Ultra-compact walking pads for working from home
Walking while you work: low enough for a standing desk, a belt long enough to forget about it, and speed on a remote.
1 great fits and 2 good ones, out of 7 models.
You do not choose an under-desk walking pad by its top speed: at 3–4 km/h, which is what you can keep up while typing, any of them is enough. You choose it by three measurements that rarely appear together on a listing.
The height of the pad. You stand on it, so your desk has to rise by the same amount. At 1.80 m tall, a comfortable standing typing height is around 110–115 cm; with a 16 cm pad the desk has to reach 126–131 cm. Many single-column standing desks top out at 120–125 cm. Measure yours before you buy.
The belt length. Looking at a screen you take shorter steps, but you also drift without noticing. Under 100 cm you end up stepping on the rear cover; at 120 cm you forget about it.
The remote. Bending down to change speed in the middle of a video call does not work. A remote or an app, without exception.
Noise matters at work too, but for another reason: it is what people on the call hear. That is where the motor counts; for the neighbour below, the shock absorbers count more (see quiet walking pads).
The ones we recommend for this
Derived from the data- + Floor mat:BalanceFrom mat 76 × 152 cmcovers it fully
- + Belt lubricant:Godora silicone lubricant
- + Floor mat:BalanceFrom mat 76 × 152 cmcovers it fully
- + Belt lubricant:Godora silicone lubricant
- + Floor mat:BalanceFrom mat 76 × 152 cmcovers it fully
- + Belt lubricant:Godora silicone lubricant
The verdict for each model
Derived from the data| Model | Verdict | In uselength × width × height | Foldedlength × width × height | Max user weight | Cushioning | Belt | Speed | Machine weight | Noise (maker's claim) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WalkingPad Z1 | Great fit | 142.5 × 56 × 10.6 cm | 81 × 56 × 13.8 cm | 110 kg | EVA and PET layers under the belt (the maker does not give a number of absorbers). | 121 × 40 cm | 1–6 km/h | 23 kg | Not published | $299 |
| WalkingPad C2 | Good | 144.5 × 51.8 × 12.5 cm | 82.2 × 51.8 × 13.6 cm | 100 kg | EVA and PET layers under the belt. | 120 × 40 cm | 0.5–6 km/h | Not published | Not published | — |
| UREVO SpaceWalk E1 | Good | 118.3 × 49 × 11.3 cm | Does not fold | Not published | Five-layer belt, 8 silicone shock absorbers and 2 rubber pads. | 102 × 38.1 cm | 1–6.4 km/h | 17 kg | 45 dB | — |
| UREVO CyberPad Office | Limited | 109 × 57.9 × 16 cm | Does not fold; stands upright | 181 kg | 12-point shock absorption under the deck. | 100 × 41.9 cm | 1–6.4 km/h | 28.6 kg | 35 dB | $480 |
| WalkingPad R2 | Limited | 145 × 72 × ? cm | 100 × 72 × 16 cm | 110 kg | Not published | 120 × 44 cm | 6 km/h; running 12 km/h | 36 kg | Not published | $599 |
| Mobvoi Home Walking Pad | Limited | 110.5 × ? × 10.8 cm | Does not fold; stands upright | Not published | Not published | Not published | 6 km/h | 13.4 kg | Not published | — |
| Cecotec WayHome 600 Pad | Limited | Not published | Folds (size not published) | 120 kg | Not published | 100 × 40 cm | 1–6 km/h | Not published | Not published | — |
- WalkingPad Z1Great fit
- 10.6 cm high: the desk has to rise 10.6 cm more
- 121 cm belt
- Speed from the app
- WalkingPad C2Good
- 12.5 cm high: the desk has to rise 12.5 cm more
- 120 cm belt
- Speed from a remote, without bending down
- 11.3 cm high: the desk has to rise 11.3 cm more
- 102 cm belt
- Speed from a remote, without bending down
- UREVO CyberPad OfficeLimited
- 16 cm high: the desk has to rise 16 cm more
- 100 cm belt
- Speed from a remote, without bending down
- WalkingPad R2Limited
- Height not published
- 120 cm belt
- No remote or app to change speed
- Handrail folds flat for desk use
- Mobvoi Home Walking PadLimited
- 10.8 cm high: the desk has to rise 10.8 cm more
- Belt length not published
- Speed from a remote, without bending down
- Cecotec WayHome 600 PadLimited
- Height not published
- 100 cm belt
- No remote or app to change speed
Frequently asked questions
How high does my desk need to go for a walking pad?
Your standing desk height plus the pad's height. As a guide, about 110–115 cm for someone 1.80 m tall, plus 11–16 cm of pad: between 121 and 131 cm.
At what speed can you work while walking?
Between 2 and 4 km/h you can type and talk without trouble. Above 5 km/h precise mouse work gets hard.
Does a walking pad with a handrail work under a desk?
Only if the handrail folds down completely. A fixed handrail hits the desk.