Does anyone use steppers?

Okay, so I've got myself a ball, a bike, and now I'm looking into a stepper.  I'm wary of what it'll do to my damaged knee, so if anyone uses one, care to share a review?

I don't want to go full-blown stair master, as I have a tiny apartment and big machines scare me, but a simple little on-the-floor, back-of-the-closet type looks ideal.

My ultimate goal is to have a new toy for every day of the week, and I'd rather invest in something my fiance can use later when he sees my gorgeous body and wants one of his own, rather than invest in a gym membership every month for the rest of my life.

Please and thank you. :)

Well, I use the stairmaster everyday I go to the gym. I love it! I used to use the treadmill, eliptical, bike, all of them. I swear by the stairmaster now. It raises your butt and helps to get rid of the cellulite on the back of your legs. Don't know about the stepper though.

Maybe go to walmart and get one of the aerobic steps - I think they include a workout dvd in the package and aren't expensive.  If it turns out you can't do the step because of knee pain you won't be out a lot of money.

I was looking at one of the ones from WalMart.  xD  My present for losing 15 pounds is a new toy to play with, and I've been eyeballing a stepper.

I used to step up and down on an old milk crate, and it did make my bum a little more shapely, but it was a pain in the ass on my knee.  =(  I'm hoping a stepper won't be so much of a big step, and I won't get wobbly stepping back down.

I am thinking the stepper would be a lot better on your knee. Plus if you buy one at Walmart...use it for 30 days, and if you don't like it....you know Walmart refunds anything. Just be sure to keep the reciept.

I purchased a "Hyper Extension" mini stepper from Kmart back in June for $70.  I have been using it for about 20 minutes most days in amongst my routine on the exercise bike and the free weights.

 In the three months that I've had it, I've toned my buttocks and thighs to the point where my legs and bum are quite shapely.  I'm really happy with them.  I find the mini stepper to be low impact and it's very convenient as I live in a small apartment.

 I recommended one to a friend and she was also very happy with her results.  That's my two cents for you.

it depends on what your issue is with your knee.  If you experience pain doing things that excerts force while the knee is bent (example squats), a stepper may not be the best thing for you.  I know I can't use one.  But I experience pain if I peddle my exercise bike three days in a row - I have to figure out to find room for a full size elliptical in the house......

I had a very bad car accident a few years ago and it destroyed all tendons and ligaments in my knee.  I was supposed to get it replaced a year after completing physical therapy, but my health insurance was discontinued so I've been living with the constant dislocation of it since then.

Walking up and down stairs and stepping to the side too suddenly tends to dislocate it, but there've been times when I've dislocated it just standing still.  It's not the most pleasant feeling in the world and it leaves me on the sofa for about a month each time it happens.

Even after my new health insurance starts (whenever I get a job that provides one), I'm still going to wait until after I'm married so I'm not hobbling around Japan on my honeymoon, and so I don't have to wheel down the aisle. 

The boy and I are going to look at steppers today.  I'll tell him that part after work, though.

Thanks everyone!

You can also try looking at used ones. You might be able to get a higher quality one then or a different style. Good luck!