Walking pads and treadmills
Walk at your desk or run at home: belt, speed and incline compared.
Belt size in cm, top speed in km/h and mph, incline in %, maximum user weight in kg and the continuous motor rating, set side by side so you can tell a desk walker from a proper running treadmill.
Our top picks
All buying guides- Belt size in the guideBest folding treadmills with incline
UMAY treadmill: 15% auto incline, 12 km/h, 180 kg
Up to 12 km/h · 15% auto
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - 100 x 40 cmBest quiet walking pads for flats and offices
KALWOL 4-in-1: 10% incline, 40 dB or less, 160 kg
1 to 10 km/h · 160 kg
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - 100 x 40 cmBest 2-in-1 walking and running pads
FOUSAE 5-in-1: 1 to 12 km/h, fold-down handle, 160 kg
1 to 12 km/h · 160 kg
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Belt size in the guideBest walking treadmills with full handrails
LONTEK 15% auto incline treadmill, full side rails
Up to 12 km/h · 15% auto
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Pace and speed converter
Open the converter- 1 km
- 10:00
- 5 km
- 50:00
- 1 mile
- 16:06
Type decimals with a point (3.5) and pace as minutes and seconds (10:00). 1 mile = 1.609344 km. Speeds from just above 0 up to 25 km/h.
Belt problems and fixes
Slipping, drifting, squeaking and error codes: likely causes and what to check first.
- Pad stops or will not startWalking pad or treadmill stopped working or stops suddenly? Check the safety key, auto-stop, overload protection, remote batteries, plug fuse and belt friction.
- New squeak, click or thumpMatch the sound to the part: dry belts squeak, loose screws rattle, bearings grind and floors thump. How to find and fix walking pad and treadmill noises.
- E code on the displayWhat walking pad and treadmill E codes usually mean, from communication and speed sensor faults to motor overload and safety key errors, and what to check first.
- Safety key lostLost the magnetic safety key for your treadmill or walking pad? How the emergency stop works, ordering the right replacement and why a random magnet is a bad idea.
- Incline stuck or wrongTreadmill incline stuck, not moving or stopping at the wrong level? Check power, obstructions, calibration and the lift motor in this order before calling the maker.
- Belt slips or jerksWhy a treadmill or walking pad belt slips, jerks or hesitates under your feet, and how to fix loose tension, a dry deck or a worn belt step by step.
Topics
From flat walking pads to running treadmills with powered incline.
- Walking padsFlat, low-profile walking pads compared by belt size, speed range, incline and how they fold away.6 guides · 3 buying guides
- Under-desk walkingWalking while you work: desk heights, speed ranges, remotes and keeping calls quiet.3 guides · 1 buying guide
- Folding treadmillsTreadmills that fold up or flat for spare rooms, with handrails, motors and user weight limits compared.4 guides · 5 buying guides
- Incline and running treadmillsLong belts, stronger motors and powered incline for running and hill walking at home.11 guides · 3 buying guides
- Quiet for flatsMotor noise, footfall thud and mats for upstairs rooms, flats and shared walls.4 guides · 1 buying guide
- Mats, lubricant and fixesBelt lubricant, tension, tracking, error codes and the small jobs that keep a belt running smoothly.9 guides · 0 buying guides
Calculators
Speed, pace and incline converted, so console readings and listings line up.
Comparisons
- WalkingPad C2 vs Z1 comparedWalkingPad C2 vs Z1 compared: the fold-in-half C2 against the slim flat Z1 on storage, belt, speed, user weight and remote control, with what to check before buying.
- Walking pad vs treadmill: which one fits your homeWalking pad vs treadmill compared on belt size, speed, handrails, storage and noise, so you can pick the right machine for your room and how you plan to use it.
- Under-desk treadmill vs under-desk bikeUnder-desk treadmill or under-desk bike? Compare desk type, typing comfort, noise on calls, space and set-up to choose the right way to move while you work.
- Treadmill running vs running outsideWhy treadmill running can feel easier than running outside: no wind, a moving belt, flat footing and the 1% incline convention, explained for UK runners.
- Treadmill vs exercise bike for homeTreadmill vs exercise bike for home compared on floor space, power use in kWh, noise through floors, storage and what each suits, including walking pads.
- Treadmill vs cross trainer for homeTreadmill vs cross trainer for home compared on impact, footprint, noise in flats, running specificity, power needs and storage, to help you pick the right machine.
Buying guides
Focused guides to one type of walking pad or treadmill each, compared on what the listings state.
- Best folding treadmills with incline
- Best folding treadmills for home
- Best incline treadmills for home
- Best quiet walking pads for flats and offices
- Best smart treadmills for Zwift and Kinomap
- Best treadmills for heavier users (136 kg and over)
- Best treadmills under £1000
- Best treadmills under £500
- Best under-desk treadmills for a standing desk
- Best 2-in-1 walking and running pads
- Best walking pads with incline
- Best walking pads for home
- Best walking treadmills with full handrails
Guides & advice
- What is a walking pad?A walking pad is a flat, electric treadmill without handrails, built for walking at home or under a desk. Typical belts, speeds, remotes and who they suit.
- Treadmill incline explained: percent, degrees and settingsWhat treadmill incline percent means, how it converts to degrees, the 1 % convention runners use and how console incline levels map to percent.
- Walking pad and treadmill weight limits explainedWhat a walking pad's max user weight means, the 100, 110, 120 and 136 kg classes, how stones convert to kg and why staying under the limit matters.
- How to set up a walking pad under a standing deskSet up a walking pad under a standing desk: add the deck height to your elbow height, check the desk range in cm, run cables safely and pick a speed for typing.
- Treadmill speed chart: km/h, mph and paceTreadmill speed chart from 1 to 20 km/h with mph, minutes per km and minutes per mile, plus why UK treadmills switch between km/h and mph.
- Treadmill motor HP explained: continuous vs peakWhat treadmill and walking pad motor HP figures mean, the difference between continuous and peak horsepower, and why listing numbers are hard to compare.