3 Best Stairmaster Workouts to Burn Fat

When it comes to calorie-burning cardio, few names carry the same reputation as StairMaster. As part of the Core Health & Fitness family of brands, StairMaster machines have become icons of intensity, delivering heart-pounding workouts that challenge the lower body like no other.

Justin Campbell

Over 20 years working in commercial gym equipment, Justin specializes in connected fitness technology and AI wellness solutions.

At Gym Tech, we curate StairMaster machines alongside other Core Health & Fitness innovations, including the Throwdown HIIT Rower and HIIT Ski. Together, these tools form a powerful trio for clients who want fat-burning results in a luxury home gym or boutique facility.

Here are three of the most effective workouts for fat loss, powered by StairMaster and Core Health & Fitness.

1. The StairMaster Climb — 4G & Stairway GTL

The StairMaster 4G and Stairway GTL are two of the brand’s most effective machines for calorie-torching lower-body workouts.

  • StairMaster 4G: Compact but powerful, the 4G brings the legendary StepMill workout into spaces where traditional machines won’t fit. Its low-impact stair climb delivers a consistent calorie burn that rivals any cardio machine.
  • Stairway GTL: Featuring a unique closed-loop control system, the Stairway GTL maintains speed even as fatigue sets in, forcing you to push harder and maximize calorie output.

Why it works for fat burn:
Climbing stairs demands major effort from the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves—the largest muscle groups in your body. The result: a 150-pound person can burn approximately 544 calories per hour on a StairMaster machine.

Sample Interval Workout:

  • Warm-up: 2 minutes at low speed
  • 5 minutes at moderate pace
  • 1 minute sprint climb (high speed)
  • Repeat 5–7 rounds
  • Cool down: 2 minutes easy pace

This mix of steady climbs and sprints maximizes fat burn while building endurance and strength.

2. The Full-Body Burn — Throwdown HIIT Rower

To complement the lower-body focus of the StairMaster, Core Health & Fitness created the Throwdown HIIT Rower, a powerhouse of calorie expenditure.

Why it works for fat burn:
Rowing recruits up to 86% of the body’s muscles in one motion, engaging the legs, back, arms, and core. The HIIT Rower uses fan-based resistance that adapts to your output, making it perfect for high-intensity intervals.

Sample HIIT Workout:

  • Warm-up: 500m at easy pace
  • 30 seconds max effort
  • 60 seconds rest
  • Repeat 10–12 rounds
  • 3-minute cooldown

Short, explosive intervals maximize calorie burn during the workout while elevating your metabolism for hours afterward.

3. The Upper-Body Torch — Throwdown HIIT Ski

Cross-country skiing inspired the design of the Throwdown HIIT Ski, delivering one of the few cardio options that truly emphasizes the upper body.

Why it works for fat burn:
The HIIT Ski targets the arms, shoulders, core, and back while incorporating a hinge-like motion in the legs. This full-body demand leads to high calorie expenditure, making it an efficient fat-loss tool.

Sample Workout:

  • Warm-up: 2 minutes easy ski pace
  • 1 minute high-resistance ski
  • 1 minute active rest
  • Repeat 8–10 rounds
  • Cool down: 2 minutes at easy pace

By focusing on the upper body, this workout complements StairMaster climbs and rowing sessions, giving your fat-loss routine balance and variety.

The Science Behind StairMaster & HIIT Machines

What ties these workouts together is their ability to create a calorie deficit through:

  • Large Muscle Recruitment: Engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
  • High Intensity, Low Impact: Demanding workouts that remain joint-friendly.
  • Interval Potential: Perfect for structured training that spikes heart rate, then recovers.
  • Afterburn Effect: Post-workout calorie burn stays elevated, maximizing fat loss.

StairMaster and Core Health & Fitness machines excel in these areas, making them staples in any results-driven cardio plan.

Why Gym Tech for StairMaster & Core Health & Fitness Equipment

At Gym Tech, we don’t just provide machines, we design the entire luxury fitness experience. As a trusted partner of Core Health & Fitness, we bring clients access to the StairMaster brand and more.

Here’s how we help elevate your training space:

By integrating StairMaster cardio with complementary Core Health & Fitness machines, Gym Tech creates home gyms and boutique facilities that rival elite training centers.

Your Next-Level Fat-Burning Experience Starts Here

The StairMaster machine delivers one of the most intense lower-body cardio workouts available, but fat-burning doesn’t stop there. By pairing StairMaster’s iconic climbs with the Throwdown HIIT Rower and HIIT Ski, you create a versatile, full-body fat-loss program that keeps training engaging and effective.

With Gym Tech’s expertise in design, installation, and ongoing service, these machines become part of a seamless fitness experience that feels as motivating as it is results-driven.

Contact Gym Tech Fitness today to explore StairMaster solutions for your home or facility.