The best thing about a stepper is that you can get a great cardiovascular workout without having to build a gym in your home. Some of the best mini stepper machines come with additional options that can make your workout more interesting.
Though these exercise machines aren’t exactly new, they are becoming more and more popular as some models offer a way to exercise while remaining seated. You can potentially burn calories while still remaining seated at your desk at work, and reach your fitness goals.
In this guide, I will break down some of the top mini stepper machines you can buy, highlighting some of their noteworthy features. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find the mini stepper that is best for your home gym.
My Best Mini Stepper Reviews for 2021
1. Sunny Health and Fitness Adjustable Mini Stair Stepper Exercise Equipment
Which are the best mini steppers of 2021? We recommend this model:
The Sunny Health and Fitness Adjustable Mini Stepper is a great, high quality choice to either for a body workout at the office or in your home gym. It comes with a monitor with which you can track your steps per minute, time and calories burned. This model is very similar to the Sunny Health Fitness Twister Stepper.
It comes with a height adjustment knob so you can customize your experience. Constructed with heavy-duty steel, you’ll be able to use this mini equipment without fear of breakage.
This Health Fitness mini stepper works your body in a twisting motion. You can move up and down and side to side, toning the thighs and glutes. You can maximize the efficiency of your workout with the LCD display and the anti-slip, large footplates.
And one of the best things about this stepper exercise machine is that everything comes pre-assembled. Here are some of the stepper features:
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2. Wagan EL 2273 Mini Steppers
Unlike some other mini-steppers, the Wagan EL 2273 Mini Stepper comes with soft grip handlebars you can use to support yourself during use. Along with the handles comes a mini digital display with which you can monitor your step count, calories, and workout time.
Occupying less than 1.5 feet, this machine is easy to assemble and provides a workout equally effective to larger machines. With a lightweight and compact steel frame, this stepper is stable, solid, durable, and makes great use of space.
You can adjust the step height, and use it wherever you have a little space, be it your home, office, or dormitory. These units provide a great cardio workout choice for all ages. You can get a body workout no matter where you go.
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3. BEOUZO Fitness Stair Steppers
This stair stepper was built to provide a low-impact workout with twisting action. With a control knob, you can adjust the mini stepper with resistance to desired levels. Featuring non-slip, wide PVP Pedals, and skid-resistant floor protectors, you can use this unit without worry for your safety.
The LCD monitor tracks your time, calories, and row count, requiring only one AA battery. This machine also comes with a 90-day warranty, so you can buy it with confidence that it will not soon break like other cheap gym mini stepper machines on the market.
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4. Xiser Commercial Mini Stairmaster
This Mini Stairmaster is meant to help you maintain optimum mental and physical health, burn calories, build muscle, burn fat, and reduce stress. Cast out of Aircraft Alloy, this stepper can be used for both HIIT and Aerobic exercise routines.
It comes with easily adjustable resistance levels, and you can easily assemble or disassemble the machine in minutes. This is one of the lightest steppers on the market, which makes it most convenient for a cardio workout. Unlike other models it has a high weight capacity, over 250 lbs.
These mini stairmasters were designed by a Ph.D., as opposed to so many items on the market designed by marketers. Because it folds, you can store it practically anywhere. Put it in a drawer, under furniture, or even hang it on your wall.
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5. KUOKEL Mini Steppers
As one of the best mini steppers, this lightweight, compact model was built for home use. With a sturdy steel frame, skid-resistant rubber, and hydraulic cylinders, this machine provides a safe and stable workout.
This stepper has comfortable pedals you can even use barefooted. The rollerblade wheels improve durability and keep the equipment quieter during stepping motion.
You can adjust the height and resistance to your liking and use the included digital monitor to track your calories burned, strides, time, and more. Lastly, the mini adjustable elastic bands can be used for shoulder presses, upright rows, bicep curls, and more in your home gym.
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6. GOPLUS Mini Stepper Air Climber
The GOPLUS Mini Stepper includes a hydraulic resistance design. With non-slip pedals, the buffer and steadiness protect your knees and ankles from injury. You can adjust the height of the pedals to your desired positions. This mini stepper with resistance bands enables you to also get an upper body workout and burn calories.
The mini monitor at the top displays all of the relevant details you might require for your workout, including rep count, time, scan, and calories burned.
With the two included elastic bands, you can achieve some strength training while using this machine. Tone the muscles of your legs while working your waist, buttocks, and arms. The heavy-duty steel construction should gives these units longevity.
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7. Soozier Adjustable Twist Stepper Aerobic Ab Exercise Fitness Workout Machine
With a heavy-duty frame, smooth-stepping motion, and oil pressure rod resistance. Large pedals with slip-resistant texture provide comfort and safety. The padded handlebars have adjustable height to keep you steady while you’re stepping.
You can work your thighs, buttocks, and arms and tone your whole body. Monitor your fitness data with the LCD display, showing your calories, time, steps per minute, and time. This model comes with a folding design that makes it easy to store. You can either lean it against the wall or put it under your bed.
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8. Sunny Health Fitness Twist Stepper
The most notable features on this stepper are the handlebars to support you while you engage in your workouts. With something to hold on to, you won’t have to worry about losing balance and falling like you might with other models.
Because you have this support, the Sunny Health and Fitness Twist Stepper allows you to make a twisting motion to tone your core and legs without putting too much pressure on your joints.
The large foot pedals are textured to prevent slippage during workouts. The heavy-duty construction with each hydraulic cylinder provides longevity so you can use this stepper for years to come.
This Sunny health fitness twister stepper also includes an LCD monitor where you can keep track of items such as elapsed time, calories, and number of steps. This Sunny Health Fitness Mini is a great choice for people who are just getting started exercising.
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9. Loctek FP1 Exercise Stepper Mini Step Swivel Elliptical Trainer
This exercise stepper mini provides you with the ability to not only save space, but also money. Similar to the Gold S Gym Mini, you can be certain that your muscles and joints aren’t damaged while doing low impact workouts.
This unit is ideal for building stamina in your leg muscles and increasing your heart rate. Improve circulation using this stepper while watching TV or at the office. The pedals are made to twist slightly as they’re pressed, working the outer and inner thighs.
With sturdy construction and large footplates, you can mount the unit with confidence. The electronic monitor at the front of the unit will help you track items such as calories, strides, and home exercise time.
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10. Stamina InMotion Elliptical Trainer
I have recommended these trainers many times in my other reviews because they’re such a good choice for low-impact cardio exercise and toning the lower body. These units can be used while sitting or standing positions. You can also pedal them forward or in reverse motion.
This Stamina InMotion exercise mini stepper is great to use while reading a book, watching videos, or even playing video games. This model includes large, textured pedals to prevent slippage during use. It also has a multifunction monitor to track your fitness details as you pedal through your workout.
The included scan function allows you to see all of your data periodically. You can modify the tension knob to adjust the resistance of your good workout. This unit comes in three different colors, including orange, green, and silver.
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11. BEOUZO Indoor Stair Stepper
Safer and more stable than other indoor stair steppers, this model is supported by 8 steel pipes. With a max weight capacity of 265 lbs, you can enjoy much higher resistance. Providing a natural and smooth V-type motion, it helps train your hips, thighs, and calves. Though this stepper can be used for regular cardio exercises, it is also useful for high intensity training.
Using this kind of stepper, you can build muscle more effectively than when using an exercise bike. The double hydraulic resistance keeps your exercises safe and reliable while making your movements quieter. The included multi-fuction LCD screen automatically tracks time, steps, calories, and total rows.
The large comfortable pedals promote blood circulation and prevent slippage during exercises. Get a low impact workout training your waist and thighs. Because this stepper is compact, you can store it almost anywhere in your home.
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12. Gold’s Gym Mini Stepper
With a recognizable brand, you can use this excellent office stair stepper to tone your lower body. Engage your core, sculpt strong muscle, and burn extra calories with low-impact workouts. Use this stepper to target your buttocks, calves, hips, and thighs. This model includes an electric monitor for tracking steps, time, and calories burned. Compact and easy to store you can enjoy this stepper in the comfort of your office or home.
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Mini steppers are one way that you can get a great workout without taking up too much space in your home with equipment. There are many different models all coming with additional options that can make your workout experience more unique.
Mini steppers are becoming more popular as a solution for people to get some exercise while sitting. You can exercise while watching television or playing video games, or even while seated at a desk at work.
So, let’s get started!
What Kind of Workouts does a Mini Stepper Provide?
A mini stepper is meant to provide the same kind of exertion on your muscles that comes from climbing stairs. It’s been said before that climbing the stairs is a better choice than always taking the elevator. It follows that if we’re living a relatively sedentary lifestyle, a stepper would be one way to get this kind of home exercise.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, everyone should get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day. A mini stepper can definitely help you out with that.
Steppers are also ideal for helping you to get some exercise if you live in an area where it is difficult to exercise outside because of excess wind, rain, or snow.
Investing in a mini stair stepper and using it routinely in your home is also one way you can get some exercise without having to pay a membership fee to a gym every month. This might also keep you from creating excuses for not working out. It’s much more difficult to procrastinate when you’ve got the equipment right there.
Mini Stepper Benefits:
- Strengthens your glutes
- Leg strengthening
- Builds muscles in your legs
- Tones your lower body
- Improves your immune system
- Promotes weight loss, over time
- Boosts the health of your heart and lungs
Types of Mini Steppers
There are three different types of steppers.
- Traditional Steppers – These simply go up and down and match the stair climbing motion closely.
- Compact Mini Ellipticals - These work with a more circular motion, like that you might find on a large elliptical machine. Instead of doing the arm movements and rotating your legs, you only do a slight rotation of your feet in a stepping motion while your arms remain more or less stationary.
- Elliptical Steppers – These give you more of the rotation but are still smaller than a real elliptical because you only use your feet.
The type you should buy will depend on a few different factors. For example, if you have trouble with your balance, you might want to stick with a standard mini stepper, making the regular up and down motion.
Handlebars
Trying out mini steppers with handlebars, you might find that they’re quite helpful. It just depends on whether you’re going to use them regularly or not.
Some people who struggle with balance issues may always want the handlebars there. If you have a problem with balance, you’re going to want something to hold onto. A convenient middle ground are mini steppers with detachable handlebars.
Adjustability and Resistance Bands
If you want to reduce the intensity of your workout so that you can go faster, you can with most mini stepper models. But if you want to add resistance, so that you can tone muscles and lose weight, you’re going to want a higher level of tension in your mini stair stepper with resistance bands.
Some steppers have adjustable step height and resistance dials for an intense workout. Others have resistance bands you have to set yourself to increase or reduce intensity. Either way, if an adjustable step height is something you need, you need to check the model when buying.
Fitness Tracking
Most of the steppers on this page have monitors, but many don’t. So if you want to be able to track your progress, with details such as distance traveled, steps taken, calories burned, and more, you should look for a machine that comes with a digital display.
Some steppers only record your current session, while others will retain your data for multiple sessions, so you can track your progress. The higher-end models often include Bluetooth support so you can sync the onboard computer with your phone.
Mini Stepper Before and After
Monica Brooks from Minnesota, age 48, lost 22 pounds over nearly seven months using her Mini Stepper consistently in conjunction with a healthy diet.
Are Mini Steppers bad for knees?
Climbing and running shouldn’t damage your knees if you’re in shape. This kind of exercise is good for your cardiovascular health and your muscles. If you have weak knees, you’ll want to strengthen the muscles in the thighs and around the knees.
Are Mini Steppers effective?
Yes, the best mini steppers can help you lose weight, but you have to use it routinely. Because it is a low-impact workout, you might not burn as many calories as say, using a treadmill. But making a habit of using your mini stepper will yield positive fitness results.
How does a Mini Stepper work?
One of the most appealing aspects of a mini stepper is that it is relatively simple. It has fewer parts, which means it is less likely to fall into disrepair.
Mimicking the natural motion of walking, the pedals on a mini stepper rise and fall. Unlike an elliptical or an exercise bike, they do not move in a kind of orbital motion. Flowing through the two cylinders or pistons, hydraulic oil provides the resistance to your workout.
Though mini stepper machines may not all look the same, they all work as according to the same basic principles. Make sure frame of the machine is large enough so you can freely move your feet, but small enough to have a compact footprint. This kind of mini stair stepper is typically purchased to be a space-saving solution.
Why are some harder to assemble?
The best mini steppers 2021 have different kinds of features, and the features that most commonly make assembly harder are computer monitors. If you have to connect wires or tighten bolts, that might increase the complexity. But most of the time step machines are faster than most other kinds of fitness equipment to assemble. Though they don’t have many parts, they still have to be properly positioned, aligned, and tightened to work properly.
Is this all I need to do for my legs?
No, mini steppers are unfortunately not enough. The purpose of mini steppers is for users to get that much needed exercise to avoid being sedentary for too long. While a mini stepper might help you increase cardiovascular fitness, and slow illnesses, you’re going to want to do a number of other exercises to build muscles in your legs.
Some of these exercises include items such as squats, leg presses, leg extensions, calf raises, lunges, and other kinds of bodyweight exercises.
Shouldn’t all steppers have handlebars?
It’s not absolutely necessary. You may decide to get a machine with handlebars if you have control issues or problems keeping balanced. Most stepper units these days have features to prevent you from falling, such as textured surfaces, wide footbed, a full range of motion, and raised edges. These kinds of items should keep you upright and enjoying your workout.
Will my stepper need maintenance?
Yes, but it shouldn’t be as challenging to take care of as other kinds of exercise equipment. You can simply wipe it down with a rag, or use a brush to clean away the dust and dirt. You can cover your mini stepper machine when not in use with a towel or sheet. You might also keep the machine under a bed to prevent it from getting dusty.
Can you do aerobic and anaerobic exercise with a mini stepper machine?
Yes. Changing your position on the machine will change which kind of exercise you’re doing on a stepper at any given time. If you workout standing tall and straight, you’re doing aerobic exercise.
However, if you bend your knees, only using your lower body, you’re doing anaerobic exercise. If you’re interested in a more intense kind of calorie-burning exercise, you might look into getting a spin bike.
What is anaerobic vs. aerobic exercise?
Any short burst of physical exercise, otherwise known as anaerobic exercise, makes it so your body’s oxygen demand surpasses oxygen supply. It isn’t meant to replace ordinary exercise, it’s only effective when combined with more traditional strength training routines and cardio.
Aerobic is any kind of cardio that you do for more than a few minutes, preferably more than 15 minutes. Most people start slow and increase intensity over time.
