Many people don’t have space for a bulky, full-sized treadmill in their homes, but you can still get your steps in every day with the help of a walking pad.
Set up a walking pad underneath a standing desk and walk during long Zoom meetings or stash it in a closet and pull it out when you want to exercise.
Benefits of Walking Pads
“Walking pads remove the barriers of having to go outdoors for a walk or drive to the gym. For folks who live in places with inclement weather — such as Arizona in the summer or Montana in the winter — you can walk in your climate-controlled home with ease.” –Dr. Milica McDowell, orthopedic physical therapist
To help you pick the best walking pad for your home, PEOPLE testers tried out six different models, logging a total of 74 hours of walking, and these five proved to be effective tools for exercising at home.
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Easy to control using remote
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Fits well under standing desks
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Higher weight capacity
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Can be stored under furniture or upright
This best-selling walking pad checks all the right boxes, earning it the top spot in our testing. It’s reasonably priced at less than $200 and the perfect size to use under a standing desk, and it also has a higher-than-average weight capacity of 340 pounds.
During testing, we used the gadget daily for short 10- to 20-minute walks, and we loved that the remote lets you start, stop, and adjust the walking speed (which goes up to 3.8 MPH) without bending over. It was a comfortable and convenient way to get some low-impact exercise, especially on hot summer days.
We did find that it can be a bit challenging to move around due to its weight, but there are wheels at the front that make it somewhat easier to maneuver.
Dimensions: 48 x 19.6 x 4.6 inches | Weight: 45 pounds | Maximum Speed: 3.8 MPH | Incline: No | Weight Capacity: 340 pounds
Experts Say
“I love a walking pad as an in-home way to get your steps in and improve your overall physical and mental health! Even a 5-minute walk can boost your mood and reduce brain fog.” –Dr. Milica McDowell, orthopedic physical therapist
The Elseluck Walking Pad is another worthwhile option that’s slightly less expensive than our top pick. It’s a similar size and weight, and it comes fully assembled, making it quick and easy to set up and start using. Plus, unlike many other walking pads, this model is available with a handle, making it a good choice for anyone who needs a little extra stability. (However, the handled option is a bit more expensive than the standard handle-free design.)
Its remote control made it easy to adjust the pad’s settings, and it also has a large digital display that’s easy to read. It can be stored flat or stand upright against a wall, but we did notice that it’s a bit noisy during use, so it might not be the best option if you plan to use it while watching TV.
Dimensions: 47.6 x 20.1 x 4.6 inches | Weight: 45 pounds | Maximum Speed: 3.8 MPH | Incline: No | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
Pro Tip!
“If you plan to use the walking pad while working or watching TV, look for a model with a low noise level.” –Cara D’Orazio, certified personal trainer
The DeerRun Walking Pad is an inexpensive option that performed well in our tests. The front control panel is a bit bulkier than other models, but we thought it was impressively durable and well-made, especially considering its price.
It was easy to set up and start using, and the remote made it simple to adjust speed settings mid-walk. The pad also has a useful auto shut-off feature that ensures you don’t accidentally leave it running.
While it’s advertised as a smart unit that can connect to your phone and other fitness devices, we found that these features were tricky to use and often didn’t sync correctly. So if you’re looking for an option that connects to your phone, this might not be the best option.
Dimensions: 54 x 24 x 7 inches | Weight: 45 pounds | Maximum Speed: 3.8 MPH | Incline: No | Weight Capacity: 265 pounds
If you’re willing to spend a little more, the PacerMini Pro offers several useful features that other walking pads lack, including optional incline up to 7 degrees and a convenient folding handle. It has a small footprint and arrived fully assembled and ready to use after we oiled the belt.
The height-adjustable handle proved useful for maintaining balance, especially when walking on an incline, but it did prevent us from being able to use the pad at a desk. (It’s better-suited for walking while you watch TV.)
Keep in mind that this walking pad only has a 27-inch walking surface, which is shorter than other models. If you’re tall and have a long gait, this might be too short for you to comfortably use.
Dimensions: 32.7 x 25 x 41 inches | Weight: 46 pounds | Maximum Speed: 3 MPH | Incline: Yes | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
This walking pad is another option that scored highly in our tests, and it’s one of the best options if you’re looking for a wide range of settings. Not only does it have a higher max speed of 4 MPH, but it also offers up to 8-degree incline to boost your workout. The walking pad arrived fully assembled and just needed to be plugged in, and we found that the remote control makes it quick and easy to adjust the settings. There’s even a small storage compartment where you can stash the remote.
However, this model is a bit heavier than other walking pads we tested, and the directions say not to store it vertically, even though it’s shown leaning up against a wall in the product photos.
Dimensions: 48.6 x 20 x 6.06 inches | Weight: 57 pounds | Maximum Speed: 4 MPH | Incline: Yes | Weight Capacity: 265 pounds
Other Walking Pads We Tried
GOYOUTH 2-in-1 Under Desk Electric Treadmill: This walking pad seemed overpriced for what you get. Its power cord was shorter than expected, making it tricky to set up, and it didn’t come with any lubricant for the track. While the walking pad worked as expected, we found that it was hard to move around, as it weighs more than 50 pounds, and overall, there are better options available for less.
People / Erin Johnson
Add to Cart
If you’re looking to get your steps in, consider some of our other PEOPLE-Tested fitness favorites, from podiatrist-approved walking shoes to comfortable workout leggings.
What to Know About Walking Pads
Speed And Incline
It’s important to note that walking pads don’t offer the same range of speed and incline settings as full-size treadmills. “Walking pads are not designed for commercial or heavy-duty use,” explains Dr. McDowell. “Most walking pads don’t go over 4 MPH, and only some offer slight increases in incline, while most home use treadmills top out at 8-10 MPH and typically offer at least 5 to 10 percent in their incline settings.”
Among the products we tested, the maximum speed ranged between 3 and 4 MPH. Models like the UREVO Walking Pad do offer incline adjustments, but these products typically cost more than walking pads with no include.
Noise Level
One thing that became abundantly clear during testing is that there’s no such thing as a silent walking pad. Despite marketing claims that these gadgets are super quiet, every model we tested made some level of noise during use, and some also emit loud beeps when their settings are adjusted. So even if the brand lists a decibel rating for their walking pad, we recommend taking the information with a grain of salt.
Safety Features
One of the downsides of walking pads is that they often lack the safety features of full-size treadmills, such as handles and an emergency stop button. If you don’t have the best balance or plan to walk on an incline, a model with a handrail, such as the LifePro PacerMini Pro Portable Treadmill, will help minimize the risk of injury.
“I prefer a walking pad that has detachable handrails, just for safety’s sake,” says Dr. McDowell. “Handrails reduce the risk of injury if you are new to using this type of equipment, as they allow you to hold on and have more secure balance.”
Price Range
Walking pads are significantly cheaper than treadmills, with basic models like the DeerRun Walking Pad starting at around $100. Inexpensive models typically have fewer settings and a lower weight capacity, but they’re ideal if you’re just trying out the technology for the first time.
If you want a model that offers a higher maximum speed, optional incline, or features like handrails, you can expect to pay more — generally between $300 to $500. Still, even high-end options like the LifePro PacerMini Pro cost less than half as much as a full-size treadmill.
People / Courtney Lehr
Behind the Scenes
We tested a total of six walking pads for this article, using each one for at least a month and logging a total of 74 hours of use. While using the walking pads in our homes and apartments, we evaluated each model in the following areas:
- Setup: Most of the products we tested arrived fully assembled, but we considered how hard it was to bring the walking pads inside, unbox them and prep them for use. Several needed to be oiled before we could use them, and we took into account whether an appropriate lubrication was provided.
- Ease of Use: We tested each walking pad for at least a month, using it a minimum of four times per week. We tested out different speeds and incline settings, and we also set up the treadmills underneath standing desks to see if they were comfortable to use while working. We also considered things like the stability of the treadmill, any safety features and whether it was easy to start/stop and adjust its settings.
- Storage: We took note of how easy it was to move and store the treadmill when not in use. We tried storing them vertically, as well as stashing them under common pieces of furniture like sofas.
- Value: We evaluated the overall cost of each walking pad in comparison to its features, noting whether we thought it was worth the price.
At the end of testing, five of the products we tested earned a rating of 4 out of 5 or higher. Our top performers were the Elseluck Walking Pad and Sperax Classic Walking Pad, both of which earned scores of 4.5. At $160 and $180 respectively, these were affordable, basic walking pads, and while other models had more bells and whistles, our testers didn’t find the extra programming, apps, or other features worth the added cost.
People / Andrea Tenborg
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer who specializes in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her over eight years of experience as a product tester, she’s reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, and Better Homes & Gardens. While writing this article, she pulled insights from firsthand testing notes from the PEOPLE Tested team, and she spoke with two fitness experts for insights on the benefits of owning a walking pad.
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