You know that you need to work out, but finding the time to get to the gym is difficult between everything else you need to do. This is where the convenience of having the Best Step Machines or StairMasters at home would be obviously beneficial. The luxury of being able to work out in the privacy of your own home whenever you want is clear. But what is not as obvious would be the best choice for a step machine in 2020. Here, I will review some of the best machines and help you find the best stepper exercise machine for your budget and needs.
Our editors independently test, research, and recommend the best products. You can learn more about our review process here.
- Best Premium: Jacob's Ladder - Total Body Exerciser
- Best Budget: Sunny Health Fitness Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands
- Best Medium Price Range: Bowflex Max Trainer M8
- Best Value: Proform Cardio HIIT Trainer
- Best Compact: Kettler Montana Stair Stepper
- Best Foldable: Maxi Climber Vertical
1. Bowflex Max Trainer M8
This step climber exercise machine is great for beginners up to advanced fitness levels. Combining the movements of an elliptical and a stair stepper, the M8 is the pinnacle of great low impact exercise equipment. It comes with 20 levels of resistance, meaning that you can use it for years as you continue to improve.
This stepper machine is integrated with the Max Intelligence App, adding another layer of challenge in a fun and motivating way. The app measures your performance and suggests the next levels of difficulty to help you make progress. However, the app is not free with a purchase of the M8 and must be paid for with a subscription. You still get 17 free workout videos for basic guidance.
Using the LED/LCD screen show calories burned during workout activity. Track your pulse with the integrated contact grips. Use multi-grip handles for your most comfortable full-body workout. Use one of the four workout profiles for individual workouts for the rest of the family. Use the media rack for smartphones and tablets to keep you entertained during workouts.
Check out my full review of the M7.
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2. ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer
The ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer provides a smooth cardio workout combining the smooth motion of an elliptical with the vertical motion of a stepper machine. After completing a workout on this machine, more calories burned than with other exercise machines. When you purchase this trainer, you also get a free 30-day iFit trial giving you access to interactive training sessions. Other services include global workouts, on-demand studios, and connected fitness tracking.
This stepper machine comes with 24 levels of trainer controlled resistance. With an inertia-enhanced flywheel, the SMR Silent Resistance works for a smooth resistance. The large pedals are cushioned for comfort, while the heavy duty steel construction keeps your workout stable. Grip the multi-function handlebars for total-body HIIT exercise.
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3. Kettler Home Exercise/Fitness Equipment: Montana Stair Stepper
This Montana Stair Stepper is an excellent choice for improving cardiovascular and muscular health. With included workout fitness grades from 1 to 6, you have a way to progress as you improve. The textured anti-slip footplates ensure safety while the hydraulic cylinders provide easy-to-adjust resistance settings.
This model comes with ergonomically shaped handlebars to support you and keep you safe during exercise.
With an LCD monitor, you can keep an eye on important data such as steps per workout unit, steps rate, room temperature, pulse rate, and energy consumption. These heavy duty stepper machines also includes an infrared earlobe clip heart sensor. The built-in floor levelers can keep your machine level even if your floor is uneven. And with a weight capacity of 250 lbs, this model should be suitable for most users.
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4. Sunny Health Fitness Twist Stepper
Among the lower priced choices among stepper machines is the Fitness Twister Stepper model. This unit gets around the issues faced by steppers that do not have handlebars by providing resistance bands that allow you to work your arms. Though it may look like many of the other budget stepper models, this stepper provides a twist motion to tone your thighs and buttocks.
As a more portable stepper, these straps can be removed if you do not want to use them.This twist and step machine also has a low profile, so you can store it under a bed or an end table. It's quiet enough to be used without disturbing others in the same room, but the LCD is not easy to read while in use.
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5. The Sunny Health Fitness Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands
As one of the best selling items in its category, this sunny health fitness mini stepper provides all of the basic features you might need for a comparably low cost. To provide a smooth pedaling motion, this stepper comes equipped with a hydraulic drive system. You can adjust the height in step motion for either long steps or short bursts. The wide non-slip pedals are also textured so you can keep a solid footing. Attach the removable training bands to help tone your back and shoulders, while tightening over 20 different core muscles.
6. Wagan EL2273 Mini Stepper Master
The Wagan EL2273 Mini Stepper provides most of the things that a more expensive machine might have, but without the frills. This machine takes up very little floor space. Assembly is simple, and the device is light enough to move around the house with ease. With this efficiency does come a few drawbacks. Engage in a stepping motion and get your daily cardio.
This stair stepper does not fold down for easy storage in your home gym. Nor does it allow for an upper body workout, since the handles do not adjust for height. This piece of equipment can feel stiff and requires greasing to prevent squeaks. For more examples of mini steppers like these, check out my full round up review.
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7. Sunny Health and Fitness Stair Stepper
What's surprising about this Fitness Stair Stepper is that even with its low price it is durable and stable. It's difficult to tip over and does not seem to have the issues one would expect when buying something in its price range. You can fit it into any corner of you home for quick, convenient use. This is the best stepper machine available on the market for using hydraulic cylinder resistance. Different than other Stepper Sunny Health models, this machine provides handles to hold on to.
The easy-to-read LCD monitor tracks, time, calories, scan, and time. The dual hydraulic piston cylinders have twelve different tension settings that are distinct and easy to set up. You can just climb onto it and engage in a stepping motion. One problem with this unit is that the hydraulic pistons can leak.
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8. Gazelle Freestyle Step Machine
Well known as a mainstay of late-night infomercials, the Gazelle Freestyle offers a full body workout like a climber with the low impact of a stair stepper.This elliptical trainer allows for a full range of motion and lets you change your pace seamlessly. The LCD offers the standard features as well as providing a pulse monitor. This machine requires a lot of space and does not allow for resistance adjustments. It's a great addition to any home gym. For more details on the more basic version of this product, the Gazelle edge, click here.
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Burning 500 calories an hour, the Maxi Climber Vertical offers a complete workout without stressing your lower body. Almost entirely assembled on delivery, this unit can be quickly and easily set up and taken apart as needed. It is lightweight in construction, so it can be prone to breaking when used by heavier exercisers. It tends to rock a bit when used at higher intensities and doesn't provide much resistance for your arms. Click here for my full review of the Maxi Climber Vertical Climber.
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Examples of Great Commercial Stair Stepper Machines
10. StairMaster SM3 StepMill
The StairMaster SM3 brings the toughness of a commercial stepper machine like that you might find in the gym. This stair climber machine provides a high-intensity workout for people with space limitations. With a revolving set of six-inch stairs, you can strengthen your legs and boost your cardio at a rate of 26 to 126 steps per minute.
The console tracks no small number of details, including watts, calories, heart rate, segment time, and floors climbed. There is even a profile feature so you can track your personal progress over time. There are also a variety of workout options, such as Calorie Burner, Fat Burner, Heart Rate Zone Trainer, and Heart Rate Intervals, you can get some of the most efficient cardio and strength workouts.
Additional features include an automatic safety stop sensor at the base of the steps, ergonomically designed handrails with mounted pulse grips to track your heart rate, and a 275-pound weight capacity.
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11. StairMaster 7000 PT Stepmill
With a patented revolving staircase, this high-quality machine offers an incredible lower-body, cardio workout. Some of the goodies included are a backlit LCD display, a reading rack, an accessory tray, and a water bottle holder. Completely serviced and reconditioned, this machine simulates walking or running up a flight of stairs very well.
One you start running on this stair climber, you'll feel you're on the stairs of local auditorium. While The 8" stairs provide a realistic stair-climbing experience, the display console is equipped with over 20 resistance levels and 6 programs. They include manual, fat-burner, quick start, speed intervals, and heart rate zone trainer. You'll always have instruction to ensure you'll make progress during home use.
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12. StairMaster SM5 StepMill with 2 Window LCD Console
Similar to the other Stair Climber in this list, this commercial machine has 8-inch climbing stairs. This one of the best stair climber machines you can buy. Coming with an electronically controlled alternator, the chain drive modifies the pedal descent, allowing you to customize your workout to your liking.
With a quiet step design, your joints won't be so negatively impacted. The oval handrails provide ergonomic support while the revolving staircase simulates the climbing experience effectively. Ranging from 26 to 162 steps a minute, you can complete 10 total workout programs with this device. You can monitor your progress, and heart rate with an easy-to-ride 2 window backlit LCD display. One thing to keep in mind is that his machine requires a 10-foot high ceiling.
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13. Jacob's Ladder - Total Body Exerciser
You might recognize this one as the machine being used by the character Axelrod in the hit show Billions. This machine is intense. It provides a full body workout using both your arms and legs for a superior cardio workout. It’s low impact, so it should relieve any unnecessary stress on your hips or lower back. It is commercial grade quality, but still suitable for the home. And it’s a highly sought-after fitness machine in most gyms.
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The benefits of a stepper machines are multi-faceted. First of all, stair steppers provide a low-impact workout which is easier on the body than many other aerobic exercises which jar and shock the joints. They make it easier for you to achieve your fitness goals. While there are risks of strain to the knees, this is an issue with any leg exercises, and a doctor should be consulted before beginning any regimen.
A stair stepper, like an elliptical trainer, also targets many of the muscle groups of the lower body, including the buttocks, legs, calves and thighs. This can improve muscle toning and does not overwork the body like weight machines potentially could. Also, because stair exercises are aerobic exercises, they are great for cardiovascular health, even at lower intensities. For the purpose of this discussion, I'll consider two types of steppers:
Regular Steppers
A stair stepper is fairly simple and usually easy to store in your home gym. They tend to be comprised of two pads for the feet with either hydraulics or rubber bands to add resistance. Depending on the model, there are usually handles to help you keep your balance while using the stepper and resistance bands to provide an upper body workout. Steppers add a twisting motion to the range of motion, allowing you to strengthen your core muscle groups in the lower back.
Climbers
Climbers are another excellent addition to any home gyms. They attempt to emulate rock climbing through an apparatus that combines arm and leg movements to help you reach your fitness goals. These models are usually a few feet tall and have places for your feet to connect to a long bar with handles for your hands. While at first, this might not seem like a very challenging workout, but many novices are only able to handle a couple of minutes before their bodies can adjust.
While available for sale, there are motorized steppers that you would find in gyms and health clubs, but the cost and size of these units make them a little too steep for most consumers.
Conclusion
Whether looking a stepper or a climber for home gyms, there are many options available at budget-friendly prices to help you burn calories and reach your fitness goals. Most of these options are low impact and perfect for anyone worried about injuring their joints and ligaments.