Production updates from the Berlin workshop.
Most weeks I write down what actually happened: what I tried, what broke, and what I got wrong before I got it right. The failures are in here too, because those are usually the part worth reading. Alongside them, the longer pieces on manual walking pads and what they change at a desk. Newest first.
Has Office Walker production started?
The survey is coming, production has officially started, and here is how shipping will roll out.
What happens when parts arrive damaged?
The slats arrived dented from being stacked for weeks. A surface soft enough to be comfortable is soft enough to take an impression.
Does a walking pad need a dust cover?
A frequently requested accessory, and a very honest look at what a dust cover for the Office Walker actually is.
Do walking pads stain or scratch floors?
The first rubber feet left permanent marks on the floor. Here's how we found it, and the new feet that fixed it.
How do you photograph three colours of the same product?
Three frame colours, six combinations, and the problem that wood grain reflects light differently depending on where the light comes from.
Is a walking pad safe with kids around?
A transport lock that doubles as a child safety feature: slide it in and the walking surface can't move.
Plastic or cork: which front cover should a walking pad have?
Frosted plastic or cork for the front cover, what backers said, and where it landed.
Manual Non-Electric Walking Pads - An In-Depth Overview
If you’re already using an electric walking pad, you might know these problems: - They are noisy, especially after using them for several months or...
What happens when you drop a 25 kg parcel repeatedly?
Drop tests found a weak spot in the packaging and a loose screw nobody would ever have found by walking on it.
Why is shipping delayed by six weeks?
Production has started, but the slats and the packaging now decide when the first units ship.
Why do two identical bearings feel different?
Two bearings that should have been interchangeable were not. Two days to diagnose, and 120,000 of the wrong ones already ordered.
How hot does a walking pad belt get when you walk on it?
Fifteen minutes of walking took the belt to 39 degrees and left it undamaged. The same belt did not last five minutes on the test rig.
How do you measure the pressure a person puts on a walking pad?
Pressure film showed the test rig applying roughly double the load of a person, concentrated into a much smaller area.
Why does a walking pad get louder over time?
Three belt samples, all with the same problem, and one clear finding: the surface has to be smooth, because texture is what you hear.
How fast can one person build a walking pad?
A full production test run showed one person can build more than four Office Walkers a day.
Can you ship a walking pad without plastic?
Paper and cardboard packaging for a 25 kg product, and the fight to get suppliers to stop wrapping every part in film.
Why do walking pad belts fail?
The belt ripped down the middle on our own test rig. It had never happened while walking on it. Here is what we found.
Why do we assemble every walking pad ourselves in Berlin?
Production is about to start, the durability test is holding up, and the team has grown.
How long does it take to ramp up walking pad production?
The first parts have arrived, the slat surface decision is made, and the production plan is ready.
How do you build a durability test rig for a walking pad?
A durability rig walks on a walking pad so a human does not have to. Ours arrived at over 300 kg and would not fit through the door.
Timeline Update: A Roughly 4-Week Shift
I'll get straight to it: the estimated production schedule is going to shift by about four weeks. I want to be transparent about why, so here's the...
Why does the gap between walking pad slats matter?
The gap between the slats opens and closes as they travel over the curve. If it is too wide, walking barefoot pinches. Here is what I changed.
Strength Test Passed & the Office Walker Oreo Edition
First impressions of the black frame I wanted to share the first photos of the black frame since about a week already but somehow didn't manage to....
Pre-Production Prototypes Are Here (And One Is Really Quiet)
TL;DR The first two pre-production prototypes are built (including a dark brown version) One prototype is very quiet (below 30 dB at slow speeds) ...
First Pre-Production Prototype in the Works
TL;DR: We're making solid progress and are closing in on the first pre-production prototype. Pre-Production Prototype I've finally started working ...
Improved model | Collaboration with engineer | IP protection
Here's what's been happening over the past few weeks: Product Optimization Over the past weeks, I've built dozens of Office Walker variants to trac...
Beware of scam websites with fake Office Walkers
Since some time I receive reports about ads and websites that seemingly offer the Office Walker at a very low price (e.g. $40). In the past days, t...
Super smooth! The latest version of the Office Walker
After 3 weeks of waiting, the new side elements finally arrived last week. And they were a disaster! My hopes were high, but once assembled, the Of...
Crossed 550k! Progress report and introduction of "Wave 2" rewards
Day by day, more backers are coming. It's amazing to see your support, thanks for that! Production location We made the final decision that we want...
Almost at €450k & Quick progress update
The past days have been wild. We're slowly approaching the €500k mark! Thanks to everyone who backed this campaign! On top of the launch craziness,...
Funded in... 2min!?
Holy cow, that was unexpected. I think all super early birds were gone within seconds! Sorry to all backers who had technical problems or weren't a...
Just another freak in Berlin doing his thing (cross post of waitlist update #18 on September 19th)
This is a cross-post of part of the 18th update to the waitlist on office-walker.com from September 19th. If you're interested in more frequent upd...
Amazing new prototype - Getting ready for Kickstarter (cross post of waitlist update #14 on June 27th)
This is a cross-post of part of the 14th update to the waitlist on office-walker.com from June 27th. If you're interested in more frequent updates,...
Quiet and Smooth: Major Progress with Office Walker Prototype v3
We're excited to share that all the parts for our latest prototype of the Office Walker have arrived, and the assembly was a success.
Testing the Noise Level of the Office Walker During Zoom Meetings
Ever wonder if you can attend a Zoom meeting while using your Office Walker without disturbing others with noise. Well, you're not alone.
Testing the New Office Walker Prototype: Now Under-Desk Ready!
We’ve been busy refining our manual walking pad, and we're thrilled to share the latest milestone.
Office Walker Update: Smooth and Quiet Prototype V2
In our latest update, we're thrilled to share some groundbreaking progress on the development of the Office Walker.
Manual Walking Pad Update: Fixing the Jerkiness
In our latest update, we've addressed a critical issue with the Office Walker - a problem where the belt would slip towards the inner side of the...
Manual Walking Pad Update: Testing Prototype v2
We're back with an exciting update on the Office Walker: Prototype v2 is here, and it's looking promising! New Slats, Less Noise After assembling ...
Manual Walking Pad Update - New Side Elements
In our latest development for the Office Walker, we've taken a significant step with the assembly of new side elements.
Manual Walking Pad Update: New Chain, Different Noise
Upgrading our manual walking pad, the Office Walker, sometimes means swapping one issue for another.
Manual Walking Pad Update: New Chain, Less Noise
Tackling the Noise Issue In our ongoing development of the Office Walker, one of the key challenges we've hit is noise reduction.
Manual Walking Pad Update: Innovative Storage Ideas
Efficient Storage Solutions for the Office Walker We're back with another exciting update about our manual walking pad, the Office Walker.
Testing the First Real-Size Prototype of Our Manual Walking Pad
A big step forward for the Office Walker: We have the first real-size prototype. It's pretty loud but that's expected at this stage.
Initial Steps On Your Under-Desk Walking Pad
If you just got a walking pad or are planning to you hope this big device won’t collect dust in the corner. After all, you have a goal. Be it losin...
Weight Loss Using A Walking Pad
The modern office worker sits too much. - We sit while driving to the office and back. - We sit while working in front of the desk.
Alternatives To The Walkolution
The Walkolution treadmill has excellent performance and innovative design.
You can’t compensate for 8 hours of sitting with a bit of gym - How a walking pad changed my life
Everything started with my job. I’m a software developer. It’s a great profession but comes with a sedentary lifestyle.
Get your name down for one.
Backers get theirs first. After that the waitlist orders, below the price the store will charge once it opens to everyone. Tens of thousands of people are already on it, so it is worth putting your name down now.