Ah, the humble desk, the unsung hero of the office workspace. Holder of computer monitors, keyboards, and other assorted and random stuff. They help us stay organized and productive. But, we probably take this valuable piece of furniture for granted the majority of the time. The desk becomes so much a part of our day-to-day operations that it can sink into the periphery of our thought processes. But, a well-functioning, spacious, and organized desk can go a long way to making work an easier thing to manage. And, at the risk of sounding overdramatic, a good desk can improve the quality of life for those of us who spend the majority of our workday in front of a computer.
Hey, that’s me!
Speaking of good desks and how they improve workflow and productivity, I’ve been benefitting from working with the Ergotron WorkFit for the last few months. Unlike a traditional desk that confines the user to work solely from a sitting position, the Ergotron WorkFit allows the user to adjust his position from sitting to standing in seconds.
What Are the Benefits of Sit-Stand Desks?
Sit-stand desks, according to Ergotron, “encourage healthy movement throughout the day.” According to the company, the typical office worker spends 21 hours of his day either sitting or lying down. This has a dramatic effect on muscle activity, metabolic rate, enzyme production, and fatigue levels. As well, the longer someone stays sedentary, the higher the risk for anxiety and depression.
In fact, there are scads of other benefits to not sitting around on your fat butt all day. This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as those benefits have been pretty well-documented over the years. Increased blood circulation, enhanced brain power, faster metabolism, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease…the list goes on and on. Anyway, the salient point here is this: being able to sit and stand at work not only benefits your health, but it also increases productivity and concentration.
For more information about the benefits of not living such a sedentary lifestyle, visit www.JustStand.org.
The Ergotron WorkFit DL 60
Ergotron’s Sit-Stand desks have been permanent fixtures over here at Pro Tool Reviews since we moved offices. Clint and Tim have been using a couple of the motorized models, while I’ve been using the manually-controlled DL60 model. For the most part, these desks all function the same and include similar features, so I’m going to focus on the desk I’m most familiar with, the Ergotron WorkFit DL60.
Smooth Operator
Obviously, the most notable thing about the Ergotron WorkFit is its ability to easily transition between sitting and standing positions. But, switching back and forth could become a tiresome affair if any of the desk’s control or adjustment mechanisms are difficult to work with. I won’t say that the transition is effortless with the DL60; the manual control means that you have to help the desk up into position. But, considering that there’s a fair amount of weight on the desk, the process of raising the work surface into a standing position is relatively painless. The handle pulls up easily, and the desk slides up and down smoothly with a little help. The entire system includes an adjustment—which we calibrated in order to render the desk neutrally “buoyant” so to speak.
At its lowest point, this Ergotron WorkFit model sits 31.3″ high. Fully raised, it stands at 51.3″ high, which is just about perfect for my 5′ 10″ frame. The desktop is smooth and stable, and at 60″ x 29″, I’ve got more than enough room. As it stands, I’ve got room to spare with two monitors, a keyboard, some speakers, and an assortment of hand tools and other stuff. I actually feel a little spoiled with so much space.
Other Features
Another useful feature that comes with this model of the Ergontron WorkFit has to do with power cord management. Ergotron included a trough on the back of the desk that can house an optional power strip. At 6.5″ deep, the tray helps keep your chaotic cord mess from taking over the back half of the desk and the floor.
This robust desk looks a little unwieldy to try and move, but it’s all a ruse. The back of the base actually houses wheels, which makes moving the Ergotron WorkFit pretty simple.
With a name like Ergotron, you pretty much expect the desk to be about as comfortable as any desk realistically can be. In the case of the WorkFit, Ergotron rounded off the edges of the desk for wrist, forearm, and elbow comfort.
Accessories
The Ergotron WorkFit has quite a few optional accessories available as well. The Neo-Flex Underdesk Keyboard Arm keeps the keyboard stowed under the desk while allowing the user a more ergonomic wrist position. Various Monitor Arms keep desktop monitors easily positionable and off the surface of the desktop. Ergotron also has floor mats, CPU mounts, and modesty panels available as options.
Final Thoughts
You know, if you’d have told me a year ago about the benefits of a sit-stand desk, I probably would’ve nodded at you politely while fighting back an epic eye roll. Sure, it might be nice to stand up for a minute, but it probably isn’t going to affect my workflow one way or the other. I reckon there’s a pretty good chance that a few folks reading this review will experience a similar reaction.
I can’t speak to a lot of the medical and health-related issues that Ergotron claims their desks will alleviate. There’s probably some truth to a lot of it, but I can’t be bothered to research it too much. What I can talk about is how I actually do benefit from a good stand-and-write session. I don’t know if it’s the change of scenery, or if standing gets the blood pumping, or if I just get bored stagnating in the same place for 8 hours at a stretch. But, repositioning myself every couple of hours gives me the mental shot in the arm I need to keep generating quality content…like this review. Thanks, Ergotron.
It’s honestly great. Aside from the benefits of being able to raise and lower the workspace, I really like the look and feel of the Ergotron WorkFit DL60. It has clean lines and comfortable edges. It also provides more than enough space for me to work without ever feeling cramped up.
The Ergotron WorkFit Series starts at around $1,000, however, the broader WorkFit Series offers several desk variations that span a wide range of prices, some as low as $250. Between the sleek aesthetic and the sturdy practicality of the Ergotron WorkFit’s design, I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for ways to increase comfort and productivity in the workplace.
For more information, check out the Ergotron website.
