StairMaster® FreeClimber 8 Series
w/ OpenHub 10" Touchscreen


MSRP: $7,695
SALE: $6,605

StairMaster® FreeClimber 8 Series
w/ OpenHub 15" Touchscreen


MSRP: $8,725
SALE: $8,525.00

StairMaster® FreeClimber 8 Series
w/ OpenHub LCD


MSRP: $7,695
SALE: $5,615

SPECIFICATIONS:

HISTORY OF STAIRMASTER

ORIGINS

Since introduced to the fitness industry in 1983, the StairMaster, a brand of Nautilus, Inc., has become one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment at both gyms and homes. The simulation of walking up a flight of stairs to burn excess calories is the appeal of this equipment. Although the general population has adopted the name StairMaster as a generic term to represent all exercise steppers, the StairMaster is a brand with an expanded line of equipment with slightly different applications. The exercise equipment line includes the revolving staircase (the StepMill), the stepper (the StairClimber) and the pull-up machine (the Gravitron). The StairMaster is a leader in cardio and lower body exercise providing an efficient workout to enhance overall health and fitness.

The StairMaster, invented by Lanny Potts, was first introduced by Tri-Tech, Inc., at the National Sporting Goods Association in 1983. The StairMaster 5000 model, a revolving staircase, was the first StairMaster machine to be featured. In 1984 and 1985 the StairMaster 5000 was replaced with newer models to include a workout display, printout and heart rate monitor. In 1986, the StairMaster 4000 PT debuted at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association conference. The 4000 PT model, a stair-stepper, became more popular than the revolving staircase and shaped the stair-stepper business. The StairMaster Gravitron launched in 1987. This assisted chin-up and dip machine provides the same effects of an individual doing pull-ups and tricep dips in Outer Space without gravity. The Gauntlet, now the modern StepMill, launched in 1989. This exercise machine simulates walking up a downward-moving escalator. During the late 1980s Tri-Tech, Inc., changed the name of the company to StairMaster Exercise Systems. In 2002, Nautilus, Inc. acquired StairMaster Exercise Systems and uses StairMaster as one of their brand exercise machines.

MACHINE FEATURES

The featured cardio models of StairMaster are the StepMill and the StairClimber. Both machines simulate walking up stairs, but the applications of the stairs move differently. Requiring a minimum ten-foot ceiling, the StepMill features a revolving staircase much like a down-ward moving escalator with 8-inch high steps. The staircase revolves at speeds varying from 24 to 162 steps per minute. The StairClimber features independent pedals that move requiring the exerciser to keep up with the stepping cadence. Speeds range from 26 to 174 steps per minute. Both models feature a water bottle holder, reading rack, accessory tray, LCD console, TV compatibility components, ergonomically designed handrails, heart rate monitors, and fitness programs including manual, fat burner, calorie burner, speed intervals, heart rate zone trainer and random intensity.

BENEFITS OF CLIMBING

The lower body most benefits in strength gain from stairstepping. The Stepmill has adjustable speed and resistance. Using it requires simple balance, but significant strength. Calves, hamstrings, quadriceps and gluteal muscles are trained by lots of repetitions, which is known for building lean muscle and burning fat. Additionally, increasing the resistance of each stepping motion adds challenge. Core muscles are engaged by keeping your balance, which is more challenging on the Stepmill than other similar equipment. The Stepmill is great for cardiovascular exercise due to its ability to raise your heart rate almost immediately. The level you set dictates workout intensity, but even at the lowest levels the heart is definitely getting a workout. The Stepmill makes the user work hard without being hard on the user. The stepping motion incurs less impact than a treadmill, but with higher cardiovascular results. The thoughtfully designed handrails provide a safe grip should a misstep occur, but don't allow you to cheat by leaning on them. The actual stepping motion forces the foot to remain mostly flat while climbing, versus the pedal format, which does not require the foot to leave the pedal. The stepping motion uses nearly every leg muscle.

WHY STAIRMASTER STEPMILLS AND STEPPERS SUCCEED

There are many great products for getting fitter, getting healthier and improving your functional movement ability. However, there is only one product made by one company that has topped my list for all of those 25 years in the business – the Stairmaster. The Stairmaster StepMill and Stairmaster Stepper are legendary products that keep getting better over time. The latest product designs – from the look, to the feel to the amazing, new touch screen display – are easily the best in the company's history, and these features truly make stairclimbing more interesting, more measureable and more motivating! I love mine, and so do my clients. Whether I am using it for high-intensity interval training, short calorie-blasting workouts or to help my clients move better, or train for an important goal. It is my 'go-to' product time and time again because it just works. The product works, the activity works and it motivates my clients to work! Beyond the incredible new design of the Stairmaster products, Stairclimbing has a number of important benefits:

Less Stress

Stairclimbing burns more calories at slower speeds and lower impact rates than almost any other activity on the planet. Each gentle step burns more calories than walking. In fact, stairclimbing at only 1 mph burns as many calories as running on a treadmill at 7 mph! Slower speeds, minimal impact and high calorie burn – what more could you ask for in a cardio activity?

More Efficient

Because you must lift your body weight with each step, stairclimbing is highly metabolic and burns a lot of calories in a short amount of time, when compared to other equipment. You can turn 45 minutes into 30 minutes, 30 minutes into 20 minutes and 20 minutes into 10 minutes! Quicker workouts means less time for you and your clients to reach your goals, and more time to get other things done!

Highly Functional

Stairclimbing is a natural movement – it improves your functional mobility, strengthens your core and makes everyday tasks easier to do. Take longer hikes, climb taller monuments on vacation, last longer on dog walks with your family. Stairclimbing is celebrated by athletes, trainers and physical therapists because it can not only improve your body, but it can also improve your life!

Did you know?

If you're looking to burn calories, lose weight and strengthen and tone major muscle groups, stair climbing provides astounding results. In fact, climbing stairs is widely regarded as one of the most efficient and effective cardio and strength building workouts you can do. If you're willing to put in the work, it provides the results!

Cardio/Calorie Benefits

• Burn More Calories Stair climbing engages the body's largest muscle groups to repeatedly lift your body weight up, step after step. Using your largest muscles to carry your own weight uphill is far superior to exercising on a flat treadmill when it comes to work performed and calories burned.
• Maximize your Cardio Efforts Stair climbing raises your heart rate immediately – 20 minutes of workout time is likely to include 19 minutes with an elevated heart rate, maximizing your cardio benefits.

Strength and Muscle Toning Benefits

• Increase Core Muscle Strength Using the StepMill 5 requires simple balance but significant strength, more so than other cardio modalities. The simple act of maintaining balance engages core muscles with every step, building strength and endurance of this critically-important muscle group.
• Tone and sculpt your entire lower body Stair climbing engages every major muscle in your lower body as many as 120+ times/minute: glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and calves. High repetitions are famous for building lean muscle and burning fat which results in toned and sculpted muscles.
• Low Impact The StepMill 5 makes you work hard without being hard on you. You can achieve high work efforts while moving at very low speeds relative to other workout options, minimizing the toll/stress on the body. For example, climbing at 1mph on the StepMill 5 is roughly equivalent to running at 7mph on a flat treadmill.
• Better than "Real" Stairs Climbing "real" stairs usually means you get to the top and then have to go back down. Descending stairs is much harder on your knees than climbing up because your muscles and connective tissues are being used as "brakes" to fight the effect of gravity, and you are hitting each step with more impact. With the StepMill 5, you get all the benefits of climbing while avoiding the negative elements of descending.
• Make 20 minutes count for 30 Combining so many positive effects (cardio, strengthening, muscle building, toning) in one workout means it takes less time to get the results you are looking for.