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Aerobic Step offers a great cardio workout!
The aerobic step, stepping platform, or simply 'The Step' for short-- is a practical piece of equipment to own because not only can you use it for your cardiovascular exercise, but you can also use it for many plyometric exercises. It can even double as a bench for some of your weight training exercises. I like trampolines. I also love climbing stairs as part of my cardiovascular work. When I can't train outdoors, I like to use the aerobic step as a substitute to stair climbing. In terms of traditional 'aerobics', step aerobics is very popular because it offers a great cardiovascular workout with very little need for space and equipment. Plus, unlike conventional aerobics, you do not need the space to move across the room nor does it involve highly choreographed dance movements-- making it one of the most welcoming forms of cardiovascular exercise to those who are new, trying aerobics for the first time, or who may otherwise feel intimidated by dance moves. There are a few different exercise steppers on the market-- some a little less expensive than others. For products such as these, I'm perhaps a little 'old school' in that I like the Original Health Club Step from Reebok. It's called the Original Health Club Step-- The Step F1010W and I highly recommend it to anyone. It's the original step. It's been around for years and as it's often said, it's used in over 18,000 professional health clubs around the country. It's the same step you'll find at your gym. I've had mine for years. I use it to train my private clients and I also use it myself for plyometric exercises when I'm training for power, speed, and agility. I've never had a problem with it, my feet have never slipped off the surface, and nothing has ever broken. When you're finished your workout, the step can conveniently slide under your bed or store in your closet. It has a stepping surface 14" x 40" wide. It adjusts from 4" to 6" to 8" and it can safely support up to 200 lbs. The Step F1010W (teal/violet) or the F1011W (grey/black) are classics, and you can't go wrong with either of those two Reebok products. If you want a stepper with a few more adjustable heights built in that uses a slightly different approach to traditional 'risers', you can try the Reebok Stepper. This one has five height adjustments from 6" to 10". You might also prefer the Reebok Step System which also adjusts from 6", 8", or 10". If you want a much less expensive stepper, I've included a very popular item called The Duragym Stepdeck. This step only has two possible adjustments. Or, perhaps you might prefer The Firm Sculpting System which consists of a three-in-one stepper and multi-functional workout video. It has three adjustable heights from 6" to 8" to 14". Personally, I think 14" is perhaps a little bit high. I advise my private clients to use a step no higher than about 8 inches or 10 inches for taller people. This is to ensure you do not step at a greater than 90 degree angle of the knee joint. Indeed, optimal knee flexion should be closer to 60 degrees. Of all the choices I've listed, I like the classic, traditional aerobic step from Reebok-- The Step F1010W or the Step F1011W. If you don't own a treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, or any other cardiovascular piece of fitness equipment-- the step is a must-have! Not only is it simple, functional, and compact, but it offers tremendous diversity and costs thousands less than classic stationary equipment.
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