Stair Stepper Review

Stair steppers range from simple to fancy

Experts say that sales of stair steppers have plummeted with the advent of elliptical trainers as the go-to machine for an intense but fast workout. Treadmills continue to be the best-selling home fitness equipment, outpacing sales of steppers, ellipticals and stationary bikes combined -- and fitness experts say you're far more likely to still be using a treadmill months or years down the road. That's because treadmills offer a more varied workout than steppers or exercise bikes. For this reason, many fitness companies are offering hybrid models that combine the best features of a stair stepper with those of a treadmill or elliptical trainer. These machines have the potential to offer a more intense and interesting workout than a stair stepper or elliptical trainer alone. If you are seeking guidance on which home fitness machine would best meet your needs, see our other ConsumerSearch reports on treadmills, elliptical trainers and exercise bikes.

Stair steppers provide a cardio workout by allowing you to push independent foot pedals up and down -- or to climb a rotating staircase. With most models, the user can adjust resistance and speed. Many fitness professionals say that elliptical trainers have taken over the stair-stepper market because the motion and incline of elliptical machines provides a more varied aerobic workout and limits the impact on your joints. However, there are still reasons to consider stair steppers, since they provide a low-impact aerobic workout with great toning effects on lower-body muscles. Editors at BabyCenter.com say stair steppers can be a good choice for pregnant women because they put little pressure on the lower back when used properly.

Consumer Reports covers stair steppers that have appeared in television infomercials. Consumer Guide reviews a few models, and these are some of the best reviews we've seen here, listing pros and cons and giving the impression that the editors have actually tested these machines. Some sites, such as Fitness-Equipment-Source.com, provide useful reviews and critiques, but only for hybrid models. Sites that allow readers to post reviews, including Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com, offer the most useful information about stair steppers. An October 2004 review of mini steppers in The Wall Street Journal includes comparisons of smaller, portable mini steppers.

As the demand for large, commercial stair steppers has decreased, manufacturers have flooded the market with mini steppers. These small, portable stair steppers are designed for the casual exerciser, since they typically do not include handles or adjustable resistance levels. Some models do offer movable handles or resistance bands, but the upper-body workout they provide is questionable. Mini steppers may offer a decent workout for some people, but many reviewers complain of flimsy construction and a tendency to break easily.

The newest trend in stair steppers is a hybrid machine that sits somewhere between a stair stepper and an elliptical trainer or treadmill. The machines in the Bowflex TreadClimber series have a small treadmill belt on each step (called a treadle), and the incline and speed of rotation depends on the program. Users say there's a short learning curve when it comes to balancing yourself, but find the TreadClimber is pretty comfortable to use within a few minutes.

However, according to fitness editors at TreadmillDoctor.com, the Bowflex TreadClimber machines are more mechanically complex than a treadmill, which means they may be more likely to break down in the future. There are other drawbacks as well. For example, several users complain that you can't adjust the resistance level while you are on the machine, which means you can't increase or decrease the intensity as you work out. Others comment that the maximum speed of 4 mph to 4.5 mph (on the more expensive models) isn't fast enough. TreadmillDoctor suggests that if you want a machine with a steep incline, you're ultimately better off spending your money on a regular treadmill with a high incline (covered in our report on treadmills).