The 5 Best Stair Climbers And Steppers For Sale

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Stair climbers and steppers can offer a good cardio workout while engaging important leg muscles. Find out what the best model is for you.

Best stair climbers and steppers top picks

• Best overall: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3911
• Best premium at home option: Bowflex Max Trainer M8
• Best commercial: Spirit CS800 Stepper
• Best budget: Doufit Foldable Stepper
• Best portable: Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper

Stair climbers and steppers often vary in a variety of features and price points. To help you make a decision you can find in what area the model stands out before each top pick.

Keep in mind that it is not possible to create one perfect ranking for every individual due to different training goals, fitness levels, budgets, workout rooms, personal preferences, etc. Picks lower on the list could be better for you personally.

How we selected our top picks

Our fitness experts spent a lot of time looking at and comparing all the different important factors of stair climbers and steppers. Some of the things that were taken into consideration when making our selection include:

• Climb height, weight capacity, resistance levels, etc.
• User reviews
• Anecdotal reviews from fitness experts
• Price
• Brand trustability

If a pick seems interesting click it to see the online prices.

5 Best stair climbers and steppers reviewed

The list of top picks can help you get an impression of the best options out there. You can also look at each of these stair climbers and steppers reviewed in depth to ensure you are making the right choice.

1. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3911

Our top pick for the best overall stair climber/stair stepper is the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3911. The first thing to note is that this machine is in no way perfect, there are definitely some improvements that need to be made.

These required improvements will be discussed in more detail but an important second thing to note first is that the price of this machine is still reasonable.

The other stair climbers and stair steppers that are somewhat better are immediately a lot pricier. Because of this many people will prefer this option. If you don’t mind investing a bit more, the next stair climber will be better.

With that out of the way, there are a decent amount of cases where the stair climber/stepper did not last that long. Additionally, if you are located outside of the U.S.A. the warranties may not apply.

Additionally, some customers would like it if the hardest resistance level was more challenging. The weight capacity of 220 pounds (99.7 kg) is also definitely not that impressive.

That being said, if you don’t mind these downsides and get a good machine, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3911 can offer you good workouts.

You can choose between 8 resistance levels and either a 5″ or 7″ (12.7 cm or 17.8 cm) step height. A regular stair step is around 7″ or higher so this stepper comes close to the real deal.

If desired, it is possible to use the transport wheels to roll away the stair climber after your workout. This can be helpful for individuals who want to use the room for other exercises and purposes.

All in all, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3911 can do a lot better when it comes to offering a quality product. That being said, unless you have a bigger workout budget, this is about the best available.

2. Bowflex Max Trainer M8

The Bowflex Max Trainer M8 is our top pick for the premium at home option. That means this machine is not quite commercial quality but can offer you a lot of great workouts.

First of all, the weight capacity of 300 pounds (136 kg) is already a lot better than the previous option. This will allow many more people to use this stair climber.

Something else that stands out in this option is the high number of resistance levels (20). This can be helpful for individuals who want to work out hard, elderly people who want to work out softly, or people who want to choose the exact challenge they desire.

The max pedal height of 19.1″ (48.5 cm) sounds very hard but this measurement is mostly to give you an idea of how high your workout room needs to be.

In reality, the height difference between the pedals will relatively high but not quite to this extent.

Additionally, the workout programs, transport wheels, Bluetooth compatibility, and screens are nice additions that can make your workouts and the tracking of them more convenient and interesting.

One downside is that there are a few customers who have to deal with parts that need to be replaced. The high number of happy customers does imply that these are the exceptions.

Besides that, a more premium model like the Bowflex Max Trainer M8 does come at a premium price. If this is a big stumbling block you could also consider the Bowflex Max Trainer M3.

While it is more budget-friendly the M3 model does have fewer resistance levels, fewer workout programs, no Bluetooth compatibility, and shorter warranties. The price is also still on the higher side.

In short, the Bowflex Max Trainer M8 is definitely more of a premium option. If you have the budget for it and value its great features you can definitely go for this stair climber/stepper or a quality level down with the M3.

3. Spirit CS800 Stepper

This next option from Spirit Fitness is our top pick for commercial stair climbers and stair steppers. One of the first things that stand out is the high weight capacity of 450 pounds (204 kg).

Something else that makes this a good commercial option is the warranties. For this setting you get lifetime frame, 5 years parts, 5 years brakes, and 2 years labor warranties. The residential warranties for parts and brakes are even up to 10 years.

One important thing to note is that these sturdy features do come at a high price. To work out at home, many people will find this stair climber/stepper too expensive.

Besides that, there is also not a lot of customer feedback. This can sometimes uncover errors that don’t show up in the product description.

That being said, with the extremely long warranties and heavy weight capacity, you do get the idea that Spirit Fitness stands behind the quality of its products.

With 20 resistance levels and 6 included workout programs, most people will be able to get in many great workouts. The LED screen and Bluetooth compatibility will help you keep track of a variety of workout details too.

The device holder, air fan, and USB port are not the most important features of good stair climbers and steppers but they do have the ability to make your workouts a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.

In turn, this could help you stay consistent with your exercise plan.

The Spirit CS800 Stepper is a great commercial stair climber/stepper. You could also consider this machine for at-home workouts but this will require a relatively steep investment.

4. Doufit Foldable Stepper

The Doufit Foldable Stepper can still be described as a stair climber/stepper but it is definitely a few steps down from previous models. Mostly because there is only one resistance setting.

Individuals who just want to move a bit more at home can save some money with this option but individuals who want to do hard workouts need to save up for some of the other stair climbers or consider other equipment.

Something else to note is that a few customers received models with defective displays. Lastly, the weight capacity of 220 pounds (99.7 kg) can be a bit lacking for individuals.

If you don’t mind these things, the Doufit Foldable Stepper is decent for the price. It stands out for its compact usage and storage. Partly because you can fold the machine when done.

This makes this a good stair climber to get more active at home behind the tv or while catching up with your family. Once you are done working out, you can just put it away.

Potentially in a closet or under the bed depending on the dimensions of these things.

The monitor does supposedly keep track of step count, step frequency, and estimations of calories burned with your stair climber workouts. However, even if the monitor arrives working, you likely don’t want to put too much trust in the device.

While this is a budget-friendly stepper machine with some things that can be better, the 1-year warranty does give somewhat of a more secure feeling.

This is far from the highest quality stair climber but it could be a good option for certain individuals who want to do lighter workouts at home.

5. Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper

This next option is the top pick for the best portable stair climber and stair stepper. The Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper is another option that will certainly not offer the most intense workouts but it can help you move a bit more at home.

An important thing to note is that due to the lack of handles, this portable model requires a decent amount of balance. To get the benefits of stair climbers you don’t necessarily need handles but some people will prefer them anyway.

As an example, elderly individuals who want something sturdy to hold will want to choose one of the other stair climbers for sale.

Additionally, the weight capacity of 220 pounds (99.7 kg) will be lacking for a lot of individuals.

Besides these things, there are a few cases where the portable stair stepper broke relatively soon. The short warranty of three months is also worrisome.

Even so, from the high number of happy customers, you can conclude these are exceptions.

These are not the biggest downsides but you do want to keep them in mind. For its price, the Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper can still be a helpful addition to your collection of fitness equipment.

You can adjust the step height to shorter/quicker steps or higher/longer steps. Unfortunately, Sunny Health & Fitness does not mention the exact heights you can expect from this.

Once you are done working out you can put this portable stair climber away at home or bring it to your next workout location because of how light and compact it is.

The monitor can help you track your workouts to some extent but similar to the previous option you likely don’t want to rely on it too much. Tracking these details is even sometimes challenging for premium models.

In short, if you want a portable stair climber/stepper, have good balance, are okay with medium-challenge workouts, and/or are on a budget, you can consider the Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper.

How to choose a stair climber and stepper

You may still be uncertain about what stair climber and stepper would be the best choice for you. Thinking about what you want in a few key features and checking the machines for them can make your choice easier.

Dimensions

Before checking any other features you first want to make sure you have enough room for the stair climber and stepper at home or in the gym.

On top of that, you want to calculate in some extra room for convenient usage. In terms of getting on and off, any moving handles, and enough room above you to move up and down.

Some stair climbers and steppers are also foldable. This makes storing and transporting the machine a lot more compact and easier.

Weight capacity

Once you know the stair climber/stepper fits in your (home) gym you can move to the second key feature. To be able to use the machine for at least a little while, it has to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of the individuals who will use it.

The weight capacity also represents to some extent how well built the stair climbers and steppers are and what materials were used.

Additionally, in a commercial setting like a local gym, you likely want one of the sturdier models to play it safe.

Besides just taking your body weight into account, it can also be smart to make sure you have some extra room if you are considering using stair climbers and steppers with extra weights like a weighted vest.

Step height(s)

If you are looking for a stair climber/stepper you likely want at least a decent step height.

Higher steps are more challenging for your cardiovascular system and muscles which can in turn lead to more health benefits as long as you don’t overdo it.

The available step height(s) vary from model to model. Some stair climbers and steppers only have one or two relatively low step heights. Others have a big range to choose from.

Besides the additional health benefits this feature can offer, being able to use different step heights can also just make your workouts more fun and interesting.

Additionally, if the machine will have multiple users, these individuals can use the step heights they prefer the most.

Step path

While you can describe all of the machines on this list as stair climbers and steppers, their step paths are not always exactly the same.

In some models like the Doufit Foldable Stepper, your heels do most of the moving. This will shift the focus more towards your calf muscles.

On the other hand, something like the Bowflex Max Trainer M8 is more of a full leg motion that focuses more on your quadricep and glute muscles (front thigh and butt).

Besides working different muscles you may also simply prefer the feeling of one or the other step path style.

Resistance levels

The next feature is relatively straightforward. Stair climbers and steppers have different ranges and increments of resistance levels.

A wide range allows you to have very light to very heavy workouts. Having many resistance level increments allows you to adjust the challenge level more precisely.

To get the most health benefits you want your workouts to be challenging but not too challenging. The resistance levels available are also another feature that can make your workouts more fun and interesting.

Type of handles

Another area where the best stair climbers and steppers vary is their handles. Some of the handles move, others don’t, other models have both moving and static handles, and models like the Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper have no handles at all.

Which type is the best for you depends on things like your balance, how much you want to use your upper body, and personal preferences.

For example, elderly people likely want a stairclimber with sturdy handles to make sure they don’t lose their balance.

Other features

Most people will find the previous features the most important but stair climbers and steppers can also have things like an immersive screen, air fans, USB ports, heart rate monitors, app compatibility, etc.

These features can vary from not being used to making your workouts a lot more fun to the point where they improve exercise consistency.

If you like some of the above features it can be worth it to invest a bit more in a stair climber/stepper that has them.

Price

Investing in your health can be great but sometimes you can get similar or more benefits at a lower price. You may also simply have to make the most out of a smaller budget.

When it comes to stair climbers and steppers, there are definitely some more budget-friendly models that offer a nice workout. That being said, customers do tend to be happier with the pricier options.

Top pick

If you are still not sure what stair climber/stepper would be the best for you, you can choose our best overall pick. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3911 will be a great choice for most people.

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