YOSUDA E5 Under Desk Elliptical Machine Review - Keep Moving at Work!

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REVIEW – Sitting at a desk all day gets very old and there are a number of different things that have popped up to give some variety to people’s day. Exercise ball chairs, standing desks, and treadmill desks are just a few of the options out there. One that I’ve been thinking about trying out is one of the under-desk elliptical machines that just slide under the desk and allow you to keep moving while you work, so when the YOSUDA E5 Under Desk Elliptical Machine came up for review, I had to give it a try to see how well it worked. Read on to see how it held up!

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $199.99
Where to buy: YOSUDA

What is it?

The YOSUDA E5 Under Desk Elliptical Machine is a small elliptical machine that you operate while sitting in a chair with the elliptical in front of you.

What’s included?

Elliptical Machine
Remote Control
Power Cable
User Manual

Tech Specs

Product Dimensions: 17″D x 13″W x 8.7″H
Max Weight Capacity: 330 lbs
Package Weight: 18 lbs
Resistance Level: Up to 10
Package Dimensions: 18″D x 14.2″W x 9.41″H 17″D x 13″W x 8.7″H

Design and features

The basic design of this is very similar to a full-size elliptical machine. There are two foot platforms that are traveling in an elliptical path. One of the benefits of an elliptical path is that it’s easier on your knees and other joints because there is not a constant strike with each step.

This elliptical machine comes with a small remote control that slots into the front of the device for storage when not in use. It allows you to control the machine without having to reach down and change settings, which is pretty useful if it’s under a desk or table.

Remote stored.

There are a few basic control settings on this machine. Speed, Time, and Direction. The basic time setting for this is 10 minutes. This is one of my issues with this machine. Every time you start a new session you have to set the time again if you want to go longer than 10 minutes.

This machine has two different modes you can operate in that are controlled by the speed setting. You can pedal the elliptical unpowered and solely at your own pace or you can control the speed that the elliptical will move in on its own. This doesn’t offer the resistance you would expect unpowered, but you can definitely start to feel the effect of the movement.

The direction setting allows you to shift between travelling in a forward motion or a backwards motion. You may think it’s an odd option, especially if you haven’t used an elliptical machine before, but it’s really nice to be able to change up the movement.

Setup

Very little setup is required. It’s pretty much plug and play.

Performance

The main issue I ran into is getting enough clearance when using this under a desk. When I used it at the desk I occasionally use when working from home my knees would bump into the bottom of the desk. When I used it at my office, though, I was able to adjust the height of the desk and chair so that wasn’t a problem. I also tried using it while sitting on the couch and it just wasn’t tall enough.

The rubber feet on the bottom are pretty solid and prevent it from moving around while you’re using it.

Final thoughts

Overall, this is a nice option to have at work. You’re most likely not going to break a sweat or get your heart rate very high, but it is nice to get some extra motion in while I would otherwise be completely sedentary at work. It’s not whisper-quiet, but it’s not obnoxious either. I have a fan that runs nearby that mostly masks the sound. The remote control is nice to have, but it didn’t always immediately connect. Overall, if you’re looking for something to add some movement to your day, it’s a pretty nice option.

What I like about the YOSUDA E5 Under Desk Elliptical Machine

Portable and easy to carry around
Remote control to make it easier to change settings without getting under the desk
Easy way to get some extra movement in during the day

What needs to be improved?

Options to save the last setting or adjust the default. It always shifts back to 10 min at the start of each session.
Better connectivity on the remote control

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: YOSUDA
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by YOSUDA. YOSUDA did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.