Horizon Fitness Elite T9 Treadmill Review

In the past few years treadmill technology has advanced rapidly. While the exteriors may look familiar, underneath there have been some big improvements. In this review we look at the new Horizon Fitness Elite T9 Treadmill, a new machine for this year and see what Horizon have done to make this model special and stand out from its competitors.

With an RSP of $2500 (usually with a good discount) this is a firm High End Treadmill, as such it is up against competition from the likes of the Lifespan TR4000i and the Sole F85 Treadmills, both of which also retail at about $1800.  Both of these are great treadmills, however they are a little older now and the Elite T9 is new to the market.

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Features of the Elite T9 Treadmill

New Motor for Improved Reliability and Performance

A the heart of the treadmill lies the motor.  Its the single most important thing that will ultimately govern your treadmill performance and feel of the machine.  To simplify their offer Johnston Fitness (the Owners of Horizon Treadmills) have gone back to the drawing board for the motor design and have come up with a single unit that will power their full range.  This new motor is smoother and more reliable than ever before.  We love the quiet, and when running this motor even at high speed it makes barely a whisper.  You can also be sure that it will be reliable with its lifetime warranty.

Large, Low Maintenance Running Area

Another area to have seen an upgrade by Horizon is the running deck.  Most treadmills need messy maintenance every month or so, with some special treadmill lubrication being added. With its new Infinity Drive system this treadmill can go 21,000 miles before being serviced.  They have done this by impregnating the mat with some specially formulated hard wax that takes far longer to wear out compared to traditional methods.  The advantage is that you can keep running without worrying if you are overloading your treadmill with a poorly fitting belt.

The treadmill belt is also full size.  This is really what separates the Elite T9 from lower level models in the Horizon Range such as the T101 Treadmill Reviewed Here.  If you are intending to run or jog at higher and higher speeds (upto 12mph) then you will want a treadmill that is at least 60″ long.  Any shorter and you have to keep thinking about your feet position and can never settle properly into your run.

Virtual Tours

One feature we really love is the Passport Player, when you add in the media box you can use your treadmill to run the world on your home TV Screen!  There are some built in tours, such as the beautiful Italian mountans and South West America.  Whats brilliant is how it interacts with your workout.  If you run up a hill on screen the treadmill adapts and raises and lowers with the contours on screen.  Also all your workout data is shown on your TV, so you don’t need to look away from the stunning scenery.  The media box is a little more expensive, but it really adds an extra dimension to the workouts that keeps you wanting to come back time and again.

Workout Quality

All if this would mean nothing of the treadmill was uncomfortable to run on.  However we found no issues with the quality or comfort of the treadmill the running deck is well cushioned through the mat and special shock absorbers built into the bast of the treadmill.  The quiet running of the motor, the smooth 15% incline tech features such as the Player, and iPod connectors make this a great place to spend time working out.

What it Like to Use?

The first thing you notice about this machine is its big!  That’s not unsurprising given the specs, but you can really feel this presence of this treadmill, reminding you to get your work out in.  If you have folded it up then the first thing is to lower the deck down.  This is easy enough with the hydraulic lifts that take the weight so even someone with slight build can manage.

It needs to be plugged in, so locating the treadmill near a socket is essential.  But you have to be careful not to push the treadmill right up to the wall or you might struggle to reach the master power switch.

Firing up the machine you are greeted with a nice looking console, well laid out and fairly logical  The console has built in speakers (reasonable quality) and fans, which are not really powerful.  The display itself looks clean and modern, with all the controls easily laid out and well placed so you know exactly what each button does.

Best of all is that the console is arranged so there is a good sized ledge that will hold your phone/book or tablet, so you can read while you run.  Or you can go for one of your virtual tours which are great fun, if a little repetitive (and quite expensive).

The console itself is very sleek, with minimalist look and a huge 10″ touch screen for the virtual tour options.

We loved all the fitness and workout tracking features built in to the simple menu system.

Comparison of the T9 with the T7 Treadmill

If you are torn between the Horizon T9 treadmill, and its stable mate the Horizon T7 Treadmill Reviewed here here are the key differences:

While both treadmills share the same mechanics, speed, incline motor power etc, the real difference comes from the interactivity.

The T9 treadmill adds in extra workout programs including the Virtual Active mode, which allows an immersive running experience.  The two you get with the T9 treadmill are the Northern Rockies and the American Northeast:

Summary of Elite T9 Features:

Elite T9 Preview Video:

What are other review saying about the T9 Treadmill?

“Just replaced my old Pro-Form treadmill, and this one is so much more quiet!”

“So far, I love my new Elite T9 Treadmill. It replaced a Horizon 5.3 T Treadmill that I have had for 8 years”

“My wife and I purchased the Horizon T7 on a recommendation… and we could not be more pleased!”

Horizon Elite T9 Treadmill review Summary:

With all the new tech Horizon have packed into the Elite T9 Treadmill this is hard to beat!  With its high top speed, full range of incline and a great comfortable running track it eases ahead of the older models from the competition.  This is a great pick for a mid to high end treadmill  that will stretch you to the limits for years to come.

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