Standing Desk Treadmills

freefall101 on 02/09/2021 - 18:13

Anyone ever used one of these?

I really like walking, while not WFM I used to get 8k steps a day without actually thinking about it and I used to go to the gym and spend a couple of hours doing it while watching TV or catching up on work emails, but both options are gone right now. I'll be working from home a lot going forward so it seems the time to invest in one of these, but I can find reviews that are over the top in love and studies that show obese people don't use them and little in between.

I also see that they range from $300 to thousands, but then there's a couple of mainstream brands around $900 and one on gearbyte ebay for $750 geared towards being at a desk so I assume that's the price to pay.

Health & Beauty Treadmill

Comments

  • p1 ama on 02/09/2021 - 18:25

    Depends on your expectations, if you're looking to lose 20kg, it won't work. If you're just trying to feel more awake, take in some more air and just generally keep your energy levels a bit higher, then they're great.

    • mskeggs on 02/09/2021 - 18:39
      +3

      How long do you spend walking at your desk?

    • freefall101 on 03/09/2021 - 09:39

      Yeah, don’t expect to lose any weight, I don’t plan on running on the thing (but maybe make me feel good enough to go out for a run). Sounds useful if I can motivate myself to use it every day, thanks!

  • gimli on 02/09/2021 - 20:35
    +1

    How did spend couple of hours walking whilst watching tv or catching up on emails?
    TBH 8k steps is not much.

    Just get a treadmill or go out for a walk for 90minutes or two hours and that would be about 6000 steps.

    • freefall101 on 03/09/2021 - 09:35

      I meant during my day I’d do 8k, just from walking to public transport, walking between meetings and a grabbing lunch. Exercise is on top of that.

  • mskeggs on 03/09/2021 - 07:00
    +1

    The main downside of WFH for me is the lack of walking, I used to routinely do 12 or 15k steps commuting and a stroll at lunchtime around the city.
    I think a treadmill/standing desk sounds good, but walking all day would probably be too much, and setting it up/packing it away would pretty soon lead to it not being used, I suspect.

    So I am interested to hear from anyone doing this.

  • penfold1251 on 03/09/2021 - 08:13
    +2

    Used a Xiaomi Walkingpad foldable treadmill (~550 via eBay+coupons in late 2019) under a sit/stand desk for around 6-9 months. Mostly once per day for about 30 minutes, sometimes twice per day and occasionally for 45+ minutes. Never built up a longer habit, and lost the habit almost entirely after moving house. Still works fine. Pretty slow since it's not an exercise treadmill (although can go faster if you set it up with the app, I haven't bothered). It's ever so slightly too fast for typing comfortably on the slowest setting, although you do get used to it.

    I found it useful for getting into the flow of things first thing in the morning (and/or after lunch break). Also helped with stiffness from sitting all day (sit/stand desk but I'm too lazy to stand for the most part). Being compact, foldable and having wheels (still awkwardly heavy to lift), it's not too much of a burden to fold and roll out of the way… that was my #1 priority when searching for one. I used to set it up when leaving my (home) office for the day so that it was easier to just walk on it first thing next day than put it away.

    I just wanted the benefits of walking/exercise/movement, given I sit in front of a computer all day. No illusions of it being useful for weight loss. ;-)

    • freefall101 on 03/09/2021 - 10:38

      Cheers, that's good to know. That's my biggest concern, simply folding it up and never using it again, but that's at least my problem to deal with. I already have the standing desk but I get too fidgety standing up so I thought walking my help focus my mind a bit.

      Definitely no illusions about weight loss. The only time I've lost weight in my life I was hitting the gym 3 times a week, counted calories and cut out alcohol and sugar. Walking at a few km/h is at best going to make me hungry, but it'd be good to get the blood flowing. I was taking conference calls on the exercise bike, but I found it made me too sweaty and obviously can't get any work done, but I don't seem to have the time to jump on the bike before work in the morning.

      Tempted to get what I think is the same one you have, $750 on ebay at the moment with ebay plus - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/184658223141 - how did you go with the length of it? I'm a tall guy, really worried it'll be too short for my stride.

      • penfold1251 on 04/09/2021 - 07:57
        +1

        Looks pretty similar to the one I have. From memory there were many similar (~identical) products being sold under different brands as usual. I didn't get a model with the safety bar thing as that isn't useful under a desk. You should probably double check it will work without it in place.

        Regarding the length, I'm over 6'/183cm and not had a problem. It does need to be far enough under the desk such that you can walk in the middle of the tread though, otherwise ski feet bang into the front of it when trying to walk close to the desk to use the keyboard etc. Hence the reason you would not be able to have the safety bar thing in place.

  • isthatallyougot on 03/09/2021 - 08:49

    There is the lady on TikTok who set up a walking mat under her standing desk. I think she walks for most of the day while working.

    IMO just get a cheap walking mat and a cheap standing desk and see if you like it .

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