Do Not Buy A Walking Pad Until You Watch This Video transcript

Walking pads are everywhere right now, and for a good reason. But does that mean you should buy one? Yes, I actually think you should. I've been using a walking pad for about a year now, and I'm a huge fan. But before you buy one, there are 10 things you really need to consider, so you don't end up disappointed after the hype wears off. Let's get this out of the way right up front. If you want to work while walking, you need a standing desk.

I know some people buy walking pads just to walk inside their house, and that's great. But if you want to get your steps in on the company's dime, a standing desk isn't optional. Along with that, your desk also needs to go high enough. Most of the popular standing desks top out around 47 or 48 in, and then the walking pad will raise you another 3 in or so off the floor. So, if you're tall, this really matters. For example, at 6 ft 2, my ideal standing desk height is around 44 and 1/2 in.

Add in the walking pad, and now I need roughly 47 and 1/2 in, right at the limit of many desks. When people hear I use a walking pad at my desk, one of the first things they ask is, "How can you actually work while doing that?" And that's a fair question, because walking while you work can be distracting. Even at slow speeds, your body is constantly moving, and that movement changes how steady your hands feel on a keyboard or mouse.

If your work involves precision, like video editing, spreadsheets, or any other detailed tasks, you'll notice this right away. This doesn't mean walking pads don't work while working. It just means that they're better for certain tasks. Emails, meetings, planning, these are all great times to walk. Having a stable standing desk can also help minimize that extra movement, but it doesn't eliminate this issue entirely. Deck size absolutely cannot be overlooked, and it's not just about length.

Most of the popular walking pads use a deck that's around 37 in long. For me, at 6 ft 2, with the long legs and a naturally long stride, that length is just barely enough. It works, but again, it's right on that edge. If you're any taller, I strongly suggest buying a longer deck. But, width matters, too, especially depending on how you walk. Some people naturally walk with their feet angled outwards instead of straight ahead.

And on a narrow deck, that can feel cramped very quickly. Deck size also is important when you think about how easy it is to drift while walking. Walking at a desk helps keep you centered both front to back and side to side, but without help, it's easy to slowly stray. This is why if you plan to use one of these away from the desk, I strongly recommend getting a model with some kind of handrail. Let me help set some expectations.

A walking pad is not a treadmill. So, on a treadmill, you have side rails, a front bar, and plenty of room to jog or run. They also give you space to step off to the side if you need a break. And while some try, walking pads just can't match that. To stop the ride, you have to shut it off or completely step off the treadmill while it's moving, and this can be jarring. Now, most walking pads top out around 4 mph. For me, that's a fast walk.

It's not a jog, and it's definitely not running. For some context, my wife is 5'2", and even for her, 4 mph is still fast walking. Marketing images make these speeds look more dramatic than they really are. These women can't be getting that intense of a run on these walking pads. Since you're not going to walk all day, using a walking pad usually means moving it into position to walk, and then storing it somewhere when you're done.

Most walking pads weigh in the 30 to 60 lb range. So, they're not impossible to move. Most have wheels, but they're heavy enough that you're definitely going to notice the weight. Knowing you have to roll it over, line it up under your desk, and then move it back out when you're done can be a small, but real hurdle. You also need to have space to store it. You might have room under your desk or against a wall, possibly under a couch, but not every office has a perfect spot.

Personally, I usually lean mine up against the wall in my office. Now, there's a fine balance here. You want the walking pad large enough to comfortably walk on, but also small enough that it's easy to move and store away. One little hack I found, I leave the cord plugged in under my desk and then unplug it from the walking pad for each session. When it's time to roll the walking pad out of the way and sit back down, you want that chair to be really comfortable.

Click the link in the description to see our office chair buying guide, where we rank all of the most popular chairs. There's three different noise sources to contend with, so I'll break them down. The first is motor noise. Most walking pads are reasonably quiet at low speeds, but cheaper motors can have a louder hum and sometimes squeak when you walk fast. The second is tread noise. Now, that's the sound of the belt moving over the deck and rollers.

It's usually a steady background sound, but again, it gets louder as the speed increases. The third is footfall noise. Now, this might be the most noticeable because it's less consistent. Every step you take hits the deck and that rhythmic impact is what stands out the most. The heavier you are and the harder you stride, the louder this becomes. And then there's the beeping. There's startup beep, speed change beeps, warning beeps.

Now, you get the idea. It's one of the most complained about things. I had heard of people taping over their speaker to try and quiet them down, and I figured out how to do this to mine while shooting the video. A matter rug may help soften some of the sound, but walking pads are never silent. Horsepower and weight ratings are an important set of specs to look at when choosing a walking pad, and they matter even more if you plan on using the pad heavily.

Most walking pads fall all the two to two and a half horsepower range with advertised weight capacities between 240 and 300 lb. This will be sufficient for most people. This is where higher-end models start to separate themselves. Some will use brushless motors, which tend to be quieter, run cooler, and last longer than the cheaper brushed motors. If you're planning to use a walking pad heavily or if you're heavy yourself, it's worth prioritizing these specs.

Your floor type matters more than you might expect. On hard floors, you want something underneath the walking pad, either a treadmill or hard chair mat or maybe a low rug. This protects the floor, minimizes vibrations, and helps the walking pad run properly. Most manufacturers specifically say not to use walking pads directly on carpet. Carpet restricts airflow, it traps the heat, and it can cause the motor to work harder than it should.

Very short pile carpet might work, but it's not ideal. If you're on carpet, the safer option is to use a mat, then run the walking pad on top of that. Before you buy a walking pad, make sure you actually have the floor setup that's going to work for it. Walking pads sit very low to the ground, which means they naturally collect dust, hair, crumbs, and debris. Every 3 to 6 months, you'll want to do some basic upkeep. That means opening up the front and cleaning around the motor area.

This was definitely overdue for mine, as you can see a lot of junk has built up in here. This is also the time that you should plan on oiling the belt. It's simple to do, and most pads come with some oil to get you started. Belts can also drift over time, so they may need occasional recentering or a tension adjustment. This is what it looks like when the tension is too loose on a belt. I would definitely not say that walking pads are high maintenance, but if you want it to last a long time, you need to take care of it.

If you look at reviews, you'll often see the same complaints. Customer service never responds, responses take weeks, or a replacement unit shows up with the exact same issue as the original. A lot of walking pad brands are online only and relatively new. So, support is usually email based and replacement parts aren't easy to get. Troubleshooting can turn into a long back and forth. Buying through Amazon does give you some protection early on, but if something goes wrong down the road, they can be a major hassle.

If you're looking for recommended products to complete your desk setup, check out the videos linked in the description.