizon 7.8 AT includes 10 onboard workout programs.

These are similar to commercial treadmills in public gyms. Each program features set speed and incline settings, as well as time and distance goals. Programs like my first 5k, fat burn, target heart rate, and hill climb are available. Manual mode, to do your own thing, is available too.

The interval training program, Sprint 8 comes integrated on the console for free, too. This is great for HIIT training and there are 20 levels of difficulty to choose from.

Along with the workout programs, you can set your device on the built-in rack to stream whatever you want. The 7.8 AT is Bluetooth-enabled to use with apps like Zwift and Peloton, too. It’s nice having a lot of entertainment options, and the freedom to use your own phone. It’s also a plus to not have to pay for a subscription fee since they’re not for everyone. You can also park the 7.8 AT in front of a TV.

Peloton Tread Content

Peloton’s content, on the other hand, is subscription-based. You pay $44 per month for the Peloton All-Access Membership. With the membership, you have access to live and on-demand trainer-led workouts. These are primarily filmed in a professional studio. There are also outdoor-filmed workouts in different locations.

The studio workouts are why Peloton is so popular.

Each workout is led by an instructor. The instructors are kind of like mini-celebrities with pretty significant social media followings. Not only are there workouts on the treadmill, like walking, hiking, running, and treadmill boot camp, but workouts in other disciplines like strength training and cycling.

A leaderboard is displayed on the right side of the screen while working out. This shows who is taking the class with you and how you rank in comparison. Most members enjoy competing on the leaderboard. Another standout feature is the music. Each class has a curated playlist of music hand-selected by the instructor. This, along with each trainer, makes the workouts fun and engaging.

Another cool feature is Lanebreak. These are gamified workouts that feature an avatar that moves through various lanes that you must control to hit specific targets. To hit the targets, you vary your intensity. Each Lanebreak game is structured like a workout with a built-in warm-up and cool-down.

Peloton also includes streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube TV, Max, Disney+, and NBA on the touch screen. This way, you can log into your account for each of these apps and start streaming.

Note: You must subscribe to Peloton’s All-Access Membership to access the streaming apps and all of the content on the touch screen.

Without a subscription, the functionality of the touch screen is very limited. Only your speed and incline are displayed on the screen, no other workout metrics like time-elapsed or distance traveled are shown, unless you pay for the subscription membership.

Horizon 7.8 AT vs Peloton Tread Console

Along with the different content features, the overall console layouts also differ greatly. A treadmill’s console is where you adjust the speed and incline. It also is where you view the workout options and start and stop the machine.

Horizon 7.8 AT Console

The overall look of the 7.8 AT reminds me of a gym treadmill. It definitely has a dated look compared to treadmills with touch screens, like the Peloton Tread. The 7.8 AT has a 9.3” TFT color display and a 16-digit LED screen below that. The TFT screen is where you see the workout programs displayed as graphs and charts, and the LED screen shows your workout metrics.

It’s easy to use with much less frills than the Tread.

A black, circular button below the display is where you select the program you want to take. There is also a green start button and a red stop button.

On either side of the console are numbered quick adjustment buttons. These allow you to jump back and forth between specific speed and incline settings. The 7.8 AT also has two blue roller adjustment dials to adjust to specific settings, quickly. These buttons are directly in front of the console and make interval training quick and easy.

The speakers are loud and Bluetooth-enabled. You can pair them with your device to listen to content of your choosing. They have a good volume range.

The fan is small and not very well powered. It’s also positioned a little low for our liking. It’s best to plug in your own fan if you need to cool off.

The Horizon 7.8 AT has plenty of storage. Two pockets for your water bottle are on the sides and a storage tray is below the console for other items. Plus, there are two device racks to hold your phone or tablet when you want to stream content.

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Peloton Tread Console

The Peloton’s console is a lot sleeker, in comparison. That is because of the 23.8” touch screen. I will say, this touch screen is a very nice quality. Not only are the graphics clear, but it has no glare.

This is a large screen, so it’s great for viewing Peloton’s subscription content and the streaming apps like Netflix.

The screen tilts up and down. It doesn’t pivot from side to side like the NordicTrack Commercial 2450. With its size, you can still stream off-the-treadmill workouts, like yoga and strength training, though.

The Tread has very few adjustment buttons. The only buttons are the roller knobs fixed on the inner parts of the side handles. They roll forward and backward to adjust the speed and incline levels. You can also press the center of these knobs to jump to specific increments.

Peloton also has an Auto-Incline feature. During a Peloton workout, the grade of the deck will adjust to match the format of the workout. The speed doesn’t auto-adjust.

The speakers match the quality of the screen. The volume range is good and the quality of sound is clear. The console doesn’t have a fan so you’ll need to use your own.

A tray is directly in front of the screen for your water and phone. There isn’t a device rack to place your phone or tablet. This keeps you locked into the subscription training content.

The touch screen also locks when you aren’t using the treadmill. It requires a 4-digit code that you pick, to unlock it. This is for safety, to ensure the treadmill can be turned on accidentally.

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Build Quality

Being premium treadmills, we expect the Peloton Tread and Horizon 7.8 AT to be well-made. These are both high-quality treadmills with solid constructions. They differ in the overall design and price. At the time of writing this, the Peloton Tread is almost $1000 more than the Horizon 7.8 AT.

Horizon 7.8 AT vs Peloton Tread Frame

Both treadmills have steel frames that support the base. The carbon steel frame sits under the entire deck on the Peloton Tread. The steel floor frame is positioned under the front part of the deck on the Horizon. This is because of the foldable design. Steel uprights extend up to hold the consoles and handles in place on both treadmills.

The Horizon 7.8 AT has a beefier look compared to the sleekness of the Peloton. It also has another steel component.

A steel crossbar is mounted under the console in between the uprights to provide even more stability to this large machine.

When running on the Peloton Tread, the touch screen shakes a little bit, especially at higher speeds. We don’t experience any shaking of the console on the Horizon. It is like a tank and one of the heavier folding treadmills we’ve tested.

Speaking of heavyweight, the 7.8 AT has an impressive 375 lb weight limit. It’s more suitable for larger users, compared to the 300 lb weight limit that the Tread has.

I do like the coating on the Peloton Tread’s handles.

They have a soft texture that doesn’t feel slippery. Also, the front handle is one continuous piece to hold onto for balance. The side and front handles provide stability when you need it on the Horizon, too. This is just my personal preference. The front handles on the 7.8 AT have pulse grips to read your heart rate. This treadmill also comes with a heart rate monitor strap. The Peloton Tread connects to Garmin, Apple Watch, and Fitbit for heart rate tracking.

Horizon 7.8 AT vs Peloton Tread Motor

We’ve had the opportunity to test these treadmills for the past few years. This has allowed us to put their motors to the test. In our testing, we’ve found that a 3.0 to 4.0 HP motor is best for running. The Horizon 7.8 AT has a powerful 4.0 HP motor that has held up well with regular use. It’s quiet and quick to adjust. This component pairs well with the blue roller dials and the Sprint 8 programming for interval training.

There’s no waiting for the motor to adjust the speed and incline.

The Peloton Tread’s motor also adjusts quickly.

This treadmill has a 3.0 HP motor. This is the low end of what we recommend for running. Our model of the Tread has handled regular use for the past few years fairly well though. It is fairly quiet, but the Horizon is quieter.

The 7.8 AT has a 12 mph max speed and the Tread has a 12.5 mph max speed. This equates to around a 5-minute mile running pace, which is what most home treadmills offer. The 7.8 AT inclines up to 15%, which is a little more than the 12.5% that the Peloton Tread includes. With either treadmill though, you have plenty of training options. Neither treadmill declines.

Horizon 7.8 AT vs Peloton Tread Deck

Beyond the fact that the Horizon folds up and the Peloton doesn’t, the decks also differ in other aspects. The 7.8 AT has a larger deck that’s 22” wide and 60” long. The Tread has a 20” wide and 59” long deck, in comparison. Both support all stride lengths, but you might want to check out the 7.8 AT if you like a little more room to run.

They also differ in how they feel to run on. Deck cushioning is the amount of give in the deck when your feet land on it while running. More give equals more shock absorption and less impact on your joints. The Horizon 7.8 AT isn’t the most cushioned treadmill we’ve tested, NordicTrack’s are, but the deck is absorbent and comfortable underfoot.

The Peloton Tread has minimal cushioning, so it feels pretty hard to run on. This is okay if you prefer running on harder surfaces, such as pavement outside, but it isn’t best if you get joint sensitivity and discomfort while running. The Horizon is the better choice if you want a softer surface to run on.

Warranty

Horizon offers impressive warranties with their treadmills. The 7.8 AT comes with a lifetime frame and motor warranty. This helps to instill confidence in the construction knowing that the brand backs it up with this coverage. Peloton includes a 5-year frame and a 3-year motor and belt warranty.

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BottomLine/Recommendation

For most people, the Horizon 7.8 AT is the better treadmill. It folds up and doesn’t require a subscription to use. Horizon leans into an old-school design that’s functional and well-built, making this home treadmill feel similar to use as one you’d find at your local gym. The Peloton Tread appeals to those who love taking Peloton’s training content and who like following along with an instructor. In order to utilize all of Peloton’s subscription membership features like the leaderboard and streaming from Netflix from the Tread’s touch screen, you have to use the Tread.

If you want more options like streaming content from your device, then the Horizon is the way to go. You can even use it with the Peloton App on your phone. We consider the Horizon 7.8 AT to be one of the best treadmills on the market. We especially love it for HIIT training, however, it is a well-constructed beast that handles a lot of use. Overall, its features and construction are more functional than the Peloton Tread.

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