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Best walking pads and under-desk treadmills 2026
The best walking treadmills for your home office - tested and reviewed. Discover the top picks for comfort, stability, noise and ease of storage.
The best walking pads – also called under-desk treadmills or walking treadmills – will comfortably help you hit your 10,000 steps a day.
We've tested the best under-desk treadmills from top brands such as Opti, Citysports and JTX Fitness, and popular models from Argos and Amazon.
Our expert testing goes further than most. It includes rating how quiet each walking pad is, ease of storage and operation, plus how comfortable it is to walk on.
We also assemble a panel of testers of various heights and weights to try out each walking treadmill. Two outperformed the rest to gain our Best Buy recommendation.
How our tests find you the best
Walking experience
Our testers go for a light stroll and a brisk march on the walking pads to find out which are most comfortable underfoot.
Stability
Whether you're ambling at your desk or striding in front of the TV, we tell you which walking pads remain nice and stable.
Ease of use
We put the walking pads through their paces to find the easiest ones to set up and use.
We also test...
How easy they are to manoeuvre and how much noise they make
The best walking pad and under-desk treadmills
Only logged-in Which? members can view the walking pad and under-desk treadmill test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Walking pads | Price | Score | Walking experience | Quietness | Max speed | Size of walking surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital £8.99 per month, cancel any time. Already a member? Log in | 87% | |||||
| 85% | ||||||
| 75% | ||||||
| 75% | ||||||
| 72% | ||||||
| 69% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital £8.99 per month, cancel any time.
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Date tested: January 2026. Page last checked: January 2026. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
The walking pad and under-desk treadmills we tested
All the walking pads and under-desk treadmills we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best walking treadmills from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
CITYSPORTS Electric Walking Pad
Available at Decathlon (£121)
Dimensions unfolded (H x W x D) 11 x 72 x 146cm
Max speed 6 km/h (3.7mph)
Size of walking surface (L x W) 102 x 40cm
Maximum user weight 120kg
Need to know Weight of treadmill 18kg, 172cm power cord length, digital display (shows time, speed, distance and calories burnt), built-in Bluetooth speakers
JTX Fitness Movelight Walking Pad
Available at JTX Fitness (£449)
Dimensions unfolded (H x W x D) 13 x 60 x 147cm
Max speed 6 km/h (3.7mph)
Size of walking surface (L x W) 122 x 45cm
Maximum user weight 100kg
Need to know Weight of treadmill 30kg, 184cm power cord length, digital display (shows time, distance, calories, speed and step count), two-year warranty
New Image Fitt Mill Smart Walking Pad
Dimensions unfolded (H x W x D) 108 x 69 x 135cm
Max speed 12 km/h (7.5mph)
Size of walking surface (L x W) 111 x 40cm
Maximum user weight 120kg
Need to know Weight of treadmill 34kg, length of power cord 125cm, phone and tablet holder, integrated LCD display, foldable front handrail, one-year manufacturer's guarantee
See also our reviews of the best treadmills for indoor running.
Opti Compact Walking Treadmill
Treadmill unfolded, folded and its display
1 / 3
A large collection of images displayed on this page are available at https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/treadmills/article/best-walking-pads-and-under-desk-treadmills-aBRuS2F2n9V2
Available at Argos (£349)
Dimensions unfolded (H x W x D) 115 x 73 x 146cm
Max speed 8km/h (5.0mph)
Size of walking surface (L x W) 122 x 46cm
Maximum user weight 110kg
Need to know Weight of treadmill 40kg, 196cm power cord length, digital display (shows time, speed, distance and calories burned), can control with your phone via Bluetooth, foldable front and side handrails, phone/tablet holder, one-year warranty
Healthy living
Use our expert advice and recommendations to live your best life every day.
Get startedWalkingPad P1 Foldable Walking Treadmill
Dimensions unfolded (H x W x D) 143 x 55 x 129cm
Max speed 6km/h (3.7mph)
Size of walking surface (L x W) 122 x 45cm
Maximum user weight 100kg
Need to know Weight of treadmill 28kg, length of power cord 185cm, can control via connected app
WalkingPad Z1 Foldable Walking Treadmill
Dimensions unfolded (H x W x D) 143 x 56 x 106cm
Max speed 6km/h (3.7mph)
Size of walking surface (L x W) 121 x 40cm
Maximum user weight 110kg
Need to know Weight of treadmill 23kg, length of power cord 185cm, digital display (shows time, speed, distance and calories burnt), can control via connected app
How we test walking pads and under-desk treadmills
We test walking pads from popular brands available at major UK retailers. We don't have to satisfy advertisers, and we're not influenced in what we test. We also buy all the models – no freebies.
We regularly revisit the walking treadmills on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing – and when we find them, we do.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
Walking experience
- A panel of testers of various sexes and heights walk on each of the walking pads, so we can rate them on a range of views.
- The testers use the walking pads at various speeds to see how stable each one feels, how comfortable it is to walk on, how easy it is to increase and decrease speed, and how good the handrails are (if present).
- They also rate the belt on each model, on the width and length. Shorter models are better if you need to save space. But some testers of average height or taller found them too short to take big strides on comfortably.
Ease of use
The testers also rate the controls and display on each model, as well as how easy it is to get on and off the machine. Each remote control is assessed on how intuitive it is to use.
Noise
- We rate each walking pad for noise, noting any irritating pitches and creaks.
- There is a big difference in how noisy they get. We've found some are too loud to take video calls while in use – which is not so good if you want to use one while you're working.
Folding, storage and manoeuvrability
- We rate the ease of folding and unfolding each walking pad, and if the reduced footprint makes it easy to store.
- A lot of walking pads are fairly flat, so they can be stored under a bed, sofa or desk. Some can even be stored on their side.
- The best walking pads are lighter and have good wheels that make them easier to move around.
Can you run on a walking pad?
Not really. Most walking pads tend to have a top speed of 8km/h (5mph) or less. For most people, this is a brisk walk or light jog.
Some walking treadmills can go up to 12km/h (7.4mph), which is a running pace. But at these faster speeds, a full-sized treadmill feels much more stable and comfortable.
Walking pads also tend to be shorter in length than full-sized treadmills, so they won't be comfortable for taller people to jog on.
Best treadmills – get the best running machines that go faster than walking pads
Is a walking pad worth it?
Yes, for some people. But think carefully about what you're looking for before you commit to buying one.
Some are really just a pad on the floor, whereas others come with safety rails and an emergency-stop feature, making them more similar to typical treadmills.
The maximum speed on many walking pads is 6km/h, which equates to a fast walk or light jog. While some go quicker, they don't feel entirely stable or secure.
So if you're looking to rack up the miles at a higher speed, a treadmill is a far better choice.
How to use a walking pad safely
- Keep children and pets away while using Walking pads can have little gaps between the belt and frame, or space at the back, where some tiny hands or paws could get in to touch the underside of the belt. While there's minimal risk of anyone getting hurt, we recommend keeping children and pets away while you're on your walking pad
- Remove the safety key, if there is one, when not in use The belt can't move once the key is out. If the walking pad doesn't have one, make sure it isn't plugged in when not in use.
- Clear the area around it Never have the back of the running deck up against a wall or a piece of furniture. If you lose your footing, you'll be sent backwards and may injure yourself.
- Always use the safety key, if there is one If you fall, the machine will turn off and prevent further injuries. If the walking pad doesn't have one, keep the remote control on your person or within arm's reach so you can quickly turn it off or down if you need to.
- Start slowly and work up speed This is so you can get used to the pace. You should also wait for the machine to come to a complete stop at the end of your workout before dismounting.
- Make sure the treadmill is secure when folded away Some models fold flat and can be stored upright. Make sure yours is properly secured so it can't topple over accidentally.