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Recently, the Varidesk an adjustable top that sits on your existing desk has gained prominence as a good sit-to-stand solution. As ergonomic experts in the industry, we know this to be patently untrue. The Varidesk is not a good sit-to-stand solution.
Here is our list for why the Varidesk is a bad Sit-Stand Workstation:
Ergonomics is all about getting people to the right height and posture, while eliminating all unnecessary motion, during the entire workday. While the Varidesk does allow for people to get to the right standing height, after a slow and difficult manual transition, it does not help people get to the correct sitting height. Because the current 30′ inch standard for desks is based on milk cartoons and not on the user, most people are currently not seated at the proper height.
An automated, height-adjustable desk like ours gets people to the proper seated height as well as the proper standing height. The key for both heights is that the user should be straight-backed with their arms at slightly more than 90-degree angles.
The concept of a sit to stand desk is based on the fact that changing your position throughout the workday will combat sedentary work days. Automated sit to stand desks, allow people to make the change from seated to standing and back without any work interruption. Most transitions will take less than 8 seconds and can be triggered by pressing one memory button. This means that a user can simply take one step back, hit a button, take a step forward and be right back to work. There is no disruption in their productive flow.
The Varidesk, on the other hand, forces people to stop working. Place both hands on the side of the device and then forces them to jerk the piece of requirement to the right height. Without any way to mark the correct height or program it into the solution, people are forced to make continual minor adjustments to find the right height or have to settle for being incorrectly positioned. Either way, the process of trying to get to standing completely disrupts their productive flow.
Do you want a 60-pound piece of black metal just sitting on top of your desk? We wouldn’t. For the price, most people would be better off buying the base of a height-adjustable desk, and then placing their current top on the desk. Though many are unaware of this possibility, you do not have to buy a complete sit-to-stand desk.
Instead, you can by just the base or the legs, cut off the top to your current desk and then attach it to the base. The process takes less than an hour and gives you a better solution for about the same price. In conclusion, if you are considering buying a sit to stand solution, make sure you go with a product that will get you to the right height and keep your productivity high and at all cost, avoid the Varidesk.