The best walking pads for exercising at home

From bad weather to a busy schedule, there are many reasons why you might not be able to get outdoors, but that doesn’t mean your step count should suffer.

Enter, walking pads. Aiming to keep you on the move even when spending the day at home, they are easy to move and fit underneath desks.

Gaining popularity during Covid, when many of us were working from home, walking pads continue to be popular as hybrid working becomes commonplace. Without the movement of a regular commute, people have increasingly turned to novel solutions to keep agile, including standing desks.

If you’re considering buying one, to help you out I’ve asked fitness experts to suggest the best walking pads, listed below. At the bottom of the page we have our walking pad FAQs to answer any questions you might have. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at the top five:

The best walking pads? At a glance:

What is a walking pad?

“A walking pad is a compact, motorised treadmill designed for walking, usually at a slower pace,” says Michael Betts, personal trainer of 30 years and director at fitness education company Trainfitness. “It’s ideal for those who want to stay active while working, as it can fit under a desk or be placed in small spaces. Unlike traditional treadmills, walking pads are lightweight, easy to store and sometimes foldable. Regular use can improve your fitness, boost energy levels and even enhance concentration. Plus, they’re generally quieter than standard treadmills, making them suitable for office environments.”

How I choose walking pads

I’ve reviewed some of the most popular walking pads on the market with a variety of differing functions and features, comparing maximum speed, whether they were foldable, weight, motor-size, whether they had hand rails and considering if each was worth its price tag. Jordan Dehara, physiotherapy lead at Benenden Hospital, advised me on the pros and cons of each one.

I also considered ease of setup out of the box, how easy it was to control and see my metrics, noise levels, how well I could walk on that belt size and how well built and durable the unit was. I used the pads over several days for an hour each day to see if they functioned as well as they did at the start. When it comes to the dimensions below, depth is the height of the belt from the floor.

Visit our Who We Are page to learn more about the testing process.

The best walking pads