StairMaster
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fitness equipment |
| Founded | January 1, 1983 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
| Founder | Lanny Potts, Jim Walker, George Schupp |
| Headquarters | Tulsa , United States |
| Products | Stair climbing machines, TreadClimber cardio devices, dumbbell sets |
| Parent | Core Health and Fitness (since 2009) |
| Website | www |
StairMaster is a U.S.-based manufacturer focused on the design and production of fitness equipment, such as stair climbing machines, TreadClimber cardio devices, and dumbbell sets. The brand has achieved such market prominence that the term "StairMaster" is frequently used generically to describe step climbing equipment.
History
Established in 1983 by Lanny Potts, Jim Walker, and George Schupp as part of Tri-Tech, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, StairMaster introduced its first rotating staircase machine, the StairMaster 5000, at the National Sporting Goods Association trade exhibition. The following year, it was succeeded by the StairMaster 6000, which featured a digital display for workout tracking. Later, the StairMaster 4000 debuted with adjustable pedals designed to better mimic stair climbing.
After securing a patent in 1987, StairMaster encountered competition and legal disputes, including a 1991 infringement lawsuit against Tru-Trac Therapy Products. By 1989, the cost-effective StairMaster 4000 had become the company’s top-selling model, lauded for its engaging on-screen feedback. That same year marked the introduction of the Gravitron, a machine aimed at enhancing upper body strength that quickly gained traction in gyms despite its sophisticated mechanics.
In 1992, Tri-Tech merged with Randal Sports / Medical Products and rebranded as Stairmaster Sports / Medical Products. The company changed ownership multiple times thereafter: sold to Gardenway, Inc. in 1995 and later acquired by private equity firm Rutledge Partners in 1997.
Nautilus, Inc., known for Bowflex and Schwinn Bicycle Company brands, purchased StairMaster in 2002 amid its growth phase. However, during the Great Recession (2007–2010), Nautilus experienced nearly $225 million in revenue losses, leading to StairMaster’s sale to Core Health and Fitness in 2009 as Nautilus’s stock value dropped significantly.
A Wall Street Journal article from 2016 highlighted that many fitness centers were replacing StairMasters with "Stepmills," referencing Ecofit data showing Stepmills were utilized eighteen times more often due to their shorter and more intense exercise sessions. In response to this shift, StairMaster launched its own stepmill model named "The Gauntlet."
Product timeline
StepMill
1983 – StairMaster 5000
1984 – StairMaster 6000
1988 – Gauntlet
1991 – StepMill 7000PT
2008 – StepMill 916 (SM916)
2011 – StepMill 5 (SM5)
2012 – StepMill 3 (SM3)
StairClimber
1986 – StairMaster 4000 PT
1998 – StairMaster 4400 PT & CL
1999 – StairMaster 4600 PT & CL
2008 – StairClimber 916 (SC916)
2011 – StairClimber 5 (SC5)
Gravitron
1989 – Gravitron 8000
1997 – Gravitron 2000 AT
Additional products
2011 – TwistLock Dumbbells
2013 – TreadClimber