Introduction
With so many people working from home these days, under desk ellipticals have really grown in popularity because they will obviously enable you to keep fit while you work at your desk.
Subsequently there are quite a few to choose from, but Niceday have produced two different under desk ellipticals that you can use to burn calories, stay active and potentially lose weight at home or in the office, both of which are worth considering.
I want to spend most of this review taking an in-depth look at the Niceday 3606 seated elliptical because this is a quieter machine that appears to have the better features out of the two, but I will also discuss the 3613L model, which can be used for seated and standing workouts, at the end of this article, and why you might want to buy this one instead, because this too has its merits.
Features and Benefits
- 100% pre-assembled
- smooth steel flywheel
- very quiet in operation
- foot-controlled resistance dial
- 8 magnetic resistance levels
- detachable backlit LCD display
- track speed, distance, calories and time
- compatible with Zwift and Kinomap apps
- space-saving design
- low impact workouts
- includes handle and transportation wheels
- 6 non-slip mats for extra stability
- suitable for home and office workouts
Product Dimensions
The exact dimensions of the Niceday 3606 under desk elliptical (in inches) are 22.83″(L) x 15.75″(W) x 10.82″(H).
The height is the most important measurement here because at just over 10 inches high, it will easily fit under any home or office desk.
Positives
One of the main benefits of this Niceday mini elliptical trainer is that it doesn’t require any assembly at all. You can remove it from the box and start using it straight away.
Nearly every item of exercise equipment requires some degree of self-assembly these days, so this will be welcome news to the many people who hate performing this task, as well as seniors and people with mobility issues, for example.
The product itself is very small and compact, and as mentioned above, it will easily fit under a standard sized desk or table. So you can easily use it while working on your computer, for example.
You could also use it while watching TV in your armchair, for instance, and you can be sure that it won’t move around because there are six non-slip mats on the base of the machine.
If you do need to move it around, there is a handle attached to the machine that you can use to carry it around, and transport wheels attached if you prefer to wheel it across the floor.
It should be pointed out that this Niceday 3606 model is a seated elliptical and is not designed to be used in a standing position. Subsequently, it has no weight restrictions and can be used by people of all sizes.
This mini elliptical has a steel flywheel that delivers a smooth workout and makes hardly any noise at all (less than 20 decibels). Therefore it won’t annoy anybody else who is in the same room or workspace as you when you are doing your workout.
It has 8 levels of magnetic resistance so that you can vary the intensity of your routines, and unlike many other similar under desk ellipticals, this one has a resistance lever that you can adjust with your foot. This means that you can adjust the resistance quickly and easily without having to bend down and adjust it with your hand.
You can monitor your workout stats using the LCD display, which will tell you the time elapsed, speed, distance and calories burned. It is backlit to make it easier to read, but this display unit can be detached from its holder and placed on your desk or somewhere close by if you are still having difficulty reading it from a distance, which is particularly beneficial for older users.
Furthermore, it is also Bluetooth enabled and compatible with the Zwift and Kinomap apps if you want to add some interactivity to your workouts and make them a lot more fun.
Negatives
With regards to some of the negatives, some people may find it to be a little heavy to move around or take to work because it weighs approximately 27.5 lbs, which is heavier than a lot of road bikes, for example.
In addition, although it is good that you can connect the console to the Zwift and Kinomap apps, it is worth remembering that these are not free apps. You will need to pay extra if you want to continue using them.
Finally, one other drawback is that this particular model can only be used for seated workouts. If you wish to do standing workouts as well, you might want to consider buying the 3613L model that is discussed at the end of this article.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Niceday 3606 has some really cool features that sets it apart from many other seated ellipticals.
As well as being a solid well-made machine that delivers a smooth and challenging workout and takes up very little space, it has a detachable Bluetooth-enabled display console to help you track your performance, a foot-controlled resistance lever and is fully assembled right out of the box.
So it is a good choice if you are looking to tone your legs, burn some calories, improve your fitness and lose weight while you are working or watching TV, or if you need some gentle exercise as part of a rehabilitation program, for example.
→ Click here to buy the Niceday 3606 Under Desk Elliptical
Also Available – Niceday 3613L Seated / Standing Under Desk Elliptical
The 3613L model from Niceday differs from the 3606 model because it can be used in both a seated and a standing position, which effectively doubles your workout options.
It also comes with a set of resistance bands that you can use to strengthen and tone your arms and upper body while performing your standing elliptical workouts.
Surprisingly, this 3613L model is actually cheaper than the 3606 model, but it is worth bearing in mind that this machine is a little louder in operation than the seated elliptical at 30 decibels, and has a maximum weight restriction of 300 lbs (when standing).
You will also need to assemble it yourself, unlike the 3606 elliptical which comes fully assembled, although this should be a fairly simple task for most people.
Finally, you will notice that it has a more traditional resistance dial on the frame, which is much less convenient than a foot-controlled lever, and although the LCD display offers the exact same performance metrics, it is not detachable and doesn’t have Bluetooth compatibility.
So you should take these factors into consideration when deciding between these two Niceday models, and choose one that best suits your needs.
→ Click here to buy the Niceday 3613L 2-in-1 Under Desk Elliptical