I walked 14,000 steps without leaving my apartment thanks to this under-desk treadmill — and it's just $149
Fortunately, I have good news. If you're a first-time treadmill user or you're a home worker who just wants to get some extra steps at your desk, the Q1 Mini is the ideal cheap treadmill. Its top speed is 3.8mph, which I found ideal for mid-afternoon ambling, and it's much smaller than alternatives, meaning it can slot away nicely between uses.
There's got to be a catch, though, right? Yes, unfortunately. Nothing's ever perfect. The small size can negatively affect usage if you're over 5'5', and it's still really heavy. But is the DeerRun Q1 Mini one of the best under-desk treadmills? I'll discuss everything in full in this DeerRun Q1 Mini review.
Price
$149 / £159
Weight
41.8 pounds
Dimensions
43 x 20 x 4 inches
Top speed
3.8mph
Max user weight
300 pounds
Incline
No
Wheels
Yes
Walking area
16 inches
In the U.S., the DeerRun Q1 Mini is $149 from Amazon U.S. At the time of writing, the DeerRun Q1 Mini is unavailable on Amazon U.K. However, it's still in stock on DeerRun's website for the low, low price of £159.
This price is unimaginably good for an under-desk treadmill: we've also tested the WalkingPad Z1, which is $348/£299 (still classed as 'cheap'), and the WalkingPad P1, which is $499.
While obviously a $149 under-desk treadmill will not perform to the same caliber as a $500 treadmill, the Q1 Mini was surprisingly good. It lacks incline and taps out at 3.8mph, but if you just want a treadmill that helps you get your steps in during work, 3.8mph is perfect.
DeerRun's Q1 range features a number of different treadmills for different use cases. The Q1 Mini is, you guessed it, the smallest of the bunch.
The Q1 Classic Pro ($179) and the Q1 Urban Plus ($188) have a 39-inch belt, 4 inches longer than the Q1 Mini. If you want a treadmill with an incline, you'll need to get the Z10 ($269), which has a 12% incline.
The Q1 Mini is an under-desk treadmill without any flourishes. It's simple, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's no incline, there are no handles, and there's nowhere to hold your phone. It fits under my FlexiSpot E2Q (similar to the E7 Pro, one of the best standing desks) perfectly.
DeerRun describes the Q1 Mini as having 'advanced 5-layer technology'. These so-called layers include a wear-resistant surface, a noise reduction layer, two high-strength reinforced layers, and a shock-absorption layer.
I didn't particularly notice any shock absorption — I had to wear my Keen Hyperport H2 sandals for comfort. However, the Keen + Q1 Mini combination was the perfect amount of support and bounce.
DeerRun also describes the Q1 Mini as being 'lightweight.' I can think of many words to describe this treadmill, and lightweight certainly isn't one of them. It weighs a hefty 42 pounds.
However, it's all relative, right? Compared to other under-desk treadmills, the Q1 Mini isn't abnormally heavy. The WalkingPad Z1 weighs 51 pounds, the WalkingPad P1 62 pounds, and the GoPlus 1HP 55 pounds.
Even so, I was unable to carry the Q1 Mini up and down stairs, and I had to get my boyfriend to carry it up the two flights of stairs to our apartment. If you're relatively weak (like me) and you won't have help carrying this upstairs, I'm not sure I'd recommend it.
So while the DeerRun Q1 Mini isn't lightweight in the slightest, it's more lightweight than the competition. If you are capable of carrying 42 pounds (also remember it's 20 inches wide), then this could be the treadmill for you.
If you manage to get the Q1 Mini into your apartment, you'll need to check that it can be stored and used relatively close to a power outlet. The cord is long enough (it's about 5 and a ½ feet long), but because the treadmill itself is so heavy, you'll want to store it close to your desk. I slotted mine between the wall and my standing desk between uses.
I'll discuss actual usage properly in the 'Performance' section, but just to preface: there's a small screen on the top right of the treadmill. This shows you the speed, distance and time used. It cycles through these stats relatively quickly, and I enjoyed seeing this data while walking.
The setup is pretty annoying. You have to download the app (which I'll talk about later) to set up the treadmill, but you don't need the app to use it. Why? Why not just let us set up the treadmill independently of the app? Once you've got the app set up, though, you don't actually need it. You can delete it straight away, and the treadmill will still work. Bizarre.
After setup, controlling the treadmill is as easy as pie: simply use the provided remote to turn it on and increase and decrease the speed. Annoyingly, you need a tiny screwdriver to open the remote and change the battery, but I only had to do this during setup. Hopefully, the battery will last me a long time yet.
The Q1 Mini only does one thing, but boy, does it do it well. Despite what DeerRun might want you to think, the Q1 Mini is best suited to being an under-desk treadmill. And at just $149/£159, I don't think that's too outrageous a claim. Many of the best treadmills will set back well over $500.
As the top speed is 3.8mph, I wouldn't recommend this for running. I can still walk (albeit a little unsteadily) at the maximum speed. It would be a jog at most. It's very quiet, at just 52dB.
The usable length of the belt is just under 35 inches. My maximum stride length is 38 inches (I'm about 5' 5), and I sometimes step off the end or onto the front section accidentally. As a result, if you're considerably taller than I or have a much longer stride, I don't think this is the treadmill for you.
Changing speeds lags a little, but nothing major. It takes about eight seconds for the belt to accelerate from its slowest to its maximum speed, and then about eight seconds for it to decelerate again. DeerRun does make alternative treadmills (the Q1 Classic Pro and Q1 Urban Pro I mentioned above), so if you have a longer stride, I'd recommend those instead.
For me, though, the Q1 Mini suited my needs perfectly. I only want to walk at about 2.5-3mph while working, so I didn't find the belt overly short or the treadmill shaky. I wouldn't recommend it for running, as it simply doesn't go fast enough.
Between uses, maintenance is relatively straightforward. I just lubricated and dusted it every so often. Thankfully, DeerRun provides lubricant. Unthankfully, the instructions on the back of the lubricant bottle are nonsensical:
'This product will be applied to the middle of the board tread min...open the treadmill power supply.' Pardon? I had to Google proper treadmill lubricant usage to be sure.
It was quite easy to apply: I just put the lubricant under the belt in the center and then ran it at a very low speed to distribute the lubricant. It's annoying that DeerRun doesn't provide a stopper for the lubricant bottle, so once it's open, it's open. Although for just $149, can I really complain?
Like other under-desk treadmills, the Q1 Mini has an app, because why not? DeerRun's treadmills are compatible with an app called 'PitPat,' which is a third-party app with online races where you can compete against other people. It's… interesting.
On the homepage, you can choose from a range of pre-existing maps (kind of like Mario Kart and the styles range from deserts to volcanoes. You can create a little avatar that completes said maps, and each has a different length, but you control your speed. The avatars run and walk together on said virtual map. Here are some screenshots to show you what I mean.
I would never have used this feature had I not been reviewing the treadmill. Will I ever use this feature again? No, but it's nice to have for those who need or want little virtual avatars to go on virtual jogs and compete against other virtual avatars. If you love that competitive factor, then this will suit you perfectly.
The DeerRun Q1 Mini has a very specific use case. It's not for serious runners at all, but it's more than enough for casual remote workers who just want to get a few extra steps in without spending too much.
Would I buy this for myself as a 5'5' hybrid worker? Heck yeah. It's just $149, and it meets all of my needs perfectly. Would I buy this for my boyfriend, a 5'10' marathon runner? Absolutely not. For starters, the 35-inch belt would be too small for his stride, and the 3.8mph maximum speed would be too slow for his pace.
If we think about the Q1 Mini not as a running treadmill but more as an under-desk walking treadmill, then it's perfect. Now that I've experienced the satisfying 'You've hit your step target!' notification at 11 am on a random Monday, I don't think I can ever go back. Remote workers on a budget, this is the treadmill for you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
KitchenAid 1.7L Variable Temperature Kettle review
The KitchenAid 1.7L Kettle is a beautiful, sleek-yet-retro electric kettle, destined for a sparkling kitchen countertop. KitchenAid has manufactured one of the prettiest kettles I've ever seen, but at a cost. The 1.7L Kettle is a whopping $179, which makes it one of the most expensive electric kettles I've ever seen. Yes, Fellow makes $200 kettles, but Fellow's kettles have an esoteric purpose — the KitchenAid offering seemingly doesn't. The KitchenAid 1.7L Kettle is an everyday, generic kitchen kettle, but is it enough to be one of the best electric kettles? To find out, read this KitchenAid 1.7L Kettle review. Price $179 / £179 Capacity 1.7 liters (1.8 quarts) Heating element Electric Accessories Limescale filter Weight 3 pounds Dimensions 5.8 x 5.8 x 10 inches The KitchenAid 1.7L kettle is really expensive for what it is. It's $179 from Amazon U.S. and £179 from Amazon U.K.. This makes it around the same price as the iconic Fellow EKG range: the Fellow EKG Stagg and Fellow EKG Corvo are $199 each, respectively. However, these are both specialty kettles from a renowned specialty coffee brand. The KitchenAid 1.7L kettle is more of a generic everyday kettle. In comparison to other general-use kitchen kettles, the Ninja Precision Temperature kettle I use every day is just $89, and the Cosori Glass Kettle is just $27. The KitchenAid 1.7L Kettle excels with its design. The sleek-and-modern-yet-cool-retro vibe is almost reminiscent of Smeg, but with KitchenAid's individual charm. I tested the sage green version, which would be my choice if I was buying it for myself. It also comes in black, white, and red. I'd like to see it in more color options to match the diverse colorways of other KitchenAid products, like the Artistan Stand Mixer and KitchenAid Blender. The kettle has an angled spout and a pop-up lid, which is a little stubborn sometimes. Other users have reported the lid release button jams after a while, but I didn't experience this. It just took a few tries to get it to release on a couple of occasions. At the base of the kettle is a temperature control slider. Instead of having buttons on the base like the Fellow and Ninja precise temperature kettles, the KitchenAid is controlled by this slider on the kettle itself. I found the slider easy to use and responsive, and never got stuck. There's a button on the side of the kettle, which is the on/off switch. Unlike Fellow's EKG kettles, simply selecting a temperature does not set the kettle on to boil. When the kettle finishes boiling, it emits a one-note tone. If you've ever been on an airplane and heard the seatbelt announcement tone, it's the exact same. I felt like an air hostess every time my kettle finished boiling. It's actually adorable. In terms of features, there actually aren't that many, especially considering this is a $179 kettle. There's no hold temperature setting, unlike the Fellow and Ninja offerings. You can't control temperature to the degree (like Fellow) or to 5° (like Ninja). It's 122°F-212°F (in increments of 18°F, except 203°F). Yes, this is still a great feature, but for $179, I'd expect a little more. However, the kettle's actual performance is one of the best kettles I've ever tested (I'd hope so for $179…), which I'll discuss in full now. As with all kettles I review, I put the KitchenAid 1.7L Kettle through a series of tests. Time taken to heat, volume while heating, and the ability to retain heat. Pouring feel is really nice: the kettle doesn't leak even when pouring out large volumes of water in one go. The spout is angled and small, yet is still capable of pouring quickly. Here's the results from the heating speed tests. I filled the kettle to its max (so 1.7 liters/1.8 quarts) and used water straight from my tap. It should be noted that my testing was done using a 240V version, as I live in the U.K., in the U.S. with lower mains voltages, the times may differ. 122°F/50°C 1 min 50 sec 140°F/60°C 1 min 59 sec 158°F/70°C 2 min 37 sec 176°F/80°C 3 min 5 sec 194°F/90°C 3 min 53 sec 212°F/100°C 4 min 1 sec My Ninja Precision Temperature kettle takes 4 minutes and 10 seconds to heat its full capacity (also 1.7L), so the KitchenAid pipped it to the post by 9 seconds. Comparatively, the Cosori Glass Kettle took 4 minutes and 4 seconds to heat 1.3 quarts, and the Hario Gooseneck kettle took a shocking 5 minutes and 53 seconds to boil just 800ml (0.8 quarts) of water. The KitchenAid really impressed me with its boiling speed. This is a very fast kettle that made light work of boiling huge amounts of water quickly. The KitchenAid 1.7L kettle isn't just fast — it's also really quiet. To measure the volume level, I used the DecibelX app, as always. Here are the results of my tests. 122°F/50°C 69dB 140°F/60°C 68dB 158°F/70°C 65dB 176°F/80°C 60dB 194°F/90°C 56dB 212°F/100°C 51dB The KitchenAid 1.7L is noticeably quiet while boiling. I wouldn't have any reservations about making myself a cup of tea at 5 in the morning. The Cosori Glass Kettle was between 67-70dB while boiling, while the KitchenAid, Fellow, and Ninja were just 50dB while boiling. For this test, I boiled a full kettle of water and then measured the water's heat after 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes. Here are my results. 30 mins 74°C/165°F 60 mins 68°C/154°F 90 mins 61°C/141°F 120 mins 55°C/131°F While I expected these results (as there's no hold temperature setting), I was still pretty disappointed to see such a drop off in the first 30 minutes. The kettle's insulation did a decent job of retaining heat after that initial drop, but I would still reboil the kettle after thirty minutes if I was making another tea or coffee. If you live in a hard water area, you'll need to descale the KitchenAid 1.7L kettle semi-regularly. Upkeep will depend on your location. I live in one of the hardest water areas in the U.K., so I would descale about once every 6 weeks. KitchenAid recommends using vinegar, citric acid, or lemon juice to clean mineral buildup (limescale) off the inside of the kettle. The kettle itself, as I said in the 'Design' section above, is beautiful. There'd be no reason to store this inside a cupboard between uses: it's destined for the countertop. It's just gorgeous. At just 5.8 inches wide, too, it doesn't take up too much space. The heating element base is noticeably smaller than my Ninja Precision Temperature. If you're not concerned about cost, then yes, the KitchenAid 1.7L kettle is a fantastic premium kettle that boils quickly, quietly, and prettily. Is it a necessary purchase if you've already got a basic electric kettle? No, not at all. If you value a fast, attractive kettle that'll bring some pizzazz to your kitchen, I completely recommend the KitchenAid 1.7L. Personally, I wouldn't buy it, as I love my $79 Ninja Precision Temperature. The Ninja option does everything the KitchenAid does for $100 less. However, that doesn't mean the KitchenAid is redundant. It fulfils its purpose as an electric kettle well, and looks a treat while doing so. It's just really expensive.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones review: A one-way ticket to Tinny City
Some of the best headphones come cheap, so I was really hopeful when I unboxed the Mixx StreamQ C4. However, my hopes were quickly dashed by the disappointing sound quality. Muddy soundscapes, flat bass, and tinny midsections were enough to put me off. The StreamQ C4 are definitely the kind of headphones that'll send you to Tinny City (which basically just means they don't sound great). For some people, though, poor sound isn't as much of a dealbreaker as for others. If you're one of those people who need affordable headphones with great ANC, then the StreamQ C4 headphones might be the ones for you. If you want seriously decent music quality, though? I don't think these are the headphones for you. I'll discuss everything in full in this Mixx StreamQ C4 review. Price $59 / £49 Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 ANC Yes Battery 40 hours Weight 14 ounces Dimensions 3.5 x 5.9 x 7.1 inches Colors Black, white Compatibility iOS, Android The Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones are $59 from Amazon U.S. and £49 from Robert Dyas in the U.K. This makes them some of the cheapest headphones I've tested, alongside the EarFun Tune Pro, EarFun Wave Life ($59), and EarFun Wave Pro ($79). Just a little bit of foreshadowing for you: I didn't award any of those EarFun headphones above a 3, and obviously, I only awarded the Mixx StreamQ C4 a 2.5. The only budget headphones I wholeheartedly recommend are the $79 JLab JBuds Lux ANC, which sound great for the price tag. We also tested the 1More Sonoflow Pro and loved the budget cans. The main thing I like about the Mixx StreaMQ C4 headphones is their comfort. The earcups are pillow-soft and don't smell like plastic, unlike EarFun gear, which has a tendency to. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the mesh casing over the plastic interior is quite thick and soft, so my ears don't touch the drivers as I'm listening. The headband is padded, which adds to the comfort, and the headphones don't clamp onto my ears. I could wear these headphones for hours and hours because of how comfortable they are. The controls are easy to use and accessible: on the right cup, there is a button for play/pause, Siri (or your phone's equivalent), and an ANC button. I love that the headphones announce which ANC mode you're switching to, as some budget headphones lack this important feature. On the bottom of the right cup there's a USB-C charging port and a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired playback. Yes — you can listen via Bluetooth or wired connection (the headphones don't have to be turned on for this to work). I'll talk about this more in detail in the 'Audio quality' section below As I mentioned earlier, you can listen via Bluetooth or aux cable. However, the aux cable that came with my Mixx headphones didn't work. Thankfully, I had other aux cables so I could test this properly. However, it's still worth noting that the provided aux cable was faulty. The Bluetooth connection initiated quickly. However, there's no multipoint connectivity, which you can get on other budget headphones like the $59 EarFun Wave Life. It's also worth remembering that if you listen via wired playback, you won't get digital features like ANC or EQ. As for other features, well, there are very few. That's kind of expected on a pair of $59 headphones, but I still found myself a little disappointed. There's no app, which you get with similarly-priced EarFun and JLab gear. You can switch the EQ using the on-cup buttons. I liked the bass boost the most, but none of the three (voice, bass, music) options sounded particularly great. Yes, there's ANC, and yes, it's pretty good, especially considering the $59 price tag. However, I was still yearning for a little more. I wish I could adjust the EQs manually. To test the Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones, I listened to a range of genres on Qobuz, our best streaming service for audiophiles. Oh, I have some bad news. The StreamQ C4 headphones don't sound good at all. 'The Sofa' by Wolf Alice was tinny and flat, and the vocal pinched at the top of the treble. It was like I was listening to the vocal layer through aluminum foil. After 'The Sofa', I listened to 'Indexical reminder of a morning well spent' by The Japanese House. This is a soft, ambient guitar track with layers of atmospheric vocals, relaxed percussion, and textured guitars. I couldn't pinpoint the different instruments across the track; everything blended together like a muddled, tinny mess. Determined to find something that sounded good on the StreamQ C4 headphones, I switched to more electronic genres. I listened to 'Gossip' by Confidence Man & Jade, which has a synth bassline and Spanish-influenced guitar samples. The female vocals were clear, but there was very little bass to dance to, and the snare drum was very tinny. So indie, ambient, and electronic sounded poor. I thought, well, I'll put something heavy on, maybe that will negate the tinniness. I played 'Afterlife' by Evanescence, which quickly proved me wrong. Somehow, Amy Lee's voice sounded deep-fried. Like it was encased in an egg roll wrapper or something. And that's coming from someone who could eat about 50 egg rolls in one go. The bass was lackluster and the kick drum was tinny. On top of that, the heavy chorus was a mess of guitar, bass, and vocals, and I couldn't discern the instruments from one another. I switched genre to Skepta's 'Victory Lap', which is a grime track with a pulsating, growling bassline. I was hopeful, but unfortunately the bass was crackly and pressurized, as if the headphones couldn't handle the frequency. The only song that sounded good was 'Hold On' by MpH, which has a really satisfying stereo vocal and synth section. This section sounded great, although the tinny drum machine soon came in and ruined the immersion. As the Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones have wired and wireless listening, I listened via the provided aux cable too. I played 'Cobra' by Megan Thee Stallion, and while the bass was more powerful than Bluetooth playback, I was still yearning for more. 'Clover' by Billie Marten, which is an acoustic indie track, was nicely layered, but the vocal was a little tense and pinchy. I was really disappointed with the audio quality of the Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones. The bass was disappointing and weak, and the midrange was tinnier than a can of tuna. I wouldn't recommend these headphones for music lovers. I actually loved the ANC on the Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones. There are three modes, all controlled by a button on the right earcup. The modes are: transparent, ANC on, and ANC off. While the ANC makes the audio quality a little harsher, the sound wasn't particularly impressive to begin with so I found the overall impact was negligible. Transparency mode let in the right amount of noise — I couldn't hear traffic noise outside, but I could hear people talking around me. For a pair of $59 headphones, the ANC is remarkably powerful, and I can recommend these for a noisy environment like an open-plan office or a gym (there's no IP rating though, so I'd be wary about getting these headphones wet). However, as I made clear in the 'Audio quality' section, I wouldn't recommend them for music. To test the call quality of the Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones, I called my boyfriend, who is definitely a quality control at this point as he's been my guinea pig for most headphones I've tested. He said it was like I was speaking through a wall, so he didn't particularly enjoy the call quality. I had to repeat myself a few times, but he couldn't hear the environmental noise around me. I wouldn't recommend these based solely on call quality as a result of the muffled mics. I listened for well over 6 hours and the battery only went down to 90%, which is pretty impressive. Even so, this battery life is nothing in comparison to the unkillable EarFun Tune Pro, which lasted for over a week during testing. I still have nightmares about trying to drain their battery. However, if you want a cheap and cheerful pair of headphones with reliable battery life, then the Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones won't be disappointing. There are just better headphones — for both sound quality and features — for similar price points (cough JLab JBuds Lux ANC cough). I feel like the Mixx StreamQ C4 headphones know what they are, and they're not ashamed of it. These headphones are budget-friendly for people who hold ANC above anything else. There's nothing wrong with that. If you want headphones that are comfy enough to wear for hours, with awesome ANC that'll drown out all the sounds around you, and you aren't fussed about music quality, then I've just found your best headphones for the least amount of $$$. However, if you want your music to sound decent, you've really got to spend a little more. Not much more, thankfully, but $20 more for the JLab JBuds Lux ANC. So far, no other headphones I've tested have come close to these headphones for the price. I will continue the search for JLab-beating budget cans, as the StreamQ C4 unfortunately fell a little flat.
Tom's Guide
19-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I got my first under-desk treadmill and I'm obsessed — here's 5 things I learned
I think I'm a few years late to the walking-treadmill-under-desk bandwagon. While under-desk treadmills burst onto the scene over the COVID lockdowns, we remote and hybrid employees still need to get our steps in while working our silly little email jobs. Even though the trend has died down, I'm an under-desk treadmill convert. I recently got my first treadmill — the DeerRun Q1 Mini — and boy, am I hooked. It's the perfect under-desk treadmill for me. It's compact, easy to use, and quiet. Is it the best under-desk treadmill money can buy? I'm not sure. It's not a foldable under-desk treadmill, and it's not a treadmill with an incline. But I'm not mad about it. Why? Because it's $149. I've used the DeerRun Q1 Mini every day since getting it, and I've learned a few things about how to get the most out of it. Here's everything I've learned over the past few weeks. The DeerRun Q1 Mini is the perfect first under-desk treadmill. It's simple to use and requires just one button to turn on. While it's quite small, it's one of the most affordable under-desk treadmills money can buy. When I first started using the treadmill, I wanted to keep it at about 4kmph. I wanted to feel the burn. I wanted to sweat. I wanted to look like I was actually working out. I quickly realized that's impossible when I'm trying to work. If I'm typing on my keyboard, I don't have my arms free to balance. When I'm running, I subconsciously use my arms to balance out the momentum and keep myself stable. When I'm typing? Well, my hands are occupied. As a result, I need to maintain the treadmill at about 2.5kmph. While initially, I thought this was much too slow, I have come to learn that I can walk comfortably at this pace while typing, without losing my balance or losing control of the keyboard and start typing nonsense. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. When I'm researching or editing, I need to sit at my desk. This is because when I'm walking, my head moves and I struggle to read as quickly. So when I need to skim information, I convert my desk back to a seated position and sit. Then, when I'm writing, I use the treadmill. I know this one sounds a bit weird. However, if you want to count your steps, it's got to be done. The first time I used my under-desk treadmill, I was really excited to see my step count skyrocket. But after walking for hours, I was perplexed: my step count had not risen at all. I thought, is it a problem with my fitness tracker? But I've been using my Amazfit Band 7 (one of the best fitness trackers) for almost a year, and it's never let me down. So why now? Then I realized I was wearing my fitness tracker on my wrist. You know, where you're supposed to wear it. But when my hands are on my desk, typing away, and my feet are on the treadmill, trekking away, my steps aren't going to be counted. So when I use my treadmill, I have to strap my fitness tracker around my ankle. Yes, I look like I could be on parole. But that's the price I'm willing to pay for the sweet, sweet satisfaction of receiving a 'Congratulations on hitting your step target!' notification at 11 am on a random Monday. I'm a hybrid worker, which means I work at the office for half the week and at home for the other half. As our office is relatively small, my treadmill can only be used at home. Another reason it can only be used at home is because of its size. The Q1 Mini weighs a whopping 42 pounds and is 43 inches long. This means I wouldn't exactly describe it as portable. As a result, I can only store my treadmill next to my desk. I slide it between the desk leg and the wall between uses. It would take far too much effort to drag it from a storage cupboard or haul it to the office. Even though it doesn't really fit my home office's boho vibe, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I recommend you do the same — even if it might cramp your style. Otherwise, the treadmill will end up being another expensive cupboard filler. When I first started using my treadmill, I thought I could wear slippers. It's an indoor walking treadmill, right, so surely I can use indoor shoes? Wrong. I wasn't getting any ankle or arch support. So I started wearing my Keen Hyperport H2 sandals for treadmill walks, and it made the biggest difference. My soles stopped hurting, and now my feet actually bounce from step to step. Although my particular treadmill (apparently) has a 'shock-absorbing layer', I found the belt to be quite flat and hard. Now, though? I could probably smash 20k steps on this thing before my feet start aching. I know this last 'lesson' feels more like common sense than anything, but I think post-treadmill vertigo is quite overlooked. This happens to me at the gym when using the treadmill to run. When I finish my walking session, I hold myself steady on my desk before getting off. Otherwise, I get dizzy. If you're prone to feeling dizzy after finishing a treadmill workout, don't try to move immediately. Take a minute or so to ground yourself. It feels like getting off a boat — you need a little time to shake off your sea legs. The most important thing is not to push yourself. I work out in waves: I'll walk first thing in the morning for an hour or so, then I'll sit until lunch. After lunch, I'll walk to invigorate myself and push myself into the afternoon. Then, at around 4, I'll sit again. I wouldn't recommend walking all day — that'll quickly exhaust you! I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with the DeerRun Q1 Mini so far. I'm less lethargic after lunch, my phone's Health app is looking a lot more hopeful, and while I haven't seen muscle toning, I feel like I have more stamina. I know getting steps in can be hard when you work 9-5 at a computer, so having an under-desk treadmill has literally changed my life. Now I can stay active and work at the same time without sacrificing one or the other. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
