While the 26 resistance levels and 10-percent incline range were the foundation for our ratings for adjustability (4 out of 5) and customizations (5 out of 5), iFIT’s SmartAdjust feature was icing on the cake. “If you’re doing a trainer-led workout, you don’t have to worry about it at all because it’s going to automatically adjust on its own,” Herod said.

The FS10i’s versatility also helps maximize iFIT’s $39.99 monthly subscription. With a library of over 17,000 workouts, including scenic walks and hikes, iFIT’s programming consistently earns ratings of 5 out of 5 from our team. Herod says this much variety will keep you coming back for more. “You’re never going to get bored or run out of possibilities when it comes to workouts,” he said. 

While the FS10i’s steel build helped it score a 5 out of 5 rating for durability, Herod suggests parking this 284-pound machine in one spot. “It’s definitely not easy to move around,” he said. “The legs can’t lock into place, so sometimes when I’m moving it they kind of bump into me, which is annoying.”  The FS10i garnered just a 3.75 out of 5 for portability. 

Read our full NordicTrack FS10i Review.

Best Commercial Stair Climber for Trainer-Led Workouts: ProForm Pro HIIT H14

ProForm Pro HIIT H14

This unique profile combines a stair climber and elliptical for a space-saving, high-performance training experience. The Pro HIIT H14 is also integrated with the iFIT online workout program, giving you access to over 17,000 live and on-demand fitness classes.

The crystal-clear 14-inch touchscreen on the ProForm Pro HIIT H14 helps bring iFIT’s library of over 17,000 workouts to life. Whether its a scenic hike through the Grand Canyon (my personal favorite) or a pulse-pumping studio classes, these classes are led by iFIT’s lineup of certified trainers. 

Our tester, a CrossFit Level-1 coach, highlighted the display when rating its tech capabilities 4 out of 5. However, it was the quality of iFIT’s workouts that stole the show. “The touchscreen is clear and it’s nice being able to swivel it,” they said. “But the belle of the ball is iFIT’s programming.” Our whole team, including yours truly, consistently rates iFIT programming a 5 out of 5.

The H14’s hybrid design theoretically combines a stair climber and an elliptical, but our tester doesn’t think it’s an even split. “I would absolutely call this a stepper machine before calling it an elliptical,” they said. “It’s definitely not as bulky as an elliptical — much taller than it is wide — but I was very impressed with how sturdy it was.” 

Related: Best Compact Ellipticals

Where most commercial stair climbers take up roughly as much room as a typical loveseat, the H14’s footprint of 10.47 square feet footprint is closer to that of a recliner. (5) Its 224-pound weight, however, could make moving it around a little tough, which prompted a 3.5 out of 5 rating for footprint and portability. 

“I definitely wouldn’t call this thing ‘light,’” they said. “Most people shouldn’t have trouble rolling it around a room, but if you’re going up or down any stairs, call a friend.”

Considering an iFIT membership will set you back an additional $39.99 per month, the H14 earned a 3.5 out of 5 for value from our team. “At $1,700, it is definitely not cheap, but it’s really a high-tech machine,” they said. “iFIT’s trainer-led programming truly makes it one of the best fitness apps out there.”

Read our full ProForm Pro HIIT 14 Review.

Best Commercial Stair Climber for Comfort: Bells of Steel Blitz Stepper

Bells of Steel Blitz Stepper

Bells of Steel Blitz Stepper

Torch calories and fat with this stair-climbing machine that features 15 levels of magnetic resistance. Unlike revolving style stair climbers, this stepper’s motion is more reminiscent of an elliptical with a vertical stride length to keep you climbing upwards.

Along with its oversized textured pedals and padded handles, the Bells of Steel Blitz Stepper’s hybrid design mashes together the vertical nature of stair climbers with the low-impact workouts of ellipticals. Compared to the revolving steps you’ll find on many commercial stair climbers, this unique machine uses rollers that glide along steel rails. All in all, this is easily one of the most comfortable steppers we’ve used. 

On their own, stair climbers and ellipticals are two of the best cardio machines to help save your knees a bit of stress, but as certified personal trainer Jesse Zucker, NCSF-CPT, explains, hybrid machines like the Blitz Stepper can offer the best of both worlds. “The elliptical and the stair climber are both low-impact workouts, but… since your feet stay on the pedals, you’re not adding extra shock or force to your joints even as you increase the intensity,” they explain. (7)

The Blitz Stepper’s steel frame supports users up to 330 pounds — roughly 30 pounds higher than the industry standard — and its lifetime frame warranty indicates Bells of Steel believes in its durability. With foot plates large enough for size 24 men’s shoes, not only would Shaq slip in under the weight capacity, but his size 22s would have room to spare.

We just received our Blitz Stepper, so we’ll update this review once we’ve had a chance to step through its 15 levels of resistance. Fifteen is a little low when compared to other hybrid stair climber and elliptical machines we’ve tested, which tend to offer between 16 and 26 resistance levels. Also, at this price point, we’d also expect a touchscreen with streaming capabilities over this machine’s LED display, though we do appreciate that it includes a handful of preset programs. 

Best Commercial Stair Climber for Streaming: STEPR+

STEPR Classic

STEPR created this climbing machine to be able to fit in the average home — with dimensions that can both fit through typical doorways and a height that allows users to step when faced with ceiling heights as low as 8 feet tall. This is a more compact version of the stair climbers you tend to see in commercial gyms, with Bluetooth capabilities to connect and stream with the free STEPR app.

If catching up on a show or movie sounds like a welcome distraction from a heart-pounding stair climb, the 27-inch HD touchscreen on the STEPR+ goes above and beyond. As our tester discovered, a lot of the usual suspects — Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, and more — come preloaded on the super-sized display. 

“It’s nice to just tap and stream whatever you want without fiddling with your own device,” they said. “But the best part? You don’t have to pay extra for it.” On some machines, you may have to subscribe just to access streamers like these, but on the STEPR+, the streaming world is your oyster.

Well, mostly. “They’ve been talking about coming out with a companion STEPR app, but for now, you have 36 preloaded workouts to follow,” our tester said. “So if you want to stream one of their workouts, it’s nice to follow along with a trainer for free.” 

Our tester doesn’t think these 36 workouts quite match the scenic hikes and walks from the best fitness apps. The available programming is still pretty good, though, and earned a 4 out of 5.

While the rotating-step design of the STEPR+ might remind you of traditional commercial stair climbers, our tester thinks its coffee-table-sized footprint makes it feasible for smaller spaces, too. (8) “STEPR took commercial stair-climbing machines, shrunk them down so they could fit in most homes,” they said, rating its footprint and portability 5 out of 5.

Our tester also noted that while its narrow profile allows it to roll through most doors, its compact nature created more than one limitation. “When you’re doing a stair master workout at the gym, you can typically skip a step. The compact design on the STEPR+ doesn’t really let you do that,” they said. “Each step is short, too — 5.2 inches. It didn’t take long to get used to, but if you usually take long steps, it’s something to keep in mind.” Ergonomics earned a 3.5 out of 5.

Best Budget Commercial Stair Climber: Echelon Stair Climber Sport

Echelon Climber Sport

This climber can fold down when not in use, making storage under beds or in closets ideal for those short on space. There are three levels of manually adjustable incline and a turn knob to adjust resistance while you train. Track your progress with the built-in LED monitor or attach your phone to the device mount to stream programming.

At roughly $2,000 less than many commercial stair climbers we’ve tested, the $799.99 price tag on the Echelon Climber Sport is a welcome sight for budget-conscious athletes. Save for the four AA batteries to power the monitor, this user-powered stair-climber requires zero electricity. While its onboard tech won’t win it any accolades, it’s certainly one of the best affordable stair climbers we’ve tried out. 

In addition to folding into more budgets, the machine itself can fold up for easier storage. Its 55-inch height was already roughly 10 inches below average, but when folded, it shrinks down to just 11 inches. 

However, getting to that 11-inch height wasn’t a walk in the park for our tester, a certified personal trainer, leading to a 3 out of 5 rating for footprint and portability. “I appreciate that this stair stepper folds, but it’s not the most intuitive process,” they said. “There’s a lot of plastic knobs you have to twist and tighten.”

Another plastic knob lets you adjust the resistance, but the resistance levels themselves are not specified. As such, we scored it a 2 out of 5 for adjustability. 

At this price point, however, we were happy to see at least three levels of manual incline. At the highest level, though, our tester started to question its durability. “While on it, the climber feels sturdy, but thinking about the small hooks keeping the machine in its angled incline position makes me nervous,” they said.

Most commercial stair steppers hover around $2,800. So, for $799.99, our tester thought the Stair Climber Sport deserved a 4 out of 5 for overall value, despite what they hoped was a one-off issue. “I do think it’s one of the best compact stair steppers I’ve used, but I did hear this scraping sound on each step,” they said. “I’m not sure if this is a problem with this individual piece of cardio equipment, or if it’s a problem more users are facing.”

Best Vertical Commercial Stair Climber: CLMBR Connected 02

CLMBR Connected 02

The CLMBR Connected 02 features adjustable handles for alternating grip positions, as well as a sturdy frame capable of holding up to 350 pounds. Additionally, there’s plenty of tech strewn across the profile, including an integrated app delivering on-demand classes, challenges, guides, and more.

The vertical orientation of the CLMBR Connected 02 not only requires less floor space than typical commercial stair climbers, but the moving arms can also get your upper body in on the action. Its 11 levels of magnetic resistance also let you adjust the intensity when your arms and shoulders start barking. Its vertical design, and the total-body workouts it affords, prompted a 4 out of 5 rating for ergonomics from our tester, a CrossFit Level-1 trainer.

In fact, seven total categories earned at least a 4 out of 5. While many of the best vertical climbers could be described as “utilitarian,” the 21-inch HD touchscreen on this model earned its tech capabilities a 5 out of 5 from our tester. “The screen is really great, and the ability to tilt it forward made it possible for me to view the screen while I took classes off of the trainer,” they said.

With the Premium-level CLMBR app subscription ($39 per month), you can access on-demand programming, challenges, and community-based features like competitions. Our tester rated CLMBR’s programming 5 out of 5, but noted that a membership may not be a prerequisite for everyone. 

“I also like that you can still operate the CLMBR in manual mode if a CLMBR app subscription is out of your budget. You can still generate a worthwhile workout experience, ” they said. “I will say, though, that I think the interactive programming is worth the $39.99 monthly charge.”

Given its vertical design, we paid extra attention to its stability. “I wasn’t worried about the machine falling or anything,” said our 6-foot-3-inch tester when they rated its durability 4.5 out of 5. 

We don’t anticipate long-term issues with the aluminum build, but the one-year warranty garnered just a 3.5 out of 5 from our team. Many cardio machines, including stair climbers, in this price range offer 10-year or lifetime frame warranties.

Read our full CLMBR Connected 02 Review.

Best Compact Commercial Stair Climber: Bowflex Max Trainer M6

Bowflex M6 Max Trainer

Tight on space but still want to experience the low-impact benefits of elliptical training? The Bowflex M6 Max Trainer boasts a vertical orientation that shrinks the overall footprint to 8.31 square feet, yet the plane of motion can still be ideal for comfortable training with a heightened sense of muscle-boosting potential, especially across your posterior chain and legs.

If most commercial stair climbers are roughly the size of a loveseat or recliner, the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 compares more to an end table. (8) The 8.31 square feet it takes up is around 20 percent less than a typical stair climber, which helped make it some of the best compact exercise equipment we’ve used. 

Its footprint and portability also earned a 4.5 out of 5 from BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer Kate Meier. “It’s super narrow and pretty compact overall, so it’s great for small spaces,” she said. 

Instead of climbing a rotating staircase, though, you’ll be pumping elliptical-style pedals. Meier rated the ergonomics and adjustability of its hybrid design a 4.5 out of 5. “It has both fixed handles and moving arms, plus the big textured pedals you’d see on an elliptical,” she says. While it may not quite feel like you’re marching up the Empire State Building, we think you’ll still be able to work up a sweat via the JRNY app. 

For about half the cost of fitness apps like iFIT ($39.99) or Peloton ($44), JRNY ($19.99) tailors M6-specific workouts that factor in your metrics and workout history. As Meier learned, these workouts can be sneaky butt-kickers. 

“This machine is designed for HIIT training and the JRNY workouts reflect that,” she said. “They are usually just 15 minutes or less and they really are killer.” Add in the five preset workouts, and its programming was dynamic enough to earn a 4.8 out of 5 from Meier.

However, since there’s no built-in touchscreen, those workouts require you to set up your own device on the media shelf. “I think it’s a little pricey for a machine that requires you to bring your own device,” she said, rating the Max Trainer M6’s 3.5 out of 5.

Read our full Bowflex Max Trainer M6 Review.

Benefits of Commercial Stair Climbers

As our expert reviewer and BarBend editorial member Kate Meier explains, the workouts on tap from these machines are no joke. “Stair climbers are exceptional at boosting your heart rate, increasing muscular endurance in the lower body, and even potentially building some strength in the legs.” she says. “Even a short, 10-minute workout on a stair climber can send your heart rate soaring.”

• Durability: Commercial stair climbers have steel builds that are meant to hold up to consistent use over long periods of time. Since you’re investing a decent chunk of change, it’s nice to know you’ll be getting a machine you can count on for the long haul.
• Accessibility: Because climbing stairs is something we all do daily, you most likely won’t be learning new techniques, like, say, the stroke of a rowing machine. Meier adds, “Stair climbers are great for anyone looking to get an intense workout in a short amount of time.”
• Lower-Body Strength Training: In addition to being one of the best cardiovascular exercises, stair climbing can help target lower-body muscle groups like the quads, calves, and glutes. (3) This can provide a challenge to your legs on a machine more compact than most treadmills or ellipticals.

How Much Do Commercial Stair Climbers Cost?

The commercial stair climbers on our list range in price from $799.99 to $7,495. Higher-priced options typically offer the rock-solid durability to hold up to constant use, along with technology like touchscreens and dynamic programming. More budget-friendly models lack the frills of app-connected machines, but can still make you sweat. 

What to Consider Before Buying Commercial Stair Climbers

Before adding a commercial stair climber to your gym or home, make sure it falls within your budget, but also consider how it will fit in your space and how much use it will get. In the wise words of BarBend expert reviewer Kate Meier, “A machine is only good if you’ll use it.” Here are a few of the main considerations to keep in mind when you’re looking for your new commercial stair climber.

Price 

Depending on their builds or onboard technology, you can find commercial stair climbers for as little as $800 or as much as nearly $7,500. For the most part, these machines hover around $2,800, so before writing that check, consider just how much money you can afford to invest. 

The pricier options you’ll find lining the walls of commercial gyms are built for constant use from athletes of differing fitness levels, so if you’re stocking one of these gyms, the price tag may be justified. On the other hand, if your new stair climber is going to be a nice-to-have in a home or garage gym, you may be fine with a more affordable option.

Available Space 

While most fitness equipment is space-hungry, commercial stair climbers can be relatively compact. One factor to keep in mind, though, is their height. Many can be used under normal 8-foot ceilings, but double check the clearance your machine requires. Before you start planning out your stairmaster workouts, we also recommend measuring vertically and horizontally so you can operate your stair climber safely.

Usage Rate 

The hulking machines you’ll find in commercial gym settings are hulking for a reason. They need to support constant use from users of all fitness levels. Think about how often the stair climber on your wish list will be used, especially if you’re setting up a commercial gym or fitness center like those in apartment buildings or hotels. More expensive models typically have the commercial-grade steel builds to hold up to consistent usage.

Resistance Levels

A commercial stair climber with a wide range of resistance can offer the varied intensity to keep your cardio workouts challenging. As Meier describes, being able to up the resistance is a big part of the muscle-building potential of these machines.

“This wouldn’t be in the same way you could build muscle strength and power through doing loaded exercises like squats,” she says. “But you may still feel stronger in your legs when it comes specifically to climbing movements like walking uphill or climbing stairs.”

Commercial Stair Climbers FAQs

References

1. Calories burned in 30 minutes of leisure and routine activities. Harvard Health. (2021, March 8). https://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/calories-burned-in-30-minutes-for-people-of-three-different-weights
2. Nystoriak, M. A., & Bhatnagar, A. (2018). Cardiovascular Effects and Benefits of Exercise. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 5, 135.
3. Zimmermann, C. L., Cook, T. M., Bravard, M. S., Hansen, M. M., Honomichl, R. T., Karns, S. T., Lammers, M. A., Steele, S. A., Yunker, L. K., & Zebrowski, R. M. (1994). Effects of stair-stepping exercise direction and cadence on EMG activity of selected lower extremity muscle groups. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 19(3), 173–180. 
4. Jaramillo, C. (2022, December 29). A guide to sofa dimensions & sizes. SeatUp, LLC. https://seatup.com/blog/guide-to-sofa-dimensions/
5. Minasian, K. (2018a, September 7). How to measure your space for a recliner. Living Spaces. https://www.livingspaces.com/inspiration/ideas-advice/shopping-basics/how-to-measure-your-space-for-a-recliner
6. How wide and tall is your door?. North Georgia Replacement Windows. (n.d.). https://www.ngwindows.com/blog/standard-door-sizes 
7. Sandmeier R. H. (2000). Osteoarthritis and Exercise: Does Increased Activity Wear Out Joints?. The Permanente Journal, 4(4), 26–28.
8. Cocreativeinteriors. (2022, March 17). Standard Furniture Size Guide. CoCreative Interiors. https://cocreativeinteriors.com/2022/03/standard-furniture-size-guide/