Five Reasons to Choose Vertical Climbing

Avrum Elmakis, the co-founder and CEO at CLMBR, shares how vertical climbing allows members to reach their fitness goals without compromising long-term health.

Your members are looking for equipment that provides the most bang for their exercise buck, and vertical climbers deliver. Here are five reasons why you should choose vertical climbing equipment for your facility. 

1. It’s safe and low-impact. When purchasing a piece of fitness equipment it’s important to think about how it will impact your members’ joints, muscles and tendons long-term. Many cardio machines are high-impact and can have serious long-term consequences on your body. “You can get a heck of a workout without putting a lot of stress on your body and on your tendons and ligaments,” said Chauncey Billups, a retired American professional basketball player. 

Vertical climbing allows for a natural, athletic position and ergonomic spinal alignment, and is low-impact and accessible for all fitness levels. The design helps to reinforce good posture and strengthen the core to help combat slouching. Vertical climbing allows you to reach your fitness goals without compromising long-term health.

2. Vertical climbing burns more calories than spinning, rowing and running. Vertical climbing burns more calories per minute than a spin bike, treadmill, erg rower, elliptical or stair stepper. With a 61% more efficient calorie burn, a quick 30-minute workout on a vertical climber is more than enough. Studies have shown climbing can burn an average of 22.3 calories per minute and up to 800 calories in a 30 minute session, while a spin bike only burns 13.3 calories per minute and a stair stepper burns 7.45 calories per minute. Vertical climbing is the clear choice for the most efficient calorie burn. 

3. It’s cardio and strength. Climbing allows the user to build incredible cardiovascular endurance while also strengthening all major muscle groups. By just adding resistance, you can tone your arms, shoulders, back, abs, glutes and legs. “To me, vertical climbing doesn’t get the credit it deserves for building strength in your legs and in your core area — two things you really, really need pretty much for any sport,” said Billups. The good thing about climbing is you can skip the treadmill and the squat rack because vertical climbing will cover it all. 

4. It’s full-body. The problem with many workout machines is they only focus on one muscle group. Popular cardio machines like bikes and treadmills focus almost exclusively on the lower body. Vertical climbing, on the other hand, is a full-body exercise. Your legs, glutes, arms and core are engaged throughout the entire workout. Arm and leg day just got combined into one. 

5. It’s great cross training. Vertical climbing is the best complement to any fitness modality. Integrating climbing into your strength and resistance program will add a new level of intensity and efficiency. It is the perfect addition to yoga, bootcamp and floor routines. Climbing is also an effective way to cross train. No matter if you are a professional athlete or a casual runner, you will see a difference in your performance after integrating climbing into your fitness practice.