Office Walker press kit

Photos, video, the founder's story and every fact about the Office Walker, the manual walking pad built in Berlin. Free for editorial use.

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Web-size files download directly. Full-resolution originals on request.

Where to buy

Office Walker is sold only at officewalker.com and through our Kickstarter campaign. Any other shop offering it is not us.

Right now you can order it as a Kickstarter late pledge, from €1,099 plus shipping and VAT. The officewalker.com shop opens in the coming months, and the waitlist gets first access.

When you write about Office Walker, please link to officewalker.com.

officewalker.comKickstarter

As of October 2026.

About Office Walker

Office Walker is a manual walking pad for standing desks, designed and built in Berlin. It has no motor and no plug: your steps move the slats. Founded by developer Johannes Kettmann after years of broken electric pads, it raised over €2.2M from more than 2,000 backers on Kickstarter.

Fact sheet

PriceLate pledge from €1,099 on Kickstarter, plus shipping and VAT
DriveManual. No motor, no plug, no app
Electricity0 watts
Noise33 to 45 dB in daily use
Weight25 kg
Dimensions114 × 54 × 21 cm
Height under a deskAdds 14 cm
Walking surface45 cm wide, soft touch slat covers
FrameWood and steel
BearingsItalian steel, industrial standard
Max user weight150 kg, tested in the lab and by real people
SpeedAs fast as you walk. Tested well above 3 km/h
InclineNatural, from the curved deck
RepairEvery part replaceable, about 10 minutes
Guarantee5 years, parts included
Durability testing100,000 cycles at 150 kg on two test rigs
Prototypes38, over two years
PatentsGranted in the US and EU. China and international in review
PartsWood from Estonia, steel and bearings from Italy, slats from Germany
Made inAssembled and tested by hand in Berlin
PackagingPlastic-free cardboard, made in Poland. Arrives assembled
ShippingWorldwide with DHL and FedEx
Kickstarter€2.24M from 2,067 backers, a Project We Love
Production250 units a month, moving to 500

Numbers as of October 2026.

The story

A programmer with a bad back

Johannes Kettmann has written software for more than 15 years. All that sitting wrecked his back, and after COVID it got worse. He was working from home with two small kids and had no time left for the gym.

Walking at his standing desk was the one thing that fit into the day, and he got hooked. His back pain went away and he lost 15 kg. Today he walks 3 to 4 hours a day while he works, 10,000 to 15,000 steps, and has spent more than 3,000 hours on a walking pad.

Every walking pad he bought broke

At that many steps a day, cheap electric pads did not last. Each one got louder within months and then broke. He paid more for the next one, and that one broke too. After three to four years he bought one of the big manual machines. It was quiet, but it was huge, it cost thousands, it was not safe with kids around, and it took over the apartment.

There was nothing in between: quiet and manual, small enough for a real home, and built to last.

So he built his own

In mid 2024 he started designing one for himself. It had to be small, quiet, manual, repairable, safe around children, and easy to ship without a pallet. The first prototype used the mechanics of a traditional curved manual pad. It worked, but it was far too big for a room people actually live in.

That pushed him to invent a new mechanical system. In early 2025 he cut a proof of concept on a laser cutter in a friend's workshop: small, low noise, and it worked. It took 38 prototypes in total. The mechanism is patented in the US and the EU, and the applications in China and internationally are in review.

Kickstarter, and a workshop in Berlin

When the campaign opened, the first batch sold out within five minutes. The Office Walker went on to raise more than €2.2 million from 2,067 backers. In 2026 the team leased a production space in Berlin, built the line, and ran a pilot batch to break the packaging and shipping before volume. The first units reached backers in October 2026.

Every Walker is assembled and tested by hand by a small team in Berlin, from parts made by EU suppliers. Every part comes off with two bolts per side, and a worn part is a spare part, not a reason to throw the pad away.

“If yours is still doing its quiet job in 10 years, I got it right. That is the only benchmark I care about.” Johannes Kettmann, founder

Milestones

  1. July 2024The idea: a desk job, two small kids, and a back that hurt
  2. Nov 2024First prototype, on traditional curved mechanics. Far too big
  3. Early 2025New mechanism, laser cut as a proof of concept in a friend's workshop
  4. July 2025First patent application filed in the EU
  5. Nov 2025Wooden model, then soft touch slat covers
  6. Jan 2026Lab durability testing starts. Production space leased
  7. Mar 2026Production line finished
  8. June 2026Product and testing signed off
  9. Aug 2026Pilot run of 30 to 40 units
  10. Oct 2026First units delivered to backers

Photos

Every finish, from every angle, plus the workshop where they are built.

Request full-resolution files

Editor's picks 12 photos
Natural and black, product view
Natural and black, product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, at a standing desk
Natural and black, at a standing desk1280 × 1920↓
Dark wood, product view
Dark wood, product view1920 × 1290↓
Dark wood, walking barefoot
Dark wood, walking barefoot1280 × 1920↓
Black and cream, product view
Black and cream, product view1920 × 1280↓
OW Dark Wood, in a home office
OW Dark Wood, in a home office1417 × 1920↓
Black wood, product view
Black wood, product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, at a standing desk
Black wood, at a standing desk1428 × 1920↓
OW Black wood, product view
OW Black wood, product view1426 × 1920↓
Natural wood, at a standing desk
Natural wood, at a standing desk1524 × 1920↓
The team at the Berlin workshop
The team at the Berlin workshop1920 × 1280↓
Johannes swapping a part
Johannes swapping a part1080 × 1920↓

Natural and black 18 photos
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1920 × 1133↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1280 × 1920↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1280 × 1920↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1611 × 1920↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1280 × 1032↓
Natural and black, At a standing desk
Natural and black, At a standing desk1280 × 1920↓
Natural and black, At a standing desk
Natural and black, At a standing desk1280 × 1920↓
Natural and black, At a standing desk
Natural and black, At a standing desk1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1280 × 1920↓
Natural and black, Product view
Natural and black, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Walking barefoot
Natural and black, Walking barefoot1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Walking barefoot
Natural and black, Walking barefoot1280 × 1920↓
Natural and black, Walking barefoot
Natural and black, Walking barefoot1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Walking barefoot
Natural and black, Walking barefoot1920 × 1280↓
Natural and black, Walking barefoot
Natural and black, Walking barefoot1920 × 1280↓

Dark wood 23 photos
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1920 × 1290↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1404 × 1920↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1920 × 1173↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1920 × 1221↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1920 × 1211↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1920 × 1266↓
Dark wood, Product view
Dark wood, Product view1280 × 1146↓
Dark wood, At a standing desk
Dark wood, At a standing desk1280 × 1920↓
Dark wood, Walking barefoot
Dark wood, Walking barefoot1280 × 1920↓
Dark wood, Walking barefoot
Dark wood, Walking barefoot1280 × 1920↓
Dark wood, Walking barefoot
Dark wood, Walking barefoot1280 × 1920↓
Dark wood, Walking barefoot
Dark wood, Walking barefoot1920 × 1164↓
Dark wood, Walking barefoot
Dark wood, Walking barefoot1920 × 1329↓
Dark wood, Walking barefoot
Dark wood, Walking barefoot1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, At a standing desk
Dark wood, At a standing desk1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers
Dark wood, Walking in sneakers1920 × 1280↓
Dark wood, Standing at the desk
Dark wood, Standing at the desk1280 × 1920↓
Dark wood, Standing at the desk
Dark wood, Standing at the desk1920 × 1280↓

Black and cream 16 photos
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1280 × 1920↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1286↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1920 × 1285↓
Black and cream, Product view
Black and cream, Product view1280 × 1920↓
Black and cream, In a home office
Black and cream, In a home office1920 × 882↓
Black and cream, In a home office
Black and cream, In a home office1280 × 1920↓
Black and cream, In a home office
Black and cream, In a home office1920 × 1243↓
Black and cream, In a home office
Black and cream, In a home office1920 × 1280↓
Black and cream, In a home office
Black and cream, In a home office1280 × 1920↓
Black and cream, In a home office
Black and cream, In a home office1280 × 1920↓

Black wood 22 photos
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1280 × 1920↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1275 × 1920↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Product view
Black wood, Product view1280 × 1920↓
Black wood, In a home office
Black wood, In a home office1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, In a home office
Black wood, In a home office1399 × 1920↓
Black wood, In a home office
Black wood, In a home office1280 × 1920↓
Black wood, In a home office
Black wood, In a home office1511 × 1920↓
Black wood, At a standing desk
Black wood, At a standing desk1428 × 1920↓
Black wood, At a standing desk
Black wood, At a standing desk1357 × 1920↓
Black wood, Walking barefoot
Black wood, Walking barefoot1318 × 1920↓
Black wood, Walking barefoot
Black wood, Walking barefoot1521 × 1920↓
Black wood, Walking barefoot
Black wood, Walking barefoot1480 × 1920↓
Black wood, Walking barefoot
Black wood, Walking barefoot1920 × 1280↓
Black wood, Walking barefoot
Black wood, Walking barefoot1920 × 1251↓
Black wood, Walking barefoot
Black wood, Walking barefoot1920 × 1270↓

Natural wood 22 photos
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1455 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1275 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1225 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1280 × 1328↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Product view
Natural wood, Product view1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Stored upright
Natural wood, Stored upright1524 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Stored upright
Natural wood, Stored upright1280 × 1920↓
Natural wood, At a standing desk
Natural wood, At a standing desk1529 × 1920↓
Natural wood, At a standing desk
Natural wood, At a standing desk1469 × 1920↓
Natural wood, At a standing desk
Natural wood, At a standing desk1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, At a standing desk
Natural wood, At a standing desk1453 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers1920 × 1280↓
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers1280 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers1280 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers1280 × 1920↓
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers
Natural wood, Walking in sneakers1920 × 1280↓

Workshop and production 24 photos
The team at the Berlin workshop
The team at the Berlin workshop1920 × 1280↓
Building a Walker
Building a Walker1280 × 1920↓
At the bench
At the bench700 × 892↓
In the workshop
In the workshop1603 × 1920↓
Assembly
Assembly1920 × 1280↓
Assembly on the bench
Assembly on the bench1920 × 1280↓
Fitting the side panels
Fitting the side panels1920 × 1280↓
Assembly
Assembly1920 × 1280↓
Checking parts
Checking parts1920 × 1280↓
Fitting the slats
Fitting the slats1920 × 1280↓
Assembling the frame
Assembling the frame1920 × 1280↓
The workshop
The workshop1920 × 1280↓
Inside the workshop
Inside the workshop1280 × 1920↓
Side panels, ready for assembly
Side panels, ready for assembly2160 × 2880↓
Packaging
Packaging700 × 933↓
Johannes in the workshop
Johannes in the workshop700 × 933↓
Parts storage
Parts storage2160 × 2880↓
Incoming parts
Incoming parts2160 × 2880↓
OW ready to ship
OW ready to ship1920 × 1440↓
Packed for shipping
Packed for shipping2880 × 2160↓
The workshop
The workshop2880 × 2160↓
In the workshop
In the workshop1215 × 1620↓
Johannes swapping a part
Johannes swapping a part1080 × 1920↓
Sirius, the workshop dog
Sirius, the workshop dog1188 × 1031↓

Prototypes and testing 10 photos
Early prototype
Early prototype1920 × 1440↓
Side panel prototypes
Side panel prototypes1920 × 1440↓
Slat prototype
Slat prototype2160 × 2880↓
Slat samples
Slat samples2880 × 2160↓
Test rig at the workshop
Test rig at the workshop4284 × 5712↓
Test rig
Test rig1600 × 2133↓
Load testing
Load testing2880 × 2160↓
Lab testing
Lab testing1440 × 1159↓
Thermal check
Thermal check1206 × 1564↓
Color samples
Color samples1280 × 823↓
Johannes Kettmann

Johannes Kettmann

Founder, Office Walker

Johannes Kettmann is a software developer and the founder of Office Walker. He has written code for more than 15 years and is a dad of two.

He walks 3 to 4 hours a day at his standing desk, which took away his back pain and 15 kg. After years of electric pads that broke and a manual one that took over his apartment, he designed his own. He still tests every change on his own desk, and almost every week finds something to make smoother or quieter.

He is available for interviews in English and German.

How to credit us

Everything on this page is free for editorial use. When you use a photo or video, please credit it as Photo: Office Walker and link to officewalker.com.

Please don't use our photos or video in shops, ads or product listings. For anything beyond editorial use, ask us first.

Covered by

Some older articles show early prices and dates. The fact sheet above is current.

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Interviews, quotes and specific shots. Interviews with Johannes by appointment, in English or German.

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