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Running Boards vs Nerf Bars vs Side Steps: What's the Difference?

By TruckTon Team · Updated August 2026 · 5 min read

Shopping for a truck step and confused by the terminology? You're not alone. Running boards vs nerf bars vs side steps is one of the most common questions we get, because retailers use these terms loosely — and sometimes interchangeably. They all solve the same basic problem: modern pickups sit high, and climbing in shouldn't require a knee on the seat or a grab of the steering wheel.

But the three products are built differently, feel different underfoot, and perform very differently in a Canadian winter. This guide breaks down what each one actually is, where each makes sense, and what to look for if you drive through snow and road salt six months a year.

The Short Answer

All three are steps that mount to your truck's rocker panels or frame. The differences come down to shape and stepping surface. Running boards are wide, flat platforms that run the length of the cab. Nerf bars are round or oval tubes with small step pads at each door. Side steps is the umbrella term that covers both, plus individual hoop steps that serve one door each.

If you remember one thing: running boards give you a continuous flat surface; nerf bars give you a tube with specific stepping spots. That single difference drives almost everything else — grip, winter performance, and who each is best for.

Aluminum running boards installed on a pickup truck

What Are Running Boards?

Running boards are flat platforms, typically 5 to 7 inches wide, mounted along the cab from the front door to the rear door. Because the surface is continuous, you can step anywhere along the length — no aiming for a pad in the dark or with an armful of groceries.

The wide, flat surface is the main advantage. There's more room for your boot, more surface for traction texturing, and an easier target for kids, older passengers, and dogs. The trade-off is a slightly more utilitarian look than a polished tube, and marginally less ground clearance than a tucked-up nerf bar — though on a stock-height pickup, neither matters much in practice.

TruckTon running boards are aircraft-grade aluminum with a 6-inch wide textured step surface, priced at $249.99 CAD per set with fitments for most popular pickups — from the RAM 1500 and Silverado 1500 to the Tacoma and even the Ford Maverick.

What Are Nerf Bars?

Nerf bars are round or oval tubes — usually 3 to 5 inches in diameter — that run along the cab like running boards, but with molded plastic or textured metal step pads only at each door opening. The name comes from oval racing, where tube bumpers along the car's sides deflected wheel-to-wheel contact ("nerfing").

People choose nerf bars mostly for looks. A polished stainless or gloss black tube has a sportier profile than a flat board, and the step pads do the job when they're clean and dry. The weakness is exactly that qualifier: you must land your foot on the pad, and a round tube sheds your boot sideways if you miss. We don't currently carry nerf bars — and winter performance, covered below, is a big part of why.

What Are Side Steps?

Side steps is the catch-all category. Any product that gives you a step up into the cab — running boards, nerf bars, or individual hoop steps that bolt on below each door — lives under this label. That's why our own category page is called side steps even though the products in it are running boards.

Individual hoop or drop steps deserve a quick mention: they're compact single steps, popular on lifted trucks because they hang lower for extra reach. On a stock-height daily driver, full-length boards are usually the more practical choice — they serve both doors, both rows, and the space in between.

Anti-slip textured step surface on truck side steps

Winter Is Where They Separate

On a dry July day in Ontario, any of the three works fine. The differences show up in November.

A round nerf bar tube collects snow and glazes with ice, and its small step pads become the only safe landing zones — which you can't see under snow. A flat, textured running board surface gives your boot full contact and somewhere for slush to be displaced, and a quick sweep of a gloved hand clears the whole step. If you park outside and your winters involve freezing rain — most of Canada — the wide flat board is the safer geometry, full stop.

Then there's road salt. Steel steps, chrome-plated or powder-coated, eventually rust where stone chips and fastener points break the coating. Aluminum doesn't rust — it's the same logic we cover in our truck bed rust prevention guide. Whatever style you buy, in Canada the material matters as much as the shape: aluminum or stainless over mild steel, every time. A rinse at the coin wash after salty drives keeps mounting hardware happy; our seasonal maintenance checklist covers the routine.

What Do They Cost in Canada?

Expect roughly $200 to $800 CAD for most bolt-on steps, with premium powered deploying boards well beyond that. Nerf bars generally occupy the lower-to-middle of that range, running boards the middle, and stainless or powered options the top.

TruckTon running boards are $249.99 CAD across all fitments, with free shipping Canada-wide. They're covered by our 2-year warranty, and uninstalled items can be returned within 30 days.

6-inch wide aluminum running boards for pickup trucks

Installation: Easier Than You'd Think

Running boards, nerf bars, and hoop steps all mount the same way: brackets bolt to existing holes or studs in the truck's frame or rocker area, then the step bolts to the brackets. No drilling on most late-model pickups, and a typical install takes 1 to 2 hours with hand tools. Our step-by-step running board installation guide walks through the whole process.

If you'd rather not wrench, we offer free installation with pickup at our Burlington, Ontario location.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose running boards if the truck is a daily driver, carries family or crew, or lives through real winters — the wide flat step earns its keep every single day. Choose nerf bars if appearance is the priority and the truck mostly sees fair weather. Choose individual hoop steps if the truck is lifted and you need maximum drop.

For most Canadian pickup owners, that decision tree ends at running boards: more usable step, better grip in snow, and nothing to aim for in the dark. Pick the set that matches your cab configuration — crew, quad, extended — and model year, and check your specific listing for current availability. Not sure which cab you have? Measure twice, order once.