Mini Steppers

Budget stair steppers and mini steppers

Dozens of mini steppers have flooded the market in the past few years, with most models costing around $100. Many mini steppers have become popular due to their association with fitness professionals like Denise Austin or Tony Little, and they are regularly featured on infomercial shows.

If you don't want to spend over $500 for one of the few mid-range stair steppers, your choice is mainly limited to mini steppers. Mini steppers are a good option if you travel a lot or have very little storage space. Most mini steppers consist of a floor-level steel frame with foot plates and attachable resistance ropes, but no handrails for keeping your balance. Mini steppers may be a good choice for the casual exerciser, but frequent exercisers should look elsewhere. The most common complaint about mini steppers is that they are cheaply constructed and break easily, especially with frequent use. You cannot adjust the resistance on most mini steppers, so there are few options to vary the intensity of your workouts.

The Wall Street Journal tested five of these mini steppers, and reviewers say they felt surprisingly stable, even without handlebars. The Brookstone Fold-A-Way Cardio Stepper 414284 (*Est. $200) has a 16-inch step height, a telescoping handle for extra stability and a battery-powered digital display. This is also one of the only budget models that includes a heart-rate monitor. The Fold-A-Way Cardio Stepper is named the best overall stepper by The Wall Street Journal, in spite of the fact that the display stopped working after the first try in their testing. The Fold-A-Way Cardio Stepper also receives positive feedback from more than 40 users at Buzzillions.com. Most of the reviewers agree that this mini stepper is easy to set up and a good value for the money. Others feel the Fold-A-Way Cardio Stepper is too noisy; in fact, one reviewer complains that her downstairs neighbors can hear the stepper while she is using it. Other owners question the quality of the workout this machine provides, and there are some reports of metal parts breaking.

Brookstone also offers the Aerobic Twisting Stepper 533224 (*Est. $100). This mini stepper uses only one AAA battery and includes resistance cords for an upper-body workout. The LCD screen provides feedback on steps, time and calories. The Aerobic Twisting Stepper receives decent feedback in over 50 consumer reviews on Buzzillions.com. In fact, out of 325 listings, the Aerobic Twisting Stepper ranks 10^th among cardio equipment reviewed at Buzzillions.com. There is a consensus that this machine is surprisingly sturdy for a mini stepper, and over 30 reviewers found that this stepper was easy to use. However, several reviewers complain of the noise, the lack of adjustable resistance and that the cylinders become very hot after even a 15-minute workout.

The Mabis DMI Mini Stepper Exerciser 660-2005-0000 (*Est. $50) has a low 12.5-inch step height and little else -- no handles and no programs, although it does offer a basic, battery-operated display that keeps track of your total number of steps and elapsed time. The Wall Street Journal awards this model a Best Buy designation, and it is praised by about a dozen consumers at Buzzillions.com. On the plus side, reviewers think it is quiet and easy to use. Like other mini steppers in this price range, reliability is an issue. Several consumers mention that the Mini Stepper Exerciser broke after a few days of use, and another claims that the display stopped working after only three days.

Another option, the Phoenix Denise Austin Dual Action Mini Stepper 98107 (*Est. $85), is frequently featured on fitness infomercials. There is no heart-rate monitor, but the battery-operated electronic display keeps track of time and number of steps, and there are movable handles. This stepper has a capacity of up to 250 pounds. There isn't much of a warranty -- just 90 days for the parts and one year for the frame. This mini stepper used to get solid reviews, but over the past year complaints about build quality have been mounting. The Denise Austin Dual Action Mini Stepper receives an average of 2.5 stars out of five from a handful of reviewers on Amazon.com. While some consumers do appreciate the convenience of this mini stepper, others complain that the stepper is wobbly or that the plastic pulley is easily broken.

If you're a fan of the Denise Austin line of products, you may be better served by the Phoenix Denise Austin Mini Stepper Plus 99120 (*Est. $75). Instead of handles, this mini stepper offers cabled resistance handles for an upper-body workout while you step. About 15 users at Amazon.com give it average ratings. Consumers like the portability of this machine and find it easy to use. Some reviewers think it is a little too squeaky and cheaply made, with resistance tension that's either too heavy or too loose. Others complain that the instructional video comes in VHS format, rather than as a DVD.

Tony Little's Rock 'n Roll Stepper 9-RRS (*Est. $60) is another popular infomercial fitness product. This is a bare-bones stepper with no handles, although it does provide a small console that displays time, steps per minute and calories. The Rock 'n Roll Stepper differentiates itself from other mini steppers because of its unique rocking system -- the base rocks from side to side as you step, which engages your core muscles. Many owners love this feature, but others complain that the rocking motion causes the stepper to travel all over the floor. One professional testing organization argues that the Rock 'n Roll Stepper does not provide many toning benefits, but still finds it a fun workout for beginners.

Another budget option, the Stamina InStride Electronic Stepper 40-0045C (*Est. $70), receives mixed reviews from owners on Amazon.com and Walmart.com. This hydraulic-powered stepper does not have handles or resistance bands, although it does include a display that provides information on time and number of steps. Many users complain that this mini stepper is incredibly squeaky, although several were able to resolve the problem with some strategically applied WD-40. Multiple owners also complain that the shocks get hot after frequent use, with one reviewer noticing the smell of hot metal while using the stepper.

Stamina seems to have much better luck with the Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper 40-0069 (*Est. $100). This folding mini stepper gets mostly positive reviews on Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com. The Folding Stepper has handlebars and a battery-operated monitor that provides data on steps per minute, total number of steps, time and calories. There are two adjustable-resistance hydraulic cylinders, but there are neither programs nor a heart-rate monitor. This stepper receives an average of four out of five stars on Amazon.com in nearly 30 reviews. Several owners are enthusiastic, noting that it is compact, quiet and provides a great workout. Many reviewers think the SpaceMate Folding Stepper provides a great value at a relatively inexpensive price. Those who have not had a good experience with this stepper complain that it feels flimsy and rocks from side to side, especially if it is placed on a carpet. Still, this model seems to be well-reviewed compared to other steppers in this category, and some people may appreciate the folding storage. Stamina offers a one-year warranty on the frame and 90 days on parts.