You didn't mention what you shoot, or the weight of your camera.
Steadicam is hard, even for the easiest of moves and the guys we hire have years to get it down and use 75 grand of equipment (minimum).
That doesn't mean you can't use what you listed and get a good result, but be aware that a scene like following a subject down a stair case can go from a beautiful scene to Freddy Kruger with too much shake.
I've tested the Merlin, bought the glidcam and the glidecam sets in a case.
The problem we had with the glidecam is keeping the camera level and not listing to each side. It takes huge practice.
If your camera is small a 5 axis stablizer might do some of what you want and be affordable.
For tracking over smooth areas a quick cheap way is renting a wheelchair and putting an apple crate onto the seat to lift you up. It works, looks goofy, but does work. Recently we've tricked out a skate board (yea a dog town type of skateboard) with a mafer clamp and an a arm. An assistant pulls me and steadys my shoulder. You can do a 60 degree move and and fairly smooth surfaces it works very well, though when you fall, it hurts.
The beauty of a skareboard or a wheelchair is if you practice, you arms make very effecient gimbles.
Good luck.
BC
I'm in the market for a steadicam.
I'm considering one of the two above - but if you have better suggestions, please let me know.
1.
Steadicam Merlin 2 or Glidecam HD?
I saw a comparison online, and the Merlin seems to be great walking stairs up and down.
What about pans in the horizontal dimension, which is much more likely to occur?
2. Steadicam vs Shoulder rack
I think shoulder racks are good for newsgathering, but for short films a steadicam seems to give the much better look.
What do you think?