Stair climbers give you an excellent cardiovascular workout that targets your quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and calves and go easy on your joints at the same time. If you’re looking for a home stair climber, there a few things you need to know before you buy. Arming yourself with basic knowledge about mechanics, safety and warranties is the best way to make sure the fitness stair climber you buy doesn’t make you want to climb the walls.

Motorized Stair Climbers
Motorized stair climbers use belts or magnet systems to move the stairs you climb. This motorized movement minimizes impact on your joints, making stair climbers a favorite among people who need or want a low-impact workout.

Choose a motorized stair climber for a lower-impact workout, so long as you have the space to house it. Motorized stair climbers are bigger and heavier than manual stair climbers and the more you spend on these stair climbers, the bigger and heavier they are.

Manual Stair Climbers
Manual stair climbers may be self-propelled or use hydraulics, requiring you to work with the stair climber to move the stairs and resulting in a higher-impact workout than motorized stair climbers.

Manual stair climbers take up less space than motorized stair climbers and are generally easier to move if you need to store your stair climber when it’s not in use. If you’re considering buying a manual stair climber, pay close attention to how it controls resistance: self-propelled stair climbers feel more natural, but hydraulic stair climbers allow you to vary the intensity of your workout.

Foot Action
Avoid manual stair climbers with dependent foot action, where pushing down on one pedal raises the other. Dependent foot action doesn’t force you to lift each foot completely to take the next step, resulting in a less effective workout. Look for independent foot action instead.

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