Walk2 App Review: Walk Your Way to a Healthier Life
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Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, improve muscle strength, or increase activity levels, achieving your fitness goals can be a challenge.
One of the main obstacles you may encounter is motivation, which can often suffer when your usual exercise routine becomes mundane. That’s why, as a healthcare professional, I’m always exploring new strategies and resources that will keep my patients engaged and focused on their goals.
A new app that has recently caught my eye is Walk2, which provides virtual walking challenges through several destinations throughout the world. From the historical sites of Ancient Rome to the streets of Paris, the app promised to take me on an adventure round the globe for just a fraction of the cost.
This promise immediately caught my eye, and so I downloaded the app, tested it out, and used my experience to decide whether it could be a fun yet effective motivational tool for my patients.
What Is the Walk2 App?
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- Real-life rewards after completing a challenge
- Virtual traveling to famous landmarks
- Real-life walking routes
- Activity tracker and analysis
- Community feature to share achievements
Walk2 is a virtual challenge walking app that provides motivation to get users up, outside, and active. The app aims to help you reach your fitness goals, whether you’re hoping to lose weight fast, build stamina, or simply become more active each day.
Something I found unique about Walk2 compared with other fitness apps is that it guides you around famous cities and landmarks. While walking around the local area, I was able to learn about everything from the history of Big Ben and Tower Bridge in London to conquering the peaks of the Rocky Mountains. In addition, I even received a medal after completing a route, which really impressed me.
With more than 100 spots to explore, the app may influence you to increase your daily step count. This not only helps with weight loss but can also get your blood pumping, boost energy levels, and improve your mental well-being.
⭐ Rating |
4.3
|
✅ Who is it for? |
Various ages and physical activity levels |
❌ Free app? |
No |
🍎 Key features |
Engaging routes, various trackers |
☕️ Where to get it? |
Get it here |
💰 Price |
From $23.99 per month |
How Does the Walk2 App Work?
Upon visiting the website, I was prompted to complete a short quiz that would help the app determine my personal goals. It asked for my age and gender, my current physical activity levels, what motivates me to change, and my walking preferences, as well as any existing health conditions.
Once finished, I was given a summary of my current body mass index, metabolic age, and how long it would take to achieve my weight loss goals. As I simply wanted to test the app, I bought a short 1-month subscription and then received an email with instructions on how to access Walk2 through the App Store.
After downloading the app, it recommended the “Rome Challenge,” a 55km walk that guides you virtually through the streets and landmarks of Rome. However, if this doesn’t float your boat, there is a wide range of other cities and landmarks for you to explore, from Paris and London to the LOTR Mount Fire.
You can start your challenge straight away by simply popping your phone in your pocket and strolling around the neighborhood. Walk2 recommends walking for at least 20 minutes per day to begin with, but ultimately, it’s up to you when, where, and how often you want to walk.
I liked the fact that I was able to experience the Rome virtual challenge with the same distance and surroundings as the real route while simply walking around my local area. I also gave the London challenge a go and noticed that each one comes with an estimated completion time, which may vary depending on your unique goals, fitness levels, and dedication.
Another thing I particularly enjoyed is that you are able to track each walk on the app or using your favorite fitness device, and at the end, you can see a summary of how far you’ve walked and how many calories you’ve burned.
Does the Walk2 App Stand Out From Competitors?
When it comes to exercise, many of my patients trying to lose weight struggle to stick to a regular routine. This is because they need help to motivate themselves to go to the gym or tend to get bored with treadmill running every day.
As well as encouraging patients to make better food choices, I also like to find strategies that will make them want to get up and moving to support this. Compared to many other walking apps I’ve reviewed, the Walk2 app stands out as its routes are based in a virtual world.
Users may, therefore, no longer feel restricted by the constraints of their neighborhood when going out for their daily exercise – instead, they may be able to switch off from the stresses of everyday life and explore a new destination, which is likely to encourage them to keep walking.
I was also impressed to see a variety of free resources included in the app’s price, including guidebooks on starting the challenges, recovering properly, and motivation. I even received a medal after completing a route called “Rome”!
Main Features of the Walk2 App
I was impressed to find a wide variety of features available on the Walk2 app, which worked seamlessly without any glitches or bugs. Let’s check out some of the key features that Walk2 has to offer:
#1 Various trackers included
Studies show that only those who consistently track their progress will achieve significant weight loss. So, if you’re hoping to reach your fitness goals, then tracking is an important part of your success, which is something I was happy to see that Walk2 prioritizes.
While you’re out walking, the app will record your step count, distance, and calories burned, so you won’t become distracted from the virtual scenery of your chosen challenge.
#2 Ability to see your progress
As well as being able to track various stats, Walk2 creates a summary of the progress you’re making toward your overall target. For example, at the end of each walk, the app shows you what percentage of the journey you’ve completed.
I found that Walk2 also offers some unique and engaging progress monitoring methods. A great example is the virtual badges, which every challenge has a series of for you to collect as you pass famous landmarks. You’ll also be given a certificate of completion, which you can view on the app at any time to give you that extra push.
The element I really think may keep my patients motivated is that for every challenge completed, Walk2 will plant a real tree, as they work side-by-side with reforestation projects.
#3 Multiple engaging routes
If you feel that your current challenge isn’t pushing you hard enough, you can simply choose another that is better suited. Walk2 also lets you follow more than one journey at once, so if the streets of Ancient Rome are starting to become boring, you can always mix it up with a tour of famous French historic sites in Camino de Santiago.
I’ve mentioned a couple of journeys that I came across while browsing the app, but there are more than 100 for users to choose from, with new routes added all the time.
What Are the Benefits of the Walk2 App?
While trying Walk2, I noted several points that would benefit a range of my current patients, from amateur exercisers to seasoned walkers. Here are the standout points of this app I can easily vouch for:
#1 Might help to lose weight
When patients come to me hoping to lose weight slowly and sustainably, I advise them that they need to burn more calories than they’re consuming. The best way to achieve this is by eating a low-calorie balanced diet, exercising regularly, and increasing your NEAT.
NEAT, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis, refers to the energy we expend for everything other than eating, sleeping, or completing organized sports-like exercise, including walking. Research shows that increasing your NEAT is a critical component in weight loss.
Using a motivational walking app like Walk2 could be a great way of helping you increase your calorie burn, helping you to lose weight. However, I must point out that simply walking and not engaging in other physical activity will likely bring only small benefits to overall weight.
#2 Helps to build stamina
If you’re hoping to get into better shape, walking is a great way of building up your endurance without putting pressure on your joints through high-intensity exercise. By keeping you going till the end of the challenge, Walk2 helps build your lung capacity, meaning you’ll be able to walk further and faster the fitter you get.
By potentially increasing your stamina, walking can also help maintain a healthy heart and lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
#3 It is a fun way to work out
One of the biggest benefits I found when testing Walk2 is that its unique approach to walking was really enjoyable. Research shows that those who find exercise fun are more likely to adhere to continued physical activity.
I feel that my patients would find it easier to incorporate this type of exercise into their daily routine and might be tempted to skip their workout in favor of a lazy evening on the couch. This means they may keep burning calories, strengthen their hearts, and improve their mental health.
Plus, regular walking has been shown to improve your brain function, which could protect you from age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
#4 Suitable for all fitness levels
Whether you’re completely new to fitness or frequently enjoy running 2 miles a day, the Walk2 app offers something for everyone. Some routes are easier than others, and I liked the fact that the app lets you change your challenge if you’re finding it too easy or difficult.
There’s also no daily requirement you’ll need to meet – Walk2 recommends starting with 20 minutes per day, but ultimately, you can decide when, where, and how far you want to walk.
#5 Routes are engaging
While walking around the local neighborhood, Walk2 told me facts about the ancient city of Rome, which kept me engaged and meant I wanted to keep walking for longer. I also got to see and learn about a variety of historical sites in London, a location I’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet had the chance.
The app also has several features that are specifically designed for engagement, including their unique rewards system of virtual badges, certificates, and tree planting.
#6 Keeps you motivated
Personally, I see a lot of value in apps that provide multiple features to maintain user motivation. According to their website, 91% of Walk2 users say that their virtual challenges and rewards motivate them to walk consistently, which is definitely impressive.
This app’s creators, however, have stepped outside the virtual reality by offering real-life rewards after completing a route. Having this unique feature might encourage people to stick with the workout.
Being able to see your goals in quantifiable terms, like how many miles you have left until the end of the journey, has been shown to make progress monitoring much easier, meaning you’re more likely to keep working toward completion.
What Are the Downsides of the Walk2 App?
Like with any new app, it’s important to give a balanced view so that you know exactly what to expect before purchasing. I did find a few drawbacks to the Walk2 app, which I’ve explained in detail below:
#1 Not 100% accurate
Although I noted the fact that the app tracks calories burned on each walk, I was slightly skeptical about the result I was given. How many calories you burn depends on a wide range of factors, including your age, gender, BMI, and exercise intensity.
Walk2 does take these factors into consideration, but it’s hard to see how your phone can accurately measure these stats simply by being in your pocket. However, connecting to Apple Health or Google Fit is likely to improve the accuracy, so I’d suggest doing this for best results.
#2 It drains the phone battery
Like many other apps with lots of features, Walk2 did cause my phone battery to run out pretty fast. My phone died right after 20 minutes of virtual walking during my lunch break, even though it was at 100% to begin with.
I’d recommend making sure your phone is 100% charged before starting your walk and letting a friend or family member know your planned route in case of an emergency.
#3 Not a free app
If you’re looking for a free app, then Walk2 isn’t for you. Although the subscription plan is very reasonable, starting from just $1.67 per week, I’d like to see a free trial option so that my patients could try it before buying.
However, it’s worth pointing out that the app does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so users can get a full refund if it isn’t working for them.
Walk2 App Cost
Despite the lack of a free trial, I found Walk2’s pricing flexible since you can choose a subscription plan that works for you, whether you want to try it out for a month or commit to a longer program. The cost of each plan is as follows:
- 1 month – $39.00 ($9.75 per week)
- 3 months – $49.99 ($4.17 per week)
- 6 months – $59.99 ($2.50 per week)
This price includes a free pre-challenge guidebook, a post-walk recovery guide, and a feel-good toolkit to keep you motivated. Again, if you’re not sure Walk2 is for you, you can try it for 30 days and get a full refund.
Walk2 vs. Similar Apps
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Rewards for completing routes
Virtual traveling to famous landmarks
Real-life walking routes
Activity tracker and analysis
Community feature to share routes
Virtual running, walking, or cycling fitness challenges
Activity and progress tracker
Compete individually or as a team
Conqueror community allows you to connect with others and share progress
Fantasy adventure walking tracker
Several fantasy characters and maps to compete with
Charts with daily stats
Receive notifications and achievements as your quest advances
Rewards for completing routes
Virtual traveling to famous landmarks
Real-life walking routes
Activity tracker and analysis
Community feature to share routes
Virtual running, walking, or cycling fitness challenges
Activity and progress tracker
Compete individually or as a team
Conqueror community allows you to connect with others and share progress
Fantasy adventure walking tracker
Several fantasy characters and maps to compete with
Charts with daily stats
Receive notifications and achievements as your quest advances
How I Evaluated the Walk2 App
I reviewed Walk2 using 4 distinct criteria, which ensured I could provide a full overview of how the app works and whether I think it’s worth a purchase. The factors I used are as follows:
Quality 4/5
I consider Walk2 to be a high-quality app, as I didn’t encounter any bugs or glitches while using it. The manufacturers have considered both beginners and those with more experience when creating Walk2, meaning anyone can use it to achieve their fitness goals.
However, the tracking features aren’t 100% accurate, which is why I deducted 1 point in this category.
Effectiveness 4/5
By making fitness fun, Walk2 is a safe and effective app that I’d recommend to any of my patients hoping to lose a bit of weight, build their endurance, or simply increase their activity levels. All of the routes are designed to keep users engaged by teaching them interesting facts about their chosen landmarks, meaning you’re more likely to keep walking.
Price 4/5
Starting from just $1.67 per week, Walk2 is great value for money, considering all of the great, high-quality features it offers. The money-back guarantee also means you can try the app, but I would like to see a free trial offered for users who aren’t quite sure whether it will work for them.
Brand reputation 5/5
Despite being a relatively new company, Walk2’s reviews speak for themselves when it comes to brand reputation. Customers are mainly delighted with the quality, effectiveness, and fun features that the app has to offer. Plus, the brand’s customer service is impeccable, particularly when I contacted them wanting to know a few more details about Walk2.
A Word From Our RD
Walking is an overlooked form of exercise that provides several health benefits, including improving your joint health, reducing the risk of heart disease, and relieving anxiety, particularly if you’re suffering from burnout.
Integrating more walking into your day doesn’t have to be complicated, and not everyone needs to achieve 20,000 steps per day. You can increase your daily step count by making a few simple swaps, such as taking the stairs rather than the elevator or parking in the furthest spot from the grocery store entrance.
If you’re hoping to shift a few pounds, it’s often thought that you can simply walk the weight off. This is partially true, as walking burns calories, but you’ll also need to avoid an unhealthy diet and start making more balanced food choices. You should also prioritize drinking plenty of water, lowering your stress levels, and getting enough sleep each night.
FAQs
You can get the Walk2 app via their official website, where you can also see the latest discounts and offers.
The Walk2 app is designed for use by people of all ages and abilities, including seniors. However, if you are unsure of whether the app is for you, speak to a healthcare professional before using it.
Yes, Walk2 is a safe app for people who want to get in better shape, lose weight, or reach their personal fitness goals. Nonetheless, to ensure your safety while walking, stick to bright, well-lit areas you know and always let someone know your planned route.
Conclusion: A Stride in the Right Direction?
Walk2 is an interesting walking app that provides a refreshing take on exercise. By taking users around famous landmarks and encouraging them to complete unique challenges, the app makes a great motivational tool that I’d recommend to anyone looking to meet a safe fitness goal.
Although it doesn’t offer a free trial, Walk2 is relatively affordable and could be effective in aiding weight loss, building stamina, or simply encouraging users to be more active.
Anahit Harutyunyan is an MD in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. She also has a second specialty as a Medical specialist in Physiatry. Anahit has work experience in different clinics as ICU Doctor and Medical Doctor in Yerevan and Gyumri Ambulance Stations. She also worked in the therapeutic department during covid and has morning consultations in Nor Med private clinic.
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