There’s no doubt about it: getting yourself a piece of home gym equipment can be a fast-track to a fitter body.
When the machine is in your house, excuses like, “Oh, the gym is too far away – I’m so tired today, I’ll go tomorrow” don’t work. But not many people can dedicate a large area of their living space to fitness equipment. This is where compact fitness machines come in.
In this post, I’ll be reviewing some of the best under-desk bikes and ellipticals you can buy to get ripped in the comforts of your room.
11 Best Under Desk Ellipticals & Mini Exercise Bikes 2019
Stamina In-Motion Elliptical Trainer
Review: Ever felt that you could be doing more with your time when you’re on the skype meeting of the day with your team?
Well, now you can. Get in an effective workout with Stamina’s elliptical trainer: it’s designed to be quiet and unobtrusive so your boss would never hear you pedaling away while you’re on the call.
The elliptical is capable of adjusting to your level of fitness as well; it features a dial that allows adjustable tension. Want a more intense workout? Turn the knob up, so you need to exert more force when cycling. Prefer a less vigorous session? Just turn the dial down!
- Two movement options: you can use the elliptical trainer standing or sitting down; it also allows for forward and backward pedaling movements to target your quads and hamstrings, respectively.
- Quiet: allows you to get an effective workout in without waking your whole family up.
- Display monitor: easily track your exercise time, calories burned, the number of strides per minute, and total strides, so you stay motivated when working out.
- Issues with durability; the rubber wheels are prone to tearing and falling apart after a few months of daily usage.
Want a quiet elliptical trainer that allows you to do whatever it is you need to do – working, reading, or watching your favorite series – while getting an effective workout? This is definitely the best under-desk elliptical for you then!
FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical Trainer
Review: I’ve always been a little bit of a germaphobe: the thought of having to use my hands to adjust the tension dial that my feet have come into contact with stresses me out. If you’re as particular about hygiene as I am, you’ll appreciate the fact that you can tweak the resistance level of FitDesk’s elliptical without using your hands.
Worried that you’ll be unable to track your workout progress when the elliptical is placed under your desk? Don’t fret – the machine is fitted with a removable mounted display screen. This way, you can set the meter on your desktop and know just how many calories you’ve already burned through in real-time.
- Low pedal height: don’t worry about your knees hitting the underside of your desk; the elliptical can work with desks as low as 25 inches.
- Removable mounted meter: you can keep track of your workout progress even when using the elliptical under the desk.
- Foot shifter allows for hands-free tension adjustment; excellent for hygiene purposes.
- The elliptical can be quite noisy – it is prone to squeaking.
If you’re someone who needs to keep track of your workout progress to stay focused and motivated to carry on working out, the removable mounted meter that comes with FitDesk’s machine makes this the best under-desk elliptical for you.
Cubii Pro Under Desk Elliptical
Review: You’ll find that there’s nothing better for workout motivation than a little bit of friendly competition. This is why Cubii Pro has designed its under-desk elliptical to be Bluetooth enabled. This allows you to connect to the Cubii iOS and Android app to track your workouts, set personalized goals, and compete with friends and family members.
You might just find yourself waking up in the middle of the night to pedal because Lucy from Human Resources clocked 1000 more steps than you.
Also, the elliptical features 8 resistance levels – there’s got to be one that suits your preferred level of workout intensity! Its ultra-smooth gearing promises to be near-silent when it’s in use. Never worry about the need to apologize to your colleagues ever again!
- Bluetooth enabled: you can sync your steps, distance, and calories burnt with your mobile phone; it allows for friendly competition.
- Ultra-smooth gearing: the machine promises not to disturb your colleagues in the office, or have you struggling to hear the TV at home.
- Built to last: don’t worry about having to replace the machine every few months or so; this elliptical is durable and is resistant to wear-and-tear.
- Pricey; costs nearly 3 times more than available alternatives in the market.
For those who are keen on tracking all aspects of their workout sessions, Cubii Pro’s offering is definitely the best under-desk elliptical in 2019 available.
JFIT Under Desk and Stand Up Mini Elliptical
Review: Unfortunately, there are certain mini ellipticals on the market that fail to deliver what they promise: to be able to suit users both when they’re sitting down and standing up. Luckily, you won’t be disappointed with JFIT’s product. It features adjustable pedals that provide you with the perfect fit and movement, no matter if you’re seated or on your feet.
Afraid that you’ll get frustrated from shifting your elliptical around the house to your desired workout location? No worries – the elliptical is fitted with a top handle that allows you to roll it across your floor.=
You can then spend that saved energy on pedaling harder, and faster during your workout session!
- Adjustable resistance: easily tweak the level of tension to suit your preferred workout intensity for the day.
- Top handle allows you to move it anywhere you like without wasting precious energy.
- Large wheels provide you with a smooth and quiet ride.
- The elliptical can be challenging to put together – the assembly manual does not contain explicit instructions.
Frustrated with all the additional effort that you’re spending on carrying your elliptical around? Get JFIT’s product – it’s honestly the best under-desk elliptical for 2019 that comes equipped with a top handle.
Ideer Life Mini Elliptical Trainer
Review: Don’t you just hate it when you’re really feeling your workout, and you’re pumping your legs as fast as you possibly can when your foot slips off the elliptical pedal? I mean, it’s not just disruptive; it’s also a safety hazard.
Imagine falling off the elliptical when you’re using it while standing up!
Luckily, the manufacturers of IDEER LIFE’s mini elliptical trainer understand our pains: the product is fitted with two large, non-slip textured pedals that help secure your feet when you’re pedaling. You and I can now pedal to our hearts’ content without worrying about falling off the equipment.
- Brake resistance mechanism ensures smooth and quiet pedaling; it’s said that you can use it near a sleeping baby without waking the baby up.
- Large anti-slip pedals allow you to pedal as hard and as fast as you like without your feet losing contact with the pedals.
- Multi-functional monitor tracks workout time, steps, distance, and total calories burnt.
- The pedals are pretty close to each other; specific individuals may find it challenging to keep their balance when using the elliptical while standing up.
Prefer if your feet stayed planted on the pedals throughout your workout session? Get IDEER LIFE’s product – it’s the best under-desk elliptical of 2019 that features large, anti-slip pedals.
Goplus Under Desk Elliptical Stepper
Review: If you’ve always been a tad doubtful of the stability and safety of mini ellipticals, I’m pretty sure Goplus’ offering will put your mind at ease. After all, the equipment itself weights 16 KG – much more than its competitors in the market.
It’ll take quite a bit of force to topple the elliptical; you can rest assured that you won’t end up breaking your ankle because of a few way-ward strides on the machine.
But wait – 16 KG? Wouldn’t it be difficult for you to move around? Fret not: the elliptical is fitted with bottom wheels so you can drag it across any surfaces you wish for easy transportation.
- Adjustable tension: vary the intensity of your workout by turning the tension knob.
- Bottom wheels allow for easy transportation of the equipment back and forth your house and the office.
- Anti-skid base: you never have to worry about the machine shifting left and right while you’re pedaling hard.
- The display monitor is prone to malfunctioning.
This is an excellent option for those who value stability in their mini ellipticals. You definitely can’t go wrong with Goplus’ product; in fact, I’m pretty sure it’s one of the first search results that pop up when you Google for “best under-desk elliptical 2019”.
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike
Review: Sunny Health & Fitness’ magnetic mini exercise bike is definitely one of the most value-for-money exercise equipment you can get your hands on.
Why? Well, it turns out that other than using it to tone your legs, you can also choose to place it on top of a desk to target your arm muscles. Score! Also, the mini exercise bike comes fitted with a tension knob – you can switch up the intensity of your workout anytime you want to.
You can also track the progress of your workout through the machine’s digital monitor screen. It displays your workout time, speed, distance, and calories burnt so you can stay focused and motivated to push through even the toughest sessions.
- Oversized textured non-slip pedals: ensures a safe footing for feet of all sizes; you can be sure that your feet will stay planted on the pedals even during the most demanding workout sessions.
- Adjustable resistance: suitable for all fitness levels; you can increase or decrease the tension level with a simple twist of the knob.
- Digital monitor: you will be able to track your workout progress in real-time, so you stay motivated.
- The LCD screen is not removable; you will not be able to track your workout progress if you’re using the exercise bike under your desk.
Given its ability to multi-task as a piece of fitness equipment that targets your leg and arm muscles, I’d say that Sunny Health & Fitness’ product is definitely the best mini exercise bike available in the market!
MagneTrainer ER Mini Exercise Bike
Review: Never found any of the pre-set resistance levels on mini exercise bikes to your liking? Well, it looks like you’ve got to get yourself one of MagneTrainer’s ER mini exercise bike: it features a ‘step-less’ resistance dial that allows you to adjust the tension level from nearly nothing to more than you’d ever need.
Also, the machine allows for bi-directional movement; you’ll be able to pedal both forwards and backward. This ensures that you’re training both your hamstrings and quadriceps – crucial if you want to build muscle balance.
The mini exercise bike promises to be whisper-quiet: you could use it at work without any of your colleagues hearing you pedaling away.
- ‘Step-less’ resistance dial: the exercise bike is not limited to 8 resistance levels like its competitors; it takes 5 full revolutions of the adjustment dial to tweak from the minimum resistance to the maximum. There’s a high level of customizability.
- Bi-directional pedaling prevents muscular imbalances, and therefore, potential injuries in the long-term.
- LCD display allows you to keep track of your workout speed, time, distance, and calories burnt.
- Not suitable for people with big feet: big-footed people will find their heels hitting the support bar on the bottom with every rotation.
If you’re not someone who has big feet, this is definitely the best pedal exerciser that targets both your quadriceps and hamstrings.
Todo Pedal Exerciser
Review: One of my biggest fears of using an exercise bike is discovering that I’ve scratched my floor post-workout. Just imagine deep, irreparable streaks on your wooden floor caused by the shifting of the machine. Ouch! Well, it looks like I have nothing to fear if I opt for TOD O’s pedal exerciser.
Its bottom is fitted with anti-scruff rubber material that ensures that you’d be hard-pressed to find a single mark on your precious floor even after the most vigorous workout. That’s not all: its non-slip pedals also ensure that you’ll face zero disruptions to your sessions due to lost grip.
- Adjustable resistance allows you to tweak the tension level to suit the workout intensity you prefer.
- Anti-scruff rubber feet: you never have to worry about having to replace your flooring because of a particularly vigorous workout session.
- LCD monitor display: keeps track of your workout time, speed, distance, and calories burnt.
- Tends to heat up pretty quickly.
This is definitely the best under desk exercise bike that promises to leave your floor free of any unwanted scratches post-workout.
DeskCycle Under Desk Exercise Bike
Review: Can’t stand the constant rocking of your old exercise bike? You’ll appreciate DeskCycle’s under desk exercise bike then – it comes with a wide front leg that enhances the stability of the machine while in use.
Also, if you’re unable to concentrate on populating Excel sheets in the presence of background noise, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to focus on your work: this exercise bike features ultra-smooth pedal motion that is near silent. You can be sure that it wouldn’t disrupt your co-workers’ work either!
- Removable display screen: place the display screen on your desk so you can track your workout progress in real-time without having to look underneath your table.
- Ultra-smooth pedal motion: never worry about squeaky sounds breaking your train of thought.
- 16 hours of tracking: foresee yourself working out every single minute you’re awake? This exercise bike has got you covered.
- It can cause your office chair to swivel; this can, ultimately, impede your workout session.
As long as you use DeskCycle’s exercise bike with a stationary chair, it can still be considered the best mini exercise bike that wouldn’t break the bank.
Titan Fitness Pedal Exerciser
Review: This is easily one of the most affordable mini exercise bikes available. Now, many manufacturers skimp on quality when they set their price-points lower. But I can’t say the same for TITAN FITNESS: their pedal exerciser is built to last.
It’s made from a durable metal frame that is resistant to wear-and-tear, so you wouldn’t have to spend extra money to replace this set just a few months after. You can easily adjust the tension level to suit your preferred workout intensity by twisting its resistance knob; there are 8 pre-set levels.
- Metal frame ensures this exercise bike will last for a long time.
- Pedals work well with hands too so you can place this exercise bike on the desk and work on your arm muscles.
- LCD display enables you to keep track of your workout time, distance, and calories burnt.
- Its safety pedal straps are non-adjustable; you may find your feet slipping off the pedals when you pedal furiously.
Given its budget-friendly price and durable material, I honestly think TITAN FITNESS’ pedal exerciser is the best under-desk cycle for those looking for a piece of fully-functional fitness equipment.
A Guide to Mini Ellipticals and Exercise Bikes
I know you’re eager to start burning some extra calories when you’re at work or watching the TV, but there are certain factors you need to take note of before swiping your credit card for the very first search result that pops up from “best under desk bike.”
Now: because the whole point of the exercise when you’re on a mini elliptical or an exercise bike is to pedal, you need to be extra mindful of the pedal motion. Here are 3 questions you need to ask yourself:
Does it Allow for Forwards and Backward Movement?
If you have the opportunity or ability to choose, always opt for a machine that allows you to pedal both backward and forwards. This ensures that you’re training your hamstrings and quadriceps – both essential muscle groups of your legs – to equal extents.
Is the Movement Smooth?
Trust me: there’s nothing more annoying than getting into the groove of your workout session and having it disrupted by a malfunctioning flywheel that causes jerky pedal movement. Be sure to test out the machine before you purchase it. Or, if you’re buying it online, read through all customers’ reviews.
Can You Change the Level of Resistance?
You should opt for a machine that allows you to tweak its tension level: this way, you wouldn’t need to buy yourself a piece of new equipment when you get fitter. Just dial its resistance way up, and you’ll still get in a productive workout session!
FAQ
Are Mini Ellipticals Good for Losing Weight?
Of course – assuming that you’re now using the equipment in the little pockets of time you weren’t exercising at all, you’re bound to be burning more calories daily. This can help you lose weight over time.
What Muscles Does it Target?
It targets your core muscles, calves, glutes, quadriceps, and hip flexors.
Are Compact Ellipticals Good?
If you’re a person who’s desk-bound for the most part of your day, a compact elliptical is an excellent way for you to get in some much-needed physical activity. And besides – they’re small! You can store them anywhere you want without them taking up too much space.
Do Desk Bikes Burn Calories?
Definitely! As long as you’re moving those legs, you’re burning way more calories than you would have if you had just stayed stationary at your desk.
How to Use a Mini Exercise Bike?
Here, take a look at the following video:
Can I Use the Mini Exercise Bike When Standing Up?
Unfortunately, no – you cannot use the mini exercise bike when standing up. It’s designed to be used only when the user is seated.
Conclusion
Finding time to work out doesn’t need to be challenging – with mini ellipticals and exercise bikes, you can exercise even when you’re reading a book, working on the latest Statement of Account, or watching TV.
Hopefully, you’re now equipped with the knowledge you need to buy the perfect mini fitness equipment for usage under your desk.
Are you a busy person who’s enjoyed our article on some of the best under-desk bikes and mini ellipticals available?
Well, I’m sure you’ll benefit from our 8-week workout plan and quick workout ideas suitable for people with packed schedules (like yourself!) Also, check out our other posts, like this one on the best group fitness classes! Love our content? Why not subscribe to our newsletter? We’ll see you in your inbox!
Hi, I’m Emma Lynn
I’m a proud mother of two wonderful children and a wife to a loving, affectionate husband. I enjoy exercise – yoga (yes, I teach yoga as well), running, and going to different fitness classes from time to time.
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