Reviewed by: Jay. D

Expert Contributor: Maya Transoloski

Exerpeutic is a company that has been around for years. I’ve reviewed a lot of their gear, and what impresses me most about these guys is that they cater to people with health issues on a budget. Without them, many people couldn’t afford to exercise at home.

The Exerpeutic Walking Pad is another example of what this company is all about. It’s the only low-cost treadmill with a 400 lb capacity on the market. The other choices cost $2k+.

The Exerpeutic walking pad has been specially designed to handle up to 400 lb of weight. It’s a heavy-duty walking pad with a reinforced running deck.

Okay, their SuperMax Walking Pad is only designed for light cardio, but even walking one hour a day on a treadmill can burn 300 calories, so it’s a great start for anyone just beginning their fitness journey.

exerpeutic walking pad 400 lb weight capacity

Speed Increases To 4MP With the Handlebar Raised

Although this walking pad is only designed for light cardio, it has been updated, and now there’s a 2-in-1 version, which we’re reviewing today.

The 2-in-1 version includes folding handlebars, which are very useful and certainly worth the few extra bucks for the upgrade. When the handlebars are raised, the top speed of the walking pad increases to 4mph, which means it can be used for slightly faster-paced cardio, increasing calorie burn.

When the handlebars are folded down the walking pad transforms into a handy under-desk treadmill! This is perfect for those working from home who want to add a little walking time to their day while staying productive.

And with a height of just five inches when folded, it’s a very easy treadmill to store. It can be stored under a couch, bed, or up against a wall. Nice.

For under $300, Exerpeutic has done well here. The walking pad actually feels sturdy, which is surprising for such a lightweight machine. It’s certainly a walking pad, worthy of some serious consideration. So today, I want to take a close look at everything this impressive machine has to offer, including all of its pros and drawbacks.

First, let’s take a quick look at the product specs!

Product Specifications

$

Product dimensions – 53″D x 24.4″W x 43″H

$

Weight – 51lb

$

Speed – 0.5 – 4mph

$

Max user height – 6’1″

$

Anti-shock system

$

Folds for storage

$

Motor – 2.5HP

$

Weight capcacity – 400lb

$

Running belt size – 16″ X 43.3″

Why Do We Like The Exerpeutic Walking Pad?

What I liked most about this walking pad, and I’m sure many others will love, is that it doesn’t feel cheap.

I must have reviewed over twenty walking pads in the last ten years. Most of them feel cheap and unstable. However, the Exerpeutic Walking Pad feels pretty sturdy for such a lightweight treadmill, which is even more impressive considering the low price bracket of under $300.

Powerful 2.5HP Motor

If we were talking about a large treadmill, a 2.5HP motor wouldn’t be something to shout home about. However, a 2.5HP motor for a budget walking pad is impressive.

There is easily enough power there for walking and fast-paced walking, even light jogging.

This is a 400-lb capacity machine, so it needs some power—at least 2HP. Still, it doesn’t need a heavy-duty commercial-grade motor, as the Exerpeutic 2 in 1 treadmill is only designed for walking.

The motor doesn’t have to cope with the stresses of heavy users running on the treadmill belt, which is one of the reasons Experutic has managed to keep the cost low.

Still, it needs to be powerful enough to move a 400lb person for at least an hour of daily walking, and a 2.5HP high torque motor will be able to cope with that stress. So, thumbs up for the motor. Plus, it’s quiet, too, so you won’t disturb anyone around you with the sound of your workouts.

So yes, the build quality is high with the Exerpeutic walking pad, and the motor is powerful enough. These are the two most important things to look for when choosing a high-capacity treadmill.

Still, you must remember that this isn’t a heavy-duty treadmill designed for serious cardio. It’s a basic machine with a reinforced running belt that can handle a 400-lb capacity, but only for walking.

Short Running Belt Just 43″

One of the drawbacks of all walking pads and compact treadmills is the size of the running belts. The belt size always suffers if you want an easy-to-store compact machine like the Experpeutic Walking Pad.

Because of its compact size, the Exerpeutic SuperMax Treadmill can only boast a 43″ running belt. A belt this short will limit who can use the treadmill and for what.

A 43″ belt length has a height limit of 6’1″ for walking. Anything more intense than walking requires larger strides, so the maximum height will be less. Even for light jogging, a 43″ belt has a max height of just 5’9″.

Also, the belt width is narrow (16″). Again, it suffers because of the compact size of this treadmill.

A narrow belt is okay for walking, but for anything more, it can be dangerous. As it’s easy to step off the side of a narrow belt in the middle of a workout, I’ve done it a few times. So yes, getting used to a narrow running belt can take some time.

exerpeutic walking padm

Basic, Easy To Use Monitor With Workout Programs

Most walking pads are fitted with basic monitors, which isn’t always a bad thing, as basic monitors are so easy to use, there is nothing complicated, and there are no annoying menus to scroll through.

A walking pad doesn’t need a high-end monitor. They’re nearly all low-cost machines designed for light cardio, and there isn’t enough space to place one anyway.

What you have with the Exerpeutic Super Max Treadmill, is an LCD screen built into the front of the running deck. It’s backlit, making it easy to read while walking, and it tracks all your essential workout stats, such as time, speed, distance, and calories.

When the handlebars are folded, you can use the remote control to adjust the speed and modes of the walking pad. This is especially handy when using the walking pad under a desk.

When the handlebars are raised, you have the choice of using the built-in handlebar buttons or the remote. Both are easy to use, and no one should have any issues with the remote or the handlebar buttons.

Surprisingly, six built-in workout programs come with the monitor, which is great to see on a low-cost walking pad. It’s always good to have a few workout programs to keep you challenged and coming back for more.

There’s no high-end features like wireless heart rate monitoring or a subscription app. It’s a basic, easy-to-use monitor that includes everything you need for your walking workouts at home.

running deck exerpeutic supermax walking pad

There’s No Incline!

I’ve always said that when choosing a treadmill, one of the essential features to look for is an adjustable incline. An incline feature brings so much more to your workouts. Walking on an incline will double your calorie burn while strengthening and toning hard to train muscles in your legs, such as your glutes, hamstrings, and calves.

Sadly, there’s no incline feature with the Exerpeutic walking pad. Most walking pads don’t include an incline feature, which is one of the reasons I’m not a huge fan of walking pads.

Still, the Exerpeutic has a 2% natural incline, which is something. It’s better than nothing.

underside of exerpeutic supermax treadmill showing shock absorbers

Protects You Joints

This is a low-cost walking pad, so I wasn’t expecting to find any sort of deck cushioning system. However, Exerpeutic has made an effort with a cushioning system. Okay, it’s nothing high-end, but you can feel it. It’s doing the job it’s designed to do. Six rubber shock absorbers are fixed to the bottom of the running deck, absorbing a lot of the impact from each foot strike.

It’s certainly much better for your joints than walking or jogging on high impact surfaces like roads.

floor mat for walking pad

Will I need a Treadmill Mat?

The Exerpeutic Supermax Walking Pad is pretty light, weighing just 51lb, so it hasn’t got a great deal of weight to keep it planted to the floor, so there’ll always be a little movement when walking on it. A treadmill mat will help with stability, especially on polished floors.

It’s best to wait until you unbox the treadmill at home, test it, and see if you need a mat.

Another reason you may need a treadmill mat is to protect your floors from scratches.

Lastly, if you live in an apartment, a treadmill mat can be very useful. They are great for soaking up the vibrations from your workouts, and you’ll keep the neighbors happy.

I found Sunny Health and Fitness makes the best cheap treadmill mats. I’ll leave a link below:

Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill Mats

No Assembly

You’ll be happy to hear this treadmill does not require assembly. All you need to do is unbox it and put it in place, which will take a few minutes.

Still, there are a few things you might need to do. Firstly, center the treadmill belt if it’s not centered. Also, the belt may need tightening; check first to see if there are any folds or lifts in the running belt, if there are, tighten it with an Allen key.

I always lubricate the treadmill belt before the first use. They are supposed to be lubricated at the factory, but you never know if they forgot or just missed it, so it’s a good idea to lubricate first, just to be on the safe side.

The Good

Sturdy build, reinforced running deck – 400 lb weight capacity

Compact and light, easy to store, with just a 5″ height when folded, this walking pad can easily be stored under a bed or  couch

Powerful motor for a compact treadmill

2 in 1 design, can be used as an under deck treadmill or raise the handlebars for faster paced cardio

6 workout programs

Easy to use remotoe control for adjusting speed and modes

Quiet treadmill, you won’t disturb others with the sound of your workouts

No assembly

The Bad

Short running belt, height restricted to 6’1″ for walking

No incline feature

Top speed of just 4mph this treadmill is designed for light cardio only.

                                                                                         

Alternative

woman walking on hccsport 3 in 1 treadmill while using detachable desk top

HccSport 3 in 1 Treadmill

Out of the 20 or so walking pads on the market, there’s only a handful I’d be happy to recommend: the Experutic Supermax Walking Pad is one of them, the Go-Plus 2 in 1 is another, and lastly, the HccSport 3 in-1 Treadmill.

The HccSport Treadmill outshines pretty much everything else in its price bracket. It’s a well-built machine, and it’s solid. At 81lb, it’s 30lb heavier than most walking pads. That extra weight gives it its sturdy feel, and it’s a telling sign that the walking pad is made from high-quality parts.

As with all walking pads, the running belt is short and only suited to walking or light jogging. However, there’s an incline future, which is great to see.

The motor on this walking pad is powerful—3.5hp for a walking pad is almost unheard of. The motor is brushless, which makes it even more impressive. A brushless motor is much quieter than the brushed type and lasts three times longer.

You also get 12 workout programs, a cool wristband remote control to adjust speed and modes, and handrail controls. With a top speed of 8mph, shorter users can also use this treadmill for light jogging.

Overall, this is a very impressive walking pad. It’s well-built, powerful, and includes an incline. It’s $100 more expensive than the Exerpituic treadmill, but if you’ve been looking for a walking pad with an incline and one you can use for jogging as well as walking, the HccSport 3-in-1 treadmill is the best on the market right now.

                                                                                         

To Sum Up

Exerpeutic never disappoints. They always deliver on quality while keeping the cost low, which is exactly what they’ve done with their new walking pad. It’s a well-built, sturdy machine that costs under $300. The 400-lb capacity is what sells this treadmill because there’s nothing else on the market that’s low-cost with a 400-lb capacity.

The Exerpeutic SuperMax Treadmill is an excellent choice for beginners as a first treadmill or anyone who wants a fuss-free, well-made treadmill for home. It’s compact and can be used in any room, even a small office. If you’re looking for a treadmill for light cardio the Supermax walking pad deserves to be at the top of your list.