NordicTrack Step Climber Review 2025 | Your Quads Will Burn

Dimensions/Storability

The biggest strength of the NordicTrack Step Climber compared to NordicTrack’s other ellipticals is its compact design. NordicTrack’s free stride trainers take up so much room, and while I like training on them, they are nonsensical for a lot of homes. The Step Climber is perfect for a small home gym or stashing in a bedroom, office, or living room.

It measures 51.3” L x 31.2” W x 65.5” H. There are transport wheels, so you can lift it and roll it around. Based on my experience with ProForm’s version of this elliptical, I don’t recommend moving it far. It’s not difficult, but it does feel a little awkward to handle.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

The NordicTrack Step Climber is designed for training with iFIT. I know a lot of people are interested in NordicTrack’s products without wanting an iFIT membership, but I just don’t think that’s the best experience. Currently, NordicTrack is a subscription-based fitness brand, and the Step Climber falls right in line with that.

Without an iFIT membership, you still need a free iFIT account and a connection to Wi-Fi to train in manual mode. You may also get access to a featured iFIT class and a few structured workouts. It’s difficult to train on the NordicTrack Step Climber without a free iFIT account and Wi-Fi, so keep that in mind when making the decision about whether this elliptical is right for you.

iFIT is an exciting platform, and if you’ve never heard of it, you need to. It’s $39/month, but it offers so much that I think it’s easy to justify that price. Maybe I won’t change your mind if you aren’t interested in guided training content, but I think it’s worth checking out.

With the NordicTrack Step Climber, you can train with iFIT’s elliptical-specific studio and outdoor classes, and you can also keep pace with the treadmill classes, where the iFIT coach is walking or running outdoors.

The resistance automatically adjusts, so you can keep your hands on the handles while enjoying the dynamic workout. (Though, with sweat pouring off your forehead, the enjoyment part might be hard.) You can override the preset resistance to teach iFIT your fitness level. With Smart Adjust on, iFIT will start to scale the classes to your ability level.

One key feature that I’m used to experiencing on NordicTrack equipment is incline. Since the Step Climber does not have an incline mechanism, some of the iFIT trainer’s cues may not be relevant to your training. Still, I enjoy my iFIT workouts on NordicTrack equipment without an incline mechanism.

For more variety, you can use the ‘Create’ tab. It includes an integration with Google Maps, where you determine the workout route. Then, your elliptical movement will progress you along the route. You can view the route from Street View or an overview (Map or Satellite).

There are also structured workouts that automatically adjust the resistance while you view the manual training screen. You can also design your own structured workouts.

In addition to training options, there are third-party entertainment apps. These include Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, Pluto TV, and iHeartRadio. You can watch or listen to any of these apps while training with iFIT or in a manual workout. You’ll still get all the automatic resistance adjustments, and you can overlay the metrics bar to see your cadence target.

Features like challenges, class series, and the AI Coach allow exercisers to set goals and progress through them. iFIT does a good job of guiding you to the next class you should take. You can opt into the AI Coach for the opportunity to talk with them via text, planning a path to reach your goals and scheduling the classes that will get you there.

iFIT continues to expand with new classes all the time. The latest addition I’ve seen is outdoor video classes that explore trails without the guidance of a trainer. These classes are perfect for exercisers who don’t want constant guidance and motivation but enjoy the beautiful scenery of an iFIT class.

Console

Compared to the NordicTrack Step Climber XL, the Step Climber has a small touchscreen. It’s 10” as opposed to 16”. For most people, this screen size should be plenty, so if you want to save some money by choosing this one over the XL, it makes sense. However, taller exercisers will be further from the screen, as it sits a little low, so in that case, the XL may be better.

The screen tilts slightly to help mitigate any glare that may come from the overhead lights in your space.

There aren’t many buttons on the Step Climber off the screen. You get resistance buttons, speaker buttons, and fan controls. Interacting with the screen to adjust the other settings and navigate iFIT is smooth. A 10” screen, this close, works well, but I wouldn’t want it to be any smaller.

A fan sits under the screen. There are three fan levels, but you can also set it to auto mode. Then, the fan will speed up when your workout gets harder and slow down when you don’t need quite as much of a breeze.

Further down, there’s a speaker bar. It faces toward you, ensuring the audio is loud and clear. You can also pair Bluetooth headphones to train quietly without disturbing others. The iFIT audio and any entertainment audio can be adjusted independently, regardless of whether you listen with the speakers or headphones.

Finally, for storage, there’s a single cup holder. There’s no place specifically for your phone, but there is a USB-C charging port.

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Build Quality

I expect nothing less from NordicTrack than a solidly built machine. ProForm’s rendition of this machine was sturdy and allowed me to tackle my toughest workouts. I’ll be sure to update this review with whether or not the NordicTrack Step Climber lives up to these expectations.

Frame

The Step Climber has a steel frame with two large stabilizers, ensuring you feel steady while training. I’ll report back if I find any deviations from what I expect from my history testing of NordicTrack and ProForm equipment.

It has a weight capacity of 325 lbs. This rating is pretty nice. I’m always happy when brands reach a limit of over 300 lbs.

Pedals

Cushioned and oversized pedals go a long way in making you feel more comfortable on an elliptical. The similar pedals that I’ve tested did not make my feet feel numb and offered plenty of space for people with larger feet. I’m also happy to report that my feet didn’t slip around. If my experience on the Step Climber differs, I’ll be sure to report back!

The main thing exercisers should know about these pedals is that they tilt up and down as they move through the vertical path. It took me a few sessions to get used to this foot positioning, but it works! The stride is really short horizontally (think a few inches), but the pedals move up and down a decent distance. I find them appropriate for a wide range of heights, especially since stride length isn’t much of a concern here.

Handles

One thing I’m very particular about on an elliptical or similar machine is the handles. I like a wide range of grip options to ensure that the machine is suitable for both tall and short exercisers. The NordicTrack Step Climber fits the bill with its looped and straight handles. I’m curious to test out the width of the handles to see which options are most comfortable for me (5’4”).

Another check on my list is the stationary handles. These handles allow you to isolate your legs during your workout. They also provide support for getting on and off the elliptical. When ellipticals don’t have these handles, I really miss them.

Flywheel & Resistance

Resistance levels don’t really mean much, as they don’t give a concrete description of how difficult the machine is. However, my experience with NordicTrack suggests that the Step Climber is suitable for a wide range of exercisers and their abilities.

There are 22 levels of magnetic resistance, which I expect to be powerful and quiet. The lower levels should be easy enough for your light workout days and endurance efforts.

The flywheel is located in front of the pedals, making the Step Climber a front-drive machine.

Warranty

While NordicTrack doesn’t broadcast the warranty for the Step Climber, I assume that it falls in line with their standard warranty offering. Usually, NordicTrack offers a 10-year warranty on the frame, a 2-year warranty on the parts, and a 1-year warranty on the tablet and labor. I wish the brand were a little more transparent about that.

I will be sure to update this review with any additional warranty information I find.

Should You Buy the NordicTrack Step Climber

You should buy the NordicTrack Step Climber if you want a killer workout from a compact elliptical. Okay, this machine isn’t quite a true elliptical. It’s in the name; it’s a step climber. The pedals take a mostly vertical elliptical path so that you only move forward and backward a few inches. I like it because it makes the workout more intense, which is perfect for HIIT.

I do not recommend this cardio machine for those of you who do not want to subscribe to a training service. The NordicTrack Step Climber needs the iFIT platform to showcase all its features. There are thousands of workouts, several entertainment apps, and quite a few high-tech features to enjoy.

I can’t wait to test this one out for myself!

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NordicTrack Step Climber Q&A / FAQ

Do you need an iFIT membership for the NordicTrack Step Climber?

Yes, you need an iFIT membership to use the NordicTrack Step Climber. Without an iFIT membership, you still need a free iFIT account to train in manual mode or with a featured video workout. Netflix and the other entertainment apps are not available without an iFIT subscription.

Is the NordicTrack Step Climber an elliptical?

The NordicTrack Step Climber is not a standard elliptical. Its pedals move up and down more than forward and backward. This low-impact workout is intense and fun. I love it for anyone who wants to avoid the high-impact of a treadmill while still getting their heart rate up.

Can you watch Netflix on the NordicTrack Step Climber?

Yes, you can watch Netflix on the NordicTrack Step Climber if you have an active iFIT subscription. You will also need your own Netflix account.

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