The 10 Best Standing Desk Converters
Editor's Notes
September 24, 2019:
If you switch to a standing desk, you'll probably notice the benefits right away; doing so can keep your attention more focused throughout the day while preventing a surprisingly wide range of health problems over the long term. If you're using a laptop, you might not need an expensive model with a separate keyboard tray; in that case, the Fitueyes or Executive Office Solutions might be your best bet, as they're both simple and affordable. FlexiSpot and Vivo both make a few excellent large-scale options for people who use one or more desktop monitors and full-size keyboards, and while they're pretty costly, they're durable enough to last for years. The Fully, Air Rise, and Slypnos are all in the middle of the pack as far as price goes and though their keyboard trays aren't adjustable, at least they exist, which makes them suitable for both laptop and desktop computers. And if you're not totally sold on the idea of a standing desk, check out the Ergodriven Spark. It may actually surprise you how strong its corrugated cardboard construction is, and it costs next to nothing compared to the competition.
If you're looking for something a little more permanent or more exercise-driven, we also have some excellent suggestions for you, and if you do decide to stand for parts of your workday, it's highly recommended that you get a good floor mat to keep your feet and legs from getting sore.
Stand And Deliver Good Health
A good standing desk can be even more expensive than some of the finest office desks that you would see on most websites or in office furniture stores.
It's no secret that Americans spend too much time in their chairs. Sedentary lifestyles contribute to afflictions such as obesity, circulation problems, restless leg syndrome and more. According to Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, as well as a few other reputable sources, the average American spends around 11 hours each day in a seated position. Furthermore, that lifestyle contributes to nearly 300,000 deaths each year. If you're a big-shot CEO in the field of medicine, this might not be the worst news, as nearly $24 billion is spent on health and wellness annually as a direct result of sedentary lifestyles.
At first blush, these numbers might seem a little extraordinary. But the reality is that a sedentary lifestyle creates a kind of negative feedback loop of poor health, often beginning with poor posture. The vast majority of those who sit at their desk for many hours a day do so in an improper fashion, leading to a slow and steady curvature in the spine that is far from the ideal. That poor posture can lead to aches and pains that make it harder for those who spend many hours a day in their chairs to get up and do the things that could make their lifestyles more active.
The good news is that there are options out there for those who are worried that their lifestyles have become too sedentary, one of the most exciting of which is the standing desk. The standing desk is built more or less just like any other desk except for the fact that it's much taller, necessitating that its user stand at it rather than sit. Many are adjustable, as well, so that if you do get tired of standing, you have the option to lower the desk and sit back down comfortably at it as you were before.
The one significant downside to most standing desks, however, is cost. A good standing desk can be even more expensive than some of the finest office desks that you would see on most websites or in office furniture stores. That could lead you to invest in a model that isn't particularly secure, or that isn't big enough for you, making your day-to-day work life a little more difficult than it needs to be.
An elegant solution to this problem is the standing desk converter. These units utilize the desk that you already own, but elevate your primary working surface to a height that allows you to stand while performing the majority of your daily tasks. You'll still retain all of the storage space and organization that your current desk provides you, but without it forcing you to sit on your rear end all day, getting less and less healthy with every ticking second of the clock.
How To Choose The Right Standing Desk Converter For You
Most standing desk converters are little more than platforms on some kind of riser. As such, it can be difficult to determine exactly which one is right for your setup when so many appear so relatively similar. There are a few distinct differences among the great options on our list, and with a little attention to those you'll easily be able to find one that's most suitable for your setup.
Slightly less pressing than the above considerations are ease of assembly and general style.
The most important thing to do is to look at the actual area of the platform provided. This is important to compare to the size of the materials you need to place on it. If you have a platform that isn't big enough to accommodate your 17-inch laptop and your ergonomic mouse pad, you might need to opt for a model with a little more area. Some options also come with more than one platform, which is ideal if you're running a desktop computer, and you need one surface for your monitor and another for your keyboard.
You also notice that many of the options on our list are adjustable. That means you can raise and lower them to a height that's most comfortable for your typing and clicking ease. The method of adjustment here is important, especially if it requires more than one hand. The benefit of a one-handed system is that you can use your other hand to steady the platform itself, preventing any sudden drops or rises that could cause your computer or other equipment to go flying. However, these may be slightly less stable than two-handed adjustment systems, so if you have a particularly heavy set up, make sure that the converter you're interested in is strong enough to support it.
Slightly less pressing than the above considerations are ease of assembly and general style. Obviously, the easier something is to put together more excitedly you'll be able to dive right into using it. And if you can find something that matches the desk you already have, or that at least matches the decor of your office space, you won't feel the need to take it down anytime you have company, and then set it back up when it's time to get to work.
Other Workplace Comfort Essentials
If a standing desk or standing desk converter is not an option for you, or if you want to take your standing desk to the next level of comfort, there are a few other purchases you can make to help decrease the chance of injury or discomfort at your desk.
An ergonomic chair will ensure that you have proper lumbar support, while helping to keep your posture as upright as possible.
For starters, make sure that you're using an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. The traditional design of both of these implements causes and unnatural bend in the wrists, and when coupled with the constant typing and clicking that you do all day, this can result in a variety of repetitive strain injuries, most commonly carpal tunnel syndrome.
For those times when you are seated at your desk, you want to make sure that your chair is nice to your back. An ergonomic chair will ensure that you have proper lumbar support, while helping to keep your posture as upright as possible. If you still need a little help with that posture, there are a variety of correctors on the market that hide elegantly beneath your clothing and pull your shoulders back into a healthy position.