The Equipment System Cameron Hanes and Joe Rogan Actually Workout With

When Cameron Hanes steps onto a piece of equipment, people pay attention.

Not because he is chasing aesthetics. Not because he is following a trend. But because Cameron Hanes is one of the most disciplined, battle tested endurance athletes alive, and every tool that earns a place in his training has passed a filter that most equipment simply cannot clear.

That equipment is the STEPR VPR™ TREADSLED XL. And the environment he is using it in is a Leonyx Environmental Wellness hypoxic studio, one of the most advanced training environments available to elite performers anywhere in the world.

This is not a sponsored mention. This is a man who runs 240 mile ultramarathons, hunts elk in remote mountain terrain, and has spent his entire adult life building the body of an apex predator, choosing STEPR VPR™ as part of how he trains.

Here is why that matters, and why it matters for you. (View Instagram Post)

Who Cameron Hanes actually is

If you have not come across Cameron Hanes before, the bio alone tells the story. Born in Eugene, Oregon, Hanes has built a career around a single philosophy: Keep Hammering. That phrase is not a slogan. It is a daily operating system.

He has completed the Moab 240, a 240 mile race across mountain terrain considered one of the most gruelling foot races on the planet. He has run the Western States 100. He lifts seven days a week without rest. He maintains daily bow practice. He is a bowhunter who hunts elk in country that would break most people before they reached the starting line, and he trains year round so that when he gets there, he is ready for anything the mountain throws at him.

His training philosophy is "Lift, Run, Shoot." His belief is that a hunter should be an athlete and an athlete should be a hunter. He has no interest in shortcuts, no patience for equipment that underdelivers, and no reason to associate his name with anything that does not hold up to genuine, serious use.

When Cameron Hanes is using your equipment in a hypoxic wellness studio, that is not a casual endorsement. That is validation from someone whose standards are harder to meet than most certifications.



The Joe Rogan moment that changed everything

Before Cameron was filmed training with the STEPR VPR™ TREADSLED XL at Leonyx, STEPR was already in Joe Rogan's gym.

On JRE Episode #2426, Joe Rogan, Cameron Hanes and Adam Greentree spoke about the STEPR Bionic Bike XL, the VPR™ powered air bike that had found its way into Rogan's personal training setup. Joe's verdict was direct: "That bike you sent me is f***ing awesome." He compared it to the Echo Bike, the industry benchmark for air resistance training, and added: "It's like the Echo Bike, but times two." Then: "That thing RULES."

Those are not careful, measured marketing words. Those are the words of a man who trains seriously, has tried everything, and found something genuinely different that feels different.

What makes the Bionic Bike XL different is VPR™ technology. And VPR™ is the same technology that runs through the TREADSLED XL that Cameron Hanes is now using in the Leonyx hypoxic studio.

What VPR™ actually does

VPR™ stands for Variable Pitch Resistance, and it represents a fundamental rethinking of how air resistance cardio equipment should work.

Traditional air bikes and fan based cardio machines use a fixed fan configuration. Resistance increases as you go harder, which sounds intuitive, until you realise it creates a ceiling. At a certain point, you either maintain a pace that keeps the resistance in the range you want, or you push through it and lose control of the training zone you are targeting.

VPR™ changes the physics. By physically adjusting the pitch of the fan blades through a dial, STEPR VPR™ equipment gives you more than 100 seamless resistance levels that you can set and hold regardless of your output speed. That means the machine adapts to your training, not the other way around. You control the intensity. The intensity does not control you.

For someone like Cameron Hanes, training in conditions that already stress the cardiovascular system beyond normal parameters, that level of precision is not a luxury. It is a training requirement.

Who else is training with VPR™

Elite athletes like Cameron Hanes and Joe Rogan represent one end of the VPR™ user spectrum. But the technology's versatility means it reaches far beyond that.

Endurance athletes and outdoor performers use VPR™ equipment to build the aerobic base that transfers directly to performance in the field, whether that is a mountain hunt, a trail run, or a multi sport event. The controllable resistance means they can structure Zone 2 sessions, threshold work, and HIIT intervals on the same machine without the resistance ceiling limiting their programming. 

Rehabilitation patients and clinical users benefit from VPR™ because the resistance can be set low enough for gentle cardiovascular work without joint loading. Air resistance training has no eccentric load, meaning the muscles work concentrically without the landing impact of running or the compressive load of stair climbing. For people rebuilding cardiovascular fitness after injury, surgery, or illness, that profile is clinically valuable.

Longevity focused users find VPR™ equipment ideal for the sustained, moderate intensity training that supports cardiovascular health and healthy aging. The ability to hold a precise Zone 2 intensity for 30 to 60 minutes without the resistance drifting or the machine forcing pace changes makes it one of the most effective tools available for long-term metabolic health.

General fitness users who want the feel of a commercial grade air resistance workout at home now have access to a machine that performs at a level previously unavailable outside professional facilities.

The VPR™ range and what pairs with it

The STEPR VPR™ range spans five machines, each built around the same core technology.

The TREADSLED is what Cameron Hanes is using at Leonyx. A full body conditioning machine that combines the drive mechanics of a sled push with air resistance, it is built for athletes who train at the edge of what conventional cardio can offer.

The Bionic Bike is the machine Joe Rogan called the Echo Bike times two. A full body air bike with dual position handlebars and 100 plus resistance levels. The Cycle provides the same VPR™ technology in a lower body cycling format. The Ski delivers a full body ski erg movement with VPR™ resistance. The Rower brings VPR™ precision to rowing.

Pair any of these with the STEPR Stair Climbing Range for lower body power and cardiovascular conditioning that transfers directly to endurance and peak performance. Add the ALL-IN RUCK for loaded carries that build functional endurance. Bring in the TREAD Range with QuickPace™ technology for pace specific running and walking work.

In a hypoxic wellness studio, that ecosystem creates a complete training environment at every intensity. In a home gym, it creates the most sophisticated cardio setup available without a commercial facility.

Why Cameron Hanes using STEPR matters:

The point is not that you need to train like Cameron Hanes. Very few people do or should.

The point is that Cameron Hanes, a man who applies the same standards to his training equipment that he applies to his bow, his form, and his preparation, has chosen STEPR VPR™. That choice says something about what the machine is capable of, and it says something about the gap between STEPR VPR™ and what most cardio equipment offers.

Joe Rogan said it first. Cameron Hanes is saying it now with every session on VPR™ inside that hypoxic studio.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

What STEPR equipment is Cameron Hanes using?
Cameron Hanes has been filmed training with the STEPR VPR™ TREADSLED XL inside a Leonyx Environmental Wellness hypoxic studio. The TREADSLED XL is part of STEPR's VPR™ air resistance range and is built for full body conditioning at elite intensity levels, used by UFL Athletes and more. 

What did Joe Rogan say about STEPR?
On JRE Episode #2426, featuring Cameron Hanes and Adam Greentree, Joe Rogan spoke about the STEPR Bionic Bike XL, which he had in his personal gym. His exact words: "That bike you sent me is f***ing awesome," "It's like the Echo Bike, but times two," and "That thing RULES." You can watch the Full Podcast Here

What is VPR™ technology?
VPR™ stands for Variable Pitch Resistance. It is STEPR's patented technology that physically adjusts the pitch of the fan blades inside air resistance cardio machines, delivering more than 100 seamless resistance levels. Unlike standard air bikes where resistance is entirely speed dependent, VPR™ lets users set and hold a specific intensity regardless of output.

What is hypoxic training and why is it effective?
Hypoxic training involves exercising in a reduced oxygen environment that simulates altitude. This triggers adaptations including increased red blood cell production, improved oxygen utilisation, enhanced fat oxidation, and improvements in VO2 max and lactate threshold of up to 10 percent. Leonyx Environmental Wellness studios combine simulated altitude with infrared heat and red light therapy for a multi modality approach to performance and longevity.

Is VPR™ equipment suitable for non elite users?
Yes. While elite athletes like Cameron Hanes use VPR™ equipment for high intensity performance training, the 100 plus resistance levels make it equally suited to rehabilitation, longevity focused Zone 2 work, and general home fitness. The resistance can be calibrated precisely for any fitness level.

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