If you’re in the market for a vertical climber, our experts recommend keeping a few features in mind when shopping, including durability, size adjustability and size.
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Each of the vertical climbers we list below are recommended by our fitness experts, many of which include key features like adjustable height, a built-in display, preset programs and more.
If you’re willing to invest in a vertical climber, Gonzalez recommends the VersaClimber because it “allows you to create or prescribe specialized workouts.” The residential VersaClimber comes with 16 preset programs and a screen that displays your metrics like distance and time. You can also adjust the height and it accommodates users who are up to 6-foot-5-inches tall and weigh up to 350 pounds. You can connect the machine to the VersaClimber app via Bluetooth, which gives you access to on-demand classes and lets you track progress, heart rate, calories burned and more.
While the VersaClimber is on the pricier side of the fitness equipment market, the machine itself is durable, easy to use and worth the investment, says Schillaci. If you have a higher budget and are looking for more features, VersaClimber also offers the SM-Magnetic machine, which offers 11 adjustable resistance levels and Bluetooth connectivity.
Resistance levels: fixed | Machine weight: 86 pounds | Maximum user weight: 350 pounds | Built-in display: yes | Storage features: no
The MaxiClimber is a quality, affordable option that’s easy to assemble and comfortable to use, according to Gonzalez. “It’s the best option for a beginner or someone looking to switch things up but not break the bank,” he says. This ergonomically-designed model comes with handle grips, an adjustable height and can accommodate users up to 240 pounds. The vertical climber also includes a step counter to track your metrics and works with a companion app to get access on-demand classes and progress tracking.
Resistance levels: fixed | Machine weight: 33 pounds | Maximum user weight: 240 pounds | Built-in display: yes | Storage features: yes, folding design
This RELIFE vertical climber comes recommended by Rhys Athayde, co-founder and head trainer at PHANTOM Fitness, because it’s “affordable, adjustable and lightweight, so you can move it around to different areas if you change your home gym layout.” Although she says buying it made her feel “so incredibly old school”, NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown says that since she’s not a gym-goer, she likes to use this climber while watching TV or talking on the phone. “I feel the burn every time and combined with swimming and my daily commute, I’m getting stronger little by little,” she says. She also likes that it has a foldable, space-efficient design that fits into the corner when she’s not using it.
Resistance levels: 5 | Machine weight: 43 pounds | Maximum user weight: 260 pounds | Built-in display: no | Storage features: yes, folding design
The CLMBR is a more “high-tech option” since it’s equipped with a built-in touchscreen display and has a smartphone app you can access for on-demand classes, Gonzalez says. Though the brand’s home model is more expensive than other options, Gonzalez notes that the unique design and access to instructor-led fitness classes gives it “a Peloton-like appeal.” The CLMBR can accommodate people up to 7 feet tall and has a max user weight of 350 pounds.
Resistance levels: 11 | Machine weight: 180 pounds | Maximum user weight: 350 pounds | Built-in display: yes | Storage features: no
This option from Sunny Health & Fitness, which makes some of our favorite affordable ellipticals and exercise bikes, can be a great option for those in a tight space since it combines a vertical climber and elliptical machine. It offers a 9-inch vertical climb, a 10-inch stride length and eight adjustable resistance levels. It comes with a mounted digital display that lets you track your time, speed, distance, estimated calories burned and more, as well as pulse sensors on the handles to measure your heart rate. It can support up to 260 pounds and has wheels for easy maneuverability.
Resistance levels: 8 | Machine weight: 95 pounds | Maximum user weight: 260 pounds | Built-in display: yes | Storage features: no
Vertical climbers combine both strength and cardio exercise, and can offer some variety to a strength and conditioning routine or work as a standalone piece, according to the experts we spoke to. The machines work by having users mimic the movement of climbing: “Using your upper and lower body muscles the entire time, it’s a low impact movement for many people with a high return on calories burned,” Rowe says. Vertical climbers are safe for everyday use, but our experts recommend mixing up any fitness routine with other forms of exercise, too.
One of the main benefits of adding a vertical climber to your training routine is that it works the sides of the body individually, according to Hopkins. “When used properly, the vertical climber addresses single-side vertical reaching and pulling, which works well with the natural movement of the body and strengthens critical areas of the shoulder girdle,” he says.
Use a vertical climber two or three times per week for the best results, Hopkins says. “You can have a high-intensity and a low-intensity day for endurance protocols, and you could even add a high-resistance day to push the individual leg strength, upper body strength and core function — it’s pretty well rounded,” he says.
However, there are a few limitations to keep in mind: “Besides the immediate risks of falling or injury if you’re not in touch with how your body moves, it requires a decent amount of space, which could be an issue for some people,” Athayde says. Gonzalez doesn’t recommend this type of machine for people with balance or coordination issues due to falling hazards, and those with metabolic or heart issues should use vertical climbers with extreme caution and seek guidance from a coach before using one.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Mili Godio is an editor at NBC Select who has written a variety of stories about fitness equipment, including dumbbells, affordable ellipticals, weighted hula hoops and more.
Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter at NBC Select covering skin care, wellness, lifestyle and more. For this article, Godio spoke to five fitness experts about the benefits of vertical climbers and gathered their recommendations for the best ones to shop.
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