Sunny Health & Fitness Foldable Stair Climber with Extended Step Range

The climber arrived in excellent condition with no missing parts. It was almost completely assembled, and what was left was very easy to do myself, with the provided tools. This thing is very sturdy and a reasonable weight. Only about 30 lbs, so a person can easily lift it over their head with one hand, but heavy enough to keep it reasonably stable...mainly due to the weight being distributed mostly in the lower half. The hydraulics work great. The return speed on the cylinders is perfectly fine unless you are trying to run on the machine. If you are trying to run on it, then you need to crank up the resistance. If you are still trying to run with the resistance maxed out (very unlikely), then a couple of simple Velcro straps will be sufficient to strap your feet to the pedals. I regularly do jump rope with 5lbs weights instead of holding a rope, and generally go for about a minute at a time. So, I turned the climber up to 12 (max setting), and went for a minute. This is a much more vigorous workout. MUCH more. I am 6'3" tall and weight about 215lbs. If I were to put my toes all the way forward on the foot pads, my knees would hit the frame. I have not yet been stupid enough to do so, thus I have not had any trouble with my knees hitting the frame. I have used striders, ellipticals, Nordic-tracks, and treadmills. The only thing that can come even close to providing the same level of workout is a long-stride strider (at least a 3 foot stride length). Even then, I still prefer the climber because at level 12, I can use the top bar and brace my body by grabbing the bar and locking my body in place while trying to run......which effectively gives me an HIIT exercise. I greatly prefer HIIT-style exercise as I have very little time to spend exercising, and you gain maximum possible benefit this way. On the flipside, you can easily set the resistance lower and slow down for a relaxed walk, but still get a better workout than walking. Oh, and the thing really is very quiet. I was watching a video on some C# programming while using it earlier. Last thing, storage. It takes all of about 2 seconds (5 if you take your time) to fold the unit up. It is flat enough to fit under some beds, but does not fold down flat like an ironing board does. Regardless, it doesn't take up hardly any space. And, when setup to use, it take up about the same amount of space that a rolling office chair does.

I am *incredibly* impressed with this machine because it is so versatile. It is capable of delivering steady state cardio as well as high intensity. It is capable of providing a wide range of motion, depending on how you use it. Believe it or not, you can truly use this for a FULL BODY workout, NOT just your legs and glues. I'll explain below... Build: It feels solid and stable, it was easy to assemble, and it is very lightweight and doesn't take up much room at all. It is virtually silent when you use it, so I am able to watch my shows very easily without needing to crank up the volume super loud. I use it on carpet with no issues. My apologies, but I cannot review anything about the "computer" which is attached to it, because I do not use it at all. I suspect that it's probably very inaccurate anyway. I already noticed briefly that it was not counting my steps accurately when I took a glance at it. Instead, I have a heart rate monitor, and the only thing I care to monitor is my HR, and here's why: Stepping is pretty intense. It is very easy to spike your heart rate too high and burn out on this machine, so having a HR monitor is an absolute must, *if* you intend to use this for 30 mins or longer, and especially for lower-intensity aerobic workouts where you need to pace yourself. Suggestions for a full body workout: -You can stand up straight on it, reach your arms into the air, and work your upper body and improve your balance. You could even add free weights. This is GREAT for improving your posture and core stability. -If you bend over and lean on the rails, you give your upper body a break, and instead really work your hamstrings, glutes and the posterior legs (as well as stretching the entire posterior chain). Stepping flat versus stepping on your tip toes also alters which calf muscles you're using. -If you stand up and lean back while holding the rails, and hunch over slightly, you can engage your abs. A nice bonus is that this stretches out your low back and gives it a little break. -Placing your foot all the way at the back of the pedal will cause the pedal to depress more quickly, resulting in a faster pace and greater intensity. When you need to let up in intensity, simply move your foot all the way to the front as far as possible. I like to alternate between all of these movements throughout my workout, and as a result I get full-body workout and total range of motion of all of my joints. Seriously, this machine is NOT just for your lower body!! Get creative, play with the resistance and switch up your body movements. For reference, I am a tall 6'1" female 165lb. I personally find the handle bars almost too short for me, but it works. Anyone who is much taller and heavier (and stronger) might find this machine too small and un-challenging, and especially because of this: *RESISTANCE PROBLEM*: The longer you use the stepper, the pneumatic tubes get really hot, and the resistance gradually decreases. What I mean is this: when I start the workout at the chosen resistance of 10, it takes a full second to depress the foot pedal with my full weight, but after about 30 mins, it takes maybe a quarter of a second to depress the pedal. That is a huge, huge decrease in resistance. When this happens, you are then forced to try other ways to increase the intensity, such as just stepping faster. The tubes are too hot to adjust the resistance once you've been going for that long. After using it for about a dozen workouts now, I've found that it does okay for a 30 min workout, but beyond that, it's not ideal because the resistance gets so low. Aside from this glaring resistance problem (which you can work around), this machine is incredible, considering its price. I just hope it lasts. Personal note: This was the absolute perfect addition to my home "gym" ... I already have a rowing machine which I use every day, and this stepper is the EXACT cross-training machine I was seeking! Heck, whenever the gyms re-open from the coronavirus, I might not even need a gym membership anymore! ;) Will update this review upon any premature failures!

I have had this Stair Stepper since May of 2020. Much like everyone, I needed something to exercise with in my home and yet I did not have a lot of money to spend. I would have preferred an elliptical or treadmill but budget and electrical wiring did not cooperate. I am 65, 205lbs and consider myself to be in average to slightly above average fitness level. My workout consists of 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes at a time (actually on the stepper). I have the shocks set at 6 and I do the following 20 min workout each time-10-12 minutes continuously nonstop on stepper, followed by 1 minute on the stepper, 1 minute off the stepper walking briskly until I get to 20 min of actual time on the stepper. Please note here that I “do not” lean on or hold or hang on the stepper-my time is only holding on lightly to the handles to keep my balance. Here is what I think of this product: 1-First of all, it is a lot harder than you would think. 10-12 minutes continuously is very vigorous by the end (20 min) and your legs are screaming at you. 2-The machine’s build quality is ok for what you pay for and get. I so far have had no problems but I did take out the extra protection just in case. I felt something this inexpensive is bound to have a problem. Well so far, I am good to go with zero problems (9 months in). 3-This machine is in no way for any kind of advance fitness level. I suspect that it would break or wear out as the shocks heat up pretty good. 4-This machine seems to be fine for my weight but I would not go up much higher on weight than maybe 215 at most. 5.The exercise is good and cardio is good with emphasis on your legs. 6-I do not think this machine would hold up to long (30-45min) exercise sessions (5-7 times a week) over time. I believe it to be a more of a shorter, more intense type work out for beginners and people looking to get in a little better shape. 7-The machine is sturdy and stable enough. I have had no problems with tipping, or even feeling precarious or such. It seems very solid that way. 8-It is light weight and folds up. It is easy to move around and I even carry it back and forth to work with me. 9-The Electronics are simple and run off battery. They are in no way real useful except for keeping time. In my case, that is all I really need but just know that this is very basic electronics. In summary, this is a great, inexpensive beginning machine for persons on the 215 and below weight group for a light to moderate workout of 15-25 minutes, 3-4 times a week. For the little I spent, I am happy with the purchase and I have benefited greatly from the exercise. I would purchase this again if my circumstances did not allow more advance equipment.

Wow, I am feeling slightly embarrassed to be writing this, but I need to let you know what is going to happen when you use this piece of exercise equipment.... you are going to sweat, feel light headed, have jello for legs and will be quite certain you are having a major heart attack! (lol) Okay, at least that is how my old, out of shape butt felt after just about 30-45 seconds on this contraption. I am not a spring chicken but certainly not quite ready for geezerhood. I got this stepper because I knew that at my age, I was losing muscle mass and I want to try to stay as strong as I can, for as long as I can. The instructions claim you should aim for 10 minutes on level 1 or 2 and slowly build yourself up until you can use the stepper for 10 minutes on level 12. Assembly was a breeze, it comes with everything you need for assembly and the instructions were very clear. I had it together in about 10-15 minutes. I was very excited and feeling most full of myself and put the tension setting on 5, threw on some lightweight work out clothes and here is how it all went down: I got on the stepper and started my stepping action and at about 20 steps thought I was going to die right then and there. So, I got off the machine, turned down the setting to 1, looked around to make certain no one saw me do that and climbed back up for what I knew would be about 5 minutes of stepping joy..... wrong.... I was able to do about 25 steps this time and dropped down onto the couch, red faced, huffing and puffing, and grabbed my phone to put 911 on speed dial. That was day one. Day 2: I was able to do 2 sets of 30 steps and one set of 20 Day 3: completed 2 sets of 50 steps and one set of 30 Day 4: completed 2 sets of 50 steps and one set of 40. Eventually, if I live long enough, I might accomplish the 10 minutes on the first setting, but until then, I vow to get on the machine everyday and do as much as I can. All silliness aside, I really love this stepper. It folds flat with the removal of a pin and slips under the bed. It is easy to use and really gives your quads, calves, and gluts a workout. If you are looking for a well built, easy to use, compact, manual stepper that won't destroy your budget, then I highly recommend this product, along with a med-alert necklace. Update***I turned the tension dial on the shocks up to 10 and while it provides harder tension, it is a much slower pace and I was able to make it 5 minutes. So here is what you need to know: level 1 is the easiest, tension and effort wise, but a much faster pace, 12 is the hardest and toughest, tension and effort wise, but a much slower pace. Look at it this way, 12 is that slow climb and 1 is running up the stairs..... hope that helps.

Pros and cons of the CLIMBER below. I ordered the climber thinking it was the better option for more variety worth step height. Maybe the stepper is better..? -pros: it was easy to assemble, and only took around 30 minutes once I got everything opened. It really is a full body workout. It got here a few days early too, which was a great surprise. It's also pretty light and relatively easy to move around. The cell phone holder works on my phone that flips into a small tablet well, so it should fit most phones. - cons: there is no resistance at all. You have to be aware of your step size because the pedals slam into the bottom of the posts every time you extend fully. I feel like there should be some form of resistance to slow the drop. So the only way to not have metal slamming constantly is stopping and switching your energy into the next step before the full extension of the step. Which in a way is a full body workout. But it also reduces the actual step size to about 3/4 of the full range which eliminated the whole reason i got it. The only thing the cables do is keep the pedals on the rotation (1 up at a time) with ZERO resistance. I work out regularly, switching up my cardio between a bike, a rower, and a treadmill 3-4 times per week, and i was beat after 5 minutes. - in theory it's great that it works out full body but having to control speed, step length, and try not to slam into the bottom of the post left me with only a 5 minute workout before one knee began to ache, potentially from having to focus on not using the machine properly to avoid the slamming, which has never been an issue with stair steppers/climbers in the gyms. Overall, it's an OKAY addition to a home gym. It's my first day with it so I am gonna try to have a better workout tomorrow with it. I'll change my review if it gets better but the metal slamming is enough to make me want to return it now.

Since there are already a lot of reviews, both good and bad, on the Sunny Stair Stepper I won’t repeat too much what you’ve already read. Most of the reviews I read were by people under six feet and under 200 pounds. Since I’m 6’6” and currently 235 pounds, I thought I would give my perspective to the other tall folks out there who are wondering if they should give this stepper a try. I was looking at getting some exercise equipment for the home, since my wife and I were sick of driving to the gym, and were also getting tired of the gym itself. We used to have a treadmill and stationary bike at the house, but got rid of them in order to declutter our office where we kept the workout equipment. As already stated, our solution of a gym membership wasn’t ideal, so I chose the Stair Stepper because of its small footprint and reasonable price. After reading the reviews, I had some concerns that I would be too big for the stair stepper and would constantly bump my knees against the cross bar. I’ve bumped my knees only a few times. I quickly got into the habit of putting by heels to the back edge of the pedals, giving my knees extra room. It hasn’t really been a problem since. Also, it’s hard for me to go fast on this stepper so the chance of me bumping my knees is lowered even more. I asked my wife if I look too cartoonishly large for the stepper, and she said not any more than usual when I’m using other exercise equipment. Thanks, honey. While small, the stair stepper is very sturdy. I thought my height and weight would make this stepper easy to tilt, but that is not the case. I can get it to rock a little only if I try to. When using it as recommended, it is very stable on the floor. I know my current weight of 235 pounds is more than the stated limit of 220 pounds, and I’m hoping it will drop soon. So far the stepper seems to handle the weight. After four days, I upped the resistance to “2.” As a few other reviewers noted, I think the resistance levels are designed to accommodate increased weight, not the strength of your leg muscles, since the first level was a little too easy. The pistons slid down too quickly. At level “2” I feel I’m getting a workout. Since I’m heavier than the average user, I think I will get more out of an increased resistance level. So far, I am getting a pretty strong workout, and my legs are letting me know it. I agree with the other reviewers who say this stepper is quick and easy to assemble. My package came with two monitors. I don’t know if that was a mistake or because a lot of customers are having problems with their monitors breaking down and Sunny thought it would just give you a spare one upfront. The only problem I encountered during assembly was a missing lock nut for the pedal. I had also read that many reviewers had a similar problem with missing hardware, so I already had my big bucket of extra hardware I’ve accumulated for over 30 years standing by. Just a minute of scrounging turned up a nut that would fit the bolt. Since the missing locknut wasn’t a problem for me; I won’t reduce my overall rating, but be aware that the manufacturer is still having problems including all of the required hardware. I hope this review helps the tall folks out there. Overall, this stepper has fit our requirements of a good workout, low price, and small footprint. I really hope it continues to meet our need. I will update my review if anything changes.

The inside of the box look like it was chewed up and spit out by a Tyrannosaurus rex. Pieces are broken, and some of the tools are missing. I tried to do a return but returning the item cost more than the actual item so I guess I’m just going to eat the $200 I spent on this piece of crap Edit: they did replace it and I built it within an hour. It’s ok. Quiet ish. There is no way to adjust the intensity though. So not sure how well it’s going to work.

well, i've only had this thing about a week but so i am quite pleased with my purchase. I have an exercise bike in the basement but i wanted something that i can keep in my room. This fits in the corner nicely and i can hop on while watching the t.v. Very convenient and IMO it provides a great workout. I consider myself to be in pretty good shape (i run, lift weights, and do HIIT/plyometric videos fairly regularly) and after 10 mins i was breaking a sweat & my heart rate was definitely up. This stepper goes up really high off the ground so you really do feel it in the butt if you take full advantage of the full stride. i've used cheaper models that have less height to them & it doesn't feel like as great a workout as this climbing stepper does. It was easy to assemble & is very sturdy. i have no complaints. (if anything breaks or i have any trouble with the machine in the future i will be sure to update my review.) edit on 3/7/14---the stepper is still in great condition, same as when i bought it. Granted, I do use it very infrequently (probably less than a dozen times since i bought it), but i figured i'd update my review to at least let everyone know that nothing broke on mine and there is no squeaking parts or other annoying problems. 6/22/15 Since my last update i started using this stepper more often, on average twice a week for about a 1/2 hour or so. It is in perfect working condition still and i still find it to be very challenging. I found that if i want to go faster i move my feet back towards the end of the footpads more. to make the tension a little higher & also slow the pace down i move my feet up towards the front of the footpads. I also have played around with propping the front or back of the machine up a few inches (with books, towels, or whatever works) to help target certain muscles better. I like the cardio benefits but also that my calves are looking more muscular lately. I had been trying to target my calves with seated & standing weighted calf raises for a few months & i actually noticed faster improvement after incorporating this machine into my routine more.

Es muy buen aparato. Poco después de comprarlo lastime una rodilla, y por ahora no lo puedo usar. Allí me espera.....

The digital monitor was not included in the package, can't be used without it hence had to return...

this is very good climber . . . it gives deep steps which simulate a hiking-climbing workout . . . its made in such a way that you have to fully push down on each down-step . . . I suppose if you loosen the tension then it may go faster . . . I'm 52 suffering severe emotional trauma, clinical depression and severe agoraphobia for 11 years . . . I was always slender but 2-3 years ago all my meds caught up with me . . . resulting in a gain of over 40 pounds by end-2017 . . . I'm not so fit at this time . . . but this Climber is ideal for maintaining stamina, strength & balance . . . and when I do 5 minute spurts it feels kind of aerobic . . . The ideal would be for me to do 3 five-minute spurts within 40 minutes . . . the climber appears very well built & sturdy . . . it doesn't take much space . . . and its not expensive at all . . . I do recommend it . . . but if you're very fit with lots of physical activity then it may be too simplistic for you.

Great little piece of kit, easy to assemble (though there was a nut missing but it was easy to replace at my local hardware store) and takes up very little space when folded up. I keep mine behind a door and whip it out when I fancy a quick work out, the little computer is basic but good and it does give you a really good workout. The only things I would advise you about is it makes a bit of a wooshing sound when you're on it so if you're an early bird with downstairs neighbours you might want to pop it above an unpopulated space, and the other thing is you do need to lubricate the pistons, I just use a little oil that I use to lube my bike chain and that keeps it runnign smoothly. Happy stepping!

This climber is great. Sturdy and a great workout. I really work up a sweat. works well for me as during the pandemic as i can’t go to the gym. Reasonable priced considering how much a gym membership is. I can’t figure out how to fold it even though i read the manual. I can fold it but the pin doesn’t fit anywhere so it is not secure. I just don’t fold it and it is compact enough that i can still store it in the corner of the bedroom without it being folded.