Body Power StepTrac BST800 Elliptical Stepper

Unit	Size	Supported weight	Drive	Resistance	Console
Body Power BST800 Check Discounted Price	L:42" W:24" H:62"	250 lbs	Belt	Manual magnetic, 8 levels	Time, Distance, Odometer, Speed, RPM, Pulse

The Body Power StepTrac BST800 combines an elliptical trainer and a stepper in one fitness machine. Due to this fact, it offers a slightly different pedaling motion than a standard, front-drive elliptical trainer. But nonetheless, it delivers the same low-impact cardio workout.

Key Features and Specifications

• Assembled dimensions: 42L x 24W x 62H inches (107L x 61W x 157H cm)
• Assembled weight: 88 lbs (40 kg)
• Supported weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
• Adjustable incline: No
• Resistance: Manual magnetic, 8 levels
• Console: Time, distance, odometer, RPM, speed, calories, pulse
• Extras: Tablet holder

Frame construction

The Body Power StepTrac BST800 elliptical stepper features a steel frame with a pretty heavy construction. It will the parts assembled, it weighs approx. 88 lbs (40 kg). Therefore, it is recommended to be carried by two people. The assembly, on the other hand, can be done by only one person. Also, once the unit is assembled, its relocation can be done with ease by only one person. Its front base has a set of wheels while its rear base bar integrates a small lifting handle.

Due to its weight and low center of gravity, the machine provides excellent stability. Plus, its rear base is equipped with adjustable stabilizers, while its front base rests on a set of rubber pads which improve its grip on any type of floor.

The machine is quite compact, compared to a regular, front-drive elliptical trainer. It is only 42″ (107 cm) long, and 24″ (61 cm) wide. Therefore, it doesn’t take too much space. But on the other hand, it is recommended to leave at least two feet of clearance all around it for ease of access and safe usage.

The machine combines cylindrical, rectangular, and triangular bars in its construction for improves aesthetics and sturdiness. All the steel parts are coated with a corrosion-resistant paint finish. The color used for most of the parts is metallic gray.

The unit also integrates several ABS parts in its construction. For example, the covers of the drive elements, the pedal trays, and several other small covers are ABS-made.

Like most other front-drive elliptical trainers, the Body Power StepTrac BST800 is equipped with two sets of handlebars, one fixed and one mobile. The fixed handlebars are directly attached to the front mast of the trainer. They’re non-adjustable; they feature rubberized grips and metallic pulse sensors. Therefore, the console can monitor your pulse.

The moving arms of the machine feature long, rubberized grips. As opposed to the fixed bars, they don’t integrate EKG sensors. However, they do have ball grips at the top, a feature that not all ellipticals offer.

Elliptical path, stride, and step-up height

First of all, the Body Power StepTrac BST800 does not have an incline system. However, since it’s an elliptical-stepper hybrid, its pedal track system is oblique, not horizontal. It is set at an angle of approx. 40°. Therefore, the unit’s elliptical path is inclined as well, and the pedaling motion combines the feel of a stepper and an elliptical.

The machine’s pedal bars are steel-made while the pedal trays are made of durable ABS material. They’re rated for a user weight capacity of 250 lbs (113 kg). They don’t have any extra cushioning or articulation elements like the more expensive ellipticals, such as the ProForm Endurance 920 E. However, they do have a textured, non-slip surface, and side guards for extra foot stability. They’re also pretty large, approx. 13″ (33 cm), so they can accommodate athletic shoes of all sizes.

The pedal bars integrate large wheels (one each) with a rubberized outer layer and an internal ball bearing. The tracks on which these wheels slide feature stainless steel covers to prevent the wear-and-tear of the pain. These being said, the motion of the pedals is smooth and quiet.

The exact stride length made available by the Body Power StepTrac machine isn’t specified. But as a general idea, it is comparable with other similar trainers, such as the ProGear 9900. It should be somewhere between 7″ and 10″ (17 – 25 cm). This being said, the machine does not provide the ample movement that a regular elliptical with a 20″ (51 cm) of stride offers. But on the other hand, depending on your posture, resistance setting, and several other factors, you can still benefit from a very consistent workout.

The pedal step-up height is approx. 5″ (12 cm). Also, when they’re at the lowest position, the pedals are slightly inclined backward which makes stepping on them much easier, especially when coming from the back of the machine. Conversely, at their highest point, the pedals are at approx. 16″ (40 cm). These being said, it is recommended to use the machine in a room with a ceiling that is at least 20″-25″ (51-63 cm) higher than your own height.

Drive and resistance

The Body Power StepTrac BST800 has a slightly different drive system than other elliptical trainers. To begin with, it is equipped with a large flywheel, similar to the ones in spin bikes. The flywheel is only partially covered. It is also perimeter-weighted which adds inertia and consistency to the pedaling motion.

The exact weight of the flywheel is not specified, but given its size, it is probably similar to the average weight of spin bike flywheel (between 30-40 lbs / 13-18 kg). It is also bi-directional; in other words, the machine allows pedaling in reverse.

The BST800 elliptical stepper is equipped with a manual magnetic resistance system. Therefore, you don’t have to connect it to an external power source. This also means that its console cannot automatically adjust the resistance and does not have preset workout programs.

The machine’s resistance system consists of an internal magnetic brake connected to the tension dial on the front upright bar. By turning this dial clockwise, the brake moves closer to the flywheel, increasing the pedaling difficulty.

The unit provides 8 distinct tension levels. The lowest one provides a fairly light pedal tension, basically powered only by the weight of the flywheel. Conversely, the 8th tension level delivers considerably more resistance, great for achieving a higher cardiovascular rate in a shorter period of time, and provides a more intense workout.

Last but not least, the Body Power BST800 elliptical stepper features a belt drive system. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about internal lubrication as it would be the case for a machine with a chain drive. Also, the belt delivers a very smooth and quiet motion.

Console

As we’ve mentioned above, the console included with the Body Power StepTrac BST800 elliptical stepper does not have preset workout programs, and cannot control the unit’s resistance adjustment. It also does not have Bluetooth or online connectivity. It’s basically just an exercise meter.

The console is equipped with a 3.5″ LCD display which tracks time, distance, total distance, speed, RPM, calories, and pulse. Speed and distance are shown in mph and miles. The pulse rating can only be monitored via the metallic sensors integrated into the machine’s fixed handlebars. The console does not have an internal HRC receiver and cannot communicate with an HR chest strap, armband or smartwatch.

The console is pretty easy to use. It has four buttons; these are Mode, Reset, and Up/Down selection arrows. The Mode button allows you to scroll through the workout metrics and select the one that you want to view on the display. However, the unit also has a Scan Mode which, if selected, automatically rotates all the metrics showing each one for a few seconds.

The Up/Down arrows allow you to select targets for time, distance, and calories. And finally, the Reset button gives you the possibility to clear all the values on the unit to zero.

The console is battery-powered and the batteries are included. It starts up when you press the mode button or when you begin pedaling. It also automatically shuts down after a few minutes of inactivity on the machine, to save battery life.

One last notable feature with regards to the machine’s console is the tablet holder. This accessory consists of a small shelf right above the LCD display. Also, the top section of the console unit has two layers of non-slip material so that your tablet or smartphone won’t slide off.

Assembly and Maintenance

Although the main body of the machine with the flywheel, belt, and resistance elements comes pre-assembled, the rest of the parts still require user assembly. Therefore, you will have to attach the unit’s base bars, the pedals, front mast and tension cable, moving arms, fixed handlebars, and console. This may take up to two hours, but the manual provides fairly clear assembly instructions. Also, all the necessary tools for assembly are included.

As we’ve mentioned above, the internal parts of the machine shouldn’t require any maintenance for a long period of time. Therefore, you only need to check for loose parts and lubricate the joints if necessary.

The Pros

• Solid frame with a low center of gravity for extra stability;
• Compact design – does not take too much space;
• Adjustable stabilizers on the rear base;
• Transport wheels on the front base;
• Durable, non-slip pedals;
• Fixed and mobile handlebars;
• Ball grips on the moving handlebars;
• Pulse sensors integrated into the fixed handlebars;
• Heavy, perimeter-weighted flywheel;
• Inclined elliptical path, combining the motion of a stepper with the one of an elliptical trainer;
• Zero-friction magnetic resistance system with 8 difficulty levels available;
• LCD display console which can track time, distance, total distance, speed, RPM, calories, and pulse;
• Batteries for the console are included;
• Tablet holder included;
• Silent operation;
• Fairly easy to assemble;
• All the assembly tools are included;
• Very little maintenance required.

The Cons

• The console display does not have backlight;
• No bottle holder.

Summary

The Body Power StepTrac BST800 is a 2-in-1 stepper and elliptical trainer. It features a manual magnetic resistance system with 8 levels, a heavy flywheel for a consistent momentum, and a console that can track all the important workout metrics. It’s an excellent machine for light to intense cardio workouts, recovery training, stamina development, muscle toning, and weight loss.