Stair Climber Price Guide

Features, price ranges, and how to choose

Purchasing a stair climber is a great way to give yourself a convenient and effective workout.  Having a stair climber at home allows you the luxury of working out whenever you choose, without having to make a special trip to the gym or health club.  Home stair climbers also let you work out in front of the television, which can make it much easier to fit exercise into your everyday life and make it a more relaxing and enjoyable time.

But if you're considering purchasing a home stair climber, you may be overwhelmed by the variety of choices available.  You may also be unsure of how much you should expect to spend.

Deciding what features are important to you should help you budget for your stair climber and make the right decision about what to buy.

Low price stair climbers

If you're looking for a basic, bare-bones stair climber, you should expect to spend from $200 to $500.  The main differences you'll notice between these stair climbers and their more expensive alternatives are the available features and the mechanism itself.

Basic stair climbers may have limited computer control.  This is not a big deal if you're not interested in timing yourself, checking your heart rate, or doing other things offered on high end computerized models.  Alternatively, if you buy a low-priced stair climber, consider using a stopwatch and setting up your own methods of keeping track of your progress.  Just because there isn't a computer built in doesn't mean you can't keep track of the same data separately.

The type of mechanism the stair climber uses, on the other hand, can be important.  Be aware of the fact that many low-cost stair climbers are operated with hydraulic or pneumatic devices.  These can be somewhat jerky, and are almost always noisier than more expensive electronic machines.

If you want a high-end machine but can't spend much, consider purchasing used.  Many health clubs will sell their old machines at a very fair price, and you can get a higher end model for the same price as a cheap one.  Just make sure you test any used machine to ensure it works properly.

High end stair climbers

For those who want to spend a little more money on a stair climber, there are certainly many options available with all the bells and whistles.  Just make sure that what you're getting is worth the sticker price.

Some high end stair climbers are priced higher simply because they have a more complex computer with better graphics.  If this is what you want, that's one thing... but consider whether it's really worth the investment. 

If you're spending more, the best place for the money to go is into the machine itself.  A smooth, quiet, electric mechanism that feels solid and sturdy is worth the extra it will cost you, especially if you intend to use it frequently. 

Before you spend extra cash on a stair climber that doubles as another type of machine, such as a treadmill/ climber hybrid, examine the design carefully.  Although these pricey machines are touted as the best of both worlds, in fact it's rare to find one that performs as well as two separate machines would.

Whether you're buying basic or shopping the high end of the market, what it really comes down to is what you need.  If you're happy with a no-frills machine that gets the job done, a low-end stair climber will be plenty.  If you're interested in a more expensive machine, evaluate your needs and make sure it'll be worth the investment before you buy.  The important thing is that you get the right stair climber for you-and your wallet.

More information on stair climbers