The Hudson Steel New Yorker and Regatta — Two New Reasons to Look Past the Online Brands
Stepmills are the hottest cardio category in the market right now — and for good reason. Nothing else delivers the same caloric burn, lower body engagement, and genuine athletic conditioning in a compact footprint. The demand is real, the waitlists at commercial gyms are real, and the online brands trying to capitalize on that demand are also very real — and largely not worth your money.
ConnectFit has carried Hudson Steel for three years, and if you know the backstory, you understand why we added them. Hudson Steel was started in 2007 by Fabio Ravasi to serve clients at Fitness Showrooms with the highest quality products he could source, products he had been unable to find among the major brands he had been selling since 1992. The factory distribution center is in Poughkeepsie, New York. Parts are stocked there, and the support is real. In the three years we have carried them, we have needed parts twice. Both times they were overnighted from Poughkeepsie. That is the difference between a brand with a real distribution infrastructure and one fulfilling orders from a warehouse in another country with no domestic parts stock and 8 weeks waiting times
Both the New Yorker and the Regatta are part of Hudson Steel's Reserve Gold Label — the top of their line. They are dealer-only products. Like other top brands, you cannot buy them online. You need to see them, try them, and understand what you are getting.
The Hudson Steel New Yorker — The Best Stepmill Under $7000
The stair climber category is dominated by commercial brands at the top and a collection of underpowered residential substitutes that simulate climbing without actually delivering it. The New Yorker lands in serious territory at a price that makes it the most compelling stepmill on the market for residential and light commercial use.
What it does differently:
The New Yorker runs on a dual EMS electromagnetic resistance system — not a friction brake. Electromagnetic resistance means consistent, quiet, smooth output at every level. It offers 25 speed levels from 20 to 164 steps per minute, with a 35-degree stair incline, seven total steps, and three effective climbing stages. This is a genuine StepMill, not an online toy or stepper.
This machine is super durable. The frame is built to hold up, the cast iron pulley runs on a belt drive, and the EMS system eliminates the friction wear that degrades cheaper machines. It is also ultra-quiet, compared to a normal stepmill. The dual electromagnetic system produces no friction noise, which matters in a home environment where most stepmill alternatives sound like construction equipment.
The safety configuration is comprehensive: a 4-color safety breathing indicator light, a no-load auto-lock system, dual emergency stop, a pressure safety switch, and a light sensor system. Serious safety. Widened non-slip foot pedals and ergonomic handrails with quick-access start/stop and speed controls on the left and right grips respectively. For a category where users are stepping at height with real load on their joints, this level of safety engineering is not just a luxury.
The 15.6-inch LED is simple, but easy to use, tracks all workout metrics, integrates hand-grip heart rate monitoring, and includes wireless charging. There are 6 programs included. The machine weighs 311 pounds and supports users up to 397 pounds across a height range of 4'11" to 6'11".
Specifications:
- Model: CS201ES
- Resistance: Dual EMS Electromagnetic, 25 levels
- Step range: 20–164 steps per minute
- Stair incline: 35°
- Total steps / effective climbing stages: 7 / 3
- Step platform: 17.3" × 9.8"
- Step height: 6.9"
- Pulley: Cast iron, 13.90" diameter
- Drive: Belt drive
- User height range: 4'11" to 6'11"
- Max user weight: 397 lbs
- Display: 15.6" LED, wireless charging, heart rate monitoring
- Safety: Dual emergency stop, no-load auto-lock, light sensor, pressure switch
- Dimensions: 57.9" L × 28.2" W × 75.4" H
- Net weight: 311 lbs
- Power: AC 110V–220V
- Warranty: 10 years frame, 5 years brake, 5 years parts, 1 year labor
Price: $5,999 — in-store only.
The Hudson Steel Regatta — Rowing Named for a Reason
The Regatta is named to commemorate the famous collegiate rowing race held on the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York, every June from 1895 to 1949, one of the great American sporting traditions of its era. Hudson Steel's factory and distribution center is in Poughkeepsie. The name is not marketing. It is geography and history.
The Regatta uses fan resistance as its primary system, so the harder you pull, the more the flywheel resists, creating a natural and intuitive feel that mirrors actual rowing on water. On top of that, a super-strong electronic brake gives you 32 levels of precise resistance control across the full range from beginner to advanced. That combination of fan resistance and e-brake is what separates the Regatta from cheaper machines that rely on one or the other, you get the natural feel of fan rowing plus the controlled adjustability of a managed resistance system.
The flywheel is a 9.45-inch cast iron unit weighing 7.7 pounds with an NMB 6000 bearing — a specific, verifiable component, not a vague marketing claim. The rail is full aluminum alloy, which delivers a smooth, quiet glide without the flex or drag you get from cheaper materials. The dual belt drive adds another layer of smooth, quiet operation.
The seat is an oversized high-rebound memory PU foam cushion built for long sessions. Foot pedals are adjustable to protect ankle alignment through the stroke. The nylon pull strap has been tested through hundreds of thousands of tension cycles. The machine stores vertically and rolls on PU wheel casters, a meaningful practical feature for any home gym or training room with limited floor space.
Specifications:
- Model: 205E-M
- Resistance: Fan resistance + 32-level electronic brake
- Flywheel: 9.45" cast iron, 7.7 lbs, NMB 6000 bearing
- Rail: Full aluminum alloy
- Drive: Dual belt drive
- Seat: Oversized high-rebound memory PU foam
- Pedals: Adjustable, ankle-protective
- User height range: 4'11" to 6'11"
- Max user weight: 330 lbs
- Net weight: 106 lbs
- Storage: Vertical upright
- Warranty: 10 years frame, 3 years parts, 1 year labor
Price: $2,199 — in-store only.
At $2,199 with a 10-year frame warranty, fan-plus-e-brake resistance, a full aluminum rail, and parts overnighted from Poughkeepsie when needed, the Regatta competes with machines that cost significantly more and come with significantly less backing.
Why Hudson Steel at ConnectFit
There is a version of both these machines you can find online for less money. There is also a version where the manufacturer has no showroom, no service infrastructure, and no parts in stock when something goes wrong in year two.
Hudson Steel has 75 showrooms nationwide. Every part is stocked at the Poughkeepsie distribution center. In three years of carrying their line, we have needed parts twice. Both times they were overnighted. ConnectFit carries the full Hudson Reserve Gold Label line, delivers with our own team, and installs every piece ourselves — no subcontractors.
You can see the New Yorker and the Regatta at ConnectFit in Newton, Massachusetts. Reach out here to set up a time, or come in and try them.
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