If you‘re anything like me, you‘ve spent far too many hours planted in front of a computer. Glued to my office chair for endless Zoom meetings or late-night gaming marathons, back sore and eyes strained. Sound familiar, friend?
But thanks to a fateful FlexiSpot standing desk purchase, those chair-dwelling days are in my rear view mirror. Was the road to elevated work bliss all sunshine and rainbows though? Dear reader, let me tell you the whole story…
FlexiSpot Backstory: A Company on the Rise
Before diving headfirst into my standing desk saga, some quick backstory on FlexiSpot is in order. Founded in 2016, this scrappy Silicon Valley startup aimed to make adjustable-height desks accessible for us average folks. No more thousand dollar+ Herman Miller rigs exclusively for fancy-schmancy execs!
And their streamlined lineup hit a sweet spot. Clean, minimalist designs. Quality construction that could withstand years of wear-and-tear. And all wrapped up at reasonable price points compared to legacy brands like Vari or Uplift Desk.
Fast forward five years and FlexiSpot‘s still sprinting ahead. They‘ve expanded internationally while earning their fair share of rave reviews:
"My new FlexiSpot has been a dream!" raves Tricia H. on TrustPilot.
"Battlestation goals achieved!" gushes Reggie F. on their Facebook page.
But could their products live up to the hype? Were those gushing testimonials too good to be true? Time for this skeptical technophile to find out…
Hunting for the Perfect Standing Desk
After yet another excruciating lower back spasm, I finally committed to fixing my work-from-home situation once and for all. No more soggy sofa slouching or makeshift cardboard monitor risers! Only an adjustable standing desk would do.
But my excitement was quickly tempered by analysis paralysis – how the heck do you pick one desk among so many??
Key criteria for my ideal standing desk:
- ✅ Electric height adjustment
- ✅ Dual monitor capacity
- ✅ Generous surface area
- ✅ Aesthetically pleasing
- ✅ $500 budget ceiling
As I scoured the web reading reviews, three frontrunners emerged:
1. FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk
- $399 base price
- 47" x 24” surface
- 28" to 48” height range
2. Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk
- $519+ base price
- Customizable sizes
- 23” to 49” height range
3. Vari Electric Standing Desk
- $650+ base price
- Custom wood finishes
- 25” to 51” height range
Despite some enticing alternatives, the FlexiSpot kept calling my name. Its balance of generous size, leading-edge design, and mid-range pricing proved irresistible.
So I smashed that "Buy Now" button before buyer‘s remorse could kick in! But had I made the right choice??
Unboxing & Setup: Hold Onto Your Hardware!
My innocent FlexiSpot purchase swiftly morphed into a grueling battle of wills. Fraught with confusing instructions, fickle Allen wrenches, and a perilous minefield of hair-thin screws.
Where did this extra piece come from? Why don‘t the holes line up?? IS THAT BLOOD?!
Alright, slight exaggeration there. But assembling this beast was no walk in the park either. Expect a solid 2 hours minimum for a solo build. Having an extra set of helping hands could‘ve shaved off some sweat and tears.
However, near the finish line, something miraculous happened…all the components started aligning! Those sleek motorized legs took graceful shape. The tabletop glided smoothly onto its new home. And after a few final turns of the wrench – voila!
Behold, my beautiful new FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk in all its contemporary magnifience! Time for the moment of truth…
First Impressions: Smooth Moves
I tentatively tapped the unassuming Up/Down buttons on the keypad, half-expecting violent lurches or worrisome grinding noises. But instead…magic!
The desk elevated steadily and silently to standing height right before my eyes. And returned back down just as gracefully a moment later. Phew! No embarrassing mechanical failures yet!
But the desk wasn‘t quite camera ready for its glamour shot just yet. Cables to unravel, monitors to mount, and enough peripherals to make any gaming YouTuber envious.
After an afternoon customizing my command center, I took in the final breathtaking result. Behold…my masterpiece!
With my new FlexiSpot standing desk fully personalized to my workflow, it was time to cheat on my beloved chair. Here goes nothing…
Work Experience: Stand and Deliver
I gingerly pushed myself onto weary feet, threw back my shoulders, and got down to business.
Emails? Banged out in record time!
Spreadsheets polished off lickety-split!
Even unpleasant tasks like expense reports strangely…tolerable?
Standing sharpened my focus, energized my output, and most importantly – no nagging back pain even after hours of full concentration. Take that sciatica!
When mental fatigue eventually kicked in, I effortlessly tapped the preset button to drop back down to chair level. After a rejuvenating seating session, I returned to standing with the press of a button. No fussy manual cranking or height adjustment guesswork whatsoever.
This customizable flexibility is absolutely game-changing compared to improvising some makeshift stand-up arrangement. And it‘s light years beyond flimsy stationary risers prone to monitor shaking and keyboard slipping.
Ongoing Ownership: Smooth Sailing
It‘s been several wonderful months now cruising at elevating workstation elevation. And my FlexiSpot standing desk still looks and functions like new despite near daily use.
The motor shows no signs of wear and operates whisper quiet just as on day one. The solid wood surface miraculously remains scratch and spill resistant despite my chronic klutziness.
I will say occasional re-tightening is needed on handles and bolts underneath to avoid any wiggles sneaking back in. But a quick pass with the included Allen wrench gets everything locked back down and solid as a rock once more.
Beyond my specific model, colleagues and fellow remote workers also speak glowingly of FlexiSpot‘s outstanding durability across their product line:
"I‘ve had my FlexiSpot desk converter for 3 years now and it‘s held up great…rock solid stability and adjustment." ~ Mark S., Digital Marketing Consultant
"Dropped a huge stack of books on my desk from standing height and not even a single scratch or scuff! Built to last for sure." ~ Amanda C., 3rd Grade Teacher
So whether you opt for a full electric stand desk or a compact desktop riser, expect many years of like-new performance. No flimsy materials or shady manufacturing short cuts with FlexiSpot‘s workstations.
Health Changes: Standing Strong
But this upgrade‘s benefits stretch far beyond boosting productivity and brightening up my workspace‘s feng shui. The health improvements from incorporating regular standing seriously stack up:
🚀 Energy Levels – No more mid-morning slumps or heavy eyelids!
💪 Lower Body Strength – Firmed up my previously neglected glutes and calves.
🦵 Blood Circulation – No more tingling feet or swollen ankles.
👀 Vision – Significantly less eye fatigue headaches.
🫀 Overall Wellness – Studies show standing ≥4 hours daily helps lower diabetes and heart disease risk!
The boost was most noticeable in my cranky lower back though. I‘d battled chronic pain for years from bulging discs and pinched sciatic nerves. Daily stretching provided minor relief, but anything longer than an hour in my chair would inevitably inflame symptoms.
Yet amazingly within my first few weeks standing, that familiar excruciating tightness was slashed by 95%…and keeps improving week-by-week! I never realized just how dramatic the impact posture makes.
While not miraculous cure-alls, mounting medical research on standing desks aligns with my experience:
"Employees experienced a 32% drop in upper back pain and a 59% reduction in neck stiffness after transitioning to sit-stand workstations."
~ American Journal of Industrial Medicine Study
Of course Improved core strength, regular movement breaks, proper ergonomics and supportive shoes all maximize the benefits and avoid new issues. But the boost in comfort and energy are undeniable if you stick with it!
Cost Justification: A Value Evaluation
Alright, let‘s cut to the chase – were those Benjamins worth breaking for this fancy electric desk?
Total Investment = $550
- FlexiSpot Standing Desk – $399
- Anti-Fatigue Mat – $39
- Dual Monitor Mount – $112
That‘s undoubtedly a chunk of change upfront. But compared to the thousands backing up the truck for luxury alternatives, FlexiSpot delivers serious value. And consider the cost savings versus ongoing:
- Chiropractor Visits – $60 per session (2x monthly)
- Massage Therapy – $100 per monthly appointment
- Lost Work Productivity – Hard to quantify $$$
Projected 2 Year Savings = $3,240
And that excludes harder-to-quantify benefits like reduced sick days, lower long-term health issues, and elevated energy levels.
So if you telework for a living, that investment pays for itself quicker than you might assume. And as a bonus you get to elevate your whole workspace setup in the process!
Final Verdict: An Unequivocal Slam Dunk
I won‘t hold you in suspense any longer…I flipping love my FlexiSpot standing desk! All the pain points and frustrations from my previous DIY standing attempts have officially met their match.
It took a few weeks adjusting to regular standing, I won‘t sugarcoat that. Achy legs and feet will sneak up on you until your body adapts. But now I feel weirdly off if I sit for more than an hour straight.
And the improvements in energy, productivity, creativity, back comfort – and not to mention workspace styling – make the switch 100% worth it in my book.
Obviously your experience depends on making the best match for your needs, workspace, and body. But for your average computer-bound remote pro seeking affordable stand up workstation enlightenment? Welcome to standing desk nirvana my friend!
Give that backside a much needed break from the chair, your future self will thank you. Now drop and give me 20 desk declines…you‘ve got this 😉
