Horizon T303 Treadmill: Features, Drawbacks and Specifications (2023 Updated)

Crop woman standing on treadmill in gym

Photo by Julia Larson

By Simon Gould

The Horizon T303 is the best of the T (or Go) series of treadmills by Horizon Fitness. It comes in at just under a thousand dollars and when you hear all about it, I think you’ll agree it’s an impressive machine. The thing that let the other T series down was the motor, they were low in power. The T303 is different, it has a 3.0 CHP motor which is much better.

Anything less than the power of the T303 motor and it may not last. It is ideal for people who want to lose or maintain weight and get a healthy routine in their lives. The deck is big enough for running but you can just walk if that’s what you want to do, it’s totally up to you. While you exercise you’re shown lots of stats on the detailed console, pictured below.

I like the workout programs. They are designed for people with any degree of fitness. Most of them have levels within them which get harder as you go higher. For example, the “Fat Burn” program has 10 levels. Level 1 is nice and easy with a gentle incline and speed. As you progress over time and lose weight there are higher levels. The maximum level 10 looks like a very hard workout, one that I’d struggle with, and I’ve been running for over 30 years!

The warranty is good. There is lifetime on the frame and motor which is very good, especially for the motor. Unlike the other treadmills in the series there are 3 years of parts cover, the others have 1. Then there is the 1 year of labor which is the same. These treadmills sell well and I think it’s the warranty that helps, it’s an important consideration when buying.

Featuresof the Horizon T303 Treadmill

+ 12% Incline – I think choosing an incline is the great thing about treadmills. It enables a walk to give you a really good workout if you use it. For beginners you can burn a lot of calories by walking on a steep incline. You can also replicate your favorite walking or running routes with this feature too, and 12% maximum is good.

+ My First 5K Program – I have never seen this on a treadmill before. There is a couch to 5k program built in. This is a 9 week system to get you up and running for around 30 minutes using a combination of walking and running. You walk a lot at first but as the program progresses, the run times get longer until you can run 5k.

There is even provision for a warm up and cool down. Full details are in the manual so you know how long each walk and run will take. You can specify the speed so it won’t make you do anything you can’t. If you find you’re struggling one week, you simply repeat the previous week. This really is impressive and it’s on the T303.

+ AFG Pro Fitness App – The T202 has the Sport app, this T303 has the Pro app. This is downloadable from Google play and for iOS devices. It enables you to control the treadmill from your devices and stores your workout stats. You can then view them historically to see how you’re progressing over time.

+ Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitoring – Many heart rate chest straps are Bluetooth enabled. The T303 can read this and display your heart rate on the console. You would then be able to use the “Target Heart Rate” program. This changes the settings on the treadmill to keep you in your selected heart rate as you workout. This is a very effective way of improving your cardiovascular fitness and health.

+ Custom Interval Buttons – This is another feature I’ve never seen on a treadmill. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is all the rage at the moment because the health benefits have been recognized scientifically by the American Council on Exercise. There are 2 interval buttons clearly marked on the console and they do something special.

Interval training involves a combination of fast runs followed by recovery jogs or walks. You hold down one of the interval buttons before you workout and save a speed and incline. You can specify a different amount for the other button. When you start exercising you press your desired interval button and the light comes on.

Your intensity levels you selected immediately adjust the controls. The settings stay that way until you press the button again and the light comes off. This means you alternate between fast workouts and slow recovery runs. This routine has become popular with all kinds of fitness enthusiasts because it’s so beneficial, and again, it’s on the T303.

+ Thick Silicone Belt – The thickness of the belt is 1.4 mm. Apart from the motor, the belt is one of the most important aspects of the treadmill. If anything goes wrong with the belt, it can affect the whole treadmill. An old or fraying belt will need to be replaced and even a new belt should be taken care of.

Treadmill belts should be cleaned and lubricated regularly. This will help them last and the generous thickness of this belt is a good indicator of quality. The motor has to power the belt and if the belt has any problems, the motor will find it difficult to do its job. A new belt on a new treadmill helps support the weight of the user along with the deck.

+ Powerful And Quiet Motor – I’ve already mentioned how good the motor is but it’s also designed to be quiet. It has good horse power yet runs at lower revolutions per minute so the noise isn’t there. Treadmills can be loud as any one running on a deck can be. A quiet motor is great for those of us who enjoy other forms of entertainment while exercising, like watching TV.

Drawbacks of the Horizon T303 Treadmill

 20″ Width Running Surface – While this isn’t bad, I have seen 22″ on high end treadmills. With 20 you can still have the confidence to stride forward and concentrate on your workout. But if you run in an erratic way and your stride is wide, then you may want more than 20. I personally would be happy and I think the majority would with 20, but you can get bigger.

 Heavier Treadmill – At 194 lbs, it’s the heaviest of this series of treadmills by Horizon. This is the weight of 1.5 men, and you’re going to need 2 people to transport it if you need to. I, personally, always like a heavy treadmill, I feel they have to be to take the weight of someone running on them. Sometimes a substantial machine is needed for a substantial person.

Horizon T303 treadmill specifications

ModelHorizon T303
Sale Price$1,099 (December 2021)
Free ShippingYes
Treadmill Weight194 lbs
FoldingYes
Motor3.0 CHP
Running Surface20″ x 60″
DisplayThree LED windows and backlit LCD screen
DimensionsL 75″ x W 34″ x H 58″
Max User Weight325 lbs
Workout Programs8 with multiple levels in each
Speed0.5 to 12 mph
Incline0% to 12%
WarrantyLifetime: Frame & Motor
3 Years: Parts
1 Year: Labor

Horizon T303 Treadmill Review Summary

As you can see, I was really struggling to find drawbacks with this T303 review. For $999, it’s a really good treadmill. Don’t forget, you get free shipping with all Horizon cardio machines. This, along with the low price, makes this treadmill so very attractive. The programs make the T303 so different from the rest. No other machines, I’ve seen, have these benefits.

Never have I seen a couch to 5k routine on a treadmill. And the same goes for the interval training. This makes the T303 one of the most advanced treadmills at the price. Just a simple read of the manual and the possibilities of the benefits that this treadmill could give you, should make you realize what a great machine you’re reading about. Five stars is well deserved.

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