Standing Desk

[MgoSam]

Anyone here have one? I've been wanting a standing desk for a long time and finally decided to go ahead and prop up my monitor and keyboard. My boss is a waffling type that will generally say no to anything, but I figured it is better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission and did it with the help of our warehouse manager.

Sure enough, the boss has no issues with it other than "how it will look to any customers." I should note that he was against using gmail for a work account for years until he got one for himself and now speaks it's praises to everyone, including me.

[velocistar237]

I'm trying it out with a rigged setup while I wait for my order to come in. It's a bit tiring, but I hope that goes away after a while. Some people around here use anti-fatigue mats. I'm hoping the extra activity will eventually help me sleep better.

Seems like standing desks are popular enough now that customers would be fine with it. Is your boss making you take it down?

[SaintM]

I got a Dual Kangaroo about three years ago from http://ergodesktop.com/.  It is outSTANDING.

[MgoSam]

Seems like standing desks are popular enough now that customers would be fine with it. Is your boss making you take it down?

Nope, as expected he shook his head and walked away. My warehouse has a few mats from back when we did a lot of shipping via UPS (now we do mostly on pallets) and so he'll clean one up and bring it for me to use rather than buying a brand new one. I love my office, nearly everyone here is a mustachian when it comes to office expenses. Instead of buying stuff to make a standing desk, he went and found parts that could be used instead and helped me set it up.

[jerkytreats]

I've had one for about a year now at my office. A few things you should note:

1. Don't pay too much. I have a normal office desk on top of a $30 IKEA coffee table. It's great, I can kneel, put my foot up, and have lots of desk storage space.

2. Footwear becomes important. First few months were hell, when I bought a new pair of comfy sneakers, standing became much easier. Also, bare feet can get sore without mats/padding.

3. Get a bar stool. Humans are meant to sit 8 hours a day, but they also weren't meant to stand there either. The point is to keep moving. Get a bar stool at standing desk level so you can get up/down as your body wills it.

[MgoSam]

I've had one for about a year now at my office. A few things you should note:

1. Don't pay too much. I have a normal office desk on top of a $30 IKEA coffee table. It's great, I can kneel, put my foot up, and have lots of desk storage space.

2. Footwear becomes important. First few months were hell, when I bought a new pair of comfy sneakers, standing became much easier. Also, bare feet can get sore without mats/padding.

3. Get a bar stool. Humans are meant to sit 8 hours a day, but they also weren't meant to stand there either. The point is to keep moving. Get a bar stool at standing desk level so you can get up/down as your body wills it.

Agreed to all! I didn't pay anything for my setup, right now I'm using a box to prop up my keyboard and there was a bracket in my workstation so we put a shelf on it and that's perfect for my monitor. I can get a stool, but we have an empty desk near me that I can use. I want to transition into this and not hate it.

Any recommendations for shoes? I can wear whatever I want in the office, generally wear tennis shoes, but my current pair is old and I am open to getting a better pair. How much do you normally spend on shoes, I have been going to Kohl's to get whatever clearance pair feels comfortable but am willing to spring on a nice pair that will last me a while.

Do you recommend putting a mat for my feet?

[beee]

Do you recommend putting a mat for my feet?

I bought this one, feels great:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005GZRS22?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

My standing desk is just 2 ikea side tables on top of the normal desk :) $20 solution.
When I am tired of standing, I remove tables and switch to sitting.

[xenon5]

I'm also thinking about getting a standing desk soon.  I'm inclined towards something a bit fancy that has a crank to move the entire surface up and down.  I have a lot of equipment (monitors, desktop equipment, gaming equipment, laptops etc) so I want as much space as possible to be raised.  Also, I want it to be easy to convert between sitting, standing, and treadmill mode. 

Unfortunately this setup is looking expensive - $300-$600 for the desk and $50-800 for the treadmill depending on whether I rig a treadmill designed for running or get one specifically made for desks.  At the same time, I can spend up to 12 hours a day at my desk, so it doesn't sound totally crazy.

[rjack]

I've been using a standing desk for along time. At first, I just used some milk crates on top of a regular desk. More recently I hacked a desk with Ikea components. Here is a great set of ideas:

http://www.homedit.com/ikea-standing-desk/

I have the TV console hack.

[snshijuptr]

I work from home and I just sold my kitchen table and bought an adjustable height camping table. My plan is to use it as a floor sitting table. It's the same idea as a standing desk without the foot impact. You keep moving around and shifting positions.

[dcheesi]

I'm using a jury rigged setup based on an office bookshelf and the wooden stand from my old ('80s) stereo + turntable combo. Works remarkably well, though of course it's not adjustable. I do have another computer at a regular seated desk, so I can change it up if I get tired of standing.

We were supposed to all get fancy motorized sit/stand desks when we moved into our fancy new office, but that whole deal fell through due to the usual corporate restructuring BS. So now I'm just riding things out until the budgets are back to normal and I can request a real desk.

[jopiquant]

Ikea's old Jerker model desk is configurable at standing height. DH has a couple in his office, with drafting stools. Pretty cheap.

[Cannot Wait!]

I love mine!  Had to work up to a full day though.  Increased by an hour or 2 at a time. 
A side benefit is that clients tend to stand too - I've found that this saves a lot of time because then they don't get comfortable in a chair and start telling me their life stories!

[Breadwinner]

I cobbled together my stand up desk by adding a shelf on top of a regular desk. I put the monitors on the shelf. I then prop up the keyboard and mouse on a suitcase and a stack of books. I did spring for a Boss drafting stool for when I get tired of standing.

It seems a lot cheaper to by a tall chair and then improvise the tall desk, rather than buy the expensive adjustable height desk. However, I work from home, so aesthetics are less of a concern.

[Meggslynn]

I use the varidesk.

You can sit and stand. It raises and lowers. It was only $360.00 and sits on top of my regular desk at work.

I have major neck, shoulder and back issues and ever since my work bought me the varidesk my pain has decreased by half.

I usually sit for one hour and then stand for one hour, repeat.

Bonus - my butt isn't as flat as it used to be ;)

[Ditchmonkey]

I also use the Varidesk and it's great. They are becoming quite common in the large corporation that I work at. Everyone on my team has one and everyone loves them. Given the important ergonomic and health improvements that these desks provide, it is ridiculous that any employer would not be willing to spend 3-400 on one for their employees.

[RetireAbroadAt35]

This: http://www.amazon.com/Notebook-Laptop-Extension-Stand-Desktop/dp/B0057GJ2II/

Plus this: http://www.amazon.com/Ergonomic-Stand-Desk-Computer-Workstation/dp/B00HDRIRJY/

[AlanStache]

I have this  http://heightadjustableworktable.com/pickabase.  worked well for a year or so then jammed in the up position so now I just stand all day.  Second the need for a stool, when I run after work I can tell how much I have stood or sat on the stool, the standing adds up. 

very cool pipe & counter top version  http://sparksight.com/blog/diy-sitting-standing-desk/.

edit:
Standing also let me put part of a 2x4 on the ground so I can stretch out my Allies during the day.

[mandy_2002]

I use the varidesk.

You can sit and stand. It raises and lowers. It was only $360.00 and sits on top of my regular desk at work.

I also have a Veridesk, and I find it fantastic.  As long as your power and connection cords extend, there is no moving necessary to transition to standing mode.  There is a hand hold on both sides and you pull up or push down to transition (with a slight spring to assist on the up).  The newer model with the adjustable keyboard tray is ideal. 

I was the first in my location to get one (I asked my boss during a very short spending "unfreeze") and have become a popular stop for the IH (industrial hygiene, trying to prevent ergo injuries) people to show others options that they can suggest to bosses.  There are at least 5 on site now.  The best, and only, SkyMall find I've ever had.

[kreyc]

I bought two heavy-duty brackets and a piece of wood and attached them together with 8 screws. Great experience.

[handsnhearts]

I love all these desks. Will need to do something like this in my new home.

[MgoSam]

Time for the near week review. Thus far I absolutely love it. The only caveat I have is that it is hard to write as while standing, the only thing I can do is type and use my mouse. Any writing requires me to either write on a notepad or over the keyboard. Would like suggestions for this. I suppose I could see about getting a much bigger box for a writing pad.

[Gumbo1978]

I've had one for a couple of years now.  Had some IT band tightness causing low back pain.  Felt it was partly due (maybe all due) to sitting 8 hours/day at work.  Had chiro right a note and turned it into work.  Next week I had a desk with an electronic switch to raise/lower.  Ran into same issue with feet hurting to I asked for fatigue pad for feet.  I was told the company's position was that if my feet hurt, I should sit.  Felt weird that they'd spring for a $1k+ desk but not a $20 pad, but I bought it anyways.

My back/leg started feeling better so I don't use it nearly as much as I should now.  I did lock my back up a few weeks ago and it was a huge help. 

As far as writing, I only jot down voicemail messages but I have not noticed a big issue having to write while standing.  I lean more on the desk while doing it.

[rjack]

I've been using a standing desk for over a year. The best way to use it is to switch between standing and leaning on a leaning chair. You could make a homemade one like this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Leaning-stool-human-kickstand-wobble-chair/

I just use a bar stool that I had and lean on the front third of the stool.

[begood]

Do you recommend putting a mat for my feet?

I bought this one, feels great:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005GZRS22?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

My standing desk is just 2 ikea side tables on top of the normal desk :) $20 solution.
When I am tired of standing, I remove tables and switch to sitting.

Which side tables did you use, if you don't mind my asking? This sounds like a quick and easy way to try out a standing desk before making a major investment!

[koziknight]

I talked my boss into buying me a Veridesk several years ago. It comes completely assembled. Sets on top of the desk, with an elevated monitor stand. Easy to raise/lower.

[imadandylion]

Prior and current workplaces have office-wide implementation of some version of the sit-to-stand desk. Varidesk is a good one as some people mentioned. I purchased a sit-to-stand desk as a gift for my husband a couple years back for working at home and it is a motorized one by the brand Jarvis, which is aesthetically pleasing. I actually am using it a lot lately and it's been great. For sitting, I just use a physio ball (we do not own an office chair).

[Goldy]

I have an autonomous powered standing desk and LOVE it.  They were running a great sale before their new version came out so we were able to get them for $290 each or so.

https://www.autonomous.ai/standing-desks/smartdesk-2-home

[Optimiser]

Another Varidesk user here. I had to pay for my own, and there weren't a lot of options a few years ago when I got it, but it is absolutely worth it. I was the first in my office to get one and now over half of the people in my office have them. Now that I'm working from home without it I really miss it.