Standing Desks & Treadmill Desks

Call it a desktop workstation, a sit-stand workstation, or a desktop riser, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Ah, well, let’s step back from that a bit and just say that some of these products are on the rose spectrum while others may be closer to skunk cabbage. As always, caveat emptor, and that’s where we come in and lab test these units to find out what they’re really made of.

Call it a desktop workstation, a sit-stand workstation, or a desktop riser, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Ah, well, let’s step back from that a bit and just say that some of these products are on the rose spectrum while others may be closer to skunk cabbage. As always, caveat emptor, and that’s where we come in and lab test these units to find out what they’re really made of.

One thing you’ll want to consider when purchasing a Post & Base sit-stand converter is the way it handles your monitors. Can you adjust your monitors up or down on the monitor post? That’s important for finding your sweet spot while standing versus sitting. Can you adjust them back and forth for focal depth adjustment? That'll keep you from leaning in to see your monitors. And of course, can the unit handle more than one monitor? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more in our detailed reviews below.

On cheaper X-Lifts, you’ll see tiny, inexpensive air pistons that aid little in the lifting process and basically put the burden of lifting on you alone. These will likely break sooner than larger, high quality pistons, and the issue is exacerbated when you’re adding multiple monitors. That’s why it’s so important to choose a unit with strong counterbalance force if you planning to put a lot of weight on your converter. We’ll assess each unit’s counterbalance force in our detailed reviews (as it’s not usually an advertised spec).

No need to buy an extra monitor arm with a Hover. Their design holds your monitor(s) at a proper height for ergonomic viewing. Most models cost extra for a dual monitor setup; it requires a crossbar that runs along the monitor pole. But these devices are very ergonomically adjustable; some provide keyboard tray tilt for proper ergonomic typing at a declined angle, and most also allow easy adjustment for your monitor’s angles--tilting, panning, and rotating with ease.

Most of the electric stand desk converters use a Post & Base structure, which means they come with a monitor post built-in. No need to purchase a monitor arm separately, and that’s part of what accounts for their higher price--as well as the electric motors of course. (Monitor arms are used to keep your screens at an ergonomically correct position while you sit or stand.)