The Bowflex Tread climber 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.
The advantage is that you are walking on an incline and burning more calories than you would on a treadmill.
Bowflex has recently come out with 3 new models replacing their old units - a discount "no frills" version for under $1000, a premium Treadclimber and a super-deluxe model with all the bells and whistles.
If you're thinking about a Treadclimber here are some things you should know before you buy:
Strengths:
1) Fast Results
A Treadclimber is a form of incline trainer - and incline walking can burn exponentially more calories than flat-plane walking.
In fact you can burn twice the calories in a single workout as compared to walking on a 0% incline treadmill. This means you get faster results in less time.
So if you need to tone up and slim down fast, a Treadclimber is one of the best ways to do it.
2) Low Impact
Because the treadles rise to meet each step, 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 people who are concerned about staying in shape without the stress on their joints.
3) Bowflex Weight Loss Plan
Since these machine were primarily designed to be the fastest weight loss machines on the market, it makes sense that each one comes with a weight loss plan to help you burn maximum calories and lose weight.
You get a Daily Journal to track your food and water intake, completed exercise and record achievements. You also get a booke with Over 70 Recipes and Calorie counters for specific foods.
4) Compact
If workout space is limited in your area, a Treadclimber is handy since it's more compact than many treadmills or even ellipticals.
5) Great for Toning
Even if you don't want to "lose weight" a Treadclimber can help you redistribute your weight to tone up and get an overall sexier shape. You're basically doing 3 movements in one - walking on a treadmill, climbing a stair stepper and following the motion of an elliptical, which helps to tone your body and put curves where they should be.
Weaknesses:
The main weakness of the Treadclimber is that you cannot run on it - the belts are on the short side and the speed limit only goes up to 4.5 MPH. If you plan on running, you may want a different incline trainer with a longer belt like the Nordic Track incline trainers.
Summary:
The real beauty of the Treadclimber is that it gets you excited about working out and seeing fast results. Let's face it - it's a cool machine. It helps you drop weight faster than most other machines which will continue to motivate you to use it.
It's easier on the joints than running on a standard treadmill. And because incline walking also helps build muscle, you're actually increasing lean muscle mass. This gives you a faster metabolism and you continue to burn calories post workout - even while you sleep.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can buy Bowflex Treadclimbers direct from the Manufacturer. Bowflex has given our visitors an exclusive coupon code - You can Save Up To $550 on certain Treadclimber models.