The Stair Stepper Vs. Elliptical for Toning the Buns and Thighs

by Lisa M. Wolfe
Use proper form on the stationary workout machines for equal leg toning.


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The rows of cardiovascular equipment in a health club typically contain stair steppers and elliptical trainers. Both pieces of stationary cardiovascular equipment offer low-impact workouts to protect the joints of your lower body. At the same time, you tone your buns and thighs as you climb or glide your way against variable resistance.

To New Heights

The stair stepper machine mimics climbing stairs. Your feet do not leave the pedals as you climb. Instead, the pedals move up and down as your glutes and thighs contract against the resistance. Your buns and legs respond with strength and tone improvements. In contrast, the elliptical is a mix between walking, stair climbing and cross-country skiing. Your glutes and thighs push against the chosen resistance as you move your legs mainly horizontally. The elliptical targets different areas of your legs and glutes when you set the incline higher. The incline of a stair stepper cannot be adjusted. The amount of toning on the glutes and thighs does not vary between machines. The movements are different, but if you push against a resistance that challenges your muscles, your buns and thighs will respond.

A Little Support

The stair stepper and the elliptical have handrails. The handrails on the stair stepper are stationary and used only for balance. When you place too much weight on your hands, you take the workout away from your legs. In contrast, the handrails on an elliptical can be stationary for balance support, or moveable to help you burn more calories. Calorie-burning is important when your goal is butt and thigh toning. The more calories you burn, the more fat you lose which shows the toned muscles of your lower body. From a 30-minute workout, expect to burn approximately 211 calories on the stair stepper and 324 calories on the elliptical.

Going Backward

Very rarely, unless you're moving heavy furniture, do you climb stairs backward. The stair stepper is no exception. You use the machine facing forward with your legs going up and down to tone your lower body. The difference with the elliptical trainer is you are able to perform the movement in a forward and backward motion. When you move your legs backward you emphasize different areas of your leg muscles -- your glutes and hamstrings contract as you extend the hip and push down on the pedals.

Make it Easy

When choosing a cardiovascular workout that also improves the tone of your lower body, you want a machine that you can step onto and easily do the workout. The stair stepper is a little challenging to learn. You have to develop the right rhythm to keep one step coming up while the other goes down. This requires balance, timing and the proper amount of resistance, otherwise you may find yourself with both pedals on the floor. The elliptical is easier to learn. The pedals guide your motion on stable tracks as your legs contract to push through the resistance, so you begin your toning benefits immediately.

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