The 5 Best Mini Ellipticals For Better Fitness

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Mini ellipticals can help you move more at home or in the office. Find out what the best models are for your personal situation.

Best mini ellipticals top picks

1. Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Elliptical
2. DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical
3. Stamina Inmotion Elliptical (can be used standing)
4. LifePro Under Desk Elliptical
5. Cubii JR1 Seated Under Desk Elliptical

Not all mini ellipticals are made to be used standing. In our current selection of top picks, only the Stamina model can be used both standing and seated.

Keep in mind that different individuals can have different training goals, body sizes, budgets, and personal preferences. Sometimes picks lower on the list can be better for your personal situation.

How we selected our top picks

Our fitness experts spent a lot of time looking at and comparing all the different important factors of mini ellipticals. Some of the things that were taken into consideration when making our selection include:

• Weight capacity, standing or seated-only, size, portability, etc.
• User reviews
• Anecdotal reviews from fitness experts
• Price
• Brand trustability

If a pick seems interesting click it to see the online prices.

The 5 best mini ellipticals reviewed in depth

The list of top picks can help individuals in a hurry save some time. You can also look at each of the best mini ellipticals reviewed in depth to ensure you are choosing the right model.

1. Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Elliptical

Our top pick for the best mini elliptical is the Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Elliptical. This option is slightly above-average when it comes to quality-only but in combination with the reasonable price, this model gets the top pick.

Sunny Health & Fitness mentions a weight capacity but the first thing to note is that this is a seated-only mini elliptical. You can use it at a desk or on the couch but not while standing up.

There is no specific guideline for how tall your desk needs to be but one customer mentions he/she is able to use the device with a 24″ (61 cm) high desk. This should be low enough for most people and desks.

Something else to keep in mind besides the seated-only feature is that this mini elliptical can get noisy. A lot of the negative customer reviews come from this.

However, one customer mentions that cleaning the wheels and the path they follow can solve the issue.

The mini elliptical from Sunny Health & Fitness has eight different tension levels. This is relatively standard but solid and valuable when it comes to moving more at the right intensity.

When it comes to size, this machine is also about average. One customer mentions the pedals are about 14″ (35.6 cm) which should be enough for most people and shoe sizes.

One valuable feature that not all mini ellipticals have is the built-in carry handle. This will be helpful for moving the piece of equipment before and after your workouts. The ability to choose between different colors is a nice addition too.

Due to its solid features and reasonable price, the Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Elliptical will be the best choice for most people.

Especially if you consider that a lot of the negative reviews are about the noise which can be removed by doing the right things.

2. DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical

The DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical is a good premium option for people who don’t mind investing a bit more into a quality product. Something that stands out is how few negative customer reviews there are.

Additionally, the height of this device is relatively low. The people at DeskCycle mention that individuals of 6 feet (182 cm) or shorter can use it at a desk of 24 inches (61 cm) high.

Besides the slightly lower height, this model also has a sturdy handle. This combination will make moving and storing the mini elliptical easier.

One thing to keep in mind in these areas is that the DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical has a somewhat above-average package weight of 29.9 pounds (13.6 kg).

The 8 tension levels are somewhat standard but an important detail anyway. By challenging yourself at the right level you can get valuable health benefits while still being able to focus on anything else you are doing.

Mini ellipticals are not known for their precision tracking monitors. There are not that many complaints about the DeskCycle Ellipse when it comes to this but you should still not expect too much from it.

In short, if you want to avoid any negative experiences with your mini elliptical and don’t mind investing a bit more for this, this option can be a great choice.

3. Stamina Inmotion Elliptical

This next option stands out for a few reasons. First of all, the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical is the first model that can be used both standing and seated. Using it while standing up will generally offer more health benefits like burning calories.

Additionally, even with the sturdiness required for individuals standing up, this mini elliptical is relatively budget-friendly compared to the other options.

One downside you do want to keep in mind is that the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical does not have a carry handle. This makes it a bit more awkward to move around.

Additionally, some individuals may find the weight capacity of 250 pounds (113 kg) lacking.

Like some of the other mini ellipticals there are a few customers that mention squeaking after a period of use. However, while unpleasant, this noise can likely be resolved with some cleaning or other creative solutions.

That being said, the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical still has many happy customers. And even in the unlikely chance that something is not right with your model, you can make use of the warranties.

Something that is not as relevant to your actual workouts but a nice bonus anyway is the option to choose between different colors.

4. LifePro Under Desk Elliptical

This LifePro Under Desk Elliptical is another seated-only mini elliptical with solid features and above-average customer reviews. One thing to note is that it is somewhat above-average in price compared to its competitors.

Another potential downside is that this machine is just a bit heavier than most options at 26.5 pounds (67.3 kg). Some customers mention this is too heavy for elderly individuals.

Something else that is above average is the height of 12.9″ (32.8 cm). The LifePro Under Desk Elliptical is not as great for low desks compared to some of the other options.

On the other hand, this model from LifePro still has the important features of a good mini elliptical. You have the choice between 8 different resistance levels to change up your workout.

The carry handle will also be helpful to move the above-average weight around. When using the machine on soft surfaces, you can use the included anchor strap to hold the mini elliptical in place.

Similar to basically of the other options, there is a monitor to track things like total strides, time, distance, and an estimation of calories burned during your mini elliptical workouts.

For some people, the LifePro Under Desk Elliptical will be the ideal combination of quality and reasonable price. Additionally, you may like the lifetime warranty and durability this implies.

5. Cubii JR1 Seated Under Desk Elliptical

Cubii is a relatively popular brand in the mini elliptical category. Unfortunately, you pay a relatively steep price for their devices. Even the more basic Cubii JR1 is pricier than most of the other options.

One positive thing that stands out in this device is the low height of 10″ (25.4 cm). That being said, there are other options with similar heights too.

A more expensive model, the Cubii JR2+ Under Desk Elliptical, does stand out for its Bluetooth connectivity too. Additionally, you can also simply buy from Cubii because you like the brand and the design.

That being said, individuals who only care about moving more will likely find a mini elliptical that does the job for a lower price.

Similar to many models, the Cubii JR1 has eight resistance levels which will come in handy during your movement sessions. When it comes to other dimensions besides the height, this option is again somewhat standard.

The Cubii JR1 stands out in a less positive way in its above-average weight of 27.6 pounds (12.5 kg). Elderly individuals and people with limited mobility may have an issue with this, even with the carry handle.

How much you like the design of this mini elliptical and the ability to choose different colors is a matter of personal preference. The 1-year warranty is a helpful addition no matter who is buying the model.

Overall, the Cubii mini ellipticals are relatively pricey for what they are in terms of features. At the same time, they still have many customers who tend to be very positive about the product. You can consider it if you like the design and brand.

How to choose a mini elliptical

You may still be unsure about which of the great mini ellipticals would be the best choice for you.

In that case, you can think about what you want in the most important features and check how the models you are considering perform in these areas. This can help you choose the best mini elliptical for you.

Standing vs seated-only

The first decision to make when investing in a mini elliptical is what type you want. Some models are made to be used both standing up and seated. Others are seated-only.

These standing models are typically a bit sturdier and have a more horizontal pedal angle. Being able to use your machine in both positions can be helpful. However, this can make the mini elliptical less comfortable while seated.

Weight capacity

The weight capacity mostly applies to mini ellipticals that allow you to stand up but this feature is important so it deserves an early mention.

That is simply because putting a mini elliptical under pressure above its capacity can break it. You can’t get in any workouts and the health benefits that come with that with a broken mini elliptical.

The weight capacity is also somewhat of an indication how sturdy the construction and the materials used are.

Pedal size and texture

As you can expect, the pedal size and texture are crucial when it comes to mini ellipticals.

The reason why this feature is mentioned somewhat later is that many of the best models offer more than enough room and good texture anyway.

You do want to check these features in the mini elliptical you have in mind but the pedal size and texture is typically fine for most individuals.

Resistance levels

To get the benefits of working out you have to challenge your body enough (but not too much) so that it starts a variety of processes that make you stronger and happier in the long term.

For this you need the right resistance and the ability to make the difficulty more challenging as you get fitter. Most of the mini ellipticals are very similar in terms of the ability to adjust the resistance.

However, something you can sometimes learn from customer reviews is that some models start more or less challenging than others. Knowing these differences is helpful to get the best model for your current fitness level.

Size

Size is another important feature but most mini ellipticals are very similar in this area. One thing where models can vary to relevant extents is their height.

Many people are interested in mini ellipticals for using them below their desks. If you plan to do this, you need to make sure the machine is low enough so that your legs don’t hit your desk.

If you have a somewhat low desk you also want to keep the angle of the pedals in mind. Seated-only mini ellipticals tend to allow your legs to stay lower during usage.

Weight and portability

If you plan to move and/or store your mini elliptical before and after using it, you want to keep the features that implement portability in mind. The first one is whether the device has a carry handle or not.

Secondly, how heavy the mini elliptical is influences how easy it is to move to some extent.

Price

Investing in your health can be a great idea but sometimes you can get similar or more benefits for less.

For example, some mini ellipticals offer Bluetooth functionality at an extra price but many people just want some extra movement without a need for precise tracking.

Warranty

Mini ellipticals are not the most expensive machines but they do require a decent investment. In cases like this, a good warranty policy can give a secure feeling.

A long warranty also shows to some extent how much a brand stands behind its products.

The different mini elliptical brands vary a lot in this area. This is not the most important feature but it can help you choose between the lost few models you are considering.

Our top pick

If you are still not sure what mini elliptical would be the best for you, you can choose our best overall pick. The Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Elliptical will be a great choice for most people.

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