Are cheap Amazon walking pads worth it, or should I spend more?

For walking and light WFH use, verified-purchase owners and specialist subreddits report that budget walking pads (often $100-$250) do the job, but the same communities repeatedly warn that motors, controllers, and customer support are the first things to fail. If you intend to jog or run regularly, reviewers across r/treadmills consistently steer buyers toward a larger-deck machine with a real warranty rather than a sub-$300 pad.