Treadmill With Incline: Do You Need One on a Walking Pad?

What incline does on a treadmill

Incline raises the front of the deck so you walk uphill without moving forward. It is shown as a percentage: a 5% incline rises 5 metres for every 100 metres you walk.

• More effort at the same speed. Your heart rate rises without you having to run.
• Different muscles. Uphill walking works the calves, hamstrings and glutes harder than flat walking.
• Lower impact than running. You raise the effort without the pounding of a fast jog.

That is the whole benefit. A flat deck gives you the same kind of workout once you change speed and time instead of slope.

Walking pad with incline vs a flat 2-in-1 treadmill

If you must choose between incline and running speed in a small home, running speed is usually the better buy. It lets you walk, jog and do intervals on one machine. Compare more options in our walking pad vs treadmill guide.

How to get an incline-style workout on a flat walking pad

1. Walk brisk. At 5 to 6 km/h with your arms swinging, most people breathe harder and can still talk in short sentences.
2. Add walk-jog intervals. Lift the handrail and alternate 1 minute at 8 to 10 km/h with 2 minutes at 5 km/h. Repeat 6 to 8 times.
3. Walk longer. A 45-minute walk at a steady pace burns more in total than a short, steep one. Time on the belt matters most.
4. Use your stairs. If you live in an apartment block, climb the stairs a few times, then finish on the walking pad.
5. Add leg strength. Squats, lunges and step-ups on a sturdy step work the same muscles an incline does. See our home exercises plan.

For full running sessions, see running on a walking pad. For a step and calorie plan, see the walking pad for weight loss guide.

Do not prop up a walking pad to make an incline

Some people put books, bricks or wooden blocks under the front of a flat walking pad. Please do not. The machine can slide or rock, the belt can drift to one side, and the motor works harder than it was built to. Damage from misuse is not covered by our warranty. Keep the walking pad flat on a firm floor or a rubber mat.

Who should pay more for a high incline treadmill

A full-size, high incline treadmill is the better tool if you:

• Train for hikes and climbs, such as Mount Kenya, Kilimanjaro or regular Ngong Hills walks, and want long uphill sessions at home.
• Have been told by a doctor or physiotherapist to walk uphill rather than run.
• Have a spare room and a budget of about KSh 60,000 or more.

High incline treadmills are big and heavy. They need a strong floor, a dedicated space and a socket close by, and they are louder for neighbours below in an upstairs flat. We only sell the flat 2-in-1 model, so if you need steep incline, we will tell you so. See the treadmill price in Kenya guide for what each type costs.

Price and delivery

Our flat 2-in-1 walking pad treadmill costs KSh 24,800 in every town.

• Nairobi: within 3 hours for KSh 700, and you pay after delivery
• Rest of Kenya: within 24 hours through a courier you choose
• Warranty: 1 year against manufacturing defects

See how ordering works on our treadmill for sale page.