I am so glad I purchased this! I was a bit worried about the squeaking people seemed to have occasionally mentioned. Some have said WD-40 works perfectly, so I'll be using that if the time comes. I'd like to add that the booklet it comes with also mentions that it should be greased up about once a month. So to any of you who are experiencing squeaking, or are afraid of it, there's an easy fix! Now onto the review!
Assembly: This was super easy to put together. The only thing you have to do is lift a pedal from the edge closest to you, then attach the cord onto the pulley beneath it. Then screw in the tension knob. The tracker comes with a battery, so put that in, then you slide the tracker onto the thin stick piece in-between the two pedals. The rubber bands clip-and-screw onto loops above the pedals. It took less than 2 minutes to put together!
Workout: It definitely gets your heart racing after just a minute of stepping. The machine resembles walking up the stairs, rather than running like a full-size elliptical simulates. The machine gives a great cardio workout without damaging your joints. I normally like to run 3 miles every other day, but this will be replacing that since I want to spare my knees and hips. The resistance bands add to arm training as well, and I really like that. The lowest tension setting is probably enough for most people to get a solid workout. As you're standing on it, you have to push your feet down, but not too hard. Once you get momentum going, it'll feel like you're running up some stairs. I'm 108 pounds, so maybe it's just because I don't add a lot of weight onto the pedals, but I personally really like having to push my legs down to get it to move. This isn't like an exercise bike with the lowest tension where sometimes the pedals move before you do! It's not hard, though. I don't want to discourage anyone from buying this. If you've been on any sort of elliptical, you'll probably know what I mean. But at the same time, I don't think this would work if you're sitting down.
(Side-note) I can work out for an hour and experience no problem. If you got the booklet that says 15 minutes, the actual company says to ignore that, and do your workout for as long as you'd like.
Size: It's bigger than I thought, but it's not a problem to store away. It's short enough to store under beds and maybe some couches, and definitely small enough to put in a closet. And if you must, you can always stack things on top of it if you're low on space.
Overall, I really like this product. I'm glad I purchased it. I will definitely purchase another one if I have to at some point!
UPDATE: I have thousands of steps on this thing already, and no squeak! I generally workout for an hour, sometimes one and a half, so ignore the 15 minute disclaimer from the booklet. I'm a tiny person anyway, but I was so surprised when I lost a half-inch in my waist and a full inch in my thighs! This thing is probably my greatest purchase in a long time. It's so easy on my joints and I'm very grateful for that. Just a little tip though, it takes a minute for it to warm up. It might seem a bit stiff at first, but it's loosened in less than a song's length! BUY THIS.
| Brand | Sunny Health & Fitness |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Material | Alloy Steel, Plastic |
| Number of Batteries | 2 AAA batteries required. (included) |
| Product Dimensions | 18.7"L x 17.1"W x 13.9"H |
| Item Weight | 26.5 Pounds |
| Weight Limit | 330 Pounds |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 20.5 x 17.9 x 9.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 14.76 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 18.7 x 17.1 x 13.9 inches |
| Brand Name | Sunny Health & Fitness |
| Warranty Description | 1 year structural frame / 180 days other parts and components |
| Model Name | SF-S021054 |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | Sunny Health & Fitness |
| Part Number | SF-S021054 |
| Style | Heavy Duty |
| Included Components | Stepper, Resistance Bands, User Manual |
| Size | One Size |
