Hybrid Stair Steppers

Hybrids combine aspects of treadmills and elliptical trainers with a stepper

Some of the newest stair steppers are unlike any stair stepper you've used in the past. These hybrid models feature the stepping action of a stair stepper, combined with features of an elliptical or treadmill.

The NordicTrack FreeMotion series is considered by many fitness enthusiasts to be the next generation of home fitness equipment due to its innovative design. This hybrid machine features the pedals of a stair stepper with the gliding action and moving handrails of an elliptical trainer. As opposed to a traditional stair stepper, the FreeMotion can potentially give you a more varied workout. The NordicTrack FreeMotion s5.6 (*Est. $2,400) offers 12 resistance settings and eight pre-programmed workouts that pinpoint your calves, thighs or glutes. Many reviewers are impressed with the numerous extra features of this machine, including an MP3 input, built-in speakers, heart rate monitoring and gel-cushioned pedals. NordicTrack offers a lifetime frame warranty, in addition to a seven-year parts and one-year labor warranty.

Fred Waters, the editor of Fitness-Equipment-Source.com and a former fitness executive, gives the FreeMotion s5.6 his Best New Design award for 2009. He finds the machine impressive and believes it offers a superior workout compared to a stair stepper or elliptical trainer alone. Customers like the FreeMotion s5.6 as well, and reviews on this hybrid stepper are positive on the NordicTrack website (though there aren't that many reviews posted).The most common complaint about the machine is noise, but most users praise the FreeMotion s5.6 for offering a tough and varied workout. One reviewer at Buzzillions.com praises the machine, but says it is hard to set up.

NordicTrack also offers the FreeMotion s5.8 (*Est. $2,500), which adds a 7-inch flat screen television built into the console. The extra cost for the s5.8 may be worth it if you need a television to keep you motivated.

Another interesting hybrid stepper is the Bowflex TreadClimber, a machine that combines the features of a stair stepper and a treadmill. The steps on this machine are actually individual treadmills that allow you to walk forward while you step. Bowflex offers three versions of the TreadClimber. The TreadClimber TC5000 (*Est. $2,300) offers a wireless heart rate monitor and 12 intensity settings. One professional testing organization praises the TreadClimber as a good way to burn calories, but warns that some users may find it too difficult to get the hang of the motion, possibly tripping.

Fred Waters of Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com thinks this machine needs a little work. He cites cheaply made plastic parts and the complex machinery as an indication that this machine may not be the most reliable. Almost 15 users at Amazon.com generally like the TC5000, although one couple goes into great detail about their experiences with unknowledgeable service representatives, concluding that in the end you'll have to take your machine apart and fix it yourself. The TreadClimber TC3000 (*Est. $1,900) gets mixed reviews from 10 owners at Amazon.com. Some consumers complain that they have not received adequate customer support from Bowflex, and others complain that the treadles may be too small, especially for taller users.