Elliptical machines provide you with a number of fitness, toning and weight loss benefits, but they can also be very expensive and will of course take up quite a lot of space in your home.
Mini ellipticals / under desk ellipticals, however, are a lot more portable and convenient because they still have two rotating pedals that are attached to a small base frame, but they are smaller, lighter and easier to carry around, and will enable you to work and exercise at the same time, either at home or in the office.
Subsequently, it should come as no surprise that these compact exercise machines have really grown in popularity in recent years, particularly after being featured on QVC and The Today Show, for example, and as a result of this, there are now quite a few of these mini ellipticals being sold online and in stores.
So in this article I want to pick out some of the best under desk elliptical trainers that are available to buy in 2024 because although they may all look very similar, some will have more features than others, and you will find that some can also be used for standing workouts as well.
Under Desk Ellipticals (For Seated Workouts)
Cubii Pro (With Bluetooth)
A lot of under desk ellipticals don’t have any kind of display to help you monitor your performance and see how much exercise you have done, but the Cubii Pro makes use of the latest Bluetooth technology to send this data directly to your phone.
Once you download either the Fitbit app or the Apple HealthKit app, you will be able to track time, distance, calories, strides and RPM on your phone and monitor your performance really easily.
This Cubii Pro under desk elliptical is extremely quiet, which means you could easily use it in your office if you wanted to, and it is also really strong and sturdy to ensure that it will last a long time.
In addition, it also offers a number of workout options because it has 8 different resistance levels for you to choose from.
So if you want a fat-burning interval-style workout, you can choose a higher resistance setting and perform at a high intensity for short bursts, or alternatively if you are working at your desk or watching TV for long periods, you can simply choose the lowest setting to enable you to exercise for longer without exhausting yourself.
This machine is one of the most expensive under desk ellipticals, primarily because of the advanced Bluetooth feature and the quality of construction, but it is also one of the most comfortable machines to use because it has been designed with optical angles to ensure that your legs move smoothly and comfortably in a natural plane of motion. Therefore it is still a good investment.
→ Click here to buy the Cubii Pro Mini Elliptical
→ Click here to read a full review
Cubii Jr (With LCD Display)
If you feel that the Cubii Pro is a little beyond your budget, you might want to consider purchasing the Cubii Jr instead because this is still a good quality mini elliptical in its own right.
This particular model doesn’t have Bluetooth and doesn’t look quite as stylish as the Cubii Pro, but it is still a light and compact machine that is strong and durable, and easy on your joints.
It is also really easy to assemble and very quiet in operation once you start using it. Therefore you could easily use this machine for long periods at home or in the office to improve your fitness level and burn some extra calories (up to 150 calories per hour) without disturbing anyone else around you.
As I said above, the Cubii Jr doesn’t have Bluetooth, but it does still have a small LCD display that indicates calories, distance, strides and RPM, and still has 8 adjustable resistance levels to help you vary the intensity of your routines. So this cheaper alternative is still worth considering.
→ Click here to buy the Cubii Jr Desk Elliptical
→ Click here to read a full review
FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical
FitDesk are now a recognized brand name in the home fitness industry thanks to the FitDesk exercise bikes because these all come with their own desks to help you work and exercise at the same time, and have proven to be very popular.
However it is worth pointing out that they have also developed a mini elliptical that will help you keep fit while you work or watch TV at home, for example.
The FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical will fit nicely underneath your desk because it has a really low pedal rotation height of just 8 inches and will work with desks as low as 25 inches.
This particular machine also has 8 resistance levels, like many of the other popular models, and as well as including an LCD display, it also comes with a desk stand that you can use if you want to view your performance data from your desktop.
Plus it also has a heavy duty flywheel that provides a smooth and quiet workout, and includes a built-in wheel lock so that you can use it with any office chair that has wheels.
The only thing I would say is that it doesn’t appear to be as strong or as durable as the Cubii under desk ellipticals, and may require a little maintenance if you use it every day, but it does still have some useful features considering its relatively low price point.
→ Click here to buy the FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical
→ Click here to read a full review
Mini Ellipticals (For Standing And Seated Workouts)
Niceday Under Desk Elliptical Trainer
You may already be familiar with Niceday’s seated under desk elliptical because this has been one of the best-selling models for several months, but they also have another model (the 3613L) that can be used for both seated and standing workouts.
This machine is strong enough to support anyone up to 300 lbs when it is used for standing workouts, and comes with a set of arm resistance bands that can be attached to the frame and used to perform various different upper body exercises and target additional muscle groups while exercising.
In fact you can also activate different muscles in your legs as well because it has both a forward and a backward pedal motion.
It has all the usual features, such as a built-in LCD display that indicates speed, distance, calories and time, 8 resistance levels and non-slip foot pedals, and is quiet in operation, making it suitable for home or office use.
You will also find that it has a compact space-saving design and is relatively light and easy to carry around.
→ Click here to buy the Niceday Standing / Seated Elliptical
→ Click here to read a full review
J/Fit Under Desk And Stand Up Mini Elliptical
Many of the under desk elliptical machines have been designed to be used in a seated position, and will feel uncomfortable and potentially dangerous if they are used while standing up.
The J/Fit Mini Elliptical, however, is one of the few mini ellipticals that has been specifically designed to be used in either a seated or a standing position.
That’s because you can adjust the angle of the foot pedals really easily to provide a comfortable and natural-feeling pedal action in either position.
This mini elliptical has a compact design to ensure that it will fit underneath any desk without any problems, and is quiet in operation so that it won’t disturb anyone else around you.
It also has an integrated LCD display that indicates time, speed, distance and calories, and has an adjustable tension dial that will enable you to adjust the resistance to make your workouts easier or harder.
So if you are looking for a mini elliptical that you can use for both standing and seating workouts, this strong and sturdy machine is well worth considering.
→ Click here to buy the J/Fit Mini Elliptical
→ Click here to read a full review
Stamina In-Motion E1000 Compact Strider
One other machine that is suitable for both standing and seated workouts is the Stamina In-Motion E1000 elliptical trainer, which was one of the very first mini ellipticals to be sold online.
This compact mini elliptical is not quite as convenient as some of the other mini ellipticals because the electronic display is fairly small and difficult to read, and may look a little basic compared to some of the more expensive models that are available.
Nevertheless, it has a study steel construction, adjustable resistance and textured foot pedals that can rotate forwards or backwards, and can be used in both a seated and standing position, which is the key selling point of this particular model.
It is also fully compatible with the Muuv app, which is a coaching app that will help you track your progress and achieve your fitness and weight loss goals.
So when you consider the low price of this mini elliptical, it is fair to say that this would be a good machine to buy for your home or office because of its strength and versatility.
→ Click here to buy the Stamina In-Motion Elliptical Trainer
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