Look for three things: brushless motor (3-5x lifespan), verified CHP of 0.75-1.5 HP (watts ÷ 746), and 3+ year motor warranty. A 1.0 CHP brushless motor outlasts any "3.0 HP" brushed motor with a short warranty.
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, DeerRun, SupeRun, WalkingPad, KingSmith, Xiaomi, TrailViber, Wellfit, and more.
See Recommended Walking PadsThe motor is the single most important component of any walking pad. Three things determine motor quality: brushless (3-5x longer lifespan), verified CHP of 0.75-1.5 HP (adequate sustained power for walking), and a 3+ year motor warranty. An honest 1.0 CHP brushless motor will outlast a machine claiming "3.0 HP" with a brushed motor and short warranty.
To find real CHP, take the motor's wattage and divide by 746. Or use the calculator:
Enter watts for the most accurate result. It's usually on the motor label as "POWER". If you only have amps from the nameplate or spec sheet, that works too.
Watts is the most important spec on any motor. The nameplate "POWER" rating on a motor label tells you the rated mechanical output, the power the motor can actually deliver to the belt. Converting to horsepower is straightforward:
CHP = Watts ÷ 746
A motor labeled "POWER: 735W" produces 735 ÷ 746 ≈ 0.99 CHP, essentially one continuous horsepower.
There are two ways manufacturers express motor power:
Continuous Horsepower (CHP): Power a motor sustains indefinitely without overheating. This is the only rating that matters for real-world performance.
Peak Horsepower: A theoretical maximum for a brief moment under ideal conditions. Not sustainable, and exists purely for marketing.
If a product lists "HP" without specifying "Continuous" or "CHP," it's almost certainly the peak value. Unqualified "HP" claims of 2.5+ are common but don't reflect what the motor delivers during your walk.
Motor labels sometimes include a "DUTY" rating. S1 is the industry code for continuous duty, meaning the motor can run at its rated power indefinitely. That's what you want in a walking pad, where sessions often run 45+ minutes.
Your wall outlet sets a hard limit on motor power. US outlets provide 110-120V. A standard 15A circuit at 80% continuous capacity delivers 120V × 12A = 1,440W. After accounting for typical motor efficiency (~72-85%), realistic mechanical output tops out around 1.0-1.5 CHP.
A standard US outlet can't deliver more than ~1.5 CHP continuous. European 230V outlets have a higher ceiling, but walking pads rarely approach those limits.
Most budget walking pads use brushed DC motors, an older technology relying on physical carbon blocks ("brushes") pressing against a rotating commutator.
The problem: brushes are consumable parts that wear with every use. As they degrade, carbon dust accumulates, noise increases, performance drops, and overheating becomes common. Complete failure is typical within 1-2 years of regular use.
Brushless DC motors (BLDC) eliminate this failure mode entirely using electronic controllers:
A brushless motor costs more to manufacture. When a company includes one, it signals a deliberate choice to prioritize longevity over margin. Look for "Brushless," "BLDC," or "Brushless DC Motor" on the product page or motor label.
When you can find a photo of the actual motor (product page, review teardown, or your own machine), here's what each spec tells you:
At the same wattage, a lower-RPM motor produces more torque, the force that keeps the belt moving smoothly under your feet, especially at slow walking speeds (1-2 mph) where momentum is low.
Example: A 735W motor at 3200 RPM has less low-end torque than a 550W motor at 2400 RPM might suggest. In practice, the 735W motor is still stronger overall (33% more power), but the RPM tells you something about the motor's design intent. Higher RPM motors are geared toward jogging speeds, while lower RPM motors may be optimized for walking.
Compact walking pads cram their motors into tight enclosures with minimal airflow. When you walk for extended periods, heat builds up faster than it can escape. A hot motor draws more current to maintain speed, which generates more heat, a vicious cycle engineers call "thermal runaway."
Most budget machines have an unwritten 45-minute limit. Beyond that, you risk damaging the motor's internal insulation. Premium units use larger motors, better ventilation, and brushless technology to handle longer sessions.
The workaround: Walk for 45 minutes, then pause for 10 to let things cool down. See maintenance for the full protocol.
When you're down to a few walking pads, here's a practical checklist:
Look for a wattage rating on the motor label or in the product specs. Divide by 746 to get CHP. If only amps are listed, multiply by your outlet voltage and apply ~85% efficiency: (V × A × 0.85) ÷ 746.
"Brushless," "BLDC," or "Brushless DC Motor" anywhere in the listing is what you want. If it's not mentioned, assume brushed. You can filter by "Brushless" in the comparison table to see which models qualify.
| Brand / Model | Claimed HP | Known Specs | Estimated CHP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merach W50 | 3.5 HP (Peak) | 1.25 CHP listed separately | 1.25 HP | Rare transparency: lists both peak and CHP |
| LifeSpan TR1200 | 2.25 HP (CHP) | 3.5 HP peak also listed | 2.25 HP | Uses proper CHP terminology; brushless |
| CITYSPORTS WP8 | Not specified | 550W motor | 0.74 HP | Only wattage disclosed, no HP marketing |
| Toputure TP4 | 2.5 HP | Manual says "2.5 HP (Peak)" | Unknown | No CHP disclosed; not brushless |
| GoPlus | 2.5 HP (Brushless) | Not disclosed | Unknown | No CHP qualification despite brushless claim |
| Sunny Health | 1 HP | Not disclosed | Unknown | No clarification on continuous vs. peak |
Things to watch for: Large HP numbers without "Continuous" or "CHP" qualifier usually mean peak. If electrical specs (watts or amps) are available, run them through the calculator to see what the motor actually delivers.