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The ProForm Carbon TL and Horizon T101 are two treadmills that keep things simple. Discover the differences and what situations each treadmill is good for.
Some of the main differences between the ProForm Carbon TL and Horizon T101 are that the ProForm Carbon TL has a stronger motor, bigger rollers, Bluetooth connectivity to smart devices through IFIT, and potentially more immersive workouts if you get the IFIT subscription.
On the other hand, the Horizon T101 is a nice amount more budget-friendly and has more free built-in workouts.
First of all, if you are interested in light jogging and you don’t have a low body weight, you likely want to go for the ProForm Carbon TL.
The motor power of the Horizon T101 is not great for things more intense than vigorous walking.
If you want to use your treadmill for walking anyway, you want to consider how much you value the immersive IFIT workouts available with the ProForm Carbon TL.
These can make your workouts more fun and motivate you to be more consistent but do require an extra investment.
Additionally, the ProForm Carbon TL should last longer than the Horizon T101 thanks to the stronger motor and bigger rollers.
Lastly, if you want to run fast, run a lot, are tall, and have an above-average weight, you likely want to go for a bigger treadmill with a stronger motor like for example the ProForm Pro 2000.
Important differences ProForm Carbon TL vs Horizon T101
The ProForm Carbon TL and Horizon T101 are different in a variety of features. This will influence what treadmill is the best choice for your personal situation and training goals.
At the same time, not all of these differences are equally important. In the first table below, you can find the ones that are most likely to play a role in your decision.
| Feature | ProForm Carbon TL | Horizon T101 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Power | 2.6 CHP | 2.5 HP |
| Rollers | 1.9” Precision And Balanced Non-Flex Rollers | 46mm/42mm (1.8″/1.65″) Tapered Rollers |
| Bluetooth Functionality | Connects To Devices With IFIT App | Only Audio |
| Workout Programs | 30-Day iFIT Family Membership Included | 5 Preset Programs |
| Price Category* | $$$ | $$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Other features ProForm Carbon TL and Horizon T101
Before choosing either the ProForm Carbon TL or Horizon T101 you may also want to know about the smaller differences and common features.
| Feature | ProForm Carbon TL | Horizon T101 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 300 Pounds (136 kg) | 300 Pounds (136 kg) |
| Speed Range | 0-10 mph (16.09 kmh) | 0.5-10 mph (16.09 kmh) |
| Incline Options | 0% to 10% | 0% to 10% |
| Running Surface | 20″ x 55″ | 20″ x 55″ |
| Recommended User Height | Users Under 74″ (188 cm) | Not Mentioned But Should Be The Same |
| Dimensions | 74.8” L x 35.43” W x 57.48” H | 70” L x 34” W x 55” H |
| Weight | 212 Pounds (96.2 kg) Box Weight | 180 Pounds (81.7 kg) |
| Foldable | Yes | Yes |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Screen Mobility | Static | Static |
| Device Holder | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Audio Capabilities | Has Speakers But Only Audio Jack Input From Your Devices | Yes |
| Automatic Speed & Incline Control | With Certain IFIT Workouts | With Certain Of The Preset Workouts |
| Screen | 5” High Contrast Multi-Color Display | Three Small LED Windows |
| Screen Entertainment Options | Through Your Own Device | Through Your Own Device |
| Shock Absorption | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Not Mentioned | Contact Grips |
| Color Screen | No | No |
| Workout Fans | Yes | Yes |
| Warranties* | 10 Years Frame Warranty And 1 Year Parts And Labor Warranty | Lifetime Frame And Motor Warranty And 1 Year Parts And Labor Warranty |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences ProForm Carbon TL vs Horizon T101 explained
If you are familiar with treadmill features, the table of differences and a quick look at the prices could be enough to decide between the ProForm Carbon TL and Horizon T101.
That being said, what some of the features are, why they are important, and/or to what extent they matter in your situation may also still be unclear.
The more in-depth explanations about some of the most important differences can help make your decision easier.
Motor power
One of the most important components of a treadmill is its motor. This part keeps the belt moving at the right speed for (hopefully) many years to come.
Treadmill motors can vary in a few areas including how much power they can generate. This can influence speed limit, user weight, and how long the motor will last.
The ProForm Carbon TL has a motor power of 2.6 CHP. The Horizon T101 has a motor power of 2.5 HP (but Horizon does not mention this very clearly but I contacted customer support).
This may look like a small difference but the “C” is important. Continuous horsepower motors are able to sustain the power for longer periods of time than the same regular horsepower motor.
To get an idea of what workouts each treadmill is suited for, fast and heavy runners typically want to use a motor with 3 CHP or stronger.
People with an average weight who are under the height recommendation of 74″ (188 cm) should be able to use the ProForm Carbon TL for light jogging. For heavy treadmill workouts, you will need a treadmill with a stronger motor.
On the other side, the Horizon T101 is mostly suited for walking only. If you are a light individual you may be able to do some light jogging for short periods of time but this is not ideal.
Winner: ProForm Carbon TL
Roller size
Another important area of a treadmill is the rollers it uses. These are the rotating cylinders the belt is stretched around.
The ProForm Carbon TL has two 1.9″ rollers. The Horizon T101 has one 46mm (1.8″) roller and one 42mm (1.65″) roller.
A rough guideline is that bigger rollers tend to be better. These tend to cause less wear and tear to the belt and motor than smaller rollers.
Additionally, with bigger rollers, there tends to be less risk of the belt slipping which can be annoying during your workouts.
That being said, the treadmill motor does need to be strong enough to deal with bigger rollers to get these benefits without downsides.
It is hard to predict how the motor power and roller size will interact but the smaller rollers on the Horizon T101 are likely a good idea. The ProForm Carbon TL does have the upper hand in this area.
Winner: ProForm Carbon TL
Workout programs
Basically any normal way of using a treadmill can offer valuable health benefits. At the same time, some intervals of intensities and durations will be more effective for this goal than others.
Additionally, you may find some sequences more fun than others. Changing up your treadmill workouts can also keep things interesting.
The Horizon T101 has 5 preset programs. Users mention that some of these automatically adjust the incline and speed of the treadmill which is more convenient than pushing the buttons manually.
On the other side, the ProForm Carbon TL comes with a 30-Day iFIT Family Membership. This is a big video library of treadmills workout classes, scenic walks/runs, and workout classes for other exercises.
Some of these also automatically adjust the incline and speed of the treadmill. Do keep in mind that you need your own smart device to connect to IFIT. Additionally, after the trial, the premium version requires an extra investment.
With both treadmills, you can also use put a smart device in the holder with workouts from other apps and places like Youtube.
These can definitely be interesting but keep in mind that you will have to adjust the speed and incline manually.
Winner: ProForm Carbon TL if you are willing to get the premium IFIT Membership
Winner: Horizon T101 if you want to stick to free built-in workouts
Price
The ProForm Carbon TL and Horizon T101 have their advantages and disadvantages. Something that could make your decision easier is any price differences.
Exactly how much each treadmill costs depends on where you get them and can change over time. That being said, at the time of writing, the Horizon T101 is a nice amount more budget-friendly than the ProForm Carbon TL.
Additionally, you want to keep in mind that if you want to use the premium IFIT Membership after the trial, this will require a paid subscription. Besides that, you also need your own smart device to use IFIT.
Winner: Horizon T101
User reviews
When comparing these two treadmills, the feature and price differences already give you an idea about what model is the best for what situations and people.
Even so, customer reviews can sometimes uncover unexpected downsides or trends in quality issues. These things can influence your decision.
Similar to other cardio machines with moving parts, both the ProForm Carbon TL and Horizon T101 have a few quality control issues here and there.
These involve faulty parts, early wear and tear, and in the case of the ProForm Carbon TL some IFIT challenging.
Something to note is that these things currently seem to be a bit more common in the ProForm Carbon TL. Customers tend to be a bit happier with the Horizon T101.
Overall, customers are still relatively happy with both treadmills. However, the Horizon T101 does tend to do better in terms of customer satisfaction.
Is the ProForm Carbon TL or Horizon T101 right for you?
In short, the ProForm Carbon TL has a stronger motor, bigger rollers, Bluetooth connectivity to smart devices through IFIT, and potentially more immersive workouts if you get the IFIT subscription.
On the other side, the Horizon T101 is a nice amount more budget-friendly and has more free built-in workouts.
One of the first things that make the decision between these two treadmills easier is that the motor of the Horizon T101 is not really meant for anything besides walking.
Individuals who want to jog generally want to choose the ProForm Carbon TL. Especially if they have an above-average weight.
People who want to use their treadmill for walking want to think about how much they value the immersive IFIT workouts from the ProForm Carbon TL.
These can make your workouts more fun but do require an extra investment.
The stronger motor and bigger rollers of the ProForm Carbon TL should also make this treadmill last longer than the Horizon T101. You can also read the full ProForm Carbon TL review to ensure this is the right choice for you.
Individuals who really want to run fast, run a lot, are on the taller side, and have an above-average weight likely want to go for a stronger and bigger treadmill like for example the ProForm Pro 2000.
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