Escape Fitness USA RISER Platform for Step Aerobic Cardio and Plyometric Workouts

Step and plyometric exercise is a great way to bring workouts that build cardio and muscular endurance into your exercise program. Plyometrics is also great for building long, lean muscles. Now, Escape Fitness has taken the nearly 30-year old step platform concept and brought it right up to date.

The RISER is a compact step platform that works brilliantly on its own, and with other RISERs to create multiple step targets or to add extra height to your moves. You can also partner RISERs with the Escape STEP platform as part of a system designed by step exercise experts and engineers to give you the best possible step experience.

The RISER delivers on strength, versatility and performance. It may be compact, but it’s wide enough to provide a stable and big enough platform for stepping. It really comes to life when you make the most of its octagonal shape. The RISER can be approached from every direction, so you can do great 360-degree moves that are impossible on a large rectangular step.

One RISER is at the ideal stepping height of 4.2”. But you can add height for plyometric exercises by stacking more than one RISER, or by using them to raise the height of an Escape STEP platform. Add to the system whenever you want, either as your fitness progresses or to give you extra versatility and variety to keep your workouts fresh.

Things get really impressive when you use more than one RISER to create multiple platform targets. Place two RISERs a few feet apart and travel between them to add extra movement and excitement to the workout. In workouts to music, you can increase the distance between the two RISERs but move between them on the same beat, motivating you to pick up the intensity. You can spread even more RISERs – how about three in a triangle, or four in a square? The possibilities are almost endless.

Another great feature of the RISER are the channels that allow you to add resistance tube exercises to your workouts. These channels allow the resistance tubes to slide freely through the channels, so there’s nothing to stop you moving into the positions you want to reach.

To make sure you get off to a great start with your RISER workouts, you can watch the 11-part ‘how-to’ series of videos on the Escape Fitness YouTube channel. Then download the free Escape Your Limits fitness app to access workouts and exercises to help you get the most out of your RISER.

From the manufacturer

The Escape RISER has proved itself in fitness and health clubs around the world. From personal trainer sessions to large studio workouts, it’s a high-quality platform that delivers on durability, functionality and style. It’s designed for maximum performance, with features designed for your comfort and safety, and with your fitness goals in mind. A great example is the way that the top mat is heat welded to the platform, and not just glued as is the case on many other platform products. It’s this attention to detail throughout that means you can use the RISER in confidence, time and again for years to come.

Intelligent-grip top mat

The RISER top surface changes across the mat to provide varying degrees of resistance required for different types of exercise. This includes extra grip where it’s needed for faster moves and a smoother surface where you are more likely to be rotating your feet, and where your hands are usually placed.

Anatomic hot spot

On the top surface of the RISER is a bright green ring in the centre of the platform. This is a useful target to aim at, especially when performing dynamic ‘across the top’ moves. Being able to see the optimum foot position helps you perform your moves safely and with confidence.

Rubber feet for stability

Step-style workouts are full of fast, dynamic movements. This is why it’s essential that platforms don’t slip around on the floor. The thermoplastic rubber feet on the RISER give excellent grip, even on wooden floors that can be especially prone to platform movement. Thermoplastic rubber is also known for its superior shock absorbing qualities, and is less likely to leave a mark on flooring than natural rubber.

Add height or create an incline platform

Working out with one RISER at four inches high has awesome potential. Anyone from beginner upwards can feel the benefit or working out at this height. But having a set of these great mini-steps means you can build a stack for even greater challenge and results. Stack RISERs together to further develop flexibility, stamina and leg strength. We recommend a maximum stack of four RISERs, which creates a platform that’s 11 ½ inches high to deliver real challenge and intensity.

The Escape RISER is of course one half of a great duo of products, with the STEP platform completing the system. You can use pairs of RISERs to add height to a STEP. Plus, you can position one or two RISERs underneath one end of a STEP to create an incline to deliver an extra challenge or to target your hamstrings. This same setting transforms the STEP into a bench for working out with freeweights – another way that the system supports varied workouts embracing multiple training styles.

Secure stacking

You need complete confidence in a system’s stability and safety when stacking platforms for your workouts. This is guaranteed with this system because when connecting STEPs together, or STEPs with RISERs, all it takes is a firm push to snap units securely together. And when you’re finished you can carry your stack of RISERs as one unit and store it away until your next workout.

Resistance tube channels

Another feature of the RISER is the addition of location channels for resistance tubes. Just pass your tube through the channel and your weight on the platform will give you a very secure connection. With this feature, you can mix up step, plyometric and resistance tube exercise in a circuit-style workout.

Grab your phone for STEP and RISER workouts with the Escape Your Limits fitness app

Now there’s support for anyone working out with Escape’s functional training equipment – including the Escape STEP and RISER – in the gym, outdoors, at work or at home. Available as a free download for Apple IOS and Android, the Escape Your Limits fitness app provides you with workouts and exercises to help you get the most out of your training tools. Download the app and watch the exercise videos while listening to the music of your choice from iTunes.

Comprehensive guidance in Escape’s how-to videos

Visit the Escape Fitness YouTube channel to see access a comprehensive 11-part series of ‘how-to’ STEP and RISER videos. These videos give you extensive information on how to set up and use this system, including safety ‘do’s and don’ts’.

Developed by experts

The RISER is brought to you by Escape Fitness, the leaders in functional training solutions. Escape designs and manufactures commercial-grade fitness equipment for frequent use in demanding environments. So when you choose Escape products for your own workouts, you can be confident that you’ll have tools that will deliver brilliantly in terms of performance and long-term durability.

The first choice for over 1,000 health clubs from 80-plus countries across the globe, you’ll see Escape products in the most prestigious clubs, including 24 Hour Fitness, UFC Gyms, Equinox, Virgin Active, Fitness First, LA Fitness and David Lloyd. Used by the top trainers in the industry, our products look good and deliver optimal performance and the results they need for their clients.

The STEP and RISER story

To create the very best platform system solution, Escape Fitness commissioned a team of experts to help navigate through the development process and assist in the innovation of a new platform to meet the needs of today’s consumer. The first addition to the team was Steve Barrett. Steve is an independent product development consultant who has been involved in the creation of unique, innovative products for the likes of Reebok, Adidas and other blue chip fitness brands.

Our second appointment was the formation of a strategic partnership with Progressive Sports Technologies. They operate from the Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University, UK, the world’s largest sports technology research group focused on mechanical and manufacturing engineering. They have state-of-the-art laboratories and resources and long-term partnerships with leading brands including Nike, Puma, Adidas and Reebok. The result of the collaborative approach is the STEP and RISER system: a multi-configurable platform solution that can be used for home exercise, and in step classes, bootcamps and group circuit training.

Product Features

• The perfect workout platform for multi-directional step workouts that can’t be done on a regular step product
• A super-compact design means it’s easy to store and Use in the home; it’s also ideal for taking to the office or anywhere you want to have a fun and effective workout on the move
• Bring two or more risers together to create a multi-platform System, moving from riser to riser, or stacking them for high-stepping moves and plyometrics
• Risers securely click together when stacking, so as well as working out with them in this configuration it makes them easier to carry around and store between workouts
• Get support from ‘how-to’ videos on the escape fitness youtube channel and work out with the escape your limits app; watch the exercise videos while listening to the music of your choice