As a mum of three young kids and someone who regularly visits the gym, I was convinced my activity levels were more than sufficient. But there were two huge parts of my day I was ignoring from an activity point-of-view – work and sleep.
The latter is obviously vital rest, but when it comes to work days, I spend a minimum of eight hours sat at a desk (with probably not the best posture), standing only for a quick coffee or loo break. And I was becoming acutely aware - thank you sciatica - of just how little I was moving my body over long periods of time. Inspired by the benefits of walking, and knowing it what it can do to help reactivate and stimulate your brain after sedentary periods, I started tracking my activity with my Apple Watch.
Day one at work, with the kids at school, I averaged around 3,000 steps in total. Which I was so shocked by. I hadn't realised just how sedentary I had become during the week, and it really motivated me to prioritise finding ways to introduce more movement into my day.
But after a few weeks of researching the best walking shoes, swapping the car for a walk to the shops, taking the stairs rather than the lift at work, going the long way to the train station etc, I was still falling significantly short of my 10K goal. That's when I decided to buy the Mobvoi Home Treadmill, and it has been a total game-changer.
Part of the Amazon Prime Big Deal Day sale, this Mobvoi home treadmill currently has over £60 off the regular retail price, which, considering I think it's worth every penny at the RRP, is a fantastic offer.
Mobvoi Home Treadmill review: Set up
The first thing to say about this treadmill is it is really simple to set up. Pull a lever on the side to lift up the handrail, and do the same to lower it back down again. The most time consuming part was connecting the arms, which screw on with a couple of bolts, for which all of the equipment you need is included.
There is a red emergency cord, which attaches magnetically to the underside of the handrail, and a plastic attachment big enough to fit a small tablet or phone fits on to the front.
The most important thing to note about set up is the weight of the treadmill - especially when delivered. While I just about managed to get it into the right room and unpacked myself, I would definitely recommend having a second person on hand to help. The treadmill has wheels on the front, so moving it about once unpacked is much easier. However, there is still a significant amount of weight behind it when wheeling, so this is definitely something to bare in mind if you are wanting to regularly move it around.
Mobvoi Home Treadmill review: Performance
I have been using the Mobvoi Home Treadmill for the last three weeks now and have had no performance issues to date. The range of speeds on this treadmill is fantastic, particularly when you consider the price. And while I got this purely for walking, I like the fact that I have the option to push it to 12km if I did want to try a run.
There is an led screen right at the top of the treadmill, which cycles through four key metrics – speed, duration, distance, and calories burnt – all of which are really helpful and motivating to know while using.
When it comes to noise, I was surprised at how quiet it is, noticing my heavy footsteps more than the actual the machine itself. It gets louder the faster you go, but not in an offensive way, and at no point have I had to use headphones to be able to hear my music or TV show clearly while using.
When it comes to what you're using it for, as I said, my main purpose is for walking, but I did test it on a short run to see how it fared. The heavier movement and impact on the device definitely made it move about a bit, the handrail especially, although not so much to disturb my phone resting on the front. But while the weight behind this thing might make it a bit cumbersome to move about, it serves it well when put on higher speeds.
I also tested the emergency cord, connected via a magnet to the treadmill, to see what would happen. Idea is the clip on the end attaches to your clothes as you use the machine, and so if you were to fall or something happen and the magnet detaches, it should stop immediately. I was keen to see if the treadmill would simply slow down before coming to a complete halt, like it does when you press 'stop'. But no, the emergency cord brings the treadmill belt to a complete standstill within a second.
Mobvoi Home Treadmill review: Under-desk exercise
I will start by saying the point of getting this machine was not to use it under my desk, it was to get away from my desk as much as possible. However, the Mobvoi does have the ability to work as an under-desk treadmill, so I wanted to at least try it.
I was very skeptical about this, as I genuinely thought I would find it really difficult to concentrate on walking while working at the same time. But I was really pleasantly surprised by not only how much easier I found it than I'd imagine, but also how much I enjoyed it. I had to keep the speed low, but in my mind, any movement was better than nothing, so even though what I was doing couldn't be classed as anything more strenuous than a gentle stroll, I was still moving. It's not something I would do for long periods of time, because there is no doubt walking while working is distracting, no matter how low you set the speed - but it's definitely a feature I have taken advantage of more than I thought I would. And actually really appreciate having that option, especially when my sciatica starts to play up from sitting down so much.
The only thing with this is as I mentioned above, moving it about. The wheels really help, but it's still bulky and tricky to move around easily in smaller spaces.
Mobvoi Home Treadmill review: Verdict
Having at home treadmill has been a game-changer in terms of keeping me active on work days where I would usually sit down all day. The convenience it offers means I can usually get in walking for 30 minutes a day, even when life really gets in the way. And when I don't, I can still get 10-minutes in here and there, which has made such a big difference. What it does not only for my physical health, but mental health too - I always feel so much better after even the shortest amount of time on it. And feel really proud of myself when achieving my 10K goal each day.
I know I am going to be even more grateful for it in the coming months when it gets too dark, cold and wet to go outside for a walk. I have no problem in admitting I am very much a fair-weather person when it comes to exercising outdoors, and I know this treadmill is going to be a lifesaver when my motivation is low even to get out to the gym.
The only downsides are the weight, which can make it tricky to move about, despite the wheels. And the fact that it easily attracts dust. But both of these are, for me, very minor issues, which pale in comparison to all the positives this machine has to offer.
The initial cost might seem high, but if you use it as much as I have, and feel the mental and physical benefits from it daily, it, in my opinion, represents incredible value for money. I can confidently say if there was one product I could recommend to anyone for to help a lifestyle, the Mobvoi Home Treadmill has it, hands down.
