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.
In fact you can burn twice the calories in a single workout as compared to walking on a treadmill. This means you get faster results in less time.
Treadclimbers are also low impact which can be much easier on the knees and joints than a regular treadmill.
So is the Tread climber a good choice for you? Here's what to know before you buy:
Models:
Bowflex currently makes 4 different Treadclimber models ranging from the TC 1000 ($1499) up to the monster TC 5500 ($3299).
Main differences between the models include top speeds, warranty length, console options and design, heart rate monitors and unit weights (heavier unit weights give you a more stable feeling 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."
Strengths:
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, toned body in less time. It also means you're pushing your body a little harder - which can help you avoid those fitness plateaus.
Lower Impact Workout
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.
Faster Results
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. There's nothing like feeling looser pants to motivate you to keep going.
12 Intensity Settings
Treadclimbers offer 12 different intensity settings. Which means you can challenge yourself or choose to take it easy that day. It's also useful if there are multiple users since everyone can pick an intensity setting that they want depending on their fitness level.
Weaknesses:
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 4.5 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.
Summary:
If you're looking for something more challenging than a standard treadmill, an incline trainer like the Bowflex Treadclimber is a great option. 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.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can compare options and see the latest discounts on Treadclimbers direct from the Manufacturer.
You can watch a free video on the website of how it actually works and even get a free DVD.
