UREVO FoldiMix 5L Smart Treadmill Review

It’s safe to say that there are a fair few perks to working from home. My laundry pile has never been smaller, and my dog certainly seems to enjoy my company. But my neck, back and joints have all taken one for the team since I moved to a hybrid way of working. Forget ‘tech neck’. I’m certain I’m operating more in ‘shrimp posture’ territory. But that’s where the best under-desk treadmills can be genuinely transformative.

I was already a fervent walking-while-working convert, thanks to a seven-month stint a few years ago with a cheap treadmill that I’d picked up in a Black Friday deal. When it unfortunately limped its way to a frustratingly premature death, I was hesitant to get another. However, testing the UREVO FoldiMix 5L has done a lot to restore my faith in the product concept.

Not only is it a treadmill with its own height-adjustable folding workstation, but it’s also capable of something pretty unusual in this space; it has a max speed of 7.6 MPH. Most walking pads are just that - walking pads. A treadmill that offered the ability to double up as a way to be healthier at work and a vehicle for a good running workout definitely piqued my interest.

UREVO FoldiMix 5L Smart Treadmill Review: Specs

• Dimensions: 52"L x 24.6"W x 43.7"H
• Weight: 65.3lbs/29.6kg
• Max. user weight: 400lbs/181kg
• Speed range: 0.6 - 7.6 MPH
• Incline: 9-level incline selection
• Wheels: Yes
• Walking area: 39.4"L x 15.8"W

UREVO FoldiMix 5L Smart Treadmill Review: Design

Setting up the UREVO was a simple, streamlined process. I was able to get the treadmill out of the box by myself (with only some mild cursing due to its weight), which was definitely the most challenging part. Once it was on the floor, plugging it into the power outlet and downloading the app was so easy that the treadmill was up and running (no pun intended) within five minutes.

One of the most attractive features of the treadmill is the folding height-adjustable desk. A frustrating barrier to purchasing a walking treadmill is the fact that you would ordinarily need one of the best standing desks as well. That makes walking-while-working a pretty expensive lifestyle habit to invest in - especially if you aren’t even sure whether it’s something you’ll enjoy in the long term.

Is the UREVO’s workstation the best desk I’ve ever used? No, but it was never going to be. I live and die by my second monitor, so when I already have a standing desk, I’m just not going to use the workstation feature regularly. However, it’s perfectly serviceable for what it is; a useful place to rest a laptop or tablet while you walk. I particularly appreciate the fact that it’s height-adjustable, which makes the experience far more ergonomic than a static pre-set height.

During my testing, I would regularly swap around the UREVO for my normal desk chair. This was honestly easier than I expected it to be, as the treadmill is relatively heavy. However, the wheels at the front of the walking pad can be easily maneuvered, especially if you lift it up so that it’s almost vertical. I have a pretty small office, so I thought that moving the treadmill around would be a major pain point, but it was surprisingly simple.

Despite its workstation feature, the treadmill isn’t overly bulky when folded down. I’m easily able to slide the top half under a chair to save some room when I’m not using it. However, it’s worth noting that this slim, low profile does mean that it works best on hard floors (UREVO does sell a foldable treadmill mat for customers that have carpets).

UREVO FoldiMix 5L Smart Treadmill Review: Controls and app

The UREVO FoldiMix 5L comes with both a remote control and a connected app. However, one of my small frustrations with the treadmill is that the remote doesn’t come with batteries. This means that if you don’t happen to have the right batteries in your house, then you have to download the app in order to get started. The cynical part of me might wonder whether batteries are purposefully excluded to encourage users to sign up for an app that they might have otherwise not downloaded.

However, that being said, the app was both well-designed and very easy to navigate. As an iPhone user, I particularly appreciate that the app can directly connect to Apple Health. This means that my workouts are automatically uploaded to my main health tracking app.

Within the Home screen of the UREVO app, you’re able to quick-start a workout through choosing a set amount of time, distance or calories. You’re also able to simply select the ‘Free’ option, which will start the treadmill and allow you to walk for as long as you like. This was the option I used the most (and I suspect it will be the same for most users), so I wish that this was the very first option presented rather than the last.

There’s a selection of pre-set running and walking workouts to choose from. Most of the workouts appear to be specifically for walking, which is understandable when this is primarily a walking-focused treadmill. However, I tested the 45-Min HIIT Fat Burning Run and found it perfectly serviceable. The transitions between speeds were neither sluggish nor overly abrupt and I felt like I’d had a good workout by the end.

UREVO FoldiMix 5L Smart Treadmill Review: Performance

The UREVO provided a great walking experience. While using it for work, I walked in just socks and had no issue with this at all. Generally, I found that a speed of 1 MPH was a good ambling pace that enabled me to maintain my walking while I typed, navigated my mouse and conversed during meetings. A typical day of walking tended to be around 9,000 steps, 165 minutes of active time and a distance of around 3 km. However, this is typically split into two to three separate sessions over the course of a day.

I primarily used the app over the remote and found it to be super responsive for the treadmill’s speed. There does seem to be a small delay for the incline, but it’s negligible in the grand scheme of things.

While there is some noise while using the machine (as I would expect), it honestly faded into the background very easily. The soft whine of the motor is impressively quiet, with most of the noise coming from the steps on the walking pad itself. I was reassured by multiple people that the noise didn’t come through during meetings, so I felt confident using the treadmill even when I wasn’t on mute.

As a woman of an average height, I found that my stride length wasn’t an issue while walking on the UREVO. However, running is a slightly different experience, as my feet will occasionally hit the end of the belt in a disconcerting way. If I was much taller, I think this would be a far more significant issue. While I didn’t come close to slipping off, there is absolutely zero way that I would run on the UREVO without the safety clip (which, to be fair, you are advised to use!). While I enjoy the novelty of having a running treadmill that I can use to get a quick workout in when it’s raining outside, I think it will remain just that; a novelty.

UREVO FoldiMix 5L Smart Treadmill Review: Verdict

Overall, this is a great walking treadmill - especially for those who haven’t invested in a standing desk, but still want to experience the benefits of walking while at work. The controls are nice and responsive, and it’s great to be able to control both speed and incline for a satisfying walking workout. Noise wasn’t an issue, making this a good option for those who are constantly hopping on and off video calls.

Compared to competitors, the UREVO’s one major drawback is that it doesn’t fold in half like the space-saving WalkingPad Z1. However, it more than makes up for this with its foldable and height-adjustable workstation, and the fact that it doubles up as a running treadmill too.

While I wouldn’t say that the UREVO FoldiMix 5L could ever be a contender for one of the best treadmills for running, it’s absolutely a nice perk to have. However, I would caution taller runners about using the running function in particular. I’m an average height for a woman, but I can imagine that anyone with longer legs could find the length of the treadmill a little short for hitting a comfortable running stride.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a serious running treadmill, then this isn’t the product for you. However, if you’re interested in a good quality walking treadmill that has the capacity for the occasional run, then this is a great choice.