Decathlon Active Desk - Mini cross trainer for your workspace
Seated pedaling.
The Decathlon Active Desk is a mini cross trainer designed to keep you moving while you work. We tried out the device and dutifully racked up steps.Benedikt Winkel, ✓ (translated by DeepL / Ninh Duy) Published 🇩🇪
Verdict - Once set up, the Decathlon Active Desk delivers
The Decathlon Active Desk worked smoothly in testing and takes up very little space. It also earns points for not needing a power outlet. That said, getting your desk chair, computer and the trainer positioned correctly takes a bit of fiddling. You can’t just drop it on the floor and start pedaling.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
Decathlon sells the mini cross trainer only in its own stores and online. As a private-label product, it doesn’t appear at other retailers. The recommended retail price is €130 (approx. $150).
One drawback of office jobs is the lack of physical activity, whether you work in an office building or from home. You can always exercise outside your work hours, but there are also ways to stay active while working.
Sports outfitter Decathlon aims to fill that gap with a mini cross trainer. The device is designed to help you hit your step goals while seated. According to the company, using the Active Desk for one hour a day should amount to roughly 4,000 steps.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 58 x 52 x 24.5 cm |
| Weight | 11.5 kg |
| Resistance levels | 7 |
| Flywheel weight | 1.5 kg |
| Maximum user weight | 150 kg |
Setup and Installation - No power outlet needed
Decathlon ships the mini cross trainer in a compact cardboard box. The only thing that feels a bit excessive is the weight, which comes from the steel frame and the flywheel. Before you can start pedaling, the unit has to be assembled.
The included instructions are clear and well illustrated. All screws and tools are provided, and assembly takes about 15 minutes. The Active Desk doesn’t need a power outlet; the built-in display runs on the included batteries.
The display activates as soon as the pedals start moving. Resistance is controlled by a lever with seven levels.
At the desk - Simple operation, tricky positioning
The biggest challenge with the Decathlon Active Desk isn’t assembly or operation, but getting it positioned correctly under a desk. Thanks to its large handle and built-in casters, the mini cross trainer is easy to move. The real problem is the office chair: one with casters tends to roll away as soon as you start pedaling.
To fix this, the manufacturer includes a wheel base that keeps the chair from sliding back. The downside is that once the chair is locked in, you can’t roll it toward the desk. Getting the computer, chair and trainer aligned takes patience. If the device sits too close to the chair, your knees will hit the underside of the desk.
None of this is a dealbreaker, but investing a bit of time in proper positioning pays off. If you pedal at an angle, your knees or neck will complain quickly. In testing, we never managed to get the full setup aligned perfectly on the first try.
Once everything is in place, the mini cross trainer performs well. It isn’t silent, but it’s quiet enough. With a little practice, you can even adjust the resistance with your foot. Typing while pedaling worked on the first attempt, and video calls were no problem either. The only limitation is that the trainer can be used only while seated.
The display rotates between step count, training time, calories burned and distance traveled. There’s no app support or data interface. A nice touch is that the device can be stored upright, which helps it take up far less space in the office.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
