Climbing a set of stairs can be tough work (step-count depending, of course), so imagine having that power at home. Sounds like a good workout, right? Well, we found a foldable stair climber that’s compact enough for small spaces, and unlike those smaller (albeit, convenient) mini-steppers, reviewers say this one feels like a fuller workout due to its wide range of motion. One user even says it’s “better than a gym membership” and “an ideal way to get your aerobic conditioning.” It’s a low-impact workout, too, which made it comfortable for reviewers with knee arthritis, weak hips and back pain.
The foldable size makes it easy to pack away and pull out on rainy days, plus its built-in handlebars provide some steady balance to prevent falls. But perhaps best of all, right now, you can take $20 off its typical price by clipping the on-page coupon and nab it at a sweet discount. That’s way less than an annual gym membership, and according to reviews, it’ll help shape that butt in no time.
Take note: This isn’t a stair stepper but a stair climber, meaning it has a fuller range of motion, giving the feeling of climbing a regular staircase instead of taking inclined steps forward. That translates into a better workout by giving your legs, hips, core, glutes and calves more to do.
The climber has a 21.5-inch stride length, which means supports you can take long strides for maximum activation and shorter strides for low-impact, less demanding knee-friendly workouts. You can also adjust the handlebars to one of four settings, so it doesn’t matter how tall you are, you’re bound to find a comfy height.
An LCD screen shows all the metrics you need, including calories, steps, strokes per minute and your current workout duration, but you can also link it with SunnyFit’s free Bluetooth app for guided workouts, virtual routines and tracking fitness data. And for those of you who enjoy streaming Netflix when they work out: it also has a smartphone dock.
“My gym membership expired in early November of 2012, and being a basic cheapskate, I went online and found this nifty stairstepper, which paid for itself in six weeks, thanks to my newfound freedom from the shared virus and bacteria pool some call a gym. I used to have a Tectrix ClimbMax stairstepper, for which I paid around $3,200 way back in 1999, and it was terrific. This device is about half as nice, but for 1/25th the price. […]
I highly recommend this stairstepper as a suitable substitute for much more expensive models from Tectrix, StairMaster, etc., or as an ideal way to get your aerobic conditioning if that’s all you use a gym membership for. I simply could no longer justify driving seven miles round trip to the gym (given that the current government allowance for wear and tear on a car for each mile driven is $0.565, it’s fair to say those “mere 7 miles each day” cost me $3.95 each trip). Back when I was a gym victim, I went an average of 3 1/2 times a week, so I recouped my $120 acquisition cost in transportation costs alone within 9 weeks. Add to this savings the fact that I’m no longer paying a dollar a day for the membership, and I recouped my expense in even less time.” — Jean P R (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)“[…] the sound coming out from it is mild and negligible. i have it about 4 months now and use it almost everyday at the end of the day for about 1 hour. i can watch tv and not have to blast the volume. for floor noise and stability, i didnt want to buy an exercise mat – i have wooden floors and just used my cheap yoga mat that i folded into two then placed the machine on top of it. no wobble on the machine when used – just take time to tighten the screws and make sure everything is aligned well during assembly. it took me about 30 minutes to put it together on my own while watching tv so it’s not bad […] when it comes to resistance i believe it goes from 1-12. i started with 1-2 the first week to develop a routine. then by now i am up to #5. i work with 2 speeds . one is slow speed with heavier resistance #5 and one with faster speed to stepping with resistance 3-4. basically , there is a lot you can do with this just by simply changing you position.” — mcpt777 (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)
“I am *incredibly* impressed with this machine because it is so versatile. It is capable of delivering steady state cardio as well as high intensity. It is capable of providing a wide range of motion, depending on how you use it. Believe it or not, you can truly use this for a FULL BODY workout, NOT just your legs and glues. I’ll explain below… […]
Suggestions for a full body workout:
-You can stand up straight on it, reach your arms into the air, and work your upper body and improve your balance. You could even add free weights. This is GREAT for improving your posture and core stability.
-If you bend over and lean on the rails, you give your upper body a break, and instead really work your hamstrings, glutes and the posterior legs (as well as stretching the entire posterior chain). Stepping flat versus stepping on your tip toes also alters which calf muscles you’re using.
-If you stand up and lean back while holding the rails, and hunch over slightly, you can engage your abs. A nice bonus is that this stretches out your low back and gives it a little break.
-Placing your foot all the way at the back of the pedal will cause the pedal to depress more quickly, resulting in a faster pace and greater intensity. When you need to let up in intensity, simply move your foot all the way to the front as far as possible. […]” — Eva (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)“I have severe arthritis in both knees and thus exercise is frustratingly difficult and challenging. I used to daily walks for an hour + but now I have around 80 ish degrees of flexion in both knees and I needed a solution to help my knees both pre and post surgery. I saw that the peddle height was adjustable and it’s low impact enough and has a relatively low range of motion I can handle. It was very easy to put together, I’d say with clean up about 20 minutes and takes up only a little space. You can fold it in half, but honestly its small enough I’m just going to leave out in my office. It does come with a basic computer, but for me that’s something I don’t really need. I just need to get exercise and move my knees in the capacity I can. Overall I would recommend this product especially if you have limited range of motion in your knees due to arthritis.” — Sterling
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)