If you’ve ever tackled the 193 steps at London’s Covent Garden station, or heaved an overpacked suitcase up the winding staircase of a charming-but-stubborn Italian Airbnb, you’ll know just how fiercely a simple step can light up your lower body.
Stair climbing has been a staple in the fitness industry for decades. Since the boom of step aerobics in the ‘90s, studies have linked it to better cardiovascular health, increased leg strength, and even longer life expectancy. But it was back in the 1980s that three US entrepreneurs first bottled the magic of stairs, creating what would become one of today’s most beloved cardio machines. Their invention, the Ergometer 6000 (later rebranded as the Stairmaster), quickly gained cult status, and thanks to a resurgence on TikTok, is enjoying a second heyday.
