Climbing Machine?

[betpchem]

Hi everyone,

This is kind of a follow-up post to @USAF-Larry's post about ellipticals. I was Black Friday shopping yesterday and I was looking at a climbing machine (like this one http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=65906566&). But I haven't seen it set up and I don't know if it's worth it. The reviews on-line are mixed. Does anyone have one? Would you recommend it?

Thanks for any info.

[WendyB]

I don't have one but I have used a friends several times. Its not something I would have at home for daily use. I don't see me sticking with it. But I would use it at the gym if they have something like it or my friends.

Treadmill, Elliptical yes I would have at home as I would use either one daily.

But that's me. If you think you would use it a lot then go for it

[USAF-Larry]

Went to the gym yesterday, and they had all new equipment since the last time I went. Included in the treadmill room was 2 Step Climbing Machines.  So, I thought I would try on out.  That dang thing nearly killed me! After only 7 minutes my knees started hurting and I decided it was time to turn it off.  It wasn't like normal stair climbing - I can go up and down the stairs at the mall time after time and never have a problem - and it wasn't anything like climbing rocks & hills - I did a lot of that in Canyonlands National Park & Arches National Park and didn't have any problem at all.

As @WendyB said, I wouldn't invest in one for my home. A treadmill and an Elliptical will give me all of the workout I need.  But, that's just me...

[Dominique]

Same at @WendyB: I don’t see myself using one on a regular basis. I would be bored to death after just 3-4 minutes. Plus it doesn’t look very sturdy to me. OTOH, treadmills, elliptical and basically everything stationary bores me. I just prefer to walk or run outdoors, for the fresh air, change of scenary and terrain etc.

[WendyB]

Yes me too. Prefer outside no matter how cold it is. I do have have a stationary bike @ home that's getting ignored. Need to start using it. But it bores me as well.

[USAF-Larry]

But, you're talking outside California Style, @WendyB, and that ain't fair! 

[WendyB]

It doesn't snow. But in northern CA it does get to 21 degrees in the morning. I know still not as cold as back east. But I'm still out there bundled up.

BTW @USAF-Larry California is not 64 to 80 degrees all the time. Especially Northern  where we are only 1 hour away from snow. Its a pretty big state and the temp verifies through out

[betpchem]

I understand what you are saying about outdoors, but I can't always get outdoors. It's not so much that it's cold, but that it's dark. I'm at work all hours when it is daylight. The streets around here are just not safe (from cars, I mean) after dark.

I just want something new and different, something to kickstart my routine again. I'm getting bored. I have a treadmill and a stationary bike.

[GershonSurge]

Many of the reviews said they could only use the machine about five minutes at a time. People did mention knee problems.

Looking at the pictures, it looks like the foot is well ahead of the person's center of gravity when they push down. According to the book Anatomy for Runners this is an excellent way to cause knee problems. 

You could get the same exercise doing knee bends. In the book Anatomy for Runners, the author recommends leading with the butt instead of with the knees. To see the difference, stand with your feet just in front of a toilet and sit down. While sitting down, rest your forearms (just below your elbows) on your thighs. If you hit the hole, you are doing it the recommended way. If you hit the rim, you aren't. 

By doing the kneebends this way, it strenghtens the glutes (bottom of the hips.) It also teaches the runner/walker to lengthen the stride to the back instead of the front.

Later, you can learn to do one-legged squats.

[WendyB]

@betpchemGet it if you want it. Its your decision.

I would just worry about the knees as stated a few times in the Posts.

Its your choice as to what you do.

[USAF-Larry]

I agree, @WendyB.  The doctor has already threatened me with knew replacements, so I watch them pretty carefully. When I tested the stair climber at the gym, it really made my knees ache. Won't be trying it again....

[shipo]

---

@WendyB wrote:
@yes me too. Prefer outside no matter how cold it is. I do have have a stationary bike @ home that's getting ignored. Need to start using it. But it bores me as well.

---

I've been to a few homes where the occupants have a stationary bike; it seems they make great clothes racks.  🙂

[USAF-Larry]

We used to have a Nordic Track, and that made a much better clothes rack than a stationary bike! 

[betpchem]

@WendyBI know it's my decision. I was looking for helpful advice from maybe someone who had the machine or had used the machine.

[edallasmac]

I have chronic joint problems and spine problems, but the best impact free exercise I get is on a VersaClimber.  There are various models, and the superior one is of course the more expensive one, the SM or SRM models which allow a wide range of step height during your exercise, has variable resistance, have good ergonomics and have a seat so you can adjust ergo and even isolate to one lower extremity if needed.  I have used one at gyms and when I moved to a small town where there were none, sprung the roughtly 5k for my own about 12 years ago.  Other than replacing one foot strap its still original and has required minimal maintenance.  I keep it on my covered back porch in the desert as it does require more than 8' height.

On the down side, there doesn't seem to be a way to translate the fitbit data and the VersaClimber data - my machine says I climbed a mile today and the fitbit says I climbed no flights ;-).  However the calories burned and heart rate data jive.

I haven't seen another stair or climber machine that does the job like this one in a relatively small footprint.  For good or bad they've gotten trendy lately in SoCal.

[WendyB]

@edallasmacIt will not count floors as you need to go up 10 feet in elevation to get 1 foor.

Sounds like you enjoy your climber.

@betpchemdid you ever get one?

[betpchem]

Thanks, @edallasmac. That's exactly what I wanted to hear - the voice of experience.

No, @WendyB, I haven't talked myself into it yet, but no one gave me one for Christmas, so I may treat myself.

[betpchem]

@WendyBI talked myself into it. I didn't buy a fancy $5000 machine, just a $200 one, but I like it. I only managed 5 minutes the first couple of days, but I hurt in muscles I didn't realize I had. I did 15 minutes today, so I think that's progress. 🙂

[WendyB]

@betpchem I'm glad you found one. That is a good price. 

Yes sounds like you are making progress. 

[betpchem]

It was on sale at Dick's Sporting Goods and had free shipping.

This is the one I bought, in case anyone is interested:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=65906566&kw=climbing+machine&origkw=cl...