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

	Matrix ClimbMill C5x (Remanufactured)	Matrix ClimbMill C7xe (Remanufactured)	Matrix ClimbMill C7Xi (Remanufactured)	Matrix ClimbMill C3x (Remanufactured)
Price	$5,299	$5,099	$5,799	$5,399
Step Depth and Height	10” and 8”	10” and 8”	10” and 8”	10” and 8”
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	-
Display	Intuitive LED console display.	15-inch touchscreen display with FitTouch Technology	16-inch class projective capacitive touchscreen LCD	8x16 LED graphic display
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
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

	StairMaster 4 Series Gauntlet w/10” LCD (New)	StairMaster 4 Series Gauntlet w/10” Touch (New)	StairMaster 4 Series Gauntlet w/15” Embedded Display (New)	StairMaster 10 Series 10G Gauntlet w/10 Touch Display (New)
Price	$5,999	$6,499	$9,799	$13,299
Resistance Levels	20	20	20	25
Step Rate	24-162 steps per minute	24-162 steps per minute	24-162 steps per minute	24-190 steps per minute
Step Depth and Height	10” and 7”	10” and 7”	10” and 7”	12” and 8”
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
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

	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)	Life Fitness Discover SI PowerMill Climber (Remanufactured)	Life Fitness Discover 95P SE3 HD PowerMill (Remanufactured)	Life Fitness Discover SE3 95PS PowerMill (Remanufactured)	Life Fitness Discover ST PowerMill (Remanufactured)
Price	$5,999	$6,099	$6,599	$6,299	$6,999	$6,699	$7,299
Resistance Levels	25	0-25	0-25	25	0-25	26	26
Step Depth and Height	-	9.875” and 7.5”	-	-	9.875” and 7.5”	-	9.875” and 7.5”
Heart Monitoring	Lifepulse, DSP, Polar, Telemetry	Contact heart rate		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
Max User Weight	400 lbs	4000lbs	400 lbs	400 lbs	400 lbs	400 lbs	400 lbs
Weight	473 lbs	473 lbs	473 lbs	473 lbs	473 lbs	473 lbs	473 lbs
Tech Features		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
Console			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

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.