Walking Versus Mini Stepper

Mini-steppers are stripped-down versions of larger step machines, with fewer settings, less weight and fewer moving parts. They mimic the workout you'd get climbing stairs or walking on a steep incline. Designed to be portable, these machines can travel with you to work or on a vacation, making it possible to exercise almost anywhere. If you use your mini-stepper frequently enough, you can burn more calories than you'd burn on a leisurely walk.

  1. Exercise and Calories Burned

    • Both mini-steppers and walking offer low- to moderate-impact cardiovascular exercise. Over time, this can help you lose weight and boost your aerobic fitness. Because mini-steppers offer a bit more resistance, they typically burn more calories than walking. A 155-pound person will burn about 220 calories in 30 minutes on a stepper. The same person will burn about 150 calories walking 3.5 mph. However, by increasing the pace and intensity of your walk, you can burn more calories. By walking at a fast pace that occasionally breaks into a jog, a 155-pound person can burn 220 calories in 30 minutes.

    Customization and Varying Intensity

    • Most mini-steppers allow you to customize your exercise to increase your walking speed, the incline at which you walk and the resistance of the pedals. This mimics the workout you'll get walking on an incline or upstairs. If you live in an area that doesn't offer a challenging walking space, a mini-stepper might be a better option. However, if you're a regular hiker or have access to lots of hills, you may get a more diverse and effective workout by taking a walk. This is particularly true if you carry heavy equipment with you when you hike, because adding weight increases the number of calories you burn.

    Portable Walks

    • Most mini-steppers fold and all are lighter than full-sized stair-steppers, making them ideal for travel or stowing in a corner of your office. Although you can walk just about anywhere, a busy airport or crowded office park might not be the easiest or most pleasant locations to get in a workout, making a mini-stepper a good alternative if you're frequently on the go.

    Increasing Activity Level

    • One of the simplest ways to burn a few calories throughout the day is to increase your activity level. For example, making multiple trips to the car to carry in groceries burns more calories than carrying them all in at once. Because a mini-stepper requires a bit of setup, it might not help you take these small measures to increase your activity level, but walking will. Conversely, if you're stuck in an office all day, a mini-stepper could be a good way to steadily boost the amount of time you spend moving.