This is a sturdy and well-made little machine. I like everything about it. I was frustrated and confused when it first arrived because Amazon sent me a unit that had been unboxed by someone else. The pulley had come loose, the adjustment knob was lost in the box, and there was no washer. I couldn't figure out how to put the thing together. Then I called the customer service number on the manual and was amazed at the quality of the customer service. A rep answered the phone immediately. He spoke perfect English and was courteous and helpful. He explained I could use the machine without the washer and arranged to send a replacement part right away. I'm astonished that a company exists that produces a solid, sturdy, functional, affordable little machine like this one and with good customer service to boot. I feel like I've been sent in a time machine back to the 1960s! Anyway, I go to the gym regularly for yoga and aerobic dance, but wanted to have something to add short cardio sessions at home as well. This is little machine is perfect for me. I'm only 5'2", but the machine is not too big for me at all. The steps are the right width, the tension of the steps is adjustable, and the bands can be shortened for shorter people. The display that shows steps, time, and calories is clear and easy to read. I was able to use this machine for 15 minutes and get some serious thinking done while I stepped. I have no idea if it will get my heart up right as I intensify the workouts, but it will definitely strengthen my legs. I can't complain. Everything about it very simple, very functional. I'm happy with this little machine. Read more
This small machine functions just like the fancy stair stepper machine in the gym. It’s compact but gives an amazing workout. Easy to use and put together. Read more
I like mini steppers and this is my second one that I've purchased. The first one was a golds gym one that only lasted a few months. So far, this one came on time, was packaged well and intact. Didn't take much assembly and is nice and simple. It feels durable and high quality. The bands which are attached are not the best quality and do not have much tension but just enough to supplement your stepper workouts by adding a upper body component to it and thus making it a full body workout. You can work up quite a sweat in only 10-15 minutes of use if you're really pumping. Great buy for anyone looking to find convenient and space conserving workout equipment for home. I use it on days that I can't or don't feel like heading to the gym and it does the trick. You won't get the same range of motion that you get from a full stair stepper but it's the next best thing. Its cheap, convenient and it works. At this price, you can't go wrong. Read more
I would say the best way to evaluate this would be to say that it is much better than you would think that it would be. You actually can get decent exercise by jumping on it and spending 20 minutes or so doing your stepping . One nice thing is that the resistance can be set to a reasonably strong level. I think a young fit person might want a little bit more resistance, but for me in my 70s, but with fairly strong legs, it works well. I have not used any of the controls in the sense of the timer or other controls on the instrument panel so I can’t offer any advice in that regard . The resistance dial is easy to set. Also, the whole unit is very small so it can slide under a small table or something like this to get itself out of the way. One might want the steps to be just a tiny bit larger, but they’re just fine and if you’re looking to find an inexpensive way to get in some moderate exercise, this is a good investment. It’s reasonably easy to balance on the steps, but an older person with balance issues might want to have chairs nearby or something like this in case they were worried about losing their balance. I don’t use the resistance armbands, but they are OK and do add something to the workout. Read more
A few years ago I started working from home, and while that's awesome, it also caused me to spend a ridiculous amount of time sitting at my desk, as there's no reason to get up to go to the copier, or consult with a co-worker, etc. I can't always go for a 15 or 20 minute walk several times a day, so I wanted something I could do indoors, and something I could do frequently throughout the day during quick work breaks, to counteract all that sitting. Anything I could think of to do on my own (with no equipment) didn't seem like enough. But I have a tiny apartment and really didn't have room for much in the way of equipment. I knew if it was something that could be folded up to fit in a closet or under the bed, well, it'd probably stay there. I needed something that could sit right in the middle of the living room in plain sight, without being 'in my way.' This was it, and it's perfect. I get up from my desk every hour to hour and a half or so and do 5 minutes on this stepper. Five minutes isn't a lot to some people, but I'm out of shape so it's a pretty good workout for me (the way I have the tension set), and it gives me moving breaks all day long to break up all that sitting. Of course it could be used for longer sessions, but the point for my purpose wasn't to do a 30 minute cardio workout just on this, but instead to have some way to easily take 5 to 7 breaks during the day and really get my muscles moving and my heart pumping for a few minutes, to counteract all that sitting. This definitely does that. The stepper came almost completely assembled, you just have to tighten a pulley cable with a knob, and the instructions explain it easily. The resistance bands with handles are adjustable for your height and/or how much resistance you want them to have. They are also optional, you can do the stepper with or without them. I actually usually don't use them. I have some discomfort in my right knee, and was worried this would be a problem with the type of movement on this machine. Using the stepper while standing completely upright does cause some pain in my knee (tho I may have the tension a little high, too). Sometimes I wear a knee brace, which does help - but I also discovered another trick I like. I put the stepper in front of a sturdy table and lean forward with my hands on the table, sort of the same position you'd be in if you were riding a bike. When I use it that way I have no knee discomfort, and as a bonus, I can do more steps in the same amount of time, because it's a little bit easier. So overall, I love it, it works great, I've had no problems with it at all. It's very sturdy and feels well built, but it's not too heavy to move around if you need to reposition it. I'd recommend it for anyone, but especially if space is a concern, and even if you're out of shape and can't do much exercise at one time (like a full 30 minute hard core cardio workout) - because with this, you can do just what you can, all throughout the day, and build up. Read more
