If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to get into shape at home, check out the Maxi Climber Vertical Exercise Machine.
The first patented vertical climbing machine, it has a high user satisfaction rating. Having owned one for over five years now, its popularity does not surprise me.
Effective and very moderately priced, it delivers some of the benefits of a step machine or Stairmaster at a far more affordable price.
Sessions are short and, being low-impact, suitable for most people to undertake. The more effort you put in, the tougher your workout will be, and the more calories you will burn.
Combining resistance training and cardio, by using the machine for as little as just 10 minutes a day, three times a week, you can lose weight and tone your muscles faster than you’d have thought possible.
In fact, in-house testing by the manufacturer and distributor, Innoventions International LLC, concluded that it’s possible to burn more calories exercising on a Maxi Climber than when exercising on a treadmill or exercise bike for the same length of time.
In this Maxi Climber review, I will cover everything you will need to know to help you decide whether or not it will be right for you. This includes its benefits, how to use the device, its specs, key features, pros, cons, and more.
Be sure to read my update at the end of this review, written after acquiring my own Maxi Climber.
Table of Contents
Who Does it suit?
Just about anyone wanting to improve their body shape and fitness and burn calories can use a Maxi Climber.
It’s a great option for people with limited space for exercise equipment.
It will also suit those who don’t have the time for long workouts.
And because workouts don’t put a lot of stress on the joints, even those with joint issues may be able to use it.
NB: If you have joint problems, get the okay from your doctor before using this or any other fitness equipment.
What muscles does the Maxi Climber target?
Targeting the same muscles as those used in rock climbing, by using a Maxi Climber Vertical Climber Exercise Machine regularly, you will tone and strengthen your arms, upper legs, calves, shoulders, upper back, lats, buttocks, and core.
Alternating your grip between underhand and overhand and changing the position of your feet will enable you to target different muscles.
What other benefits will I get from regular use of a Maxi Climber?
Along with the muscle toning benefits regular workouts on this fitness aid provide, you can burn calories and reduce your body fat. You can also increase your stamina and endurance, balance and coordination, and increase your energy levels.
You may experience other benefits from the long-term use of a vertical climber exercise machine, including increased bone density and improved systemic health.
Are the workouts strenuous?
When using a Maxi Climber exercise machine, your body weight provides resistance. The more effort you put in, the more calories you 
will burn and the faster you will improve your shape and fitness.
Rather than just holding onto the handles and letting your legs do all of the work or relying on momentum to move your arms, allow them to fully extend up and move down with controlled force. The same goes for your leg movement.
If you move slowly, the workout will be much easier than it will be if move quickly and put in more effort. Moving very slowly will help you tone your muscles, but you won’t burn many calories.
What else do I need to know?
The foot pedals of a vertical climbing machine would be hard on your feet if you were to work out barefoot, so make sure you have a comfortable pair of supportive sports shoes to wear.
You will perspire during Maxi Climber workouts, so keep a towel handy to wipe down the handlebars and a bottle of water so you can rehydrate.
Before beginning your session, check that the Maxi Climber handlebars are a comfortable height for your arm span.
The easiest way to do this is to mount the apparatus. To do so, face the machine and hold onto the stationary handles for support.
Step up, place your right foot on the right pedal, pull your body up, and put your left foot on the left pedal. With your feet level, adjust the handles to approximately chin height, then slide the pushpin into position to lock them into place.
Start each Maxi Climber workout with a Warm-Up and end it with a Cool-Down to prevent injury.
Begin your Warm-Up with slow, short strides.
After a couple of minutes doing this, start lengthening your stride and increasing your pace. This will warm your leg, buttocks, and arm muscles at a deeper level.
At the end of your workout, spend a few minutes cooling down.
Your Cool-Down will be the reverse of your Warm-Up. In other words, your pace should slow as you near the end of your session.
The next section of this Maxi Climber review covers how to use the machine.
How to use a Maxi Climber – the Basics
Stand on the footplates with a straight back and most of your weight on your heels. Engage your core, keep your upper body still and your hips squared.
Grasping the machine’s handles, push down with your right foot as you push up the left handle. Next, push down with your left foot and pull the right handle upwards.
Repeat these movements for the duration of your session.
Maxi Climber Workout Routines
The workout you choose to do will depend on your fitness level.
Maxi Climber’s manufacturer recommends 10-minute sessions. Ten minutes doesn’t sound like long, but remember, you will be lifting your body weight.
People who are reasonably fit already may well be able to do 10 minutes from the get-go without stopping.
Those who haven’t exercised before will probably need to start with shorter sessions.
If you fall into the latter category, try climbing consistently for 2 minutes, then resting for 30 seconds. If you can’t manage this, climb for 1-minute, then rest for 30 seconds.
Repeat this until you have been exercising for 10 minutes.
As your strength and fitness improve, you will be able to climb for longer and shorten your rest periods.
After you’ve been using the device for a while, you may want to do HIIT workouts on your Maxi Climber.
To do these, go hard for two minutes, then rest for 30 to 60 seconds.
Slowly increase the time you spend climbing until you are doing four minutes before resting.
Aim to eventually do 20 to 30 minutes of HIIT training per session.
Maxi Climber Inclusions:
Every Maxi Climber purchase comes with an app that gives access to a range of HIIT routines that will enable you to torch calories quickly.
You will also receive a simple 7 Step Meal Plan (English and Spanish versions) containing over 80 recipes. You will also get access to the 21-Day Maxi Challenge, which includes four customized routines.
Maxi Climber Specs
Dimensions – The Maxi Climber is 22 inches wide with a depth of 36 inches and a height of 79 inches when fully extended.
Weight – It weighs 34 lbs.
User weight – The Maxi Climber weight limit is listed as 240 pounds. People considerably heavier report using it without a problem, but this is not something I would recommend.
Color – It is silver with black highlights
An excellent alternative for people carrying more weight is the Xiser, a commercial-quality mini Stairmaster that can support up to 400 pounds. (Click the previous link to read a review.)
Maxi Climber Key Features
- Adjustable height
Adjustable height accommodates shorter and taller people, with five settings available.
- Workout timer
A simple workout timer counts the number of steps you take and how many calories you burn. The timer automatically starts when you begin exercising and stops when you do.
- Ergonomic design
Ergonomically designed and featuring isometric non-stick grips, Maxi Climber workouts are smooth, comfortable, and low-impact.
- Bio-X technology
Bio-X technology delivers a cross-crawl motion that engages your abs and core with every step.
- Folds for storage
The machine can be folded to store when not in use. Folded, it will fit into a standard-sized closet, or you can slide it under a bed.
Next, in this Maxi climber review, we will look at its pros, followed by its cons.
Pros
- Joint-friendly
Even people suffering joint issues should be able to use a Maxi Climber but do check with your doctor first.
Exercises such as running, aerobics, and the like require your feet to strike the ground. This puts pressure on the knees, ankles, and hip joints.
With this machine, your workouts will be far more gentle as your feet never leave the foot pedals.
- Moderately priced
Some machines that deliver the same benefits cost a lot more than the Maxi Climber, which is excellent value for money.
- Short workouts
3 x 10 minutes workouts a week are all that’s required to start seeing results. 
- Total body workout
The Maxi Climber provides a full body aerobic and anaerobic workout.
It will sculpt and tone your calves, thighs, glutes, core, shoulders, triceps, and biceps as it increases your cardiovascular fitness.
- High calorie burn
Every 60 minutes you spend using the machine will burn an average of 500 calories.
- Compact
With its small footprint, this climber exercise machine takes up very little room, making it ideal for people with limited space to house exercise equipment.
- Solid
Constructed of cold-rolled steel, the Maxi Climber is robust and durable.
- Stable
This is a very stable piece of equipment.
Some purchasers commented that it moves very slightly when used on carpet, but all agreed it 
will not tip or topple over.
- Quiet
The Maxi Climber Vertical Climber Exercise Machine makes almost no noise.
You will be able to use it without worrying about disturbing other members of your household.
- Easy assembly
The Maxi Climber Vertical Climber comes 90 percent assembled. Completing the job will take around 10 to 15 minutes. An assembly tool is included.
I received an email from a lady asking if the machine really is as easy to assembly as I said. Assembling machinery does not come naturally to me, and I had no problem at all.
Believe me; if I can do it, you will be able to.
I will include Maxi Climber assembly instructions further down on this page, so you know what to expect.
- Warranty
The Maxi Climber exercise machine comes with a 1-year warranty.
Cons
- Head clearance needed
The taller you are, the higher your ceiling will need to be for you to be able to use a Maxi Climber. This may make the device unsuitable for very tall people whose rooms have very low ceilings.
If your ceilings are 8 feet high or higher, you will be good to go.
- Set resistance
With this fitness tool, you will be lifting your body weight. Its resistance can’t be varied; however, it is still possible to increase the intensity of workouts and burn additional calories.
Take deeper steps and put more controlled effort into your sessions to do this. Alternatively, wear a weighted vest during workouts.
- Workout timer position
Due to its location, it’s difficult to view stats on the timer during workouts.
Next, we will look at some Maxi Climber reviews and feedback from customers.
Maxi Climber Reviews and Customer Feedback
Thousands of Maxi Climber reviews have been published online, with the vast number of these being extremely positive.
Most purchasers love that the machine lives up to the manufacturers’ claims and that they can tone their entire body and lose weight doing short workouts.
Many stated that they think the Maxi climber is great value for money. The 
machine’s quiet operation was frequently mentioned.
Many reviewers stated that the device is sturdier and workouts more challenging than they had anticipated. They like the digital counter, which enables them to track their workouts and progress.
People with limited space appreciate the machine’s small footprint. Its adjustability is widely appreciated, too, as this enables multiple household members to use it.
The ease of assembly and disassembly has received numerous favorable comments.
On a negative note, a small percentage of buyers reported receiving damaged parts.
Some purchasers said that they find the Maxi Climber uncomfortable to use. A few said that it hurt their knees.
A number of customers think the machine is flimsy and of poor quality. I don’t find this to be the case. Granted, it’s not the same quality as the Xiser, but it costs considerably less, and it does the job well for me.
Keep reading this Maxi Climber review for a parts checklist and assembly instructions.
Parts Checklist
I decided to add Maxi Climber assembly instructions for anyone concerned they won’t be able to assemble the device.
If you really don’t want to attempt it yourself, you can pay extra to have it done for you. You won’t need to, though.
The instructions are easy to follow, and the assembly process is straightforward.
Before you start assembling your Maxi Climber, check that all the parts are in the box. (I once spent hours trying to assemble a piece of exercise equipment, only to find one small but vital component was missing.)
The following pieces should be in the box:
- The main body of the device
- Two U-Bars
- Two long L-shaped handlebars
- Two short straight handlebars with grips
- 1 wrench
If anything is missing, contact customer service and request they send you the pieces you need. If all of the parts are there, you can start setting up the machine.
Maxi Climber Assembly Instructions
- Clear some space
Assembled, the Maxi Climber takes up about 6 square feet of space. Find a space that will accommodate the machine and allow yourself some room. Lay out all of the pieces.
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Remove the nuts and bolts located on the top cradle
The easiest way to assemble your Maxi Climber is to form the base first.
Start by standing the main body upright. (The Maxi Climber logo will be upside down.)
Lower one of the machine’s arms. This will give you easy access to two nuts and bolts on top of the device.
Remove these and put them somewhere safe. Pick up the largest U-Bar and slot it into the cradle at the top of the machine, aligning the U-bar holes and the cradle holes.
Place the bolts in the holes, then use the wrench to secure them into position.
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Remove the nuts and bolts from the other cradle
Push up the arm you lowered in the previous step to give yourself unencumbered access to the second, smaller cradle.
Remove the nuts and bolts from this, and put these in a safe place.
Sit the smaller U-Bar in the cradle, line up the holes as before, and screw the bolts into place.
The base of the machine will now be in place. Turn the machine over so that the U-Bars are on the floor.
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Remove the pin
Locate the machine’s base pin that secures the stabilizing bar into place.
Gripping the bar firmly, remove the pin. At this point, the bar will lower, stopping when it reaches a small triangular protrusion on the far side of the machine’s base.
Depending on your height, you may want to position the U-Bars closer together or farther apart. This is a good time to do so. Next, line up both sets of holes and push the pin into place.
- Attach the pulleys
There are several bolts towards the front of the machine and close to the base on both sides. Remove the nut on the top of the middle one.
Secure the pulley strings to the circular attachment at the end of the pulley. Replace the nut, using the wrench to tighten it. Do this on both sides, again being careful not to misplace the bolts in the process.
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Attach the handlebars
The final step is to attach the four handlebars.
Working with the longer movable arms first, insert one into the slot on the right-hand side of the machine, the other into the left-hand slot. (The handlebars are marked with the letters L and R.) At this point, you will be able to adjust the arms to a comfortable height.
Next, attach the shorter static handlebars to the hollow cylinders on either side of the machine. To do this, slide the ends in, then push in the metal pins until they snap into place.
The Maxi Climber will then be ready to use.
Final Thoughts on the Maxi Climber
The Maxi Climber Vertical Climber Exercise Machine is ideal for anyone looking to buy a compact piece of exercise
equipment that gives an efficient workout.
With feedback from many hundreds of purchasers published online, this is hugely positive overall. In fact, very few reviewers have said anything negative about it.
Far more reasonably priced than many similar machines, the Maxi Climber will provide you with a very effective aerobic and anaerobic workout that is fun to do.
You will see results doing just 3 x 10-minute workouts a week.
If you want to lose weight and tone up faster, follow the Simple 7 Step Meal Plan and the interval training workout shown on the CD. Alternatively, increase your sessions to 20 or 30 minutes and their frequency to four or five times a week.
Check out the Conquer Vertical Climber if you’re looking for a climbing machine with a lower price tag.
While it isn’t rated quite as highly as the Maxi Climber, it has a lot of very positive feedback.
Update 3/25/16
I’d wanted a Maxi Climber for some time, and I finally got one (a Christmas present from my partner). 
If you’re thinking of buying one, but you’re worried it will bulk up the front of your thighs, don’t be. Being only 5′ 2″, this is always a concern for me, and it was the reason I hesitated to purchase. As it turned out, my fears were unfounded.
I work out on my Maxi Climber for 10 to 15 minutes, 4 or 5 times a week, and it’s one of my favorite pieces of exercise equipment.
Since using it, my butt is tighter and higher, and my thighs look and feel firmer – even my inner thighs, which is a notoriously difficult area to target.
My arms are more toned, and my upper back and shoulders are more defined.
To say I’m happy is an understatement, so I have no hesitation recommending it.
Update 02/22/24
I’m still using my Maxi Climber and still loving it.
I hope you found this Maxi Climber review helpful. For more information or to read more reviews, click the link below.
