Product Features :
- 12 hydraulic resistance settings
- Measurement for time elapsed step frequency energy consumption total step count and pulse rate ear clip included
- Optional acoustic signal for step frequency helps keep your goals on target
- Recovery heart rate test for personal fitness grade
- Maximum user weight of 285 pounds
>> Great machine/Lousy instruction
This review is only preliminary as I have just received the stepper today and I wanted to give others interested in this stepper a little heads up in what to expect
I was looking for good mechanical stepper that was cut above cheaper version 50 100 but not quite industrial gym class KETTLER stepper is German product and it is very sturdily built Amazon had the unit delivered via specialized delivery company CEVA instead of normal USPS UPS or Fed Ex due to its heavy weight
If you are not mechanically inclined I recommend having experienced handyman person to help you along The instruction manual is one of the worse I have ever come across No detailed step by step instruction in English You rely on overly simplistic pictures to muddle your way through assembly What English there was no more than operational warning If you re doing your own assembly study the instruction VERY CLOSELY otherwise you will have big headache building this exerciser
The training computer that came with this stepper was different than the one pictured in Amazon I don t know if the version I received was older or newer model Amazon claim the computer is easy to operate but here again the included instruction was confusing so I haven t programmed yet
That said once the stepper was assembled I tried it and I have to say I am pleased Even in its lowest setting I can feel my leg muscle getting a good workout I plan to use the equipment every day so if there is any change for the worse I will update this review The machine come with three year parts and lifetime frame warranty so I take comfort in that
UPDATE
If you order and receive stepper with computer console design that is different than one pictured in Amazon be careful if you want to exchange it
At least in my case I sent Amazon e mail asking if it was possible to exchange computer console for the one pictured in the website I honestly thought I will receive reply either exchange is not possible or it has to be complete stepper exchange and whether I would like to do that
Turns out Amazon procedure is automatic shipment of replacement stepper instead of asking the customer if they want that Since I had already assembled my stepper I wasn t interested in exchange of another so I called customer service to try to cancel that replacement shipment and found I can t cancel I had to wait and call back customer service again at a later time and speak with higher up who finally solved the headache I was having
UPDATE 4/3/10
This stepper has 12 level adjustable resistance I am of opinion that the adjustable setting is not that precise After I got comfortable at level 1 setting I have tried changing the setting from level 1 to level 2 and then level 3 Initially I noted some change in resistance but as I continued stepping I thought the resistance ease Because this stepper use hydraulic resistance temperature change may affect the stepping resistance
Currently I am using this stepper one 30 minute session five days out of week I hope to increase the time to 60 minutes per session down the road
