Horizon Elliptical Buying Guide: Which Model to Buy Used (EX-59, 7.0 AE, Evolve)

If you want a used Horizon elliptical, buy the 7.0 AE if you can find one, the Evolve 3 or Evolve 5 if you need it to fold, and the EX-59 only if it's cheap. On Commonplace, used Horizon ellipticals are listing between $795 and about $1,150, with a median asking price of $920. That puts them right next to used Sole and NordicTrack machines, and for the 7.0 AE in particular, I think you get more machine for the money.

I help people buy and sell big fitness equipment for a living, and the question I get most about Horizon is "is this a real brand or a store label?" It's a real brand. Below: who builds them, how the models differ, which fold, what stride you need, whether the apps still work, and what to pay.

Is Horizon a Real Fitness Brand? Who Builds Horizon Ellipticals

Yes. Horizon Fitness is owned by Johnson Health Tech, the same company behind Matrix, which makes commercial equipment for hotel and club gyms. Horizon is Johnson's home line. It is not a private label that a big-box store slapped its name on.

That matters for a used buyer in two practical ways:

• Parts and support still exist. Horizon runs its own help center with model-by-model manuals and app guides, including for machines that are no longer sold. You're not buying an orphan.
• The frames are overbuilt for the price. Horizon markets a "SixStar" frame on several models, and the warranty backs it up: the 7.0 AE, Evolve 3 and Evolve 5 all came with a lifetime frame warranty. Frames are rarely what fails on a used elliptical anyway, but it tells you the company expected these to last.

The catch is that Horizon has been trimming its elliptical lineup. Reviewers at Garage Gym Reviews note that the 7.0 AE is discontinued and the Evolve 3 and Evolve 5 are no longer sold online, which leaves the EX-59 as the main model you can still buy new. So for most of this lineup, used is the only way to get one.

Horizon Elliptical Models Compared: EX-59 vs 7.0 AE vs Evolve 3 vs Evolve 5

Here are the four Horizon ellipticals you'll see most often on the used market, with their factory specs and roughly what they cost new.

Model	Stride	Flywheel	Max user	Folds?	Incline	Approx. new price
EX-59	18"	14 lb	300 lb	No	No	About $700
7.0 AE	20"	23 lb	325 lb	No	Yes, 20 levels	About $900 to $1,200
Evolve 3	20"	18 lb	300 lb	Yes	No	About $1,400
Evolve 5	20"	23 lb	300 lb	Yes	No	About $1,600

A few things jump out once you line them up.

The 7.0 AE is the best machine in the family for most people. It has the heaviest flywheel, the highest weight capacity, a full 20-inch stride and power incline, which none of the others have. Incline on an elliptical shifts the work toward your glutes and hamstrings, and it's the feature people most often regret skipping. One 7.0 AE a seller listed with us in Creve Coeur measured 76 by 24 by 65.5 inches and weighed 194 pounds, which is a normal footprint for a full-size front-drive machine.

The EX-59 is the entry model. The 14-pound flywheel is the lightest in the lineup, and reviewers describe it as slightly less smooth than the bigger machines. The 18-inch stride is fine if you're on the shorter side and cramped if you're tall. It's a perfectly decent machine at the right price. The problem is that the right price used is low, because it's cheap new.

The Evolve 3 and Evolve 5 are the space savers. They're compact, they fold, and they still give you a 20-inch stride. The Evolve 5 adds the heavier 23-pound flywheel, which you'll feel as a smoother, more even motion at low speeds.

Older names like the EX-57, EX-90, E1200, Elite E7 and Syros also turn up. Price those on condition and how they ride, not the badge.

Which Horizon Ellipticals Fold, and How Compact Do They Get?

Only the Evolve series folds. The EX-59 and 7.0 AE are fixed-frame machines, so plan for them to stay where you put them.

The Evolve 3 uses a one-step, rear-folding design. Folded, a retailer listing puts it at about 41 inches deep by 28 inches wide by 69 inches tall, and it weighs around 175 pounds. That's roughly the footprint of an armchair. It does not fold flat and it does not slide under a bed. Think "stands up against a wall," not "disappears."

Two practical notes if folding is the reason you're shopping:

• Check the height. At 69 inches folded, it fits under a standard ceiling easily, but measure if you plan to park it under a basement soffit or a sloped attic ceiling.
• Test the fold before you pay. Fold and unfold it twice. It should move without grinding, and the latch should click firmly both ways. A sticky fold on a used Evolve is usually a hinge that needs cleaning and lubricating, but you want to know before it's in your living room.

What Stride Length Do You Need, and Which Horizon Hits It?

For most adults, 20 inches is the stride length to look for, and three of the four Horizon models have it. Garage Gym Reviews testers ranging from 5'3" to 6'5" found the 7.0 AE's 20-inch stride comfortable, which matches what I hear from buyers.

Here's the simple version:

• Under about 5'4": an 18-inch stride like the EX-59 will feel fine.
• Roughly 5'4" to 6'2": go for 20 inches. That's the 7.0 AE, Evolve 3 or Evolve 5.
• Over about 6'2": 20 inches is the minimum. Try it in person. If your knees come close to the console or you feel like you're shuffling, it's too short for you.

A short stride is the most common reason I see ellipticals come back onto the market. If two people will use it, size it for the taller one.

Do Horizon's Bluetooth and App Features Still Work?

Yes, and more importantly, you don't need them. Horizon's own help center says its home cardio equipment requires no subscription and no download to use. You get on, press start, and the console runs the workout. Nothing locks.

If you do want an app, Horizon's help center lists the free AFG Pro app as compatible with the 7.0 AE, and the help center has per-model pages for which other apps connect. Two things worth knowing:

• Bluetooth pairing problems on older units are usually app-side, and Horizon's help center has troubleshooting steps for them.
• If app support is a must-have for you, look up the exact model on Horizon's help center before you buy, and ask the seller to show you the console connecting to their phone.

What a Used Horizon Elliptical Is Worth vs a Used Sole or NordicTrack

Used Horizon ellipticals sit right in the middle of the market. Here's how median asking prices on Commonplace compare across brands right now. These are asking prices, not sold prices.

Brand	Median used asking price	Typical range
Schwinn	$795	$740 to $1,110
NordicTrack	About $880	Wide, from under $500
Horizon	$920	$795 to about $1,150
Sole	About $940	$710 and up

And here's what specific Horizon models have been listed for with us:

• 7.0 AE, like new: $850, against the seller's stated $1,200 original price.
• Evolve 5, like new: $795 to $1,128, against stated original prices of $1,300 to $1,450.
• E1200, good condition: $920.
• EX-90, like new: $850.
• EX-59, like new with about 10 hours of use: $1,146.

That last one is the lesson. An EX-59 is about a $700 machine new. A low-hours example is a nice find, but it isn't worth more than a new one. When a used asking price is at or above new retail, either negotiate hard or walk.

My rule of thumb: a used Horizon in like-new shape is fair at 55 to 70 percent of what it originally cost, and a discontinued model with features the current lineup doesn't have (the 7.0 AE's incline, the Evolve's fold) can hold the top of that range. Compared with a Sole E35 at a similar price, the 7.0 AE gives you power incline and a 325-pound capacity. Compared with an iFit-based NordicTrack, you're not inheriting a subscription question.

What to Check Before You Buy a Used Horizon Elliptical

I haven't seen a Horizon-specific failure pattern worth warning you about, and the review sites don't report one either. What wears on a used elliptical is the same across brands, so check the same places:

1. Rear rollers and track. On front-drive machines like the 7.0 AE and EX-59, the pedal arms ride on rollers along a rear track. Run it and listen. A thumping or grinding noise once per stride usually means a worn roller or a dirty track.
2. Pedal arm wobble. Stand beside it and push each pedal side to side. A little give is normal. A clunk or visible play points to worn bushings or bearings.
3. Squeaks. Squeaks are common and often just a pivot that needs cleaning and grease. Ask when it was last serviced.
4. Resistance changes. Step through several resistance levels while pedaling. You should feel each change within a second or two. If resistance doesn't change, the problem is often the resistance motor or its cable.
5. Incline motor (7.0 AE). Run the incline from the bottom to the top and back. It should move smoothly without stalling.
6. Console. Every button, the display and the heart rate grips should respond. Check that the power adapter is included, since some models need one.
7. The fold (Evolve). Fold and unfold it twice, as described above.

If you buy through Commonplace, our driver does a 30 to 50 point inspection at pickup and sends you photos and a video of the machine running before it's delivered. You pay when it shows up, and there's a 60-day warranty if something fails after that. That covers most of the list above without you having to stand in a stranger's basement.

Last thing: moving it. These machines weigh roughly 175 to 200 pounds, and the 7.0 AE is long, top-heavy and doesn't fold. Measure your narrowest door before you commit (a full-size front-drive machine is about 24 to 25 inches wide). Commonplace delivers big fitness equipment into the room you choose, which is usually what decides it for people buying a machine this size.

When you're ready, browse used ellipticals on Commonplace, or read how buying and delivery work. If you're comparing brands, my Sole E25 vs E35 vs E95 guide and used NordicTrack elliptical guide cover the same ground for those brands. For the general checklist across every brand, see buying a used elliptical machine. And if you're upgrading and need to move your old one, here's where to sell an elliptical and what it's worth.

FAQ: Buying a Used Horizon Elliptical

Is a Horizon elliptical a good brand?

Yes. Horizon is the home fitness brand of Johnson Health Tech, which also owns the commercial brand Matrix. The machines have lifetime frame warranties on most models, and parts and support are still available through Horizon's help center.

Which Horizon elliptical is the best to buy used?

The 7.0 AE, for most people. It has a 20-inch stride, a 23-pound flywheel, a 325-pound weight capacity and power incline. If you need something that folds, get an Evolve 5, or an Evolve 3 if the price is better.

Do Horizon ellipticals fold?

Only the Evolve series. The Evolve 3 folds to about 41 by 28 inches of floor space and stands about 69 inches tall. The EX-59 and 7.0 AE don't fold.

What is the stride length on a Horizon elliptical?

The 7.0 AE, Evolve 3 and Evolve 5 have a 20-inch stride, which suits most adults. The EX-59 has an 18-inch stride, which works better for shorter users.

Do I need a subscription to use a Horizon elliptical?

No. Horizon says its home cardio equipment needs no subscription and no app to work. Free apps like AFG Pro connect to some models over Bluetooth if you want them.

How much should I pay for a used Horizon elliptical?

Used Horizon ellipticals list for $795 to about $1,150 on Commonplace, with a median of $920. Pay toward the top of that range for a like-new 7.0 AE or Evolve 5. Don't pay more than about $500 for a used EX-59, since it costs around $700 new.