I have recently given up my half of the garage. I have turned it into a very small workout area (the roughly eight feet by ten feet area closest to the house), office space for writing/typing and audio/video production, and an audio recording and live-streaming video studio. The back half of that was a no-brainer, as I needed space to do the work that makes the money that allows me to play around online. The first part, though–the saving space for moving and attempting to get healthy–was trickier. With so little space to exercise in and with me getting older and thus more selective in what types of exercises I can do and want to do to avoid injury, it has been hard to find the right type of equipment that provides the right level of movement and intensity while at the same time being small enough and portable enough that I can move around the equipment and the equipment can be moved to meet my changing needs in that space.
What is WalkingPad?
WalkingPad is a small, light-weight, semi-portable treadmill designed by a group of professors, mechanical and electrical engineers, and product design experts in Chicago, Illinois in 2016. Studies have shown that walking as little as 30 minutes a day can have significant impacts on overall physical and mental health, as well as help mitigate the effects of sitting at a desk for hours a day. The WalkingPad was designed with the idea of getting a product into homes that makes it easier for people to get up and walking while being small enough to store easily when not in use.
How does WalkingPad work?
WalkingPad features an aluminum alloy frame for its strength and for being relatively lightweight. When set up for walking, the WalkingPad’s footprint is 56.5 inches long by 21.5 inches wide. The walking surface is approximately 2.25 inches off of the ground, so there is no large step up onto the machine.
The WalkingPad has two modes. In manual mode, you control the speed with a small remote that has a wrist band, so you can let it dangle without having to hold the remote the entire time. Manual mode is good for when you want to maintain a set pace. In automatic mode, the WalkingPad adjusts the belt speed to your pace, allowing the user to speed up or slow down when interval training.
The front of the WalkingPad has an LED display in the panel. The display can track and be toggled to display mode, speed, time, and steps.
When the user is finished with the WalkingPad, the product hinges in the middle and can be stored away. The folded dimensions are 32.5 inches long, 21.5 inches wide, and 5 inches tall. Two wheels are locate at on the front panel side, allowing the user to pick up the WalkingPad from the hinged end and wheel it to wherever it will be stored. At 5 inches tall, the WalkingPad can be stored beneath furniture in the office or living room. At 62 pounds, the product has the heft to be sturdy while light enough to be rolled away for storage and rolled back out again for use.
What has been my experience with WalkingPad?
I have used the WalkingPad nearly every day in the week since I have received the product for review. I was shipped a model that is already in production in China, where the WalkingPad is manufactured. As such, the warnings on the WalkingPad and the instructions were in Chinese. I asked for and received the English language instructions that will come with WalkingPads purchased via Kickstarter, but I honestly didn’t need them. Everything about the set up and operation is intuitive.
I have set an alarm for the weekday afternoons to get up and use my WalkingPad after sitting at my desk for a few hours. Even if I just knock out 15 minutes, I feel more energized afterward and able to focus and knock out tasks easier during my low energy time of the afternoon. I’ve used that time on the WalkingPad to either get caught up on e-mails on my phone, check social media, or read. In the evenings, I’ve used the WalkingPad while watching TV to help me get a few more steps in at the end of the day. I’ve even used it one morning when it was raining and I couldn’t take the dogs for their morning walk around the neighborhood.
My wife has used and enjoyed the device. My kids, ages nine to 14 years old, aren’t very skilled with using the product yet. After watching them nearly faceplant a few times, I can say that the WalkingPad is best used for adults with a decent sense of balance and coordination. Because this product is designed for portability, there are no handrails. While users could conceivably place a chair on either side of the WalkingPad for support, that not only defeats the purpose of having a portable exercise device, but those chairs aren’t going to be stable enough to break a fall.
Would I recommend WalkingPad?
As with the aforementioned lack of handrails, it is important to understand the limitations of the WalkingPad. The product has a top speed of 6 km/hour or about 3.75 miles/hour. There is no incline to the device, and it is not recommended to prop one end of the device in order to simulate an incline. These limitations are due to the device being designed to provide the benefits unique to the WalkingPad. Namely, those are light weight, portability, and delivering a machine for those with limited space and budget.
This is a product meant to get people up and walking at a relatively low intensity at a time and in spaces where they would not otherwise be exercising. With those expectations in mind, I absolutely would recommend the WalkingPad for adults who have developed and maintained the balance and coordination to walk continuously in place over a set period of time without the assistance of handrails.
Where can I purchase a WalkingPad?
The WalkingPad Kickstarter campaign runs through November 5. The product was fully funded within an hour of launch, so there is no danger of the campaign not meeting its funding goal. Backer units will be shipped in November 2018.
Disclaimer: I was provided a Chinese model of the WalkingPad that is currently in production. I was not able to use the app that will be a part of the English language version of the product, as it was not provided for review. All opinions are my own.
great recommendation, I need one for my home office!
Wow, this really caught my attention. It could easily fit in my apartment and I could watch tv while doing some light walking.
I missed the opportunity to buy this WalkingPad. Where/how can this be purchased now?
Wow, this is so interesting.
Hi. I just got a walkingpad through Gearbest – like you, the only instructions were in Chinese. When I asked them for an English user manual, they said sorry, no, only Chinese. Any chance you’d care to share the user manual you got? Kickstarter kicked the US guys out because someone complained that they didn’t have an original concept and I can’t get in touch with them for the manual.
I’m afraid I didn’t keep the English instructions. Is there something in particular you need help with? Perhaps I can talk you through it.
I too purchased thru Gesrbest. Chinese instructions. I get just so far .. then it just doesn’t move. Suggestions??
so bummed… thought is was going to be a great idea
thanks for the negative and useful feed back
I’ve not had any issues and continue to use mine a few times a week. I don’t have a copy of the English language instructions, but as mentioned in the article, I’ve not encountered a situation where I have needed them. I’m sorry to hear that a couple of folks have had issues purchasing through Gearbest.
Hi Joel L. Mills,
I just received mine Monday 28-01-2019 bought via Zapals website. It comes with chinese instructions and a chinese power cord with a type I plug. Did yours comes with the right plug for your country. I need to buy an adaptor and/or a voltage converter to use it. Thanks for your answer.
Mine came with the 3-prong grounded power cord, correct for American outlets.
Hi Joel,
Under my pad is it written 220V, is yours 220V or 110V
Thank you
220v
Thanks Joey, I feel relieved. Since I live in Canada and the voltage is the same as in the USA (you can plug your pad without blowing the breakers or damaging the pad); it will be the same for me with a universal adapter.
Hi Joey,
I read that out of the box the speed limit is 3 km/h. Pairing with mobile is needed to unblock the 6 km/h. I must scan and download the QR code in the Chinese manual to connect the walkingpad with my mobile phone. Did you do so, if yes please explain how to do, step by step because my neighbour came to help he download the Mija app. on his phone it says installed and after that what do we do?. When unlock can you use only the remote instead of the mobile phone. Thanks for answering.
I never paired with the mobile app and had a max speed of 6km/hr out of the box.
Lucky you! When mine will be functional after all these hassle (intensive web research, purchase of an adaptor+voltage converter, and unlock the speed); I really deserved to train on that pad.
Answering my questions was of great help. Thank you.
Hi I received mine walking pad today but it won’t move there is a red flashing light on the deck what is this please my instructions are in Chinese so don’t understand them
Out of the box, speed is blocked at 3 km/h and there is a red Wi-Fi sign on the left of the deck. With your smart phone (or with the help of a computer wizz kid), scan the QR code (item 5 page 7 in the chinese manual). Then download the Mi Home application and program the device with your smartphone. When done, speed goes up to 6 km and you can use it with the remote only (phone is for keeping statistics). Program it on a low pile rug or on the floor not on a shag carpet like I tried to do because the automated mode (A on the deck) will not be recognized by the sensors in the pad; the pad will stop before completion of programmation. All the programmation steps appear one after the other on your screen phone. When done, the Wi-Fi sign disappears and you can use it either on manual mode (M on the deck) with the remote to up and down the speed or on automated mode (A on the deck) in that mode the pad will adapt to your speed, instead of you controlling the speed with the remote. I am living in Canada with an electrical current of 110 volts, under the pad is it specified 220 volts; to be cautious I bought a voltage converter in order to not damage this pricely device.
Thankyou I’ll try this now x
Hi I did all you said in your last reply but the app would not pair with the walking pad so I’m hoping you can come up with a solution thanks Vanessa
It is a computer dept. co-worker who paired my walking pad with his smartphone. He told me that he tought it did not work with an Apple phone; also the app asked for your internet address, it must be a worldwide adress like hotmail or gmail not Verizon or Comcast. I you know a person good in computer ask for his or her help.
Hi I have an apple iPhone so I can’t get it to work I may return it, do you know how I go about doing that??
Try to find someone (family or friends) who has a smartphone other than Apple to program the pad. When done, you can control it with the remote, no need of the phone. It is a practical device which can be hidden under the couch. I just love it, did everything I could to keep it. To return it go to the website where you bought it and contact them. If they do not answer get in touch with the merchant via Paypal (if you paid with Paypal go back and find this purchase, the e-mail adress of the merchant appears). No answer again open a dispute and you will be refunded by Paypal. When you select the transaction, it is specified the deadline at which you can open a dispute.
Thankyou I get onto it straight away x
Good job!
I also cant connect the app and walking pad via iphone, is there any hack to remove the speed limit?
Read my April 4th comments, all you need to know is there. You can not program the pad with an IPhone but you can with any other smartphone, you also need a gmail or hotmail adress to go through the programmation. Out of the box the speed is blocked at 3 km, you have to program it completely to unlock the speed, there is no hack at all.