Usually things made of heavy plastics have a date at which the plastic starts to break down. I first noticed this on child booster seats - there is a date stamped on them. I would assume that aerobic steps would have a certain lifespan, and at some point would lose their 'shock absorption' or strength or something. The reason I ask is - I bought my step on ebay. I knew it was used, but when I received it, it looks like it was used in a health club for MANY years, then left sitting in the sun for a few seasons. Also, the black rubbery ridges on the top are kinda worn out. I had a brand new step several years ago, and it didn't rattle when I used it, but this used step is noisy. Maybe I am just looking for an excuse to buy a shiny-and-new step. Any thoughts on this issue? Thanks!
What's the life expectancy of The Step?
- Thread starter martwad
- Start date
The rubbery ridges on my step are not worn out, but it has been used on an average of 3x per week for 20+ years and is still going strong. Yet, my step has not had the stress put on it like a health club would use either. This will not help you at all to make your decision, but I bought the shiny new one last year (I've only used it a few x as I always grab my old one), just because I wanted another color. ;-) 
andtckrtoo
Cathlete
Another heavy step user here and I've had mine for 15 years (got it when my baby was born). It's holding up fine.
allwildgirl
Cathlete
I've had mine 12 years with some pretty heavy usage and it seems to be doing just fine.
My teal one with the pink risers has been going strong for about 10 years now. They only complaint is that the tread started coming up on the edges--but that was because my kids were using it as a slide (and who knows what else) when I wasn't looking. Some "goop" glued it back on and it's been fine (after I got my kids to leave it alone). The tread is still great. It sounds like yours has been through who-knows-what. It certainly must have been used/abused to be in that bad of shape. The sun is terrible on plastics, so if yours is faded, I would be concerned.
Is that enabling enough?
Elsie
Is that enabling enough?
Elsie