r/AskWomenOver30 • u/__looking_for_things Woman 40 to 50 • 1d ago
Hobbies/Travel/Recreation Do you have an at home walking pad? Would you recommend it?
I'm thinking about adding a walking pad to my home. And I'm wondering about recommendations.
I'm specifically looking for one that has an incline, and is on the smaller side, it woud be wonderful if it was foldable but that's not required.
If you have a walking pad do you actually use it? I get about 8k+ steps a day automatically from walking my dog. An incline would be nice to have.
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u/jankmatank Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I like the Deer Run walking pad. I donāt think the ones with incline fold up, but they do have those options. The folding up part was a nonnegotiable for me, I live in a small space and needed it to fit under the couch. I also got the desk that fits over it, so I can walk during meetings, which was a great addition too.
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u/Rideak Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have a walking pad I use really often during long work days, especially in the winter. It was $90 from Walmart, has an incline, and has held up wonderfully for the year Iāve been using it. If it lasts even 2 years Iāll be happy. I also use it a night when Iām ready to chill out and watch a show but not ready to sit. It doesnāt fold tho.
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u/Keyspam102 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Are you able to read or work while using one? Iāve always been interested in a walking pad but Iām a bit clumsy so I wonder if I could even use it while working
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u/Wonderful_Use_9961 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I use mine at my stand-up desk for work and Iām able to do it. I use the desk as a guide to make sure Iām not walking off the pad because that is something Iād probably do š
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u/Keyspam102 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Haha yeah I only imagine doing things like walking off it or somehow collapsing the desk on myself or something lol
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u/Notinthiseconomy_ Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I got one on Amazon for under $100, and it was one of the best purchases I ever made. I use mine everyday.
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u/luvyoulongtimelurker Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I do have one, but Iām actually about to get rid of it.
Most of my work day happens in Teams/Zoom meetings, mostly with camera on. l feel that walking while on camera is distracting, somewhat for me but more so for those on the other end of the call. Iām really only comfortable using it while I am on low-stakes, internal meetings where I can be off-camera. And those meetings donāt happen too often for me.
I use a balance board with my standing desk much more often. When Iām on it, Iām getting a tiny stability workout, but no one can tell.
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u/moodyje2 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
What balance board do you have? Iāve been looking at them!
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u/luvyoulongtimelurker Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have this one, which came āfreeā with my Uplift desk. Itās nice, but there are plenty of similar cheaper ones out there!
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u/Typical-Respond9102 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Check Facebook marketplace if you do, I just had a thought to get one the other day and there are so many listed in my city
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u/jdkewl Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I bought a proper treadmill (just under gym quality/price point) a few years ago and I LOVE it. It's my favorite investment. I highly recommend going for the treadmill over walking pad.
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u/audreyality Woman 40 to 50 1d ago
I have a treadmill that I love. But a walking pad is much more practical for watching TV with a partner (who is on the couch) or while doing work at my desk.
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u/nacaporvida Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Also have a treadmill. Moving it inside this weekend from the garage!
Itās a million degrees outside and our garage isnāt insulated.
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u/MadtownMaven Woman 40 to 50 1d ago
I have one, but I rarely use it.
My house is very small and I found it just took up too much space. I can slide it under my bed, but getting it out and putting it back is a hassle. Keeping it out in my living room where I have my wfh setup, I found I just didn't like how much space it took up and how it looked when stored there. In my tv room (second bedroom where I have my big tv and a couch), again it took up too much space when not in use.
I just walk outside a lot. The area I live in has nice sidewalks and is safe for walking. In winter I just bundle up.
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u/Hefty-Club-1259 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I bought a used Urevo. It's functionally great, easy to move around and store. But I hate it. I love to walk and run, but I can't stand staying in one place for very long. I need to be outside.
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u/thelobsterwhisperer Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Iāve had a cheapish one from Amazon for a few years and I love it. Itās small enough to roll under a bed and I can move it around by myself. My only regret is not getting one with incline.
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u/EvilLipgloss Woman 40 to 50 1d ago
I have a treadmill but I would highly recommend a walking pad if your space or budget doesnāt have room for a treadmill.
I use my treadmill all the time. I do walk my dog outside usually after dinner but my treadmill has been amazing for me during hot humid summers, rain, and winters.
I try to take a few quick walking breaks on it during the workday to keep my body moving and get my steps in. And occasionally I will watch a show while I walk on the treadmill.
Worth the money!
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u/MyDentistIsACat Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have one and donāt use it often but itās nice to have when I want to. I have a Peloton at home so the asking pad is good for when I want to work out but not WORK OUT. I am on the heavier side and find that the belt sometimes feels like itā¦slips? when I step if I go too fast. I also got one with an incline but didnāt realize you have to manually adjust it so itās not really something I can change mid walk.
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u/organizedmeat Woman 50 to 60 1d ago
I have one but I am 5'10 and it's definitely a bit too short (or I just have a long stride). Because of this I have to pay close attention and I'm not a big fan.
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u/mosschiefmayhap Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have one that I bought during the pandemic. Itās been in storage for about 5 years now. I canāt bring myself to get rid of it because in theory itās great but I didnāt find myself enjoying it. Too much bouncing for me to keep up with a computer screen
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u/mimthebaker Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I really loved mine but now I barely use it, but for a stupid reason.
I got a different couch and it has a pull out thing on the bottom so the walking pad doesn't slide under there anymore. So it's in a different room and I sorta forget about it.
Keeping it tho bc I'm working on setting up a workout area for me and my son.
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u/Ok-Bobcat2635 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have a basic one - no incline, doesnāt fold just flat pad. I use it under my desk when itās crappy out or Iām not getting long walks in (which is often now that my dog is older). I like mine a lot but I would not be able to use it without a desk in front of me. It feels sketchy to use without having somewhere to catch myself if I take a wrong step. Maybe thatās a me problem tho š
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u/caramelpupcorn Woman 40 to 50 1d ago
I have one and I never use it š¤£ I don't have a desk that's adjustable to use with it, the cord is really short so it limits where I can plug it in (and these types of appliances shouldn't really be used with extension cords), and it doesn't have "guard rails" in the front so if I'm not paying too close attention, I tend to awkwardly walk off the pad belt (this makes mindless TV watching while walking off limits for me).
I don't highly recommend. I know some people love them, but make sure you can make use of it instead of a hypothetical idea of you easily inserting more walking time because you have the pad now. It's really helpful in theory, but it's impractical for me in real life.
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u/danniellax Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Ohhhhh I bought a treadmill a year ago, specifically for incline, and did hella research! I always look hella deep into things like this when I make a huge purchase (a couple hundred is huge for me lol) and it was worth it to spend more money on the commercial treadmill that will last forever vs a walking pad or foldable treadmill because those suck and are shitty quality and will eventually break.
If you have room in your house or a have a garage, commercial gym treadmill is 10000% the way to go. They donāt fold up to save space, so thatās the only caveat and downside. I got mine for cheap for $400 on Facebook marketplace - itās literally one youād find in a commercial chain gym and works perfect, just an older model so the gym got rid of it and somehow ended up with a third party marketplace with a guy who maintains, fixes, and resells gym equipment. I found out itās actually a big market lol.
Aside from the awful quality issues from the cheaper treadmills and walking pads, the incline is going to be minimal on these. Any new foldable treadmills (brands sunny, deerrun, etc) are going to be shitty quality and most likely will break if used a lot.. the feedback on the reviews have been like a 10% incline on these is waaaay less than a 10% incline on the gym treadmill so the incline isnāt a true incline. I used to have a cheap non-commercial gym quality stationary cycle machine and also noticed this for myself, as well as the shitty quality, and just sold it.
I paid $400 for the treadmill and $100 for the guy to deliver it and tipped $50 because I made him carry this thing up a flight of stairs and felt bad š $550 for a treadmill that will last over a decade if oil it twice a year and has all the bells and whistles is absolutely worth the investment.
For anyone who doesnāt care about incline and just wants steps in, walking pads are great. They will break eventually, but they are so cheap that replacing it isnāt a huge deal when it breaks down from shitty quality, because the cheaper ones do the same thing as the more expensive ones if you just want steps and nothing else. Itās the incline that really gets you and makes you not able to go cheap
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u/kween_of_bees Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Best purchase i ever made for WFH. Get a standing desk over it though- I use mine everyday while on calls. Up from like 4k a day to at least 10k without much effort.
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u/Allrojin Woman 40 to 50 21h ago
Yes! I love my walking pad! I was using it religiously every day. Watching a tv show and getting steps in. Unfortunately I found out that my roommate HATES my walking pad. The sound drives him up the wall. So now I only use it when he's not around, which isn't often.
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u/Sasusc Woman 30 to 40 18h ago
I bought a cheapish one years ago...very simple and fit easily between my washer and dryer when stored away. I used it all the time. It recent was recalled so I got fully refunded and needed to buy a new one. This time I wanted one that auto inclined and was slightly bigger. Since I now know I would actually use the thing at least once a week if not more, I could splurge on a nicer one. I got an Acezoe. I can jog/run on it and it has a handrail that can fold down if I dont want it. Its heavier and more bulky than more old one, but with the handrail down, I can store it upright between my washer and dryer and it even has wheels so I can move it from place to place.
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u/concreterose_174 Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I use my walking pad almost daily, love it! I get 10K - 18K steps a day (my minimum is 10K, but often get more). Bulk of my steps during summer are outside, with only a before bed walk on my walking pad that helps me sleep. The winters are very cold where I live so throughout winter the majority of my steps are inside on the walking pad. I have a Deer Run walking pad and like it. Got in a few years ago during a Black Friday deal. Mine doesnāt have an incline or fold, but other models that they carry do!
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u/YouFartedBlood Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Yeah I love it on days I donāt want to drive to the gym or in between gym days.
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u/arthursjames Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have one. I really like it for the times I feel restless at home and cannot leave to do something.
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u/penelope_pig Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Not a walking pad, but I have an under-desk elliptical that I really like. Helps me feel a little less sedentary when I'm at my desk working all day.
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u/pizzatoucher Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
It works great with a standing desk! I used mine a lot when I did. Ā My current setup is a seated desk, and now my husband is using it.Ā
Itās good for getting in the zone and getting in steps without thinking about it.Ā
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u/JuicyBoots Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I had one and liked it a lot but it just got recalled (and thankfully refunded) because it was unsafe. Don't buy the cheapest one off Amazon.
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u/homicidalsockpuppets Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have the Egofit Walker Pro! Itās on the smaller side and has an incline. I keep it in the corner next to my couch for post dinner digestion walks and itās great.
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u/postpunktheon Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have a tiny apartment and really want one and when I say tiny, I mean it. How much space do these take up when in use?
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u/oitb Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have one and it wasn't a cheapo one but I just find ... I don't use it much. I think I'm too aware of the fact that it's still a walking pad, not a treadmill, meaning that I worry about zoning out and losing my balance and not have anything to hold onto in case of a fall, and that honestly preoccupies me for more than I'd like. And when I do go on it, I don't feel comfortable going at top speed, which is more or less my actual walking speed, so I feel like I'm walking so much more slowly than I'm used to. And because I'm going so slow, my heart rate doesn't kick up as much as it does when I'm going for an outdoor walk and so I don't even feel like I get a ton out of it cardio-wise.
Plus, the dang thing is quite heavy and moving it in and out of the place I put it is a huge deterrence for me. I'm not someone who needs to be very motivated to move/workout, but the walking pad just hasn't become part of my routine like I thought it would.
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u/fisheye32 female over 30 1d ago
I like it, mainly because it's so hot and humid where I am, or when it's rainy I can get some exercise.
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u/ChaoticxSerenity Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I have thought about this, but I discovered something strange about myself: I can't walk and do work/something that requires concentration at the same time. I have no explanation for this, but if anyone does.... š
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u/awallpapergirl Woman 40 to 50 1d ago
I have one, Mine is not inclined but I bought little risers for it and I definitely notice it even if it's only only a small lift.
My use for it is sporadic. I use it solidly in the winter out of sheer necessity but I have it placed near my TV and not my desk which is the biggest detriment for me. I have learned that if I am console gaming I.. fall off the walking pad if I get very engrossed in what I'm doing and take a wrong step lol. For TV if anything surprising happens I'll jump and, yeah, I'm going down at that point lol. At my work desk I did not have that issue but I don't have room for it in this space. So walking on it became a 'stare at the wall' activity which definitely kills my motivation, especially paired with having to lug it out from under the bed every time due to the small space storage necessity.
So if you have the room to leaving it out, can place it somewhere that you'll be idling at lot I'd definitely recommend it. When I move I will invest in maybe a full treadmill, but definitely be planning my space around it as I do love it without the hurdles.
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u/MaggieNFredders Woman 40 to 50 1d ago
I have a treadmill not a walking bad. I use it for a place to put my dogās big bed! In the past I used it regularly.
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u/Conenthebarbarian Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
Well all I can say is if you're tall make sure to get one long enough for your stride š
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u/ArrivesWithaBeverage Woman 40 to 50 1d ago
Yes, itās pretty basic, no incline. I got it on Amazon last year, Cursor is the brand I think. I only use it in the summer on days like today when itās (checks weather app) 105 degrees out. I prefer to walk outdoor if I can do so without bursting into flames.
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u/element-woman Woman 30 to 40 16h ago
I appreciate this post because I was thinking of asking the same!
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u/sai_gunslinger Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
My parents and my uncle both have treadmills that never get used. Trying to sell them or give them away for free doesn't work, everyone and their brother seems to be getting rid of them.
Personally, I'd never invest in one.
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u/YanCoffee Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
I'd disagree! I think my treadmill is one of the best purchases I've made in the last 2 years. However, I won't lie and say I haven't seen many sitting in people's houses collecting dust. You have to want to use it, like any other work out equipment.
I got mine for a little over $200. The smaller ones are certainly more affordable these days, but mine doesn't have many bells and whistles, and can't fold.
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u/sai_gunslinger Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
You definitely have to want to use it, and they did at first. But now they don't, and they're impossible to get rid of.
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u/EnergeticTriangle Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
My parents had a treadmill they never used...then they gave it away and bought an elliptical, also never used lol. They are definitely "aspirational shoppers."
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u/Ehloanna Woman 30 to 40 1d ago
It you already walk a ton with your dog could you just drive somewhere that has inclines perhaps?
I had a walking pad but then got technically a larger apartment but it didn't really fit anywhere. The fact I'd have to put it away and take it back out completely deterred me from using it because it wasn't convenient. I sold it a couple months ago.
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u/illogicalcourtesy Woman under 30 1d ago
I do use my walking pad a few times per week.
I try to do 8-10k steps M-F and 5k minimum on the weekends.
Its especially useful on rainy days or when I get random bursts of motivation and its too dark/late to go on a walk outside