What is a walking pad? You might have that question if your social activity has landed you in the health and wellness algorithm on TikTok or maybe you have a friend of a coworker who uses one while working at home. Whatever the reason, this question has definitely shot up in Google searching since the start of COVID in 2020 when the world started to work more and more remote. So let’s chat about what it is and if it’s something you should invest in!
What is a walking pad?
A walking pad is a essentially a lightweight version of a treadmill. Most walking pads allow you to walk or jog between 0-4mph, are controlled by a simple remote, and can be wheeled around for easy storage. There are various features depending on the specific walking pad (or treadmill pad or treadmill walk pad) that you get: some are foldable, some have a handle with speed control, and they vary on belt width and price. Many people use these as a way to stay active while working a desk job from home.
Treadmill vs walking pad
A treadmill has more features and functionality than a walking pad. Think of a walking pad as just the base of the treadmill with the everything else stripped away. Unlike a walking pad, a treadmill can incline and go much faster (usually around 12 mph), it has security handle bars for balance, emergency stop mechanism, a dashboard to adjust speed and incline, and usually has space to hold your water bottle, phone, etc. Treadmills also take up more space and typically cost more.
How much is a home walking pad?
Most cost between $250-$500. Home walking pads are a more cost effective option than a treadmill.
Folding walking pad — is that the way to go?
There are a bunch of foldable walking pads available online and I know many people are looking for this workout device because they have limited space and/or want something they can take out and then store away. Consider where you plan on using your walking pad. If you have a small space the folding walking pad treadmill might be appealing, but if you’re going to use it in a bedroom, like I am (guest bedroom/office), you could skip the extra hundred to get a foldable walking pad and instead roll the walking pad under your bed then you’re finished!
Walking pads aren’t super light so if you don’t plan on moving it a bunch or you have a place you could lean it against a wall or under the bed just as easy, I would skip the folding version and just go with a simple one, like this one I bought on Amazon.
Is a walking pad right for me?
I have seen people use folding walking pads and walking pads in a variety of ways, but three in particular come to mind. The first, if you want to walk while working your desk job. This is my reason and 10/10 recommend if you’re looking to add more movement (and more focus) to your desk job. The second reason is for people that have limited space (think small urban apartment) and want a way to work out without leaving their house. The third reason is for people that are getting started with exercise again and want to walk while watching a tv show or a movie. All of these are great options for a walking pad!
My walking pad and a few other options
During 2020, 2021, and 2022, when I started to work from home more consistently I noticed that my energy level wasn’t great and that I was really hitting an afternoon slump. It wasn’t super surprising because I work in our guest bedroom/office which is about five steps from the bathroom and 10 steps from the kitchen. Outside of my morning workout routine, I just wasn’t moving much! So I decided to get a walking pad for Christmas. I did a bunch of research and narrowed it down to a few options…
Option 1: Most reviews on Amazon and foldable ($499)
This GoPlus option is a folding version and has over 7,000 reviews on Amazon. I love the power of positive reviews so I was really close to getting this one, but I wasn’t sure about the folding thing and I was hoping to find an option that was less expensive.
Option 2: Recommended from TikTok ($439)
When I started to research walking pads I also started to get a bunch of walking pad ads and content on social media. This is the one that came up again and again on TikTok. I loved the look of it and was reallyyyyy close to getting this one because I love getting something that someone is openly/continuously using and reviewing. But it was pricey, which held me back.
Option 3: Best value ($260)
I got option 3 and I LOVE it!
I decided to go with the best value, knowing that if it was a complete bust, I could return it and pay more for one of the other options. I’m so happy I gave this one a try because I haven’t had any issues with it and it does everything I need it to do! Plus, I saved myself about $200!
If you go for it and get your own walking pad, let me know how it goes!! I love to see how people use it and if they love it as much as I do. Happy walking!