‘I’m A Trainer—This Tool Is Perfect For Low-Impact Cardio And Strength’

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What's old is new again. It's as true in fashion as in gym equipment, and now aerobic steppers have been revived. Aerobic steppers were all the rage in the '80s and the benefits have stood the test of time. Fitness trainers still swear by it for helping improve cardiovascular fitness and leg strength.

Stephanie Reyes, a NASM-certified fitness trainer, says using a stepper is a low-impact way to incorporate explosive, powerful moves into your workouts. "They're especially great for cardio because the up-and-down action increases your heart rate," she says. Taking an aerobic step workout class is one way to utilize it, but it's not the only option. Reyes says it's also useful to level up strength training. "It's perfect for performing exercises that require an elevated surface, such as step-ups or Bulgarian split squats," she says. The best aerobic steppers will help kick simple moves up a notch with elevation for a challenge.

The Best Aerobic Steppers

Aerobic steppers are designed as a raised platform to perform rhythmic movements, while some models have risers that can be tilted for core workouts. But before you feel the burn, it's important to know whether aerobic steppers provide a good surface and the benefits of different heights.

What To Consider

Height

The height can typically be adjusted on many models to accommodate your preferences. The higher the platform the more intense the workout will feel. Some go as low as four inches, while some can reach up to 12 inches. One of our picks, the Yes4All Adjustable High-Step Aerobic Platform, offers four, six, eight, ten, and twelve-inch platforms (!). The variety allows you to experiment with what feels best and accommodate based on how much of a challenge you want. Reyes also says aerobic steppers could be used for moves like chest presses and rows depending on the height. We love versatile equipment!

Surface

A good aerobic stepper should have a non-slip surface to avoid accidents while in motion. Rubber stoppers on the bottom are also essential to help keep it in place. Most surfaces are textured plastic to keep feet from skidding—yay for traction! Stomping on hard surfaces also takes a toll on the joints after a while. Luckily, many aerobic steppers have thick surfaces that absorb impact. How? The force is distributed evenly to help minimize force on the body. That coupled with a pair of supportive sneakers will leave you feeling fuego.

How We Chose

Women's Health commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, associate commerce editor Lily Wohlner, and fitness commerce editor Nicolette Accardi dug deep through cyberspace and tester feedback to find the best highly rated aerobic steppers. Our team also consulted certified personal trainer Stephanie Reyes to validate we picked the best options. Read on for our guide on the best aerobic steppers to get your sweat on while channeling a retro fitness era.

Original Aerobic Platform

All our hand-picked aerobic steppers on this list are highly rated, but this one takes the cake. After evaluating a bunch of aerobic steppers, our team concluded this one is golden for its all-around great features.

The surface has non-slip traction that isn't over-the-top for seamless transitions, while the height can be adjusted from four to eight inches with risers. It's not the tallest height we've seen, but we think it's a nice middle ground that can make moves like lunges and push-ups more challenging. The risers also have slip-proof stoppers to keep you stable.

Besides being used upright, the risers can be put on a vertical or horizontal slant for core exercises. Testers say it stays sturdy, and even find it beneficial for weightlifting and physical therapy. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it has almost 16,000 reviews on Amazon—that's a flex.

Read more: The Best Home Gym Equipment

Adjustable Aerobic Stepper

This aerobic stepper is a classic that has been around for over 30 years. Its retro legacy has been proven, but we're here to showcase its durability. Testers weren't shy about how impressed they were with its long-lasting quality and strength, which makes its near $130 price tag worth the investment.

Testers also say its design is extremely sturdy and stays planted on the floor thanks to its eight slip-resistant stoppers on the bottom. The surface has a grippy texture for traction that is amazing for executing explosive jumps anxiety-free. No falling allowed!

Compared to our overall pick, this one clicks and locks when adjusting to different heights (six, eight, or 10 inches). It's also wide if you want the peace of mind of having more surface area capturing your feet.

Adjustable High-Step Aerobic Platform

When we first took a look at the Yes4All Adjustable High-Step Aerobic Platform its buildable high-stack design and tiny size immediately made us curious.

This compact stepper has a small surface area, so it's ideal for working on balance and for tiny living situations. Aside from being great for shoebox apartments, the platform is slip-resistant to slay fast motions like a champ. The thickness also absorbs shock in every step by distributing force, so it's easy on the joints.

It has five adjustable risers to help you find your best fit and one has slip-proof rubber stoppers on the bottom. The lowest height is four inches and the highest goes up to 12 inches—the tallest we've seen. Hint: save the highest option for when you want to grind!

43" Adjustable Aerobic Stepper

If you really want to make sure your feet have a place to land the HomGarden Adjustable Aerobic Stepper is a whopping 43 inches wide (!). Aside from its adequate size, testers say the quality and sturdiness are so good it reminds them of models seen at the gym.

It can be adjusted up to eight inches and has slip-proof rubber between each riser to prevent sliding. It's important to note this aerobic stepper is quite heavy compared to other models on this list—it clocks in at 25 pounds. If you're seeking a more lightweight option with a similar style, The Step Original Aerobic Platform is the way to go.

Aerobic Step

If you're a total newbie to aerobic steppers, this affordable option stays low to the ground to keep moves less intense. Once you're ready to amp things up you can increase the height to six inches for more difficulty. Besides doing step-up reps, the lower height is ideal for push-ups.

Testers say the wide design makes them feel more secure, while the non-skid surface offers slight traction. It's also the lightest option on this list at just over five pounds, which makes it great for transporting to the gym or outdoors. Given its light size, we're unsure how much weight it can withstand. So, we recommend not standing or applying force for long periods.

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