When the outside temperature is brutal, getting your steps in can be tough. On days when you can’t bear to leave the AC, this on-sale mini rocking step machine could help maintain your fitness goals from the comfort of your couch. Whether you use it sitting down to keep your legs moving or to fortify your balance standing up, reviewers say it’s building strength and making exercise more fun. And right now, it’s shockingly only $40 with the promo code FR5UPI6X at checkout. The code adds a $20 credit to your cart, knocking this down to the lowest price of the year!
Rather than a traditional, vertical staircase stepper, this lateral machine moves side to side, with a rocking motion through your legs, to build balance.
While walking pads and stair steppers have boomed in popularity, this balance stepper helps you achieve cardio and movement from home, but with an emphasis on building balance. The side-to-side motion targets your hips, thighs, glutes and core, helping you improve balance by maintaining your motor coordination, core strength and even weight distribution through your body.
Made with lightweight but durable steel, in all black or in white and pink, this compact stepper can easily stow out of sight, whether in a closet or under a desk, and at 12 pounds, you can take it just about anywhere. It holds up to 330 pounds and features an LCD screen that shows workout time, steps moved and calories burned.
The stepper can be used while sitting down or standing, and comes with two resistance bands for extra stability when you use the machine standing up and balancing. Shopper Lily says the machine “works great for a simple cardio that can get your heart rate up or mellow workout,” that “works the legs well.”
Because your feet stay parallel to the ground as you move, the brand says the device puts less pressure on joints, making it a low-impact exercise.
Per the American Sport And Fitness Association, “low-impact exercise” means movements that don’t have forceful landings or cause “shock absorption” in your joints — like running and jumping do. Generally, these movements include having one foot on the ground at all times, making them a great option for older folks and people with mobility limitations, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Reviewer H. W. Craig calls it a “challenging” device, that’s still “pretty gentle on my joints. Not quite as easy as an elliptical, but way better than a treadmill.”
“Well, WOW! You get a workout standing or sitting while using this device,” a reviewer in their 60s wrote. “…I used it for a little while standing on it and rocking, then sat in a chair and used it some more. I could feel the work out this morning when I woke up!”
Shopper ML adds that the rocker is “much easier on the knees than other steppers I’ve used. It’s sturdy and well balanced. It does move a little when using it, but attaching and holding onto the resistance bands helps it stay in place.”
Shopper Darcy, a 67-year-old who has had “a desk job for decades,” calls the machine a “life changer” for strength building at home.
“Not much of an exercise person. My ankles are weak. Starting to have my ankles roll sometimes,” they wrote. “This amazing little rocker already has me sore (lol). All the way from my toes to my waist. And when im brave enough, I’ll add the bungee cords for my upper body.”
Others compliment how fun the machine is to use, making exercise more enjoyable.
“It’s easy to use and encourages me to exercise every day,” another wrote, calling the pink and white machine “cute and fun.” They continue: “I know it’s not the most ‘intense’ workout but I’m just looking for a way to make myself move a bit more than usual.”
“A bit early to say, but this is the coolest thing ever,” one reviewer said, calling it “the only unique” stepper currently on the market. “I got this as a present and it’s SOOO fun that I can barely stop wanting to get on it.”
Reviewers love this rocking step machine for helping them move and build balance from the comfort of their homes. Read more 5-star reviews and grab one for you on sale.
“I’ve been using this for about ten days now, about 15 minutes once or twice a day. Supplementing clam-shell exercises to built glute strength with the Merach Rocking Stepper is making a huge improvement in my recent hip, leg, and foot misalignments and pain. I’m nearly asymptomatic since my exercises and the Rocking Stepper. And I learned recently from my physical therapist that weak glutes are a big reason why the elderly tend to lose balance and fall. Rocking Steppers are a great tool to build glutes and practice balance as one ages. […]” — M. Mac (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)
“I absolutely love this stepper! It’s sturdy, smooth, and gives a great workout without taking up much space. The rocking motion feels comfortable, and the resistance bands are a fantastic bonus for adding upper-body exercise. It was easy to set up, feels well made, and makes working out at home so much more convenient and enjoyable. This is one of the best fitness purchases I’ve made, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an effective home workout machine.” — ERIN SOYKA
“I found my balance on it on a first try and I use it often for 30 min using the resistance band or actual dumbbells. It’s a great addition to my home corner when I don’t feel like going to the gym. It makes me sweat after 5 min. Good quality.” — Betsy
“Amazing..I’ve started using this stepper a few days ago. Started out slow, working my way up. I’m 67 yrs old. Have had a desk job for decades. Not much of an exercise person. My ankles are weak. Starting to have my ankles roll sometimes. This amazing little rocker already has me sore (lol). All the way from my toes to my waist. And when im brave enough, I’ll add the bungee cords for my upper body. Best of all..small footprint 👣 cant say enough about this life changer.” — Darcy
“Well, WOW! You get a work out standing or sitting while using this device. I’m a new user and started on it last night. I used it for a little while standing on it and rocking then sat in a chair and used it some more. I could feel the work out this morning when I woke up! I’m a 61 year-old female with weight to lose and I need to work on my balance. I stand in a doorway to use at this point, but I expect my balance to improve! There is no rug/mat and it “walks” away when I sit in chair to use. I’ll be getting a mat of some sort to fix that.” — Laura L.
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