This is the 'Sunny Stair Stepper' I recently purchased online from Amazon, and it's only around $65 with FREE shipping! (It does have a weight limit of 250 pounds, however, so if you weigh more than 250, you'll probably want to look elsewhere)
I bought this lightweight, minimalist stair-stepper machine a couple of months ago because I desperately wanted a cardio machine that I could do indoors, and one that would be small enough to fit into our small house without taking up too much space. I saw this online, and it had mixed reviews. Some reviews said it was cheap and flimsy and quickly broke. Others gave it 5 stars and reported no problems whatsoever.
I decided to purchase it because it was a fraction of the price of other stair-steppers currently on the market. And I'm so glad I did! This little thing only weighs around 20 pounds so it's easy to move it from room to room, and it's a lot sturdier than I expected. It has surpassed all my expectations.
The instruction booklet that came with the machine says to only use it for about 15 minutes at a time, and I'm not sure why they decided upon this number. Is the machine made to withstand only around 15 minutes of usage at a time? I don't know; but I do know that I use it in 30 minute increments, sometimes twice a day, and it's held up great for me. There are pistons below where you place your feet that get very hot with use, but they seem to cool down fairly fast.
I've had the resistance cranked up almost as high as it will go, and it gives me a fantastic cardio and strength workout. It simulates hiking uphill, so I really feel it in the backs of my legs; in my calves, my hamstrings, and my glutes. After 30 minutes of use, I'm so sweaty and worn out that I immediately have to jump in the shower to freshen up.
I bought this because here in Seattle, even as we come out of winter, it rains A LOT and I just haven't wanted to venture outside and get drenched, so I really wanted something I could use indoors, and this stair-stepper has not disappointed me. It may wear out or break in the next couple of months, I don't know, but for now it's performing great and I'm very pleased with it.
How about you? Do you have any fitness products that have revolutionized your fitness routine?
