Mini Stair Stepper or Treadmill
Today’s mini stair stepper is a great workout alternatives… For less than a hundred dollars, you can have a cardio machine that folds for storage and sets up anywhere in seconds, but steppers are not for everyone. There may be times when you would want to consider a treadmill instead.
Mini Steppers
Mini Steppers are among the most-often chosen pieces of equipment for working out at home. They provide an excellent cardio exercise while at the same time toning the buttocks, thighs and calves. The calorie burn is about the same as you’d get walking up a long stairway, but with the convenience of exercising in the safety and comfort of your own home.
Mini Steppers are light-weight, compact and portable and can be used nearly anywhere. Their low cost and minimal space requirements make them ideal for the budget-minded apartment dweller. While they require moderate level of balance and coordination, they can give you a serious workout, regardless of your exercise level, no matter whether you’re a beginner or a serious competitor. Because they are relatively inexpensive and provide great value, they often sell out quickly.
Mini Stair Steppers came into vogue following the success of treadmills and exercise bikes in the early 1980s. Like most exercise equipment, they’ve been greatly improved over the years. Digital displays on new models, for example, let you track your vitals at a glance and monitor your progress. But the real value of mini steppers remains the positive effect ofcardiovascular and muscle tone fitness. Mini steppers give you exercise that is less jarring than treadmills but more effective than elliptical trainers. Mini steppers offer the extra value of portability with a small space requirement.
Mini steppers, because they require a certain amount of balance and coordination, should be selected carefully. If you’re somewhat challenged in this area you’d be better off choosing a model with upright vertical handles to help with balance, like those in our recommended models. Also, Click this link to check out our safety tips. Mini stair steppers are not always suitable for everyone. Because of physical impairments due to age, weight or infirmities, many people would be better served by a treadmill or full-size stair Climber. Of the two, treadmills tend to be less expensive. If you’re greatly challenged by balance issues you might do well to avoid mini stair steppers altogether and, instead, choose a full-size step exerciser or an incline treadmill. Click this link for a selection of full-size stair steppers and incline treadmills.
One final consideration: Mini stair steppers generally have a maximum weight capacity of 220-250 pounds. If your starting point for weight loss is higher than 250 pounds, you may want to reconsider using a mini stair stepper. The issue isn’t whether the steel construction will support extra weight, but rather, whether the hydraulic pistons can provide the proper resistance without failing, and whether the certain parts that are made of plastic or nylon can retain their shape and integrity. If your starting point is more than 250 pounds you might want to consider a treadmill with the appropriate weight capacity. True, they cost more, but why not get a piece of equipment that will last until you meet your goals.
Treadmills
Mini stair steppers are not always suitable for everyone. Regardless, walking is still considered one of the most beneficial cardiovascular exercises for people of all ages, body types, and fitness levels. As a fundamental form of aerobic training, walking has numerous physical benefits for the heart, lungs, and circulatory system, while also increasing muscle tone and burning fat calories. While they are a more expensive that mini stair steppers, treadmills give you a convenient way to exercise regularly in all weather conditions in the comfort and safety of your own home.
If you’re a beginner just starting an exercise regimen or an advanced athlete wanting to maintain your fitness level, you can get and stay in shape through regular use of a treadmill. Treadmills let you decide on the pace, distance, and complexity of the workout depending on your needs, all while watching television, talking on the telephone, or reading a magazine. Treadmills are much easier on sensitive joints like the knees and hips, and their walking and running surfaces are typically long, padded platforms that give you plenty of room for a long stride and comfortable, low-impact walk.
Treadmills have more flexibility in terms of the intensity of exercise they can provide. Professional or institutional models are adjustable and can support running speeds as high as 12 mph. They can provide inclines as high as 12 degrees and generally are programmable so that the speed and incline can be varied throughout the workout to give you that real cross country feel.
Many treadmills have unique features like a fold-up design for easy storage, an electronic display monitor showing speed, distance, workout time, incline level, and burned calories, and EKG grip pulses to monitor the heart rate while exercising. Regardless of the features, treadmills give you plenty of choices in aerobic exercises for long-lasting cardiovascular benefits without a long commute to the gym or a jog in the rain.
In treadmills designed for home use, maximum weight capacities run from 250 to 350 pounds depending on the brand and model. For starting weights higher than that, it’s probably best to consider a professional or institutional system such as those that might be used in a public gym or fitness center.