Deadline this, Zoom assembly that — in case your ever-expanding workload is retaining you from even getting to the fitness center, not even the best ellipticals can assist you hit your health targets. For each workplace staff and other people with restricted mobility, the seated train offered by the Cubii Transfer gives a cushty and discreet solution to interact in cardio train. With a rising physique of analysis indicating the unfavorable outcomes of extended sitting — hypertension, exhaustion, and musculoskeletal dysfunction signs — it might be excessive time for some low-key, low-impact cardio. (1)
Whether or not it’s continual ache or your boss retaining you caught in your chair, we predict this under-desk elliptical is an effective choice to assist attain your calorie expenditure quota. Take a look at our full Cubii Transfer overview to see what our workforce and skilled reviewer need to say about its sturdiness, noise degree, and extra. And for all the small print on how we take a look at merchandise, head over the BarBend equipment testing methodology.
Cubii Transfer
The Cubii Transfer could be a nice answer for athletes that need a solution to keep lively from the confines of their residence workplace. The modern, 17.6-pound body suits simply beneath a desk, providing you with entry to low-impact resistance coaching as you energy by means of your day by day step counts, e-mail tasks, and Zoom calls.
Important Takeaways
- Our tester loves that, in contrast to different fashions, the Cubii Transfer truly stays in place with out sliding ahead throughout use.
- Whereas we admire the six resistance ranges, we didn’t discover there to be a lot selection by way of depth.
- The small LCD monitor lets you monitor energy burned, stride depend, time and distance throughout cardio workouts at home or within the workplace.
Cubii Transfer Specs
| Value | $179.99 |
| Resistance Ranges | 6 |
| Product Dimensions | 21.7″ L x 19.7” W x 9.7″ H |
| Product Weight | 17.6lbs |
| Show | LCD monitor |
| Guarantee | 1-year |
Our tester, an authorized private coach, usually will get loads of time to maneuver round throughout a workday on the BarBend fitness center, however they loved pumping the pedals on the Cubii Transfer whereas sorting by means of admin work at their desk. “I like the thought of staying in movement whereas targeted on different duties,” they are saying.
Whereas many under-desk elliptical trainers can hold the energy burning throughout work, the Cubii Transfer stands out to our workforce for its stability. “I wouldn’t attempt a HIIT exercise or something, nevertheless it’s nice for working at a desk or watching TV,” our tester notes. Not like different fashions we’ve examined that may slowly drift ahead throughout use, the floorplate and metallic within the construct of the Cubii Transfer will increase its stability. This helps our tester hold their toes in place as a substitute of sliding as they pedal.
That mentioned, don’t count on the form of consolation you’ll discover on the best cardio machines. “The angle of the pedals was form of excessive for me,” our 6-foot tester provides. “As an alternative of partaking my quads and calves, I needed to roll my ankles ahead to get it transferring.”
However when you’re transferring and grooving, the show tracks necessary metrics like energy burned, time, distance, and extra. For such a small elliptical, an LCD monitor is a giant inclusion that helps it stand out in a crowded market.
As BarBend skilled reviewer and ABIM board-certified doctor Dr. Raj Dasgupta advises, there are many causes to search for methods to remain in movement all through the day. “A sedentary life-style can result in critical well being issues, like coronary heart illness, diabetes, weight problems, and hypertension,” he says. (1)
“It may additionally hurt your psychological well being, rising the possibilities of anxiousness and despair,” Dr. Raj provides. “Not transferring sufficient could cause poor blood circulation, weaker bones, and a better danger of metabolic points, which may shorten your lifespan and scale back your high quality of life.” (1) So, when you’re trying to commerce these outcomes for the benefits of cardio train, the Cubii Transfer gives numerous bang for not numerous buck.
Professionals
Light-weight and compact design simply suits beneath most desks
Floorplate on base offers stability
LCD monitor tracks exercise metrics
Cons
Per our tester, the angle of the pedals feels steep
Not a lot distinction between the six ranges of resistance
Who Ought to Use / Who Shouldn’t Use the Cubii Transfer
Whereas most individuals may benefit from burning a number of extra energy all through the day, the Cubii Transfer isn’t for everybody. Take a look at who we predict would profit from this under-desk treadmill and who ought to go for a special mannequin.
Advisable for:
- Individuals who work lengthy hours at a desk and need to squeeze some cardio right into a full schedule
- Anybody retaining detailed health data, like complete day by day energy burned
- Those that have struggled to seek out secure under-desk health gear
Not Advisable for:
- Taller customers who won't have clearance beneath their desks
- Working athletes searching for intense cardio exercises
- Somebody who desires to range the depth of their under-desk cardio
Our Expertise Coaching With the Cubii Transfer
After testing out a number of of the best compact ellipticals, together with a number of under-desk fashions, our workforce is aware of easy methods to spot a top quality choice. For any elliptical we take a look at, we assign scores of 1 (lowest) to five (highest) throughout classes like sturdiness, customizations, tech capabilities, and extra.
Our tester, an authorized private coach, spent high quality time pedaling together with the Cubii Transfer to find whether or not this tiny cardio machine may assist desk jockeys sneak in a bit little bit of cardio to their work day. We additionally consulted BarBend skilled reviewer Amanda Capritto for her perspective on the advantages of compact train gear just like the Cubii Transfer.
Underneath-Desk Design
In our expertise, we wish to see about 5 to 10 inches of clearance between our knees and the underside of our desks. That’s usually sufficient area to verify we aren’t banging our knees on the underside as we pedal. With a top of simply 9.7 inches, the Cubii Transfer can simply slide beneath most desks for a sneaky in-chair exercise throughout the workday. Each its 2.97-square-feet footprint and its portability earn a 5 out of 5 from our tester, an authorized private coach.
“It’s a tiny piece of apparatus, so although there’s no deal with, simply choosing it up and transferring is not any concern,” they are saying of its 17.6-pound general weight. “There aren’t wheels or something like a full-sized elliptical, nevertheless it’s tremendous gentle.”
In addition they level out the way it addresses a standard concern that makes numerous related lower-quality compact elliptical machines slide in our scores — staying put. “It has a floorplate on the bottom that helps make it a bit extra sturdy and simpler to really work up a sweat,” our tester notes. In addition they charge this Cubii under-desk elliptical’s noise degree (or lack thereof) 5 out of 5, because it raised no complaints throughout use. (That mentioned, it will probably’t harm to slide a mat beneath it throughout use.)
Being so compact additionally makes meeting really easy, our tester offloaded the duty to one of many junior members of their family. “You don’t even want a screwdriver — simply an Allen wrench. Because it was so easy, we simply had our 8-year-old put it collectively,” they are saying, including one other rating of 5 out of 5 for meeting. “It solely took them 45 minutes, too.”
Sturdiness
A standard bugaboo among the many best compact exercise equipment is usually the tradeoff between measurement and sturdiness. However for fashions just like the Cubii Transfer, Capritto says that’s not all the time the case.
“Don’t forgo high quality for measurement,” she says. “Compact” doesn’t imply ‘low-cost.’ It's definitely doable to seek out high-quality gear that doesn’t take up a ton of area.”
In comparison with the countless stream of low-cost exercise gear competing on your eyeballs on Amazon or social media, our tester says its development can present the soundness that many under-desk choices can’t. “The general construct does include some plastic, however there’s additionally an excellent little bit of metallic,” they are saying, score its sturdiness 4 out of 5. “I actually assume that’s the distinction on this factor being so secure.”
There's, nevertheless, one design characteristic that our tester suspects may grow to be a problem for the careless consumer. “Technically, the pedals aren’t ‘fastened,’ in order that they could possibly be pulled off the monitor when you aren’t cautious,” they are saying. “I don’t assume many individuals would do that, however I may see how when you tinkered with {that a} bunch, it would put on it down over time.”
Customizations
Lots of even the best under-desk ellipticals lack the adjustable resistance that may enable for a little bit of development or diverse exercises, however not so with the Cubii Transfer. To toggle between the six resistance ranges, all it takes is a fast flip of the adjustment knob. Nevertheless, our tester explains how a lot of a distinction they assume these ranges truly make in actuality — not a lot.
“I simply left it on the best resistance for my complete exercise,” they are saying. “I wasn’t anticipating an intense exercise or something, however I didn’t assume the resistance was that particular.” Whereas any resistance choice on an elliptical this tiny is notable, the shortage of selection by way of depth helped earn the Cubii Transfer a 3.5 out of 5 for customizations.
Restricted Tech
One other nice-to-have our tester enjoys is the squint-worthy show displaying their distance, energy burned, time, and stride depend. “Clearly it’s powerful to see by means of a desk, however I truly love the tiny display,” they are saying. “It may cycle by means of your exercise metrics, plus if you'll be able to bend down when you’re utilizing it, you may toggle by means of every one as you go.”
Identical to the inclusion of resistance ranges, an LCD monitor is a notable characteristic that may be indicative of its general high quality and assist its tech capabilities garner a 3.5 out of 5. “There’s no Bluetooth connectivity or coronary heart charge monitoring, however the truth that this under-desk elliptical even has a display able to monitoring key metrics is a particular plus,” our tester provides.
Whereas it will probably’t match the engagement and general high quality of the best workout apps, the Cubii app — Cubii Studio+ — gives a powerful assortment of trainer-led exercises for no extra value. You doubtless gained’t mistake it for Peloton or iFIT, however you may hearth up over 300 exercises starting from 5 to half-hour, together with lessons that incorporate handheld weights for power coaching. These distinctive lessons are centered across the Cubii Transfer, however work in different disciplines as nicely, like core, yoga, and mobility coaching.
What to Contemplate Earlier than Shopping for the Cubii Transfer
As BarBend skilled reviewer Amanda Capritto notes, a standard consideration for these looking for under-desk choices just like the Cubii Transfer is floorspace. “For individuals who don’t have the area for normal residence fitness center gear however nonetheless need to train at residence, compact objects present an answer,” she says. This under-desk mannequin can even assist you to sneakily torch a number of additional energy between emails, so contemplate whether or not it could possibly be a match for each your workplace setup and price range.
- Knee Area: Many customary desks measure about 28 to 30 inches excessive, so together with measuring yours (and possibly your decrease legs), verify to see whether or not your workspace can accommodate including the Cubii Transfer. (2)
- Noise: Whereas our tester highlights how quietly the Cubii Transfer operates, not even the best mini exercise bikes or ellipticals can actually be silent. Contemplate simply how quiet your workspace must be earlier than locking in your buy.
- Exercise Depth: We predict the Cubii Transfer is a strong choice for informal, low-impact cardio that may definitely get your coronary heart pumping. Simply keep in mind that you gained’t have the ability to match the depth of a full-size mannequin. Should you’re trying to run, you’ll need to take a look at a conventional elliptical or treadmill.
- Sturdiness: The quantity of metallic within the construct helps our tester really feel optimistic in regards to the Cubii Transfer’s potential longevity. Small items of apparatus like this are nice for informal train, however gained’t maintain up towards any high-intensity exercises.
Cubii Transfer Vs. Opponents
To supply a little bit of context for the Cubii Transfer, we lined up two related fashions that land across the similar worth level. All three of those under-desk ellipticals characteristic adjustable resistance, however these fashions from Sunny Well being & Health and LifePro additionally weigh 29% and 45% extra, respectively. Take a fast take a look at the important thing traits of those two under-desk ellipticals in comparison with the Cubii Transfer.
| Cubii Transfer | Sunny Well being & Health Magnetic Underneath-Desk Elliptical Peddler | LifePro FlexStride Plus Underneath-Desk Elliptical | |
| Value | $179.99 | $199.99 | $179.99 |
| Resistance Ranges | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Product Dimensions | 21.7″ L x 19.7” W x 9.7″ H | 25” L x 20” W x 12” H | 18.5” L x 22.7” W x 12.9” H |
| Product Weight | 17.6lbs | 25lbs | 31lbs |
| Show | LCD monitor | Digital monitor | LCD monitor |
| Guarantee | 1-year | 1-year body, 180 days elements and parts | Lifetime |
Ordering and Assembling the Cubii Transfer
Should you order your Cubii Transfer by means of Amazon, it's going to doubtless be eligible for Prime Transport, relying in your location. As soon as it arrives at your door, meeting requires solely an Allen wrench. In truth, the method was really easy that our tester assigned it to their 8-year-old and it solely took them about 45 minutes.
Locations to Purchase the Cubii Transfer
The Cubii Transfer is offered on Amazon and a few main retailers, like Dick’s Sporting Items.
Model Popularity and Buyer Opinions
Cubii boasts a roster of elliptical train machines — together with the Cubii Transfer, Cubii Jr1, Cubii Jr2, Cubii Go, and Cubii Professional — that can be utilized beneath a desk or whereas seated to assist assist customers with restricted mobility. Together with these ellipticals, their roster of the resistance bands, dumbbells, and wearable weights additionally open up different forms of coaching. Over 600 Amazon scores of the Cubii Transfer common out to a 4.5-star score and the client product opinions spotlight most of the advantages we expertise throughout testing — stability, portability, and worth.
Warranties
The Cubii Transfer comes with a 1-year guarantee, however a further 2-year protection plan could be bought at checkout on Amazon.
Remaining Ideas on the Cubii Transfer
Regardless of your health targets, burning sufficient energy all through the day could be stifled by an increasing workload. Whether or not you'll want to add some day by day cardio on the workplace or at residence, our workforce thinks the Cubii Transfer is a sturdy choice for overworked workplace drones, in addition to individuals with restricted mobility. The above-average stability can assist hold your toes in a cushty place whereas your thoughts focuses elsewhere, plus the built-in monitor retains tabs in your exercise metrics.
Squeezing in sufficient cardio could be a problem whether or not you’re tethered to an workplace chair or are experiencing restricted mobility, we predict this compact elliptical may be an excellent match. Whereas we admire the inclusion of resistance ranges, we wouldn’t depend on a lot selection in depth. Nevertheless, anybody trying to squeeze in a passive low-impact cardio workout all through the day will doubtless admire the dependable construct of the Cubii Transfer.
Cubii Transfer Evaluation FAQs
How a lot does the Cubii Transfer value?
If you buy your Cubii Transfer on Amazon, you’ll pay $179.99. Like many wellness merchandise on the location, nevertheless, the Transfer receives periodic reductions.
Does utilizing a Cubii actually work?
Should you’re searching for a machine that will help you keep lively and cell throughout your day by day routine, the Cubii completely works. A 2014 examine examined the utility of compact ellipticals just like the Cubii Transfer and concluded, “Compact elliptical units may improve vitality expenditure throughout sedentary actions, and will present proximal environmental cues for rising vitality expenditure throughout a number of life domains.” (3)
How lengthy do you have to use a Cubii a day?
The parents at Cubii advocate utilizing the Transfer as much as quarter-hour at a time, however the complete period of time you utilize it per day ought to align along with your health targets.
Does the Cubii Transfer have Bluetooth?
Whereas it gained’t join on to this Cubii mannequin, you may all the time sport your Apple Watch or Fitbit throughout a exercise class to trace your calorie burn and general bodily exercise. Bluetooth performance is uncommon on small under-desk elliptical machines just like the Cubii Transfer, however you may monitor metrics like time, distance, and strides throughout your lower-body or total-body exercises.
References
- Daneshmandi H, Choobineh A, Ghaem H, Karimi M. Adversarial Results of Extended Sitting Habits on the Normal Well being of Workplace Employees. J Life-style Med. 2017 Jul;7(2):69-75.
- What's the greatest ergonomic desk top?. Management Bodily Remedy. (2024, April 4). https://controlphysicaltherapy.com/what-is-the-best-ergonomic-desk-height/
- Rovniak LS, Denlinger L, Duveneck E, Sciamanna CN, Kong L, Freivalds A, Ray CA. Feasibility of utilizing a compact elliptical machine to extend vitality expenditure throughout sedentary actions. J Sci Med Sport. 2014 Jul;17(4):376-80.