| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Incline | Resistance | Console |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Horizon 7.0 AE Check Discounted Price | L:76" W:24" H:65.6" | 325 lbs | Automatic, 0%-20% | Eddy current, 20 levels | 8 programs, Bluetooth, AFG Fitness App |
The Horizon 7.0 AE is one of the elliptical cross trainers released by Horizon Fitness in 2018. Although it’s a heavy-duty machine, it’s not made for commercial use. But nonetheless, it does offer the sturdiness and range of features similar to at least a light-commercial model. It’s a machine with automatic incline and resistance, includes a console with multiple training modes and online connectivity.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 76L x 24W x 65.6H inches (193L x 61W x 166H cm)
- Assembled weight: 194 lbs (88 kg)
- Flywheel weight: 23 lbs (10.4 kg)
- Supported weight: 325 lbs (147 kg)
- Stride: 20 inches (51 cm)
- Incline: Automatic, 20 levels
- Resistance: Eddy current, 20 levels
- Console: 8 workout programs, AFG training app, Bluetooth
- Extras: Bottle holder, tablet holder, speakers, cooling fan
- Warranty: Frame lifetime / Brake lifetime / Parts 3 years / Labor 1 year
Frame and parts
The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AE elliptical features a heavy-duty Six-Star frame designed to help you 
maintain an ideal body position during workouts and to maximize comfort. The machine has a pretty heavy overall construction; it weighs approx. 194 lbs (88 kg) which means it should be carried, unboxed, and assembled by at least two people. However, once it is assembled, it can be moved with ease by only one person as its front bar integrates transport wheels.
The unit’s super-weight also delivers excellent stability. You can be sure that this machine won’t rock even if you engage in the most demanding workouts. Plus, both its middle base bar and its rear base bar feature adjustable stabilizers with rubberized pads which allow you to perfectly level it on any type of floor.
This Horizon elliptical trainer combines ovalized and cylindrical tubes in its construction for improved sturdiness and aesthetics. However, the machine also integrates several hard ABS parts. For example, the covers of the drive and resistance elements, the pedals, the casing of the console, and several other small covers are made of ABS material.
All the steel parts in the machine’s frame are double-coated with a chip-resistant and rust-resistant paint finish. The color used is dark gray, this being the only color available for this trainer, with the exception of the incline bar covers which are aluminum-made.
The Horizon 7.0 AE cross trainer is equipped with two heavy-duty pedals. As we’ve mentioned above, the pedal trays are made of durable ABS material. Each pedal is attached to a metal plate welded directly to the pedal arm. The unit’s pedals are designed to support users up to 325 lbs (147 kg), a weight capacity characteristic to most light-commercial cross trainers.
The pedals do not have additional cushioning and articulation. However, the machine provides a pedaling motion with a very low impact on your joints. Also, the pedal trays feature a non-slip surface and a side/front guards to provide superior foot stability.
The cross trainer has two sets of handlebars, one mobile and one fixed. The mobile handlebars feature long, curved grips. They are attached to the main console mast and the pedal bars, so they cannot be locked; they continue to move for as long as you pedal. Their joints integrate sealed ball bearings for a smooth motion.
The fixed handlebars feature incline and resistance controls. They also integrate pulse sensors so you can monitor your pulse even if you don’t use a wireless heart rate chest strap or armband.
Incline, stride, and elliptical path
The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AE elliptical cross trainer is equipped with an automatic incline system which 
offers an incline range from 0% to 20%. It consists of a motor and a small lift which is attached to the unit’s rail system. As the incline is adjusted, the lift elevates or lowers the rail system changing the incline of the elliptical path.
Since the machine’s incline system is motorized, the incline level can only be adjusted when the unit is connected to a power source. The fixed left grip features incline controls for gradual adjustment. The increments are 0.5%. However, the console also has quick selection incline buttons for levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20.
This cross trainer offers a standard 20-inch (51 cm) stride. This means it can accommodate users up to 6’5″ (196 cm) offering a complete range of motion. Also, the minimum height of the pedal is approx. 10″ (25 cm) while the highest pedal level is approx. 16″ (40 cm) above floor level. Therefore, it is recommended to use this machine in a room with a ceiling that is at least 20-25 inches (51 – 63 cm) higher than your own height.
One last aspect to mention here regards the unit’s elliptical path. With the incline set at zero, the machine’s elliptical path is horizontal, but the pedals are slightly inclined forward. Therefore, the pedaling motion may resemble a descension on a soft ramp. Conversely, with the incline set all the way up to the 20th level, the elliptical path becomes a few extra degrees inclined forward. So, as a small conclusion here, the machine provides a very consistent workout for your glutes and thighs while also maintaining a soft impact on your joints and back.
Drive and resistance
The Horizon 7.0 AE cross trainer is equipped with a 23-lb (10.4 kg) flywheel. Due to this weight and 
balanced structure, it provides a consistent momentum and pedaling motion. It also allows reverse pedaling. Thus, you can add diversity to your workouts.
The machine’s internal transmission uses a durable poly-v belt. This type of transmission comes with a few advantages. First of all, you will never have to worry about taking the unit apart in order to lubricate it, as it may be the case for a chain drive system. And second of all, the pedaling motion is very smooth, quiet, and vibration-free.
Another aspect that we must mention here regards the pedal bar wheels. Each wheel has an outer silicone shell to minimize noise and provide a very smooth travel of the pedal onto its rail. Also, both these wheels integrate industrial-grade sealed ball bearings for a lifetime duty.
Like most other elliptical machines in this price and feature range, the Horizon 7.0 AE features an eddy current resistance system. This means you have to connect it to a power source to be able to adjust its pedal tension. The unit does not require an adapter; it comes with its own power cable featuring a U.S. standard 3-prong plug. It also means that the console can automatically adjust the resistance depending on the program in use.
The machine’s resistance system consists of a servo motor and a magnetic brake system. As you adjust the resistance, or as the console automatically adjusts the resistance, the motor changes the pull of the magnetic brake which leads to more or less pedaling difficulty.
There are 20 resistance levels available on this cross trainer. The first few levels deliver little pedal tension, great for low-intensity cardio workouts or rehab training. The top 18-20 levels, on the other hand, provide considerably more resistance, great for anyone who wants a consistent workout and extra fat burning possibilities.
Last but not least, the machine offers controls for gradual and quick selection resistance adjustment. The gradual resistance controls are integrated into the right fixed grip. They provide 0.5% adjustment increments. The quick selection controls are placed on the right side of the console; just as for the incline, they allow you to select the 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20 levels of resistance.
Console
The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AE elliptical trainer is equipped with a multi-function console. It features an 
LCD display and a LED display. The LCD display is placed at the top of the unit; it indicates incline, resistance, time, distance, RPM, watts, calories, pulse, and the segments of the current exercise program. It also shows distance as a 1/4-mile track.
The bottom LED display is divided into four windows which indicate (from left to right) time, resistance/incline, distance/pace, calories/pulse.
As we’ve mentioned above, the fixed handgrips feature pulse sensors so the console can display your heart rate if you hold on to them. However, the console also has Bluetooth and can communicate with any Bluetooth 4.0 HR armband or chest strap. An HR strap is not included, though.
The console offers two main workout modes with a total of 8 workout programs; most programs also have multiple levels of resistance. The first workout mode includes the profile-based programs. These are Manual, Hill Climb, My First 5K, Fat Burn, and Custom.
– Manual is the standard program which allows you to exercise at your own pace, adjusting the incline and resistance as you like throughout the workout session.
– Hill Climb is a program designed for cardiovascular ability and muscle tone improvement. It involves both incline and resistance and has 10 levels.
– My First 5K is a program intended for anyone who wants to reach and break their first 5K distance. It’s designed to help you reach this record in 9 weeks.
– Fat Burn, as its name suggests, is a program focused on weight loss. Just as Hill Climb, it has 10 difficulty levels, 16 segments and a duration of 60 sec. for each segment.
– Custom is a program that allows you to tailor your own workout program combining resistance and incline settings, as well as time and distance settings. You can save this program and re-use it any time you want.
The second workout mode provided by the console includes Target Profiles. It makes available three programs. These are Distance, Calories, and Target Heart Rate.
– Distance offers 13 distance-based programs. You can choose from 1 mile, 2 miles, 5k, 5 miles, 10k, 8 miles, 15k, 10 miles, 20k, half marathon, 15 miles, 20 miles, and marathon goals. For each program, there are 10 difficulty levels available.
– Calories is a similar program to Fat Burning but it allows you to select your own calorie goal, between 20 and 980 calories burned (20 calorie increments).
– Target Heart Rate is a program designed for cardiovascular fitness improvement. Needless to say, it requires you to either use a Bluetooth HR band or the integrated pulse sensors. It allows you to select your target heart rate and the console will auto-adjust the resistance in order to maintain your heart rate in the targeted range.
The console is compatible with the free AFG Fitness app for iOS and Android. Therefore, you can install this app on your smartphone or tablet and sync your device with the console. The app not only allows you to control your elliptical from your smartphone or tablet, but it also gives you the possibility to monitor your workout, track your progress and view your workout history.
In terms of other features, the console also has an integrated sound system, a cooling fan, and a tablet holder. The sound system consists of two speakers placed at the bottom of the console. It allows you to connect your smartphone, tablet, or MP3 player to the console via aux cable or via Bluetooth in order to play your music through it. The cooling fan is right above the speakers. It’s not too large in diameter but does provide some cooling if needed, during a more intense workout. And finally, the tablet holder is placed right under the LCD display. Therefore, if you place a tablet on it, it will cover the unit’s LCD display but the four LED displays will still remain visible.
Assembly and Maintenance
The front unit with the drive and resistance elements comes pre-assembled and attached to the base frame. However, the rest of the trainer requires assembly. Differently put, you will have to connect the rear part of the frame with the incline bars to the front part, attach the front base bar, the console mast, the pedal arms, the pedals, the two moving handlebars, and the console plus all the wire connections. This can take up to two hours. However, the process is pretty straightforward while the manual provides step-by-step assembly instructions with attached schematics.
Maintenance doesn’t require much. All you have to do is keep the incline rails clean to prevent any damage to the wheels, grease the joints if it’s the case, and periodically check for loose bolts and parts.
The Pros
- Sturdy frame with a weight capacity of 325 lbs;
- Aesthetic design;
- Adjustable stabilizers on the middle and rear bases;
- Transport wheels on the front base;
- Lifting handle integrated into the rear base;
- Ergonomic, non-slip pedals;
- Smooth and quiet belt drive;
- Automatic incline, 20 levels;
- Automatic (ECB) resistance system, 20 levels;
- Incline and resistance controls integrated into the fixed handlebars;
- Pulse sensors integrated into the fixed handlebars;
- Large LCD display, LED-backlit, offering excellent readability;
- Extra LED displays for the main workout readouts;
- 8 workout programs with multiple difficulty levels;
- Console compatible with the free AFG Fitness app;
- Console compatible with any 4.0 Bluetooth HR chest strap or armband;
- USB charging port;
- Sound system included, Bluetooth capable;
- Cooling fan included;
- Tablet holder included;
- Bottle/accessory holder included;
- Little maintenance required;
- Excellent warranty.
The Cons
- A tablet placed on the tablet holder will cover the top console display;
- HR chest strap is not included.
Summary
The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AE is a heavy-duty elliptical trainer featuring a light-commercial frame construction with a capacity of 325 lbs (147 kg). It offers 20 levels of eddy current resistance, 20 levels of automatic incline, and a console with 8 workout programs with multiple difficulty levels. It also has Bluetooth connectivity and is compatible with the free AFG Fitness app. It’s perfect for light to intense cardio workouts, interval training, stamina training, and weight loss. And finally, it’s not exactly one of the most affordable trainers, but definitely offers excellent value for the price.