Honest Walking Pad Treadmill Review – Worth it or Not?
Curious about the Walking Pad treadmill craze? Are walking pads worth it? What is a walking pad? Here’s everything you need to know about the one I got + use code LAKESHORELADY for $110 off!
Walking Pad – get $110 off with code LAKESHORELADY (also available on Amazon Prime) | Standing desk converter | Walk & Work Sweatshirt | Leggings | Sneakers
After a few months with it, I think it’s finally time to do a little deep dive review of my walking pad treadmill! As you might have seen on TikTok, walking pads have gone a little viral – and with good reason. Exercise can be hard to squeeze into a busy schedule, especially when you have a jam packed workday. But on the other hand, if you’ve ever worked from home, you know how blah being alone all day at your desk can feel. We aren’t meant to be that sedentary every single day. It’s not good for our health!
So what if I said you could move throughout the day even while you’re working at your desk? I was definitely curious when I saw others talking about these desk treadmill situations, but wasn’t entirely convinced until I discovered my WalkingPad.
It was little bit of an investment up front, but it’s not as expensive or big as a regular treadmill and it folds to take up even less space when I’m not using it. And now I can hit 10k steps a day while also going through emails or writing blog posts (like this one!). Not only that, but I have a feeling it will help my mental health a LOT when it’s freezing here in Chicago and too cold to go for long walks with Luna.
Have I piqued your interest? Well, that’s why I’m dedicating a whole post all about the walking pad treadmill I got, what you should know before purchasing, and more!
Walking Pad Treadmill
What Is A Walking Pad?
Okay so what is this? Is a walking pad treadmill a treadmill? When I asked for questions, someone actually submitted “why is it called a walking pad? 😂” The biggest difference between a regular treadmill and a walking pad treadmill is that walking pads usually have a high maximum speed. Mine only goes up to 4 mph so it really is only meant for walking. Most of them also don’t have any sort of handle bar or control panel, but they do come with a remote control to adjust the speed.
WalkingPad Folding Treadmill
Design
I decided to get a folding walking pad to save space and I’m so glad that I did. It measures 57″ x 21.5″ when you’re walking on it, and just 32″ x 21.5″ when it’s folded up. It’s a little heavy, but folding it and then using the wheels in the front make it easy to move. That makes it way easier!
Ease of Use
This is incredibly easy to use! Just unfold it, turn it on, and use the wireless remote to adjust the speed. That’s pretty much all there is to it!
Price
This WalkingPad costs $499, but you can get $110 off $400+ with code LAKESHORELADY! I know that’s not cheap, but I do think that the cost per use is pretty low, even if you only walk on it for a few hours a week!
Durability
I have only owned it for a few months, so I can’t speak to long term durability, but so far so good! I haven’t had any issues with it up until this point which I think is a really great sign.
FAQs about my Walking Pad Treadmill
Is it difficult to work/type while walking?
I personally don’t find it difficult, but I also started pretty slow and still don’t walk very fast even a few months later. I’ve got nothing to prove – and some movement is better than no movement! That being said, while typing isn’t a problem for me, I cannot write with a pen and walk at the same time. So much harder!
Best tasks while walking? Reading? Writing?
This will probably vary from person to person, but I usually answer emails, respond to DMs, edit photos, and write blog outlines while I’m on the walking pad. Then I’ll get off for things that need more focus like reading/editing long paragraphs, working on my editorial calendar, editing reels, etc.
What is the desk setup?
I have a standing desk converter that I just keep on my desk all the time. I thought about taking it off every time I’m not using the walking pad, but that got old for me and I really don’t mind it there. It stays down when I’m working from my chair and it raises up when I’m walking on the pad. Very easy!
Would you feel comfortable with a light jog on it or just walking?
Mine only goes up to 4 mph so I personally wouldn’t, but that’s also not why I bought it. If you want a walking treadmill so that you can also run/jog, I would look into other options or even just a regular treadmill!
Is it loud?
It’s loud enough that Adam can hear it in another room if the doors are all open, but not so loud that he can still hear it if we shut the doors – does that make sense? The belt makes a subtle noise but nothing crazy, so it’s really the sound of your feet walking more than anything. I wouldn’t call it disruptive at all but it’s also very easy to just work from my desk chair instead of walking if I have a call or if Adam has a very important call in the other room.
Are you ever worried about tripping?
I’m not because it’s not going that fast! And if I ever feel like I need to focus more on a task vs. walking, I just slow down my walking speed.
How heavy is it? How easy is it to move?
As I mentioned above, it’s pretty heavy. If I need to move it, I always make sure to fold treadmill and I use the wheels at the front to move/position it the way I want it. Someone asked about bringing it up stairs though, and THAT would be difficult. I’d definitely ask a friend to help you.
Do you use it to replace a workout?
Sometimes, but I try to think about it as extra movement vs. a workout. Because I don’t do it to break a sweat or anything, it’s moreso about adding in movement I previously might have gotten commuting to and walking around an office. That being said, I’m always especially glad I have it on days that I don’t work out – either because it’s a rest day or I just simply don’t have time. It feels good to be able to work through my to do list and get steps in at the same time!
How do you track your steps?
I read that the KS Fit app that connects to my WalkingPad also connects to the Health app on your iPhone, but I’m not sure how accurate it is. I have an Oura ring that tracks steps, but because I am typing/working while walking, the count is never accurate. Instead, I usually clip on a pedometer while I’m on it so I can get an accurate count.
I’ve also seen people on TikTok put their Apple Watch around their ankle while they walk too! Apparently that helps get a more accurate count then keeping it around your wrist.
How long/far do you walk?
Every day is different! I love to shoot for between 8,000-10,000 steps if I can, but that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes I’ll walk for 30 minutes while answering DMs. Other days, I’ll be on and off all day while I get computer work done. And if I did a really tough workout or I’m just shooting content on my feet all day, I’ll skip it entirely.
Anything you don’t like?
I have very few complaints so far! I wish the remote was a little bit easier to figure out – I can get it going but I don’t really know what all of the different features/buttons do 😂 I also wish it was a little lighter because it technically fits under my desk so you can’t see it, but I never arrange it like that because it’s a pain. So it just sticks out on one side, which isn’t the most aesthetic arrangement, but that’s not the end of the world for me.
Walking Pad vs. Treadmill
A lot of people ask if it’s the same as a treadmill or which one is better. As I mentioned before, my walking pad only goes up to 4mph so it really is only intended for walking. It was also designed to easily slide under your desk or standing desk so you can use it while working. In other words, if you don’t care about the work and walk aspect and you want to be able to work or run, then maybe a treadmill makes more sense for you.
That being said, I actually just connected with the brand about collaborating together (!!!!) but since I already purchased my walking pad on my own last year, they offered to send me another design to test out and review for you. So, I chose the X21 Double-Fold Treadmill which is COMPLETELY different.
This one goes up to 7.4 mph so you CAN run on it! I am so excited to try some Peloton running classes with it. I won’t be able to follow their incline cues because it stays flat, but it double folds to stands straight up which makes it a huge space saver. This one is heavier and it does have a handrail – so I don’t think it would work under a standing desk for work purposes. That being said, it does have a detachable phone holder!
Is The WalkingPad Worth It?
In my opinion, YES. I felt WAY less anxious about getting through a long Chicago winter knowing that I had this to hop on during the week – or even on a weekends if I wanted to binge some reality tv while Adam watches football in the living room 😉 I also just love that it’s a way for me to get extra movement (and light cardio!) in when I’ms uper busy without needing to get super sweaty and breathless. Sometimes a workout feels really daunting, but walking for an hour while answering emails? I could do that ANY day.
As for the price, I know that everyone’s budget is different, so I definitely don’t want to say that the one I have is the only good option. Especially with $110 off with code LAKESHORELADY!
Ultimately, if I you are someone who misses long walks in the winter, who has trouble fitting in workouts because of your long to do list, and/or you’re just looking for a way to get some extra steps in, I think that this is a great investment!
PS. If you liked this Walking Pad Treadmill post, you might also like my Oura Ring Review and Better Greens Review.