If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best stepping machine for home use is, then we recommend the Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer as the best one.
Stepping machines can provide decent workouts, but there are so many different types, and prices can range from less than $50 to over $2,000!
With that in mind, it’s best to have an idea of exactly what you’re looking for before you go shopping for the best stepping machine to suit your needs.
Here are the top stepping machine we’ll be reviewing:
- BalanceFrom Adjustable Stepper
- HCI Fitness Physio Step HXT
- Stamina 55-1602 Inmotion Elliptical
- Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper
- Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer
The Benefits of Stepping Machines
Stepping machines can provide you with a great lower-body workout, and the best stepping machine is one that can also provide an upper-body workout as well.
Whether you’re looking to burn calories, tone your body or something else, stepping machines can help you achieve your goals.
Here are the most common health/fitness benefits of using stepping machines. They:
- Help shape and tone your muscles, particularly in the lower body.
- Burn calories.
- Provide you with a better cardiovascular workout than either an elliptical or a treadmill.
- Can improve your stamina/endurance.
- Put less pressure on your joints than running real stairs.
- Assist in your weight loss goals.
- Can improve your overall balance and stability.
There are also other, non-fitness-related benefits of stepping machines.
First of all, while 50 bucks may not buy you the best stepping machine on the market, it should be able to get you a really decent machine, especially if you’re looking for a mini stepper.
Even when you start looking at top-of-the-line machines, they’re still pretty affordable.
There are some higher priced options, of course, but you can easily find a great machine at a price that fits your budget.
Additionally, you can also find some really small stepping machines, which is excellent news if available space is a consideration in your home.
Some of the best stepping machines are little more than a set of foot pedals attached to some resistance bands.
They can fit practically anywhere, and storage isn’t an issue.
Various Types of Stepping Machines
There are a few different types of stepping machines, but there are four main ones:
- Stair Steppers
- Stair Climbers
- Mini Steppers
- Semi-Elliptical/Elliptical Machines
The cheapest stepping machines are usually the mini steppers, followed by the stair steppers. These are usually, but not always, small, lightweight and portable.
Sometimes, they can be used either sitting or standing, but traditionally, they’re made to be used while standing.
Stair climbers are usually a little larger and provide a more rigorous workout. They vary in size, and they often come with movable handlebars.
The largest, and usually most expensive, type of stepping machines are the semi-elliptical or elliptical cross trainers.
These provide the most low-impact workouts and can be used for upper-, lower- and total-body workouts.
They’re generally used while sitting, but there are a few options that allow you to stand while using them.
The Potential Disadvantages to Stepping Machines
Overall, stepping machines are fairly safe ways of providing good cardio workouts. There aren’t a ton of disadvantages to using them, but there are a few.
If you’re using a standing-only machine, you have to be careful to balance correctly, especially if you’re using a machine with no handles or resistance bands.
If you have severe balance/mobility issues or issues with dizziness, you might not do well on a stepping machine.
Some machines also don’t offer anything other than a lower-body workout, which leaves half your body untouched.
For this same reason, they’re not great for training for certain sports either. This isn’t true of all stepping machines, though.
You just have to pick the right one if you need a full-body workout.
Finally, while some machines are low-impact, others aren’t, so if you need something that’s low impact, you might consider a semi-elliptical step machine or different equipment altogether.
Things To Consider When Buying
Without going into too much detail, here are the things you should consider before buying the best stepping machine to suit your needs.
- Whether you need a standing or sitting machine.
- How much space you have available.
- The machine’s overall performance.
- Your own personal fitness level/health issues.
- How it’s powered.
- What additional features you’d like.
- The overall price/value of the machine and its warranty.
The 5 Best Stepping Machines
BalanceFrom Adjustable Stepper
My sister, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her fiance, found the BalanceFrom Adjustable Stepper to be the best stepping machine for her needs.
It’s very small and requires almost no room to use, and since she and her fiance are both poor college kids, the price also fit nicely into her budget.
Despite its size and relatively low price, the machine’s built well.
The footplates are sturdy and slip-resistant, and the adjustable height function is great because it helps her add some variety to her exercise routines.
It also allows the machine to grow with her as her fitness level improves.
The removable training bands worked well for toning certain areas of the body, but the resistance bands were too easy to pull from day one.
Pros:
- Small and affordable.
- Very durable and safe; made with super-strong steel and anti-slip footplates.
- Adjustable height allows for a variety of exercises.
- Includes an LCD monitor for tracking performance.
- Very quiet.
Cons:
- Resistance bands aren’t strong enough.
- Not optimal for people who have trouble balancing.
- Not sure it would accommodate the advertised 300-pound weight limit; at 225, my sister’s fiance maxes it out.
HCI Fitness Physio Step HXT
The HCI Fitness Physio Step HXT is a pricey machine probably isn’t the best stepping machine for the budget-conscious shopper, but the price is high because it’s more than a simple stepping machine.
It’s a semi-elliptical cross trainer that can provide you with a full-body workout. It’s a great option for people with balance or mobility issues because it allows them to sit instead of stand.
It’s also much more low-impact than a standing stepping machine. It can accommodate users up to 330 pounds, and it’s a good option for anyone, no matter his beginning fitness level.
Pros:
- Provides a seated, low-impact, full-body workout for people with balance, joint or mobility issues.
- 330-pound user limit.
- Features 16 levels of magnetic resistance for a zero-friction, quiet and adjustable workout.
- Includes stationary handlebars and movable handlebars.
- Includes a large, easy-to-read screen that tracks performance.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Large; takes up lots of space; not easily transported.
- Circular pedaling motion as opposed to a linear stepping one, which puts more pressure on the knees.
Stamina 55-1602 Inmotion Elliptical
The Stamina 55-1602 Inmotion Elliptical is another good option if you’re looking for something that fits in a small space and is budget-friendly.
It doesn’t come with resistance bands or any type of equipment to help you work your upper body, which limits it to a cardio/lower-body workout machine only, but it can be used either sitting or standing, which is a nice option not only for those with balance issues but also for perfectly healthy people who occasionally fall prey to lazy days.
With this machine, you can sit on your couch and play your favorite video game and still be working your hips and legs.
It’s not as quiet as advertised, but its small size and light weight make it easy to transport. It has adjustable intensity levels, but it has more of a pedaling motion than a stepping motion.
It can be pedaled backwards, though, in order to work different muscle groups.
Pros:
- Small, portable, lightweight and affordable.
- Can be used while sitting or standing.
- Multiple intensity levels that are easily adjusted with a knob.
- While sitting, it can easily be used wearing only socks.
- Works well on a variety of floor types including hardwood; doesn’t scratch or damage floors.
Cons:
- Can only be used for about 35 minutes at a time; after that, it gets hot; the tension increases, and it gets too tight to pedal.
- Squeaky and gets louder the longer you use it.
- No resistance bands or handles to help you balance while standing.
- The read-out screen is oddly placed and hard to read.
Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper
The Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper is another stair stepper/resistance bands combo, and it’s on par with the BalanceFrom machine.
It’s made of durable, high-quality iron, and it comes with removable toning bands for toning specific parts of the body.
The resistance bands on this machine are a little more tough to pull and provide a bit more of a challenge, but even so, they won’t likely last for long once you start developing the muscles in your upper arms.
You’ll need to buy some thicker, stronger bands.
There’s an HD display that allows you to see your stats, and the height is easily adjustable for a variety of resistance levels.
It’s small and lightweight, but the maximum user weight is only 220 pounds.
Pros:
- Small; easy to store and transport; affordable.
- Comes with resistance bands for an upper-body workout as well, although they’ll likely have to be replaced after several uses.
- Very durable and height-adjustable for a variety of workouts.
- Optimal for small spaces.
Cons:
- Low maximum weight limit; can’t be used by heavier users.
- Digital display is hard to see while in use.
- Can’t be used for longer than half an hour without issue.
- Somewhat squeaky while in use.
Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer
The Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer is another higher priced option, but it, too, is a recumbent cross trainer, which can be used for a total-body workout as opposed to just a lower-body workout.
It’s lower impact than the standing steppers, and it’s perfect for those with balance and mobility issues.
In fact, it has a lot of the same great benefits as the HCI Fitness Physio, but the price is much more affordable.
Plus, there are financing options available, and it comes with an excellent warranty.
It has a lot of great additional features such as the soft-step pedals that are cushioned with a rubber overlay for comfortable, non-slip use.
It also has a comfortable, ergonomic seat that makes this pain-free exercise even more painless.
It has stationary handles behind the seat if you want to focus on just your legs, or it has movable handlebars to work both your upper and lower-body.
Pros:
- Provides a seated, no-pain, low-impact workout for the whole body.
- Exceptionally good financing and warranty options.
- Great for the elderly or those with injuries.
- Can provide a full-body workout or allow you to isolate your arms or legs.
- Includes access to app with free training workouts.
Cons:
- Some assembly required.
- Pricey.
- Large.
Our Final Pick
Despite the large size of the Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer, it’s still our number one pick.
Other than the size, the price and the fact that it requires a little bit of assembly upon first arrival, we couldn’t find a lot of downsides with this one.
It’s great for all kinds of people, no matter their ages or fitness levels, and it provides a full-body workout as opposed to simply working the lower body.
It works well, and there are a variety of warranty options.
Plus, it comes with free access to the app and all kinds of free training videos. There’s just way too much packed in this one machine to not put it at the top of the list.
