6 ms·

As I sit here with a mid-back pain I've been fighting for over a week now, I've been thinking a lot about getting a sit-to-stand setup. My back-pain probably wa

As I sit here with a mid-back pain I've been fighting for over a week now, I've been thinking a lot about getting a sit-to-stand setup. My back-pain probably wasn't caused by sitting though (I am actually quite capable of sitting, typing, etc in front of a computer for hours, even WoW didn't cause me any symptoms) but more probably because of a small 20lb monster I have to carry around frequently. That said, the sitting for long hours aggravates the sore back resulting in much, much longer healing times. So I'm looking for some way to have a bit more movement and better posture while I work. I'm curious if most people have found this works well for them. Sore feet seem to be the commonly quoted issue, which is where the sit-to-stand design comes in to play for me. It's about a $750 purchase for a geek desk. Is it worth it?

aed 14y ago
Before dumping the money on a geek desk, you really ought to try a hacked-together solution for a week or so. There's the $20 IKEA hack option or you can just stick a chair or a box on your desk. You may end up finding your prefer a specific configuration and look at other standing desk options. Also, in terms of sittings vs. standing and sore feet. I've been OK with comfortable shoes, but I'm close to getting a standing mat. There are some pretty pricey ones on Amazon, but Uline sells standing mats for $30 that are probably comparable to the expensive ones.
- Cyranix 14y ago
  A hacked-together solution can be a good idea for trying it out without incurring the expense, but it's important to take note of what's being sacrificed or neglected in a hacked build. (If you can get that down to "none", so much the better!)
- sudonim 14y ago
  $22 option: http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dolla...
Cyranix 14y ago
Assuming that your financial situation can withstand it, I'd say yes to the standing desk. I'm honestly not sure what my desk at work cost (company purchase), so I can't give a very precise cost/benefit analysis or tell you what's a good price point, but I do absolutely cherish my standing desk. Unresearched opinions and anecdotes: * It wasn't so much painful but I was aware of my feet for the first week. Don't let yourself get locked into one stance; shift your weight slightly or walk a few paces, and you'll relieve that sensation. Now I shift my weight without thinking (and walking around is a good idea anyway). Fatigue mats or yoga mats are what some people use. * Your back won't necessarily thank you right away. You may find that you're engaging small muscles that have been neglected. Keep a good posture (head upright, shoulders not rolled forward, core muscles lightly engaged) and you'll get stronger for it. * This should go without saying, but what you do in your non-desk time affects how you feel. I am a runner, I bike or walk to work, I eat healthy, and I sleep on a fairly nice mattress. The adjustment may be harder -- and the benefits smaller -- for people who don't have a well-rounded health profile. * It sounds like this is already on your radar, but standing desks aren't an all-or-nothing proposition. I usually sit once around lunchtime and sometimes again before I leave work, for a half-hour each. * Use some type of guide to calibrate your standing desk -- I think http://www.ergotron.com/tabid/305/language/en-US/default.aspx http://www.ergotron.com/tabid/305/language/en-US/default.asp... is a decent one. Some people find themselves standing too close to their desks when standing (used to hunching forward into the monitor?); this can be somewhat mitigated by ensuring that your keyboard and mouse are in a location that reinforces the proper distance.
thenomad 14y ago
It's also worth checking out the Ergotron range of sit-stand bolt-on surfaces. I'm typing this on one - it's remarkably good.
jseliger 14y ago
>It's about a $750 purchase for a geek desk. Is it worth it? If you're a typical, eight-hours-a-day-at-or-near-computer HN person, then yes. I've had one for a while and keep meaning to write a longish post about the sit/stand experience, but the short version is that I'd find it hard to go back to a purely sitting experience (here are a couple photos of my setup: http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/the-geekdesk-writing-space-post/ http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/the-geekdesk-writin... ). That being said, I also don't think I'd like to stand all day either, since my legs do get tired after a while. And apparently standing all the time has its own set of health issues associated with it, and from what I can tell most research points to variety in movements, motions, and positions as being the most important thing one can do. BTW, the Geekdesk you want is probably closer to $1,000, shipped: the shipping fee is $125, and you really want the GeekDesk Max, which lets you pre-set a number of positions. Once you figure out the right height for sitting and standing, you'll probably use only those two heights. There are four presets, so a second person could easily configure the same basic setup. Their customer service is insanely good.
imp 14y ago
I've got a Geek Desk and I love it. Worth every penny.

aed 14y ago

Before dumping the money on a geek desk, you really ought to try a hacked-together solution for a week or so. There's the $20 IKEA hack option or you can just stick a chair or a box on your desk. You may end up finding your prefer a specific configuration and look at other standing desk options. Also, in terms of sittings vs. standing and sore feet. I've been OK with comfortable shoes, but I'm close to getting a standing mat. There are some pretty pricey ones on Amazon, but Uline sells standing mats for $30 that are probably comparable to the expensive ones.

Cyranix 14y ago
A hacked-together solution can be a good idea for trying it out without incurring the expense, but it's important to take note of what's being sacrificed or neglected in a hacked build. (If you can get that down to "none", so much the better!)
sudonim 14y ago
$22 option: http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dolla...

Cyranix 14y ago

Assuming that your financial situation can withstand it, I'd say yes to the standing desk. I'm honestly not sure what my desk at work cost (company purchase), so I can't give a very precise cost/benefit analysis or tell you what's a good price point, but I do absolutely cherish my standing desk. Unresearched opinions and anecdotes: * It wasn't so much painful but I was aware of my feet for the first week. Don't let yourself get locked into one stance; shift your weight slightly or walk a few paces, and you'll relieve that sensation. Now I shift my weight without thinking (and walking around is a good idea anyway). Fatigue mats or yoga mats are what some people use. * Your back won't necessarily thank you right away. You may find that you're engaging small muscles that have been neglected. Keep a good posture (head upright, shoulders not rolled forward, core muscles lightly engaged) and you'll get stronger for it. * This should go without saying, but what you do in your non-desk time affects how you feel. I am a runner, I bike or walk to work, I eat healthy, and I sleep on a fairly nice mattress. The adjustment may be harder -- and the benefits smaller -- for people who don't have a well-rounded health profile. * It sounds like this is already on your radar, but standing desks aren't an all-or-nothing proposition. I usually sit once around lunchtime and sometimes again before I leave work, for a half-hour each. * Use some type of guide to calibrate your standing desk -- I think http://www.ergotron.com/tabid/305/language/en-US/default.aspx http://www.ergotron.com/tabid/305/language/en-US/default.asp... is a decent one. Some people find themselves standing too close to their desks when standing (used to hunching forward into the monitor?); this can be somewhat mitigated by ensuring that your keyboard and mouse are in a location that reinforces the proper distance.

thenomad 14y ago

It's also worth checking out the Ergotron range of sit-stand bolt-on surfaces. I'm typing this on one - it's remarkably good.

jseliger 14y ago

>It's about a $750 purchase for a geek desk. Is it worth it? If you're a typical, eight-hours-a-day-at-or-near-computer HN person, then yes. I've had one for a while and keep meaning to write a longish post about the sit/stand experience, but the short version is that I'd find it hard to go back to a purely sitting experience (here are a couple photos of my setup: http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/the-geekdesk-writing-space-post/ http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/the-geekdesk-writin... ). That being said, I also don't think I'd like to stand all day either, since my legs do get tired after a while. And apparently standing all the time has its own set of health issues associated with it, and from what I can tell most research points to variety in movements, motions, and positions as being the most important thing one can do. BTW, the Geekdesk you want is probably closer to $1,000, shipped: the shipping fee is $125, and you really want the GeekDesk Max, which lets you pre-set a number of positions. Once you figure out the right height for sitting and standing, you'll probably use only those two heights. There are four presets, so a second person could easily configure the same basic setup. Their customer service is insanely good.

imp 14y ago

I've got a Geek Desk and I love it. Worth every penny.