Yahoo Lifestyle This Amazon's Choice Under Desk Bike Is Almost 30% OFF
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This Amazon's Choice Under Desk Bike Is Almost 30% OFF
We updated this article in January 2023 to add more information about the latest models vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute. We also added more information about the effectiveness of under desk bikes and ellipticals, what to look for when shopping for an under desk bike and how we chose our top picks.
If you’re tired of spending long hours in your desk chair or are looking for convenient ways to move more in the New Year, consider adding an under desk bike or elliptical to your home office setup. Sedentary behavior has been associated with health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, a decreased lifespan and more, and an under desk exercise machine can boost your energy and help get your heart pumping.
"A good rule of thumb is to try to move every hour on the hour for a few minutes," says Stefani Sassos, NASM-CPT and Good Housekeeping's Nutrition Lab Deputy Director. If it's your first time using an under desk bike or elliptical, Sassos recommends starting at a low speed for about 30 to 60 minutes. "You can assess how sore your legs are the next day and then gradually increase the time if you feel good."
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our health experts, analysts and engineers test fitness essentials ranging from foldable treadmills to must-have workout apps. Though we haven’t formally tested all the under desk bikes featured below, we relied heavily on our testing experience in the fitness category as well as consumer reviews to select the best under desk bikes and ellipticals. Our pros vetted each pick for ease of use, performance and design. According to our experts, these are the best under desk bikes and ellipticals in 2023 to help you stay active during your 9 to 5.
Our top picks:
After our top picks, read further to learn what to look for when shopping, the difference between under bikes and ellipticals and how we chose the best models.
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1) DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Bike
DeskCycle
walmart.com
$239.00
This model from DeskCycle is a favorite among consumers on Amazon. When we tested it, we liked how this bike features eight resistance settings so you can readily increase or decrease your difficulty level. You can also adjust the pedal height to work with various office spaces, and we found the DeskCycle 2 to be fairly quiet, so your colleagues won't be disturbed.
In addition to allowing you to cycle both forward and backward, this bike comes with an LCD display that shows you metrics such as calories burned, speed, time and distance. To ensure your foot remains secured against the pedal, all you have to do is adjust the velcro strap and start pedaling. We do caution, however, that this bike doesn't come with a handle, which makes it less portable than other picks.
DeskCycle - 3/12
2) Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser
Wakeman
amazon.com
$24.95
While this indoor pedal machine may feature fewer bells and whistles than other models, its price tag is hard to compete with. Our pros like that it comes with a little electronic display to show basic stats (time, revolution count, etc.), but best of all you can fold it up into a compact size once you’re done for the day. It also features straps for your feet and an adjustable tension knob so you can choose the right level of activity for you.
under desk bike from wakeman, good housekeeping's best value under desk bike - 4/12
3) Under Desk Elliptical
Sunny Health & Fitness
amazon.com
$159.99
We like this elliptical for its fun pink design that can spice up your office (though you can go with gray if pink isn’t your thing). Our experts also appreciate that it’s fairly affordable in comparison to other models, and it comes with a handle so you can move it around easily. There’s a digital monitor to keep track of metrics like time, speed, calories and distance while you work out, and you can pick among eight resistance levels by turning the tension knob.
Sunny Health & Fitness - 5/12
4) Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical
DeskCycle
amazon.com
$269.00
Multitask with this under desk elliptical, which offers eight resistance levels and comes with a display monitor to track your stats. It’s on the expensive end of the spectrum and is one of the heaviest choices on this list, but it has larger foot pedals so you can adjust your motion so it feels the most comfortable for you. It's also compatible with your Apple Watch or Fitbit so you can track your stats.
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5) Pro Seated Under Desk Elliptical
Cubii
walmart.com
$369.00
This under desk elliptical has a sleek, modern design. Our Media & Tech Lab loves that it can sync up to Apple Health or a Fitbit via Bluetooth so you can keep track of your activity in one place. Other features include eight resistance levels that can be adjusted with a dial and a noise level that the brand claims is “whisper quiet.” We're excited to test this one out in our Lab in the coming weeks!
Cubii - 7/12
6) Under Desk Bike
Sunny Health & Fitness
amazon.com
$86.00
This under desk bike is a great choice thanks to its 2-in-1 design, allowing you to pedal with either your feet or your hands. A surface grip helps the bike stay in place on your desk so you can work your upper body as well as your lower body, and the carry handle makes it easy to move it around if you don't want to keep it at the office. Like many other under desk bikes, there are eight levels of magnetic resistance and a display that tracks activity. Although it may not be the prettiest, it’s a versatile and affordable pick (that also happens to be on sale right now).
Sunny Health & Fitness - 8/12
7) Medical Under Desk Bike
Vaunn
amazon.com
$49.99
This Amazon bestseller hasn’t been tested in our Lab, but several consumers on Amazon claim that it’s a great tool for at-home physical therapy. It’s a perfect fit if you’re tight on space and want a bike that can be easily stored when you’re not using it. It's foldable and weighs only 5 pounds. This sturdy yet extremely lightweight bike also includes a display to track performance and has a tension knob so you can pick the right intensity for workouts on both your arms and legs.
Vaunn - 9/12
8) Inmotion Elliptical
Stamina
amazon.com
$121.00
This under desk elliptical comes in three colors — green, orange and silver — and can be used both standing and seated. It includes a display monitor so you can keep tabs on your performance, and there’s a dial to adjust the intensity of your workout. Though we haven't tested this elliptical yet, one of our fitness experts appreciated that you can use the elliptical both forward and in reverse. It’s also compatible with Müüv, a coaching app with videos and inspiration.
Stamina - 10/12
9) Under Desk Bike
FlexCycle
amazon.com
$159.99
This under desk bike comes in at 18 pounds, making it several pounds lighter than many others on this list and easily portable thanks to its handle. You can choose from three different colors. We like that it comes with resistance bands so you can work your upper body when you’re ready to take a break from your keyboard. You’re also able to pedal with your hands to build up your arm strength.
FlexCycle - 11/12
10) JR2 Seated Under Desk Elliptical
Cubii
amazon.com
$218.00
The Cubii JR2 is a more affordable version of the Cubii Pro; while it doesn’t come with Bluetooth connectivity, it does include an LCD display. It also offers great portability thanks to a built-in handle, and you can get a secure fit on the machine thanks to adjustable foot straps as well as a lock for your chair to make sure nothing budges while you move.
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11) Under Desk and Stand Up Mini Elliptical
JFit
amazon.com
$144.44
Though this pick is the heaviest on our list, it has a set of very useful wheels to assist with portability as well as a handle for carrying. This under desk elliptical is a smart option for those who like to move around to various workspaces — it even comes with lubricating oil so if your pedals ever get squeaky you can solve the problem with a quick spritz. It also includes a built-in display to track speed, time, distance and calories.
JFIT
