Best Stair Climbers for your Home Gym
Our Top 3 Stair Climbers
Best Stair Climbers for a challenging low impact workout
Compared to other cardio machines, stair climbers have smaller footprints. Thus it will not be challenging in your home gym, no matter the space you have.
Including a stair climber in your home gym can help you boost your cardiovascular health without much impact on your joints, as you will get from exercises that involve jumping or running.
Thus stair climbers could be a safe workout solution that will suit most exercisers at all fitness levels, including the elderly and those with knee and joint issues.
Stair climbers have different levels of resistance levels, ranges of motion, weight capacities, and many other features, including handlebars.
To help you get a good indication of the best stair climber for your home gym, our team has researched, analyzed, and picked what we believe to be the best on the market. We are confident one of these would meet your requirements and help you meet your fitness goals.
Sportsroyals Stair Stepper with Handle Bar
The Sportsroyals Stair Stepper with Handle Bar is a step up from the basic model with a handlebar to keep you balanced as you work out.
The U-shaped handlebar has various grip points, making it possible for exercisers of different sizes to use. It also helps to keep your knee away from the rod for a safe working environment.
The heavy-duty steel construction with a built-in hydraulic drive system conforms to European standards and acts as a cushion to protect your joints.
The design and build quality are exceptionally high, making it robust and durable. The 330-pound weight capacity makes it usable for many exercisers.
The Sportsroyals Stair Stepper has a large built-in multifunction LED monitor to view and record various statistics, including your exercise time, distance, and calories burned.
The included resistance band makes it possible to work your lower and upper body muscles, including your chest, back, arms, and shoulders. The built-in twist action allows you to work and tone your thighs and buttocks, helping you to burn more calories and tone your body.
The oversized pedals with silicone anti-skid pads ensure your safety during your workout.
It comes 90% pre-assembled to save you time and energy and to allow you to start working out from Day one, and its small footprint ensures you can fit it into any small space.
The high build quality, combined with the many features, makes it one of the safest and most feature-rich stair steppers to install in your home gym. And you get lifetime customer service and support with your purchase.
The Sportsroyals Stair Stepper with Handle Bar is an excellent stair climber machine worth considering for your home gym.
Pros
- Small footprint, making it possible to install in small spaces
- High-quality design and build
- Built-in LCD monitor to view, track, and record your progress.
- Built-in hydraulic drive system to protect your knee joints
- 90% pre-assembled to save time and headacheHigh user weight capacity
- Resistance band supplied, making it possible for a whole-body workout.
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- No adjustable resistance levels or tension
- May not be suitable for some tall people
Package Weight: 14.06 kilos | Product Length: 18.5 inches | Product Width: 17.32 inches | Product Height: 47.24 inches | Foot Print: 0.23 Square meter | User Capacity: 330 pounds
The Sportsroyals Stair Stepper with Handle Bar is available on Amazon.
Alternatively, you can view and purchase the Sportsroyals Stair Stepper with Handle Bar directly from Sportsroyals.
Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Machine – SF-E3919
Constructed with a heavy-duty steel frame, the Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Machine has a user weight capacity of 260 pounds which is lower than the capacity offered by Sportsroyals’.
The smooth belt-drive mechanism allows you to stride upwards and sideways easily and with minimal noise.
A built-in monitor makes it possible to track your progress, time, distance, and heart rate, allowing you to make any necessary adjustments to your performance.
The built-in moving handlebars keep you stable when on the stair climber. You can also use them for your upper body workout.
Unlike Sportsroyals’, the Sunny ‎SF-E3919 has magnetic resistance with eight adjustable levels, making it possible to make the workout more or less challenging.
It is portable, thanks to the fitted castors. That makes it easy to wheel and set it up in different rooms.
The design and build quality are acceptable but not exceptional. It has some good features and should be a good buy for many. But the user capacity may not suit everybody.
Pros
- Built-in monitor to trail performance and progress
- 8-level adjustable resistance
- Portable with floor stabilizers
Cons
- Some quality control and durability issues
Product Length: 44 inches | Product Width: 25 inches | Product Height: 64 inches | User Capacity: 260 pounds
You can view and order the Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Machine – ‎SF-E3919 on Amazon.
Bowflex Max Trainer M9
Bowflex is a market-leading producer of some popular home gym equipment. Its adjustable dumbbells are some of the most popular on the market.
The Max trainer has had several modifications over the years, and there are few versions in the series. The M9 is the latest version.
The Max Trainer M9 combines the best of a stair climber with the best of an elliptical for a high-intensity, low-impact, whole-body workout.
Build quality, like most Bowflex equipment, is high. It is very stable with an extra-smooth glide.
The Max Trainer has many features.
The built-in 10-inch interactive HD Touchscreen display is one of the best on a stair climber. It allows you to connect to the JRNY Digital Fitness Platform.
A JRNY membership allows you to stream and watch videos, exercise classes, etc., during your workout.
It comes with 20 adjustable resistance levels to help control the intensity and challenge of your workouts and 6-grip handlebars for comfort and different exercises and users.
The handles allow the full engagement of your arms for a whole-body workout. Thus with the MT16, you can take your stair HIIT workouts to a higher level, allowing you to train your upper and lower body muscles.
Other features include
- heart rate hand grips. These can help you to stay within your primary heart rate zone.
- A Bluetooth HR armband to train and track your heart rate and
- oversized textured pedals for better stability.
- Bluetooth speakers
- Built-in media shelf to hold handheld devices
Combining an elliptical with a stair climber puts the price of the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 at the top end, putting it out of reach for some. But for those looking for comprehensive low-impact gym equipment, it should be worth it.
Our main query is the length of the warranty. A comprehensive 3-year warranty would have been a good inclusion, given the complexity and price tag of the equipment.
The Max Trainer M9 is a high-performance, low-impact elliptical cum stair climber machine worth considering to help boost your strength and cardio levels from the confines and comfort of your home.
Pros
- High quality design and build
- Exceptional features
- Combines the best of a stair climber with the best of an elliptical for a whole-body workout
- Space-saving 2-in-1 cardio and fitness workout machine
- 10-inch interactive HD touchscreen display
- Adjustable 20 resistance levels
- Up to 300-pound user weight capacity makes it accessible to many.
Cons
- Pricey. Price at the high end
- Requires JRNY to get the most out
- 90-day labor warranty
Product Weight: 148.8 pounds | Product Length: 49.2 inches | Product Width: 30.5 inches | Product Height: 65.1 inches | User Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
The Max Trainer M9 is available to view and order on Amazon.
Alternatively, you can view and order the Bowflex Max Trainer directly from Bowflex.
Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper Trainer
Like the Bowflex Max Trainer M9, the Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper is a stair climber-elliptical combination, allowing you to switch between two different workout types whenever you want.
It is well-built home gym equipment with two handlebars to help keep you balanced. You can also use the handlebars to train and tone your upper body muscles.
The built-in eight resistance levels allow you to change the difficulty of the exercises.
The in-built easy-to-read LCD monitor allows you to check various statistics, including speed, time, distance and burned calories.
Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper is a space-saving machine for a total body workout that should sit well in many starter home gyms. The 250-pound use weight capacity is not great but should work for many exercisers
Pros
- 2-in-1 space-saving equipment
- Reasonably priced
- Eight resistance levels
Cons
- A bit bulky
- Some quality control issues
User Weight capacity: 250 pounds | Product Length: 42 inches | Product Width: 24 inches | Product Height: 62 inches
You can view and purchase the Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper on Amazon
Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper
The removable training bands supplied with the Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper make it possible to work your upper and lower body muscles, while the in-build LCD monitor helps you to follow your progress. Though not as effective as handlebars, they do a good job.
The hydraulic drive system helps to give a smooth stepping movement, and you can alter the length of your steps with the height adjustment knob. The built-in resistance hydraulic cylinders help to make the motions more challenging.
The textured foot plates are wide enough to ensure your feet do not slip during your workout. The lack of built-in handles to help keep you stable on the equipment may be an issue for some. But it is hard to complain, given the price tag.
The in-build LCD monitor helps you to follow your progress, making it possible to make adjustments, if necessary.
It is a compact no-frills machine with a small footprint, making it possible to install it wherever you want, and put it away when not in use.
It comes assembled to save you time. The 220-pound user weight capacity is not great, yet it should be a good buy for many.
Pros
- No-frills equipment with a low price tag
- Built-in display to monitor progress
- Small footprint makes it easy to install in tight places.
- Included bands allow you to work lower and upper body muscles.
Cons
- Very basic, with hardly any stand-out features.
- Suitable for beginners or those on a tight budget.
User Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Product Length: 16 inches | Product Width: 12.5 inches | Product Height: 13.5 inches
The Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper is available to view and buy on Amazon.
MaxiClimber Vertical Climber
Unlike the stair climbers on our list, the design of the MaxiClimber Vertical Climber allows you to work your lower and upper body muscles.
The MaxiClimber Vertical Climber is space-saving equipment that will take up minimal space in your home gym, so long as you’ve got enough head height. The folding design also makes it easy to pack and store away easily.
Thus it should be a good choice for those struggling with gym space.
The adjustable height also ensures both short and tall users can use the equipment, so long as their height is 6.2 feet or less.
Its emphasis is more on climbing than stepping, with its handles and pedals giving the feel of rock climbing.
The stair climber is easy to use and should be a good buy for exercisers at all fitness levels to help them target and work their lower and upper body muscles.
The 250-pound user weight capacity, though a bit lower than that of the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 and the Sportsroyals Stair Stepper, is relatively high enough to meet the needs of many exercisers.
And unlike others, the foot pedals on the MaxiClimber are much smaller, making them uncomfortable for some users.
Your purchase will also give you access to the MaxiClimber app, giving you access to endurance and cardio programs.
Pros
- Small footprint, making it ideal for tight spaces.
- Adjustable height
- Foldable. Makes it possible to fold and keep it out of the way.
- Targets and works upper and lower body muscles
Cons
- Basic design
- No built-in resistance levels
Product Weight: 33 pounds | Product Length: 6 inches | Product Width: 10 inches | Product Height: 54 inches | Foot Print: 28.3 x 35.82 inches | User Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
The MaxiClimber Vertical Climber is available to view and order from on Amazon.
SOLE CC81 Cardio Climber
Sole Fitness is one of the leading brands in the fitness industry in the USA and Canada, with an array of treadmills and other equipment in their name.
The Sole CC81 Cardio Climber is one of their newest pieces of equipment.
The Sole CC81 Stair Stepper Machine is an innovative space-saving whole-body workout machine that combines an elliptical and a stair climber capable of giving a whole-body workout. It is compact, sturdy, and well-built.
The design and build quality are exceptional, and Sole Fitness uses some of the highest grade welded steel in manufacturing the product.
The low-impact cardio climber has adjustable handles with four height settings and a knob-controlled built-in resistance to help regulate the intensity and difficulty of your exercises.
The handlebars make it easy to balance yourself on the machine. It also allows exercisers of different builds and heights to use the equipment comfortably.
Aside from the LCD screen that gives various statistics on your workout, the integrated tablet holder allows you to hook up your smart device and connect to your favorite apps and online services.
The size and quality of the LCD monitor, however, fall short of expectations. A much bigger touchscreen, comparable to that on the Bowflex Max Trainer M9, would have been a better inclusion.
It comes with a 400-pound user weight limit, which is the highest compared to others on the list. Thus it should suit most users, irrespective of their size.
With a wide range of features, the Sole Stair Climber would be a welcome addition to many home gyms. It is a versatile, space-saving machine and should fit into many gyms.
You can order without hesitation and with peace of mind, knowing your purchase will come with a lifetime warranty on the frame, two years for labor, and five years on electronics and parts. That is the most comprehensive warranty we’ve seen.
The Sole CC81 is a feature-packed stair climber machine that could help boost your cardio health and fitness levels, and it is worth considering for your home gym.
Pros
- Space-saving 2-in-1 design
- High user weight limit
- Adjustable handlebars
- Comprehensive warranty
Cons
- The operation of handlebars may take time to master.
- Requires more gym space for setup
Product Weight: 265 pounds | Product Length: 59 inches | Product Width: 31 inches | Product Height: 86 inches | User Weight Limit: 400 pounds
The Sole CC81 Cardio Climber is available to buy on Amazon
What to Look for in a Stair Climber Machine – A Buyer’s Guide
- User Weight Capacity
Stair climbers have different user weight capacities. In the same vein, exercisers come in various weights and heights. It is also worth considering all potential users and future requirements, and do not forget to make provisions for the gear you wear, your water bottle, and the smart devices you place on the equipment. - Dimensions
The dimensions of the stair climber machine you consider should be paramount in your features. That is very true if you have limited gym or installation space. It also applies to the footprint and the height of the machine. Ensure you have enough headroom and elbowroom around the equipment when installed to enable you to exercise in comfort.
Consider a 2-in-1 elliptical and stair climber machine if necessary. - In-Built Resistance
Consider the available resistance levels on the stair climber if you intend to use the machine for strength training. More resistance levels could make it possible to embark on challenging workouts, helping you to achieve your goals.
What muscles does the stair climber work?
A basic stair climber will focus on your lower body muscles, including your hamstrings, quads, calves, and glutes.
Stair climbers with handlebars, resistance bands, or both can work and tone your upper body muscles, particularly your back, shoulder, and arm muscles.
What does the stair climber do?
A stair climber machine mimics walking or running up a stairwell. They are low-impact fitness machines that can help boost your cardiovascular health and strength in the comfort of your home.
Is the stair climber cardio?
Yes. Stair steppers are cardio machines that can help boost cardiovascular health. They can also help improve your strength and fitness levels with minimal stress on your joints.