Customer Reviews

Tristar Air Climber - Red/ Black

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

The pluses:

The Air Climber is lightweight, gives you a good workout, easy on the joints, 2 wide black platforms , and the power cords are a great addition for toning and increasing the workout. The diet plan info/DVD workout is a good bonus. The swishing sound (air traveling from bellow to the other) may annoy some folks, but after after a while, it did not bother me. The adjustable tension is also a nice feature.

A HUGE minus for me:

This product is NOT durable (quality issues) and that is why I gave it 2 stars. I enjoyed the product and after 30-35 minutes, I broke into a sweat. I returned the Air Climber once, and the factory gave me a new one. After extended normal use (several times per week), the bellows begin to leak air quickly, the black pedals remained unmovable, and stuck on the red platform.

I think this product was designed for folks who are light weight and will use it occasionally. Like many advertised fitness products, this company is banking on folks who will abandon the product and store in the garage. When the warranty runs out, it won't be worth repair costs if it breaks. I hope the parts are least recyclable.

At the time I weighed under 200 lbs. I am one of those folks who actually uses all exercise products I buy. I went through TWO Air climbers in a 4 month period and both leaked air/deflated and broke. Not Good.

My recommendations: buy one of those solid steppers, such as "the Step" with 3 tiers. The step is build better, stronger, and mine has lasted for several years and still going!

If you really want one, then buy it under the assumption that it may last you for the duration of the winter season (for example), when most folks would rather not exercise outside in the cold or travel to a gym in bad weather.

I realize nothing lasts forever, you get what you pay for, however, this air climber is a big thumbs down for not being durable even in a short period of time!

I submitted a review for this same company's Lateral Thigh Trainer, which I loved BUT it fell apart (twice; two entirely different LTT machines) due to cheap materials used inside it. Therefore, I was intrigued--and very skeptical--about this "Air Climber", but too intriged to pass it up. I now own one.

To the reviewers that point out that the Air Climber looks cheap and lightweight: that is exactly its purpose. I too was very unimpressed and disappointed when I opened it and took it out. At first glance, it honestly looks more like a toddler's toy than an adult's reliable workout machine. It is so light that it can be carried with one hand.

Having been accustomed to the Lateral Thigh Trainer's fairly intense workout, I tried the Air Climber and my first impression was "This is too easy...I don't feel like I'm doing real exercise or burning any calories!" In fact, I was on the verge of returning it.

Then, the next day, I could barely walk! It turned out that the Air Climber offers a sneakily effective workout--you feel like you aren't doing anything because it's so low-impact, but quite the contrary is true! I've used mine every day for two weeks, and the results are noticeable and impressive.

Obviously the company decided to tackle the horrible screeching/breaking parts issue of their Lateral Thigh Trainer by making this, which has no moving parts to break or squeak, just heavy-duty bellows that make you feel as if you're bouncing on a mattress.

It does make a sound--a slight whoosh-whoosh-whoosh--but anyone who's put up with the shriek of the LTT or other climbers will laugh it off!

The resistance bands for arm workouts that are included are unfortunately of the lowest quality. From previous experience, I knew to disregard these immediately, and use dumbells instead (ALL elastic exerciser bands fray and break over time).

So, in conclusion...I was really ready to not like the Air Climber, and even return it, but it won me over. It is still going strong, and is a set part of my afternoon exercise routine. Get one if you are interested in a fun, low-impact, and effective workout for your lower body.

I wrote a comment to the previous review, but I'll repeat it here: I think their first batch of Air Climbers was defective. I purchased one, and I started having problems with the bellows, too. But customer service replaced the unit for me (with no questions asked), and the one I have now has been working flawlessly. It would seem that if you purchase something and right away it doesn't work correctly, you should just call the company and have them replace it, and if for some reason they won't do that, you can dispute it on your credit card. Don't let yourself be a victim for no reason. (One note--I would recommend getting the extended warranty if it's available. It's worth the extra $10.)

I love my Air Climber so much that I'm considering getting a second one so that I can have one upstairs and another one downstairs (even though it's extremely lightweight and easy to carry--just one more plus). At first I just used it several times a week, because I have other exercise routines that I do as well. But then I wanted to get some extra Christmas weight off quickly, so I started using the Air Climber in front of the TV while watching programs and movies that I like. It's been absolutely wonderful for this! I can vary the tension if I want (even though I rarely do,) vary the speed I do it, or just do a sort of easy up and down motion so that I can enjoy myself and not feel like I'm working hard (I don't particularly like exercising, so it really helps to do something pleasurable while I'm doing it). After 20 minutes or so, even if I'm just kind of doing a gentle up and down, I'm still sweating and definitely derive benefit from it.

You can't beat the price (especially on Amazon) for a portable stair stepper that can really get your heart pumping!

I bought this product over the tv. when it arrived i was discouraged, It was plastic. I used it for about 3 months and I started to notice that I had to inflate the bellows more then once.weird.I then noticed it had a large crack in the bellows next to the base.it wont stay inflated .i cant use it anymore TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY Don't get sucked in like i did.

I have read the instructions several times and I think out of box, my stepper is broken.

I received it and it was already inflated - I was told it would be deflated. So I hit the button to inflate because you're supposed to do that before every use. I got on, after 4 steps it was flat. I got off, reinflated got back on, same results.

There is no toll-free number or email provided on the website. After reading reviews, I found the stepper not staying inflated is a huge problem that many people have.

I purchased this item thinking it would be something easy and fun to do. When I received it - it was inflated (the infomercial said it would not be) so I read the instructions, inflated hit the button to inflate as it recommended. I got on to see how easy it would be to use and it would not hold the air - it kept going flat. So I got off and hit the button following the directions, re-reading them and tried again - same results, it went flat. So then I thought 'well, it wasn't flat when I received it, so I tried to close it up like the manual said and it wouldn't stay closed - it did not. There is no toll free number or email for the manufacturer for me to call - so I guess I have to pay the long distance charges to complain.

Pros: small, portable

Cons: Doesn't stay inflated (so it defeats the whole purpose), cheaply constructed (all plastic), price for what you get

I bought it after seeing the tv infomercial, I was so excited. Once I received it I started using it right away. On the first workout session I had to inflate the belows 4 times in just 20 minutes! The second time I used it, the air began to exit the belows and I couldn't use it anymore! I followed all the instructions listed on the manual but it was impossible. Don't buy it!

I absolutely hated this stepper. It is way overpriced for it feeling so cheap, and even on the highest intensity level, I barely broke a sweat even after 25 minutes on it. It also make a swooshing noise that is extremely obnoxious. Imagine the sound when you blow up a raft, only louder, every time you step! SWOOSH, SWOOSH...SWOOSH, SWOOSH...it will drive you crazy. If you are even in remotely good shape, this will not give you the workout you are looking for. I have tried to give it to my Mom, my sister-in-law and a friend, and every one of them has given it back! I seriously can't get rid of it, that is how bad it is! There are so many other steppers on Amazon that work better and are less expensive.

I've used step climbers before, but this thing just doesn't seem to work at all. I can't seem to work my muscles like it should and is almost awkward to use. I was VERY disappointed.

Broken on arrival TWICE. With the first order, we figured it was just bad luck, and the company sent us another one. The second one came a few weeks ago, and it is broken too. Shards of broken red plastic fell out the box both times. The air bellows, which is what you do the stepping on, have a leak, and will not stay inflated, so the product is useless.

Perhaps worse, the seller has been not responded to us this second time, even after several attempts on our part. It at least seems that they will not take back their defective product, so we will probably get stuck with no refund.