What is the best stair climber? If you've ever huffed your way up several flights of stairs and felt your quads burning and your heart pounding, you already know why these machines are so effective. They solve a specific problem: how do you get an intense, low-impact workout that torches calories without the joint-pounding impact of running? (Spoiler: you climb.)
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Founded by entrepreneur Avrum Elmakis, CLMBR entered the fitness equipment industry in 2020 with a vertical climbing machine designed for both commercial gyms and home use. The company attracted high-profile investors including Jay-Z, Novak Djokovic, and Ryan Seacrest, and their Indiegogo campaign reached 100% funding in just 20 minutes. They offer just one model - a space-saving vertical climber that works your entire body - and they've somehow convinced people to buy it without posting the price anywhere on their website.
Just one vertical climber model - and good luck finding out what it costs
This isn't your traditional stair stepper. Instead of mimicking staircase climbing, CLMBR's machine works your legs, arms, and core through what they call "primal movement". The company markets it as a space-saving design that stands at 7-foot-4 and requires less than 3 square feet of floor space. They claim you can burn up to 650 calories in a 30-minute session and achieve 60% greater efficiency over other workouts, though these are their own claims. But here's the catch: you can't see pricing on their website. You have to request a quote and probably get on the phone with a sales rep - a frustrating barrier that makes comparison shopping nearly impossible.
The membership situation is where things get truly aggravating
CLMBR offers three tiers for their fitness app: a free "Base" plan that only gives you open climbs, a $10/month "Metrics+" plan for workout history and basic features, and a $40/month "Premium" plan for on-demand classes and advanced competitions. The problem? You can't even view your workout or stats history without paying at least $10/month. That's right - basic tracking features that most fitness equipment includes as standard are locked behind a subscription paywall. We can't help but see this feature-gating as a cash grab.
Without visible pricing, it's impossible to know if CLMBR is competitive
The median cost for low-end stepper climbers is $679 and for high-end models it's $1,274 - but CLMBR won't tell you where their machine falls in that range until you've engaged with their sales team. This opacity isn't a good sign. What's worse, secondhand CLMBRs are virtually nonexistent on resale sites. Whether that's because owners love them too much to part with them or because they don't last long enough to resell is anyone's guess. (You'll know our take by the end of this review.)
CLMBR's warranty is bare-bones
You'll only get a 1-year limited warranty on everything - frame, touchscreen, components, power supply, and labor. If something breaks, you'll submit a claim through their support portal (or scan a QR code on the machine), and they'll try to troubleshoot remotely before potentially dispatching a technician. The warranty only covers original purchasers in the contiguous US, can't be transferred if you resell, and explicitly excludes software issues - which is particularly concerning given the customer complaints we came across about software problems and discontinued support for older models.
The return policy has some expensive catches
CLMBR won't refund shipping charges, and you'll be hit with a $350+ return shipping fee depending on location. Cancel within 48 hours and you're fine - but after that a $300 cancellation fee kicks in. (Did we already use the term "cash grab"?) The machine needs to be in pristine condition or CLMBR can refuse the refund or charge additional restocking fees at their discretion - and given how some users report issues immediately after delivery, the 30-day return window might not be generous enough.
CLMBR's customer service is a disaster - and that's putting it nicely
Despite an "A" rating from the BBB, CLMBR has a dismal 2.6-star average on Trustpilot from nearly 150 reviews. You can supposedly reach them via email or phone, but to hear it from customers, actually getting help is basically impossible. One customer spent two years reaching out repeatedly about screen issues, only to be told over and over to "reset the WiFi connection" - even though they'd already done that numerous times. When CLMBR finally admitted there was a hardware problem, the machine was suddenly "too old" and they didn't have replacement parts. Another user went six weeks trying to get a response about a broken plastic pulley and eventually got ghosted entirely.
The real nightmare starts when your machine breaks
When the company discontinued parts for the first-generation units, they left early adopters completely stranded. Allegedly, CLMBR pushed a software update that literally bricked older machines that had been in storage, rendering them unable to even turn on. When customers complained, the company's "solution" was to offer them a discount on buying a brand new unit. (After the discount, the price tag was still nearly $2,000.) One frustrated owner who bought three machines reached out to pay for parts and repairs out-of-warranty, only to be ignored for a year before being told the manufacturer changed and parts were unavailable. That's unacceptable.
The fitness community's verdict is brutal
One of the top posts on the CLMBR subreddit flat-out warns: "DO NOT BUY A CLMBR. If you do, in my opinion, you are supporting a lying sociopath scumbag" - and when pressed, the poster (who appears to be a former insider) cryptically replied they have "everyone's best interest in mind including manufacturing partners, customers, potential employees, and business partners". Multiple reviewers explicitly recommend competitors instead, citing "better quality, better longevity, better customer service". The pattern is clear: CLMBR makes an okay machine when it works, but between the planned obsolescence, non-existent parts availability, and customer service that ranges from unhelpful to openly dismissive, you're gambling that nothing goes wrong - because if it does, you're on your own.
CLMBR has a track record of abandoning customers
While the workout itself is probably effective and the design looks sleek, CLMBR's pattern of planned obsolescence puts it dead last among stair climber brands. Competitors offer better build quality, longer parts availability, and customer service that actually responds - which matters more than you might realize when you're dropping thousands on fitness equipment. The real deal-breaker? CLMBR has a documented history of bricking older machines via software updates and then refusing to provide parts or support, leaving early adopters with expensive paperweights. Unless you enjoy the idea of being ghosted by customer service while your machine collects dust, skip CLMBR entirely and go with literally any competitor that actually stands behind their stair climbers.
Continued from above...
If you've ever huffed your way up several flights of stairs and felt your quads burning and your heart pounding, you already know why these machines are so effective. They solve a specific problem: how do you get an intense, low-impact workout that torches calories without the joint-pounding impact of running? (Spoiler: you climb.)
Stair climbers appeal to anyone looking for a serious cardio workout that also builds lower body strength - from upstairs apartment dwellers who need compact-and-quiet fitness solutions, to serious athletes training for events, to physical therapy patients rebuilding strength after injuries. They're especially useful when you want something that pushes your heart rate quickly without taking up much space.
Here's where you need to pay attention - not all stair climbers are created equal, and understanding the differences will save you from buyer's remorse. You've got three main categories to consider.
First, there are body weight resistance step climbers, those tall vertical machines with pedals at the bottom and handles at the top. These typically cost $170 to $200, fold up for storage, target your arms and core as well as legs, and work great if you're tight on space or budget - however, they tend to be on the flimsier side.
Second, you'll find more robust stepper climbers, which give you that same full body workout but with the ability to increase your resistance and a sturdier build. These run $1,200 to $2,200.
Finally, there are traditional stair mills - commercial-grade beasts with revolving staircases that mimic climbing real stairs, and probably the first thing that comes to mind when you picture a stair climber. The brands in our review offer these in the $3,500 to $10,000 range, and they're what you'll find in serious gyms.
With so many options for home stair climbers, what should you look for when shopping online? The following are the most important criteria to make the best choice for your home gym:
Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best stair climbers available, examining everything from budget stepper climbers to commercial-grade stair mills. We've analyzed build quality, pricing transparency, warranty coverage, and real customer experiences to separate the solid performers from the expensive disappointments. We hope this research helps you find the best stair climber for your home gym!
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Are Stair Climbers Good Exercise?
While you can create your own workouts that you do with just your body, embracing exercise machines can make your workouts much more effective. Instead of relying on the staircase in your home, for example, you may want to use a stair climber. Stair climbers have been around for many years and are also known as a stair stepper, step machine, and step mill.
A stair workout machine has revolving steps that allow you to walk in place. The steps rotate at the speed and duration you set. If you're wondering whether incorporating stair climbers into your workout plans is worth the effort, below are a list of several benefits.
Here are 9 good reasons to start using stair climbers today.
1. Burn calories
If you're struggling with weight, climbing up on the stair stepper can be an effective and efficient way to lose those extra pounds and keep them off. Doing this kind of cardiovascular work increases your metabolic rate, torching more calories during activity and at rest.
According to a research study published by the Harvard Medical School, a 30-minute stair-climbing session burns about 180 to 260 calories.
Keep in mind that your weight and exercising intensity affect the number of calories you burn. Stair climbers with a high body weight tend to lose more calories. The quicker you climb, the higher the number of calories you burn.
Counting calories when using a stair climber is a lot easier nowadays, as most modern machines feature a calorie-counting calculator.
2. Improve aerobic capacity
Aerobic exercises like climbing stairs are good for increased cardio endurance. The workouts train your heart and lungs to pump more blood to the muscles and organs more efficiently.
In other words, they improve the maximum amount of oxygen ( VO2Max) delivered to your bloodstream. With more oxygen supply, you're likely to exercise for extended periods, even at high intensity, to burn maximum calories.
Findings from one study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism show that stair-climbing at short intervals can help boost cardio health.
3. Tone lower-body muscles
A stair climber engages the largest muscle groups in the body, including:
In summary, a stair climber workout forces the four muscles to fire at the same time, actively engaging and stabilizing your lower body. By repeatedly recruiting these muscles to support your body weight, you facilitate their sculpting and toning.
4. Keep your bones strong and healthy
When you take steps on a stair stepper, you're essentially forcing your body to work against the force of gravity and rise vertically. This type of weight-bearing exercise subjects you to patterns of motion that can increase your bone density.
Having strong and healthy bones helps reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis as your bones undergo normal aging changes. If you are already diagnosed with osteoporosis, this low-impact knee strengthening exercise can also help manage the pain.
5. Less strain on your joints
With a stair climber, you only need to climb. Someone using a staircase to exercise is a little disadvantaged because they have to walk down. Unfortunately, moving down the stairs usually puts more significant weight and stress on the knee joints.
6. A versatile piece of workout equipment
Everyone can reap benefits, regardless of their level of fitness. That's because stair climbers allow you to adjust settings as needed to get the most out of your training. Exercising on a stair climber is not all about playing with the speed and workout duration. Otherwise, that would prove somewhat boring after some time.
The good news is that most stair stepper machines come with built-in programs to help you make your workouts more creative. For example, you'll find stair climbers with computer screens, enabling you to select from several well-known landmarks. Such a feature makes exercising appear like you're moving up actual structures.
Even without the additional programs, there are several ways to make your stair-climbing workout more challenging and rewarding, including:
What's more, you can combine stair climbing with other workouts for a killer exercising regime. In line with that, you may consider switching up your climb with a circuit workout and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
7. User-friendly
While you'll find many variations of the stair climber, there's nothing technical for you to learn or master before you start using them. Anyone who has climbed stairs before can use the machine without supervision, except those experiencing mobility problems.
Operating the machine is very intuitive. It functions the same way as the real staircase, only that you're required to set the speed at which you want it to move. A stair stepper produces natural movements. So, expect it to be impact-free.
First-time stair climber users are advised to start slow to avoid exhausting muscles so quickly. You can begin with 5 to 10 minutes at a moderate pace. Then, adjust the speed, workout time, and intervals depending on how your body responds.
8. Release endorphins
Stair climbers are a good exercise because they make your pituitary gland and central nervous system release endorphins. These are feel-good chemicals or mood boosters.
Endorphins trigger a positive feeling, resulting in overall reduced stress levels. Of course, you'll feel exhausted once you've completed your workouts. But the high endorphin levels will make you feel so good afterward.
9. Improve your overall health and live longer
Any workout plan that includes aerobic exercise and strength training is good for your overall health. Regular steps on stair climbers can help reduce the risk of life-threatening health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
The 2019 Harvard Alumni Health Study, which involved 8,874 senior men, highlighted a lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in men that climbed stairs.
In a similar study where researchers analyzed medical reports of 13,500 men, it was concluded that climbing at least 100 stairs a day helped the men reduce the mortality rate by 20 percent
As you can see, spending a few minutes on a stair climber machine can make a difference in your lifespan.
Wrapping Up
Are stair climbers good exercise? Absolutely. Stair steppers are one of the most effective gym equipment you need for the best cardio workouts and lower-body toning benefits. You enjoy all that without necessarily pounding on your joints.
While stair climbers are simple to use, it's imperative to familiarize yourself with the equipment safety aspect.
Proper form is critical when working out using any exercising machine, not necessarily a stair stepper. Well, this promotes more efficient movements and improves performance while avoiding or preventing injuries.
When exercising on a stair climber, you'll need to observe proper posture. Resist the temptation to lean on the handrails. Otherwise, you'll strain the back muscles. Warming up is also recommended to prevent back injuries. Always give the back and gluteus muscles a good stretch before you get on the machine.
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