If you’re a fan of stair climbers at the gym, today’s article should prove particularly interesting because we’re going to be listing several mind-blowing stair climber benefits.
When people think of working out, they probably don’t instantly think about climbing up a set of stairs, yet in reality, stair climbing is one of the most effective forms of cardio exercise you could wish for.
Climbing up a set of stairs at home is beneficial enough, but the stairs we’re talking about today are very different because today, we’re talking about a machine in the gym known as the stair climber.
We’ve all been told by fitness experts to take the stairs rather than the elevator, but does stair climbing make that much of a difference?
Absolutely, which is why the stair climber machine is currently one of the most popular pieces of gym kit such as the elliptical machine.
If you’re looking to get in shape and are sick of using the standard kit found in a gym, here are 18 mind-blowing benefits for you to enjoy.
1. Great Cardio Workout
The first benefit of using the stair climber that we will look at today is the fact that it is a great cardio workout.
A stair climber is ideal for people looking to improve their cardiovascular fitness because of the fact that it helps to strengthen the heart.
Stair climbers help strengthen the heart and boost circulation, and they also provide a host of other cardio benefits. It is, if you ask me, the biggest benefit of the stair climber machine.
2. Stair Climbing Is Great For Aerobic Fitness
Another of the awesome benefits we will be covering today is that stair climbers are ideal for boosting aerobic fitness.
Using a stair climber is great as it helps to strengthen not only the heart but the lungs as well, which in turn makes it great for boosting aerobic fitness.
The stronger your lungs are, the more oxygen you can breathe and utilize for exercise.
Combine this with the fact that it allows the heart to pump more oxygenated blood around the body, and you have the perfect recipe for aerobic fitness.
3. Serious Calorie Burn
If you thought jogging a 5K on a treadmill was tough, wait until you try a workout on a stair climber.
Stair climbers are absolutely fantastic for people looking to burn fat and lose weight because the exercise itself is so physically demanding.
Just going with a basic intensity workout lasting for 30 minutes will easily burn off upwards of 260 calories, though if you speed it up and increase the intensity, this number will be more than double.
A fast climb on the stair master will have you shedding weight like there’s no tomorrow, so if you are dealing with a little extra lockdown weight and aren’t sure how to lose it, why not get yourself on the stair climber?
4. Something Different When Training
Want to boost your health and fitness but can’t be bothered to go through yet another boring workout on the treadmill?
If so, then using the stair climber could be the perfect solution.
Stair climbers are great because they offer the user something different because they’re so unique.
Having something different to try when working out is great because it helps to keep your workouts fresh and exciting.
5. Stair Climbers Are Great For The Legs
Another great benefit we need to cover in today’s article is that stair climbers are so great for the legs.
Have you ever found your legs feeling tired and aching after walking up a steep hill or a particularly large flight of stairs?
If so, this will serve as an indication of just how brutal the stair climber machine can be for the legs, in a good way of course.
Stair climbers are fantastic for the legs because they target the quads, hamstrings, and calves.
People who use a stair climber will almost certainly experience leg DOMS the next day, making it great for building up the legs.
6. Great For The Butt
Notice how we didn’t mention the butt when talking about how the stair climber is so great for the legs?
Well, that’s because we’re giving it a whole section right now.
Stair climbers are ideal if you want to strengthen your glutes and build up a shapely behind.
7. Tones The Muscles
Another brilliant benefit of using the stair climber is that it helps tone the muscles.
Stair climbing stimulates the muscle tissues and fibres, which, over time, can simulate the effects you’d expect if you were lifting weights.
Okay, stair climbing might not provide you with the exact same muscle-toning effects as you’d expect from weights and weight machines, but it will still help to shape and tone the muscles when using the weighted vest, especially those in the legs.
On top of that, it helps with fat loss so the more weight you lose the more toned you will look. I often use stair climbing during my cutting period for this reason, and it helps me to keep the muscle mass, unlike jogging!
7. Stair Climbing Strengthens The Core
Another lesser-known benefit of the stair climber is the fact that it helps to strengthen the core.
When using the stair climber, the steps will come at you one at a time, meaning that you are constantly on the go.
You can’t slouch over or lean-to catch your breath, which means you are constantly standing upright and it means that your core is constantly engaged.
Over time, this will help you build a stronger more durable core.
9. Stair Climbing Is Better For The Joints Than Jogging
As healthy and as beneficial as running is, one of the biggest downsides is the fact that it puts the joints under so much pressure.
Running is a high-impact activity and every step that you take can put a lot of strain on the joints, especially the ankles, knees, and hips.
Stair climbing is excellent, though, because it is a low-impact activity that is far less forgiving on the joints.
As your feet come down the stairs much more slowly, you needn’t worry about any issues regarding joint pain or discomfort.
10. No Gym Needed
Okay, if you walk into most commercial gyms and scan the cardio equipment, one thing you will notice right away is that most gyms do indeed have stair climber machines.
That, however, does not mean that you have to do all of your stair-climbing workouts in the gym.
If you’ve got the finances and the most, stair climbers can be purchased for use in the home, and they work a treat.
Stair climbers are ideal for those who wish to climb at home rather than in the gym.
11. Stair Climbers Promote Good General Health
Another fantastic reason to consider using a stair climber machine is the fact that it will improve your health in general.
Stair climbers help to boost the immune system, strengthen the heart, improve the cardiovascular system, fight obesity, and plenty more besides.
Roll all of these benefits together, and you have the recipe for great general health.
12. User-Friendly Machine
Some pieces of equipment in the gym require you to have a Ph.D. in rocket science to operate them, but thankfully, the stair climber isn’t one of these examples.
One of the main benefits we need to look at today is the fact that stair climbers are so user-friendly and easy to operate.
13. Reduced Blood Pressure
Hypertension, better known to some as high blood pressure, is a chronic condition affecting many people in the West that could potentially be fatal.
Hypertension can put the heart under an increasing amount of strain, plus there’s also the fact that it can damage the kidneys, put you at risk of stroke, and plenty more besides.
Stair climbing is great because it helps to reduce your blood pressure, putting you less at risk of chronic health issues and premature death.
14. Plenty Of Variation
If the sound of trudging up step after step for an hour at the same pace sounds boring to you, don’t worry because there’s plenty of workout and exercise variation associated with these machines for you to enjoy.
Stair climbers are great because they come with pre-installed programs that you can follow to help you meet your various goals and objectives.
You can even use a stair climber as part of a circuit training, perhaps as part of a CrossFit workout?
15. Stair Climbing Can Improve Your Quality Of Life
Not only will stair climbing help you to burn fat, lose weight, and get healthier, but it will also improve your overall quality of life.
Stair climbing will make you fitter, and it will also strengthen your legs and make you better at climbing up steep gradients.
From getting up and down the stairs at work easier to hiking up steep mountain trails at the weekend, stair climbing machines will help make you much fitter and healthier and improve your overall quality of life.
16. Better Than Climbing Real Stairs
Another of the more important benefits we need to look at today is that stair climbing is much better for you than climbing real stairs.
If you thought that you could get the same benefits from climbing a set of actual stairs that you would from climbing a stair climber, unfortunately, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Climbing actual stairs will put far more pressure on your joints and in turn, it will leave you in a great deal more pain and discomfort.
What Is A Stair Climber?
No, a stair climber isn’t a term used to describe a person that climbs stairs, the stair climber we’re talking about today is a cardio machine used in gyms all across the globe.
Stair climbers are stationary fitness machines that basically provide a revolving staircase in a similar fashion to treadmills.
The machine allows the user to climb stairs at their desired pace to give themselves a highly effective cardio-based workout.
Stair climbers are ideal if you’re looking to burn fat and get in shape.
Stair Climber VS Incline Treadmill
Alright, let's talk about the age-old debate: stair climber versus incline treadmill. What sets these two cardio powerhouses apart? Well, it all boils down to the motion of the steps and the level of resistance.
Picture this: On a stair climber, you're essentially pushing yourself up each individual step using your legs. It's like taking on a steep hill, requiring a significant amount of effort with each stride. Compare that to an incline treadmill, where you're facing a more gradual ascent, akin to a steady jog up a gentle incline.
The intensity factor? Stair climbing takes the cake. It's a high-octane workout that can really get your heart pumping and torch those calories faster than a sprint on the treadmill.
But hold your horses! It's not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Your choice between the two depends on your goals and personal preferences. Some folks swear by stair climbing, citing its joint-friendly nature, while others feel right at home pounding the treadmill pavement.
At the end of the day, both stair climber and incline treadmill workouts pack a punch. It's all about finding what works best for you and your fitness journey. So, lace up those shoes and get stepping — whether it's upstairs or on an incline, the choice is yours!
The Bottom Line: Endless Benefits
And with that, we’ll bring this list of stair climber benefits to a close – I found 16 great benefits of stair climbing benefits based on science and there will most likely be even more. I can promise you one thing: if you include a stair climber to your daily routine, you will notice big health improvements such as:
- Burned fat
- Improved cardio
- Stronger lower body
- Better mental health
We hope you’ve found these benefits interesting and insightful, and if so, we hope that you’ll consider using the stair climber the next time you’re in the gym.
Seriously, it’s one of the best pieces of kit you could ever wish for.
