6 Best Under Desk Ellipticals for your Home Gym 2023

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This article is our review of the best ellipticals to put under your desk.

An Under Desk Elliptical is an excellent way to keep your body moving while working behind your desk.

As a personal trainer, I have looked over the best under-desk ellipticals that will fit your lifestyle.

I considered price, user experience, training options, and extra features of these devices. You will find my top picks below.

Not everyone gets to be physically active. In the article released by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 2 adults does not get enough physical activity. It can result in many health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer [1].

Thus, deskercise—the practice of working out while sitting at a desk—has become popular. Under-desk ellipticals or steppers can provide you with hours of exercise without disrupting your activities.

These devices will be a great addition to your home gym.

Top Pick

Recommended Under Desk Dlliptical

Cubi JR 1

– 10,000+ five-star reviews on Amazon
– 8 Levels of resistance
– Whisper-quiet design
– Access to Cubii Studio for classes
– Convenient handle for carrying

Check on Amazon

If you are looking for the best-rated and most functional under-desk elliptical, take a look at the Cubii Jr 1. 

But also check our other recommendations, because every body is different.

Let’s start with the review.

Table of Contents

• 6 Best Under Desk Ellipticals for your Home Gym
  • Best Overall: Cubii JR1
  • Best for your Budget: Drive Medical Folding Exercise Peddler with Electronic Display
  • Best for Standing or Sitting: Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider 
  • Best for Beginners: Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Under Desk Elliptical Peddler Exerciser
  • Best for Intense Workout: LifePro FlexCycle Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser
  • Best Under Desk Ellipticals for Therapy: DeskCycle MagneTrainer-ER Mini Exercise Bike Arm and Leg Exerciser
• What to consider when buying an under-desk elliptical?
  • Size and Space
  • Durability
  • Ease of use
  • Price and Warranty
• Which under-desk elliptical is best overall?
• FAQ about the best under desk elliptical
• What to do next?

6 Best Under Desk Ellipticals for your Home Gym

Best Overall: Cubii JR1

Cubii Jr 1 is the original award-winning compact, seated elliptical. It helps you build healthy habits, add more strides to your day, burn calories, and boost energy.

I recommend Cubii Jr 1 as the Best Under Desk Elliptical for the following reasons:

• It has a high customer satisfaction rating, with over 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and top-notch customer service. Get replacements for free if you found damage or heard a “squeaking noise” to your product.
• It has eight levels of resistance, and you can burn up to 150 calories per hour.
• You can use it anywhere. It is portable, easy to set up, and has a convenient handle for carrying. It is also quiet because of its whisper-quiet design. 
• You can track your metrics with its LCD display that shows your time, rpm, distance, and calories.
• You can get access the new wellness platform, Cubii Studio. Where you can stream live and on-demand classes daily, ranging from 5 to 30 minutes long.
• You can also join their Facebook Community: Cubii Communitii with over 11,000 members. Where you can engage with other users and share your progress.

Best for your Budget: Drive Medical Folding Exercise Peddler with Electronic Display

Drive Medical Folding Exercise Peddler is the cheapest under-desk elliptical on the market today.

So, if you are not sure whether under desk cycling is for you, try out this budget-friendly pedals, before investing in a more expensive model. 

Most users are satisfied with their purchase and left positive reviews. On Amazon it has a rating of 4.1. But, remember that you get what you paid for, as others have an unsatisfactory experience.

The peddler can make any location a ‘gym’ due to its convenient, compact, and foldable design. It is a powerful, low-impact exercise that helps improve circulation by stimulating your muscles.

Best for Standing or Sitting: Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider

The Stamina Elliptical has an impressive 8,000 plus five-star ratings on Amazon. The coolest attribute of this machine is that you can use it while standing, sitting, or moving forward and reverse.

You can access their smart coaching app called müüv. Which can help you move for 500+ minutes per month through personalized workouts, and listen to ad-free music from iHeartRadio.

It has an LCD fitness monitor where you can track your total strides, time, and calories burned.

The major flaw that I have observed in this machine is that it develops a squeaking sound after some use. This is disturbing for some users, that it even led to complaints and bad reviews. To avoid the squeaking sound, you need to apply lubricant on the wheels and belts from time to time.

Also, it has a compact design, but it does not have a carry handle, which can make it hard to move since it is heavy.

Best for Beginners: Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Under Desk Elliptical Peddler Exerciser

The Sunny Health & Fitness under-desk elliptical is a great option for beginners. Because it comes fully assembled and provides a smooth workout, even on the lowest level.

The large textured foot pedals prevent you from slipping when you use it.

This elliptical uses an 8-level magnetic resistance to give you a low-maintenance, smooth, and quiet workout. The digital monitor tracks your time, speed, calories, and distance. It is easy to transport because it has a handle and a no assembly, compact design.

As noted on the Sunny and Health website, it can accommodate users of any weight, as it has no limit.

Most customers agree the machine is quiet and easy to use, and many applaud its affordability compared to other similar products.

Best for Intense Workout: LifePro FlexCycle Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

The LifePro FlexCycle Under-Desk Bike is great for an intense workout. If you want to level up their current fitness routine, check out this under desk elliptical. 

The bike comes with a resistance band for upper body exercises. Sso it targets your whole body—not just your legs. Adjustable settings provide 8 levels of resistance that increase steadily.

 The monitor displays time, distance, calories burned, and strides throughout the workout. But it will not display any calories burned from the resistance bands.

The product includes an exercise mat and stabilizers to prevent slippage while using.

You can join their Lifepro Private Community on Facebook, where you can get exclusive VIP news, perks, and video tutorials.

Best Under Desk Ellipticals for Therapy: DeskCycle MagneTrainer-ER Mini Exercise Bike Arm and Leg Exerciser

Doctors and physical therapists love the MagneTrainer. 

It is widely used in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, nursing homes, and other assisted living facilities. You can use this for both arms and legs, and it is silent to use.

It operates in forward and reverse motion. The wide resistance range and precise control make it ideal for various therapies. 

Keep it simple while getting an effective workout with an easy-to-read LCD monitor. It displays speed, distance, time, and calories burned so you can keep track of your arm or leg workouts.

The MagneTrainer is durable and long-lasting.

What to consider when buying an under-desk elliptical?

Size and Space

Before you buy a stepper, it is wise to consider how much space you have for it. Measure below your desk if it has enough clearance for the pedal height and length of your legs.

Pay attention to their weight and design. If you plan to constantly move them, I recommend a lightweight stepper with a carry handle.

Durability

With any other piece of gym equipment, it’s important to ensure that you buy something durable.

There are ellipticals that are safe to use while standing; some are only made for seated exercise. Always check the weight capacity of your machine before using it, to avoid damaging your device.

Buying a well-made stepper will save you money in the long run.

Ease of use

Get an elliptical that is easy to use and one that you will enjoy using for years to come. 

Make sure that the device is stable and does not slip when used. There are stabilizers and exercise mats included in some brands. 

Do a test run before you buy. Check if the pedal fits your foot, is not noisy, and is comfortable to ride on. If you buy online, always read the reviews.

Some brands need you to assemble the product when you receive it, but there are those you can use right away.

Price and Warranty

Your budget is another aspect to consider when choosing an elliptical. As they say, “You get what you pay for,” is definitely true for these devices.

Do some research before buying. Check the reviews to see if other buyers are satisfied with their purchase.

Take note of the warranties. Once you notice a defect, report it immediately, as some brands have a limited warranty and will not repair the device after the time frame.

Which under-desk elliptical is best overall?

Even if you have no passion for working out, an under-desk elliptical can provide you with hours of exercise with less effort.

To help you decide what elliptical to get, I rounded up a list and reviewed the six best under desk ellipticals. Cubii Jr 1 is my top recommendation for the following reasons:

• High customer ratings
• Impressive customer service
• Portable
• Quiet
• Eight levels of resistance
• Access to the Cubii Studio to stream workouts
• Strong Facebook Community

FAQ about the best under desk elliptical

What to do next?

If you plan to buy an under-desk elliptical, give this article a thorough read. My recommendations as a personal trainer will help you narrow down your choices and find the best brand.

I hope you are interested in trying some of the brands listed above, or at least explore further. You can bring and use it anywhere, such as your home or office. If there’s a way to get into your desk job and stay fit while working, it’s surely worth looking into.

If you’re interested in exploring other gym equipment, check out this home gym equipment guide.

And if you have any questions, please contact me and I will help you.

Happy training at your desk!
Inge van Haselen
Personal Trainer

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