Anyone got any experience with combining a standing desk and a walking pad/treadmill?

[Mr Jack]

Since I work from home, and sit in front of a computer all day, there's a sad lack of any natural exercise in my life. I try to get out and walk most days, and I'm getting back into running again, but I'd like to do something about the sheer amount of sit time. So I'm planning on getting a sit/stand desk and I've seen some people combining them with a walking treadmill to get some movement (not all the time, like an hour a day or something) which seems like an interesting idea.

Has anyone else done something like this? What's your setup? How do you find it? Any pitfalls/advice for me?

 

[Martynt74]

I've got a standing desk and love it. Just really helps to switch things up and i notice a lot when i'm in an office and stuck in a chair.

I've not tried a walking pad yet. However have been listening to a podcast recently our CFO did with someone who provides fitness and wellbeing advice to companies who was raving about walking pads. I have a fairly sedentary lifestyle outside of specific exercise with step counts around 3000/day with my main exercise being cycling. I am relatively conscious of getting older (only 38 so long way to go!) but feel stiffer in my ankles etc since i stopped running and things have gone backwards.

There were some comments in the standing desk threads (one in GD and one in Home and Garden). With one person saying they got static shocks and had to change a mousemat to a different material. There seem to be a range of walking pads of different levels.

I'm a fan of Flexispot which have a decent following and also bought this wobble stool which gives some support from a seat point of view but doesn't allow for slouching

Height Adjustable Wobble Stool BH4丨FlexiSpot

flexispot bh4 ergonomic height adjustable wobble stool has high quality and ergonomic design.free shipping,up to 10 year warranty,Hassle-free 60-days!

flexispot.co.uk

As such i'd be tempted by the Flexispot walking pad. It's pretty good value and they offer decent warranties. Ultimately you don't need anything to go fast as the last thing you need is to be bouncing around on meetings!

 

[Mr Jack]

I've got a standing desk and love it. Just really helps to switch things up and i notice a lot when i'm in an office and stuck in a chair.

I've just ordered one, should arrive next week

I'm a fan of Flexispot which have a decent following and also bought this wobble stool which gives some support from a seat point of view but doesn't allow for slouching

Height Adjustable Wobble Stool BH4丨FlexiSpot

flexispot bh4 ergonomic height adjustable wobble stool has high quality and ergonomic design.free shipping,up to 10 year warranty,Hassle-free 60-days!

flexispot.co.uk

I was looking at getting one of those, but I'm really worried that they'd catch one of the cats' tails. I want one with a fixed base, or at least a hidden mechanism.

As such i'd be tempted by the Flexispot walking pad. It's pretty good value and they offer decent warranties. Ultimately you don't need anything to go fast as the last thing you need is to be bouncing around on meetings!

My brother has just got one of those, he says its really good. He uses it in the afternoon when he starts feeling drowsy and says the activity wakes him up.

 

[Martynt74]

Good to hear some personal feedback on it. It's definitely cheaper than a lot of alternatives so it always makes you sceptical! My main concern would be the hassle of putting it into space. As many people my desk is up against a wall, so the walking pad would have to be elsewhere whilst i'm sat down or stood up. If i had more space in front then i could push it under the desk and out the back and then just pull it directly back and under me.

The stool is good. My cat hasn't been trapped yet, although he doesn't come into my office too much.

Also, unsure of your floor choice, but a standing mat makes a big difference for me as i'm on tiled floors.

 

[Mr Jack]

With cheaper stuff I worry about durability more than anything, but Flexispot seem like a solid brand overall so I suspect it's pretty good on that front.

 

[Martynt74]

With cheaper stuff I worry about durability more than anything, but Flexispot seem like a solid brand overall so I suspect it's pretty good on that front.

Yeah, they offer solid warranties and seem to have a good European focused business which always adds some positive goodwill. I had a weird issue with my desk where it kept juddering when switching positions. I'd since moved from the UK to Spain and yet they still offered full support.

 

[Mr Jack]

Well, the Flexispot walking pad couldn't be delivered until April - and I'm just not that patient - so I ordered this Mobvoi one instead. Should arrive next week, along with the desk, and since I'm going to be re-arranging everything anyway I figure I'll take advantage of this weekend to repaint my office while I'm at it.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I can only recommend a walking pad - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DG2QYB66?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
That has now gone up £40
Also don't take notice of those pictures, they have made the woman look smaller.
The one below is more to size.
I attach my folding laptop to it and put You Tube running videos on from all over the World

 

[Mr Jack]

I can only recommend a walking pad - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DG2QYB66?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

That's more or less what I ordered. The one I ordered doesn't have the fold up handle and a slightly larger walking area.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

That's more or less what I ordered. The one I ordered doesn't have the fold up handle and a slightly larger walking area.

You can use it without the fold up and handles but with such dodgy knees I need something to hold on to.
I think it goes up to 7mph which I will never be able to do with metal knees.
I've got it linked to my Samsung Watch6 and an app called Zwift.

 

[chimponarope]

Yeah I’ve got a standing desk and a walk pad/treadmill. Use it during the endless meetings. Works fine and often means people ask me to turn the camera off as I’m walking so makes them feel sea sick so win win really. One thing to consider, if you’re using a Fitbit etc you’ll need to put it on your ankle as your arms aren’t moving so looks like you’re doing no steps.

 

[Mr Jack]

One thing to consider, if you’re using a Fitbit etc you’ll need to put it on your ankle as your arms aren’t moving so looks like you’re doing no steps.

I have a deep aversion to such things, so all good but thanks for the heads up

 

[SexyGreyFox]

One thing to consider, if you’re using a Fitbit etc you’ll need to put it on your ankle as your arms aren’t moving so looks like you’re doing no steps.

Hmm interesting.
I don't take any notice of steps but my wife will always say "We've done 8.500 steps so far" when we're walking on holiday.
Now if she's only judging that off her wrist it can't be accurate because sometimes her arms aren't moving.
Or does it work by magic?

 

[chimponarope]

Hmm interesting.
I don't take any notice of steps but my wife will always say "We've done 8.500 steps so far" when we're walking on holiday.
Now if she's only judging that off her wrist it can't be accurate because sometimes her arms aren't moving.
Or does it work by magic?

It’ll pick up the vibration of the steps etc through her body I imagine. But when I’m typing etc my hands are supported by the keyboard to an extent so it must mute it or something

 

[Mr Jack]

Now if she's only judging that off her wrist it can't be accurate because sometimes her arms aren't moving.
Or does it work by magic?

Even if you're not swinging your arms, they are moving due to your stride. That's how the old belt clip ones work. More recent ones also use GPS to calibrate themselves when you're actually moving (obvs not on a treadmill).

 

[SexyGreyFox]

My Watch6 will come on and say "Well done for starting your exercise" when I'm wiping my bum