WalkingPad Z1 review: the slimmest fold-in-half walking pad

The WalkingPad Z1 is the walking pad to buy if it has to disappear after every session and you still want a full stride. It folds in half to 31.8 by 22 inches, opens to a 47.6 inch long walking area, and stands just 4.1 inches tall, the slimmest folding pad we cover. There is no incline and it tops out at 4 mph. Every figure in this review comes from WalkingPad's product page or the Amazon listing, and owner sentiment is summarized from both stores.

Who it is for

The Z1 fits the apartment walker whose pad cannot live on the floor. It folds in half at a center hinge to 31.8 by 22 inches, and the 4.1 inch height (5.4 inches folded) clears most bed frames and sofas. Despite that, the walking area is 47.6 inches long, longer than every non-folding consumer pad we cover, so taller walkers get a natural stride at desk speeds and brisk walking speeds alike.

It also suits a first walking pad. It arrives fully assembled, runs from the remote or the KS Fit app, and its 242 lb rating covers more walkers than the 220 lb WalkingPad C2 and P1.

It is less ideal if you want hills, speed, or extra width. There is no incline, 4 mph is the ceiling, and the belt is a standard 15.7 inches wide; the WalkingPad P1 gives you 16.5 inches if you drift while you read. And if you weigh over 242 lb, look at a non-folding pad such as the 400 lb MERACH W50.

Full specifications

WalkingPad sells the Z1 in grey and white on its own site with identical specs; the Amazon listing is the white model.

Will it fit your space and your desk?

Two numbers decide it. For storage, you need a 32 by 22 inch spot with 5.4 inches of clearance, which covers most under-bed and under-sofa gaps. For desk use, add 4.1 inches to your standing elbow height to get the desk height you need; for a 43-inch elbow height that is about 47 inches, within range of most standing desks. Open, the pad is 56.1 inches long, so allow nearly 5 feet of floor in front of the desk.

The fold is a daily task, not a one-time setup. WalkingPad's site reviewers like how quickly it opens, but several call it heavier than expected and the small plastic wheels less helpful than they hoped. If you will fold and roll it twice a day, 51 lb is the number to picture. Our walking pad fit checker runs the desk and stride math for your height.

What owners report

• Amazon: 4.2 out of 5 across 410 ratings, with 66% five-star and 12% one-star. Amazon's review summary says owners like the easy setup and compact fold, with one noting it unfolds in about 10 seconds. It also says noise reports are mixed, some owners see the tread drift, and several report a belt that started tearing within a week.
• WalkingPad's store: 4.5 out of 5 across 129 reviews, with 35 of 39 reviewers who answered recommending it. Owners praise the stride length and the fold; the recurring gripes are the weight when moving it, the small wheels, a remote whose battery has to be seated just right, and, for one owner, a GFCI outlet that kept tripping until the pad moved to a standard outlet.

The one-star share on Amazon is what holds the Kit Score at 7.5. Register the 1-year warranty on day one, and use the belt-centering steps in our walking pad troubleshooting guide at the first sign of drift.

Pros and cons

What it does well:

• Folds in half to 31.8 by 22 by 5.4 inches, the shortest folded length among the pads we cover.
• A 47.6 inch walking area, long enough for tall walkers.
• 4.1 inches tall and 51 lb, the slimmest and lightest folding pad we cover.
• A 242 lb rating, higher than the WalkingPad C2 and P1.

Where it falls short:

• No incline, a 4 mph ceiling, and a standard 15.7 inch belt width.
• A 12% one-star share on Amazon, with reports of belt tears and drift.
• No FootSense automatic speed mode (the C2 and P1 have it).
• Heavier to fold and roll daily than the photos suggest.

Decision snapshot

Best for

Apartment walkers who need a pad that folds away after every session but still want a full-length belt

Skip if

You want incline, weigh over 242 lb, or need a wider belt for desk work

Bottom line

The folding walking pad we would buy first for a small home, with belt durability the main risk.

Buy on Amazon →WalkingPad Z1 Foldable Walking Pad · Kit Score 7.5/10

How it compares

Against the WalkingPad C2, the Z1 wins on nearly every number: lighter (51 against 55 lb), slimmer (4.1 against 4.9 inches open), a higher rating (242 against 220 lb), and a lower price. The C2 keeps FootSense, five colors, and Wired's best-foldable pick. Our WalkingPad C2 vs Z1 comparison goes spec by spec.

Against the WalkingPad P1, the trade is width for motor. The P1's belt is 16.5 inches wide against the Z1's 15.7, and it has FootSense, but it uses an older brush motor, weighs 62 lb, and is rated to 220 lb.

Against the non-folding UREVO Strol 2E Pro, you give up incline and jogging for the fold. If you have a permanent spot under a desk or sofa, the Strol 2E Pro does more; if you need closet storage, the Z1 is the better fit.

For every pad scored the same way, see our best walking pads guide and the best under-desk walking pads ranking.

Where these numbers come from

We have not walked on a Z1. Specs are WalkingPad's published figures, and owner sentiment is summarized from the sources above.

Frequently asked questions

How small does the WalkingPad Z1 fold?

It folds in half to 31.8 by 22 by 5.4 inches and weighs 51 lb, per WalkingPad. That fits under most beds and sofas. Open, it is 56.1 by 22 by 4.1 inches.

What is the WalkingPad Z1 weight limit?

242 lb (110 kg), per both WalkingPad and the Amazon listing. That is a little more than the 220 lb WalkingPad C2 and P1. Heavier walkers should look at the 400 lb MERACH W50.

Does the WalkingPad Z1 have incline?

No. The Z1 is a flat walking pad running at 1 to 4 mph. If you want incline, the UREVO CyberPad and MERACH W50 have motorized grades, and the UREVO Strol 2E Pro has a manual 12% setting.

Is the WalkingPad Z1 quiet?

WalkingPad describes the 2.25 HP brushless motor as quiet but publishes no decibel figure. Amazon owners are split: some find it fairly quiet, others say it becomes noisy. A belt that drifts or needs lubrication is the usual source of new noise.

WalkingPad Z1 vs C2: which should you buy?

For most people, the Z1. It is lighter, slimmer, rated for 22 lb more, and costs less, with a nearly identical belt and folded size. Pick the C2 if you want FootSense speed control or one of its five colors.

Is the WalkingPad Z1 grey different from the white?

WalkingPad lists the same technical parameters for both: 47.6 by 15.7 inch walking area, 242 lb, 51 lb, and the same folded size. The Amazon listing we link is the white model.

For the full field, including incline and heavy-duty pads scored the same way, see our best walking pads guide.