A treadmill for your home does not have to take up much space. Many models can be moved, stored flat, or folded away after training. This is exactly why foldable treadmills and Walking Pads are particularly appealing for flats, the home office, and small training areas.
In this guide, we show you what to look out for when buying, the differences between a Walking Pad, a 2-in-1 treadmill, and a foldable home treadmill – and which CITYSPORTS model best suits your daily routine.
Foldable treadmill for the home
Space-saving training – from walking to a light run.
What is a foldable treadmill?
A foldable treadmill is a home fitness machine that can be stored away to save space after use. Depending on the model, the handrail can be folded down, the device slid flat under a sofa or bed, or the frame folded up compactly.
In everyday life, you will primarily encounter three designs:
- Walking Pads: flat devices for walking and light cardio training, often ideal for the home office and small rooms.
- 2-in-1 treadmills: models with a foldable handrail that can be used as both a Walking Pad and a treadmill.
- Foldable treadmills with handrails: sturdier devices for walking, jogging, and regular training at home.
It is important to note: not every compact treadmill is automatically designed for fast running. Someone who only wants to walk while working needs a different model than someone who wants to jog regularly or train with an incline.
Reason 1: More movement without the equipment constantly getting in the way
The biggest advantage of a foldable treadmill is its everyday practicality. After training, it can be pushed aside, stored under furniture, or folded up. This means the room remains usable – whether it is a living room, bedroom, or study.
Walking Pad in the home office
Compact, flat, and quickly stored away – ideal for short movement breaks.
Which design suits which room?
| Living situation | Suitable design | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Small flat | Walking Pad | Flat, compact, and easy to store |
| Home office | Walking Pad or 2-in-1 treadmill | Walking possible during phone calls, breaks, or focused work |
| Living room | Foldable treadmill | Quickly put aside after training |
| Dedicated fitness area | More powerful treadmill | More speed, more stability, and, depending on the model, automatic incline |
An example for small rooms is the CITYSPORTS WP6. It is designed as a Walking Pad, weighs approx. 15.7 kg, and is easy to store under a bed, sofa, or desk thanks to transport wheels. The 440W motor is designed for users up to 120 kg, and the speed ranges from 1–6 km/h.
If you are looking for a particularly compact Walking Pad with additional features, the CITYSPORTS ZX3 is a good fit for this category. It combines a running side with 1–6 km/h, a 550W motor, a 6° fixed incline, and a separate foot massage side. This makes it more suitable for walking, short movement breaks, and a relaxed warm-down – not for jogging.
Reason 2: From walking to jogging – depending on the model
Foldable treadmills differ greatly in speed, design, and stability. For many users, a Walking Pad with 1–6 km/h is sufficient. Those who also want to jog should instead choose a model with 1–12 km/h. For more intensive home training, a device with up to 15 km/h makes sense.
Guidance by usage
| Usage | Typical range | Suitable CITYSPORTS models |
|---|---|---|
| Relaxed walking | 1–3 km/h | WP6, ZX3 |
| Brisk walking | 3–6 km/h | WP6, ZX3, ZX2 |
| Light jogging | 6–9 km/h | ZX2, WP9, ZX6, ZX8 |
| Running at home | 9–12 km/h | ZX2, WP9, ZX6, ZX8 |
| More intensive running training | up to 15 km/h | WP16 |
The CITYSPORTS ZX2 is a good middle ground for this. It offers 1–12 km/h, 1400W motor power, 4% manual incline, 120 kg weight capacity, and a foldable handrail. With the handrail folded down, it can also be used as a Walking Pad.
ZX2
2-in-1 treadmill with foldable handrail, 1–12 km/h, 1400W motor, and 4% manual incline.
Reason 3: Incline brings variety to your training
An incline function makes training more varied. You can incorporate uphill-like sessions without automatically having to run faster. This is particularly practical if you want to make walking or jogging at home a bit more challenging.
It is worth taking a close look at the product details here, as the incline is implemented differently depending on the model:
| Model | Incline | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| WP6 | 0%, 11%, 13%, 14% manual | Walking Pad with an uphill feel |
| ZX3 | 6° fixed | Walking Pad with additional feature and foot massage side |
| ZX2 | 4% manual | 2-in-1 usage: Walking and light jogging |
| WP9 | 0% / 8% manual | Foldable treadmill for the home |
| ZX6 | adjustable, manual / remote-controlled | Treadmill with handrails and remote control |
| ZX8 | adjustable | Compact treadmill with handrails |
| WP16 | automatic, electrically adjustable | More powerful home treadmill |
If walking is your main goal, the WP6 and ZX3 are worth considering: WP6 offers several manual incline levels, while ZX3 combines a fixed 6° incline with an integrated foot-massage function. If you want more speed and a sturdy handrail, WP9, ZX6 or ZX8 may be a better fit. For a more powerful home treadmill with automatic incline, WP16 is the strongest option in this comparison.
Reason 4: Training at home saves travelling and makes exercise easier to plan
Your own treadmill is immediately available. No travelling to the gym, no opening hours, no bad weather, and no waiting for available equipment. This is exactly why many people find it easier to fit short exercise sessions into their day.
This does not always have to be a long training session. Even 10 to 20 minutes of walking or light jogging are easier to achieve when the equipment is already in your home.
Typical everyday situations
| Situation | Suitable usage | Recommended model |
|---|---|---|
| Phone calls in the home office | Slow walking | WP6 or ZX3 |
| Short break between meetings | 10–20 minutes walking | WP6, ZX3 or ZX2 |
| Evenings in the living room | Walking or light jogging | ZX2, WP9 or ZX6 |
| Regular running workouts | Jogging and running | WP9, ZX6, ZX8 or WP16 |
The CITYSPORTS ZX6 offers 1–12 km/h, a 1400W motor with 2.0 HP peak power, adjustable incline, an LED display, handrails, transport wheels and a weight capacity of up to 120 kg.
Reason 5: Quiet operation makes the treadmill more suitable for apartments
Noise levels play a major role, especially in apartments. A treadmill should not only function well but also fit into everyday life – without unnecessarily disturbing family, flatmates or neighbours.
The current product data for CITYSPORTS WP9 does not state a verified decibel value. ZX6 is listed at ≤65 dB, while ZX8 is described as quiet for home use without a numerical value. Actual noise also depends on speed, running style, the floor and whether you use an exercise mat.
The CITYSPORTS ZX8 is a compact treadmill with handrails, 1–12 km/h, 1400W motor with 2.0 HP peak power, adjustable incline, LED display and transport wheels.
Which foldable treadmill is right for you?
The best choice depends on how you actually plan to use the equipment. This table will help you decide:
| User profile | Recommended model | Why this model? | View now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home office users with limited space | WP6 | Walking Pad, 1–6 km/h, approx. 15.7 kg, 440W motor, 0–14% manual incline | View WP6 |
| Users who want to combine a Walking Pad and foot massage | ZX3 | 2-in-1 Walking Pad, 1–6 km/h, 550W motor, 6° fixed incline, foot massage side, <45 dB | View ZX3 |
| Beginners who want to walk and lightly jog | ZX2 | 2-in-1 design, 1–12 km/h, 1400W motor, 4% manual incline, foldable handrail | View ZX2 |
| Living room workouts with more speed | WP9 | 1400W motor, 1–12 km/h, manual incline up to 7.7%, LED display and Bluetooth speaker | View WP9 |
| Users who want handrails and adjustable incline | ZX6 | 1–12 km/h, 1400W motor, adjustable incline, LED display and handrails | View ZX6 |
| Compact treadmill with handrails | ZX8 | 1–12 km/h, brushless motor, adjustable incline, LED display, transport wheels | View ZX8 |
| More ambitious home workouts | WP16 | 2200W motor, 1–15 km/h, automatic incline, app/remote control/console, up to 200 kg | View WP16 |
More speed for your home workouts
For users looking for a more powerful treadmill with automatic incline.
Quick comparison of recommended models
| Model | Type | Speed | Motor | Incline | Weight capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WP6 | Walking Pad | 1–6 km/h | 440W | 0%, 11%, 13%, 14% manual | up to 120 kg |
| ZX3 | 2-in-1 Walking Pad with foot massage side | 1–6 km/h | 550W | 6° fixed | up to 120 kg |
| ZX2 | 2-in-1 treadmill | 1–12 km/h | 1400W | 4% manual | 120 kg |
| WP9 | Foldable treadmill | 1–12 km/h | 1400W | 0% / 8% manual | 120 kg |
| ZX6 | Treadmill with handrails | 1–12 km/h | 1400W / 2.0 HP peak | adjustable, manual / remote-controlled | up to 120 kg |
| ZX8 | Treadmill with handrails | 1–12 km/h | 1400W / 2.0 HP peak | adjustable | up to 120 kg |
| WP16 | More powerful home treadmill | 1–15 km/h | 2200W | automatic, electrically adjustable | up to 200 kg |
Frequently asked questions about foldable treadmills
Is a Walking Pad the same as a foldable treadmill?
Not quite. A Walking Pad is usually flatter, lighter and primarily designed for walking. A foldable treadmill with a handrail offers more stability and higher speeds depending on the model.
Which model is suitable for the home office?
Flat Walking Pads like WP6 or ZX3 are particularly suitable for slow walking at a desk. ZX3 is also an interesting option if you are looking for a Walking Pad with a foot massage surface. Those who also want to jog should instead choose a 2-in-1 model like ZX2 or a treadmill like WP9.
Can you jog on a foldable treadmill?
Yes, if the model is designed for it. Devices with 1–12 km/h such as ZX2, WP9, ZX6 or ZX8 are also suitable for light jogging. For more intensive run training, WP16 offers up to 15 km/h.
What should I consider when buying?
Pay attention to speed, weight capacity, incline, noise level, controls and how the device will be stored after a workout. For small apartments, weight is also important.
How loud is a foldable treadmill?
That depends on the model. ZX3 is specified at under 45 dB and ZX6 at ≤65 dB. The current product data for WP9 and ZX8 does not state verified numerical dB values. The floor, speed and running style also influence perceived noise.
Does a foldable treadmill require much maintenance?
The most important points are regular cleaning, correct alignment of the running belt and lubrication according to the instructions. How often this is necessary depends on the model and duration of use.
Related categories for this guide
- Compare foldable treadmills
- View all CITYSPORTS treadmills & Walking Pads
- Go to the CITYSPORTS guide
Conclusion: Foldable is worth it if the model fits your daily life
A foldable treadmill is particularly worthwhile if it really suits your living situation and training style. For the home office and small apartments, a Walking Pad like WP6 makes sense; if a foot massage surface is also desired, ZX3 is a good fit. For walking and light jogging, ZX2 is a flexible entry-level option. Anyone wanting more speed, incline or stability should compare WP9, ZX6, ZX8 or WP16.
The great advantage remains the same across all variations: you can train at home without the device permanently being in the way.
You can find more buying advice, model comparisons and regional treadmill and Walking Pad guides in our Treadmill & Walking Pad overview.
Particularly popular: CITYSPORTS ZX3 Walking Pad, CITYSPORTS treadmill and Treadmills Switzerland.