I did it.
After two months of overthinking, I finally bought a walking pad*.
For those who don’t know, a walking pad is basically a tiny treadmill. No fancy tech, no “HIIT mode,” no touchscreens showing mountain trails in 4K. It’s a simple rectangle that fits under your desk. And you walk on it.
That’s it.
And yet, this little slab of moving rubber might just be the best purchase I’ve made in a long, long time.
Here’s why.
I Was Hesitant
For two months, I kept hovering over the Buy Now button on Amazon.
Because let’s be honest, how many of us have fallen for the siren song of “fitness devices” before?
I still have a yoga mat that’s been rolled up since 2021, a resistance band that has never seen any resistance, and a set of dumbbells currently serving as a doorstop.
So when I saw walking pads in YouTube videos, I thought the same as always: I’ll buy it, use it twice, and then it’ll collect dust in the corner.
Jury still out on that, but I highly doubt it this time.
In the end, curiosity won. I found a walking pad for under 100 bucks, compact enough to slide under my desk, quiet enough not to work, and simple enough that I don’t have to think about setting it up or get it running.
One week later, I am impressed.
10,000 Steps… Without Trying
I am father of a handful of kids. I get in 10K steps a day many days, just chasing after these little energy balls.
But over the past week, I got in 10K steps before 11 am. Every day.
In fact, I’ve walked more than two hours every single day before lunch. 3 on some.
Here’s how it goes:
(This issue is behind paywall. You can sign up for my paid newsletter 50% off here if you enjoy my content & want more. Or read on Medium.)
I slide the walking pad out from under the desk, hit the power button, and start walking while working.
Usually around 2–4 km/h, which is roughly 1.2–2.5 mph. For me, this is the perfect range for typing, reading, or thinking. The upper range is more for reading or watching something, the lower range is amazing for typing.
And it doesn’t feel like a workout. Not at all.
It feels like… existing, but slightly better.
You feel a bit of heart pump, you may get a bit sweaty after a while. But my posture’s less slouchy, which does wonders for my back. And by the end of the day, my watch congratulates me like I just ran a marathon. When all I did was write a couple of blog posts, answer emails and watch a few videos.
Why It Works
I am walking as I write this.
The brilliance of this walking pad isn’t in the hardware. That’s pretty simple. It’s in the psychology.
Traditional workouts require activation energy. Most people struggle with that. Me too.
You have to stop what you’re doing, change clothes, go somewhere, and commit. That’s a huge mental hurdle.
With the walking pad, there’s none of that. It’s built right into my workflow. And even other devices for home gyms can’t do that. You can’t really work on a rowing machine or a crosstrainer.
I don’t really need motivation, I just need inertia. The “well, I’m already doing this” kind. That’s why I’ve hopped onto the pad every day since I got it.
It’s like tricking yourself into being fit.
Unexpected Perks
A few things I didn’t expect:
- Focus boost. Walking keeps me from doomscrolling. Don’t know why, but it does.
- Energy all day. The mid-afternoon slump is pretty much gone. Turns out sitting for six straight hours does make you feel like a dying plant.
- Better posture. My back actually thanks me now. Even at a standing desk, my back and eventually my feet hurt. So, I sat down. Which didn’t help the back either.
- Zero guilt video. Watching a YouTube clip while walking? Suddenly, I’m “getting steps in.” Win-win.
Also, the pad barely takes up space. It’s a small rectangle that fits under my desk or up to the wall next to it. Simple.
Under $100
Did I mention this thing was under $100? Actually €89 for me in Germany.
It’s rare these days to buy something that cheap and actually feel like it’s improving your life. Especially fitness devices.
But this one is sturdy, relatively quiet, functional, and simple.
No app subscription, no extra nonsense. It does exactly one thing, and it does it really well. On highest speed, you can even jog.
The Real Change
The best part is how seamlessly it’s integrated into my day.
It’s not something I have to plan around, it’s something that just happens.
If I’m writing, researching, or catching up on emails, I’ll start walking. When I take a call, I’ll walk. Half the time, I forget I’m doing it.
And that’s the real win.
Not the step count, not the calories, not the fitness tracker dopamine. Just the fact that I’m no longer spending eight hours a day in a chair and then going to the gym or doing some other kind of exercise on top.
The Bottom Line
The final verdict is still out. After all, it’s been only a week.
But I haven’t been this happy with a new purchase after a week in a long time.
It won’t make me look like a fitness influencer. Of course not. It doesn’t build muscle. Not noticeably, at least. But it helps quite a bit with calories, feel, back pain, and mobility.
It’s real-life functional.
It keeps me active without stealing time from work and family.
To anyone still on the fence, hovering over that Buy Now button, just try it.
You quietly become the “10,000 steps before lunch” guy.
For the Curious
If you’re thinking about getting one, here’s what I would look for:
- Speed range: Look for 0.5–6 km/h (that’s 0.3–3.7 mph). Perfect for desk work.
- Noise: Under 60 dB is great. Quiet enough for phone calls or Zoom meetings.
- Storage: Foldable models are great but more expensive. A simple small and light one that you can roll around and put against the wall is perfectly fine.
- Weight capacity: Check before buying. Some budget models max out at 100 kg (220 lbs).
- Price: You can find good walking pads for under $100, often on sale. Don’t overpay for fancy tech.