KingSmith WalkingPad C2 Review: Honest UK Verdict

The KingSmith WalkingPad C2 is the walking pad most people picture when they think of an under-desk treadmill, and it's one of the most searched models in the UK. It's a slim, foldable belt that tucks away after use, aimed at home workers who want to clock up steps while answering emails rather than train for a marathon. The headline verdict: if you want quiet, low-effort walking at a standing desk and you accept it's walking-only, the C2 is a solid, well-made choice. The main catches are the unreliable auto speed sensor and a folded height that won't slide under most furniture.

What it is and who it's for

The C2 is KingSmith's most affordable folding walking pad. KingSmith is the brand behind WalkingPad and sits under the Xiaomi ecosystem, so build quality is generally a step above no-name belts. It's a single-purpose device: a flat, motorised walking surface with no incline and no handrails. It suits remote workers with a standing desk, anyone trying to hit a daily step target, and people in flats who need the thing to fold flat and disappear between sessions.

Build and folding

For its price bracket the C2 feels reassuringly solid rather than flimsy, with a stable deck that stays planted at a normal walking pace. The standout feature is the 180-degree fold: the belt and deck hinge in half, and built-in wheels let you tip it up and roll it away. One thing to be clear about is storage. The folded height is roughly 13 to 14 cm, so despite the "slim" marketing it won't slip under most beds or low sofas. In practice owners stand it on one end against a wall, which works well and takes up very little floor space.

Performance and the walk

This is where the C2 does its best work. The brushless motor is genuinely quiet, sitting around 48 dB at a steady pace, so the loudest thing in the room is usually your own footsteps. Owners routinely use it during video calls without anyone noticing. The 120 by 40 cm belt is wide enough for a relaxed walking gait, and the top speed of 3.72 mph is plenty for a brisk pace while you work. It's smooth and easy to live with.

The honest downside is the auto mode. The FootSense sensor is supposed to read where you are on the belt and adjust speed automatically, but in real use it's twitchy and most people switch it off in favour of the remote. Treat manual control as the proper way to use it and the inconsistent sensor stops being a problem. Worth noting too: there are no handrails, so this is not the device to push hard on or try to jog on.

Living with it and value

Day to day the C2 is low-fuss. There's no assembly, the remote is simple, and the optional KS Fit app adds step tracking if you want it. The main maintenance points from long-term owners are that the belt attracts dust and benefits from a regular vacuum, and that it can occasionally need re-centring or a drop of belt lubricant over time. A few owners also mention the odd random beep when it's idle. None of these are dealbreakers, but they're worth knowing.

On value, the C2 often sits around the mid-range for walking pads and regularly appears in sales, so it's worth checking the live price rather than paying full RRP. The one-year warranty is shorter than we'd like for a motorised product, so factor that in. If you specifically want something that folds completely flat for under-furniture storage, or a belt you can occasionally jog on, look wider before committing. For everyone else after quiet, dependable desk-side steps, it's an easy machine to recommend.

For more options at different price points, see our guide to the best walking pad in the UK, and browse the rest of our treadmill reviews and buying guides.