Nowadays people are busier than ever before.
Many of us spend hours at a time sitting at a desk.
Between home commitments, demanding workloads, and life getting in the way, time to exercise can become scarce.
Enter the genius and novelty of the active desk solution – the Cubii Jr. in particular.
Active desks allow workers to keep moving while staying hard at work.
There are many active desk solutions like standing desks, treadmill desks, and cycling desks.
While they’re better than prolonged sitting, these each present their own types of issues that can make them unsustainable or impractical for long term use.
Unlike their active desk cousins, the Cubii Jr. seated under-desk elliptical allows you to add an active component to your desk whenever you want to without totally swapping out your setup.
Read our Cubii Jr. review to learn more about this convenient device and how it can help you stay healthy and active.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Seated Under-Desk Elliptical
Before we jump into the Cubii Jr. review, there are a few things you should consider before buying a seated under-desk elliptical machine.
Who is it For?
Seated under-desk elliptical machines can be used by just about anyone.
The Cubii Jr. has been used by everybody from young students to the elderly, from those in rehabilitation from an illness or injury, to those simply trying to work a little more physical activity into their day-to-day.
It’s low-impact and you can do it sitting down, so it’s accessible for just about everybody. Basically, it solves the problem of how to stay active if you sit for most of the day.
How is it Used?
Under-desk ellipticals are placed in front of your chair, under your desk (or in front of your couch, recliner, etc. – anywhere you sit for long periods).
You put your feet onto the pedals and move in a circular motion. It’s that simple.
How Often Can You Use it?
Short answer: as much or as little as you want.
Since it’s low-impact there’s really no limit on this.
The only consideration is that you may get some tendonitis or overuse strain if you do this for hours on end.
Pace yourself and do a few minutes throughout the day instead.
You Might Not Like This if…
If you’re looking for a more intense workout, then this isn’t going to deliver.
This is for low-impact, light activity.
People more heavily into fitness may want to look for a true bike or treadmill desk instead.
Also, if you’re long-legged, then this might not work for you as the pedaling motion may have your knees bumping up against your desk.
A taller desk may solve the problem, or you may want to skip the under-desk product category and instead opt for a standing desk.
Now that you’re properly prepared, let’s jump into the Cubii Jr. review and how this nifty little machine can break you out of a sedentary rutt.
Meet the Cubii Jr. Under-Desk Elliptical
A seated under-desk elliptical is a fitness device that you can use while sitting anywhere, but especially while glued to your desk.
The Cubii Jr. promises to give you a more active lifestyle and help you remain healthy.
It’s beneficial for office workers, dispatchers, students – anyone who spends long hours in a seated position.
You can easily place this device under your desk, slip your feet onto the pads, and get your heart pumping.
It helps lower the health risks of prolonged sitting, can give you an energy boost during long working hours and can help you work off some of the nervous energy and stress that working and studying can bring on.
Cubii Jr. was invented a few years ago.
Initially, it had arm handles similar to a bicycle, but that was a rather clunky model that was abandoned.
In 2020 the product has become more streamlined, less expensive, and easier to use.
Pros
- It’s smooth to use and silent so it doesn’t disturb others while you are using it.
- You can control the resistance and keep track of steps, calories burned and distance.
- You can use it without drawing unwanted attention. You don’t need to change your physical workstation, it will fit easily under your existing desk or table.
Cons
- If you can’t lift 25 pounds then you may need help getting it set up.
- It’s difficult to take it with you from home to office, which means if you need it in both places then you must have 2 under-desk ellipticals.
- It cannot be used in a standing position.
Features & Benefits of the Cubii Jr. Under-Desk Elliptical
In this section of the Cubii Jr. review, we’ll dig into some cool features of the product that will benefit you.
Stats and Goal Setting
The Cubii Jr. displays your stats, like how much time you’ve spent on the machine, the distance you covered, and your estimated calorie burn.
It does this on a small LCD display. You can set goals for your daily “steps” and keep track every day.
Stability
We described earlier that this machine is a little heavy.
This is not necessarily a bad thing as it provides stability.
If you’ve ever used a lightweight seated bike pedal or elliptical device, then you’ll know how frustrating it can be for it to move around and slowly sneak further away from your chair as you pedal.
The extra weight of the Cubii Jr. makes it stay put. Combine this with the wide stabilizing feet and you should have no problems with stability.
To keep the elliptical from slipping around hard floors or digging into the carpet, Cubii has paired their device with a mat. The mat protects your floor and keeps the elliptical from slipping.
Low Noise Level
The Cubii Jr. uses magnetic resistance which makes very little noise.
This is especially important if you need silence to get your work done and/or to avoid disturbing your work and study neighbors. We found the sound of the Cubii Jr. to be hardly noticeable.
Adjustable Resistance Levels
There are 8 different levels of resistance on the Cubii Jr. to control the intensity of your exercise.
It’s important to have multiple resistance levels so that you can have some variety and continue to challenge yourself as you get stronger.
If you’re looking for the best exercise machine to not just break up long periods of sitting but also to shed excess fat, then you are going to need to ramp up the resistance.
The variable resistance settings even allow you to do HIIT intervals! Talk about multitasking.
While the resistance doesn’t quite feel the same as an actual elliptical machine, it’s enough to excuse-proof your exercise routine by keeping you moving during long days that keep you away from the gym.
Compact Size
The dimensions of the Cubii Jr. are about 23.2 x 17.6 x 10 inches. It is compact enough for even small desk spaces.
Also, it only weighs about 25 pounds making it easy to move. If you don’t want to leave the Cubii Jr. out all the time you could easily stash it out of sight in a closet or under a bed.
Easy to Assemble
One of the best features of the Cubii Jr. is how easy it is to assemble.
You can pop this thing out of the box and have your feet whirring away in a matter of minutes.
Cubii has done a great job organizing each part (mostly pre-assembled) along with a simple description so that anyone can put it together.
All you need is a screwdriver.
Have you ever assembled something from Ikea?
This experience is essentially the opposite. Install the pedals with 4 screws and you’re off to the races.
What Others Are Saying About the Cubii Jr.
Don’t just take our word for it. Thousands of people have left a Cubii Jr. review and the average ranking is (drum roll please)…4.5/5 stars!
We dug deep into the internet to find out what other users have to say about the Cubii Jr. under-desk elliptical.
Testimonial #1
Deborah used the Cubii Jr. to supplement her rehabilitation after knee replacement surgery.
She’s using it to stay active while homebound and raved about it helping her keep up her physical therapy.
Testimonial #2
Amy has a sedentary job that keeps her at a desk all day.
She was facing thyroid issues and said that after getting exercise daily during work with her Cubii Jr. she feels much better now.
She said that it’s so quiet that when people come into her office they can’t even tell when she’s using it.
Testimonial #3
Reg Hardy rated this product 5/5 stars.
He became disabled by Permanent Progressive Multiple Sclerosis that confined him to a mostly sedentary lifestyle.
He got the Cubii Jr. and set it up so that he can access it from the chair of his mobility scooter.
It’s enabled him to stay active and get daily exercise in spite of his illness.
Testimonial #4
K was diagnosed with breast cancer and after chemotherapy, she gained 15 lbs. at the age of 29.
Chemotherapy also made her anemic, so the fatigue was a lingering side effect.
She got a Cubii Jr. so that she could do low-impact activity while she recovered.
She raves about the mental boost of being able to take control of that part of her health and make progress toward her recovery while feeling better as a result of staying active.
Alternatives to the Cubii Jr. Under Desk Elliptical
The Cubii Jr. isn’t the only under-desk elliptical available in the market. Below are some alternatives for you to compare.
Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider
The Stamina Inmotion Elliptical Trainer can be used at a desk or standing.
We like the added option of standing exercise to mix things up, especially if you have a standing desk.
Like the Cubii Jr., the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical Trainer is compact, portable, and quiet.
This is an excellent alternative to get an efficient cardio workout at your desk or to have a home gym in a small space.
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Under Desk Elliptical
The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Under Desk Elliptical comes fully assembled and ready to pedal.
It offers 8 levels of resistance and is nice and quiet. It’s slightly taller than the Cubii Jr., so that’s something to take into consideration if you’re concerned about your knees hitting under your desk.
It does not support an app integration but it does have an LCD display to help you track your workouts.
Cubii Pro
Looking for a little more than the Cubii. Jr.?
The Cubii Pro gives you all the benefits of the Cubii Jr. plus Bluetooth integrations for connectivity and tracking.
This handy device can beam your progress to your smartphone or smartwatch. It’s one of the favorite features we uncovered in the Cubii Jr. review.
The Cubii app syncs with the Cubii Pro and tracks every step.
You can set goals, compete with other Cubii Jr. users on the global leaderboard or in private groups with your colleagues, and report your progress to other apps and devices like your Fitbit and Apple Watch Health app.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a way to stay active even when you’re stuck at a desk or in a chair, then the Cubii Jr. will not disappoint.
It’s outstanding build quality, compact size, quiet operation, and mobile integrations make the Cubii Jr. under-desk elliptical stand out amongst the others.
It gives you the form and function to remain active, set goals, and progress toward them without interrupting the demands of your life.
