Horizon Wins Top Honors in Health Magazine’s Best of Fitness Awards

COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. (January 24, 2007) – Horizon Fitness took home top honors in Health magazine’s Best of Fitness Awards competition. The fitness equipment manufacturer won best treadmill and best elliptical trainer in the under $1,500 category. This is the second year in a row Horizon Fitness has been recognized by the magazine.

Horizon’s RCT7.6 treadmill – sold exclusively at Sears – won best treadmill under $1,500, while the PSE7 elliptical trainer – sold exclusively at Dick’s Sporting Goods – won best elliptical trainer under $1,500.

“We take great pride in creating treadmills and elliptical trainers that offer peak performance, lasting durability and exceptional value,” said Mike Olson, vice president of marketing for Horizon Fitness. “This recognition by Health magazine reinforces our commitment to delivering the best products, the best service and the best value to our retailer partners and their customers.”

Health magazine’s Best of Fitness Awards recognizes the top fitness equipment on the market. For this year’s competition, a panel of experts tested more than 1,000 of the latest products to come up with a list of 35 best buys.

RCT7.6 – Best Treadmill Under $1,500
The RCT7.6 treadmill from Horizon Fitness is designed for those who desire simplicity and ease-of-use when it comes to fitness equipment. For many, fitness equipment can be intimidating, overcomplicated or difficult to use – especially for first time purchasers. To combat this issue, Horizon Fitness incorporates a number of unique features into the RCT7.6 to simplify a user’s interaction with the treadmill.

To start with, Horizon Fitness developed a technology called PERFECTviewâ„¢, which allows users to adjust the console display for optimal viewing. Similar to a laptop computer screen that folds up and down, PERFECTview can be adjusted to achieve a viewing angle that is easy to read and reduces glare. It is ideal for people that are above or below average in height, or perhaps have less than perfect eye sight.

Another feature that makes the RCT7.6 treadmill safe and easy to use is the In-Reachâ„¢ Control Pad. This feature allows users to adjust speed and incline settings without having to remove their hands from the handrail. Finally, all treadmill controls (speed, incline and program settings) are configured in soft-touch dials, which are easy to identify and manipulate. All of these features, working together, make the RCT7.6 one of the most consumer-friendly treadmills on the market.

PSE7 – Best Elliptical Trainer Under $1,500
The PSE7 elliptical trainer incorporates a number of features that make it one of the most fluid and comfortable ellipticals on the market. To begin with, it features a long, 19-inch stride length, allowing users to maximize their range of motion when working out. In addition, the elliptical incorporates a heavy-duty, 8 kg. flywheel, which is the heaviest found at sporting goods retail. This added weight provides a fluid workout without the galloping feel common with other ellipticals. The heavy flywheel reduces stress on the machine, increasing durability and the overall life of the product.

To maximize comfort, the elliptical is designed with a low Q-Factor (the space between the foot pedals). While the foot pedals on most elliptical trainers are placed five or six inches apart, imitating a standing position, the foot pedals on the PSE7 are placed at a much smaller distance – 1.5 inches. This low Q-Factor eliminates unnecessary stress on the hips and lower back, ensuring a biomedically correct, pain-free workout.

Finally, the PSE7 features eTRAKâ„¢ Performance Tracking technology, an innovative new software that allows users to monitor and evaluate their fitness progress over time. This technology, which is integrated into the console, allows users to monitor a variety of workout statistics, including time, calories, distance and speed. Users can compare current workout stats to their average or last workout; and check it against weekly, monthly and lifetime totals.

Horizon Fitness is a leading manufacturer of treadmills and elliptical trainers. The company’s fitness equipment is marketed under two different product lines: Horizon Series and Horizon Elite Series. Horizon Series products can be found at sporting goods retailers across North America, while Horizon Elite Series products are sold at specialty fitness dealers.

Horizon Fitness is a subsidiary of Johnson Health Tech. Co., Ltd., the fifth largest fitness equipment manufacturer in the world with $266 million in annual revenue (2005). Horizon Fitness differentiates itself in the marketplace by designing and manufacturing fitness equipment that is durable, easy-to-use and provides peak performance for maximum value. All key components that go into a piece of equipment are designed and manufactured at a Johnson Health Tech. facility. This translates to well-designed, high-performance equipment that is backed by one of the strongest warranties in the industry.

To learn more about Horizon Fitness, go to HorizonFitness.com or call 1-800-244-4192.

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