The 8 Best Stair Climbers of 2023

The Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Climber is a top pick for a low impact workout

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The 8 Best Stair Climbers of 2022

Verywell / Chloe Jeong

Looking for a way to build strength while working up a sweat? A stair climber is a fitness machine that simulates the experience of walking (or running) up a flight of stairs to provide a challenging, low impact workout.

Most stair climbers provide a range of resistance levels so they are good for beginners to advanced exercisers and are a smart addition to an at-home fitness routine. They generally have a smaller footprint compared to other cardio machines so a stair climber is good for small spaces. We reviewed all the picks in the roundup for features like size and sturdiness, resistance levels, range of motion, and weight capacity to find the best stair climbers worth considering for your home gym or exercise space. 

Best Overall

Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Climber

4.7
Sunny-health--fitness-cardio-climber

Amazon

Pros
  • Dynamic

  • Works your arms and legs simultaneously

  • Built-in digital monitor

Cons
  • Bulky

  • Not foldable


The Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Climber is a sturdy machine that is a great addition to any home gym equipment and the reason we chose it as our best overall pick. The climber boasts a unique stride that combines vertical climbing with some horizontal extension. This leaves the machine feeling like a classic stair climber with a hint of an elliptical’s stride, giving you a dynamic workout. It makes for a nice complement to other fitness equipment, like a treadmill desk.

The machine comes equipped with eight magnetic resistance levels, which make it easy to customize the intensity of your workouts. And the climber’s full-motion handlebars will keep your upper body engaged every time you work out.

Price at time of publication: $289 for model SF-E3911

Key Specs:
Size:
42 x 23 x 60.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Resistance Levels: Eight

Best Budget

Deco Home Exercise Step Machine

Deco-home-exercise-step-machine

Walmart

Pros
  • Built-in LCD monitor

Cons
  • No added resistance

The Deco Home Exercise Step Machine is a small but sturdy climber designed to deliver a classic stair-stepping workout. Though the machine is relatively low-profile, its stability handlebars and non-slip pedals will help you stay balanced as you exercise, allowing you to focus on your workout. Like under the desk bikes, it boasts a small footprint so it’s a particularly great pick for small spaces and quick exercise breaks.

The only downside? Unlike many other climbers, the Deco Home Exercise Step Machine offers no resistance levels to toggle through. So if you want to up the intensity of your workouts, you’ll have to focus on your speed—not your tension level.

Key Specs:
Size:
18 x 18 x 41.5 to 45.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Resistance Levels: None

Best Splurge

Bowflex Max Trainer M8

Bowflex-max-trainer-m8

Amazon

Pros
  • High-tech

Cons
  • A little bulky

  • Not foldable

  • Very expensive

The Bowflex M8 Max Trainer is a high-tech machine that combines the classic climb of a stair stepper with the smooth stride of an elliptical—giving you one incredibly dynamic workout. The sturdy machine is loaded with splurge-worthy features, like 20 different resistance levels and heart rate-tracking grips. And if you pair it with a JRNY membership ($19.99 a month), the machine will automatically adjust your workout settings for you, so you can stay challenged as you build strength over time.

Also nice? Though the machine is pretty robust, it doesn’t demand a ton of space. Its emphasis on vertical climbing makes it tall, rather than wide or long. So it’s a solid choice for smaller spaces.

Price at time of publication: $1,899 for model M8 Max Trainer

Key Specs:
Size:
49 x 30.5 x 65.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Resistance Levels: 20

Best High-Tech

NordicTrack FS10i Freestyle Trainer

NordicTrack FS10i Freestyle Trainer

Courtesy of NordicTrack

Pros
  • High-tech

  • Three machines in one

  • Built-in touchscreen

Cons
  • Bulky

  • Not foldable

  • Very expensive

  • Better with iFit, a monthly membership program ($39/month)

The NordicTrack FS10i Freestyle Trainer is a splurge-worthy stair stepper that doubles as an elliptical—and triples as a treadmill. Where other machines combine a stair stepper’s climb with an elliptical’s stride to offer a dynamic workout, the NordicTrack FS10i Freestyle Trainer allows you to switch between three discrete workout modes. Simply change your stride, and the machine will automatically adjust—acting as a stair stepper, an elliptical, or a treadmill in any given moment.

Of course, the technology doesn’t stop there. The machine also comes equipped with a built-in fan, Bluetooth-compatible speakers, and an interactive touchscreen. And if you pair it with an iFit membership ($39 a month), you can enable interactive personal training and invite the machine to automatically adjust your settings every time you work out.

Price at time of publication: $1,999

Key Specs:
Size:
58.5 x 29.5 x 74 inches | Weight Capacity: 375 pounds | Resistance Levels: 24

Best 2-in-1

Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper

Body-power-2-in-1-elliptical-stepper

Amazon

Pros
  • Relatively small space-friendly

  • Two machines in one

  • Built-in device holder

Cons
  • A little bulky

  • Not foldable

The Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper is a classic 2-in-1 machine. The stair climber doubles as an elliptical, allowing you to switch between two discrete workout modes any time you want to. The machine comes equipped with two sets of handlebars you can use to stay balanced as you switch from climbing to striding.

The stepper boasts eight resistance levels you can toggle through to up the intensity of your workouts, no matter which style of exercise you’re doing. Because the Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper acts as two machines in one, it’s a great way to save space. And its compact footprint makes it an even small space-friendlier option.

Price at time of publication: $450

Key Specs:
Size:
42 x 24 x 62 inches | Weight Capacity: 250 pounds | Resistance Levels: Eight

Best for Small Spaces

Maxi Climber The Original Patented Vertical Climber

4.6
Maxi Climber The Original Patented Vertical Climber

Amazon

Pros
  • Works your arms and legs simultaneously

  • Easy to set up

Cons
  • No added resistance

The Maxi Climber Vertical Climber is an all-level stepping machine that won’t demand a ton of space in your home. Whereas other climbers focus more on stepping, this one emphasizes climbing. Its sliding pedals and handles mimic the feeling of climbing on a rock wall, making it a great companion piece to other fitness equipment like elliptical machines.

This unique design makes it easy to work your upper body and lower body in equal measure. It also makes the machine a particularly great pick for small spaces, as most of its size comes from its height.

Price at time of publication: $149

Key Specs:
Size:
36 x 27 x 79 inches | Weight Capacity: 240 pounds | Resistance Levels: None

Best Foldable

Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper

Stamina-spacemate-folding-stepper

Amazon

Pros
  • Small space-friendly

  • Foldable

  • Built-in monitor

Cons
  • No added resistance

The Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper is a low-profile stepper that’s sturdy, but small space-friendly. Though the stepper is small, its non-slip pedals will help you maintain your balance as you work out. The machine also comes equipped with foam-covered stability handlebars, which will make it even easier to stay stable and in control of your workouts.

The stepper’s compact footprint makes it a solid choice for small spaces. And even better: It folds up to a fraction of its size, making it incredibly easy to store between workouts.

Price at time of publication: $130

Key Specs:
Size:
30.25 x 16.25 x 54.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 250 pounds | Resistance Levels: None

Best Portable

Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper

Sunny-health--fitness-mini-stepper

Amazon

Pros
  • Works your upper and lower body simultaneously

  • Built-in monitor

Cons
  • No added resistance

  • Not a classic stair climber

The Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper is an under-desk stair climber that’s small enough to bring anywhere. It's ideal for getting in some steps while your working at a standing desk. The machine boasts a simple design: You’ll find two non-slip pedals you can use to simulate your favorite stair climber workouts, as well as two removable resistance bands you can use to challenge your upper body.

A built-in monitor makes the machine feel a little more robust, making it easy to track your step count, workout time, and more. Really, the compact machine gives you everything you need to log a stair-climbing workout while working—or while watching TV.

Price at time of publication: $80 for original model

Key Specs:
Size:
16 x 12.5 x 13.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Resistance Levels: None

What to Look for in a Stair Climber

Size

When shopping for a fitness machine, size is one of the first things you should look at—especially if you’re navigating a small space. So be sure to check the dimensions of a stair climber before buying.

Weight Capacity

Some fitness machines are stronger than others. So be sure to double-check the weight capacity (or the “maximum training load”) of a machine before buying it. And remember to factor in any weights you plan to wear or use while on the machine!

Resistance Levels

If you plan to use your stair climber for strength-training, make sure it boasts a range of resistance levels. (You can expect to find anywhere between 0 to 24 resistance levels, depending on the machine you’re eyeing.) Though you might start your stair climbing journey with zero resistance, you’ll likely want the option to increase your resistance level over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What muscles does the stair stepper work?

    Most stair climbing workouts focus on your lower body. So you can expect to feel your calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes being challenged. Some stair climbers also include moving handlebars, which you can use to challenge your upper body—more specifically your arms and your back—too. 

  • Is the stair stepper cardio?

    Yes, the stair climber is primarily a cardio machine. But you can just as easily increase your resistance level to use it for strength-training, too. 

Why Trust Verywell Fit? 

As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. She is careful to recommend products that are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them.