We weren’t very confident when we started to test the Horizon T81 treadmill and it seems that we were right. The machine is a budget product and it’s far from what we expected for the price paid.

The Horizon T81 treadmill features a decent 2.0 CHP motor and can reach a standard top speed and incline. So far so good! Our impression changed when we saw the belt. It has only 50 inches in length which in our opinion makes this machine unusable for running.

Besides this the T81 has decent (still budget) features like: 8 preset programs, a blow fan and heart contact grip.

Horizon T81 Treadmill Specifications

1. Speed: 0-10 mph
The Horizon T81 Treadmill can reach a top speed of 10 mph, enough for most home users (and beginners).

2. Inclination: 0-10%
The elevation system allows a top incline value of 10%. Changing incline can be done with one touch via 10 side buttons and with 0.5% increment through the classic controls.

3. Motor
This treadmill is powered by a 2.0 CHP quiet motor that comes with a 20 years warranty.

4. Belt 20″ x 50″
The Horizon T81 treadmill includes a 50 inches 2 ply belt. The deck comes with a COMFORTzone Air Cell cushioning system to increase comfort during training.

5. Warranty
For this machine Horizon offers a lifetime warranty for frame, 20 years for motor and a 1-year for parts and labor.

Horizon T81 Treadmill Special Features

8 Preset Programs
When you use this model you can choose between 7 preset workouts or create a custom program of your own. The 7 preset workouts focus on weight loss and fitness.

COMFORTzone Air CELL
This is an advanced cushioning technology that increases joint protection and at the same time provides a superior comfort and high stability.

The T81 model sustains a maximum user weight of 275 lbs.

The following features are also included: Blower Fan, Large & Heavy frame, Orange backlit LCD screen and Contact Heart Rate.

Conclusions for Horizon T81 Treadmill Review

The performance and features of this treadmill sustain the idea that it can be used only for walking workouts. This is clearly a machine made for beginners in search of a budget solution.

The motor has only 2.0 CHP which can be more than enough if you want to walk only. Still the power is under standard running requirements. But we appreciate the noise level is pretty low which we consider a big plus.

What we really don’t like is the length of the belt: only 50 inches. By adding only 5 inches more they could have dramatically changed the machine’s ratings. We mark this as a big minus. The narrow belt situation is somehow saved by the superior cushioning systems installed based on the COMFORTzone Air CELL technology.

The console features 8 built in workouts (one is custom) that add enough variety to training sessions. There are no other training features but don’t forget this machine is still a budget product after all.

You also get a blow out fan and a contact grip heart monitoring system. The fan doesn’t have enough power and the monitoring system doesn’t offer accurate readings all the time. We are not that surprised because these are well known problems for these features and you find them with other models and brands as well.

The warranty is not good: 1 year for parts and labor (that’s all). So don’t forget to get the extended warranty if you decide to buy this model.

At the end of this review we conclude that Horizon T81 is definitely not a successful model. It’s true, this is a budget machine, but we are sure you can get better deals with other brands or models for the same price.