The Best Stair Climbers for Efficient Home Workouts

Looking to get in cardio and a full-body strengthening workout on one machine? A stair climber is the perfect addition to your home gym.

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Choosing the best equipment for your home gym is a complicated process. You need to start by picking an exercise machine that best meets your needs and fits in your space. While treadmills, ellipticals and rowing machines are popular and can give you a great full-body workout, they often have a large footprint. Stair climbers take up less space than other machines and are a great way to get a high-intensity, full-body workout that’s relatively low impact.

In this article, we share our top picks for the best stair climbers and stair steppers. Our buying guide features factors to consider when choosing the best stair climber to reach your fitness goals.

Our Picks for the Best Stair Climber Machines:

• Best Overall Stair Climber: Sole Fitness CC81
• Best Stair Climber for On-Demand Workouts: CLMBR Connected 02
• Best High-Tech Stair Climber: Nordictrack FS14i
• Best Stair Climber for HIIT Workouts: Proform Carbon HIIT 10
• Best Versatile Stair Climber: Nordictrack FS10i
• Best Portable Stair Climber: Sunny Health and Fitness Total Body Step Machine Exercise Stepper
• Best Splurge Stair Climber: Bowflex M16
• Best Budget Stair Climber: Sunny Health and Fitness Stepper Machine
• Best Compact Stair Climber: Bowflex M6

Best Overall Stair Climber: Sole Fitness CC81

Sole Fitness

Key Features:

• Style: Hybrid of a stepper, elliptical and treadmill
• Stride length: 32-inch auto adjustable stride
• Maximum user weight capacity: 400 pounds
• Dimensions: 59 inches long, 36 inches wide and 86 inches tall

The Sole Fitness CC81 Cardio Climber is a workhorse of a machine designed to deliver an engaging high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, cardio workouts and strength training workouts in one. The unique design is a hybrid between a vertical climber and stair climber. This cardio climber has an impressively compact footprint given its commercial-grade quality.

This climbing machine is built vertically, so it can gives you the flexibility to push it up against a wall for easy storage. The resistance dial on the console allows you to toggle back and forth between high-intensity intervals and rest periods.

The Sole Fitness CC81 Cardio Climber includes features like adjustable handlebars with four different height positions, a built-in tablet holder and a water bottle holder. There are pre-loaded workout programs on the LCD monitor and you can access guided workouts via the Sole Studio app membership. unit comes with a chest strap heart rate monitor.

Pros:

• Commercial-grade solid steel frame with a high maximum user weight capacity
• One-year Sole Studio fitness app membership included
• Great warranty
• Adjustable handles with four height settings for users of different heights
• Includes chest strap heart rate monitor

Cons:

• Larger footprint than some stair climbers, non-foldable
• Only has an LCD monitor, no touchscreen or tablet
• No USB charger for your device

Best Stair Climber for On-Demand Workouts: CLMBR Connected 02

CLMBR

Key Features:

• Style: Vertical climber cardio machine
• Step length: Up to 20 inches
• Maximum user weight capacity: 350 pounds
• Dimensions: 35 inches wide x 32 inches long x 88 inches tall

The CLMBR Machine, also called the CLMBR Connected 02, or the CLMBR02, is a vertical climbing machine. Once you hop on, it will feel like you’re climbing a ladder which provides a full-body, low-impact workout.  You can also choose to work just your lower body. We love that this movement pattern allows for a very compact footprint.

The CLMBR is our pick for the best stair climber for on-demand workouts because of the wide variety of classes it offers. The touchscreen console in the center of the machine displays workout metrics and can be used to stream instructor-led classes with a paid subscription. If you don’t want to pay, you have the option CLMBR in the free climbing mode.

User reviews rave about the quality of the classes and the number of options.  For example, Rhythm classes use the beat of upbeat, energetic music to guide your cadence (step rate). Interval classes take place on and off the CLMBR machine, and intersperse high-intensity intervals with recovery bouts to boost metabolic rate and burn more calories in a shorter amount of time. There are also bootcamp classes, cardio conditioning classes, strength training and restorative movement. The workouts range from five to 45 minutes. 

Additional CLMBR features include a water bottle holder, wheels for portability, textured pedals, Bluetooth connectivity for heart rate monitoring and a device rack to hold your phone or tablet.

Pros:

• Movement pattern provides a full-body, high-intensity, low-impact workout
• Subscription platform offers more than 500 exercise classes
• Adjustable handles allow for users of a wide range of heights (five feet to seven feet tall)
• Compact footprint compared to many commercial-grade stair climbers or StairMasters
• Free delivery and assembly

Cons:

• Expensive and premium monthly membership subscription
• Can be somewhat noisy
• Does not fold up when not and use and requires a ceiling height of at least eight feet
• Poor warranty for the high price point

Best High-Tech Stair Climber: Nordictrack FS14i

NordicTrack

Key Features:

• Style: Hybrid of a stepper, elliptical and treadmill
• Stride length: 32-inch auto adjustable stride
• Maximum user weight capacity: 375 pounds
• Dimensions: 58.5 inches long, 29.5 inches wide and 74 inches tall

The NordicTrack FS14i has an impressive power-adjustable incline range (from -10 percent decline to 10 percent incline). The incline and decline allow you to replicate downhill training and steep climbing so that you can target different muscles and add variability to your workouts. You can also adjust the intensity of your workout by using the 26 digital resistance levels. 

The FS14i is technically a FreeStride trainer elliptical, which means that the movement mimics a stepper and treadmill, too. The 32-inch auto-adjustable stride naturally adjusts to your movement pattern as you use the machine. It features moveable handlebars for a full-body workout. This high-tech cardio machine has a large 14-inch smart HD touchscreen display that provides an immersive training experience. Plus, there is hands-free interactive training, so the machine will automatically adjust the incline and resistance according to the course or personal trainer you are following on iFit.

Pros:

• Commercial-grade solid steel frame supports a high weight capacity
• Versatile cardio machine combines a stepper machine, treadmill and elliptical trainer into one
• Immersive 14-inch smart HD touchscreen to stream iFit and display workout metrics
• iFit-enabled for interactive training, Explore the World and Google Maps compatible
• -10 to 10 percent power incline for maximum versatility in targeted muscles
• 26 silent magnetic resistance levels

Cons:

• Expensive and requires ongoing iFit subscription
• Larger footprint than most stair climber machines

Best Stair Climber for HIIT Workouts: Proform Carbon HIIT 10

ProForm Fitness

Key Features:

• Style: Hybrid of a stair climber and elliptical machine
• Stride length: 10-inch vertical and five-inch horizontal elliptical path
• Maximum user weight capacity: 325 pounds
• Dimensions: 52 inches long, 29.25 inches wide and 66.7 inches tall

The Proform Carbon HIIT 10 has a stride movement that combines a 10-inch vertical stair climbing path and five-inch horizontal elliptical path. This motion helps you harness the muscle strengthening and cardio benefits of both types of exercise machines to boost your heart rate, making this a machine a great choice for high intensity interval training. Like other ProForm exercise equipment, the Proform Carbon HIIT 10 is compatible with iFit, allowing you to stream thousands of on-demand workout classes both on and off the machine. A 10-inch smart HD touchscreen for the iFit workouts and it also displays your workout metrics, such as your speed, time, distance, calories burned, heart rate and resistance. Plus, the cardio machine features automatic adjustment with iFit classes.

The Proform Carbon HIIT 10 features 24 levels of digital SMR™ (Silent Magnetic Resistance), which user reviews report is smooth, quiet and has plenty of adjustability. There are multi-position moveable handlebars if you want a full-body workout, as well as stationary grips if you want to target just your lower body.

Pros:

• Includes three years of iFit family membership
• Resistance levels and intuitive stride makes it great for HIIT workouts
• 10-inch smart HD touchscreen
• iFit-enabled for hands-free interactive training

Cons:

• Expensive and requires ongoing iFit subscription
• Petite users say the machine is hard even on the easiest level and the handles can be hard to reach

Best Versatile Stair Climber: Nordictrack FS10i

NordicTrack

Key Features:

• Style: Hybrid of a stepper, elliptical and treadmill
• Stride length: 32-inch auto adjustable stride
• Maximum user weight capacity: 375 pounds
• Dimensions: 58.5 inches long, 29.5 inches wide and 74 inches tall

The NordicTrack FS10i is a versatile cardio machine. The 32-inch auto adjustable stride allows you to enjoy the movement patterns of an elliptical machine, treadmill and stepper in one. This maximizes the variety of exercises you can perform and challenges different muscle groups while still affording a low-impact, but high-intensity cardio workout.

The performance specs are similar to the more expensive FS14i, but there is only an incline option (no decline) and 24 levels of resistance rather than 26. The 10-inch touchscreen can be used to stream iFit workouts on and off the machine.

Pros:

• Commercial-grade solid steel frame with a high maximum user weight capacity
• 10-inch smart HD touchscreen
• iFit-enabled for hands-free interactive training
• Zero to 10 percent power incline to target different muscles

Cons:

• Expensive and requires ongoing iFit subscription
• Larger footprint than some stair climbers

Best Portable Stair Climber: Sunny Health & Fitness Total Body Step Machine Exercise Stepper

Sunny Health & Fitness

Key Features:

• Style: Low-impact portable stepper
• Stride length: Adjustable step height up to six inches
• Maximum user weight capacity: 220 pounds
• Dimensions: 16.3 inches long, 12.8 inches wide and 13.6 inches tall

Our pick for the best portable stair climber for home workouts is the Sunny Health & Fitness Total Body Step Machine Exercise Stepper. Weighing just over 16 pounds, you can easily stash this compact stepper machine in a closet or corner when you're done using it. It’s definitely more of a budget stepper machine than a robust stair climber, so this unit is better for beginners looking for low-intensity, low-impact workouts.

The Sunny Health & Fitness Total Body Step Machine features hydraulic resistance. It is more functional than most budget mini steppers you can find on Amazon. For example, you can adjust the height of the stepping motion and there’s a stabilizing ring foundation to keep the stepper machine in place and safe as you work out. To help you get more of a full-body workout, there are integrated resistance bands so that you can work your arms with curls and presses as you step.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly stepper for low-intensity low-impact workouts
• Lightweight and portable for easy storage
• Does not need to be plugged in
• Textured foot pedals help prevent slipping

Cons:

• Small step height
• Coordinating with the resistance bands can be challenging for beginners
• Short warranty
• Will not provide enough resistance for fitter users
• Low maximum user weight capacity

Best Splurge Stair Climber: Bowflex M16

Bowlfex

Key Features:

• Style: Max trainer is a hybrid of a stair climber and elliptical motion
• Stride length: 13-inch adjustable step height or stride length
• Maximum user weight capacity: 300 pounds
• Dimensions: 49.3 inches long, 30.8 inches wide and 65.7 inches tall

The impressive performance specs and extremely high user ratings and reviews absolutely make the Bowflex M16 Max Trainer one of the best stair climber machines for home workouts. One feature we love on the M16 stair climber is that it is compatible with JRNY experience, a workout app that offers thousands of on-demand workout classes. You even get one year of the JRNY membership free when you buy any Bowflex cardio equipment. One of the cool features about JRNY is that you can stream coached, guided workouts and adaptive workouts. With adaptive workouts, the intensity of the exercise is adjusted according to your performance and fitness level. There is also a very large library of Explore the World virtual courses or you can stream media from Netflix and other platforms.

The performance specs of the Bowflex M16 are second to none. There are 20 levels of digital magnetic resistance and six-grip handlebars, allowing you to get a low-impact, full-body workout. You can target different muscles depending on which grip position you use. When you choose one of the highest resistance levels, you can get a muscle building workout while also elevating your heart rate, or you can keep the machine on a lower resistance level and run for an intense cardio workout.

The Bowflex M16 is Bluetooth enabled for smart devices and heart rate monitors, and even includes an armband heart rate monitor. If you prefer, there are also pulse sensors in the stationary hand grips, and these handles can be used when you only want to target the muscle groups in your lower body.

User reviews rave about the smooth stride provided by the dual rails and the overall feeling of stability on the machine, even during high-intensity sprint intervals. Overall, this is a top-of-the-line cardio machine for your home gym that should keep you appropriately challenged and motivated as you work towards your fitness goals.

Pros:

• Includes a free one-year subscription to JRNY fitness app
• 16-inch touchscreen display shows workout metrics, guided workout classes and entertainment
• 20 levels of resistance with an easy-adjust resistance dial
• Compact footprint for a gym-quality stair climber

Cons:

• Higher price point
• Maximum weight limit could be higher

Best Budget Stair Climber: Sunny Health & Fitness Fitness Stepper Machine

Sunny Health & Fitness

Key Features:

• Style: Low-impact stepper for lower-body workouts
• Stride length: Adjustable step height up to five inches
• Maximum user weight capacity: 250 pounds
• Dimensions: 21.9 inches long (front to back), 18.5 inches wide (side to side) and 49.8 inches tall

The Sunny Health & Fitness Stair Stepper Machine is one of the best budget stair stepper workout machines. There is an adjustable handlebar and stabilizer ring to help you stay balanced and safe. You can adjust the step height to modify the intensity, and there’s a basic display to track your workout metrics. You can also target the muscles in your hips, inner thighs and butt with the twisting steps, adding more versatility to the step machine.

Overall, if you’re a beginner looking for a decent, inexpensive stepper machine and don’t have the space or money to invest in more expensive cardio exercise equipment, the Sunny Health & Fitness Stair Stepper Machine is a great stepper to get you started on your fitness journey.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly stepper for low-intensity, lower-body, low-impact workouts
• Extremely lightweight and portable with a foldable handlebar for easy storage
• Does not need to be plugged in
• Unique twisting stepping motion
• Handle is good for seniors or those with poor balance

Cons:

• Does not provide a full-body workout
• Step height even at the highest is quite shallow
• Will not provide enough resistance for fitter users

Best Compact Stair Climber: Bowflex M6

Bowlfex

Key Features:

• Style: Max trainer is a hybrid of a stair climber and elliptical motion
• Stride length: 13-inch adjustable step height or stride length
• Maximum user weight capacity: 300 pounds
• Dimensions: 46 inches long (front to back), 26 inches wide (side to side) and 64.2 inches tall

If you have limited room for home gym equipment, but you want a high-quality cardio trainer check out the Bowflex M6. This machine is a compact HIIT trainer with impressive performance specs. This HIIT trainer has amassed over 5,000 five-star reviews. Users love the feel and quality of the machine, especially the 16 resistance levels to challenge beginners and advanced athletes alike. Another fan favorite feature is the “burn rate display,” which reviewers say helps motivate you to reach your goals.

 There’s a magnetic media rack for your tablet or smartphone and a USB charging port. The machine is Bluetooth heart rate monitor compatible and there are integrated heart rate monitoring sensors on the handlebars. Additionally, there are multi-grip moving handlebars for a dynamic full-body workout.

Pros:

• Includes a free one-year subscription to JRNY fitness app for workout classes and virtual courses
• Compact footprint for a gym-quality stair climber
• Good value for the price point

Cons:

• Doesn’t have an integrated touchscreen, so you need to use your own smartphone or tablet
• Warranty could be better

How to Choose the Best Stair Climber for You

There are several important factors to consider when choosing the best stair climber or stair stepper for you:

Style

There are different styles and types of stair climber machines. Some of the premium stair climbers you find in a commercial gym have actual revolving stairs that function similarly to a treadmill belt. Most of these machines, which are referred to as stepmills, are really large and expensive and not intended for home gyms. Stair climbers for home use are often called HIIT trainers or cross trainers and they involve either some type of hybrid stride that combines the vertical nature of stair climbing with the horizontal gliding of an elliptical trainer.

There are also inexpensive, entry-level steppers that are basically just foot pedals that operate on a hydraulic mechanism to go up and down. These steppers are usually light and portable, but are not very good for getting a vigorous cardio workout nor can you adjust the resistance a lot to build muscle. However, they are a budget-friendly option and still often challenging enough for beginners.

Stride length or step height

Commercial-grade stair climbers will feature at least an eight-inch step height, which is on par with regular stairs. Hybrid HIIT trainers that combine stair climbing with running or elliptical strider will have a stride that includes some amount of vertical game and horizontal distance traveled per stride. The higher the vertical number and lower the horizontal number, the more the workout will feel like climbing stairs, whereas the converse will feel more like walking or running uphill. Cheap steppers might only have a five to six inch step height.

Dimensions

If your home gym has limited space or you need a unit that’s easy to store when not in use, look for a stair stepper with a compact footprint or that has a foldable frame. Mini steppers that can fit under a desk or table will work in cases where you have no room to dedicate to exercise equipment. Look at the height of the machine and the step-up height to make sure you’ll have enough headroom to safely use the machine without hitting the ceiling.

Weight capacity

Particularly if you have a larger body, it’s critical to look at the weight capacity of any fitness equipment you are considering buying. Keep in mind that budget steppers tend to be less stable, which may pose a safety hazard. Lightweight, cheap stair climbers are prone to shaking and wobbling at high intensities and aren’t ideal for high-intensity workouts.

Price

The price range for stair climber machines is quite large, given the range of styles, features, quality of construction and technology offered with exercise machines that fall under this umbrella. High-end machines will cost several thousand dollars whereas you can find very basic budget steppers for $50-100. As with buying any cardio fitness equipment, you typically get what you pay for.

Related Post: The Best Budget Home Equipment

How We Chose the Best Stair Climber

To choose the best stair climbers and stair stepper exercise machines, we looked at the top-rated machines from reputable manufacturers of fitness equipment. We considered the aforementioned factors such as the style of the stair climber, the quality of construction, performance specs, features and functions, step height or stride length and characteristics, user ratings and reviews, maximum weight capacity, technology features, quality of workout classes (if any), warranty and the overall value based on the price point and features. We tried to choose the best stair climbers and best stair steppers for users of different fitness levels and primary fitness goals, as well as exercise machines that fit within a range of budgets.

Benefits of a Stair Climber

Stair climbing is a fantastic workout. It can strengthen your heart and lungs. improve your cardiovascular health and fitness, burn calories to help you lose weight, increase bone density and strengthen the muscles like your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves. Stair climbing can also reduce your risk of chronic diseases and improve blood sugar regulation.

Stair climber machines lend themselves well to HIIT workouts because the movement combines cardio and resistance training is one. If you move at a fast pace and crank up the resistance level on the machine, you can get your heart pounding and muscles burning during hard sprint intervals.

FAQs

Is 20 minutes on a stair climber long enough?

Working out for 20 minutes on a stair climber can be a great form of exercise depending on the intensity of your workout, how many days per week you use the machine and what other exercise you do during the week. A good goal is to meet the physical activity guidelines for adults set forth by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which are to accumulate either 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio exercise per week.

Can a stair stepper reduce belly fat?

Losing belly fat, or decreasing your abdominal circumference, is a matter of losing overall body weight. A stair climber workout can help you reduce belly fat because you are working your core muscles and burning calories, both of which will help you see more definition in your abs. However, it’s important to maintain a caloric deficit if you want to lose weight and remember there is no way to reduce fat in one specific spot on your body.

How long does it take to see results from a stair stepper?

Results will depend on how often, how long and how intensely you work out on your stair climber machine, as well as the type of stair stepper you use. Most people will notice improvements in body composition and fitness after working out consistently for six weeks or so.

Does a stair climber build glutes?

Using a stair climber or stair stepper is a great way to strengthen your glutes, or butt muscles. Your glutes help extend your leg when you step down on the stair stepper pedal.

Final Thoughts

Overall, a stair climber can provide a full-body workout that combines cardio and resistance training in one on a compact unit. Consider your budget, fitness level, training goals, intended workout intensity and available space, as well as the features that are most important to you, when choosing the best stair climber for your needs.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.