Bowflex Reviews, Comparisons, and Tips

The TC5000 Treadclimber is Bowflex’s answer to every fitness buff’s desire to burn more fat, and not just mere calories, with each workout.  At least that is how I see it.  The main function and goal of the Treadclimber is to provide a fat burning, full cardio, low-impact workout so the joints can avoid common joint injuries associated with jogging, running on concrete.  The Treadclimber is a merge of your standard treadmill, stairclimber and elliptical, supposedly.

See larger image Bowflex TC5000 Treadclimber (Refurbished) (Sports) List Price: $2,499.00 USD New From: $2,185.00 In Stock Release date June 13, 2007.

Key Features of the TC5000

Here are some of the winning features of the TC5000:

• The TC5000’s main key feature is its unique movement.  It has dual treadles that move up and down like a stairclimber.  Each treadle has a moving belt that allows you to walk as you would on a treadmill.   The result is a low impact workout that gets your heart rate up and allowing you to hit your fat burning zone like you would on an elliptical.  The only difference is you get to move your legs as if you’re really walking or power walking.
• The TC5000 gives you up to 12 intensity or resistance settings to choose from so you can increase your resistance when you’ve adapt to a certain level.  This is also a great feature for interval training.
• You have the option of using the treadclimber as a traditional treadmill or stairclimber through very easy-to-follow steps.
• You can also adjust the speed from 0.7 to 4.0 mph.  That may not be as fast as your regular treadmill but with its many movements, you are bound to get just as good a work out (if not better).
• The display or indicator shows your speed, distance, total steps, time, calories burned per minute, your total calories burned and heart rate.  It also has a climb indicator that displays every 100 feet of elevation.  The numbers appear in red LED and thus make for readability under any lighting condition.
• Your heart rate is monitored through the wireless chest heart rate monitor that comes with the equipment for free.
• At each side of the treadles are large footboards you can get on to easily stop and safely stop or start your workout at any time.
• The TC5000 comes with a Quick Start feature that remembers your previous weight and resistance settings.
• Apart from the indicators, the front panel also features molded console for storage of and your easy access to water bottles, books, magazines and the like.
• The TC5000 is 46 inches long by 30 inches wide by 55.25 inches tall and 185 pounds. This compact and sturdy machine is capable of holding up to 300 pounds of weight.
• The TC5000 comes with a 5-year warranty for its commercial-grade motor, 3 years for its parts, 3 years for the electronics, and 2 years for the hydraulics.

Average User Ratings: Amazon and Eopinions

The TC5000 receives a 3-star user rating on Amazon and 3.5 on Eopinions.  Users rave about the concept, of how it truly brought their heart rate up at such low speed and helped them lose weight as a result.  The benefits of the TC5000, however, seems to get cancelled off by many factors that include

1. Difficulty of assembly.  It takes two people to get it up and running.
2. Poor quality.  It breaks down and doesn’t last as long as it should for its price.
3. Horrible service. They replace parts but they give instructions over the phone and, again, for its high price, they should be able to send their own crew to fix their product which by the way shouldn’t even break down until five years after, to begin with.
4. Price.  Apart from numbers 2 and 3, the product is simply too costly for what it can provide: cardio workout and no strength training.
5. Treadle problems.  Users experience problems with the treadles.  They are too short for running and for tall people and they’re also hard to walk or tread on without grabbing on to the handles.  It is possible but it takes a while, and we’re talking about months, to get used to.
6. Noise.  Users often complain of clunking noises when the motor is running. You wouldn’t be able to watch TV without turning on the volume.  In any case, you would either get used to the sound or remain to get distracted by it or it doesn’t go away.

The concept is there and users seem to like its results but the product, they say, definitely needs improvement.

One Model Below: The TC3000. Whats the Difference Between the Two?

The TC3000 has all the features of the TC5000 except that the former doesn’t show your total calories burned, doesn’t monitor your heart rate and doesn’t provide a climb indicator.  The TC3000 is also slightly narrower at 28.5 inches instead of the TC5000’s 30 inches.  Apart from those, there are no other significant differences and the same is true for the price.  The general 5 problems of the TC5000 Treadclimber mentioned earlier still apply to the TC3000 and so too the former’s advantages which is its effective low-impact, cardio workout.  Having said those, with no significant differences in either, you’re better off with the TC5000 because of the very small price difference between the two which is about $300.  If you can get the TC3000 for a marginally higher price difference compared to the TC5000, you’re definitely better off choosing that.  If that is the case, the biggest thing you’d be missing out on, at least as far as I’m concerned, would be the heart rate wireless monitor and you can always purchase that for less than $100.  The only other exception when you should get the TC5000 would be when you need more leg room for your strides.

One Model Above: The TC6000. What Makes the TC6000 Better?

Perhaps the most notable feature of the TC5500 is the GO (Goal-Oriented) Coach Console but we’ll get to that later.  Minus the Coach Console, the TC5500 is, in a nutshell, an improved version for the TC5000.  Everything about the T5000 is one-upped by the 5500.  The treadles are longer, making this model the most comfortable treadclimber to date.  It is also appropriate for taller people as it has a few inches off its height from the ceiling.  It has a lighter weight yet remains sturdy.

With 15 functions, you get to monitor more details of your workout as opposed to just the 8 functions of the TC5000.  Additional functions include HR Workout and Landmark Challenges. Landmark challenges are part of the GO console which allows you to compare your current workout with others' (the TC5500 can store workout details of up to 4 users) as well as your own previous records.

Landmark challenges are pretty much goals that once achieved can get you to unlock more challenges.  Three challenges are available from the get-go and 6 more can be unlocked as you go along.  Pictorial and interactive workouts are available and the theory is that this should get you motivated to get on your treadclimber.  There’s not much opinion on this one as the product is relatively new but in theory, the whole thing should deliver as it promises.  If it doesn’t, you have the warranty to back you up.

In any case, the TC5500 is a mile better than the TC5000 but you have to be willing to shell out an additional grand, more or less, if you’re getting the former.  There’s definitely more features with the TC5500 and I personally think it is worth the investment.  But if you’ve a limited budget and can do away with the frills, the TC5000 should pretty much get you the same result as the TC5500.

See larger image Bowflex TC5000 Treadclimber (Refurbished) (Sports) List Price: $2,499.00 USD New From: $2,185.00 In Stock Release date June 13, 2007.

Stamina InStride Electronic Stepper List Price: $90.00 Sale Price: $69.29 You save: $20.71 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

It has really only been in the past decade or so that the technology in fitness machines of all types has gone through their most notable advancements. This doesn't mean that there weren't fitness machines prior to that because there were lots of them. It just means that in more recent times they have become more advanced in their functions and features and also frankly, more durable.

An Amazingly Broad Range of Prices

The stair stepper is a fine example of this. For example to begin with the range in all the various makes and models is absolutely incredible now. It's not just the number of types, but the price range as well. For instance, you can now find a simple working mini stair stepper being sold at WallMart with a price tag in the area of $50.

The Inexpensive Mini Stair Stepper

The $5,000 StairMaster By StepMill

Then the very top model currently on the market is the StepMill, made by StairMaster and it features a a price tag of a little over $5,000. Of course there are many more types and models in between these two extremes in prices but it just goes to show the incredibly broad range in diversity that's out there on what is in effect the same machine.

So Just what Defines a Stair Stepper?

Well almost the same machine. This is because in truth, what actually defines a stair stepper isn't in the machines themselves but rather the stair stepping motions that you're legs are doing when using them. In the end, this is why there is such diversity in price, form and feature functions in this one particular category of fitness machine.

The StepMill By StairMaster

Do You Really Need a Stair Stepper Downstairs?

This is also a great time to point out one other very important fact that you may want to consider. This is that given that the stair stepper is so singular in its functions. That is that it will really only allow you to do stair stepping exercises. If you have a set of stairs available in or near your home, you may want to consider that you're money may be better invested elsewhere.

Perhaps Other Types of Fitness Gear?

After all, do bear in mind that the machine is going to take up space and if you have nice set of stairs already, why not consider making better use of that space and money on perhaps something like a compact weight resistance machine or a treadmill for instance?