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Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Health
- 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.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I walked 14,000 steps without leaving my apartment thanks to this under-desk treadmill — and it's just $149
The DeerRun Q1 Mini is one of the most affordable under-desk treadmills I've ever seen. Right off the bat, the price surprised and intrigued me. I thought, 'How can a $149 treadmill compete when other treadmills start from $500?' 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 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.
Tom's Guide
08-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I got this under-desk treadmill and it changed my life, and it just crashed to $127 for Prime Day
I used to think people who used under-desk treadmills — also called walking pads — were weird. Why walk, I thought, when one can sit? Well, then I got an under-desk treadmill, and I actually look forward to using it. I've tried all of the WFH hacks — a kneeling chair, a standing desk, etc — but now that I've got this home treadmill, I don't think I can ever live without one. Right now the DeerRun Q1 Mini is just $127 on Amazon, which is its second lowest price ever. Here's why I think this is a great Prime Day deal. The DeerRun Q1 Mini is the perfect walking pad for my apartment. It's the smallest under-desk treadmill DeerRun makes, which is ideal for my 1-bedroom space. It's not exactly lightweight, but it's much more maneuverable than alternatives. I can tuck it away beside my standing desk between uses. Although I haven't written my review of the DeerRun Q1 Mini yet, I'm probably going to give it 4 or 4.5 stars. The Q1 Mini has everything I want in an under-desk treadmill: it's small; it's relatively portable (all things considered); and it has a handy remote. It's quiet while operating, and even has an app. The app (called PitPat, how cute!) is full of workouts and routines. While I haven't used any of these yet — I've just been using the Q1 Mini as an under-desk treadmill while working — this means the Q1 Mini can be more than just a walking pad. If your floor is uneven, the Q1 Mini has adjustable feet so you can make sure the treadmill is balanced wherever it is. The treadmill also has handy wheels at the front, so you can put it in any place you desire with ease. Don't forget to check out our Prime Day live blog for the best deals, and all the stuff you can get for free on Amazon this Prime Day.
