My Honest Thoughts On The WalkingPad, After Owning It For 2 Years

In my ideal world, every morning would start with a long stroll outside. I'd take frequent walk breaks throughout the day, and I'd never struggle to hit my daily step goal. While these used to feel like lofty ambitions, I recently found a way to make it happen.

Sure, I'm not getting quite as much fresh air as I'd like to—but ever since I caved and added the viral WalkingPad to my WFH space, I've noticed a huge difference in my day. My mood is better, my days are more productive, and my Oura ring has stopped yelling at me to "stretch my legs for a bit" (IYKYK).

Like the name suggests, the WalkingPad is designed primarily for walking. The C2 model maxes out at 3.72 miles per hour, which is fast enough for a brisk, heart-pumping walk (at least for me).

Size is a huge selling point for the WalkingPad C2, especially for people, like myself, who live in small spaces. Unfolded, the WalkingPad measures in at about 57 by 21 by 5 inches. That's already quite small compared to a full-size treadmill, but the real game changer is that the device folds in half. Once folded, it's only 33 by 21 by 5 inches, which is thin and compact enough to slide under most couches. 

One callout worth mentioning is that while the WalkingPad C2 does have convenient built-in wheels, the machine itself is quite heavy at 62 pounds. The wheels only work to push it forward or backward—rather than side-to-side—so maneuvering it into storage and back into its place can be a bit of a pain. Personally, I keep mine on display most of the time; this keeps me motivated to use it more often and I don't have to deal with moving it around.

I'm a marathon runner with a pretty active workout routine, so my family and friends were a bit surprised when I chose the WalkingPad over a high-speed treadmill for running. But truthfully, I've seen firsthand the benefits of walking and the impact it has on my mental health1.

I used to sneak out for brief 15-minute walks once or twice per day, but I'd always be stressed about what work messages I might be missing or the amount of time I was losing from my workday. And even with these quick walk breaks, I'd still end the day feeling like I barely moved. 

I try not to be too obsessive about my fitness tracker activity scores, but it was hard to ignore the burnt-out feeling I'd have after a day full of sitting. Even when I invested in a standing desk, I still felt stagnant at the end of each workday. 

The true beauty of the WalkingPad is that it allows you to add movement to your day without interrupting your typical routine. Since adding the device to my home office (aka my living room), I've actually been getting even more work done while increasing my step count exponentially. 

Before trying it out, I was skeptical of my ability to type and read while walking on the pad. But, as it turns out, walking doesn't interrupt my workflow at all. In fact, the first time I used the WalkingPad, I stayed on it for nearly two hours without even realizing how long it had been. 

Now, I'll typically kick off my workday with about an hour on the WalkingPad while I go through emails and map out my to-do list for the day. I generally use a speed between 2 and 3 miles per hour, depending on how quick I want the pace to be. 

That initial hour of walking equates to about 2 miles, or 3,300 steps, and I tend to add shorter 30-minute spurts throughout the day if I want a bit more movement.

There's not much I'd change about the WalkingPad. That said, I do review products for a living—so you can always count on me to find at least a couple of things that could be done better. For one, the WalkingPad is a bit loud at 65 decibels or about the sound of a dishwasher. It doesn't bother me, but if I shared a workspace with my partner, I could see how the noise might be disruptive to someone else's productivity.

The WalkingPad X21 ($1,099) is a great option for people who want the option to run, as it supports speeds up to 7.5 miles per hour. This model has a detachable phone holder and an operation panel on the removable handrail.

The WalkingPad C1 ($499) is the brand's lightest model, weighing in at 55 pounds. The C1 has a very similar design to the C2 but is 15 pounds lighter and does not have the same four-layer belt. Both have a 220-pound weight capacity and both fold in half.