If you're looking to get some cardiovascular exercise into your daily routine but don't want to go to the gym, then you've likely considered getting a treadmill. But they can take up quite a lot of space whereas a walking pad typically is far more compact.
Although treadmills and walking pads may look somewhat similar, they are designed for fairly different purposes.
Walking pads are ideal for their compact nature and are great for light exercise, whereas treadmills are much bigger and heavier, but also much better for more intense workouts.
Let's take a closer look at both the walking pad and the treadmill to see which one is best for you.
The Basics of Walking Pads and Treadmills
First, we have the walking pad, which may look like a regular treadmill, but they usually don't have handrails, and if they do, they're generally not very large.
If they do have rails, they can generally be folded down, making them ideal for use under standing desks, which is why many people prefer them for office use.
With that being said, walking pads generally aren't meant for heavyweight users or heavy-duty use.
On the other hand, we have the treadmill, which is generally much larger, bulkier, and more advanced.
Treadmills usually have much better and more advanced features, such as large handrails, displays, and they can generally go faster and have more powerful motors too.
However, they do take up more space, which means that they're generally only ideal for at-home or commercial use.
What’s a Walking Pad?
To better understand what a walking pad is, you may also hear it referred to as an under-desk treadmill. This is a treadmill that generally does not have a console, handrails, or uprights.
That said, some models may feature a minimalist handrail that folds completely flat down to the walking deck. However, whether or not a walking pad comes with handrails depends on the model in question.
When you buy a walking pad, what you're really purchasing is a small motor that powers a belt on a walking deck, without any additional features or even a real console.
The fact of the matter is that even without these features, many people still prefer walking pads due to their limited size, compact nature, and ease of use.
Moreover, they're also ideal for having under a standing desk, a great feature in terms of versatility.
Keep in mind however that walking pads usually don't have decline or incline settings, they don't have the best deck cushioning, they don't have built-in consoles, and they don't go that fast either, usually topping out at around three mph.
The Benefits of a Walking Pad
Despite the many features that a walking pad may not have, there are many benefits to them, with the fact that they are very affordable being one of them. They're much cheaper than full-sized treadmills.
On that note, due to their compact nature, they're also great for small spaces and apartments.
Furthermore, they're also great for people who want a treadmill under their standing desk for a bit of extra exercise as they work. You might also appreciate how walking pads require almost no assembly or in some cases none at all.
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What’s a Treadmill?
We then have a treadmill, perhaps one of the most popular cardiovascular exercise machines in the world. These feature motors that power a belt that you run on.
Regular treadmills have bigger footprints than walking pads, as they come with consoles, cross sections, upright supports, and generally larger and more powerful motors as well.
Generally speaking, not only does this mean that treadmills are more ideal for larger people and for those who want a more comprehensive workout experience, but they can generally also go much faster.
Many treadmills also offer decline and incline settings, which walking pads usually almost never do.
Furthermore, the best treadmills out there can come with up to 20 resistance levels and move at speeds up to 12 mph or in some cases even faster.
These also have much longer belts than walking pads, making them ideal for larger people.
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The Benefits of a Treadmill
When compared to a walking pad, a treadmill does have a good deal of benefits, with the fact that you can usually run at full or maximum speed being one of them.
Treadmills are much longer and have more powerful motors, which means that you can go faster and reach your maximum stride with ease.
Furthermore, treadmills are also more comfortable to run on as the decks generally have better padding, and they're generally safer too, as they offer handrails and usually cross sections too.
On that note, due to their increased size and extra hardware, they tend to be a lot more durable than the more compact walking pads.
Treadmills are designed for heavy-duty use, and this means that they're designed to last.
Also worth noting is that treadmills have far more settings than walking pads, they feature built-in displays with workout metrics, and they're just a lot more versatile in general.
Many treadmills even come with a wide array of built-in workout plans, with some even featuring live classes.
Walking Pads vs. Treadmills: Similarities
Walking pads and treadmills do share a certain number of similarities, with perhaps the biggest one being that they aren't low-impact exercises.
If you're looking for low-impact cardiovascular exercise, an exercise bike or an elliptical is the better option for you.
For most models, you'll be able to see basic metrics such as time, distance, and speed, and both may also offer Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect your devices. Moreover, both are also fairly easy to use.
Walking Pads vs. Treadmills: Differences
With all of that being said, there are far more differences between walking pads and treadmills than there are similarities, and that's exactly what we're here to discuss right now.
First and foremost, walking pads have a smaller deck, they're more compact, and lighter weight.
This means that they take up much less space and they're also much easier to move around than full-sized treadmills. Full-sized treadmills are larger and heavier. Many walking pads can even fold in half for more compact storage.
However, this smaller size does of course come with a trade-off. For instance, walking pads don't have any handrails, which decreases the amount of stability you have, although this does allow you can put your walking pad under a standing desk.
However, treadmills also have full-scale built-in consoles that provide you with a wide variety of metrics, and the majority of them also come with advanced displays along with workout applications.
Furthermore, walking pads just can't go nearly as fast, they generally don't allow you to achieve your full stride, and they don't have any incline or decline, all features that you do get with a full-sized treadmill.
That said, full-sized treadmills are of course much more expensive than smaller walking pads.
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Should You Buy a Treadmill or Walking Pad?
The fact of the matter is that if you have limited space to work with, then a walking pad is probably your best option.
Walking pads don't take up very much space, they can easily fit in your home, you can lean them against a wall or place them under a desk, and they're so lightweight that moving them around is about as easy as it gets.
Therefore, if you live in a small space, and you only need a light to moderate workout, then a walking pad is totally fine.
However, remember that walking pads don't have many features, including handrails, advanced consoles and displays, and they just can't go that fast either.
Moreover, due to their limited size, achieving your full stride will be difficult. Therefore, if what you're going for is a comprehensive and heart-pounding cardiovascular workout, then it is a full-sized treadmill that you need.
Of course, this is not to say that you can't get a good cardiovascular workout on a walking pad, but it just won't be as intense as with a real treadmill.
Moreover, what you need to keep in mind is that due to their much larger size, heavier-duty construction, and a plethora of advanced features, treadmills will cost you a whole lot more than walking pads.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for a new piece of cardiovascular workout equipment to get you back into shape, then treadmills and walking pads are both great options to consider. With that being said, there are obviously some pretty big differences between them, with overall functionality being perhaps the biggest of all.
What it comes down to is that treadmills are best for more intense cardiovascular exercise, especially if you have the room and money for them. However, walking pads are best for smaller spaces, light duty workouts, and smaller budgets.
