Stamina InStride Pro Electronic Stepper

So I just got this today. I needed something compact because I work all alone in my own office in the way back hallway of my building, and I cannot legit move away from my desk for 8 straight hours. I have chronic vascular insufficiency in my legs and compression stockings are just not doing it for me. I try to go to my gym but I've recently moved and with the traffic I just don't have the time to go there and then go back to try to make dinner and get at least 8 hours sleep. It just sucks because after only a few months just sitting (used to work in retail on my feet), those 40lbs I spent almost a year losing, yeah, alllll came back. (What can I say? I need my coffee in the AM, and all the fixings that come with.) lol. Anyways. So I looked up compact exercise equipment and saw that Stamina had a compact line and perked up! (annnything to get the "chair-butt" look GONE, LOL)So the squeaks people keep talking about? Uhhh, non-existent. Maybe first generations had that problem, but not this one. If anything, if you let the pedal hit the bottom, it makes a natural "clunk" sound, but that's it. :/The resistance is pretty strong, but I LIKE IT. Not even 1:30 minutes in and I burned 20 calories, and my quads can feel the stretch and warm burn. So awesome. I am so excited.I TOTALLY recommend doing the stretching they recommend in the instruction manual before getting on this thing. Especially stretch out your quads!!! Stretching is just as important as the exercise itself!!I also purchased wrist weights just in case the bands don't give my arms much of a workout. I'm hoping those will help get rid of the chicken wing tips in the back of my triceps, lol! Freaking desk jobs, I hate-eth you!I'll try to update this after a month of being on this thing, at LEAST an hour spread out per day.LOVING THIS PRODUCT SO FAR! Thank you, stamina!

This stepper is a great little machine. It was very easy to assemble - I didn't even look at the directions. The battery for the monitor was included, so I was good to go right out of the box. Included are the stepper, the monitor, 2 "light" resistance bands, 2 "medium" resistance bands (light and medium are pretty subjective terms), attachable handles, and attachable... um... foot thingies. Additionally, I was elated to find it comes with a workout DVD. I must have missed that on the product description. So, some bad news: it squeaks. I have gone over the length and breadth of it with a can of 3-in-1 oil, and it still squawks intermittently. It's diminished over a few workouts, so I hope it will stop eventually. In the meantime, I keep lube-ing it up before a workout. The resistance bands, while adjustable, are still a bit too long for my 5'3". I also think they are a little weak, but that might be because I can't get enough resistance based on the length. Regarding the monitor: I think that one needs to know things like heart rate, age, and resting pulse before it's possible to accurately calculate one's expended calories. So while the monitor is nifty and a nice guide, I don't trust it. When I tried the DVD, I was dismayed that it's only a 10 minute workout. I was just getting into it and it was time for the cool down. However, I found the instructor only merely annoying and very supportive. If you are just starting out on a fitness program (and weigh under the max. recommended weight of 220 LBS.) this could be great for you; otherwise, I would watch it once for some basic ideas (like plie, squats and stretches), then go to it with the tunes cranked. I have not yet tried the resistance bands workout which follows the 10 min. cardio, but I like the bands and use them for crunches, etc. They add more than strength training: they add stability. Keeping the cords taut might help some people with balance issues feel more secure. I have not had any trouble with the stepper sliding around, but it's not a bad idea to place it on a yoga mat, just in case. In retrospect, it might sound like I don't really like the machine. I do! This little guy slides under the couch or bed, and the bands are easily detachable for other forms of exercise. I get a great workout while watching a movie or the news. I live in a small place on a tiny island, where winters are long and bitterly cold. This stepper is a small and inexpensive alternative to a giant elliptical trainer, and I wish I had bought it sooner... especially since it kind of validates all the TV-on-DVD I watch lately. My brain might be rotting, but my bottom is gonna be fabulous! UPDATE: The squeaking has subsided, and I continue to use this machine regularly. I purchased a heart rate monitor, and was surprised to see that the calorimeter on the machine was pretty close to the one on my wrist, which is calibrated to my weight, age, etc. One thing I did notice is that I HAVE to add upper arm stuff (weights or the bands) to get my heart rate up into a cardio zone. Remember that you can't adjust the difficulty on the machine, and it gets easy after while. It's a good idea then to keep going along with something in your hands to really get your heart pumping. The bands are great now that I've tied some knots in them. I still love this thing. It was a great purchase.

First of all, I don't know what one of the previous reviewers was talking about when she said the chain kept breaking - this product does not have a chain on it at all. There is a thick cable that goes around the pulley, but no chains. The cable looks solid and I have had no problem with it or any other part on my stepper.Mine also does not squeak at all.I used to do my own little workout program with a treadmill, stretching, and some other cardio work. But unfortunately I've been having a lot of problems with my knees and decided I needed an alternative to the treadmill (since the impact is terrible for joints), and I settled on this stepper. A CD is included with a 30-minute routine, half of which involves the stepper and the cords, and half of which only uses the cords for a full body workout. I feel great at the end of each use; better than I had when using the treadmill, and with no impact on my poor knees.This product only has 2 or 3 simple steps for putting it together, and if you pop in the CD you'll be using it like a pro in no time. There is a 250 lb limit, and the steps are made of plastic with a metal frame behind them, but I don't see it being a problem if used properly and not stomped on. The little timer/counter came with a AAA battery and turns on automatically when you step on the machine and turns off after 4 minutes of no use. It tells you how many steps were taken, how many calories were burned, and how long you've been working out.This is an awesome product for the price, and for anyone who wants a good cardio workout without harming their knees or using a ton of different equipment (or simply saving money by not having to join a gym).