The Mini-Stepper/Twister provides low-impact, moderate intensity strength work and mild cardio exercise without extreme pressure on the joints. Adjustable resistance makes it suitable for a wide range of fitness levels.

The heavy-duty sturdy steel construction and over-sized slip-resistant footplates insure safety and comfort.

The “problem” with mini-steppers, when compared to stair climbers and more expensive steppers, is the relatively short stride length. Mini-steppers are good for targeting legs, hips and thighs but not the best option for for burning calories and losing weight.

Of course, the major advantage of mini-steppers is the small footprint, making them ideal for apartments or other tight spaces. This model is uncommonly stable and sturdy and requires no assembly.

The Sunny Health & Fitness Twister Stepper comes with exercise bands to incorporate an upper-body workout.

More Info & Price Comparisons

• Sunny Health & Fitness Twister Stepper on Amazon
• Compare to other Mini-Steppers
• Read more of our Stepper reviews

By Aaron O’Connor

From the $2 jump rope to the $1,000-plus elliptical machine, home exercise equipment has continually evolved in sophistication and ability to deliver health benefits, with machines now designed for every level of fitness.

New equipment targets every muscle and fitness goal imaginable, with choices ranging from cheap infomercial fads to expensive gym-quality machines. Yet with the multitude of devices to choose from, many people may wonder — what is the best option for someone just getting started on the road to optimal health and fitness?

Luckily there’s an easy answer to this dilemma, a treadmill. These devices are excellent for beginner fitness training, as they can provide a person with as little or as much exercise intensity as they desire.

The ancestor of today’s machines was the medical treadmill, developed in the 1950s by cardiologist Robert Bruce (the father of exercise cardiology) and used for evaluating heart and lung health. It was a simple, flat surface set on rollers and human-powered. Bruce’s design was eventually sold to StairMaster, which then became the famous company, Nautilus. While the fitness center industry dramatically increased in popularity, more advanced treadmills began to be sold for home use as people realized they could get fit without going outdoors and enduring poor weather conditions.

Today’s treadmills come equipped with heart rate monitors, many different speeds and computers that record and compare workouts as well as calories burned. They can tilt to mimic uphill and downhill walking and running, which exercises different muscle groups for a more complete workout experience. Some models even have impact sensors in the belt to monitor stresses on backs, knees, feet and ankles.

As most treadmill reviews explain, these devices have several advantages for beginners over other types of home exercise equipment. The biggest advantage is that they are less complicated and expensive than elliptical machines. They exercise fewer muscle groups than rowing machines and ellipticals, which may be best for those just starting out, especially if back, neck or shoulder problems are present.

Impact on the joints is also an important consideration when choosing a treadmill over other types of exercise equipment, especially if a person is obese or arthritic. Treadmills are lower-impact than jump ropes and free weights, but higher-impact than ellipticals. Still, when used properly and with shoes that cushion the arch from the impact of walking and running, these devices provide an easy way to lose weight and increase stamina in relative comfort.

Treadmills also come in ahead of stationary bicycles, stair climbers, rowing machines and cross-country ski machines for burning calories, making them the best option if weight loss and reducing body fat is the user’s goal. While they can’t provide the strength training that free weights do, they’re much safer.

Similarly, unlike many home fitness machines, the moving parts of a treadmill other than the belt are enclosed in the deck. As such, there are no cables, weights or springs to snap or catch on clothing. However, it’s important to note that as with all exercise equipment, treadmills should only be used in rooms that are not accessible to young children.

Likewise, turned ankles, twisted knees and loss-of balance injuries are less likely for beginners using treadmills than other types of fitness equipment. The body’s center of gravity remains stable because movement goes in only one direction as the belt moves under the feet. In other words, the body doesn’t tilt forward, turn or twist and isn’t in the constant “falling” mode of normal walking. Balance problems are easily corrected by holding onto the hand grips, and balance training may be improved by learning to walk and run on the belt without using the hand grips at all.

Finally, treadmills are generally a better investment than the fad-fitness contraptions sold by infomercials. Where these gadgets don’t live up to their wild promises of perfect abs, buttocks and thighs, treadmills deliver, burning calories and increasing stamina, mile after mile.

Once the decision to workout on a treadmill has been made, individual fitness goals are the key factor in determining which type to buy. Setting these goals begins with a clear understanding of one’s baseline health. A person’s medical history of heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure, heart rate, weight and level of aerobic fitness should be determined and discussed with a doctor before beginning any type of exercise program. Medications that decrease heart rate artificially, such as beta blockers, must also be taken into account.

After a person’s baseline health is evaluated, fitness goals can be set and choosing a treadmill becomes much simpler. If the goal is to slowly take off weight and improve cardiovascular health just by walking, a basic treadmill is the best choice. These machines go up to 10 mph, feature a 10 percent incline and have a basic display that tracks speed, distance and calories burned. Their decks are short, to accommodate the stride length of a walker.

Slightly more expensive treadmills can measure a person’s resting heart rate at the beginning of a workout. If a target heart rate is programmed into the treadmill, the device will alert the person using it when that rate is reached. Since beginning exercisers are often enthusiastic about their goals, they may have a tendency to overdo before they’ve built up physical strength. However, treadmill electronics allow for a precise, monitored workout that yields maximum benefit without strain or damage to muscles, tendons and joints.

Able-bodied beginners who want to maintain or increase their aerobic fitness may want to consider a treadmill that has steeper inclining and declining angles that imitate outdoor conditions and have resistance settings in the deck to further tone and strengthen leg and back muscles. These models are the most expensive, but have the greatest flexibility and longer decks to accommodate the length of a runner’s stride.

It’s been shown by study after study that exercise can improve quality of life at every age and stage of health. Among the many types of exercise, walking is one of the easiest and most beneficial when done on a regular basis. As such, treadmills are a steady, reliable way to burn calories efficiently, without gimmicks and at relatively low cost.

An impressive combination of ease-of-use and high quality components has earned Sole a reputation as one of the top treadmill manufacturers in the world.  The Sole F80 model is featured in Omni and Hilton hotels around the globe.

The F80′s industrial-quality 3.0-horsepower continuous-duty motor and unusually heavy, all-steel zinc-coated balanced flywheel, deliver a safe, quiet, vibration-free running and walking surface.

The crisp, blue-backlit 7.5-inch LCD display includes windows for speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace. The panel features integrated speakers and an audio cable for connection to an iPod or MP3 player.

Among the most intriguing features is a built-in message board with scrolling text that walks you through a workout or shows off the treadmill’s ample features. The message board also recaps your workout stats at the end of a routine and tracks progress and goals from workout to workout.

The low-impact, whisper-quiet Cushion Flex deck greatly reduces the impact on feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine — up to 40% compared to street running according to a recent study.

2011 Sole F80 Treadmill Product Features

• 3.0-horsepower continuous-duty motor
• 0.5 to 11 miles per hour speed
• 20″ X 60″ double-woven 2 ply running/walking belt
• 15 percent maximum, rack-and-pinion gear design incline
• Easy Assist, automatic self-folding deck
• Powder-coated, all-steel welded frame and heavy-duty, stable incline
• Vibrant 7.5-inch LCD display with integrated speakers and audio cable
• 6 standard workouts, 2 custom workouts, 2 heart-rate-controlled workouts
• Wireless heart rate chest strap with 99.9 percent accuracy
• Cushion Flex shock-absorption system
• 350-pound capacity
• Measures 33″ x 80″; weighs 250 pounds

More Info & Price Comparisons

• The Sole F80 Treadmill (2011 Model)
• See other Sole Treadmills
• Compare to all Folding Treadmills
• The Sole F80 Treadmill on eBay

Treadmills - Sole F80 Brand New W/ Full Warranty US $1,149.99 Auction Ends: Tuesday May-22-2012 7:32:57 PDT   | Watch this Item

NEW Professional Grade Sole Fitness F80 Folding Whisper Deck Treadmill US $1,499.00 Auction Ends: Saturday May-26-2012 17:44:30 PDT   | Watch this Item

Sole F80 Treadmill Folding Fitness Condition Pro NEW US $1,799.93 Auction Ends: Sunday May-27-2012 16:21:00 PDT   | Watch this Item

The space-saving design is ideal for small rooms, but with this comes a relatively short walking surface (16″ x 36″ belt), that’s not recommended for users of above average height. A 6’ tall individual will need to stay aware of over-stepping the tread area — not something you want to be thinking about during a workout.

Otherwise the Paradigm Fitness Walking Treadmill provides a safe, stable and comfortable workout, as advertised. Extra long safety handles add to walking security and balance at any speed. The ground-level walking surface makes it easy to get on and off the treadmill.

The control panel is simple to use and monitors time, distance, calories & walking speed.  A speed control button fixed to the handle bar makes it easy to adjust the motor speed.

The walking area and belt come fully assembled. The arms, legs and display unit are easily attached. The treadmill folds for storage and includes transportation wheels.

Paradigm Fitness Walking Electric Treadmill Product Details

• 1.5 HP motor with 4MPH maximum speed
• Heavy-duty frame is designed for extra weight support
• Ground-level walking surface and wide side rails
• LCD displays time, distance, calories burned and speed for easy reference
• Folds for space-saving storage and moves easily on built-in wheels
• 350-pound maximum user weight; 1-year warranty for frame and 5 years for motor

More Info & Price Comparisons

• Paradigm Fitness Walking Electric Treadmill
• Compare to other powered and manual walking treadmills

The telescopic shaft is a distinguishing feature that can be adjusted to your exact height and accommodate multiple users.

The base is relatively small when compared to more robust and expensive steppers and can lead to some instability when in use. Another con is the lack of side handle bars.

The multi-function LCD console monitors heart rate, pace, training time, distance and calories burned. The computer can also track total steps or all workouts combined for a full week. The monitor automatically shuts off after five minutes of inactivity to preserve the battery life.

Pulse sensor-grips built into the handles monitor your heart rate without the need for straps or wires. However, pulse sensors are generally not as accurate as chest strap heart-rate monitoring.

In our view Brookstone products tend to be overpriced. The tag on this product is a notch high but this is still an affordable basic stair stepper with some nice extra features.

More Info & Price Comparisons

• Get the Brookstone Fold-A-Way Cardio Stair Stepper
• Compare to all Mini-Steppers
• More Stair Steppers on eBay

Nautilus, owner of Bowflex is sometimes criticized for over-hyped, gimmicky fitness equipment, but Gizmodo called Mobia the “iPod of Treadmills”, in part because of the clean white and black aesthetic and sleek, intuitive console.

This machine is designed for 3-in-1, high efficiency walking, not running — the maximum speed is just 4 mph.

Mobia’s independently moving “treadles” let you walk forward like a treadmill while stepping up like a stair climber. These two actions combined provide a core-strengthening cardio workout that’s easy on the ankles and knees. When you step on a treadle it depresses under your weight, absorbing impact and providing the feeling of walking in sand.

In a study conducted at New York’s Adelphi University, Mobia modality burned up to 2 times more calories in 30 minutes than a treadmill at the same speed.

The display tracks 5 functions: Speed, Distance, Time, Total Calories and Heart Rate.

The Mobia comes with a Telemetry Chest Strap that wirelessly monitors heart rate and the specialized Nautilus Nutrition Plan and Introduction to Fitness Guide. Maximum wight capacity is 300 lbs.

*Update: 1/11/12: Mobia by Nautilus may no longer be available. See links below.

More Info & Price Comparisons

• Visit the Nautilus/Bowflex Website

• Compare to the Bowflex Treadclimber (*highly recommended alternative to Mobia)

The blue LCD console features a large, easy to use display with 6 exercise programs. You can track speed, time, distance, steps, heart rate and calories burned.

The incline feature, not always seen in treadmills of this price range, is excellent for varying difficulty and working different muscle groups. A push of a button easily adjusts the incline levels between 4, 6, 8, or 10. Another button skips directly to 3, 4, 5, or 6 miles per hour.

Other features include built-in speakers and headphone port for an iPod or MP3 player.

While this treadmill is sturdy and stable, it’s not the best choice for heavy running. The 1.5-horsepower drive motor offers speed ranges of 0.5 to 8 MPH. For models with more speed and power, browse our other treadmill reviews.

LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-N-Stor Product Details

• Fully assembled treadmill
• Folds compactly to store under bed or in closet
• Blue LCD console tracks time, calories, distance, steps, speed, and incline
• Quick-start speed and incline buttons; 3 speed and 3 incline programs
• 10 Incline levels
• Built-in speakers and headphone port
• Contact heart rate grips
• 30.5″ x 51.5″ x 60.5″ — Folds to 13.5″ x 59.5″
• Drive motor: 1.5-horsepower continuous-duty motor
• Speed: 0.5 to 8 miles per hour
• Weight capacity: 250 pounds
• Lifetime on the frame, 5 years on the motor, and 1 year on parts and labor

More Info & Price Comparisons

• LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-N-Stor Compact Treadmill on Amazon
• See all bestselling Folding Treadmills

There’s nothing negative to say about the older version — the Smooth 6.45 is a solid, high-quality treadmill with a good range of useful features. The 6.75 builds on this foundation with additional features and enhancements.

The improved gas-shock assist, dual stage soft-drop folding system lets you gently lower the deck into place with a foot operated lever. After a workout it can be easily tilted back into folded position and wheeled away for storage.

The 6.75 model features an enhanced, deluxe sound system that accommodates iPods, MP3 players, CD players or other audio devices. No need for tangled headphone wires when using this premium system.

Hand Rail Toggle Switches make it easy to adjust your incline and speed without touching the console or distracting from your workout.

Speed settings range from 0.5 – 12 mph and there are 15 incline levels. The 12 preset programs include 5 speed programs, 5 incline programs, 2 distance programs, plus a heart rate program

Other features include a 3.0 HP motor, a larger and improved dual color LCD display, heart rate control with wireless heart rate strap, ultra quiet, whisper weave treadbelt, transport wheels, water bottle holders and a 2-speed fan.

More Info & Price Comparisons

• The NEW Smooth 6.75 Treadmill direct from Smooth Fitness

Th InMotion II features a non-slip, low-impact 42 inch long walking/running surface that lets you set the pace, but your legs are the only motors driving the belt. This a good choice for light jogging or simple walking — still one of the most fundamentally beneficial forms of aerobic exercise.

With no motor the InMotion II saves electricity and is relatively quiet, but far from silent as manual treadmills are sometimes advertised.

The InMotion II includes a multi-function, battery-operated monitor, which tracks distance, workout time, speed, and calories burned.

Other features include two incline positions (8 and 10 degrees), foam-padded front and side rails, a sturdy, heavy-duty steel frame and skid-resistant rubber floor protectors.

The treadmill folds up for convenient storage in a closet, in a corner or under a bed.

If you’re looking for a powered folding treadmill see our reviews of the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill and BodyCraft 1120 Folding Treadmill.

More Info & Price Comparisons

• The Stamina InMotion II Manual Treadmill on Amazon
• The Stamina InMotion II Manual Treadmill on eBay

Stamina InMotion II Manual Exercise Fitness Treadmill US $199.99 Auction Ends: Thursday May-24-2012 15:06:14 PDT   | Watch this Item

Bowflex folding treadmills are robust and reliable and you can’t go wrong with any of the three available models — the Series 3, Series 5 and Series 7.

Like the higher end models, the Series 3 is heavy, bulky and well-constructed with the look and feel of a professional club machine. The 1.75 horsepower continuous-duty motor runs at speeds of up to 10 mph.

The ample walking and running surface measures 20″ X 54″ and features Bowflex’s unique Strike Zone deck cushioning system for stability, comfort and low stress on the feet, ankles, knees and hips. The deck features a 0-12% adjustable incline for a more challenging workout

The workout programs include manual, cardio, running, fat burn, speed interval jogger, and hill intervals, monitored on a crisp four-window LED display.

This treadmill can be folded when not in use and lowered with no effort using the hydraulic power system.

This model does not include chest strap heart rate monitoring. Like many treadmills and elliptical trainers it uses pulse rate grip sensors that do not always produce accurate readings.

The easy to follow instructions and included tools make assembly relatively painless.

Also see the Bowflex TC3000 Treadclimber, an innovative fitness machine that meshes the benefits of treadmills and stair stepping.

More Info & Price Comparisons

• Find the Bowflex Series 3 Treadmill on Amazon
  
• Compare to the Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
• Bowflex Treadmills on eBay
  

TREADMILL LUBE - Nautilus Schwinn Bowflex TreadClimber US $9.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Tuesday May-22-2012 10:15:37 PDT   | Watch this Item

TREADMILL SAFETY KEY NAUTILUS BOWFLEX TREAD CLIMBER,TC3000/5000 NEW US $19.95 Auction Ends: Friday May-25-2012 2:05:37 PDT   | Watch this Item