Although they may not be as common in home gyms as other well-known exercise equipment like treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise bikes, vertical climbers are a great way to work out your entire body and burn hundreds of calories, according to fitness experts.
Usually standing 7 to 8 feet tall, vertical climbers are exercise equipment with foot pedals and handlebars that may be adjusted in height. “As if you were climbing or scaling something,” says Kyle Gonzalez, head of content at nutrition and supplement firm Momentous and integrative health and wellness specialist, these devices assist you in pulling up and down against calibrated resistance. Additionally, according to Andrew Schillaci, a personal trainer at Casa Cipriani in New York City, this exercise equipment works best for high-intensity, aerobic, and endurance training.
I talked to trainers and fitness professionals about the best ways to use vertical climbers and what to look for when buying one so you can decide if it’s a suitable fit for your home gym. Additionally, they gave me their own recommendations.
GO Ahead and SkipWhat are the advantages of vertical climbers?|| Top vertical climbers to buy?Why should I trust NBC Select?
Selected.
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Best overallVersaClimber Home Climber
$undefined$1,895.00Versa Climber
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Editor s pickRelife Vertical Climber Exercise Machine
$119.99$169.99Amazon
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Best budget pickMaxiClimber Vertical Climber
$139.00$179.00Amazon
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How I picked the best vertical climbers
Our experts advise considering a few factors while purchasing for a vertical climber, such as size, adaptability, and durability.
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Build quality and durability
: A vertical climber needs to be able to support a person moving with intensity and moderate frequency, saysRyan Hopkins,
a strength coach and personal training manager at
SoHo Strength Lab
. Keep in mind that some of the more affordable models tend to be less durable than those with a higher price tag.
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Adjustable sizing and resistance
: Some vertical climbers let you adjust the height and resistance, which can benefit those who want a more intense workout. Also, be on the lookout for foot pedal size when shopping for vertical climbers, as different brands vary, saysJordan Rowe
, a certified personal trainer and founder of NOEX Fitness in Richmond, Virginia.
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Size and storage
: Consider how the machine can fit in their home and the ability for it to be stored away when needed some vertical climbers may fold or come with wheels to better store and move it around. However, even though they re tall, they don t take up much floor space in comparison to a rower or stair climber, Rowe says. -
Connectivity
: Some vertical climbers let you sync the machine to your smartphone or other devices using Bluetooth or an app, which will allow you to access on-demand classes, track your progress and more. -
Price
: You can find some vertical climbers for less than $200 on Amazon, but most machines can cost upwards of $2,000, according to Rowe. Depending on your budget, how often you ll use it and your fitness goals, some higher-end features may be worth considering, including distance, heart rate and calorie trackers, workout modes and guided training programs (most will require you to pay for a subscription service to access them).
Best vertical climbers to shop
Our fitness experts have recommended each of the vertical climbers on our list, many of which include important features like preset programs, a built-in display, and height adjustment.
Best overall:
VersaClimber Vertical Climber
VersaClimber Home Climber
- Adjustable height
- Durable design
- Compatible app
- More expensive than others
Gonzalez suggests the VersaClimber if you’re prepared to spend money on a vertical climber because it lets you design or tailor customized exercises. The home VersaClimber has a screen that shows your metrics, like as time and distance, and 16 pre-programmed routines. Users weighing up to 350 pounds and standing up to 6 feet 5 inches tall can be accommodated by adjusting the height. Schillaci claims that even though the VersaClimber is more expensive than other training equipment, it is a long-lasting, user-friendly machine that is well worth the money. VersaClimber now has the SM-Magnetic machine, which has 11 programmable resistance levels and Bluetooth connectivity, if you’re on a tighter budget and want more features.
Fixed resistance settings; machine weight of 86 pounds; maximum user weight of 350 pounds; integrated display: yes; storage features: no
Best budget option:
MaxiClimber Vertical Climber
MaxiClimber Vertical Climber
- Good for beginners
- Adjustable height
- Companion app
- Fixed resistance
Gonzalez claims that the MaxiClimber is a good, reasonably priced choice that is simple to put together and comfortable to use. According to him, it’s the greatest choice for novices or those wishing to make changes without going over budget. This ergonomic variant can support individuals weighing up to 240 pounds and features handle grips and height adjustment. Along with a step counter to monitor your data, the vertical climber integrates with a companion app to provide progress tracking and on-demand class access.
Maximum user weight: 240 pounds; fixed resistance settings; machine weight: 33 pounds; integrated display: yes; storage features: yes, folding design
Editor s pick:
Relife Vertical Climber Exercise Machine
Relife Vertical Climber Exercise Machine
- Compact design
- Adjustable resistance
- Lightweight
- No display
- No foot straps
Rhys Athayde, co-founder and head trainer at PHANTOM Fitness, suggests this RELIFE vertical climber since it’s lightweight, flexible, and reasonably priced, allowing you to transfer it to different locations if your home gym setup changes. Since she doesn’t go to the gym, NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown says she prefers to use this climber while watching TV or talking on the phone, even though she claims that purchasing it made her feel very outdated. I always feel the burn, but with swimming and my everyday commute, I’m gradually growing stronger, she says. Additionally, she appreciates that it is space-efficient and foldable, fitting neatly into a corner when not in use.
Five resistance levels; 43 pounds for the machine; 260 pounds for the maximum user; no built-in display; and folding storage characteristics
Best splurge:
CLMBR Connected 02 Vertical Climber
CLMBR Connected 02 Vertical Climber
- Adjustable resistance
- Instructor-led classes
- Pricey
- Heavy
Gonzalez claims that because the CLMBR includes a built-in touchscreen display and a smartphone app that allows you to access classes whenever you want, it’s a more advanced alternative. Gonzalez said the brand’s residential model has a Peloton-like appeal because of its distinctive appearance and availability of instructor-led workout programs, despite being more costly than other options. The CLMBR has a maximum user weight of 350 pounds and can fit individuals up to 7 feet tall.
Eleven resistance levels; 180 pounds for the machine; 350 pounds for the maximum user; yes for the built-in display; no for storage features
Most versatile:
Sunny Health & Fitness Premium Cardio Climber Machine
Sunny Health & Fitness Premium Cardio Climber Machine
- Affordable
- Digital display
- Multiple resistance levels
- Nothing to note at this time
Because it combines an elliptical machine and a vertical climber, this option from Sunny Health & Fitness, which produces some of our favorite reasonably priced ellipticals and exercise bikes, can be a wonderful choice for people who are in a limited area. It has eight resistance levels that may be adjusted, a 10-inch stride length, and a 9-inch vertical ascent. Along with pulse sensors on the handlebars to record your heart rate, it has a mounted digital display that allows you to track time, distance, speed, estimated calories burnt, and more. It includes wheels for convenient mobility and can support up to 260 pounds.
8 resistance levels, 95 pounds for the machine, 260 pounds for the maximum user, a built-in display, and no storage features
Related
The best fitness tracker is the one you ll actually wear daily
What are the benefits of vertical climbers?
According to the experts we spoke with, vertical climbers may be used as a stand-alone exercise or as a variation on a strength and conditioning regimen because they blend cardio and strength training. According to Rowe, the machines simulate the movement of climbing, which is a low impact activity for many individuals but has a high return on calories expended because it uses both upper and lower body muscles continuously. Although vertical climbers are safe to use on a daily basis, our experts advise incorporating other types of exercise into any fitness regimen.
According to Hopkins, one of the primary advantages of including a vertical climber into your training regimen is that it targets the sides of the body separately. According to him, when used correctly, the vertical climber targets single-side vertical reaching and pulling, which complements the body’s natural action and strengthens important shoulder girdle areas.
Hopkins advises using a vertical climber two or three times a week for optimal effects. For endurance programs, you can alternate between high-intensity and low-intensity days. You can also incorporate a high-resistance day to enhance your leg strength, upper body strength, and core function. “It’s pretty well rounded,” he says.
There are a few restrictions to be aware of, though: In addition to the obvious dangers of falling or getting hurt if you’re not aware of how your body moves, it takes up a fair bit of room, which some people may find problematic, according to Athayde. Because of the potential for falls, Gonzalez advises against using this kind of equipment for those with balance or coordination problems. Additionally, individuals with cardiac or metabolic disorders should utilize vertical climbers with extreme caution and consult a coach before using one.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we collaborate with professionals that possess specific expertise and power derived from pertinent education and/or job experience. We also take precautions to guarantee that all professional counsel and suggestions are given impartially and without any hidden financial conflicts of interest.
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Kyle Gonzalez
is an integrative health and wellness professional and currently serves as the head of content at a human performance company Momentous. He also founded
The Vitality System
, a platform to help people take control of their health and wellness.
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Andrew Schillaci
is a personal trainer at downtown Manhattan s Casa Cipriani and a boxing instructor at Equinox in New York City.
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Ryan Hopkins
is a strength coach at personalized coaching company
Team Wilpers
and the personal training manager at
SoHo Strength Lab
.
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Jordan Rowe
is a certified personal trainer and founder of NOEX Fitness in Richmond, Virginia.
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Rhys Athayde
is the co-founder and head trainer at
PHANTOM Fitness
.
Why trust NBC Select?
Editor Mili Godio of NBC Select has produced numerous articles regarding exercise equipment, such as dumbbells, inexpensive ellipticals, weighted hula hoops, and more.
Ashley Morris works for NBC Select as an associate SEO reporter, covering topics such as lifestyle, wellness, and skin care. Godio consulted five fitness professionals regarding the advantages of vertical climbing for this post and obtained their suggestions for the top brands to purchase.
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