I hope you’ve all had a great week! I have been off class this week and being super lazy most of the time.
When I wasn’t sitting on my couch watching 30 Rock and munching on Christmas goodies, working on my Recipage Page (it is taking forever!) or reading Mindy Kaling’s book, I actually managed to test out the Treadclimber again.
The Treadclimber Review
I wrote on DailyMile a couple of weeks ago:
The Treadclimber Review: Skeptical
Honestly, I started out very skeptical when the Daddio wanted to buy one of these contraptions. Although the official website claims that the calorie burn on the Treadclimber is more efficient than a treadmill or an elliptical machine or a stairstepper….however it just did not make sense. (I also would have rather had a treadmill in the basement for running….I am running a half-marathon and was selfishly hoping for the possibility of being able to train at home.)
The day that I left that comment on DailyMile I was definitely annoyed. There was very little up and down movement on the Treadclimber, which is the thing that makes the exercise so challenging. I was convinced that the Daddio had just gotten overly excited about a piece of fitness equipment and bought it without researching properly.
We did finally get the up-down motion to work. We had to adjust the settings on the side to be between the red marks. (You can see it a little on the photo above on the right.) I also believe it needed to be worked in a little bit.
I still believe that the Daddio got overly-excited about it, but now I do believe it is a good piece of equipment. (Besides, it’s not a terrible thing to get overly-excited about exercise!)
I have been working out at the gym on different cardio machines since I was in high school (I graduated in 2005 to give you an idea of how long ago that was.) I have been a big fan of the elliptical, stair climbing machine, and have spent many hours running on a treadmill. Since I have experienced many different pieces of exercise equipment, I believe I am able to give the Treadclimber a decent review.
What I like about the Treadclimber:
- I get a good cardio workout. This is what I was most concerned about when I found out that the speed only went up to 4.5mph. I get sweaty and out of breath after 10 minutes (going from a range of 2.5mph to 3.5mph).
- I can input my weight to get a more accurate calorie count and it saves two different person’s information so I just have to select the two dots. There is a little more on these settings I need to play around with but I like the fact that I can get an accurate calorie count.
- It works on balance and coordination like no other piece of fitness equipment I’ve stepped onto. The space between the two belts makes it essential for the person using the Treadclimber to be focused on balance…otherwise he or she is bound to slip. I enjoy this type of a challenge.
- I don’t have to be running to get a decent workout. The most I’ve gone on the Treadclimber is 30 minutes and each time I am drenched in sweat…a good sign of a decent cardio workout for me. (Keep in mind the Treadclimber is in the basement…the coldest part of the house…and I’ve been using it in the winter.)
- It is joint-friendly. The way the machine is designed, not as much stress is put onto the joints. One of my concerns with running is the injury or breaking down of joints in the future, especially the knees. I haven’t felt any joint pain while using the Treadclimber.
- I enjoy having it in my (the Daddio’s) house where I can watch a movie or television.
What Could Be Improved about the Treadclimber:
- Call me crazy, but I want it to go faster than 4.5mph. I think athletes or those who workout frequently would be able to go beyond the 4.5mph, if only for interval training purposes.
- The treads being so far apart can actually be a little annoying at times because if one of your feet gets to close to the middle, you can get tripped up.
- I wish there was a heart-rate monitor! What kind of fitness equipment doesn’t have a heart-rate monitor these days??
- I could also use more settings like those on a decent treadmill. Currently it has time, distance, calories, and mph. I like to see how many calories I would burn in an hour at the speed I’m at, my heart-rate and all the details that entails, as well as an average of my speed.
Treadclimber: Yes or No?
I like using the treadclimber. It gets my blood pumping and sweat dripping, and that is obviously what I look for in a piece of equipment. Is it better than a treadmill, elliptical, or stair machine? Absolutely not. In my humble opinion, the Treadclimber is only a different option. If you are looking to lose weight and are starting from scratch, I could see how this would help…but I am still not convinced it is the superior piece of cardio equipment.
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Another good review of the Treadclimber can be found here.
I hope this helped to hear a first-hand review of the Treadclimber! Let me know if I have not answered all of your questions by commenting below or e-mailing me at semihealthnut AT yahoo DOT com. 🙂
Be sure to check out some of the fitness devices I fully endorse:
–Fitbit. See my fitbit one review here.
–Foam roller. It’s like giving yourself a massage–great for rolling out kinks if you can’t afford to visit a massage therapist regularly!
–Trigger Point massage ball. This is amazing for massaging your feet as well as other areas that need some TLC.
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In other news….
Get ready for my New Years Resolution link-up! Be thinking of things you want to do in 2012 and be prepared to link-up your goals. I am so excited to see what your dreams are for the new year!
Happy New Year!
Tell me…
What’s your favorite piece of workout equipment?
Do you like working out at the gym or at home?
**Disclaimer: These product reviews are based on my own personal experience and are truly what I believe. I have not been compensated for any of these products except for free samples, which I have stated in the post. Some of the links at the bottom are affiliate links. As always, I appreciate your support! <3
I have since discovered that if I slow down, I can use this machine just fine and get a good workout. My problem was that I was trying to use it as fast as a treadmill. I would not get a good workout on a treadmill at a rate of 2.5, but I do on this machine. Still not super smooth, but sufficient.
I agree. The faster speed feels super unstable!
Thank you for this review!
I stopped trying to convince myself to work out at the gym because I realized it just wasn’t working – I couldn’t motivate myself to go there often. I realized then to look for workouts that I can do at home. I’ve been doing Insanity workout at home for 2 years (I don’t do it everyday like recommended for the first 2 months, but I still do it a few times per week). I was looking to try something new, hopefully not as intense and hard. Still debating about which equipment to get though!
That’s great you’re working out on your own! It’s true that you don’t need to go to a gym to get fit. Definitely do what works for you. So glad this helped!