Introduction
FitDesk have developed some impressive exercise bikes that come with their own work desks, such as the latest FitDesk 3.0 bike, for example, which are all targeted towards those people who want to keep fit and increase their activity level while working at home or in the office.
However they have also designed an under desk elliptical that will enable you to burn some calories and improve your fitness while you work at your desk.
The FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical is small and compact and is said to have the lowest pedal height rotation available, making it ideal for desks as low as 25 inches. It is also really easy to carry around and has some really useful features, which I have listed below.
Features And Benefits
- heavy duty flywheel
- smooth and quiet in operation
- 8 magnetic resistance levels
- foot shift resistance lever
- large foot pedals
- fluid forward and backward motion
- rolling chair wheel lock
- built-in rolling foot massager
- LCD display and optional desk stand
- low pedal rotation height of just 8 inches
- suitable for desks as low as 25 inches
- includes built-in wheels and grab handle
Product Dimensions / Weight
This FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical has exact dimensions (in inches) of 29 (L) x 16 (W) x 11 (H), and has a total weight of around 31 pounds when it is fully assembled.
Positives
One of the key benefits of this FitDesk mini elliptical is that it has a really low pedal height of just 8 inches. Therefore you can easily use this machine with any type of desk that is 25 inches or higher without banging your knees.
You will also find that this is one of the few under desk ellipticals that has a foot shift resistance lever. There are 8 magnetic resistance levels in total and if you want to change the resistance at any time, you can easily adjust it upwards or downwards using your foot, which is a lot more convenient.
Another unique feature of this FitDesk under desk elliptical is that it includes a free desk stand so that you can view the computer display on your desktop. This is a lot better than many other machines that include built-in displays because these require you to bend down and look underneath the desk to view your performance data.
It is also worth mentioning that this machine has large foot plates, and offers a smooth and fluid pedal motion (both forwards and backwards) thanks to the heavy flywheel. Plus it is also extremely quiet in operation, which is an important factor if you are planning to use it in an office, for example.
This machine has a grab handle and transport wheels should you wish to move it around, and is not likely to move around once you have placed it underneath your desk because of its overall weight.
Finally, you can easily use this elliptical with many standard office chairs, even the ones with wheels because it has a useful wheel lock feature, and if your feet get tired at any time, there is a built-in roller massager that you can use to provide some relief.
Negatives
One slight drawback of this machine is that it is a little longer than many other under desk ellipticals, so you may find that it sticks out a little when it is placed underneath a desk.
In addition, it is also quite a heavy piece of equipment, despite having transport wheels and a handle that make it easier to move around.
Apart from this, the only other issue is that you actually need to assemble it yourself before you can start using it for the first time, and it may require a little ongoing maintenance, such as oiling, for example, if it starts to make any squeaking noises, which is apparently quite a common problem.
Final Thoughts
The FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical Trainer may not have the stylish looks or the advanced features of the Cubii, such as Bluetooth compatibility, for instance, but this is still a cost-effective machine that will give you a good elliptical workout, both forwards and backwards.
It has a decent range of resistance, a useful computer display that you can place on your desk using the desk stand and is easy to carry around.
Furthermore, it also provides a smooth and quiet workout, which means that you can easily use it at home or in the office without disturbing anyone else, and has a really low pedal height so that you can use it with many different types of desks.
Therefore if you are looking to tone your lower body, improve your fitness and increase your activity level while you work, this is not a bad piece of equipment at all despite being quite large and cumbersome.