The HBTower 2-Step Folding Step Ladder meets
the Rubbermaid Roughneck 1-Step Plastic Step Stool
Bob Vila's top pick from 10 stools tested hands-on, with a 5/5 stability score and a frame that folds slim enough to slide behind the fridge. We tested it head-to-head against the Rubbermaid Roughneck 1-Step Plastic Step Stool across 6 key dimensions.
HBTower 2-Step Folding Step Ladder
“Bob Vila's top pick from 10 stools tested hands-on, with a 5/5 stability score and a frame that folds slim enough to slide behind the fridge”
Rubbermaid Roughneck 1-Step Plastic Step Stool
“A 2 lb stool rated for 300 lb that matched our top pick's 4.6/5 in Bob Vila's test and is The Kitchn's budget favorite”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
HBTower 2-Step Folding Step Ladder
- Bob Vila's Best Overall from 10 stools tested hands-on, with a perfect 5/5 for stability and a 4.6/5 overall rating
- Glenda Taylor said it "didn't budge" when she leaned to the sides or jumped on it, helped by an automatic metal lock and a rear cross brace
- Folds slim (1.6 in by Bob Vila's measurement), and Taste of Home says it fits behind the fridge or in a pantry closet
- The molded plastic treads can get slippery when wet, and Taylor said she'd prefer rubber
- Capacity claims conflict: the sticker says 500 lb, the current Amazon listing says 330 lb, and there's no ANSI duty rating
- At 9.24 lb it weighs more than four times as much as a basic plastic one-step stool
Rubbermaid Roughneck 1-Step Plastic Step Stool
- Bob Vila's Best Bang for the Buck, rated 4.6/5 overall with a perfect 5 for portability
- Weighs barely over 2 lb yet carries a 300 lb rating, with skid-resistant feet and a textured top
- The Kitchn's budget favorite, with more than 4,000 five-star Amazon ratings behind it
- The 9.5 in platform won't get most adults to upper kitchen cabinets
- No handrail or handgrip to steady yourself
- It doesn't fold, so it takes up a 12.5 in square of floor or shelf space
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
Bob Vila's testers put 10 step stools through the same routine: open it, fold it, carry it, then climb, lean and jump on it. The HBTower 2-Step came out as Best Overall with a 4.6/5 rating and a perfect 5 for stability. Glenda Taylor wrote, "The HBTower is rock solid. It didn't budge when I leaned to the sides or even when I jumped." Her earlier standalone review of the same stool scored it 9/10.
HBTower 2-Step Folding Step Ladder
Bob Vila's testers put 10 step stools through the same routine: open it, fold it, carry it, then climb, lean and jump on it. The HBTower 2-Step came out as Best Overall with a 4.6/5 rating and a perfect 5 for stability. Glenda Taylor wrote, "The HBTower is rock solid. It didn't budge when I leaned to the sides or even when I jumped." Her earlier standalone review of the same stool scored it 9/10.
- Kitchens with upper cabinets just out of reach
- Apartments where the stool has to fold away behind the fridge or in a closet
- Anyone who wants a handgrip while stepping up
- Renters who need one stool for cabinets, curtain rods and smoke alarms
Rubbermaid Roughneck 1-Step Plastic Step Stool
Rubbermaid's 1-Step earned the same 4.6/5 overall from Bob Vila as the HBTower, which made it the testers' Best Bang for the Buck. Portability got a perfect 5. The stool weighs barely over 2 pounds, yet Rubbermaid rates it for 300.
- Closets, laundry rooms and garages with shelves just out of reach
- Anyone who wants a stool light enough to carry with one hand
- Budget shoppers who still want a 300 lb rating
- Households adding a second stool for another room