As someone who would rather eat a jean jacket than go to a gym, I’m always looking for new, enjoyable ways to stay active without sacrificing any of my free time — or taking up my space. I work from home full-time, so my house serves as my home office, coffee shop, movie theater, and, now, my home gym.
My fitness goals revolve around staying active and loving my body for what it can do for me, rather than adhering to a certain diet or pushing myself to exhaustion. And because one of my New Year’s resolutions for 2024 was to make positive, lasting changes to my physical health, I figured it would be the perfect time to try some new equipment that fit into my lifestyle. Enter: the Under Desk Walking Pad Treadmill from To Go Gym.
After seeing various desk treadmills and walking pads on social media and in friends’ homes, I did a bunch of research before ordering. This particular model from To Go Gym was lightweight and the perfect size for my space. While it still costs $200 when not on sale, I could justify the price — gym memberships can often cost more, plus I’d have the treadmill longer than any membership I’d sign up for (and then forget about canceling).
Since getting my walking pad at the beginning of the year, I’ve already seen big changes in my physical and mental well-being. Within the first week of using it, my daily exercise time had doubled! I went from walking for 45 minutes per day to walking for more than 90 minutes. I’m also able to exercise at night without worrying about it being too dark to run outside, as well as when I watch movies or endlessly scroll through TikTok. Although I don’t always need to go the extra mile (sorry) to walk while I’m relaxing, having the option to habit stack in this way has made me feel good in more ways than one.
Being able to incorporate the walking pad into the time I would normally spend watching TV has improved my physical health without taking away from the low-key activities I love for my mental health. And because I’m incorporating my workout into my downtime, I feel like I have even more time to do other things I enjoy, like seeing live shows, trying new recipes, or starting a new craft project.
As for the specs, the walking pad can reach up to 5 miles per hour and has a remote control to tuck into your pocket if you need to pause. The pad is a little over 40 inches long and 18 inches wide, which I found to be compact enough for my space, and roomy enough so I wouldn’t feel cramped on the treadmill. It’s the perfect size to slide under a desk or a couch, or even squeeze into a closet — the smooth wheels make it easy to move around your space however you need.
With a 30-day return policy and a frame slim enough to fit into most small homes, I would recommend this walking pad to anyone who wants some simple cardio without sacrificing the next episode of The Real Housewives.
Buy: To Go Gym Walking Pad Under Desk Treadmill, $195
