StairMaster is a health club quality brand of exercise equipment, known best for their world renowned Stair Climbers and StepMills. StairMaster stair climbers have two unconnected, individual steps, acting independently of one another, while the StairMaster StepMill has one rotating, escalator like staircase. Close to thirty years ago, the first exercise StairMaster climber would be introduced into the world of health and fitness equipment. This new StairMaster invention was called the StairMaster 5000. In 1983, Lanny Potts and associate Jim Walker introduced the StairMaster 5000 to the world through Tri-Tech, Inc., at a trade show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, held by the National Sporting Goods Association.
After the immediate success of this 5000 StepMill, StairMaster looked for for ways to improve their new and popular stepper through technological advancements. Within a year, the SM 5000 would be replaced with the StairMaster 6000. While the StairMaster 6000 would appear virtually identical and mechanically similar to the 5000 stepper, the SM 6000 would provide its users with digital enhancements. Technological upgrades in its programming, created an atmosphere that was more interactive for the user. People could now print their statistical feedback on a thermal printer and keep an eye on their pulse through heart rate monitoring. Monitoring ones heart rate while exercising is essential for many people that workout on cardiovascular fitness equipment. One is able to be careful and at the same time push their limits, as long as they have the ability to monitor their heart rate. In order to watch their progress electronically, the SM 6000 displayed real time workout information on its CRT.
In 1985, a running simulator cartridge was developed in order to further enhance the digital user feedback on the SM 6000. Later that year, Tri-Tech, Inc., sold Nautilus Northeast the distribution rights for StairMaster fitness equipment. For the next 25 years, Nautilus would make significant contributions to the fitness equipment industry through their continual production of consumer oriented, health club quality and economically viable fitness stair climbers. Nautilus is the fitness equipment company responsible for inventing the StairMaster 4000PT, 4200PT, 4400CL, 4600PT, 4600CL, 7000PT, Sm 916 & SC916.
The International Health, Racket and Sports Club Association (IHRSA) held a trade show in Nashville in 1986. It was during this convention that StairMaster unveiled its new creation, and launched the StairMaster 4000PT. This stair stepper was built without an escalator like, revolving staircase. Rather than a mechanical speed controlling the speed of a rotating staircase as was the case with the SM 5000 and SM 6000, the SM 4000PT had two steps, with motions independent of one another, simulating climbing stairs. Mechanically speaking, its aggregate pedal movement was controlled through a shared rotating shaft, while speed controls were configured through its alternator. StairMaster would have a great deal of success with their new 4000PT stair climber and the two independent steps design, would set the trend for the next decade. As interest in the rotating staircase models soon began to fade, sales for the StairMaster 4000PT skyrocketed.
StairMaster manufactures some of the most popular and effective stair steppers and StepMills in today’s fitness equipment industry. If you have spent any considerable amount of time using stair climbers at the gym, then you have most likely exercised on a StairMaster climber before. As the largest manufacturer of commercial and home gym stair steppers nationwide, StairMaster is responsible for the design, production, development and marketing for the worlds finest stair steppers. Spearheading the fitness equipment industry with exciting and ground breaking features, StairMaster continues to impress fitness experts across the globe with the premium products that StairMaster continues to introduce into the world of gym equipment.
Specializing in the production, marketing and sales of stair steppers for over three decades now, StairMaster remains the undisputed, heavyweight champion of gym quality and residential Stair Steppers. Examples of the excellent and meticulous manufacturing process that StairMaster religiously employs can be seen through their impressive line of stair steppers. The StairMaster 4200PT, StairMaster 4400PT/CL, the StairMaster 7000PT StepMill, SM 916 Step Mill and SC 916, are all examples of the unwavering dedication towards perfect craftsmanship that StairMaster follows. More altruist than capitalist, StairMaster is addicted toward bettering the fitness equipment industry through their ongoing production of structurally sound, bio-mechanically correct, stair climbers and StepMills. Aesthetically flamboyant and mechanically inferior exercise equipment is not an option for those who seek efficient and effective gym equipment, because cheap and flimsy exercise equipment will serve as nothing more than a waste of space. StairMaster stair climbers underline and highlight everything good about efficient and effective fitness equipment. Amongst the greatest exercise equipment in the gym sits the StairMaster 916 StepMill. Unlike stationary exercise bikes, treadmills and cross-training equipment (elliptical machines too), the SM 916 StepMill has an extraordinary feature that motivates its user to exercise for long periods of time. The constantly rotating stairs of the SM916 create an environment in which the user can’t cheat themselves. Escalator like rotating steps, make it impossible to rest and break while using the SM 916 Step Mill. Users are motivated to complete their workout on the SM 916 due to the fact that trying to slow down may result in falling off the stair-climber and interrupting the workout. While running on a treadmill, it is easy to slow down the speed to a snails pace without losing all momentum.
StairMaster is owned by their parent company Nautilus. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Vancouver, Nautilus is an industry leader for fitness sales. While developing, manufacturing and marketing fitness equipment under the Nautilus name, other well known and discount fitness equipment brands produced by Nautilus include Schwinn Fitness, Bowflex and Treadclimber. Nautilus provides a wide range of exercise equipment ranging from premier, health club quality fitness equipment, to lightweight, inexpensive and small fitness equipment for the home. Nautilus has received a lot of attention over the past several years due to their creation of the Bowflex Treadclimber. Bowflex SelectTeck Dumbbells have been a success for nautilus lately too. Schwinn Fitness we all know for their awesome Airdyne stationary bike. Recently Schwinn has been noticed on the horizon once again with their steady production of popular spin bikes. Treadmills made by Schwinn Fitness have gained notoriety as well. The Schwinn 860 Treadmill and Schwinn 840 are both solid buys if you are looking for a lightweight treadmill for your home gym.