11 ms·

Sit/Stand Desk: IKEA Skarsta Review

• hartator 11y ago
  I still don't get standing desk, how can you can concentrate deeply while standing? I guess not for everyone.
  • Khao 11y ago
    Sitting in a chair for 8hrs a day at work, sometimes I have difficulty concentrating because my shoulders/neck hurt. I have a stand-up desk at home and I love it.
  • blakesterz 11y ago
    I use one, never had any issues with it. My wife says the same thing, she can NOT stand and concentrate.
  • dougmccune 11y ago
    You ever pace around the room while thinking about a problem? That's not the same as just standing in place, but put a treadmill under one of these and you've got a great way to get your mind working. There's something about moving your body that unblocks the brain.
    • pervycreeper 11y ago
      Light physical activity does facilitate good thinking for some reason.
  • Avshalom 11y ago
    If you get a drafting stool you can sit at your standing height desk for whatever you need to do while sitting but it's still much more natural to transition between sitting and standing/pacing which can encourage not sitting all day/hashing things out on a white board/grabbing a book off the shelf (plus you can remain seated and still be mostly eye level with people that drop by for a chat).
    • msfoamy 11y ago
      This is what I use: http://amzn.to/1MSrSNa http://amzn.to/1MSrSNa For me, using a stool makes the switch back and forth between sitting and standing much more seamless. And it's the shifting weight and switching positions that gives you most of the benefit anyway.
  • dagw 11y ago
    I find it hard to really concentrate on a problem when just sitting in a chair. I'll often get up and walk around the room or pace up and down the corridor. Standing at my desk alleviates some of that need for me, while still letting me be in front of a computer. That being said I rarely stand for a full day, preferring to alternate between standing and sitting during the day.
    • eropple 11y ago
      Agreed - I've found myself standing more and more over the last couple years, though. I think I'm up to six hours or so out of an eight-hour day, either in socks on an anti-fatigue mat or wearing my basketball shoes. I feel so much better, and I find I can "lock in" on a problem more effectively.
      • dagw 11y ago
        For me it really comes down to the type of concentration I need. For times when I know both what needs to be done and how I want to do it and I just have to put hands to keyboard and focus on getting it done, then I prefer to sit. For times when I trying to get a grip on a problem or wrap my mind around how to solve something then standing works much better.
  • brianwawok 11y ago
    That is why adjustable is key. Reading some emails or in a meeting? Good time to stand. Need to deep dive in some crazy code - sit.
  • eropple 11y ago
    I find it a lot easier, these days, than sitting. I can move around, I can pace a little. One of my clients only has sit-down desks and, in addition to being really stiff in the knees afterwards, I always feel cramped and a little restricted. I notice it, and it distracts me from what I'm working on. My standing desk is also just high enough to fit my exercise bike under it (if I take off the handlebars), and that is really nice.
  • Someone1234 11y ago
    I guess I don't see the connection between standing, sitting, and concentration? I definitely think typing and using a mouse while standing takes some getting used to (in particular if you rest your arm on an armrest while seated); but concentration itself, to me at least, is not correlated. I will say I think simply standing as a health benefit exists but is overblown. If you really want health benefits you have to move, so now we're talking about: treadmill desks or exercises.
    • csours 11y ago
      For many people (myself included), standing up feels like working, sitting feels like being lazy.
  • orthoganol 11y ago
    Working standing up has similar effects as 'pacing around', when needing to think about something intently, gripped by thought enough that you're compelled to move around a little... I can't imagine being deep in thought and just sitting still. That said, I don't use a standing desk, I just occasionally stand up and work from a counter when I feel compelled.
    • vonmoltke 11y ago
      > Working standing up has similar effects as 'pacing around', when needing to think about something intently, gripped by thought enough that you're compelled to move around a little... I can't imagine being deep in thought and just sitting still. It's really hard. I have had to get used to it, though, because I have yet to work in a place with enough space where I can do that.
  • vijayr 11y ago
    Depends on the person. I sometimes stand and eat, even walk around and eat if my plate is not heavy. And have heard a earful for it ("it is not healthy" yada yada).
• jacobkranz 11y ago
  One thing the article doesn't mention is that for some reason it was a huge PITA to assemble. I've used Ikea a lot but this was one of the more difficult. Overall though, I highly recommend
  • reirob 11y ago
    Have the table, now for 4 months and for me it was a piece of cake to assemble it - also compared to other IKEA furniture. I like this table. Use it 95 % in standing mode, one reason is that it is not as easy to put it down as the electric version - so the laziness makes me to use it most of the time in standing mode :-)
• paulcole 11y ago
  I have the motorized version of this desk and agree that it's not built for tall people. I'm about 5'11" and have to use it at its maximum height to be comfortable. Otherwise love it.
  • marvin 11y ago
    That's funny - 5'11 is just about average height for Scandinavian males, so IKEA being Swedish this is a bit surprising.
    • Johnny555 11y ago
      It also depends on the proportions of your arms, I'm 5'10" and my desk is at 41" - maybe Scandinavian males have short shoulder-to-elbow lenghts? :)
      • paulcole 11y ago
        Haha, anything's possible. When I bought my road bike, the guy at the shop fitting me said, "you have the torso of a much taller man." What else to say but, "thanks!"
    • lorenzhs 11y ago
      EU version goes higher than the US version, see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10994429 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10994429
  • shimon 11y ago
    If you're talking about the Bekant, I have that too and am comfortable using it. I am 6'2". I keep the desk surface such that my elbows are about 90 degrees while resting on it. I have a monitor arm that puts the center of my screens about 18" above the desk surface. If you're trying to use a laptop sitting flat on the desk while standing, that is going to be uncomfortable at any height because your eyes and hands/arms need to be further apart.
    • 11y ago
• jambalaya 11y ago
  How low can the desk go?
  • brb3 11y ago
    26 inches (+1 inch for the thickness of the desk surface).
• brb3 11y ago
  I bought one of these desks as well. I also use it at just about 41 inches when standing. I think the desk sways a bit more than the article says. That said, I would imagine using a sturdier monitor stand (or an arm clamped to the desk) would counteract that enough to make it more comfortable. For less than ~$250, I couldn't find a comparable sit/stand desk.
• TheBiv 11y ago
  Cached: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:w-GWDIB_P2oJ:blog.c-mart.in/posts/sit-stand-desk-ikea-skarsta-review+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:w-GWDIB...
• Someone1234 11y ago
  Unfortunately we might have hugged the site to death. Am now seeing: > Uncaught Exception: SQLSTATE[HY000] [2003] Can't connect to MySQL server on '127.0.0.1' (111)
  • chrismartin 11y ago
    Sorry about that - brand new DigitalOcean instance and Anchor CMS installation. I guess I have some optimizing to do. Won't even accept new SSH connections.
    • Someone1234 11y ago
      Perhaps it is hitting the memory ceiling? When a machine runs out of memory, sometimes new SSH connections can fail because when it tries to fork the processes needed to handle the session, that forking can fail. You may want to look at how much memory MySQL in particular is allowed to consume on the box. It is actually very configurable in that regard, but pretty greedy out of the box. Thanks for trying to bring the site back up (and for writing the review, which I'll read when I am able). :)
      • chrismartin 11y ago
        Back up for the moment, resized the instance from 512 MB of RAM to 8 GB. Time for a crash course in MySQL memory optimization.
        • noja 11y ago
          Don't bother, just stick a cache in front!
        • tdicola 11y ago
          If it's just a static blog why even run a full on database engine, etc? A static site generator + CDN would handle huge amounts of loads without breaking a sweat.
• CLGrimes 11y ago
  Uncaught Exception for me. Here's a mirror: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:w-GWDIB_P2oJ:blog.c-mart.in/posts/sit-stand-desk-ikea-skarsta-review+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:w-GWDIB...
• mraison 11y ago
  I didn't think a review for a piece of IKEA furniture would ever make it to the top of HN :)
  • dang 11y ago
    Think of it as a dev tools thread. Those are perennial.
• sehr 11y ago
  It's been up 13 minutes and the DB is already toasted
• rubidium 11y ago
  In case anyone's in the market: While $100-200 more (depending on retailer), I've been using the Victor High Rise Collection Dual Monitor Sit-Stand Desk Converter for the past 8 months and am very pleased.
• AstroJetson 11y ago
  I'm also too tall for it. It also seemed to be more wobbly at the fully extended height. OTOH it might work for you if you use it with a high stool (like a drafting stool). I had a co-worker that would go back and forth from a regular chair to the high stool and they said it helped their back. YMMV.
  • mbesto 11y ago
    Any idea what the maximum height of a person would be to use this?
    • shimon 11y ago
      For the Ikea Bekant desk, I'm 6'2" and usually have it near its maximum height. I like things a bit higher (relative to my own height) than most, but I still wouldn't expect it to work for someone over say 6'5". All these adjustable desks start to have perceptible sway when mostly extended. If this really bothers you, consider mounting your monitors separately.
      • stevesearer 11y ago
        I'm 6'5" and have my UpDesk set to 49" which is just a hair taller than the BEKANT can handle. If I had my iMac mounted and able to be adjusted to eye-level, I could probably work at 47.5" table height but I go a little higher so I'm not looking downward as much.
      • lorenzhs 11y ago
        The Bekant's EU version goes 3cm higher than the US version. I'm 6'1" and it's nowhere near maximum. A colleague of mine is 6'4" and doesn't max it out either. Height is between 65 and 125cm for the EU version, versus 56 to 122cm for the US version.
        • Symbiote 11y ago
          Interesting, I thought Ikea products were the same worldwide. I guess the American version is made to standard/typical American office furniture dimensions. http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S49061191/ http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S49061191/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49022524/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49022524/ http://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/products/S69022537/ http://www.ikea.com/se/sv/catalog/products/S69022537/ http://www.ikea.com/dk/da/catalog/products/S69022523/ http://www.ikea.com/dk/da/catalog/products/S69022523/ The Swedish and Danish versions have the same product code, but the British one is different, yet I don't see any difference in the description. Maybe it's just the different plug. Americans also benefit from a warning not to be crushed by their furniture.
• schappim 11y ago
  Conclusion: "Overall, the SKARSTA meets expectations. I would recommend it if you want an adjustable-height desk and only want to spend $230. I would not recommend it if you're very tall and want to use this desk near its maximum 47-inch height, or if you need an absolutely rock-solid desk that doesn't sway at all. If your desired surface height is around 41 inches (or lower), you'll probably be happy. Eventually I'll post a long-term review, but if you are reading this, I've had no issues using this desk daily since January 2016."
• DotSauce 11y ago
  I've used an Alvin minimaster drafting table ($129) for the past 4 years: http://www.amazon.com/Alvin-MiniMaster-Adjustable-Drafting-Table/dp/B001EO9UDY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1454013670&sr=8-3&keywords=alvin+drafting+table http://www.amazon.com/Alvin-MiniMaster-Adjustable-Drafting-T... I like it so much that I bought a second one for more desk space. Along with a drafting chair ($150): http://www.amazon.com/LexMod-Office-Drafting-Chair-Leatherette/dp/B00OD3EYUC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1454013778&sr=8-4&keywords=modway+drafting+chair http://www.amazon.com/LexMod-Office-Drafting-Chair-Leatheret...
  • Someone1234 11y ago
    I'd be interested in a picture of your setup. How do you have the monitor and keyboard so they don't just slide off of it? Doesn't it feel like you're using your mouse on a hill-side?
    • DotSauce 11y ago
      You can lay it flat, of course :) Here you go: https://www.instagram.com/p/86XA-dRG1J/?taken-by=markunfiltered https://www.instagram.com/p/86XA-dRG1J/?taken-by=markunfilte... Sorry, no pic of the chair.
      • Someone1234 11y ago
        Oh I see. So it is completely flat in your usage, but you can just change the height up and down. Nice! Thanks for the picture :)
      • toomuchtodo 11y ago
        Totally offtopic: Is your desktop's wallpaper publicly available?
        • bravo22 11y ago
          I believe it is from here: http://www.heavymetal.com/news/r2d2-shows-princess-leia-whos-boss-in-bizarre-cosplay-scenario/ http://www.heavymetal.com/news/r2d2-shows-princess-leia-whos...
• deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
• planetjones 11y ago
  I'd really like an adjustable desk for my home, but at 160x80 (cm) it's just too big. Why can't idea do a smaller version of this, which would suit a simple home office with an iMac on it.
  • czechdeveloper 11y ago
    I have it at home in size 70x120, so I guess it comes in multiple desk sizes.
  • Symbiote 11y ago
    Smaller size: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S59061181/ http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S59061181/ 120×80cm.
• ossreality 11y ago
  Sit/stand desk. Still stares down at laptop flat on the desk. :( RIP your neck.
• sly010 11y ago
  Giraffe[1] is starting to lease good quality, motorized standing desks in February for $1/day. Disclamer: I know the founders and currently working on Slack integration for the desks :) [1] http://standupgiraffe.com http://standupgiraffe.com
  • callmeed 11y ago
    Desks need Slack integration?
    • thruflo22 11y ago
      They definitely need beer buttons.
    • heywire 11y ago
      He's joking. Right?
    • sly010 11y ago
      This may not be an issue for everyone, but I tend to stay the same position for too long so I need reminders to switch position. The desk electronics knows the current height and a Slack bot is a nice way to remind me. Being able to lift the desk through the bot is just a side effect of the reverse engineering process (and a pretty good gimmick).
    • toephu2 11y ago
      This folks is when you know you are in a tech bubble.
      • ljk 11y ago
        https://twitter.com/internetofshit?lang=en https://twitter.com/internetofshit?lang=en
    • varjag 11y ago
      If you told me 20 years ago I'll use a phone with a gigabyte of RAM..
• noja 11y ago
  Here is the very cheap $25 disruptive version made from a cardboard box: http://oristand.co/ http://oristand.co/
  • pimlottc 11y ago
    Clever, but it's not adjustable.
  • douche 11y ago
    What do they do, ship you an Amazon box, a pair of scissors and a can of spray paint?
  • tossableacct21 11y ago
    * Table/desk to put it on sold separately
  • big_youth 11y ago
    Can it hold a 27" retina?
• agentultra 11y ago
  I bought a sit-stand frame from Ergotron[0] which I fitted my old desk surface onto which saved me quite a bit of money. I don't like cranks or electronic motors. My criteria for a sit/stand desk was that it must be fast and practically effortless to switch between the two positions. For that you cannot beat a lift-system like the one in the Ergotron. [0] http://www.ergotron.com/ProductsDetails/tabid/65/PRDID/757/language/en-US/Default.aspx http://www.ergotron.com/ProductsDetails/tabid/65/PRDID/757/l...
  • almostimplement 11y ago
    I've an Ergotron WorkFit-T [0] at work that I've been very happy with. [0] https://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/literature/productSheets/english/05-WorkFit-T.pdf https://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/literature/productSheets/...
  • edc117 11y ago
    How is the lowering action? Does it go down smoothly? I have to admit this looks pretty promising, I might have to see if I can find one.
    • agentultra 11y ago
      It's smooth. It locks into position at set intervals when you release the lever. Fortunately there is a good range of motion and the intervals are rather small (I'd estimate around 2-3cm each?).
  • jmnicolas 11y ago
    > you cannot beat a lift-system like the one in the Ergotron I think if you really want something fast you need a sitting desk AND a standing desk with mirrored monitors and each desk with its own keyboard and mouse.
• Keyframe 11y ago
  How wide do they make them? I have three 27" monitors (for film and video work) and would like to add a fourth one. edit: Apparently there's also BEKANT which is motorised.
  • chrismartin 11y ago
    The larger SKARSTA is 63" wide.
    • Keyframe 11y ago
      160 cm! Thanks.
• mverwijs 11y ago
  Came across this the other day: http://oristand.co/ http://oristand.co/ Of course, nothing beats my TrippTrapp!
• garyrichardson 11y ago
  I have a relatively expensive Uplift desk. I've had it for about 4 months now and have 0 complaints on the $1200-ish I spent. Here's my protips: * Get one with a motor in it. Hand cranking sounds awful. * Get one with presets. Having to hold a button and wait for a desk to go up and down sucks. * Get one that goes up and down -- sitting or standing all the time sucks. * Regarding the above items, you'll probably want to move it up and down every 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. * Just because you can build one for $4 in parts or put your laptop on a box doesn't mean you should. If it looks like you made it out of $4 in parts or is an old diaper box you probably don't actually care about your workspace.
  • zodPod 11y ago
    lol > Get one with a motor in it. "Damn I need to get a standing desk. I sit around too much and don't move around enough. GOD I definitely need to order the motorized version!"
    • beambot 11y ago
      As with many things in life, reducing activation energy can have dramatic effects. For example: Most of the people I know, even the health conscious, don't get annual physicals. I pressed them on why, and it came down to this: They didn't want to spend a half-day getting it done. There's just too much activation energy: scheduling, commute, checking in, waiting around, finally seeing the doc for 10 minutes, driving back to work. It's even worse when you have to return for labs because they didn't inform you that you should fast before drawing blood for labs. Simply reducing the activation energy goes a long, long way!
      • eco 11y ago
        The last time I got a physical my doctor told me annual physicals are not necessary or recommended for someone my age. There is such a thing as excessive screening and testing. PSA testing (for prostate cancer) had so many false positives resulting in procedures that were ultimately harmful for the patients that the recommendation to get the test routinely was dropped entirely. Recently the American Cancer Society changed its mammogram recommendation age from 40 to 45. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Services went further and suggested 50 should be the age. Again, the reason is false-positives causing harmful outcomes.
• shimon 11y ago
  We have 3 of the Ikea Bekant motorized standing desks in our office. They are great and we have had zero problems. My favorite feature is the simple mesh cable pocket underneath the desk, which is a great solution for hiding all the cable clutter.
  • chrismartin 11y ago
    How long have you been using them for, and how often are they raised/lowered?
    • shimon 11y ago
      About 5 months now. I raise/lower mine probably 2-3x/day 5 days/week. Others are adjusted less often.
    • sbarre 11y ago
      Not sure if you'll get an answer from OP but I have a Bekant at home and I've had it for 3 months now or so, and I raise/lower it probably once or twice a week (it spends most of it's time raised). I've had no problems with the motor and the legs, it raises and lowers quickly and smoothly. The motor and legs do come with a 10 year warranty for what it's worth. If I have one complaint, it's that it has a tiny bit of wobble, but it's a very minor complaint and not any kind of deal-breaker for me, especially when comparing the price of other motorized sit/stand desks.
    • radimm 11y ago
      Got one for a month and half now. With the 2 - 3 standing 'sessions' per day I can't complain. The motors so far survived even my child playing with it (and that means a lot of action)
    • bayonetz 11y ago
      Had a Bekant for over a year now. Lower it maybe 3 times per week. Works flawlessly! At the time I bought it for $500. Best setup "pound for pound" in my opinion.
• dbg31415 11y ago
  I love my Jerker 2. https://www.jerkersearcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bw_jerker_desk_with_name1.png https://www.jerkersearcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bw...
  • thecrumb 11y ago
    Jerker - best. desk. ever.
• pkaler 11y ago
  I've had the Bekant desk for about a year now. I haven't had problems with the motor or controller. My experience is about the same as the reviewer of the Skarsta. The Bekant isn't super stable at higher heights, but works well. I recommend it. I'd consider the hand crank next time or if I were filling an office with desks. Motorized isn't really that much of a bonus for me.
  • AndyMcConachie 11y ago
    Agree. I also have the Bekant, and it's been fine. The motor is nice if I do need to adjust the height.
  • wbrendel 11y ago
    The BEKANT is definitely hit-or-miss when it comes to reliability. The motors on mine died just over a month after purchasing it, and some searching at the time revealed it to be a pretty common issue. Luckily IKEA has a generous return policy and I was able to return it with no questions asked. When it did work, however, I agree it generally worked well and was mostly stable enough. I just couldn't risk having to disassemble my desk whenever the motors broke.
• MetalMASK 11y ago
  I bought the autonomous desk from kickstarter for $500 (basic model): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/403524037/autonomous-desk-the-smartest-office-desk-yet-power/description https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/403524037/autonomous-de..., so far quite happy with it. Really stable, and the table top is of good quality. I can see the author's point where the motor is not necessary but when it's cheap enough (at the low end of the $500-$3000 price range), it's certainly a nice to have feature. Wobbly desk really bugs me and I would rather have a fixed height desk rather than a wobbly one. Testing the stability (or confirm from other's review) before you buy.
• unexpand 11y ago
  I have used this rack as my standing and sitting desk. One rack adjusted for sitting position and one for standing. I used to stand most of the time. Not as conveniently adjustable as standing desk but it worked for me at $100. http://www.staples.com/Hirsh-Heavy-Duty-Riveted-Boltless-Steel-Shelving/product_SS1036999 http://www.staples.com/Hirsh-Heavy-Duty-Riveted-Boltless-Ste...
  • pimlottc 11y ago
    I have one of those in my basement! Never thought of using it as a desk. Wouldn't it be awkwardly far from you while you're sitting, since you couldn't slide the chair underneath the work surface?
    • unexpand 11y ago
      Not really. I used to play my piano sitting.
• d0100 11y ago
  Best sitting/standing desk around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4-yOB3qFKI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4-yOB3qFKI Cranks, motors and the like have nothing on this simple counterweight system.
• hashgowda 11y ago
  http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-standing-desk/ http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-standing-desk/ I'm considering to buy ergo depot Jarvis. Anybody using it?
• supergeek133 11y ago
  I ended up with one of these: https://www.standdesk.co/ https://www.standdesk.co/ $400, easy to build, not super loud considering.
  • pimlottc 11y ago
    > $400 Note that's for just the adjustable base; it's at least $90 more including the surface, depending on options. Looks like the height range is 28-45 inches.
• thorntonbf 11y ago
  I'm using a Jarvis Standing Desk Frame - http://www.ergodepot.com/Jarvis_Frame_p/jrv-fr.htm http://www.ergodepot.com/Jarvis_Frame_p/jrv-fr.htm With a 72x36 Maple butcher block top from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Relius-Solutions-Butcher-Block-Maple/dp/B002JFS93E http://www.amazon.com/Relius-Solutions-Butcher-Block-Maple/d... The top easily weighs 200 pounds, and that's not including the 2 Thunderbolt displays that sit on my desk. It's been a great platform. At my standing height of 45", it needs to be up against the wall or it would likely vibrate a bit. As it stands, it's great. The pushbutton memory allows for fast adjustment between sitting and standing. I probably transition a couple of times a day. If I'm going to be on the phone a while, I might sit if I'm not pacing. Even if you simply used it as a regular desk, one of the things that have become most apparent to me is the difference tenths of an inch make in getting your workspace dialed in. Maybe you're wearing different shoes - or no shoes - you can dial in your desk appropriately.
  • rdtsc 11y ago
    Almost same setup, except Amazon top, I went for their maple desk version. It is really rock solid. Has no problems with 2 large 4K monitors on it. I get tired of standing or sitting too long, so memory buttons are a nice feature.
  • dalanmiller 11y ago
    Any advantages you've come across to a butcher block top than going with maybe an Ikea table top or something more ordinary?
    • thorntonbf 11y ago
      No real advantage per se. I've used them in the shop, and was impressed with the quality. And, it seems like when I got it, it may have been on sale. I kind of figured that for the amount of time I spend at the desk, ~$600 wasn't too much to spend. I had gotten by for years on an old Office Depot-esque desk propped up on cinder blocks and 2x4s. So often furniture these days can only really be moved about twice due to the structural integrity of the fake wood they're constructed out of. I was able to mount solid anchors into the bottom of the desk, have mounted a drawer and a cable management tray. It's pretty solid.
• frankus 11y ago
  Uplift will also sell you the legs (~US$500) which you can mate with an inexpensive desk-top (or maybe one that you already have): http://www.upliftdesk.com/uplift-height-adjustable-standing-desk-frame-2-leg/ http://www.upliftdesk.com/uplift-height-adjustable-standing-... We've used these at my work and they're pretty nice.
  • buerkle 11y ago
    I really like my Uplift I have for my home office. I have the one with 4 presets, works well especially with kids :) If you live in Austin you can take a look at them at http://www.thehumansolution.com/ http://www.thehumansolution.com/. That's where I bought mine.
• eps 11y ago
  Chris, try and get a better chair. A dining table chair is one of the worst options imaginable.
• lziest 11y ago
  IKEA apparently is phasing out this product, at least in SF/Bay area. If you want one, act now. :)
  • i2shar 11y ago
    How do you know? On their website it says "New".
  • ksec 11y ago
    They only came out less then a year ago, it is because of a new version coming out or they are under pressure from other competitors for selling it too low priced?
• Amanjeev 11y ago
  How tall are you?
• tempestn 11y ago
  The main reason I prefer an electronic height-adjustable desk is the height presets. Imagine if every time you sat down in your computer chair you had to adjust it from the lowest setting to a comfortable height. How much time would be wasted? It's not the effort of cranking it there, it's determining where the optimal height is. With electronic, you set it once, and then whether you're sitting or standing, your surface is at the ideal height. (Elbows approximately 90 degrees while typing, etc.)
  • nbb 11y ago
    Mark the height with a piece of tape on the wall behind the desk.
  • teleclimber 11y ago
    I solve this with visual references on the furniture adjacent to the desk. But yeah, presets would be nice on my Bekant. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29022488/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29022488/
  • kristiandupont 11y ago
    I have electric ones as well (both at home and in the office), but I don't use presets. In fact, one thing I love about adjustable desks is the ability to move it up and down a little during the day. That way my posture is a bit dynamic even if I don't choose to stand up. Also, I don't really feel like I am "wasting time" finding the right spot -- it takes what, 5 seconds?
• deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
• TimLeland 11y ago
  I purchased the Jarvis desk and wrote a review. I've really enjoyed it. http://timleland.com/ergo-depot-jarvis-standing-desks-review/ http://timleland.com/ergo-depot-jarvis-standing-desks-review...
• biosan 11y ago
  I've used this desk for the past 6 months and is a really good standing desk for the value. I use it always in standing mode so if you are like me the fact that's not motorized it's not an issue. I confirm that if you are tall this desk is not a good choice for you.
  • lsaferite 11y ago
    Could you define 'tall' in this case?
    • biosan 11y ago
      Over 6'2"
• lgljgkjvhkv 11y ago
  I bought one of these and am really happy with it http://iwantastandingdesk.com/collections/frontpage/products/eiger-standing-desk-the-retro-fit-solution http://iwantastandingdesk.com/collections/frontpage/products...
• Tsagadai 11y ago
  I built my own as many of the commercial standing desks have a tendency to be too short (I am over 2 metres). Just two triangle brackets, some screws and a large piece of wood; total cost: ~$30 and some time.
• subpixel 11y ago
  I was going to buy this if I won the Powerball: http://store.focalupright.com/locus-bundle-pro-p/lbn-2000.htm http://store.focalupright.com/locus-bundle-pro-p/lbn-2000.ht...
• hellofunk 11y ago
  I have one of these and they are a fantastic value. Been using it for a year with no troubles.
• nickjj 11y ago
  Shameless plug, If anyone is interested, here's a DIY step-by-step guide that will run you $50 for a custom standing desk, no cutting required. http://blog.nickjanetakis.com/post/137161793153/build-home-made-standing-desk-for-50-dollars http://blog.nickjanetakis.com/post/137161793153/build-home-m... Spoiler alert: It's not adjustable but it takes ~10 seconds to move things down a level manually if you really want to sit down. I recommend resting with a tall chair so you don't have to touch the desk set up.
• vithlani 11y ago
  I spent roughly the same amount of money on this: http://www.bunnings.com.au/sandleford-stainless-steel-ultimate-workbench-with-adjustable-height_p6120404 http://www.bunnings.com.au/sandleford-stainless-steel-ultima... Adjusted it to my standing comfort level and bingo. It is a beautiful thing to look at and can hold far, far more weight than Ikea crap. If I want to sit, I just get a stool. There is far more usable surface too.
• ank_the_elder 11y ago
  Some new results seem to indicate that merely standing might not avoid the risks currently associated with sitting down all day. This seems to point in the direction that "not doing anything" may be the underlying culprit. I wonder if we can develop more dynamic working environments that could tackle that issue, if this is proven to be the case. An article follows: "Conclusions: Sitting time was not associated with all-cause mortality risk. The results of this study suggest that policy makers and clinicians should be cautious about placing emphasis on sitting behaviour as a risk factor for mortality that is distinct from the effect of physical activity." http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/44/6/1909 http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/44/6/1909
  • TulliusCicero 11y ago
    http://www.theonion.com/article/health-experts-recommend-standing-up-at-desk-leavi-37957 http://www.theonion.com/article/health-experts-recommend-sta...
• oniMaker 11y ago
  I bought a treadmill desk recently. It's fantastic. I'm walking 15k steps at 2.3km/h daily, and slowly increasing the speed. I've dropped 3+kg and will soon have a healthy BMI again. After the first few days, the novelty wore off and I stopped noticing it while I worked. If I want a standing desk, I just turn the treadmill off. One thing I've noticed is that I still have to sit down to maximize focus and think through certain problems. Alternating walking for 30-60 minutes, then sitting for a while feels natural.
  • trhway 11y ago
    i think treadmill desk is fantastic (i'm currently (for 6 months already) at the "cardboard boxes on the table" stage) and wondering - are you in the office with others, ie. what about noise?
    • oniMaker 11y ago
      It's in my home office, and it's pretty quiet. Not much louder than simply walking around.
  • cylinder 11y ago
    I have seen one in person; great for passive consumption of what's on your screen but seems like typing would be a pain. How does that work? It seems like one of those under desk ellipticals would be a better idea: http://www.amazon.com/FitDesk-Under-Desk-Elliptical/dp/B00Y1FRULM http://www.amazon.com/FitDesk-Under-Desk-Elliptical/dp/B00Y1...
    • oniMaker 11y ago
      I did lots of research on this before buying one, and have found what most people reported to be true: it's easy to type and be accurate with a mouse at speeds under 2mph. Mine stops within five seconds, so taking calls etc. is not really a problem either. Plus you can stand motionless on the side rails while it slows down.
  • msfoamy 11y ago
• kaizensoze 11y ago
  This thing is pretty sweet if you just use a laptop: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VWJZ8S http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VWJZ8S
• jonathantm 11y ago
  I've used this desk for a month or two now. It's great. The only issue is that shaking that happens as the desk descends. Otherwise, it's solid. I'm 6'4" and have about 3" of wood* under each of the four contact-points. * A 2x10 bucked up into 1' pieces = 8 pieces. Stack 2 under each of four of the desk's feet, and yer set!
• bitL 11y ago
  Wasn't there some recent study that both sitting and standing in front of a desk is not really healthy? We knew that about sitting but standing didn't fare much better. We probably need some treadmill-style workplace instead or taking walking breaks for 15 minutes an hour...
  • msfoamy 11y ago
    "Some recent study" - sounds legit. Seriously though, I agree with you I think. As I understand it, you get the health benefits from moving and fidgeting more, not from just standing like a statue. Ye olde New York Times article talks a bit about this: http://is.gd/3k4zJp http://is.gd/3k4zJp And that article gave me a fancier way to say fidgeting: Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenes or "NEAT"
• jdeisenberg 11y ago
  The cranking and possible mechanical problems with that seem to be the disadvantage. I have found the Varidesk (http://varidesk.com/ http://varidesk.com/) to be quite satisfactory. It sits on top of your normal desk and is adjustable in seconds. (I just own one; don't work for or have investment in the company that makes it.)
  • traeregan 11y ago
    I've been using a Varidesk for about a month now, and I love it. "I just own one", too.
• karmelapple 11y ago
  The Steelcase Airtouch is, to me, the premium standing desk. No electricity needed, fast and fluid movement, and looks gorgeous. Definitely not cheap, but its quality is top notch. http://www.steelcase.com/products/height-adjustable-desks/airtouch/ http://www.steelcase.com/products/height-adjustable-desks/ai...
• qzervaas 11y ago
  I have the Skarsta (the smaller top). It's pretty good, my only two issues with it are: 1) The top is affixed to the leg brackets using plastic screws, and the top tends to move around a little bit. Definitely wouldn't want to pick up / move the desk by holding onto the top only 2) The top was bowed slightly in the middle on the one I bought. My Apple Keyboard would wobble slightly, so I put masking tape on one of the rubber feet.
• shiven 11y ago
  Been using this since last November. I got the longest top version they make. Pretty satisfied with it so far. The manual cranking is bit tiring if you sit-stand multiple times in a day (FWP, I know!) Otherwise, a practical, no-nonsense product from Ikea, as generally expected.
• zshev 11y ago
  Slight hijack - any recommendations on the best standing desk available to the Australian market?
  • jbristowe 11y ago
    I'd recommend the VARIDESK: http://au.varidesk.com/ http://au.varidesk.com/
    • damncabbage 11y ago
      I'd be cautious: the range is too small for me (6'1" / 188cm). On a regular desk that suits me, it doesn't go high enough, and if you prop things on the desks up a bit, you then need to remove them when you lower it. (It's also a bit wobbly, which isn't great, but probably expected.)
  • wluu 11y ago
    This IKEA sit to stand desk is available at IKEA in Australia now. http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/S79084964/ http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/S79084964/
• wishinghand 11y ago
  I bought just the frame at IKEA and then purchased a different top than what they recommend goes with it because I felt the Skarsta tops were ugly. I ended up with a butcher block style top also from IKEA. It's sturdy and I prefer it to the electric model because I didn't feel like I needed one extra thing to plug in. The top I went with is much heavier and I haven't had any issues with weight either.
  • frharvester 11y ago
    Is the tabletop you bought the Gerton by chance? Looking into pairing the Skarsta frame with this table top, but wasn't sure how stable it would be at standing height.
• cxseven 11y ago
  You can get a pretty good standing desk in the form of $25 plastic shelves from Walmart. It's what I use every day, and works brilliantly. If all you're using is a laptop, there may be no need to adjust the height of the desk - just move the laptop to where you need it. Voila.
• sundvor 11y ago
  Don't have a standing desk. I try to go to gym during lunch a few times a week for squats and deadlifts though; works a treat for this programmer.
• Nano2rad 11y ago
  Swing is also a good option.
• punnerud 11y ago
  I just used about 45min looking at different ways to use Kee Klamps.
• EGreg 11y ago
  I'd like a desk where I alternately lie down or stand, but never sit.
• riquito 11y ago
  (for the sake of discussion) Why sit or stand when you can lie down? http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/sit-stand-nifty-new-workstation-lets-you-lie-down-on-the-job/ http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/sit-stand-nifty-new-w...
  • redtuesday 11y ago
    Yeah, always liked the idea since I saw ErgoQuests zero gravity workstations - http://www.ergoquest.com/zero-gravity-workstations.html http://www.ergoquest.com/zero-gravity-workstations.html - a few year back. But 4000-5000 is a little bit too much for me personally.
• lamosty 11y ago
  I've been using Skarsta since August 2015 at my home office. I'm pretty satisfied with the desk. I always wanted a standing desk. I saw pictures of many awesome home-built desks here at HN so I thought that I could built myself one too. However, it turned out that it's not very easy. So I started looking for one at local shops. Fortunately, IKEA is about 10km from my home so I went there and asked. They told me they have some Skarsta desk. Long story short, I bought it for 200 Euro (the larger version). The assembly took max 1 hour. Initially, the desk was a little "bendy" and unstable, but I discovered that the screws were not tight enough. After tightening them, the desk is pretty stable, even at the highest position. I'm about 190cm tall and at the highest position, I can comfortably work on the desk. What I like the most about it is that it's pretty huge and spacious. You can put three 22" monitors on it + smaller speakers + mechanical keyboard + notebook for drawing without a problem. Although you have to manually get it up and down with a handle, it usually takes something like 30 seconds and you can look into the monitor while doing that. :) It's a good training for your hands. All in all, Skarsta is very nice and comfortable standing desk for a reasonable price. Since owning it, I no longer understand all the standing-desk startups with their smallish desks for Macbook + one monitor for 500 bucks. What is more, you can put a spin bike under the desk and exercise while doing a light work, reading or watching videos.
• blunte 11y ago
  I was ecstatic to discover this desk in Ikea a month ago, and I bought it right away. It's so much less expensive than any alternatives I could find, and the material and build quality is superb. Raising and lowering takes some time, but the brief mechanical labor involved in changing the height is probably a good mental and physical break for the operator. I don't change my desk height often - it stays in standing position 90%+ of the time.
• osoti 11y ago
  The most Notorious Prison of the World is in America: Read to know the Cruelty done on Inmates http://goo.gl/QK4k9m http://goo.gl/QK4k9m
• MatthewWilkes 11y ago
  > It's doubtful whether IKEA provides any warranty. It's not listed on IKEA's warranty page. When I called IKEA, I was told that there was a 90-day return policy with receipt. Wow, I wasn't aware consumer protection was quite that bad in the USA. I've got a BEKANT (the smaller table-top version that the linked reviews say doesn't exist) and haven't had the slightest problem with it, but I admit I might have been more nervous if not for the 10 year guarantee it's given in the UK.
  • lorenzhs 11y ago
    It seems that BEKANT has a 10yr warranty in the USA as well, but what's more crazy to me is that you can offer products without any warranty in the USA at all. In the EU, 2 years warranty is the legal minimum, during the first six months of which the manufacturer has to prove that you caused the damage, and during the remaining 18 months you have to prove that it was damaged from the start (reversal of the burden of proof). That's the absolute minimum that's legally allowed, most manufacturers don't make use of the reversal of the burden of proof and will cover reasonable claims anyway. It's probably just too expensive to verify proof ;) Oh and I also have a BEKANT at work and never had any issues with it. I honestly don't understand the review that was linked in the article. I use it with a different table top which was a complete non-issue to attach if you have a drill.
  • adventured 11y ago
    > I wasn't aware consumer protection was quite that bad in the USA You're of course blaming the wrong culprit. That's on IKEA for not offering a warranty. Companies should not be forced to offer warranties on products. Instead companies should mostly be left to compete on their offerings. A minimum warranty time won't make sense from one product to another. Six months for this, seven years for that, 90 days for this. Inserting bureaucrats into the process of setting warranties on products is just another small but wonderful way to add to the endless parade of regulation that has seen most of Western Europe's growth plummet to almost nothing for a decade.
    • MatthewWilkes 11y ago
      Firstly, you're confusing correlation and causation. These regulations were introduced in the late 1970's in the UK, not in the last 10 years. Secondly, the right for redress within 2 years is subject to a legal test for if it is reasonable. Anything that's designed to last less than 2 years should be obvious. For example, by supplying a use-by date on the packaging, or by being a consumable. Thirdly, companies are left to compete on their offerings. What these regulations do is give consumers the right to legal redress from the seller on grounds of reliability being significantly poorer than expected, something that consumers cannot generally know at the point of purchase. This puts additional competitive pressure on the manufacturer, as poor quality products will damage the seller's profit margin. Finally, there are no bureaucrats involved. If the seller doesn't meet its obligation the only recourse is legal action. There is no government office of extended warranties, or similar.
• mattiemass 11y ago
  Comparable price, very adjustable, wall-mounted. Not for everyone, but I love it, excellent for taller people in particular. http://www.standingdesks.ca http://www.standingdesks.ca
• sliekasbekelniu 11y ago
  Has anyone got this? http://tableair.com/ http://tableair.com/ Though pricey, but seems neat idea and seems sturdy
• Takizawa 11y ago
  I have the IKEA Skarsta desk too. I am 6'3" tall. Yes, it does wobble a bit. It wobbles less if all pieces are tightened well. For me it is a non-issue even at full height with my laptop. Overall, it's a solid purchased depending on your use case.
• st3fan 11y ago
  "Ikea also sells a motorized BEKANT, which costs twice as much and has bad reviews due to problems with the motors and controller." I have a BEKANT and I am pretty happy with it. No issues with the motor or controller. Also, it has a 10 year warranty I think. And this being IKEA, getting stuff replaced should be super easy.
• garyxlu 11y ago
  Ikea appears to be sold out in all of Northern California. They do provide a predictor of future available stock, and it looks like they are intending on restocking in Southern California stores. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/availability/S29084966/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/availability/S29084966/