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Walking pad for a tall person: start with the belt
Updated
If you are over 6 feet, look for a belt of at least 48 inches for brisk walking, or about 42 inches if you only walk slowly at a desk. That is our rule of thumb for someone 6 ft 0 in tall. Most flat walking pads are shorter than that, so tall buyers should read the belt length before anything else.
How much belt tall walkers need
These numbers come from the same rule of thumb as our belt length calculator: your step, plus your shoe, plus a small margin.
| Your height | Slow desk walking | Brisk walking | Jogging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0 in | 42 in | 48 in | 55 in |
| 6 ft 2 in | 43 in | 49 in | 56 in |
| 6 ft 4 in | 44 in | 50 in | 58 in |
| 6 ft 6 in | 45 in | 51 in | 59 in |
- Sunny SF-T72401150 in
- WalkingPad A1 Pro47 in
- Sunny Treadpad45.7 in
- Goplus 2 in 140 in
- Yagud pad37.4 in
Why brisk walking matters for tall people
The CDC counts walking at 2.5 mph or faster as brisk, moderate-intensity activity. Our "slow" setting covers walking up to about 2.5 mph. So if you want your desk walking to count as brisk, use the brisk column above, not the slow one. A tall person at brisk pace needs a lot of belt.
Machines that fit tall walkers
- Sunny SF-T724011. The 50 inch belt suits brisk walking up to about 6 ft 3 in by our estimate. It has rails and folds upright, but it is not an under-desk pad. It weighs 100.3 lb.
- WalkingPad A1 Pro. The maker says the belt is 47 inches, which suits slow walking for almost anyone and brisk walking up to about 5 ft 11 in. The listing we read did not give a belt width.
- Sunny Auto Incline Treadpad. At 45.7 inches it suits slow desk walking up to about 6 ft 6 in and brisk walking up to about 5 ft 9 in. Owners report mixed reliability.
We would skip the 40 inch and shorter belts if you are over 6 feet, unless you only plan to stroll. See all six on our shortlist.
Two more checks for tall buyers
- Room behind you. WalkingPad's own space guide says to leave at least 5 to 6 feet open behind a treadmill and not to put the back against a wall. Tall people step off the back sooner, so do not skip this.
- Desk height. A pad adds its own thickness to your standing height. See walking pad under a standing desk.
This is general information, not medical advice. Check with a doctor before you start a new exercise routine, especially if you have a health condition or have not exercised in a while. Keep children and pets away from the moving belt, and use the safety key if your machine has one.