We’ve all had the feeling of not being able to catch our breath on a long flight of stairs. Imagine conquering that and being so fit you could climb the Empire State Building with ease?
One of the best ways to achieve this is by incorporating one the best stair stepper machines into your home or garage gym setup.These workout machines can provide a plethora of benefits such as burning calories to working a variety of muscles, from your glutes to your quads.
If you are really ready to feel the burn, then a stair stepper is a great exercise investment.
10 Highly Rated Stair Steppers Examined
Some may wonder what a stair stepper can do and whether it is right for them.
There are a wide variety available, and it might be difficult decide, for instance, if they want one with or without handles. With this guide, exercisers can choose among the best ones out there.
Best Handle-Less Stair Steppers
Handle-less stair stepper machines leave your arms free for other exercises you may want to incorporate into your fitness routine. People with poor balance should get the ones with handles, as these types offer more support.
#1 – Sunny Health & Fitness Twister Stepper
PROS
- Portable, can be transported easily
- Tracks progress with digital display
- Affordable
CONS
- Doesn’t hold up as long as other stair steppers
This stair stepper is compact with a shipping weight of only 21 pounds. Users are able to transport it easily and work their muscles extensively.
It features exercise bands to aid their workout, a resistance nob to give a full workout, footplates to keep feet in place and a digital display to keep track of their workout goals.
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#2 – Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper With Resistance Bands
PROS
- Portable, can be transported anywhere
- Affordable, list price on Amazon
- Offers resistance through knob and bands
CONS
- Has some problems making unwanted noise
Also made by Sunny Health, this stair stepper not only offers resistance through the adjustable knob but also through the exercise bands as well.
These bands help users work out their upper body while the steps help their lower body. Like the Fitness Twister Stepper, it also has an LCD monitor to track vital exercise information such as time, speed and calories burned.
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#3 – Xiser Commercial Mini Stairmaster
PROS
- Portable, can be transported anywhere
- Can hold a great deal of weight
- Promotes calorie-burning even after workout
- Polished Alloy
CONS
- Price tag might be too high for some
This stair stepper might be small, weighing only 14 pounds. However, it has a great deal of resistance, as it can hold weights of 400 pounds and more.
It features a Patented Hydraulic Cylinder System and also has an adjustable resistance. It offers High Intensity Interval Training, (HIIT) which allows users to gain muscle and lose weight in a healthy manner.
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#4 – Stamina InStride Electronic Stepper
PROS
- Portable, can be transported anywhere
- Affordable on Amazon
- Sturdy design
CONS
- Has some issues related to squeaking
This stair stepper offers a battery-operated fitness monitor to give users a total workout time and count their steps as well. Its small weight of 20 pounds means it can be transported easily.
It comes with two hydraulic cylinders which help to promote heart health. It holds up to 250 pounds and requires two AA batteries for operation.
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#5 – FP1 Exercise Stepper Mini Step Swivel Elliptical Trainer
PROS
- Portable, can be transported anywhere
- Affordable price.
- Offers LCD screen for users to track progress
CONS
- Does not offer very good resistance
This mini stair stepper by Loctek is made of steel and holds a total weight capacity of 220 pounds.
It comes with an LCD display for users to track their step count, calories burned, number of reps and overall time. It weighs 15 pounds and requires two AA batteries for operation, which are included.
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Best Stair Steppers With Handles
Just because these stair steppers come with handles doesn’t mean they are any less effective than the ones up top. They simply offer you something to hold onto and balance yourself, which in turn gives you more thrust!
#1 – StairMaster SM3 StepMill – Best Stair Stepper
PROS
- Offers comprehensive, thorough workout information
- Variety of workout options, with programs such as Quick Start, Manual, Steady, Mystery Challenge, Fat Burner and Calorie Burner
- Easy to assemble
CONS
- Nothing that stands out.
This stair stepper features 6-inch stairs which revolve at ranges between 26 and 162 steps per minute. Users can choose a level between 1 and 20, depending on their readiness.The LCD monitor displays users’ time, calories burned, heart rate level, number of floors climbed.
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#2 – Sunny Health & Fitness Twister Stepper
PROS
- Affordable on Amazon
- Adjustable stepping height
- Strong steel design
CONS
- Can be difficult to use for super tall people
This is another stair stepper from Sunny Health, only this time with handles. Its design and 28-pound weight means it can’t be easily transported, but it comes with special twist action design that’s specially designed to treat muscles of buttocks and legs.
It also features an LCD display for tracking calories burned, time and other functions. It requires two AA batteries for operation, which are included.
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#3 – Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper
PROS
- Affordable on Amazon
- Folds for easy storage
- Less than ten minutes assembly
CONS
- May squeak at times
This stair stepper from Stamina can be folded for storage when not in use. Its monitor displays number of steps user walks per minute as well as overall number of calories burned and workout time.
It also comes with two resistance hydraulic cylinders which are adjustable and can hold of weight capacity of up to 250 pounds. The item’s weight is 41 pounds.
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#4 – Clevr Twister Stair Stepper Machine
PROS
- Affordable
- Utilizes twist action for great workout
- Strong steel design
CONS
- Assembly is a bit difficult
This stair stepper comes with exercise bands which are adjustable. It comes with an LCD monitor to track workout progress such as the overall number of reps and calories burned.
It weighs 26 pounds, can hold up to 250 pounds of weight and requires one AAA battery for operation, which is included.
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#5 – Best Choice Products Twister Stepper Stair Climber
PROS
- Affordable, list price on Amazon
- Designed to help users maintain balance
- Easy assembly
CONS
- Can be difficult to use for taller people
This stair stepper offers twisting motion that targets lower body muscles. Its handlebar combines with a patterned footplate which allows the user to keep their balance while using it.
The LCD screen helps users track their number of steps climbed, calories burned and overall time. It weights 31.3 pounds and holds a maximum weight capacity of 220 pounds.
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Final Take
We hope we have offered a great sense of a variety of stair steppers.
While it shouldn’t be expected that all your workouts can be accomplished on this one machine, it will definitely give you a great workout and body if you are consistent. We wish you very happy climbing!
About Ada Lane
Fitness fanatic. Loves working out while watching the Game of Thrones. Enjoys a well deserved glass of wine from time to time. Loves helping others put together their fitness goals into words/plans.