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Hey, what’s up everyone. Ryan here, and today I want to share my personal experience with three very different pieces of home gym equipment: a manual treadmill, compact electric treadmill and walking pad. The treadmill walking at home has been interesting, let's jump in, or should I say, walk in. Oh, for the "best" experience, watching the videos could help put things into better context.
Just so you know, some of the links on this site are affiliate links (I’m part of the Amazon Associates program). This means I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase—at no extra cost to you.
The Manual Treadmill: The Ultimate Workout Intensity
The Manual Treadmill: The Ultimate Workout Intensity
When I first started looking into treadmills, I didn't know where to start, so I jumped on Amazon and bought the ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill. I didn't know what to expect, but for workout intensity, it's like nothing else I've tried.
The reason? It has what I'd call an "endless incline." This particular model doesn't have an adjustable incline, but it’s permanently at an angle that feels like you're walking uphill for your entire workout. Because the belt only moves when you push it, you’re always the one generating the momentum. I could get my heart rate up to 70-80% of my max in about 30 minutes, and it would stay there for the rest of the workout.
I would categorize the manual treadmill as a medium to hard workout. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for an easy session. I typically peaked out at about an hour on this machine, and by the end, I was drenched in sweat in the middle of my living room. Not a good idea.
The Electric Treadmill: Perfect for Endurance and Recovery
The Electric Treadmill: Perfect for Endurance and Recovery
Now let's talk compact electric treadmills. I got the AltraX Fitness AX-T10 electric treadmill. The difference in intensity between this and the manual one is night and day. On an electric treadmill, the motor does the work of moving the belt, which allows you to adjust the pace and go for much longer durations.
I can easily go for an hour on this machine simply by lowering the speed. The electric treadmill allows me to get in those long endurance workouts, and it's also perfect for those days when my body is feeling tense and I just need a light, easy workout without the high-impact stress.
On the manual treadmill, you have to be ready for the intensity. There’s no easy way to get a light workout in. But with an electric one, you can always dial it back and still get your steps in.
This table shows my personal experience with the key differences between the manual and electric treadmills, including workout intensity and typical duration.
From Compact Electric Treadmill to Walking Pad
From Compact Electric Treadmill to Walking Pad
Let's now fast forward a year or so. I got rid of the manual treadmill (no hard feelings, just moved on). And purchased the Maksone under-the-desk treadmill.
My under-the-desk treadmill is remote-dependent. It has no handrails, a slight incline, and a walking deck of just under 42 inches. It’s also much lighter at under 60 lbs, making it easy to move around. In comparison, the compact foldable treadmill has handrails for stability and a larger walking deck at 48 inches. It's heavier, just under 100 lbs, and has no incline. The display on both machines shows speed, distance, time, and calories.
I also found a cool feature where you can even get rid of the beeping sound if you prefer a quieter workout. It has a removable power cord and is designed for use while you work, but it does not come with a safety clip or handrails.
I originally got the under-desk treadmill not for a standing desk, but as a lighter option to the compact treadmill. With its wooden sides, it was also supposed to blend seamlessly into my living room, which it did beautifully with the hardwood floors.
The size and light weight were great, but I overlooked a crucial issue that I didn't see coming. My family is pretty big, and relatives are always using the treadmill in the living room when they visit. It wasn't until one of them mentioned that while they loved the look of the under-the-desk treadmill, they wouldn't use it because they needed handrails for better support. Yikes! That's when I realized the no-handrail issue and immediately moved the compact treadmill back into the living room.
Later on, other family members also spoke up, and I eventually gave the under-the-desk treadmill to another family member.
Here's a breakdown of the key features I compared between the under-the-desk and compact treadmill, including weight, size, and weight capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did I decide to get a manual treadmill first?
Q: Why did I decide to get a manual treadmill first?
A: I didn't know where to start, I just went on Amazon and just tried a manual treadmill first.
Q: Is the manual treadmill really that much harder?
Q: Is the manual treadmill really that much harder?
A: Yes, in my experience, it is. The fact that you have to power the belt yourself makes every step a workout, creating a high-intensity session no matter what.
Q: Why did I get rid of my manual treadmill?
Q: Why did I get rid of my manual treadmill?
A: The bottom line with the manual treadmill was, the workouts were just too intense for me.
Q: What made me add an electric treadmill to my collection?
Q: What made me add an electric treadmill to my collection?
A: I added the electric treadmill because I needed more versatility. I was training for walking marathons, and the electric model allowed me to get in longer, more controlled workouts, as well as easy recovery walks on days when my body felt tense.
Q: What's the main difference between the manual and electric treadmills in my experience?
Q: What's the main difference between the manual and electric treadmills in my experience?
A: The biggest difference for me is the control over intensity. With the manual treadmill, the workout is a "do-or-die" high-intensity session. The electric treadmill, on the other hand, lets me adjust the speed and intensity to match my workout goals for that day, whether it’s a long walk or a light recovery session.
Q: What are the main benefits of an electric treadmill for my workouts?
Q: What are the main benefits of an electric treadmill for my workouts?
A: The main benefits are adjustability and control. I can set the exact pace I need for long, steady walks or for an easy recovery session, which the manual treadmill doesn't really allow for.
Q: What kind of treadmill are you using now in 2025?
Q: What kind of treadmill are you using now in 2025?
A: I decided to keep the compact foldable treadmill with handrails because some of my family members really need the handrail support. The under-the-desk treadmill has since moved on to another family member, and it’s working out great for them.
Q: Did I need to buy different shoes for each type of treadmill?
Q: Did I need to buy different shoes for each type of treadmill?
A: I didn't. I used the same athletic shoes for all three, but I found that for the manual treadmill, a good pair of shoes with solid grip was especially important for stability.
Q: Which treadmill would I recommend for a beginner?
Q: Which treadmill would I recommend for a beginner?
A: For a beginner, I would recommend starting with an electric treadmill. It gives you more control over the intensity and is better for building a consistent walking habit. The manual treadmill can be too intense for someone just starting out.
Q: What's the biggest lesson I learned from using all three?
Q: What's the biggest lesson I learned from using all three?
A: Surprisingly, the biggest lesson I've learned so far is to get a compact, lightweight treadmill whenever possible. This is because I sometimes want to move the treadmill to a different part of the house. For example, in the summer, I would want the compact treadmill downstairs in the basement, and in the winter, move it into the living room. Since the compact treadmill was about 100 pounds or so, it wasn't easy to move up and down the stairs, even with a hand truck (and of course, safety first). Things got much better with the under-the-desk treadmill weighing about 60 pounds or so. Much easier to move around.
Q: Did all treadmills have safety clips?
Q: Did all treadmills have safety clips?
A: No, the ProGear-190 manual treadmill and Maksone under-desk treadmill didn't have safety clips. The AltraX Fitness compact treadmill did have a safety clip.
Q: What about storage? Are compact treadmills, manual treadmills and under-desk treadmills foldable for easy storage?
Q: What about storage? Are compact treadmills, manual treadmills and under-desk treadmills foldable for easy storage?
A: The easiest treadmill for storage was the under-desk treadmill, followed by the compact treadmill, and then the manual treadmill. The only treadmill that actually folded flat was the compact treadmill, which became a low-profile unit about 6 inches high. However, neither it nor the under-desk treadmill fit under my couch. The manual treadmill's deck could be lifted and locked into an upright position, allowing it to fit into corners, but it was not flat to the ground.
Q: What was the weight capacity of the manual treadmill, compact treadmill, and under-desk treadmill?
Q: What was the weight capacity of the manual treadmill, compact treadmill, and under-desk treadmill?
A: Based on the manufacturer's specs for the models I used, here's a breakdown of the weight capacity:
ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill: 230 lbs (104 kg)
AltraX Fitness Compact Treadmill: 264 lbs (120 kg)
Maksone Under-the-Desk Treadmill: 220 lbs (100 kg)
Q: How do you control speed on a manual treadmill?
Q: How do you control speed on a manual treadmill?
A: On a manual treadmill, you are the motor, so you control the speed by how fast or slow you walk. My ProGear-190 had a permanent incline that could be adjusted between 7-9% incline levels. The higher the incline, the higher the walking intensity.
Q: Can you run on the manual treadmill?
Q: Can you run on the manual treadmill?
A: In the user manual for the ProGear manual treadmill, it specifically says the machine is designed for walking only.
Disclaimer: I’m not a professional and am speaking from my own experience. Please consult with a physician before starting any new exercise routine. All my thoughts here are in reference to using these machines for walking.
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