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Most Australians should buy the WalkingPad C2: it folds in half to 13.6 cm thick, has a 120 cm belt and is sold by WalkingPad Australia. Buy the WalkingPad Z1 for the lowest list price of the picks, and the WalkingPad X21 if you want a handrail and a 12 km/h top speed for jogging. None of the Australian picks has incline.
Our picks
- 1Best overall
WalkingPad C2
Folds in half to 13.6 cm thick for storage under furniture, with a 120 x 40 cm belt. Sold by WalkingPad in all four markets.
- 2Best budget
WalkingPad Z1
A lower list price than the C2, a 121 cm belt and a 110 kg limit, and at 23 kg the lightest pick to move.
- 3Best for jogging
WalkingPad X21
Reaches 12 km/h with a handrail console and a 46 cm wide belt, then double-folds for storage.
| Model | WalkingPadWalkingPad C2 | WalkingPadWalkingPad Z1 | WalkingPadWalkingPad X21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 6 km/h | 6 km/h | 12 km/h |
| Belt | 120 x 40 cm | 121 x 40 cm | 121 x 46 cm |
| Max user | 100 kg | 110 kg | 110 kg |
| Max incline | — | — | — |
| Handlebar | — | — | Yes |
| Folds away | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How to choose a walking pad
- Belt length. Under-desk walking needs less belt than running, but a long stride can still clip the motor hood. If you are tall, look for 120 cm or more; the compare table above gives the belt of each pick.
- User limit. This is a safety rating, and it varies a lot between pads: check the compare table. Stay under it, with a margin if you walk fast or on an incline.
- Speed. Most walking pads stop at about 6 km/h, which is a brisk walk. If you want to jog, you need a model that reaches 10 to 12 km/h, and most of those add a handrail.
- Incline. A tilted deck raises the effort without walking faster, which is easier to do while typing. The incline pads here are taller, and their makers do not say they fold.
- Handlebar. A handrail helps with balance on an incline or at jogging pace, but it stops the pad sliding under a desk unless it folds down.
- Storage. Folding pads fold in half or double-fold. Flat pads slide under a bed or sofa if they are thin enough. Measure the gap first.
WalkingPad C2: best overall
The C2 is a walking-only pad with a 120 x 40 cm belt, a top speed of 6 km/h and a 100 kg user limit. Its main strength is storage: it folds in half to 82.5 x 51.8 x 13.6 cm, so it can stand in a cupboard or slide under furniture. WalkingPad sells it from its own stores in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
The 100 kg limit is the lowest of the picks. If you are near or above it, look at the Z1 (110 kg) or a UREVO pad where it is sold.
Pros
- Folds in half to 13.6 cm thick
- 120 cm belt suits most walking strides
- Sold by WalkingPad in all four markets
Cons
- 100 kg user limit, the lowest of the picks
- No incline and no handlebar
- Walking only: tops out at 6 km/h
WalkingPad Z1: best budget
The Z1 has a lower list price than the C2 and keeps the essentials: a 121 x 40 cm walking area, a 6 km/h top speed, a 110 kg user limit and a fold for storage. At 23 kg it is the lightest pad here, which matters if you put it away every day.
WalkingPad lists different motor ratings for the Z1 on different country sites, so we have left the motor out. For walking at a desk, belt length and user limit matter more.
Pros
- 23 kg, the lightest pick to move and store
- 110 kg user limit
- 121 cm belt
Cons
- No incline and no handlebar
- Walking only: tops out at 6 km/h
- WalkingPad lists different motor ratings on its US, Canadian and Australian pages
WalkingPad X21: best for jogging
The X21 reaches 12 km/h, enough for a steady jog, on a 121 x 46 cm belt with a 110 kg user limit. The controls sit on a handrail, and the frame double-folds for storage. It weighs 37 kg, so it is a compact treadmill more than a pad you slide under a desk.
It has no incline. WalkingPad sells it in the UK, US and Australia.
Pros
- Reaches 12 km/h, fast enough for a jog
- Handrail with the controls on it
- Widest belt of the WalkingPad picks at 46 cm
Cons
- No incline
- 37 kg, heavy to move for a folding pad
- More a compact treadmill than an under-desk pad once the handrail is up
Walking pad vs treadmill: which should I buy?
Buy a walking pad if you want to walk at a desk or need something that folds into a cupboard: most stop at about 6 km/h and have no handrail. Buy a treadmill if you want to run, since running needs 16 km/h or more, a longer belt and a stronger frame. The WalkingPad X21 sits between the two at 12 km/h.
Which walking pad has an incline in Australia?
None of our Australian picks has incline yet. We only list pads whose maker specifications we could check, and the incline pads we checked are not sold by their makers in Australia.
What is the quietest walking pad?
We cannot rank them on noise yet. The makers here do not publish a single measured decibel figure that can be compared. A mat under the pad and a slower walking speed make the biggest difference to noise through the floor.
Can you run on a walking pad?
Not on most. The C2 and Z1 stop at 6 km/h. The WalkingPad X21 reaches 12 km/h with a handrail. For regular running, buy a treadmill that reaches at least 16 km/h.
Which walking pad has a handle?
Of our Australian picks, the WalkingPad X21 has a handrail with the controls on it. The C2 and Z1 have no handlebar.
How we chose
We have not tested these walking pads. We compared the makers' own specifications, user limits and list prices in each country, and kept only models the maker sells new from its own store in that market. Where a maker does not state a figure, such as a measured noise level or a motor rating that agrees across its own sites, we leave it out rather than guess.
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