Walking Pad Speed: 6, 12 or 18 km/h? Which Pace You Really Need

6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 18 km/h: top speed is the feature people search for most when it comes to walking pads, and at the same time the one that is overrated most. When working at the desk you rarely walk faster than 4 km/h (2.5 mph). Whether you need more depends on whether you want to jog on the same device after work. Here I sort the speed classes from my tests, including incline and the question of which pace really works while typing.

The speed classes at a glance

Class	Max. speed	Suitable for	Models from my tests
Pure walking pad	6 km/h (3.7 mph)	walking at the desk, brisk walking	Z1, P1, A1 Pro, Sperax P2 Pro, KUIPERS K1
Hybrid	10 to 12 km/h (6.2 to 7.5 mph)	walking by day, light jogging in the evening	Z3 Hybrid+ (10), MC11, R2, X21 (12)
Hybrid plus	14 km/h (8.7 mph)	walking and running with reserves	X214
Treadmill class	18 km/h (11.2 mph)	intervals and fast running	X218

Which pace while working?

In my tests a pace between 2.5 and 3.5 km/h proved best for writing and mouse work. For reading or video calls 4 km/h works too. On the X214 my average over two hours was 3.3 km/h, on the KUIPERS K1 about 10,000 steps came together in around two hours. What matters is fine adjustability: the K1, the X214 and the KS Fit app adjust in 0.1 km/h steps, and just 0.2 km/h less makes a noticeable difference when writing with focus.

You never need more than 6 km/h at the desk. If you buy a pure walking pad you give up nothing, save weight and usually get a flatter, quieter device.

Jogging on a walking pad: from 10 km/h and only with a handrail

Jogging starts at 7 to 8 km/h depending on stride length. On pure walking pads limited to 6 km/h that is impossible, and on their short, often narrower running surface it would not be safe either. For light jogging you need three things: at least 10 km/h, a running surface from 44 cm wide and a handrail to hold on to. The Z3 Hybrid+ offers 10 km/h with height-adjustable side grips and no fan, the MC11 and R2 run up to 12 km/h with a handrail, the X214 up to 14 km/h with side safety grips.

When jogging, the noise rises considerably: on the R2 I measured 60 dB at 8 km/h and 70 dB at 12 km/h, while walking at 4 km/h it was 53 dB. Footfall and vibration increase as well, so a floor protection mat becomes mandatory.

Fast running: the X218 as the exception

If you want to do intervals or tempo runs, the only option in my test field is the WalkingPad X218: 18 km/h, a 140 × 51 cm running surface and 136 kg of load capacity. At 61 kg it is more of a foldable treadmill and weighs more than twice as much as a Z1. Up to 14 km/h the acceleration in my test was jerk-free and the cushioning pleasant. If you never run faster than 10 km/h, you do not need it.

Walking pads with incline

An incline raises the calorie burn while walking without going faster. In my test field only the Sperax P2 Pro has one, with a manually adjustable 5 and 10 percent. 10 percent was noticeably strenuous and effective in the test. All KingSmith models and the K1 have no incline. The Sperax is no longer sold, in the review I link a comparable alternative with incline.

Speed and safety

• Safety key: R2 and Z3 Hybrid+ only run with the key inserted, even in walking mode. If you fall, the belt stops.
• Start slowly: All models start at 0.5 to 1 km/h and accelerate in steps. When switching between walking and running mode (R2, Z3 Hybrid+) the belt stops briefly.
• Automatic mode: On the A1 Pro your foot position controls the speed. I found that unintuitive in the test, at the desk I prefer a fixed pace.
• Child lock: A1 Pro and X214 can be locked.

My verdict

Buy the speed you actually use. For the home office a quiet 6 km/h model is the better choice than a hybrid you never push. If you want to jog in the evening, take the Z3 Hybrid+, MC11 or X214, and only real runners the X218. All models with measurements are in my walking pad reviews.

Frequently asked questions about walking pad speed