Stair steppers, also called stair climbers, lost much of their cachet when elliptical trainers came along and allowed people to work their upper and lower bodies at the same time. But climbing stairs, whether at a football stadium or in a basketball arena, has a time honored tradition in athletics. And for good reason--climbing stairs gives you an intense cardio workout. The best stair steppers are club-level models that run as much as $6,000 as of February 2011. But the best model for you, depending upon your budget and available space, might be a reliable budget stair stepper for as little as $200.
Budget
A number of stair steppers for under $1,000 are recommended by independent review sites. Consumer Search likes the NordicTrack MTN 740, a budget model with the customary array of higher-end features that the company is known for, such as a built-in fan, adjustable resistance levels and heart-rate monitor. The Schwinn 305p, selling for about $400, gets the nod from Men's Total Fitness as a machine that is perfectly adequate for home use. It carries an outstanding warranty for a budget stair stepper. For the best cheap deal, Galt Buying Guides selects the Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper, which can give you a tough workout and has adjustable resistance levels and a price of around $200 as of February 2011.
Mid-Range
For $1,000 to $2,000, you can expect to get a stair stepper with lots of bells and whistles. Men's Total Fitness recommends the Diamondback 1150St. A well-known name in the bike industry, Diamondback is branching out. This machine has a hand-held heart monitor, computer generated workout programs and compares in quality with some Stairmaster models, the popular manufacturer of club-quality stair steppers. Not surprisingly, the site also recommends a relatively low-priced Stairmaster model, the FreeClimber 4100 at about $1,500 as of February 2011. It has a padded handlebar, a heart-rate monitor and a pulse rate sensor.
Club Level
For over $2,000, you should expect a plush, well-constructed stair stepper that will provide you with great workouts for years. The Stairmaster FreeClimber 4200 PT at about $2,500 is highly recommended. Galt Buying Guide says it offers "commercial features at consumer rates." The NordicTrack FreeMotion s.5.6, at about the same price, is a hybrid machine that combines the stepping action of a step climber with the stride of an elliptical trainer. If money is no object, or you are a professional athlete, you may want to spring for a commercial-grade machine. The Stairmaster 7000 PT and the ProSTEP 6000 Climber come highly recommended and each will set you back about $4,000.
Considerations
Stair steppers are classified as dependent or independent. Dependent machines move both steps at once. When you step down on one side, the other side rises. Independent stair steppers move just one step at a time. This is a matter of personal preference, although most people find independent stair steppers give them a more natural sense of stair climbing.
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