In this Real Relax 2 in 1 Under Desk Treadmill Review, we are going to have a look at one of the tops under desk treadmills on the Amazon Market. It is the Real Relax 2in 1 Under Desk Treadmill. We picked this model because of the number of positive customer reviews and the fact that it keeps going out of stock faster than it can manufacture replacements. If the links in this article lead to an empty Amazon page or an “out of stock” page don’t worry, they will refill the inventory soon. Is it worth waiting for? Well, let’s first have a look at the benefits of using a treadmill as an under-desk option.
The standing desk revolution is here, and it is here to stay. There is now plenty of research on how sitting all day is not good for your back, your circulation, or your waistline. In fact, Dr. James Levine, a professor at the Mayo Clinic, said “Sitting is the new smoking”. Extended periods of sitting are a potential hazard to your long-term health.
On the other hand, In an article on Harvard Health Publishing called “The truth behind standing desks”, standing still all day is not such a great thing either. Sitting on average burns about 80 calories/hour and standing burns only about 8 calories/ hour more. So, if your hope was that standing was going to lead to a slimmer figure, spoiler alert, it will take you 3 hours of standing vs. sitting, to burn off the calories of one carrot. Bummer.
However, in the same article that provided that dismal news there was a silver lining. According to a study published by the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, walking can burn an average of 210 calories/hour. Bam! A solution has been under our feet all along. Standing desk treadmills are a solution to sitting health problems and standing health problems. We just need to get movement into the equation.
In another article on wfhmodern, we reviewed several under desk (and a few on the desk) options to bring more movement into the standing desk environment. That article can be found here, How To Find The Best Standing Desk Exercise Equipment. We reviewed the Rhythm Fun Under Desk Treadmill, a nice walking treadmill at a reasonable price with a slim modern look. It’s a great option for a walking treadmill, however, it is also limited to “walking-only” with a top speed of 3.7mph. For those who want to have a running option, you may want to consider the Real Relax 2 in 1 Under Desk Treadmill.
Let’s have at some of the features
The need for speed
One option that sets the Real Relax 2 in 1 Treadmill apart from its competition is its ability to go from “Walking Mode” (0.6 to 3.8mph) to “Running Mode” (0.6 to 7.6mph). Why two modes? Real relax has your safety in mind. When the unit is under your desk you may not be able to see the display statistics located at the front of the treadmill so when in “Walking Mode” the remote will limit your top speed to 3.8mph. If you press the remote button too many times while on the phone or if say your favorite home-office kitty steps on your treadmill remote, you will not fly off the back end. Smart!
If you want to kick it up a notch you can switch into “Running Mode” This will allow you to run up to 7.6 miles per hour. That is roughly an 8-minute mile. While you probably will not be replying to an email or talking on the phone at this speed, it does turn your office equipment into a decent piece of home gym equipment and that is why it is a 2 in 1 model.
Additional safety has been considered for operation in running mode. When you are ready for a run it is recommended that you roll your treadmill out from under your desk and fold the safety rail into the upright position. This puts all the controls in easy reach for controlling your pace. A large red “emergency stop” button is located dead center. So, should you suddenly feel unstable, hit that button, and everything will stop immediately? The rail also provides a holder for your cell phone.
Ease for your knees
Running on treadmills is not exactly like running outside. When you run outside or on a track you tend to lean forward a bit so your foot strike is more on the ball of your foot. On a treadmill, one tends to stand straighter shifting to more of a heel strike which can lead to impact injuries to your ankles, knees, back, and cause extra muscle strain.
The Real Relax 2 in 1 Treadmill has implemented multiple points of shock absorption. The running board was created with the principle of elastic deformation, which means the board takes the impact more than it heals. Your knees will be thankful for that.
Quiet Please!
While no treadmill, motorized or manual, is completely silent, Real Relax has done a pretty good job making its treadmill quiet, especially when you are just walking. The shock-absorbing technology not only cushions your impact but quiets it too, whether you are on a carpet or a hard surface. The well-powered 2.25HP motor is strong enough to run the belt without straining which is why the motor runs smooth and quiet. You are not likely to disturb any coworkers with this under desk treadmill.
In running mode, your foot strike might get someone to look up from their desk, but one has to wonder, are they disturbed by the sound or fascinated by your awesome multitasking ability and quest for fitness. I say belief in option two, It will keep you motivated!
“Music Makes the People Come Together”
That is a line from Madonna’s song Music and if you like music, the Real Relax 2 in 1 Under Desk Treadmill has another great feature — Bluetooth integrated speakers. If you are in a home office or your own office, then this option is great for you. You can listen to your favorite music playlist, podcast, or audiobook. The treadmill is quiet so your audio will sound great through these speakers. Now, to quote another line from Music, “Hey Mr. DJ put a record on…” then walk or run to whatever drives your motivation. The speakers are a great added feature.
No Assembly Required!
Yes! Take it out of the box and plug it in. Everything is assembled…Well, almost everything. In the fine print, you will find that you must purchase a CR2450 battery for the remote control. These are not expensive and so why it isn’t included is a mystery to us, but several disappointed customers removed a star from their reviews for not having the battery included. It’s ok if you don’t have it to start with but you will have to raise the bar to the upright position so you can operate it from the rail controls. Or, you can get your CR2450 battery in advance since you are now, “in-the-know” thanks to WFHmodern. You’re welcome!
Large Illuminated Digital Display
A nice, large integrated display allows you to see your speed, calories burned, time of use, distance, and Bluetooth connectivity. Control of the treadmill can be managed from the fold-away rail or the remote control. The display is bright so you can see your statistics in any lighting.
Easy To Move and Store
This treadmill weighs 77lbs with wheels which means you can wheel it under your couch, bed, desk, or simply wheel it out of your way till you need it again. The low profile allows it to be stored in more places than a traditional treadmill.
The Real Relax Warranty
If anything goes wrong in the first 30 days, you can return or exchange it with no problem. After your 30-day trial, you are covered by a 3-year warranty. Nice to know you have a little added protection for your purchase. See Real Relax for warranty details.
Amazon Renewed Store
You may be in luck if you want this treadmill at a great low price. I did spot a couple in the “Renewed Store”. The renewed store sells gently used or repaired items. There were two in stock at the writing of this review, and they are guaranteed for a full two years. Should you have any issues in the first 90-days they will get it fixed for you, find you a replacement, or refund your money.
In my experience of purchases from the Amazon Renewed store, the products are in nearly perfect shape. There may be a dent or blemish, but the items are guaranteed to be fully functional and many times there is still some portion of warranty available. You could save a nice chunk of change with this option. You can check by clicking here to see if there are any renewed treadmills in stock.
Pros
- Has two settings for walking or running
- Operation is whisper quiet at walking speed
- Has integrated, quality, Bluetooth Speakers
- Operation from fold-away rail or included remote control
- No assembly is required. Just plug it in and you are ready to go
- Low impact design protects your ankles and knees
- Large, easy to read, digital display
Cons
- Remote control battery is not included
- Folding rail does not have side rails
- No pause option on the remote control, if you have to stop by remote you reset all your calculations
- No integrated heart monitor system or wearable linked monitoring
- Top running speed is 7.6 mph but that is a pro to some users
- At the time of this review, they were temporarily out of stock
FAQs
Question: What is the weight capacity of this treadmill?
Answer: 240 lbs
Question: How wide is the running belt?
Answer: It is 17 inches. A nice width that allows some travel from side to side for walking at your desk yet, narrow enough to straddle on the sideboards, in case you need to get off track quickly.
Question: How quiet is the “whisper quiet” motor?
Answer: Well, it is as quiet as a whisper, but if you want to be technical, the sound level has been measured and it is less than 60 dB. It was designed with the office environment in mind.
Question: Is the rail height adjustable?
Answer: No. This is either up or down but like the rails, at the gym (also not adjustable) its height is about waist level for most people and should be easy to use for nearly anyone.
Question: Is there an emergency stop?
Answer: Yes, if you use it for running it is recommended to put the rail in the upright position so you have easy access to all the controls including a large red emergency stop button right in the center. If you get unstable just hit it and the belt will stop immediately.
Question: How thick is it when folded up?
Answer: It is 4.7 inches so it will slide under most beds or long couches. It is 54.7 inches long when folded. The width is 26.6 inches. Now you can check in advance for places to store your treadmill.
The Verdict
If you are looking for a quiet standing desk treadmill, I think this is a great option. It’s ready to go right out of the box with no assembly. The buttons are so straight forward, you hardly need to refer to the instruction manual. The remote control is very convenient for use at your desk and its slim design makes it very easy to get out it of the way when needed. A “walking mode” separate from a “running mode” is brilliant. You won’t get into trouble using this at your desk in “walking mode” as the remote will limit your speed to 3.8 miles an hour preventing accidents.
Roll it out from the desk, put up the rail, switch to “running mode” and you are ready for a pretty solid run. The max speed of 7.6 suits the needs of most users. Having the option of Bluetooth speakers is sweet, you can jam to your favorite tune but still hear the office phone if you need to. This option is obviously best suited for the home office user but you are reading this on “Work from Home Modern” so, the speakers are a big thumbs up from me.
The disappointments are very few. The negative reviews are consistently about not including the pill battery for the remote control (I agree, this is absurd not to be included). And secondly, not having a pause option on the remote control. None of these are deal-breakers. The maintenance is simply to add a little oil to the reserve tank from time to time. They do include a small (very small) amount of oil, then you are on your own to find the right oil.
The price for what you get is a great deal and it delivers what it promises, a durable home office treadmill with a running option. We are happy to recommend the Real Relax 2 in 1 under desk treadmill.