Known from the gym, steppers also cut a fine figure at home. Whether as a classic exercise bike or as a space-saving mini stepper: The effective training tool provides step by step for more movement. We present various steppers for the home workout.
Want to stay fit without leaving the house? Then a stepper is just the right addition to your home gym.
With this practical exercise bike, you not only get more exercise at home, but you also effectively exercise your leg and pomus muscles.
The training tool is available in many different versions – depending on how much space you have and which training focus you want to set in your home workout.
We present various steppers with which you can train flexibly in your own four walls.
Top 5 Bestseller Stair Steppers
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The most important at a glance
- A stepper simulates climbing stairs. This allows you to effectively train the leg and buttock muscles.
- The classic stepper is also available in a mini version: This is significantly cheaper and can be used in the living room or even in the office to save space.
- Thanks to different resistance levels and intuitive operation, both beginners and advanced users can train with the stepper.
Best Stair Stepper Reviews
Sportstech 2in1 Twister Stepper with Power Ropes
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The compact Twister stepper can be individually adjusted according to fitness level. The movement amplitude can be selected from normal walking to hiking or mountain climbing.
The multifunctional device is also equipped with two power ropes, which can be used supplementary for arm and shoulder training.
The large pedals are coated with non-slip material and provide extra grip during training. A highlight: When you take off your shoes for stepping, the anti-slip coating provides a pleasant foot reflexology massage.
YSSOA Mini Stepper with Resistance Band
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The mini stepper is equipped with hydraulic cylinders, which make the motion sequence during exercise smooth and easy on the joints.
The extra-large treads are equipped with many small nubs and thus provide a good grip.
Due to its compact dimensions and low dead weight, the mini stepper can be used wonderfully at home or in the office and can be stored space-savingly after the workout.
Conclusion of the editorial team: Compact mini stepper for more exercise in between.
Bowflex Max Trainer Series
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The Bowflex Trainer gives you a real gym feeling: The sturdy stepper scores with multifunctional handles and varied training programs.
You can monitor important training data such as heart rate via a large display. The pulse can be measured by hand sensors or a chest strap.
A highlight is the challenging step height of 30.5 cm. Also special: The robust construction allows a significantly higher user weight than other steppers in comparison.
Conclusion of the editorial team: Bowflex professional stepper for a real studio feeling during a home workout.
Wagan TECH Pivot Stepper
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Versatile yet compact, the height-adjustable handles on this minimalist model provide extra support without taking up much space.
With the two expander bands, additional exercises for the upper body can be integrated – turning the stepper into a full-body trainer.
With the training computer, you have the most important data in view.
Conclusion of the editorial team: Space-saving stepper in a classic design.
Stamina Inmotion
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This mini stepper becomes multifunctional with the included power ropes: You can supplement your step training with powerful exercises for the upper body.
The treads are covered with a non-slip coating and four rubber feet provide extra grip on the floor.
Modern feature: The mini-stepper can be connected to the free FitShow app. So you can easily document your workout data and share successes.
Conclusion of the editorial team: Versatile mini-stepper with modern features.
What to look for when buying
With a stepper for home, you can bring more movement into your everyday life. When choosing the right exercise bike, you should pay attention to the following features:
- Dimensions: a classic stepper, as you know it from the gym, requires space. If you have your own fitness room, you can certainly accommodate the sturdy exercise bike wonderfully. For those who have less space, there are also compact models that can be easily stowed away.
- Equipment: The equipment you need depends primarily on your training goal. A training computer is now standard on most models and helps to keep track of your workout. For longer workouts, handles can be helpful during training. With power bands, you can also train your upper body in addition to your leg and pom muscles.
- Resistance: Just want to move a little more or get to a daily step goal? Then even a stepper without resistance levels may be enough. However, if you want to improve your fitness in the long run or are already step-experienced, you should pay attention to an adjustable resistance. This can either be set manually on the stepper or automatically adjusted via pre-installed programs.
- Slip resistance: A stepper must be stable and tilt-resistant on the floor so that you can fully concentrate on your workout. In addition, the treads should also be sufficiently large and slip-resistant – especially if the exercise bike has no handles. By the way: If your feet don’t slip, you can also train more efficiently.
Info about the stepper as a training tool
A stepper is well suited for anyone who wants to bring more movement into their own four walls. For example, you can manage to reach a step goal you set yourself – and you don’t even have to leave the house to do it.
What is a stepper?
Unlike the classic treadmill, which merely simulates a normal walk or jog, the stepper is dedicated to a much more demanding everyday activity: climbing stairs.
For this purpose, the stepper is equipped with two stable footboards whose resistance can be individually adjusted. These are stepped down with muscle power – and that’s quite a challenge.
What types of steppers are there?
Although some steppers are barely distinguishable on the outside, there are significant differences between each model.
These are the three most common types of steppers:
- Classic Stepper: You’re familiar with the step classic from the gym: in addition to the characteristic treads, these steppers usually have sturdy supports for the arms and a practical workout computer. If you have a lot of space in your home gym and want to work out regularly, the classic stepper is the right choice.
- Mini stepper: The mini version consists of two treads and hydraulic cylinders that regulate the resistance. In addition to the basic version, some models have elastic bands for arm training. The mini-stepper is particularly space-saving and cost-effective – it is especially suitable for short sessions and when space at home is limited.
- Side, twist, or swing stepper: In addition to the classic step functions, the side stepper can be used for an even more holistic workout: Here, the stepping surfaces are attached to the side and move not only up and down, but also sideways, as in inline skating. In this way, in addition to the calf, thigh, and pomus muscles, the hip joints are also challenged and balance and coordination are trained.
For whom is a stepper suitable?
Basically, anyone who wants more movement in everyday life can train on a stepper. Thanks to different models and resistance levels, the possible uses are diverse: In addition to sweaty workouts in your own workout room, the stepper can also be used for relaxed, light exercise at your (standing) desk.
Mini steppers are particularly suitable for beginners and hobby athletes who want to use the fitness tool to bring a little more movement into their everyday life or specifically challenge the leg muscles. Thanks to their compact size, they can be used even when space is limited at home or in the office.
Advanced users are best off going straight for the classic exercise bike variant with a stable mount. Due to the solid and high-quality construction, longer workouts and higher resistances are also possible here.
How to train with the stepper
As with any workout, a short warm-up should be done on the stepper first. If you want to complete the warm-up phase directly on the stepper, choose the lowest possible intensity in order to warm up the muscles with light movements and thus reduce the risk of injury.
When stepping, the feet should always remain in contact with the tread surface – in contrast to real stair climbing, the heel does not lift off. The legs remain slightly bent and should not be stretched out as far as possible.
Also, make sure that you keep the resistance or the duration of the workout low at the beginning to avoid overloading the joints. This is because training on the stepper puts more strain on the joints than a gentle workout on the cross-trainer.
Depending on how often and with what training goal the stepper is used, a training duration of 10 to 30 minutes can be selected. Basically, the stepper is designed for short HIIT sessions rather than long endurance units.
Note: Most steppers are designed for a maximum training duration of 30 minutes.
Which muscles are trained with the stepper?
In contrast to other home trainers, such as the treadmill or the ergometer, training on the stepper is much more powerful. The demanding motion sequence strengthens especially the leg muscles and tightens the connective tissue.
In addition to fitness, the following muscle groups are particularly challenged when training with the stepper: Calves, Thighs, Buttocks