Bowflex Treadclimber: TC1000, TC3000 and TC5000 Bowflex Treadmills Review

Bowflex, famous for its home gyms such as the bowflex elite, bowflex ultimate XTLU, and bowflex xtreme 2, has a cardiovascular machine known as the Bowflex Treadclimber. The Treadclimber by Bowflex is a hybrid of a stair stepper and a treadmill. Bowflex’s treadclimber allows you to walk forward, as you would on a traditional treadmill, and step up, as you would do on a stepper.

The treadclimber by Bowflex comes in three models: The Treadclimber TC1000, Treadclimber TC3000, and the Treadclimber TC5000. All treadclimber models have 12 intensity settings, and large footboards along side the tread belts. The main differences between the treadclimber models are:

Treadclimber TC1000

• Speed adjusts from 0.5 to 3.8 mph
• 3 large LCD readout
• 3 electronic functions
• Bowflex warranty: 1 Year warranty on motor, electronics, hydraulics and other parts.

Treadclimber TC3000

• Speed adjusts from 0.7 to 4.0 mph
• 6 electronic functions allow you to track Speed, Time, Distance, Calories Burned, Calories Per Minute and Total Steps taken during your workout
• 5 LCD readout
• Bowflex Warranty: motor-3 years, electronics-2 years, hydraulics-1 year, other parts-2 years

Treadclimber TC5000

• Integrated Wireless Heart Rate Monitor
• TreadClimber Machine Mat
• Speed adjusts from 0.7 to 4.0 mph
• 8 electronic functions
• Climb Indicator
• Calorie-burn calculations
• Commercial-grade motor
• 6 LED readouts
• Bowflex Warranty: motor-5 years, electronics-3 years, hydraulics-2 year, other parts-3 years

Problems with the Treadclimber

Although the treadclimber by bowflex is not meant for running, it still provides an intense cardio workout. However, in order to change the resistance, you’ll have to get off the machine and turn 2 knobs on the hydraulic systems. These are located on the front of the treadclimber. Unfortunately, this is the downfall of Bowflex’s Treadclimber because such a simple function of adjusting the resistance is cumbersome and requires you to stop exercising (this is not normally the case with other cardio exercise machines).

Given it’s high price ($1500-$2000), and the way you have to change the resistance, even backed by a brand name such as Bowflex, you’re better off with another cardio fitness equipment instead of the Treadclimber by bowflex (such as a Precor elliptical trainer).

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