The 6 Best Mini Stair Steppers To Get Fitter

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Mini stair steppers can be a good equipment option to get in some extra movement at home. Find out what models are the best on the market.

Best mini stair steppers top picks

• Best up/down trajectory: Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stair Stepper
• Best twist trajectory: EFITMENT Mini Fitness Stepper
• Best up/down trajectory runner-up: DACHUANG Mini Stair Stepper
• Best up/down with handles: Wagan EL2273 Mini Stepper
• Best heavy duty: Xiser Commercial Mini Stairmaster
• Best mini elliptical stepper: Stamina Inmotion Elliptical

Mini stair steppers are one category of fitness equipment but they come with differences in a few key details. You can find some of the distinct details before each top pick.

Because of differences in things like training goals, balance skills, budgets, personal preferences, etc., it is not possible to create one perfect ranking for every individual. Sometimes picks lower on the list will be better for your personal situation.

How we selected our top picks

Our fitness experts spent a lot of time looking at and comparing all the different important factors of mini stair steppers. Some of the things that were taken into consideration when making our selection include:

• Step trajectory, weight capacity, handles or not, etc.
• User reviews
• Anecdotal reviews from fitness experts
• Price
• Brand trustability

If a pick seems interesting click it to see the online prices.

6 Best mini stair steppers reviewed in depth

The short overview of the best mini stair steppers can help individuals who know what type they want save some time and make a quick decision.

You can also look at each of the top picks reviewed in depth to find out what model is the best for your personal situation.

1. Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stair Stepper

Our top pick for the best mini stair stepper is the Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stair Stepper. This is not the most premium option but its budget-friendly price makes up for a lot.

This mini stepper is a model with up/down step trajectory. For most people this is recommended over twist models because this is a movement your body is used to.

You can adjust the step height somewhat to go for either shorter/lighter steps or longer/harder steps. To make your at-home workouts somewhat more challenging you can make use of the resistance bands that are included.

One potential downside of mini steppers without handles like this one is that they can be a bit challenging when it comes to balance.

Most people will not have an issue with this but if you do, one of the other best mini stair steppers that do have handles is likely a better choice.

Something else to note is that the weight capacity of 220 pounds (99.7 kg) is not that high. Even if you don’t cross this limit you may feel more secure using a mini stair stepper with a sturdier design and materials.

Additionally, there are a few cases where the Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stair Stepper broke relatively soon. The short warranty of 3 months also does not give a very secure feeling.

That being said, there are still a really high number of customers who tend to be positive. With this amount of orders, a few defects are still potentially unpleasant but somewhat expected.

All in all, this is a solid pick at a reasonable price which makes it the top pick for most individuals. If you have the budget for a sturdier and more premium option, some of the other mini stair steppers can be better.

2. EFITMENT Mini Fitness Stepper

When it comes to mini stair steppers, this next model from EFITMENT is another great pick. One of the first things to note is that EFITMENT offers both a twist step trajectory and a regular up/down model.

Which step trajectory type is the best for you is mostly a case of personal preference. When in doubt you likely want to stick to the up/down design.

Similar to the previous option the EFITMENT Mini Fitness Stepper has a relatively low weight capacity. The option with resistance bands is a tiny amount easier when it comes to balance but both are relatively hard in this area.

Something else to keep in mind is that there were a few exceptions where customers got a mini stepper that broke relatively soon. On top of that, there is no mention of a warranty.

This is definitely not ideal but customers do tend to be happy with the EFITMENT Mini Fitness Stepper. By now there have been a nice number of customers which implies these few defects are the exception, not the rule.

The other features of this mini stepper are more or less what most people are looking for in this type of fitness equipment. Thanks to the adjustable step height you can change the intensity of your workouts to a small extent.

In theory, you can use the monitor to keep track of details like step count, time, and estimation of calories burned. In practice, you don’t want to rely too much on the accuracy of these devices.

One customer mentions they only work at the highest step height too.

The EFITMENT Mini Fitness Stepper can be a good budget-friendly model for individuals who are looking for a twist trajectory model. Depending on the deals available, the up/down model could also be budget-friendlier than the previous option.

3. DACHUANG Mini Stair Stepper

The DACHUANG Mini Stair Stepper is priced more average but if you want a model with a lower risk of something going wrong, this option can be worth it.

That being said, while customers do tend to be relatively positive there are still areas to improve. First of all, there are a decent amount of customers who find their mini stair stepper a bit squeaky.

The resistance and/or step height are also not adjustable. Individuals who want to change up their workouts may find this a big downside.

Additionally, this type of mini stepper without actual handles can be challenging when it comes to balance. A good warranty would also give a more secure feeling.

These are relatively small downsides for this type of fitness equipment but things you do want to remember. On the other hand, the DACHUANG Mini Stair Stepper has some valuable features too.

The main one is the weight capacity of 330 pounds (149 kg). There are sturdier models but this mini stepper is still relatively heavy duty compared to previous options.

Two things that are not as relevant to your workouts but are nice additions anyway are the included anti-slip mat and the option to choose between different colors. These things can protect your floor and offer a more pleasant look.

For individuals who want a somewhat sturdy mini stair stepper and don’t mind investing just a bit more into it, the DACHUANG Mini Stair Stepper is likely the best choice.

4. Wagan EL2273 Mini Stepper

The next option is the first mini stepper with solid handles. This can be helpful for individuals who want/need some extra support for balance. It also has the typical up/down step trajectory which is recommended for most people.

These handles can be a valuable addition but you do need to keep in mind that the Wagan EL2273 Mini Stepper is not perfect. First of all, the weight capacity is not that high at 225 pounds (102 kg).

Mini stair steppers are not known for their quality tracking monitors. The Wagan model is extra bad in this area. This is not the end of your workouts but some individuals do value this data.

Additionally, some customers find this mini stair stepper noisy. There are also a few cases where the Wagan model broke down relatively fast.

That being said, for this last potential downside there is the 1-year warranty. The Wagan EL2273 Mini Stepper is also still a decent model that can offer good workouts at home. You can change up these workouts by adjusting the step height.

The handles do make this mini stepper less compact in height and a bit heavier but in length and width it still does relatively well. How important these things are depends on the storage room you have at home.

All in all, the Wagan EL2273 Mini Stepper can be a good choice for individuals who want handles. The price of this option is also relatively budget-friendly.

5. Xiser Commercial Mini Stairmaster

The Xiser Commercial Mini Stairmaster is the most heavy duty and durable option on this list. This model is definitely great to have but it does require a steep initial investment.

In the long term, this could be cheaper because you don’t have to replace your mini stair stepper every once in a while. However, there is no denying this heavy duty model is an expensive option.

Another small downside is that some people may prefer to have a tracking monitor.

That being said, if you don’t mind these downsides, this is a high-quality piece of fitness equipment that can offer good workouts for years to come.

There are customers who mention they have had their mini stairmaster for years. Additionally, the 5-year consumer warranty, 1-year institutional warranty show that Xiser stands behind the sturdiness of its products.

The adjustable resistance is a valuable detail for individuals who want to change up their workouts at home or in the gym. Additionally, this can keep your workouts a bit more challenging as you get fitter.

In between your workouts you can fold the Xiser Commercial Mini Stairmaster down entirely. This makes it very compact which can in turn be useful for storing and transporting your piece of fitness equipment.

Two nice details that are less relevant to the workouts themselves are the option to choose a black Xiser Commercial Mini Stairmaster and that the devices are made in the U.S.A.

In short, this model is a heavy duty, high-quality mini stair stepper but it does require a big budget.

6. Stamina Inmotion Elliptical

This next option is the best mini elliptical stepper. That means your steps on the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical will be more of a round movement instead of just up and down.

One of the main benefits of this type of mini stepper is that you can use it both standing up and while seated at your desk or while watching tv at home. Some people also simply prefer this type of motion.

On the other hand, you have to keep in mind that the elliptical step trajectory is just a bit harder when it comes to balance while standing up.

Additionally, a somewhat common issue is that the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical can become squeaky after a while.

A few customers are able to resolve the squeaking with some creativity but even better would be if Stamina improved the design of the machines.

These are things you want to keep in mind but they are ultimately not relevant to many people. The Stamina Inmotion Elliptical allows individuals up to 250 pounds (113 kg) to get in good workouts.

You can adjust the resistance of the strides at the turn of a knob. This mini elliptical stepper can also be used in two directions and keeps track of a few details like stride count.

The ability to choose from different colors does not influence your workouts but it is a welcome addition.

In short, if you like the elliptical step trajectory and/or want to move more while seated, the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical is one of the best options. Many of the happy customers vouch for this.

How to choose a mini stair stepper

Choosing the right mini stair stepper is not the hardest thing in the world but you do want to go for the right model.

If you are still not sure what option is the best for you, you can think about what you want in some of the most important features. Checking the different mini stair steppers for these details can help make your decision easier.

Weight capacity

The first thing you want to check in a mini stair stepper you are interested in is its weight capacity. If you are heavier than the stated number, your model will not last very long.

Even if you don’t come close to any of the weight capacities, they do represent to some extent how sturdy and well-built the mini stepper is. In turn, this can influence the durability of this compact cardio machine.

Handles, bands, or nothing

Another important feature that varies a lot between mini stair steppers is whether they come with handles, resistance bands, or nothing to hold on to.

People who don’t have the best balance likely want to choose a mini stepper with handles. This does not only apply to for example elderly individuals. You may also just feel more secure with some handles to hold on to.

Next, mini stair steppers with anchor points for resistance bands can offer you some extra upper body movements.

This will not be the most effective resistance band workout you’ve ever done but it does get your heart beating just a bit faster and your upper body muscles working just a bit harder.

Lastly, you may have good balance and simply be interested in getting in some extra cardio exercise by just using your leg muscles. In that case, you can choose a model without handles or bands.

Step trajectory

Our top picks can all be described as mini steppers but the step trajectory of these devices is not always the same. The main options you have are up/down, twisting, and elliptical movements.

These will involve tiny differences in the muscles you work but what type of step trajectory you should choose is mostly a case of personal preference.

One thing to note is that the up/down and elliptical trajectories will be more “natural” movements that you will experience in your daily life.

Something else is that the elliptical trajectory is likely just a bit more challenging when it comes to balance. While less relevant to individuals interested in steppers, you can also often use the elliptical trajectory models while seated.

When in doubt, you likely want to choose a model with the up/down step trajectory. If you have decent balance and/or want to use your mini stepper while seated at home or at the office, you can also go for an elliptical trajectory model.

Resistance and step height

One of the main principles of working out is challenging your body enough (but not too much) so that a variety of processes start that ultimately make you stronger.

The resistance and step height of your mini stair stepper will influence to what extent this can happen. This is not a piece of fitness equipment for the most intense workouts but you do want to be able to get a nice amount of movement.

Besides one standard resistance and step height, there are also mini steppers that are adjustable in these areas. This can be helpful for finding the right challenge level for you and increasing the difficulty as you get fitter.

The number of calories you burn with mini stepper workouts also depends on the resistance and step height. More of a challenge typically leads to using up more energy.

Price

Investing in your health can be a good choice but sometimes you can get similar or more benefits for a lower price.

Additionally, some people don’t need a weight capacity of 400 pounds (181.4 kg) to get a good mini stepper workout at home. In that case, a model with a lower weight capacity can help you save some money.

Warranty

For some pieces of fitness equipment, warranties are relatively similar. Mini stair steppers are not one of these. Different brands vary a lot in the warranties they offer.

Besides helping you make things right if something were to go wrong, a long warranty also gives you an idea of how much a brand stands behind the quality of its products.

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