Horizon Fitness is already a household name in the fitness equipment department, so you might be forgiven for simply assuming that the new Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill is automatically presumed to be one of the best treadmills for home use, without even reading this review. While we always encourage diligent research prior to buying any high ticket item, in this case your assumptions wouldn’t be very far off the mark. With average reviews of 4 out of 5 stars spanning over an impressive 96 ratings (as of August 2011), the Evolve SG has a plethora of features all the while remaining compact and portable. The unit requires no assembly whatsoever, and when you’re not using it you can fold it and slip it under your bed (horizontal storage) or in a closet (vertical storage). The programmable console has two built in options – weight loss, or manual – and the LCD (black, back-light is orange) shows you precisely how far and how long you have been walking/running, in addition to your speed as well as the all important calories burnt.
Full specifications of the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill:
- 1 1/2 Horsepower motor running at speeds from 1-6 miles per hour
- 17 in. x 45 in. belt dimensions
- 99 lbs total unit weight
- Console has 2 built-in programs – weight loss and manual
- Orange backlit LCD screen displaying distance, time, speed and calories burnt
- Speakers for music while working out – MP3 and CD players are supported
- Built-in pulse monitor for quick heart rate measurement
- Zero assembly required, unit can fold into a compact 10″ x 59″
- Maximum load – 250 lbs
The Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill can be found on amazon for just $499, a massive reduction of 38% from its original price. Click here to secure this reduced price while it lasts.
Now, onto the real nitty-gritty of this review: the customer reviews. While I personally had a good trial of this item, there is nothing quite as accurate as hearing from dozens of people and coming to a decision based upon the bigger picture. I read the reviews and there are a few things that struck me. Of course, the reviews are generally very positive – to have a 4 out of 5 star rating over a span of nearly 100 reviews is hard to get without being an inherently high quality item. However, there are some important issues that a few rather astute reviewers raised. First of all, and perhaps most importantly of all, is the fact that the running belt, measuring 17 by 45 inches, is generally smaller than average belts, the T101 treadmill from the same brand is 20 by 55 inches by comparison. The smaller belt size can cause some issues with larger people, running fast, and in general fear of falling off, all of which can distract you from getting in a productive cardiovascular workout. Second is the maximum speed of 6 miles per hour, which will not be sufficient for the more intense runners among us, who will require belt speeds of around 10 miles per hour to derive maximum benefit from their unit. However, for general use and normal endurance running 6 miles per hour will suffice for the vast majority of people since 4 miles per hour tends to be the point at which walking turns into running. If your running is already very strong, look into getting another more demanding treadmill (you will find plenty of reviews on our site). Finally, and I know this may seem to be a trivial issue compared to the first two, but you would be surprised how much good, motivating music can help some people to continue their workouts despite the inevitable boredom of running on the spot for miles on end. The problem I and a few other reviewers have is that the speakers are nowhere near good enough quality compared to what one would expect from this manufacturer. Now, I understand that Horizon Fitness is not a consumer electronics company e.g. Sony and so forth, and let me make this clear I do not expect them to produce speakers that can rival some of the best in the world, but I do expect at least a decent CD quality sound. I don’t know if they intended this but their speakers sound more like the radio. Fortunately most users will be using their treadmill in the home, so they will have a hi-fi or computer to deliver top quality sound instead, so in practical terms the final issue is not so bad.
Positive aspects of the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill:
Extremely easy startup with no installation required
Extremely compact and easy to store
Cheap relative to other treadmills
Warranty is included by the manufacturer (1 year for parts and labor, 5 years for the motor, 10 years for the frame)
Negative aspects of the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill:
Speakers produce inadequate quality sound
Belt is small compared to other treadmills
Top speed of 6 mph is fast but not enough for hardcore/experienced runners