Knowing the quality that comes out of products engineered by Xiaomi and their partners, I decided to give the WalkingPad P1 a try over similar devices. My job is fairly sedentary and sometimes restricts my schedule to the point that it is hard to make free time to head to a Gym or spend time driving out to a park/trail for a jog or walk. This is the perfect middle ground in order to get a decent workout at home, blow off a little steam, or use it as a companion for a standing desk in order to have a custom "treadmill desk" office setup.
Unboxing: The WalkingPad is encased within two cardboard boxes for protection and the outer one may show up fairly worn, given all the transit it has to go through before it makes it to your door. The inner box however, makes it to you in pristine, "store shelf" condition. The device itself weighs about 70LBS which I think is not cumbersome at all, given this is a piece of fitness equipment. Other treadmills likely exceed 180LBS. The unboxing process is extremely simple if you follow the handful of instructions on the box. All that is required is for the box to be opened from the top, flipped upside down, and the WalkingPad will slide out with minimal effort. Very "turn-key", especially given that I don't believe this needs a second person, unless you plan to relocate the WalkingPad to another floor in the house. Then it is definitely a "Team-Lift" effort.
Accessories/Additional Contents: Aside from the WalkingPad itself, the other included items are: (1): The Remote (2): Remote Lanyard (3): Silicone Lubricant (4): A C13 Standard Power Cord (5): Documentation and other instruction pamphlets (6): A Hex wrench for adjustments to the belt.
Setup: The WalkingPad comes pre-assembled, and only the packing material needs to be removed. It has two very convenient smooth casters on the end of the device so that it can be rolled around conveniently. About 5ML of Silicone Lubricant should be applied under the belt in a straight horizontal line upon first time setup, and every subsequent 3 months. The remote for the P1 requires two AAA batteries which are not included. (I believe the A1 requires a C2450 for its remote but I am not certain). I believe this variant of the WalkingPad is NOT dual voltage, 120V AC 60hz only for North America. Haven't checked but it shouldn't pull more than 800 watts max at the wall. Hex wrench adjustments to the belt can be made at the rear of the device but should not be necessary upon first unboxing. In North America, the "WalkingPad" app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android devices. This is required for first time setup to unlock full functionality of the WalkingPad. I **MUST** note that in order for the tutorial to be completed, the WalkingPad must be on a ****hard floor surface**** so that Automatic mode will function correctly. You *CANNOT* proceed and complete the tutorial unless it is on a hard floor. This left me scratching my head for a while as I first set it up on carpet. I had presumed it was defective - but this was user error. After you complete the tutorial, and you only desire to use manual speed selection, you may relocate it to a soft/carpet surface if you desire, or a very rigid board/blocks of some sort can be placed under the WalkingPad to get around this. The sensors for Automatic (dynamic speed based on your position on the walking surface), seem to be affixed to the feet of the device, and are not within the belt/center of the device.
WalkingPad App: The App itself is very simple to use, and requires modest specifications from a smartphone/tablet. It interfaces over bluetooth. After the first-time setup (which demonstrates auto and manual modes and explains usage of the remote), you can use the app instead of the remote to change speed/mode, or to enter various maintenance modes and configure other options for the WalkingPad, such as max speed. It also tracks distance, but on iOS it does not seem to interface with apple healthkit. This is fine, I use an Apple watch to track walking distance and it does a great job when the workout mode is set to "indoor walk". The built in tracking and the Apple watch tend to agree within 5% of each other after the end of all the workouts I have done so far, in the case that you might be interested in recording workout metrics manually elsewhere.
Functionality: As a first time treadmill owner, I am very impressed with the features this offers. Automatic mode might suit certain interests better, but I prefer to use Manual mode exclusively. So far, my average session on the device (when using it for just fitness and not with a standing desk while working), ends up being about a 45 to 1 hour run. The WalkingPad tops out at 6Km/H and I tend to do most of the workout at this speed, as the cardio/heart rate/endurance aspect is what I am most interested in. It holds up very well through the entire session and it is very comfortable all the way through. I tend to switch between using cushioned socks or a pair of running shoes. The walking deck is very comfortable at all speeds, but if you would like to use this for faster/endurance based workouts, I would highly recommend a good pair of walking or running shoes for heel comfort. Be mindful that shoes instead of the socks will be slightly louder in the case that you need to be conscious of your acoustic output for neighbors/etc. The motor runs very quiet and is barely audible. The whole thing is virtually silent. Nearing the 50 minute mark at the max speed of 6Km/H, a slight whir/hum is noticeable from the motor but it is not excessive. I am not sure whether this is simply the sound profile it has after warming up, or if it might be "complaining" at this point. I doubt most users will encounter this issue, as more than an hour at max speed is not the intended use of this product. Anything below 4 however I have found allows you to run the WalkingPad for a very long time with no noise at all. This makes it a fantastic option if you have a standing desk. I won't go into specifics here, as there is lots of commentary on the topic to be found elsewhere.
False Preconceptions: Looking at other products I thought I was going to need a walking deck in excess of 20x55 inches in order to be comfortable. This is not the case. The WalkingPad's 16x42 inch deck is more than sufficient for any stride up to max speed. I also thought a folding apparatus would make the device more fragile than it needs to be, however, it is *Extremely* solid. This is a very, very well built machine with a beautiful complimentary design for all the engineering underneath. I am surprised at how easy it is to transport and operate. It is the perfect device for anyone looking to get some extra movement in their day all the way up to entry-level speed walkers or those interested in something to supplement a cardio workout.
Long Term/Reliability: This device is built so well I anticipate it will be running well beyond the 4-5 year mark. As of yet, I don't believe there is a specific location in North America that offers spare parts or repair, however for simple issue any fitness equipment repair location/store should be able to help you out. Ensuring the belt is aligned and well lubricated will extend the life of the device. One week in and I have had no issue so far, but I will certainly update this if something needs to be noted. I plan to purchase one or two more for family/friends after I have put it through its paces for a month.
Final Thoughts: I am so pleased I chose to go with this WalkingPad P1 over similar devices. There have been no glaring issues with the device and its setup. Highly recommend! I was deciding between this, a SereneLife, and a LifeSpan offering. I am glad I went with this one. It has complimented my setup/living space/fitness regime fantastically well and is the most versatile treadmill out there. This is the "Volkswagen Beetle" of treadmills; I say that in the most endearing and kind way possible. It is affordable, compact, versatile, lovable, efficient and accessible no matter who you are or what your fitness goals might be.
TLDR: If you get stuck on the tutorial when switching to automatic mode, take it off the carpet! It only works on hard surfaces in auto mode. Keep it clean and lubricated and this will last a very long time.
Disclaimer: All the opinions and deliberation expressed here and my own thoughts and findings. I was not compensated for this product/review in any way. This WalkingPad has been elusive and hard to find so far, especially in North America. Trust me, it is the real deal! Very happy with the purchase and pleased to find it fulfilled by Amazon so that the international shipping headache, (and so on..) could be avoided. Please comment on this review if you have any questions! :D
| Brand | WALKINGPAD |
|---|---|
| Color | gray |
| Product Grade | treadmill |
| Product Dimensions | 21.5"D x 56.37"W x 5"H |
| Item Weight | 62 Pounds |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Maximum Speed | 3.72 Miles per Hour |
| Special Feature | Portable, Foldable |
| Recommended Uses For Product | indoor |
| Target Audience | Adult |
| Maximum Horsepower | 2 Horsepower |
| Maximum Incline Percentage | 1.00 |
| Assembly Required | No |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Number of Programs | 12 |
| Included Components | Remote Control |
| Product Benefits | Portable |
| Maximum Weight Recommendation | 220 Pounds |
| Deck Length | 47.3 Inches |
| Deck Width | 16.5 Inches |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Speed Rating | 0.5-3.72MPH |
| Folded Size | 32.5 x 21.5 x 5 inches |
| Screen Size | 21.5 Inches |
| Belt Length | 47.3 Inches |
| Belt Width | 21.5 Inches |
| Input Power | 800 Watts |
| Minimum Speed | 0.5 Miles per Hour |
| UPC | 886424123897 |
| Manufacturer | KINGSMITH |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 35 x 27 x 7.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 31.03 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 20.3 x 57 x 4.9 inches |
| Brand Name | WALKINGPAD |
| Warranty Description | One year warranty |
| Model Name | P1 |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Part Number | P1 |
| Model Year | 2021 |
