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Stair Steppers: Ratings of Sources
Total of 11 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. The Wall Street Journal
Oct. 8, 2004
Step Right Up
by Conor Dougherty
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

The Wall Street Journal rates five mini steppers, including the Brookstone Fold-A-Way Cardio Stepper (deemed best overall), the Mabis DMI Mini Stepper Exerciser 660-2005-0000 (named best value), the… Discovery Channel Store Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands, the QVC Bodyshaping Dual Action Mini Stepper and the Wal-Mart Stamina Electronic Mini-Stepper. Testers said that once they got into the rhythm, these mini steppers felt surprisingly stable even without handles. The Brookstone's digital display stopped working after the first try, though editors still ultimately rate it best.

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2. Amazon.com
As of Mar. 2009
Step Machines
by Contributors to Amazon.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Most of the user reviews at Amazon.com are for mini steppers, but many of these have a decent number of reviews. The Stamina InStride Electronic Stepper 40-0045C receives mixed reviews from more than 60… owners, with some reviewers complaining of overheating in the shock system and numerous reports of broken parts. Stamina's SpaceMate Folding Stepper 40-0069 does much better among Amazon customers, with an average four out of five stars from nearly 30 owners, although there are a few reports of units breaking down after the first week. Amazon also features detailed and informative user reviews for Tony Little's Rock 'n Roll Stepper and the Bowflex TreadClimber TC3000.

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3. Buzzillions.com
As of Mar. 2009
Sporting Goods Reviews -- Steppers
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Buzzillions.com is a clearinghouse for consumer reviews on every kind of product under the sun, including fitness equipment. It also provides a central place to locate reviews of stair steppers left by… customers on Mercantila.com, Stepper-Superstore.com and Brookstone.com. Buzzillions.com lists more than 70 reviews for the Phoenix Denise Austin Mini Stepper Plus 99120. On average, this mini stepper receives 3.6 out of five stars. The site also offers a number of detailed reviews for the Brookstone Aerobic Twisting Stepper 533224 and Fold-A-Way Cardio Stepper Exercise Machine 414284. There are also more than 70 reviews of the Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper 40-0069 and about a dozen reviews for the Mabis DMI Mini Stepper Exerciser.

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4. Fitness-Equipment-Source
As of Mar. 2009
NordicTrack FreeMotion s5.6, Bowflex TreadClimber
by Fred Waters
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Fred Waters is the editor of Fitness-Equipment-Source.com, a site devoted to reviews of the latest fitness equipment. Waters is a former executive with Smooth Fitness, and his industry contacts give him an… inside look at the latest equipment. Waters provides an extensive overview of the NordicTrack FreeMotion series, giving the FreeMotion s5.6 his Best New Design award for 2009. He also provides a detailed review of the Bowflex TreadClimber series at his other site, Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com, but he does not provide comparisons with other stair steppers or elliptical machines.

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5. Los Angeles Times
Nov. 10, 2003
There's a Strong Case for Using Stair-Steppers
by Roy M. Wallack
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Roy Wallack briefly reviews three stair steppers for the Los Angeles Times, including the StairMaster FreeClimber 4200PT, the Schwinn 305p and the NordicTrack MTN 740 Stepper. Unfortunately, two of the three models he reviews are now discontinued, although his review of the NordicTrack MTN 740 Stepper is useful.
6. NordicTrack.com
As of Mar. 2009
Steppers
by Contributors to NordicTrack.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The NordicTrack.com website allows customers to review and rate their products, including the FreeMotion s5.6 and s5.8. Unfortunately, there are only a few consumer reviews for each model, but they are quite detailed and balanced. We're always skeptical of reviews posted on a manufacturer's website, but there are a fair number of negative comments here, which bolsters credibility.
7. TreadmillDoctor.com
As of Mar. 2009
Bowflex Treadmill Reviews
by Editors of TreadmillDoctor.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

TreadmillDoctor.com is an excellent source for reviews of treadmills, and since the Bowflex TreadClimber models are somewhere between a treadmill and a stepper, they are included here. Editors say these… models are complicated mechanically, which means there's more to break. Instead, editors recommend going with a treadmill and using a high incline. Another recommended alternative is the NordicTrack Incline Trainer, a treadmill with a very high incline capacity.

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8. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Mar. 2009
Stair Steppers Reviews and Prices
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Consumer Guide lists numerous steppers and reviews eight, with three Bowflex TreadClimbers getting spotlight reviews. The editors do not designate any of the stair steppers as a Best Buy and are actually… rather negative about them all. Each of the TreadClimber models is deemed "average" by the site's editors, as is the NordicTrack MTN 740 Stepper. The writeups are detailed, and editors do note pros and cons, but they don't compare models.

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9. ConsumerReports.org
Feb. 2009
Get Fit? Get Real
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This article reviews exercise equipment seen in television infomercials, including the Bowflex TreadClimber TC5000 and Tony Little's Rock 'n Roll Stepper. As we have come to expect from Consumer Reports, the tests are rigorous and thorough. However, they do not highlight any of these infomercial products as a Best Buy and do not provide comparisons between models.
10. ConsumerReports.org
Jan. 2004
TV Exercise Devices: Aerobic Devices
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This article focuses on fitness equipment as seen on TV, including the Tony Little Gazelle Freestyle Elite and the TreadClimber by Nautilus (now Bowflex) TC3000. Editors test these models and examine the claims and the reality behind each, but they don't compare them with each other or with other stair steppers. Still, the short reviews are interesting and well done.
11. Walmart.com
As of Mar. 2009
Steppers
by Contributors to Walmart.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Walmart.com has begun offering customer reviews and feedback on the products sold through its online store. Tony Little's Rock 'n Roll Stepper garners about a dozen customer reviews, which provides a good… snapshot of customer opinion on this mini stepper. It's the same story with the Stamina Electronic Mini Stepper, which has fewer than a dozen reviews on the Wal-Mart site. The reviews are generally negative, with only 50 percent saying they would recommend the Stamina Electronic Mini Stepper to a friend. However, Walmart.com does provide a good number of reviews on the Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper 40-0069. This mini stepper receives four out of five stars from about three dozen customers. The Hers Mini Step with Twister Plate MS-90 also gets generally good reviews, although there are several reports of broken parts and of the cord slipping off the pulley.

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