MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has been using a height-adjustable desk for 3 years. And there is hardly any upgrade that has been as important for the home office.
In general, I have spent 8 to 10 hours a day, sometimes even longer, sitting at a desk. First studying, then working, and then came hobbies like gaming, where I also sit at the desk. Sitting for long periods is not only uncomfortable but also unhealthy. Health experts recommend that people in office jobs follow the so-called 60/30/10 rule (via medi.de):
- 60 percent dynamic sitting.
- 30 percent standing.
- 10 percent intentional walking.
In an 8-hour workday, that equates to 2.5 hours that one should spend standing.
Then I received the suggestion to test an ergonomic and height-adjustable desk, which came at just the right time. I have been using the desk for 3 years now, and I no longer want to miss it, as it has become a real help in my daily life.
You can find extensive health tips at the Federal Ministry of Health, in a conversation with your personal family doctor or an orthopedist.
A real help both in the home office and while gaming
For MeinMMO, I tested the Flexispot E8 in detail in 2022. In daily life, however, I opted for a wooden board from Ikea at that time instead of the manufacturer’s board. Since then, I have been using the desk in my daily work and in the evenings when I game or relax by building brick sets.
When I tinker with my computer, replace components or simply clean the PC from cat hair, I also use the desk: I raise the desk to about the height of my navel and can then lean over the computer without having to kneel on the floor or twist my back.
I have been using the desk for 3 years now, and it has never let me down.
What I like: The desk and the frame are robust and heavy; the frame weighs about 30 kg. The two built-in motors also ensure that the weight is well distributed and that the desk stands stable and secure when raised.
The high weight makes the desk very stable, even when two cats are playing on it or when various things are lying on the desk.
The electronics for height adjustment and for saving different height profiles still work perfectly today. The assembly took about 20 to 30 minutes 3 years ago and was also not an issue. I was just glad that my wife helped me carry it when setting it up.
What I don’t like? After 3 years, I can think of several points that have bothered me in hindsight:
- The motors are quite loud and clearly audible when I adjust the desk. However, since this only happens half a dozen times a day, it can be forgiven.
- I cannot manually adjust the speed of the height adjustment, and making an absolutely perfect fine adjustment of the desk height is also hardly possible with the built-in touchpad. However, it doesn’t really matter if it’s off by half a centimeter.
- The touchpad is okay and works, but not every touch is recognized immediately. By the way, there is also no real lock. Once the cat managed to touch the touchpad, and the desk raised itself.
- The high weight comes at a price: if you want to move the desk, you need a lot of strength, and ideally two people.
- The anti-collision system did actually fail me once: when I raised the desk, I shattered a lamp between the desktop and my cabinet behind the desk into a thousand pieces.
Also noteworthy: after 3 years, my desktop started wobbling. However, that was quickly resolved. I turned the desk upside down and had to tighten the 4 screws again. Since then, everything has been rock solid again. I learned to check the screws every 6 to 12 months.
I would buy a height-adjustable desk frame again
Would I buy the desk frame again? Flexispot charges 499.99 euros for the E8 desk frame, and I find that fair for the functions the desk offers. A tabletop is not included in the price, by the way. However, any wooden board works, just like I used a board from Ikea. You can currently get the Flexispot E8 only directly from Flexispot.
However, there are plenty of other manufacturers that offer height-adjustable desk frames. Flexispot is just one example. Whether it’s Desktronic, Ergotopia, or Flexispot: in the end, I would definitely buy a height-adjustable frame again because I use it almost daily in my routine.
The home office brings a few new problems. I purchased an upgrade for my setup for just about 30 euros, and it has made my work life significantly easier. You can read more about it directly on MeinMMO: My most important purchase for the home office 2021 cost me just 30 euros
