Sitting atop the Horizon’s Go Series, the T303 treadmill brings a longer track and more features than its brand mates, the T101 and T202, but still keeps the price relatively low at $1,099. Every time I climb onto a Horizon treadmill, I’m reminded why they offer a lifetime warranty on their frame and motor. Proving that lower prices don’t necessarily mean lower quality, these units lack the big flashy high-definition screens some of their rivals sport, but they put their engineering into the parts. Visiting their corporate showroom in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, I was able to check out these models, take them apart and see how they work one piece at a time.

The Horizon lineup breaks its treadmills down into two groups, the Go Series and the Studio Series, with the former being designed for those users who simply want to hop on a workout and run. The Studio Series is geared a little more for those wanting interactive apps. Don’t be fooled though, the T303 has a terrific media shelf with an attachment which allows you to place your smartphone or tablet into place and use whatever programming you want. The machine is also Bluetooth-enabled and I was able to sync my phone to it within seconds, meaning if you want to watch YouTube or listen to your own playlist that’s fine too.

So, if you’re looking for a high-quality, but relatively simple machine, that folds up easily and only weighs 194 pounds, this might be it. Unlike other treadmills that could weigh anywhere from 250 to 350 pounds, the T303 is easy to move about your home once placed. If you’re interested in long-distance or marathon training where you’ll be taking multiple 60-90 minutes runs per week, this might be a little light. But the average home user should fine this terrific for their needs.

Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Horizon T303

At TreadmillReviews.net, we bring you comprehensive reviews of treadmills so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the treadmills we review. We install them, walk on them, run on them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every treadmill we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles on the deck. We listen and record the sound of the motor, we test and measure the incline/decline, try out all aspects of the console and try the treadmill’s features.

Every treadmill we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think. This particular treadmill has been around for many years, and we’ve done previous reviews of the Horizon T303. So, in this review, we also compared it to the previous models.

Our reviewers are treadmill and fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a competitive bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert at treadmills, has been on this treadmill, and you can trust his opinion on all of the treadmills he reviews.

In Brief

The 2023 Horizon T303 is considered to be targeted towards casual use. Joggers, walkers, and entry-level runners will find this treadmill delivers all of the basic features needed to build a new at-home fitness routine. Its 3.0 CHP motor is more than sufficient both running and walking, and it must be noted that it comes with a lifetime warranty. Much like other models in the range, Horizon touts this motor as one of the best in the market for interval training, as it is quicker to respond to speed changes than most of its competitors. If you’re curious about the differences amongst treadmill motors, check out our in-depth article here.

The speed goes up to 12 mph, while the incline upper limit is 12%. While its speed is fairly standard, its 12% incline is a few degrees off of the industry standard. Whether you’re a walker, jogger, or runner, adding incline to your routine helps ramp up that calorie burn. That said, those looking for a lower impact workout and those recovering from (or coping with) joint issues or injuries are unlikely to be using their treadmill at full incline anyway, so this shortcoming will be less relevant.

Horizon T303 Treadmill – Pros & Cons (2024) - Key Specs:

In-Depth Review of the Horizon T303

Why We Like It

It Comes With A User-Friend Console

Right off the bat, the T303 is not for those seeking an interactive touchscreen designed to work with one particular app. Rather, this unit is built so you can bring your own screen and utilize any of the seven built-in workout programs with which it comes. Those workouts include: Manual, Fat Burn, Hill Climb, My First 5K, Distance, Heart Rate, and Calories. The three LED windows and backlit LCD screen provide data for Calories, Distance, Heart Rate, Incline, Segment Time, Speed, and Total Time. The machine comes complete with a Bluetooth 4.0 compatible receiver and contact grips for heartrate. The unit also comes with an accessory tray, Bluetooth speakers, a fan, and an audio in/out jack.

Easy to Use Design and Frame

Measuring 75″ x 34″ x 58″ when assembled, the $1,099 Horizon T303 folds up to 47″ x 34″ x 65″ and weighs just 194 pounds. That said, it sports a maximum user weight of 325 pounds and comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame. As a comparison, I’d offer up the NordicTrack EXP 10i which measures 70.8″ x 34.9″ x 59.7″ and weighs 200 pounds and has a 300-pound weight capacity. The EXP 10i retails for $1,599 and comes iFit-enabled with an app that costs between $15 and $39 per month. The biggest difference spec-wise is that the EXP 10i comes with an interactive 10″ screen designed to work with iFit and iFit only, whereas the T303 has a tablet-holder. Both of these smaller units though feature easy-to-use roller wheels which allow you the ability to move them about the home without struggle.

Great Running Surface

Whereas the NordicTrack EXP 10i and other smaller units feature a running surface measuring 20″ x 55″, the Horizon T303 has maintained its 20″ x 60″ deck, and that extra five inches make a big difference when striding out on a run. Whether you’re a taller user, or perhaps just want extra space in which to move, the unit features 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning. With a longer deck and terrific cushioning features, the Horizon T303 makes for a great workout companion in any home.

What We Like

·         The Motor

The Horizon T303 features a 3.0 CHP motor that lets you run like the wind and allows for high intensity interval training (HIIT). In my experience, this is also one of the more quiet motors on the market and you won’t have much trouble with roommates or neighbors.

·         Tablet Holder

Instead of being locked into a screen with just one app, this model allows users to bring their own device and programs.

·         Built-In Programs

Whereas many manufacturers are discontinuing the production built-in programming, the Horizon T303 brings several programs including: Manual, Fat Burn, Hill Climb, My First 5K, Distance, Heart Rate, and Calories. This further negates the need for paid app programming and most users will find these sufficient for their workout needs.

·         Heartrate Training

In addition to sensors built into the handlebars, the unit featuers a Bluetooth 4.0 compatible receiver.

·         Speed and Incline Range

This treadmill affords users the ability to run up to 12 miles per hour and incline up to 12%. Having used treadmills for years now, I can tell you even a 5% incline at 4mph is enough to break a hard sweat. This range should easily suit even the most advanced users.

·         Warranty

The machine comes with a lifetime warranty for frame and motor, three years for parts, and one year for labor. This is great offering above the norm which is typically 10 years for frame and perhaps five years for the motor.

What We Don’t Like

·         Difficult to Assemble Alone

If you do elect to assemble this machine instead of having the delivery team, be sure to have multiple friends around. Even at under 200 pounds it’s tough to do alone.

This Treadmill Could Be For You If:

• You’re looking for a treadmill under $1,200
• You want to train with incline
• You need an easily foldable treadmill
• You want a machine with a competitive warranty

Our Verdict

Even though it competes very closely with another Horizon treadmill, the T303 still has its place in the market. As previously noted, it’s well built in the areas that count, and makes for a very compelling offering if you’re not in the market for interactive training or the other high-tech niceties that are being built into many of the other treadmills on the market these days. There are still two clear camps when it comes to treadmill shoppers—the ‘give me all of the latest and greatest and most advanced’ shopper, and the ‘I want something simple and reliable’ shopper. If you’re in the latter camp, then the Horizon T303 treadmill is worth considering. If you’re a more hardcore runner, the incline stat might be a dealbreaker; if so, we’d recommend browsing our list of best treadmills for runners.

Horizon T303 FAQs