Every kind of movement is good, but walking is among the best: it’s free, easy on joints, and studies show it can perk up your mood, aid your sleep, and help with weight loss. Even one extra hour of walking per week can help lower risk of heart disease in women, according to a study published in JAMA.
If you’re just getting started on your fitness journey, walking is there for you; ditto for recovering from an injury. And even if you go hard with HIIT, lifting heavy weights, or other intense activity, taking a walk is a great active recovery. The CDC recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (like brisk walking) per week. If you break that up, that means a minimum of 22 minutes spent walking every day. Which sounds easy, right?
Well, then life gets in the way. It’s pouring down rain outside, or it’s freezing, or by the time you get home from work it’s dark out. This is where a walking pad comes in, which is kind of like a much lighter, smaller, and less expensive treadmill.
After trying several models, our fitness director Justin Kompf, Ph.D., most enjoyed getting his steps in on the Lacuffy Walking Pad. It’s compact enough to slide under your desk for a walking workday — even better than a standing desk is a walking desk. Or you can roll it out in front of your TV to clock miles while you watch your shows. Kompf likes that the Lacuffy has a higher weight limit accommodating up to 300 pounds, meaning it’s also built for wherever you are in your journey.
Not sure where to start? Here are three walking plans for weight loss that accommodate every fitness level.
Check out the other can’t-live-without winners of the 2025 WeightWatchers Awards
WW Awards reflect WW’s own nutrition, food preparation, and movement criteria and are intended to recognize products that align with WW’s approach to weight management. These awards do not constitute approval, endorsement, or certification by the FDA, or any other government agency or brand.