What are incline trainers? Incline trainers are hybrids of two popular machines: treadmills and stairclimbers. Incline trainers let users exercise on a flat plane, but the equipment can also be adjusted to steep angles. Fitness gurus advise that incline training burns calories at a remarkably faster pace than using a traditional treadmill. The most popular incline trainers are made by Bowflex and NordicTrack.
What We Like
Efficiency: Incline training gets faster results than regular treadmill training because it requires a greater range of muscle motion. Walking at a 25% grade burns calories at approximately three times the rate of walking on a flat surface – and some incline trainers rise to 40% grades.
Workout programs: Incline trainers come with motivating workout programs. Some even include iFit technology.
Low impact workouts: Incline tracks tend to be well-cushioned. More importantly, compared with running, the motions involved in incline training are low impact.
Compact design: Incline trainers take up less space than most treadmills because they don’t need to accommodate a long running stride.
What We Don’t Like
Not all are for runners: Incline trainers have shorter tracks that generally aren’t useful for running. Some incline trainers, such as the Bowflex TreadClimber, have a two-part track that’s designed specifically for a stairclimbing motion.
Our Verdict
Incline trainers are excellent options for people who can afford mid-range to expensive workout machines. Users achieve their fitness goals more quickly than they do with traditional treadmills. However, incline trainers are generally not suitable for running because of their shorter tracks, or, in the case of the Bowflex TreadClimber, because of their split track design.
