While many factors are associated with stepping activity after stroke, there is significant variability across studies. One potential reason for this variability is that there are some characteristics necessary to achieve greater stepping activity that differ from others that may need to be targeted to improve stepping activity. Using two step thresholds (2500 steps/day, corresponding to home vs. community ambulation and 5500 steps/day, corresponding to achieving physical activity guidelines through walking), we applied 3 different algorithms to determine which predictors are most important to achieve these thresholds. We found that the 6-Minute Walk Test and speed modulation were the only variables found to be important across all 3 algorithms for the home vs. community and aerobic thresholds, respectively. We therefore deemed these *primary characteristics*. Other variables related to readiness to change activity behavior and physical health, among others, were found to be important to one or two algorithms (*ancillary characteristics*). The results of this work suggest that addressing physical capacity is necessary but not sufficient to achieve important step thresholds, as ancillary characteristics, such as readiness to change activity behavior and physical health, may also need to be targeted. This delineation may explain heterogeneity across studies examining predictors of stepping activity in stroke.