Use the Walking Pads Comparison Tool to find the best walking pad based on your preferences and budget. It compares walking desk / treadmill desk brands like Urevo, WalkingPad, KingSmith, Xiaomi, CitySports, Vitalwalk, GoPlus, Superfit, and more.
See Recommended Walking PadsElectric walking pads are a great entry into walking desks, but they come with a hidden cost: maintenance. See walking pad maintenance for the full list of daily, weekly, and monthly chores required to keep one running smoothly. This includes:
Failure to keep up results in loud noises, jerky motion, and burning smells. And despite your best efforts, the motor will eventually fail, all while you're racking up a decent electric bill.
Manual treadmills require low (or no) maintenance and have a longer service life. The downside is a higher upfront cost ($2k-$7k) and a different kind of mental engagement, which I'll discuss later. This is a niche field, which makes choosing a product pretty easy. Here are the best options specifically for walking at a desk. You can compare the specs of these options at walking pads comparison.
Walkolution is the king-of-kings, in all the land of walking pads - electric or otherwise - period, the end. Engineered in Germany for quiet, office-first use. It's whisper-quiet (under 34dB) and made from solid beech wood. At $3.4k$6.5k, it's an investment, but it's purpose-built for this job.
I recommend the Walkolution 2 over the 1 for its significant upgrades in size, quietness, and mechanics. For the slats, Redditors prefer the TheraFloor® Standard Slats over the TrueTerrain surface. The latter is better in theory than practice; many find it distracting. If you have the budget and want the best manual walking desk experience now, this is it.
Johannes is engineering a direct competitor to Walkolution, primarily to make the price point more accessible to the common person. And to address some Walkolution gripes in the process. This is unreleased, but quite far along. If you're not in a hurry, then hold off a bit to see how this shakes out price and quality -wise.
If the Walkolution price tag is too steep, the SB Fitness CT250 is your best bet for a traditional manual treadmill conversion. At around $1k, it's a significant saving. Most importantly, users have verified that you can easily omit the handrails during assembly, making it a true under-desk walking pad.
The CT550 ($2.5k) is a higher-quality model. While its handrails are also separate components that can likely be omitted, some users have reported assembly difficulties, so the CT250 remains the more proven, hassle-free choice for desk use.
I originally worried that manual treadmills would be distracting. I called this "manual brain" - the active mental effort needed to propel the belt, which I feared would steal focus from work (by comparison to the auto-pilot engagement of an electric treadmill). However, after digging into the research, the opposite might be true.
The consistent, self-paced motion required by a manual treadmill is a form of low-level cognitive engagement. Instead of being a distraction, this can actually improve focus. Research shows that physical activity enhances cognitive functions like attention and memory. For individuals with ADHD, the ability to channel restless energy into a productive physical outlet is particularly beneficial, reducing fidgeting and facilitating concentration.
An electric treadmill, where you just set a speed and keep up, is a more passive experience. A manual treadmill engages your body and brain in a way that can be considered a form of continuous, light cognitive training. Both improve concentration, compared to sitting or standing. But manual treadmills might be better.
That said, you may still want to test one out. Some coworking spaces have a Walkolution you can try for a day. But my initial concern was unfounded; the evidence points toward manual treadmills being a net benefit for focus.
Many manual treadmills are designed for high-intensity gym workouts, not all-day walking. They often have steep curves, heavy belts, and, most critically, handrails that are very difficult or impossible to remove. If a treadmill isn't explicitly designed for rail-less use, converting it can be a major project.
For this reason, I do not recommend gym-focused brands like AssaultRunner or Bells of Steel for walking desks. The rail removal is complex and the machines are too intense for low-speed, all-day use.
Likewise, avoid the Sunny Health & Fitness manual treadmill ($200). I'm only listing it to warn you. Its fixed 13.5° incline is uncomfortably steep for walking, forcing you to rely on the handrails and defeating the purpose of an under-desk setup.
The table below summarizes the top options I've found, including the ones not recommended for desk use, to give you a full picture of the market.
| Model | Max User Weight | Key Features | Pros (for Desk Use) | Cons (for Desk Use) | Handrail Removal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walkolution 2 | 350+ lbs | Whisper-quiet (<34dB), German-engineered, optional TheraFloor surfaces. | Exceptionally quiet, designed for desks, comfortable, no maintenance. | High price point. TrueTerrain surface is uncomfortable. | Optional / Integrated |
| SB Fitness CT250 | 300 lbs | Curved manual treadmill with a simple console. | Affordable. Rails are easily omitted during assembly. | Higher effort than Walkolution. Fixed incline. | Easy (omit at setup) |
| TrueForm Trainer | 400 lbs | Low curve, promotes good running form. | Quiet, durable, encourages good posture. | Sprinting is harder. Rails require tools to remove. | Moderate (tools needed) |
| AssaultRunner Elite | 400 lbs | Robust steel frame, TPU slat belt for running. | Very durable, good for intense workouts. | Steep curve is unnatural for slow walking. | Complex (multi-step process) |
| Bells of Steel Blitz | 330 lbs | 6 magnetic resistance levels, heavy-duty frame. | Versatile for strength workouts (e.g., sled push). | Very heavy (200 lbs), steep incline, difficult to move. | Unclear / Complex |
| Sunny Health SF-T1407M | 220 lbs | Compact, foldable, very low price. | Very cheap. | Do not buy. Fixed 13.5° incline is too steep for comfortable walking. | Easy (but pointless) |
Cost. Full stop.
While a manual treadmill is the superior long-term solution, the upfront cost is a major barrier. The gap between a $300 electric pad and a $3,400 Walkolution is immense. If you keep up with the maintenance, you can make an electric treadmill last. It's a pain, but in an expensive world, sometimes "suck it up to save" is the most practical choice.
My recommendation is this: