The WalkingPad C2 Mini Folding Treadmill is the cheapest treadmill available from Kingsmith, a subsidiary of Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi known for its phones, audio and home technology.
With the rise of flexible working and thus the increasing popularity of under-desk treadmills, it’s easy to see why Xiaomi has taken its first step into the market. But are they okay with the WalkingPad C2?
While it’s not one of the best under-desk treadmills, the WalkingPad C2 is a great starting point for those looking to keep moving at home. Crucially, he can reach speeds high enough for a brisk walk — and even a very light jog — but not for a run. Designed to be easily foldable and with wheels to help you wheelbarrow around the house, it checks all the boxes for easy access. Plus, unlike other more portable models like the Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0, you don’t have to sacrifice strap length.
To walk on, the WalkingPad C2 is comfortable, thanks to the shock-absorbing EVA layer of the strap that serves to protect your joints, and you hardly notice the ridge created by the folding mechanism. It’s not that bad, although heavier users may feel this more clearly.
Its palm controller allows you to control the WalkingPad C2 with ease, but you have the second option of switching the treadmill between modes remotely using the KS Fit app, although other control options over the phone are minimal.
While it’s quiet, unfortunately we couldn’t find a way to stop the fairly incessant beeping during use, so you’ll need to adjust your pace before jumping on a Zoom call that requires discretion, or have your fingers ready when it comes to mute button when it’s time to change tempo.
It’s low on price, but since two of its top three unique selling points are an automatic mode that doesn’t work and a confusing, cluttered yet empty app, it loses some points on value for money. That said, the other big selling point, the foldable design, works perfectly.
WalkingPad C2: price and availability
The WalkingPad C2 costs $599.00 in the US, £494.02 in the UK and AU$799.00 in Australia (opens in new tab)†
UK and US customers will be able to purchase the WalkingPad C2 since late 2021, with Australian customers joining in July 2022. The WalkingPad C2 is the cheapest model available from Xiaomi/Kingsmith and can also be found at online retailers such as Amazon.
WalkingPad C2: design
- Simple, stylish design
- Foldable and manoeuvrable
- no handrail
Design Score: 4/5
The WalkingPad C2 is sleek and minimalist, largely made of plastic and available in white, red and black. At the front center of the treadmill is an LED display, which shows your calorie and step count and time elapsed, and a circled M and A to indicate which mode (manual or automatic, respectively) you are using.
When you open the box on arrival, you will find that the treadmill is fully built and ready to use as soon as it is plugged in. touches the ground. We noticed that this eased off a bit after a few uses, but it could benefit from being a little smoother.
At a relatively light weight of 65 pounds, the WalkingPad C2 is fairly easy to move around and has two mono-directional wheels on the top of the treadmill so you can wheelbarrow it around the house. There’s no handle, though, so it can be a bit impractical to lift and grab it while navigating it.
Unfolded the dimensions are 144.5 / 51.8 / 12.5 cm. When folded they are 82.5 / 51.8 / 13.6 cm, so you get the best of both worlds when it comes to maneuverability and storage, as well as the length for long strides. If you have a compact office space or have trouble adjusting the height of your desk, the 180-degree folding mechanism is likely to snag.
Since the WalkingPad is primarily designed for… well, walking, you’re missing out on some of the features available in higher ticket budgets. For example, unlike some other models, the WalkingPad does not have a handrail, which also means it may not be best suited for the elderly or young children. Its weight limit is 220 pounds, which is also slightly less than some of its competitors.
The deck is made of plastic and the belt measures 119 x 42 cm and consists of four layers: a non-slip and anti-static treadmill, an abrasion-resistant layer, an EVA shock pad layer and a high-density fiber footboard.
WalkingPad C2: Features
- Auto mode didn’t work for us
- App leaves a lot to be desired
- No security key
Feature Score: 2/5
The WalkingPad C2 Mini Folding Treadmill is fairly feature-lite, but there’s only so much you can do with a treadmill.
There are two settings available for the WalkingPad C2: manual and automatic. In manual mode, you use the palm-sized controller to stop and start the belt and control the speed, which increases and decreases in 0.5 km/h intervals.
In automatic mode, things went a bit wrong during our testing. In theory, this mode is designed to respond to the user’s stride using three walking zones on the belt. The first is at the top of the treadmill, which will speed up the treadmill, the second is in the middle to maintain speed, and the third is at the back of the belt to (you guessed it) slow it down.
We found this didn’t work at all, and trying to focus on other things while hiking can detract from your experience. For us, it stopped repeatedly without explanation as soon as we tried to stop accelerating. You can adjust the sensitivity via the app: low sensitivity worked a little better, but inexplicably kept stopping. The one time it worked, it favored acceleration over consistency or deceleration, which made for a pretty terrifying walk before we jumped off in mild panic.
Speaking of the app, this is another feature where the WalkingPad C2 unfortunately falls quite short. The KS fit app can be downloaded from Google Play Store (opens in new tab) or Apple’s App Store (opens in new tab)† Syncing was quick and easy thanks to the Bluetooth connectivity, and afterwards you get access to an app that is matte at best. Through the app, you can follow an installation guide and tutorial, after which you can switch between manual, automatic and standby modes, monitor your activity and calibrate your belt. You can also enter your weight and track changes via the app, but there are no smart insights to get here.
And that’s it. No different modes, speed control (that we could find) or content that adds value other than a 30-day hiking challenge. In addition, the app repeatedly displayed error messages, and while they didn’t seem to affect the app’s performance, seeing them so repeatedly was a bit disappointing.
Since this is a more budget-friendly option, a few other features are missing. Since there is no console, there is no security key to attach to, as with other models such as the Lifetime TR1200-DT3† As for security, however, the WalkingPad C2 has an automated standby mode, overload protection and a child lock that can be controlled via the app. There’s also no incline option, but for treadmills that run alone, this is pretty standard.
WalkingPad C2: Achievements
- Comfortable to walk on
- Quiet – but not discreet
- Not going so fast
Performance Score: 3/5
On the surface, the WalkingPad C2 is good at what it should be good at: being a treadmill. The strap is comfortable, has a good grip and is fairly quiet, at only 48 dB. There’s a very small notch in the center of the belt where the treadmill folds, which can be felt very lightly by trainers and casual walking shoes (we tested in Vans), but isn’t enough to cause any discomfort.
The top speed is 6 mph, which is low, but not surprising given its treadmill nature. The length allowed us to stretch to a very light jog, but you’d be better off shopping elsewhere if speed is a focus for you.
Being low to the ground, the WalkingPad C2’s 1HP motor is fairly quiet. However, when going through customer reviews on Amazon, some users noted that the noise level increases when used on carpet as the belt can snag on the fibers. not the best in the world for your floor. Annoyingly, we couldn’t find a way to disable the beeping when changing the speed, so if you’re planning on changing this discreetly while on a call, you might struggle.
You also can’t pause your workout with the remote, just stop it completely, and when we tried to jump away to mimic the front door, we found out that the session had been reset, which is annoying.
Although we did not have this experience, customers on Amazon (opens in new tab) have noticed several squeaks and creaks that developed after extended use, especially around the fold.
Buy it if…
The WalkingPad C2 Mini Foldable Treadmill does exactly what it promises: you can walk comfortably with it, both at home and in the office. In this micro sense it is perfect for the job.
- You want to keep it out of sight
The WalkingPad C2 Mini Folding Treadmill is one of the few models on the market that can deliver length and easy storage. Its foldable and compact design makes it perfect for minimalists or those in smaller living arrangements
- You don’t worry about bells and whistles
Not everyone needs apps and features – if you’re just here to walk, the WalkingPad C2 Mini Foldable Treadmill is perfectly usable without the app…although you’ll need to graduate through the training program first.
Don’t buy it if…
- You want a smart treadmill
Despite the supposed abilities of mapping heat and adapting to your needs from its step sensors, the WalkingPad C2 Mini Foldable Treadmill failed to deliver on this front.
The WalkingPad C2 Mini Folding Treadmill is very much designed for walking, and while we did a light jog, without the handrail or ability to reach speeds above 6km/h, you’re better off with a dedicated running machine.
- You like elaborate apps
The app leaves a lot to be desired, and we really mean a lot. The user experience was clunky and does little more than track activity and serve as an alternate on/off switch.
First reviewed in June 2022
