How would a step machine work for cardio compared to an elliptical?

The reason I'm asking is because a family member can sell me a good quality step machine for a very reasonable price, so I'm strongly considering this option right now. I get to borrow it for a few weeks to see how I like it, so I guess I'll be able to answer my own question real soon. I'd still like to hear your opinion though... :)

In a word: boring

I can't imagine doing a full cardio workout on a stepper. Be sure to give do a trial run before you buy.

Would an elliptical be more fun than a stepper? I don't really see any obvious reason why one would be more fun than the other since both involve equally repetetive motions... :confused:

I could borrow it for as long as I wanted before deciding to buy, so I'll get the chance to find out... Might get it as soon as tomorrow actually.

Maybe I could put it in front of the TV to make the workouts more interesting? I just got my new 33" Loewe Stereo TV, might as well put it to good use! :p

VERY DULL!!! I use eliptical/treadmill. Note that both of these recquire arm movement as well

My brother is a big fan of the step machines. After a year or so of using one he can get on it and climb 140 floors. He said he can get on an elliptical and go for a much longer amount of time without getting winded. He prefers the stepper because it is harder.

My wife and I opted for a treadmill and a couple of real bicycles.

I used a stepper a lot while in college, and I really liked it. I wish I had one available to me now. I got to the point where I could go for 45 minutes on it at a pretty good pace. I also have to say that I really liked what it did for my butt! ;)

It's a good thing that you get to try it out for awhile though. Different brands seem to have a different feel to them. I have been on some that are so awkward that I couldn't get a good workout.

I had an operation in my legs when i was 14 that left me with one spike in each thigh. Now after three weeks of workouts with the stairmaster I felt pain in my legs. I switched to the bicycle and then my pain went away. So the stepmachine is definitely not something for me.

Well, I just got the stepper a few hours ago, and being the impatient sort of person I obviously had to try it out at once. I did a 25 minute workout at a good pace on the heaviest setting while watching a documentary about mutant bees on National Geographic channel :D

I got a really great workout! I was drenched in sweat after five minutes, and after twenty minutes I could barely keep up anymore. Although I was planning on 30 minutes I simply had to stop at 25.

In other words I'm really happy with it so far! :) I'll try to do a workout on it every morning from now on and report back on my progress in a week or so...