When I was in my 20s I suffered a devastating injury while in the military. I was hit by an explosive and thrown through a solid wall, ragdolling and landing on my hip. I’ve had hip and lower back pain ever since, and as I have gotten older it’s only gotten worse. Sitting for long periods of time exacerbates the problem. It’s counterintuitive, but standing alleviates that pain. Sit/stand desks allow me to alternate between sitting and standing, but frankly the manual adjustment ones aren’t that great, and the electric ones are too expensive. When I spotted the FlexiSpot Standing Desk and saw that the price was just a third of that of its competitors I had my doubts. Well, time to put it together and see if FlexiSpot can deliver.
As you can see above, this is one very sturdy desk. The steel frame supports a whopping 275 pounds, which is more than you’ll reasonably put on top of the surface. Contained within the two legs are the lift motors, meaning there are no visible chains or belts anywhere. It makes for a cleaner profile, and if you manage your cables, it’ll look good even in a common space. Better yet, the motors are almost completely silent so you’ll be able to adjust from sitting to standing or anywhere in between while on a call or streaming without a loud whirring interrupting the audio.
There are nine desk surfaces to choose from, including plain white and black. In my case I went with the all-natural bamboo surface. It’s environmentally friendly, twice as strong as regular wood, and it looks gorgeous. The edges are beveled meaning no sharp edges to press on your wrists and forearms, and the 2H lacquer coating means it’s also water resistant and scratch proof. I’ve clamped two very heavy monitors to the desk and it didn’t leave a single mark when I checked underneath after a few weeks of pressure. The frame comes in three colors — white, black, or grey, and the surface sizes range from 48″ by 24″ all the way up to 80″ by 30″. From the frame to the surface, this desk is built to last.
One of my biggest pet peeves with electronics and equipment these days is a paltry warranty. 30 days, 90 days, a year — it speaks to a lack of faith in their own product. FlexiSpot stands behind their desk (enjoy that pun!) with a whopping five year warranty. That gives you peace of mind that the dual-motors are going to hold up for years to come without a worry.
The control box on this desk has three programmable settings, meaning you can pre-designate positions that you frequently use. Of course, you can also set it by number for a more granular adjustment, and the bright LEDs will tell you precisely what number you’ve selected. There’s a handy button to remind you to switch up between standing and sitting if you need that as well. After the first few days of alternating, I turned this off. Instead, I picked up a standing mat, which made all the difference. I’m now able to stand the entire day without fatigue on my back and legs — something I never expected to say since my injury.
Beyond work, I found myself also using the desk for gaming. If you had said “How would you like to stand the entire time you play a game?” I’d have to respond with a resounding no. Surprisingly, with the right desk, it’s quite comfortable. My setup is in my production studio with its giant greenscreen wall, meaning that streaming with a transparent background is now incredibly easy. It also means I might look marginally better on my stream as I won’t be slouching in my chair so much, for whatever that’s worth.
If I had one wish, it’s that the cable management was better. The little included stickies are ok, but you really need something better. FlexiSpot does sell a cool looking cable management system for an additional $21 bucks, and post-review I think I’m going to invest in it. Two monitors, a laptop dock, and all of the power cables means you’ll have cable snakes. Taming them lets this gorgeous desk live in a common space without making it look like its raining cables from behind. Do yourself a favor and throw in the “cable spine” — it’ll keep your setup looking crisp and clean.
You might not be aware that your insurance can actually cover the cost of this desk. If you suffer from back problems, and you can get a note from your doctor, you might find yourself able to order one of these having only to pay for whatever your co-pay portion doesn’t cover. I’m not a FSA insurance expert, so you’ll have to look into it with your insurance carrier, but it is an option — who knew?
The base model, including that stellar 5 year warranty, will set you back around $400. The accessories I’ve mentioned bump this up a little, but FlexiSpot seems to be charging close to cost on this — they are leaning on the merits of their desk, not trying to make bank on add-ons. Personally I’ve spent more on monitors and video cards than the cost of this fantastic desk. Given that I work 10 hour days, plus any game time I put in, I’m certain that I’m getting far more than $400 worth of value out of this purchase. Frankly, I just wish I had bought it sooner.
After a few weeks of up and down and up and down and up and down, I was surprised at just how comfortable a standing desk can be. My posture improved, the tension on my shoulders was lessened, and my back felt a lot better. I have a very comfortable chair for my regular desk, but it’s going to get a lot less use going forward. Do yourself a favor — buy this desk. Your hips, back, shoulders, and neck will thank you.
Ron Burke is the Editor in Chief for Gaming Trend. Currently living in Fort Worth, Texas, Ron is an old-school gamer who enjoys CRPGs, action/adventure, platformers, music games, and has recently gotten into tabletop gaming.
Ron is also a fourth degree black belt, with a Master's rank in Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū, Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, Universal Tang Soo Do Alliance, and International Tang Soo Do Federation. He also holds ranks in several other styles in his search to be a well-rounded fighter.
Ron has been married to Gaming Trend Editor, Laura Burke, for 28 years. They have three dogs - Pazuzu (Irish Terrier), Atë, and Calliope (both Australian Kelpie/Pit Bull mixes), and an Axolotl named Dagon!
With near-silent operation, this dual-motor standing desk punches far above its weight for the cost. Alleviating neck, back, shoulder, and hip pain, makes the FlexiSpot Standing Desk worth it at twice the price. Buy this desk -- do it now.
PROS
- Very reasonable price
- Near silent dual motors
- Supports 275 pounds!
- Bamboo surface looks great and will hold up
- Solid construction all the way around
CONS
- Included cable management is just ok
Buy Now
Buy Now
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