Bowflex is one of the best-known names in the fitness industry thanks to their innovative and well-designed home gym equipment. The TreadClimber series is one of their newer products, combining the functionalities of a stair stepper, elliptical and treadmill all into one convenient package, with the TC100 being the first model in this new series.
The 3-in-1 design is going to be great for those who want to save money and space by just getting one piece of equipment. However, is it as good as it’s made out to be? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
About the TC100
The Bowflex TreadClimber TC100 is equal parts stepper, elliptical and treadmill in design. Instead of being a machine that can transform into one variant, the TC100 is designed to allow you to perform the movements of all three exercise machines at once in a single workout.
The result is a machine that can help you gain the benefits of all three types of movement in one exercise session. The TC100 can also give you a low-impact workout without compromising results.
The best part of the TC100 is you’ll only need to walk. No need to go on a slow jog or run at a constant pace that treadmills naturally require you to thanks to the TreadClimber design. This doesn’t mean the training will be less intense, though. You can burn up to twice the amount of calories that you would on a treadmill without putting in as much effort.
Cardio workouts tend to be very tiring and most traditional exercises can be harsh on your body. With the TC100, you’ll be able to reach your fitness goals without tiring yourself any more than you have to.
Specifications
The build quality of the TC100 stands up to what Bowflex is known for. The frame is sturdy and it can hold up to 300lbs, so don’t expect it to break down any time soon.
The size of the TC100 is relatively small. The official dimensions of the machine are 57" L x 31.5" W x 59" H, which is very compact when compared to most treadmills that are usually about 64” in length. This makes the TC100 an optimal choice for small or cramped spaces.
The machine itself is fairly complex in the design of its parts, which may make assembly slightly difficult if you’re not particularly knowledgeable about similar equipment. Bowflex does provide an assembly manual, however, and the detailed instructions are supplemented by equally helpful instruction videos that are available online.
The assembly process may take 1-2 hours long depending on the expertise of whoever is assembling the product, so disassembling the TC100 to save space may not be the most convenient idea.
The product also comes with a two-year warranty in the off-chance that your TC100 is defective or there are any other concerns with it. Nautilus Inc., the parent company of Bowflex, will provide repairs and replacements for your item in regard to any damages to its frame and electronic components.
You can learn more about the company’s warranty policy online.
Features
The TC100 comes with a list of features that will help improve the quality of your workout sessions by displaying information that you’ll want to know.
The speed of the machine ranges between .5 to 4mph, which is ideal for the type of motion that it offers. Slower speeds will help you keep stable so you can focus on doing the right movements instead of trying to keep your balance.
The TC100 always comes with a built-in heart rate monitor that’s wired to the contact grips, which will make checking on your heart rate much more convenient. The machine also has an LCD display that’s equipped with four functions: Speed, Time, Distance, and Calories Burned. This can help you keep track of your stats that you’ve accumulated in your session so you can see if you’ve met your current goal or not.
Along with these stat-trackers, the TC100 has a built-in USB charging port so you can use your mobile devices without having to worry about battery life. It also has a rack where you can place your devices and water bottles.
It does lack a few features, however. The TC100 does not have any form of integrated Bluetooth so you won’t be able to connect it to your devices. Additionally, there are no workout programs that come pre-installed into its system.
These missing features are relatively minor. The TC100 already shows you exercise-essential information and the relative simplicity of the workouts you can do on it means you can simply exercise at your desired pace without having to rely on programmed workouts.
Final Thoughts:
The Bowflex TreadClimber TC100 model is a solid piece of home gym equipment that offers high-intensity but low-impact cardio workouts that will help you achieve your fitness goals without having to go to the gym.
The platform is a convenient way to gain the benefits of three different workout machines in one, which helps maximize your gains while minimizing the time you need to spend working out. The low-impact nature of the exercise provided is great for people with sore joints or those who are recovering from injuries. This trait also makes the TC100 an excellent tool for people who are just starting their fitness journey thanks to the relatively easier exercise it offers.
Many different users have reported positive feedback about their experiences with the TC100. It has received praise for being easy to assemble and for being very convenient, especially for people who don’t have the time to go to the gym. However, some users have noted that it can be fairly noisy when being used.
Overall, despite not having any Bluetooth functionality or built-in programs, the TC100 is still an excellent choice. The newer Bowflex TreadClimber TC200 version has slightly more features so if you really want the complete package, you may consider investing in that instead.
The TC100, however, remains a more affordable option that will not compromise your efforts to become fit and healthy.