During the COVID-19 lockdown, you counted your steps on a treadmill during Zoom calls while the rest of us baked banana bread. friend And did you spend your days doomscrolling?
Those days may be gone, but the folding treadmill doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Maybe the cold winter weather has forced people to take their daily walks indoors, or the rising cost of living has caused people to cancel their gym memberships. But in 2024, walking pads seem to be as popular as ever. Think of the “comfortable cardio” trend: people are encouraged to put on their comfiest pajamas, grab a hot drink, and hit the walking pad at home.
In New Zealand, search interest for home treadmills has increased steadily over the past few years, according to data from Google Trends.
For example, New Zealand retailer Mighty Ape saw a 185% increase in page views for its walking pad products in June 2024 alone, compared to June 2023. And sales of walking pads in the same month increased 270% compared to June 2023, with 17% of those orders including products like standing desks, laptop risers, and exercise mats.
We all know that aerobic exercise is good for our health, but finding time during the day to fit it in can be difficult. What benefits does a home treadmill have for our health, and is it worth the investment? We decided to find out.
I let my gym membership lapse a few years ago and now do Pilates workouts at home and take regular walks around my neighborhood. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my knees so HIIT style workouts aren’t for me.
Admittedly even in Auckland winter it can be hard to get outside and take a walk after work so I welcomed the opportunity to take a short walk in my cosy living room.
What is a Walking Pad?
Walking pads are designed for walking, not running, and are typically smaller, shorter, and lighter than the treadmills you’ll find in your gym.
They usually have a lower top speed and fewer incline and other settings than regular treadmills. In New Zealand, a range of folding treadmills are available from retailers such as Mighty Ape, Torpedo7 and Harvey Norman, as well as specialist exercise equipment stores, ranging from under $400 to over $1000.
Some models are hands-free, while others have a foldable bar for you to grab on to when you need it. This particular model (Mighty Ape’s Ape Style FX1800*) has a single bar that folds up and clicks into place, has a variety of speed settings like you’d find on a treadmill at the gym, and can easily slide under your couch.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be getting on the treadmill during the day while I’m working from home and when I get home from my commute. I don’t set a daily step goal; I just walk when I can: while on the phone, while waiting for dinner to heat up, while watching an episode of a TV show, etc.
Admittedly, I use it on my breaks more than I do at work, especially when it’s raining outside, so the weather is no longer an excuse for not exercising.
After a few weeks, I found that this method helped me incorporate more cardio into my day. I was not only mentally exhausted at the end of the day, but physically tired as well, which helped me fall asleep faster.
So far it has been very worth it.
But the other big question is: will a walking pad make a difference to your overall fitness level?
Will a home treadmill improve my fitness?
Matt Wood, a senior lecturer and clinical exercise physiologist at Auckland University of Technology, said the appeal of home treadmills was convenience and cost savings.
Using supplements is a “supplementary form of physical activity,” he says. Herald.
“Some walking pads don’t necessarily allow you to go very fast or have an incline, so it really depends on the person using it,” he explains.
“In terms of physical benefits, you want to improve your cardiovascular fitness. Exercising at a low intensity can be beneficial to a certain extent. [but] That’s not necessarily inspiring enough for many people.
“Like a regular treadmill, some people will use it with intention, but I think the way to sell it to people is to increase steps and reduce sedentary activity.”
Wood said it was important to consider whether walking pads had a “novelty effect” that could wear off over time, adding that it was still important to get out and walk outside when possible.
“It doesn’t fully replace the stimulation and many benefits of walking outdoors.”
These benefits include the natural incline from the hills, the social interaction with people, and the fact that getting sunshine and fresh air is good for mental health.
Wood adds that using a treadmill alone won’t provide the same health benefits as strength training, so she recommends combining it with some easy exercises you can do at home — they don’t have to be very intense.
“Just 10 to 15 minutes every two days is enough to maintain a reasonable level of strength. Most people think they need to do a ton of exercises in the gym, like 12 different exercises, but in reality you can stay in pretty good shape with just four exercises. It’s all about choosing wisely,” he explains.
In addition to training what you love, he says it’s important to maintain the “basics of health” like diet, sleep and managing stress levels.
Which walking pad should you try?
Wood suggests researching different models before purchasing a home treadmill and considering safety, as not all models come with handrails.
“If you’re on a treadmill and there’s a handrail there, it helps you see where you are in space. You want to avoid the typical gym scenario where someone looks at something else, gets distracted, and starts moving backwards,” he says.
“As long as the focus is right depending on where you are on the treadmill, people will be fine.”
He also recommends that taller people look for a longer walking pad; if it’s too short, you’ll fall off the edge of the treadmill. If you’re over 6 feet tall, look for one that’s at least 150cm long.
“If you’re interested, that’s great. Just make sure you get the right one and be safe.”
*I borrowed a home treadmill to write this article.
Bethany Reitsma is an Auckland-based lifestyle and entertainment journalist. Herald In 2019, she New Zealanders’ true stories, Money saving tips and Anything related to coffee.
