A recording apparatus comprising a recording medium rotatably mounted on a spindle, a slider incorporating a magnetic head element for recording and reproducing data to and from the recording medium, the slider having an inflow end and an outflow end, and an access means for moving the slider over a surface of the recording medium, a plurality of pads having two-stage step parts incorporated into one side of the slider, and the magnetic head element provided on one pad of the plurality of pads, the one pad having the head element being located in a vicinity of the outflow end, and at least one different pad of the plurality of pads being located in a vicinity of the inflow end, and wherein a medium-opposing-step stage of the one pad on which the head element is provided has a step height measured from the pad surface which is shorter than a step height of a medium-opposing-step stage of the at least one different pad.