If you want a treadmill at home but don't particularly want to live with a treadmill, the WalkingPad X218 is an interesting proposition.

In the first month I ran over 100km on the WalkingPad X218, using it for everything from easier runs to faster sessions, and my opinion of it is broadly positive.

But it isn't perfect. In fact, there's one particular compromise that would make me think twice if I were a faster runner.

So, is the WalkingPad X218 actually worth buying?

The Short Version

For anyone who doesn't want to read the entire review, here's my conclusion.

The WalkingPad X218 makes a lot of sense if space is the primary reason you don't already own a treadmill.

What I like:

• It folds away remarkably quickly

• It takes up very little floor space when stored

• The running deck feels far more substantial than I expected

• The belt is large enough to actually run properly

• 18 km/h is fast enough for the vast majority of recreational runners

• It feels well built

• Moving it around on its wheels is relatively easy

• The 136kg user capacity is reassuringly high

What I don't like:

• There is no incline

• It's heavy if you actually need to lift it

• The front of the machine can move slightly at higher running speeds

• The app has some frustrating limitations

• You are paying a significant premium for the folding mechanism

And that last point is probably the key to the entire review.

If you don't need it to fold, I wouldn't automatically buy the X218.

There are plenty of conventional treadmills competing around this sort of price.

But if a permanent treadmill simply doesn't work in your room, the X218 becomes much more compelling.

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. The X218 used for this review was provided by WalkingPad. That doesn't determine what I say about it and the thoughts below are the same ones you'll hear in my full video review.

Watch My Full WalkingPad X218 Review

I've also made a full video review after putting approximately 100km on the X218.

In the video I show you the treadmill in my actual home gym, how quickly it folds away, what it's like to run on and, importantly, the movement I experienced when increasing the speed.

Is the WalkingPad X218 Actually a Walking Pad?

No. The name probably undersells what this machine actually is.

Traditional walking pads are generally designed primarily for walking, often under a standing desk. They're compact because they have relatively small belts, limited top speeds and minimal frames.

The X218 is different.

You get:

• Up to 18 km/h / 11.5 mph

• 140 × 51cm running area

• 136kg maximum user weight

• Folding side rails

• Digital display

• App connectivity

• A vertically folding design

Those are specifications much closer to a conventional treadmill than the walking pads you might have seen designed primarily for getting your steps in while working.

That was one of the reasons I was interested in it. I wanted something I could actually run on, but that didn't permanently occupy half of my home gym.

The Folding Mechanism Is the Reason to Buy It

This is easily the biggest strength of the X218. The running deck folds in the middle and the entire treadmill can then be stored vertically.

And crucially, actually doing it isn't a massive faff.

I own plenty of supposedly space-saving gym equipment where the manufacturer can technically claim it folds away, but doing so requires enough effort that you eventually stop bothering, but the X218 isn't like that.

Going from stored to ready to run only takes a short time, mabye 15 seconds.

My gym is only around 12 square metres. When I'm strength training I want the floor space available, but when I want to run I can bring the treadmill out.

Once I'm finished, it goes back against the wall.

That is the feature you're really paying for.

Does the Fold in the Running Deck Feel Strange?

The deck feels much more substantial than I expected, and during normal running I don't find myself consciously noticing the fold.

That's important because the X218 would be far less interesting if the clever storage mechanism compromised the actual running experience.

After around 100km, that hasn't been a major concern for me.

Is the WalkingPad X218 Big Enough to Run On?

For me, yes.

The 140cm × 51cm running surface is one of the reasons I'd consider the X218 a genuine treadmill rather than simply a fast walking pad.

There's enough room that I don't feel like I have to consciously shorten my stride or constantly look down to make sure my feet are in the right place.

How Fast Is the WalkingPad X218?

The top speed is 18 km/h, or approximately 11.5 mph.

For context, that's roughly 3:20 per kilometre pace.

So despite the WalkingPad branding, this isn't limited to gentle jogging.

For most recreational runners, 18 km/h provides considerably more headroom than you're likely to need during normal steady-state running.

However, speed also exposes what I think is the X218's biggest weakness.

The Biggest Problem: Stability at Higher Speeds

At slower and moderate running speeds, I've found the treadmill reassuringly solid. As I push the speed higher, however, I can get some movement through the front section of the machine.

I'm around 80kg, and the effect becomes more noticeable when I'm running towards the front of the belt. Moving slightly further back and running closer to the middle helps. But there's an obvious problem with that:

The controls are at the front.

So when I want to change the speed, I naturally move forward, which is also where the movement becomes more noticeable.

I wouldn't describe the treadmill as unstable during normal running, and it hasn't prevented me using it.

But if your main reason for buying a treadmill is very fast interval work, this is something I'd think about carefully.

You can see exactly what I mean in my video review rather than relying on my description of it.

WATCH THE HIGH-SPEED TEST →

There's No Incline

This will be a deal-breaker for some people, as the X218 does not have adjustable incline.

If you specifically want to use incline for:

• hill sessions

• incline walking

• increasing intensity without running faster

• replicating outdoor elevation

then the X218 may not be the right treadmill for you.

There are conventional treadmills around this price that offer incline.

Again, you're choosing the X218 primarily because storage matters more to you than having every possible treadmill feature.

How Easy Is It to Move?

It's easy to wheel.

It isn't particularly easy to lift.

Once the treadmill is folded and you're moving it around a flat floor using its wheels, I find it relatively straightforward.

If your plan involves regularly carrying it over steps, moving it between floors or physically lifting the whole thing, I'd think carefully about where you're going to store it before buying.

For my home gym, where I'm simply wheeling it out from the wall and back again, the weight isn't a significant problem.

What Is the WalkingPad App Like?

The app connected easily enough for me, and it does add some useful functionality. You can create programmed sessions, which is particularly useful if you want the speed to change automatically rather than constantly adjusting the controls during a structured workout.

But there are some strange omissions. One thing I would particularly like is the ability to create a workout based around a target distance.

I wouldn't buy the X218 because of the app, I also wouldn't avoid the X218 because of it.

The hardware is much more important than the software here.

Is It Good for a Small Home Gym?

This is probably where I'm most qualified to answer.

Yes — with one qualification.

The X218 is good for a small home gym because it doesn't have to occupy its full running footprint permanently.

You still need enough clear floor space to unfold a full treadmill and run safely.

Is the WalkingPad X218 Worth the Money?

This depends enormously on the price you pay. WalkingPad runs promotions regularly, so I would always check the current price rather than judging it against the full RRP.

At the right promotional price, I think the X218 is an impressive piece of equipment.

At full price, I'd be much more hesitant.

What you're paying for is the combination of:

proper running performance + a large usable deck + compact vertical storage.

If you need all three, there aren't nearly as many alternatives.

If you only need the first two, your options become much broader.

You can save on the WalkingPad using code “JAYGYMGUIDES”

UK customers save 15% here

US customers save 10% here

Who Should Buy the WalkingPad X218?

After approximately 100km of use, I'd recommend looking seriously at the X218 if you:

• want to run at home

• have limited space

• don't want a treadmill permanently dominating a room

• need more than a basic walking pad

• value convenience enough to pay for it

• don't require incline

I'd be more cautious if you're an especially fast runner, if incline training matters to you, or if you already have enough space for a full-size conventional treadmill.

It isn't perfect.

But the folding mechanism isn't merely a gimmick added to an average treadmill.

It's the reason the treadmill works in a space where I otherwise wouldn't own one at all.

And that makes the X218 considerably more useful than I expected.