What To Look For
The most important thing to look for in a stair stepper is whether you feel stable on it or not. A stair stepper with a wide base will wobble less and you will feel more confident. You should also look for steppers that can vary your workout through automated programs and resistance adjustment. Without this, you will get bored quickly and your body will adapt and plateau.
Heart rate monitors are another feature included in some steppers--if you like to quantitatively assess your workout's success, these are key. Finally, the amount of noise a stepper makes can dramatically change how well it works in your home.
Common Pitfalls
A common pitfall with steppers is that people will buy them unprepared for how much noise they make. While a stepper can be relatively quiet in a gym or on a showroom floor, it will seem substantially louder once it's in your smaller living room. The Kettler Power Stepper 7876-900 is an example of a stable, expensive stepper that is also powered by hydraulic pistons, which tend to be loud.
Where To Buy
There are not many brick-and-mortar stores that sell large steppers, but they are available online on websites like bigfitness.com. Check your local YellowPages for gym equipment rental services--while they may not be able to sell to you, they will likely allow you to try steppers out in the store, which will let you make a more informed decision for buying online.
You can buy smaller, more convenient steppers at brick-and-mortar stores like Sports Authority and Dick's Sporting Goods.
Cost
As of September 2010, wide-based club-style steppers cost four figures--$1,000 to $5,000. However, smaller, more manageable steppers cost between $500 and $1,000.
Comparison Shopping
The StairMaster Stairclimber SC916 has not actually been reviewed as of September 2010. However, every previous model under the StairMaster brand has received glowing reviews. The StairMaster StepMill SM916 has actually received reviews, and they have been extremely positive.
The Wave Fitness Step Right Up SRU1 is another high-quality stepper, having received an Editor's Choice award from stepper-superstore.com.
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