Bowflex TC5000 TreadClimber –
Limited Range of Motion
At first sight, the Bowflex TC5000 TreadClimber has
an unusual appeal. However, once you delve into the body mechanics of it, you
will see that the benefits of this design don’t compare to the workout of a
standard treadmill.
Three-in-One Uniqueness
The Bowflex TC5000 TreadClimber offers the some of the benefits of a treadmill
plus the low impact workout of an elliptical trainer and the high intensity of a
stair stepper. This 3-in-1 cardio fitness design helps to strengthen and tone
muscles as well as build up stamina and endurance in the cardiovascular system.
The Bowflex TC5000 features six bright LED readouts, a wireless heart rate
monitor, and a Climb Indicator which visually tracks your elevation gain in
feet. You can lock down the dual treadles to use the machine in a
treadmill mode, or convert it to a traditional stair climber with an up and down
motion. By combining the two modes, the TreadClimber gives you an elliptical
motion.
Fast Walking, But No Running
Thankfully, some brave consumers have gone before you and purchased the Bowflex
TC5000 TreadClimber, and have generously offered their opinions to would-be
buyers. In their honest treadmill reviews, more than half of current owners are
disappointed with their machines in some way or another, some for technical
reasons (the tread climber breaks down, more on that in a minute) but mainly for
the limited range of motion workout. Reviewers of the Bowflex
TreadClimber have indicated there is really no exercise here for the upper body
and that the space is so limited it is difficult to swing the arms. Also the two
dual treadles on the TC5000 do not go fast enough as the top speed is only 4
mph. Treadmills are for running and you can’t run on a TreadClimber.
Bowflex® TreadClimber® Factory Direct
The Bowflex TreadClimber does have one
advantage, however, and that is the constant balancing that is required when
the TC5000 is in the stair step or elliptical mode. With the tread climber
feature in use, it takes a lot of effort to maintain balance and workout out
properly. This can be both a good and bad thing as any balancing exercise works
the structural muscles. However, it may not be what you were hoping for in this
machine.
You Want Trouble-Free? Keep Looking
Although the Bowflex TreadClimber seems to be covered by a good warranty at a
glance (5 years on the motor, 3 years electronics and parts, 2 years
hydraulics), there is a major item that is missing: the TC5000 has no in-home
labor warranty. That’s right, no service coverage, not even for the first
year, which is very odd. Another point to consider is that the key component
that does and will fail, the hydraulics, is covered by only a two-year warranty.
And without a labor warranty, once you have a mechanical issue, you will have
to order the part and fix the problem yourself. While owning the Bowflex
TC5000 TreadClimber will give you some tough, fat burning daily workouts, if
recent history is any indication of reliability, you will be repairing or
replacing this unit in two years.
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Bowflex TreadClimbers
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