Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Elliptical Review

Editor’s note: this is a compact desk/seated strider, not a full-size elliptical.

No longer can you use the excuse that you do not have time to work out or have the space for workout equipment. You can fit a cardiovascular workout in your schedule using a compact and portable elliptical machine that you can use sitting down or standing up. This is a great option to use under your desk or in a compact area as small as a 4′ x 4.5′.

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Drive System and Resistance

It’s good old fashioned leg power that powers this elliptical machine. As you start pedaling you will need to adjust the tension knob to create the desired resistance for your workout. You simply turn it clockwise to increase the tension and do the opposite to release it. This works exactly like tension knobs do on spin bikes. The actual wheel size is 8 inches by 1 inch wide. If you wanted more resistance you would want to find a larger wheel but that would defeat the purpose of this being a compact elliptical machine.

There is an electronic meter display that allows you to see various metrics. It will count the total number of strides per workout session, the amount of time you have been exercising during your workout, an estimated number of calories you are burning and the number of strides per minute. The monitor uses a 1.5v LR44 button cell battery which can be replaced if your display stops working over time.

There is a nifty feature where the unit automatically turns on when you start pedaling and it will automatically shut off after 4 minutes of inactivity. Your stats will be kept from your previous workout until you reset them. If you hold down the function button below the electronic display for 2 seconds you can reset your current stats which is a great idea before each workout, so you know the exact number of strides you accomplished and calories you burned.

Note: Maximum time to track is 99.59 minutes before you have to reset it. The maximum distance it will track is 999.9 miles. The total number of strides you can track is 9999 strides. The maximum of calories it can track is 999.9 Kcal.

There is a function button right below the electronic display and that is one way to turn the unit on or you can just start pedaling. You can use that button to switch between screens to view the stat you want to view which are exercise time, distance, stride count and calories burned. There is one option called scan and if you leave it on that it will cycle through all of them every 6 seconds. To get that working you press the function button until the display says “Scan”.

Note: The one pedal stride is actually 7 ½ inches. So basically, like walking up a stair. The length of the pedal is actually 13” ¾ by 5 ½.

Who This Is Actually For

I really want to ensure everyone understands the main purpose of a compact elliptical machine and what you can expect from consistently working out with the Stamina E1000. Elliptical machines are designed to be lower impact workouts than running on a treadmill or outside. This makes it easier on the knees, hips and other joints that take a beating when running.

A compact elliptical machine will still have all these benefits, but it is geared toward people who want a lower impact workout that is easier than using a full size elliptical. They also designed it so people could use this under their desk or sitting down in case a person had bad knee or hip injuries.

Now if you are looking for the same kind of workout that you get on a full size elliptical machine that compares to a challenging run, this is not the unit that you should be looking at. This is really low impact and it’s going to be hard to get your heart rate high enough to build any cardio endurance.

I would recommend doing a consistent workout 15-20 minutes a day. You can decide if sitting or standing will work out better for you or not. As your muscles begin to adapt to the workouts start to increase the resistance levels so you keep challenging your muscles and also consider actually going for longer periods of time or think about doing 2 sessions a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much desk clearance do I need?

At least 27″ to make sure you have enough room to use it under a desk without hitting your knees.

Does it get noisy over time?

Some wear and tear is expected on any fitness equipment. Stamina’s own customer care has acknowledged occasional reports of the unit making noise after frequent standing use — worth knowing going in, though it’s a low-cost unit relative to what you’d pay for the equivalent gym access.

Can I use it standing up?

Yes. When using the unit standing up I would highly recommend you step on the pedal in the downward position with one leg and then step on the other pedal while holding something to help you get started. I would not start with the pedal in the up position. Holding onto a desk or chair next to you is a great way to help you balance as you get used to standing up on it.

Bottom line: at the end of the day this is a great way to fit a cardio workout into a busy schedule and into a small workout area where you can burn calories and tone muscle to get in shape.