Bowflex Treadclimber Review:
The Bow flex Treadclimber - formerly called the Nautilus treadclimber - is one of the most popular incline trainers on the market today.
The main strength of the Treadclimber is that you can burn twice the calories in a single workout as compared to walking on a treadmill. This means you get faster results and a tighter, more toned body in less time.
Is it a good value for you? Here's what to know before you buy:
What Is It?
A Treadclimber is a hybrid treadmill / stair climber. It has two dual treadles (as opposed to one used in treadmills) that lift to meet each step as you walk. If you've seen the infomercials, you know how cool this looks.
The advantage is that you are walking on an incline (hence the term 'incline trainer') and burning more calories than you would on a treadmill.
Models:
Bowflex currently makes 3 different Treadclimber models ranging from the TC 1000 ($1499) up to the monster TC 5000 ($2499).
Main differences between the models include warranty length, console options and design, maximum walking speeds, heart rate monitors and unit weights (heavier unit weights give you a more stable machine).
The most popular model is the TC 5000 - probably because of the 'Best Buy' rating from Consumer Guide, longer warranty, advanced console, sturdier build higher speed limit and extra program options.
Bowflex Treadclimber Reviews:
Bowflex Treadclimbers rate fairly well with experts and users. The lower end models (TC 1000 and TC 3000) rate around 3 out of 5 stars with users and the higher end models (TC 5000) rate around 4.5 out of 5 stars at epinions.
The Treadclimber TC 5000 was also given a 'Best Buy' rating by Consumer Guide. And Consumer Reports says:
"The TreadClimber offers excellent aerobic exercise with less joint impact than you would get on a treadmill."
Benefits:
- Burn More Calories in Less Time
You can burn up to twice as many calories in 30 minutes as a treadmill at the same speed.
After 22 different research trials, researchers found that:
- TreadClimber users burned 321 calories in 30 minutes at 3 mph.
- Treadmill users burned only 150 calories in 30 minutes at the same speed
This means you get a tight, more toned body in less time. It also means you're pushing your body a little harder - which can get you out of those fitness plateaus.
Walking on a Treadclimber causes less impact on the joints and ligaments than several other exercise machines, including running on a treadmill.
This gives you less chance of injury and makes the Treadclimber a great alternative for runners or joggers who are concerned about staying in shape without the stress on their joints.
Who has time to spend slogging it out in a gym for hours, dieting like mad and straining to lose 1-2 pounds a week?
Some treadclimber users lose up to 5 pounds a week - which makes a huge difference in the way your body looks and feels. These kind of rapid results are great for inspiring you to keep going.
Summary:
If you're looking for something more challenging than a standard treadmill, an incline trainer like the Bowflex Treadclimber is ideal. It gets you faster results with more calorie burn than your standard treadmill workout.
It's lower impact and can help you tone up and build your metabolic rate so you keep burning fat throughout the day.
Keep in mind that the higher end models like the TC5000 give you more in terms of warranty, speed limit, stability and console options.
The main weakness of the Treadclimber is that you cannot run on it - the belt is too short and the speed limit only goes up to 4.0 MPH. If you want to be able to run, you may want to consider a treadmill or another incline trainer like the Nordic Track X3 first.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can compare options and see the latest discounts on Treadclimbers direct from the Bowflex Manufacturer.
They're currently offering a coupon code to our visitors: Get Free Shipping on any Bowflex Treadclimber (Save $199) - use coupon code TFSU6 at checkout