If you lead a busy life and spend most of your day at your desk, it's only natural to wonder if there's a way to keep your muscles moving and burn some calories while you work - enter the Cubii Jr. You might have tried a standing desk, taking voice-only calls so you can wander around, or forcing yourself to go to the kitchen once an hour so you can actually get your steps in.
Under desk exercise machines were created to aid people who want to stay active while they work, helping to keep the blood flowing and get some steps in, even if they have back-to-back meetings.
One of the most popular under-desk ellipticals on the market is from the brand Cubii, hailed for its high-quality products that work well.
There's no denying, though, that they're expensive. So, is investing in a Cubii worth it? What's The Best's Jade Moscrop put it to the test over several weeks to find out.
Build
The Cubii Jr, despite its name, isn't designed for children. It differs from the Cubii Pro in that it isn't Bluetooth-enabled, so your progress has to be tracked manually, and is the most readily available Cubii in the UK.
It's super simple to set up - all you need to do is attach the pedals and insert the batteries (included). All in all, it took around 15 minutes from start to finish. It's surprisingly heavy, weighing 12.5kg, so it isn't something you can move around your house throughout the day, although the handle at the top does make it a lot easier. It's best placed in an office or in your living room if you plan to pedal while you watch TV in the evening.
It's sleek, clearly well-made and the black and turquoise colour scheme looks good. Usage in general is smooth, and it feels like a really premium product.
The LED screen lets you track your strides, distance (in miles and km), RPM, time and calories, and they can all be entered manually into the corresponding app, which will also connect with certain fitness watch apps, like Fitbit. Reset your stats by holding the button until the counter clears.
Usability
There are eight resistances to choose from. If you're starting out on your fitness journey, Cubii recommends starting from level one and working your way up. I found that level five was perfect for me - not too hard but not too easy. Nobody wants to get a proper sweat on with a full day of meetings ahead.
I regularly go to the gym and use my stationary bike each morning, and have reasonable fitness levels. Level eight was a struggle, but my partner who runs regularly and goes on long bike rides found that he enjoyed the higher levels.
It's virtually silent, with none of my colleagues picking up any strange noises while on video calls, although a clicking noise did start to frustrate me after using it for around four weeks. I applied a dab of WD-40 to the pedals and it soon quietened back down.
Performance
The Cubii Jr is, as you would imagine, remarkably easy to use. You sit down, pedal away, and you have the option of manually adding your steps to an app - that's it. It's bulky, but it isn't tall; there was plenty of room under my desk (75cm height) for my legs to move around. If you're a little taller, check the specs and your desk height before you buy.
In my first hour of using, I apparently burned 73 calories, pedalling at a reasonable pace, with some time off the machine when I needed to concentrate or was away from my desk.
On an average week, I burned around 500 calories, using it when in meetings or doing admin tasks. When I needed to focus, I found it too distracting to cycle and work at the same time - but I'm sure other people will have a better ability to multi-task than I do. 500 calories might not seem like a lot, but it's 500 more than I would've burned just sitting there doing nothing - and that equates to a guilt-free glass of wine on a Friday night, right?
I did feel as though I was more alert and awake while using it, which would make sense, and there's definitely a smug sense of accomplishment knowing I'm burning calories while sitting at my desk.
Price
The Cubii Jr retails at around £189.99, but there are offers throughout the year that will save you £20 or more. Cheaper models will cost you anywhere from £50 upwards, but there's definitely a quality that comes with the Cubii that's worth the extra cost.
Verdict
Overall, I can't fault the Cubii Jr - it's a great bit of kit that's well-made and will last for years. It's very heavy, so if you want a lightweight option that can move around the house with you, this might not be it. If, however, it'll just live under your desk, you should have no issues.
The clicking noise is annoying and is well-reported on forums and social media, so make sure you have a can of WD-40 on hand.
The main thing you'll need to consider is your dedication to the cause. If you can commit to pedalling every day for around an hour, Cubii says a 60-minute under-desk elliptical workout equates to 150 calories burned, which is 750 calories in a normal working week. Lug it downstairs with you while you're watching your favourite TV show and you've got more on top of that.
If you struggle to concentrate on more than one thing at once, you might find that your usage declines on particularly busy days, but you can always make up the time in meetings or while checking your emails. You'd be surprised how easy it is to stop pedalling when you're focusing, so it's got to be front-of-mind if you want to get your money's worth.
There's no doubt that it's an easy, accessible way to get your cardio in, and it's cheaper than most gym memberships. For many who struggle to get away from their desk during the day or have a lot on during the evenings, I think it's a great way to burn some extra calories.
What to read next:
Jade Moscrop is the Deputy Editor for WhatsTheBest, specialising in lifestyle topics. She also writes for Closer, Heat, and Mother&Baby.
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