Matrix ClimbMill vs StairMaster Gauntlet Stepmill vs Life Fitness PowerMill Climbers
A stair climber machine, also known as a stair mill or step mill, is a piece of exercise equipment designed to simulate the act of climbing stairs. It provides a cardiovascular workout by engaging the muscles in the legs, glutes, and core.
Stair climbers are popular in both home and commercial gyms because of their ability to provide a challenging and efficient, sweat-inducing workout while also strengthening and toning the lower body. You can use it as either a warm-up to your workout or a calorie-burning finisher to your routine.
The three most popular stair-climber brands are the Matrix ClimbMill, the StairMaster Gauntlet, and the Life Fitness PowerMill. In selecting among these three fitness machines, you have to consider your fitness goals, preferences, and budget.
In this guide, we compare the top three brands and their variations to help you decide which stair climber best suits your requirements.
Matrix ClimbMill
The Matrix ClimbMill is suitable for home or commercial gyms. Its belt-driven mechanism makes it run quietly and smoothly.
The machine has multiple resistance, speed, and incline settings that make it suitable for workout enthusiasts of all fitness levels. You can easily go from a slow-paced sweat session to an intense leg workout in a matter of minutes. It also has pre-programmed settings that enhance the user experience by providing variety, structure, and convenience, making workouts more enjoyable and effective. Depending on the model, you get to enjoy extra features like a heart-rate monitoring system and entertainment options.
Pros
- Wide range of resistance, speed, and incline levels that you can customize
- Pre-programmed workouts
- Designed for ergonomics, providing a comfortable, secure grip
- Smooth, belt-driven system that makes it quiet when it's running
- Most attainable price ranges among the three popular brands
Cons
- Higher initial cost than other stair climbers
StairMaster Gauntlet
The StairMaster Gauntlet is a classic stair-climbing machine that offers a more challenging workout with its rotating stairs. It has eight steps with different console options, step-rate adjustments, and intensity levels, allowing you to work out at your own pace and preference.
The caveat: the machine is chain-driven so it runs louder compared to other stair climbers.
Pros
- Rugged design that is suitable for heavy use in your fitness center
- Ideal for intense cardio workouts that replicate a real stair-climbing motion
- The revolving staircase design has eight steps, measuring 8 × 12 × 22
- Offers 20 adjustable step rates from 24 to 162 steps per minute
Cons
- Lacks comfort features like adjustable handrails and entertainment
- Louder noises during exercise
Life Fitness PowerMill Climbers
The Life Fitness PowerMill Climber is a motor-driven, revolving staircase. With a large step space and over 20 resistance levels, it can cover your warm-ups up to intense cardio workouts that can burn roughly 360 calories in 45 minutes.
This stair climber features the SureStepSystem Technology, which ensures smooth motion and a wider range of speeds for more workout variations. It provides multiple intensity levels and pre-programmed workouts for users, catering to everyone’s fitness goals.
Pros
- Smooth and quiet operation that is ideal for home gyms and fitness centers
- The rotating staircase design makes your workout more challenging while minimizing impact on joints
- Belt-driven operation which makes it run quietly
- Includes a large step space and anti-toe-pinch design for secure footing
Cons
- More expensive than other stair-climbing machines
Factors to Consider: Matrix ClimbMill vs StairMaster Gauntlet vs Life Fitness PowerMill Climbers
Intensity Level of Workout
All options offer an extensive range of resistance levels at 20-26, making every brand and variation a great choice for those looking for slower paces to higher-intensity workouts.
The key difference is that the Matrix ClimbMill and the Life Fitness PowerMill provide a full range of motion through their adjustable settings. Meanwhile, the StairMaster Gauntlet offers a fixed range of motion and mimics actual stair climbing. If you’re looking for more flexibility and a wider range of motions, the ClimbMill or the PowerMill may be your best bets.
Space Consumption
Stair climbers often consume a larger footprint and it’s important to consider the size of the exercise equipment to ensure that it fits into your home gym or fitness center. The Matrix ClimbMill and Life Fitness PowerMill machines are larger in size compared to the StairMaster Gauntlet.
Noise Level
If you’re concerned about noise, the Matrix ClimbMill and the Life Fitness PowerMill are the quieter options. The StairMaster Gauntlet runs on a chain, causing louder sounds.
Maintenance
The Matrix ClimbMill requires occasional maintenance for its electronic components and software updates. Similarly, the Life Fitness PowerMill needs regular software updates and occasional servicing. The StairMaster Gauntlet involves minimal maintenance because of its simple mechanical design—routine cleaning and lubrication are usually sufficient.
Comparison Table of Matrix ClimbMills
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Price |
$5,299 |
$5,099 |
$5,799 |
$5,399 |
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Step Depth and Height |
10” and 8” |
10” and 8” |
10” and 8” |
10” and 8” |
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Compatibility |
iPod for charging |
Nike + iPod, Virtual Active, iPod for video and audio playback, Netpulse, IPTV, Asset Management, mPower |
IPTV, RFID, most smartphones and tablets |
- |
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Display |
Intuitive LED console display. |
15-inch touchscreen display with FitTouch Technology |
16-inch class projective capacitive touchscreen LCD |
8x16 LED graphic display |
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Technology |
Control Zone sensor, Sweat Management System, Step position software |
Vista Clear Television Technology, Step position software, Control Zone sensor, Sweat Management System, |
Vista Clear Television Technology, 3-speed personal fan, Virtual Active programming, Sweat Management System, Control Zone |
Sweat Management System, ECB modular drive system, Step position software |
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Comfort and Design |
Ergo foam grips on handlebars with pause, stop, and resistance controls, step-up plate, anti-rust design, removable side panels |
Optimized handlebar design with Ergo Form grips, rear locking and leveling castors, removable side panels, anti-rust design |
Step-up plate, ergo foam grips on the handlebars, integrated controls and accessibility, rear locking, and leveling castors, removable side access panels |
Anti-rust design, removable side panels, Ergo Foam grips, integrated pause, stop, and resistance controls |
Comparison Table of StairMaster Gauntlets
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Price |
$5,999 |
$6,499 |
$9,799 |
$13,299 |
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Resistance Levels |
20 |
20 |
20 |
25 |
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Step Rate |
24-162 steps per minute |
24-162 steps per minute |
24-162 steps per minute |
24-190 steps per minute |
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Step Depth and Height |
10” and 7” |
10” and 7” |
10” and 7” |
12” and 8” |
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Display |
Choose between 10’ non-touch, 10’ touch and 15’ OpenHub display |
Choose between 10’ non-touch, 10’ touch and 15’ OpenHub display |
Choose between 10’ non-touch, 10’ touch and 15’ OpenHub display |
LCD 10’ and 15” display |
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Workout Options |
Landmark Challenge program |
Landmark Challenge program |
Landmark Challenge Program |
Standard console program, Landmark Challenge program, OverDrive Training Mode |
Comparison Table of Life Fitness PowerMill Models
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Life Fitness PowerMill Integrity Series Climber (Remanufactured) |
Life Fitness PowerMill w/ Integrity C Console (95PS C WIFI) (Remanufactured) |
Life Fitness Discover SE 95PS Elevation PowerMill Climber (Remanufactured) |
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Price |
$5,999 |
$6,099 |
$6,599 |
$6,299 |
$6,999 |
$6,699 |
$7,299 |
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Resistance Levels |
25 |
0-25 |
0-25 |
25 |
0-25 |
26 |
26 |
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Step Depth and Height |
- |
9.875” and 7.5” |
- |
- |
9.875” and 7.5” |
- |
9.875” and 7.5” |
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Heart Monitoring |
Lifepulse, DSP, Polar, Telemetry |
Contact heart rate |
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Lifepulse Digital Heart Rate, Polar Compatible |
Polar, Telemetry and Bluetooth, Heart Rate, Lifepulse, DSP |
Lifepulse, digital contact heart rate, polar, telemetry-compatible heart-rate monitoring system |
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Max User Weight |
400 lbs |
4000lbs |
400 lbs |
400 lbs |
400 lbs |
400 lbs |
400 lbs |
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Weight |
473 lbs |
473 lbs |
473 lbs |
473 lbs |
473 lbs |
473 lbs |
473 lbs |
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Tech Features |
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Dual remote stop and speed controls, SureStep technology, dual braking system, bullhorn handlebar design, LED display, 4 available workouts, optional attachable TV, |
Connect Bluetooth to compatible headphones and heart rate devices. Save workout results via a QR code. |
SureStepSystem Technology, 10-inch LCD touch screen, 21 available workouts, 12-185 steps per minute |
16” LCD touchscreen with readouts like speed, incline, heart rate, pace, elapsed time, time distance remaining, calories, 22 languages, includes games and apps, virtual courses, compatible with Apple Watch GymKit and Samsung Galaxy Watch. |
Multiple workouts and interactive courses, LCD surface capacitive touch screen, 16-inch screen, Compatible with Android and iOS, wide on-slip two-tone stair pedals, integrated reading rack. |
Touchscreen navigation, integrated TV, and display readouts include: speed, incline, heart rate, pace, elapsed time, calories, distance climbed and remaining, dual stop-assist, and auto-detect future |
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Console |
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16-inch LCD capacitive touch screen, 3.5mm stereo, USB charging, ethernet, and optional WiFi, Includes a TV, virtual courses, solitaires app |
10-inch LCD surface capacitive touch screen, 3.5mm stereo, USB charging, ethernet and optional WiFi, attachable TV option, virtual courses, solitaire app |
16-inch LCD capacitive touch screen, 3.5mm stereo, ethernet, and included WiFi, includes a TV, virtual courses, Bluetooth compatible, apps include TV, internet browser, Netflix, Hulu, Pandora Radio, YouTube, ESPN, BBC, Newsy, Economistt |
16-inch LCD capacitive touch screen, 3.5mm stereo, ethernet, and included WiFi, includes a TV, virtual courses, Bluetooth compatible, apps include TV, internet browser, Netflix, Hulu, Pandora Radio, YouTube, ESPN, BBC, Newsy, Economistt |
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Which one should you purchase?
The Matrix ClimbMill, StairMaster Gauntlet, and Life Fitness PowerMill are all quality stair climbers that can stand heavy usage. They are made with top-quality materials, manufactured by trusted brands, and can carry out basic warm-up exercises to higher-intensity cardio workouts.
So, in selecting which one you should purchase, the answer solely depends on your budget, space availability, maintenance capacity, and personal preferences when it comes to design and tech features.
If you need more personalized assistance in choosing the best stair climber to suit your requirements, feel free to contact us at sales.cs@fitnesssuperstore.com.