I asked for a standing desk and my employer said… no
My search for the perfect flat folding standing desk came from an issue I faced at work. Earlier this year, I approached my employer about the possibility of incorporating standing desks into our new office space. The response was an immediate and resounding ‘no’. Their reason was that only those with a medical need – as assessed by occupational health – would be eligible for a standing desk in the office.
This policy struck me as completely irrational.
In my previous role, sit-stand desks were a standard feature – not an exception to the norm. These desks were provided to actively encourage regular movement as a preventive measure against back pain and other health issues.
Almost everyone in that office made use of the standing option on their desks throughout the day. Some people would stand for an hour and then sit for an hour. Others would make a habit of raising their desk when taking any calls.
Just by having the choice to sit or stand, and seeing others making use of this feature, meant that it was rare to spend more than a couple of hours seated in that office.
So you can see why I struggled to understand why my current workplace only provides standing desks after a health issue arises.
Working in the office should be as comfortable as working from home
Now, all of this didn’t become an issue until my employer mandated that everyone must be present in the office for at least 2-3 days a week. In my view, if employers want their staff to return to the office, they need to make that environment as comfortable as working from home.
Of course, some people find working from home less than ideal if confined to an uncomfortable wooden chair at the kitchen table. But many of us have invested in creating a comfortable home office space, complete with ergonomic seating and a sit-stand desk.
It’s only reasonable for employers to provide a high level of ergonomic comfort in the office if they’re reducing the amount of time that employees can work from home.
The solution: Flat folding standing desks
In my case, the standing desk request was a non-starter. But rather than resigning myself to sitting all day, I began looking for an alternative solution. That’s when I stumbled upon the existence of folding, portable standing desks.
These are lightweight, pop-up laptop stands and they fold down flat when not in use. This makes them incredibly easy to carry around under your laptop or stored inside your workbag when travelling.
What I really appreciate is that these aren’t just a temporary or sub-standard alternative to a standing desk, but actually offer unique benefits in their own right.
So even if my office policy never changes, a foldable standing desk provides a way to create a healthier work setup that can move with me, whether I’m at the office or working elsewhere.
The best options on the market
In my search for the perfect flat folding standing desk, I narrowed down my options to the following two products:
Both of these products met all of the criteria that I had in mind:
- Simple to use
- Lightweight
- Aesthetically pleasing
- High enough to work at comfortably when standing
- Folds completely flat
Why I purchased the Levit8 flat folding standing desk
I picked the Levit8 sit-stand desk converter mainly because of its price point. I was on the fence about whether a foldable desk converter would be a good fit for me, so it didn’t make sense to splurge before trying one out.
The Levit8 is budget-friendly, coming in at roughly £30, which is about half the cost of MOFT’s laptop desk at around £60. Given the price difference, it seemed like a no-brainer to give the cheaper Levit8 a try first.
However, there are some reasons why you might lean towards the MOFT instead. For instance, the MOFT Z Stand offers multiple positions, making it versatile for online calls or for elevating your laptop screen to eye level when you’re seated with an external keyboard.
I already use a laptop stand to raise the screen by a few inches when I’m sitting down, so the extra positions on the MOFT didn’t matter much to me. My primary concern was a sit-to-stand solution, and the Levit8 delivers that by having just one standing position.
So, if you’re looking for a desk converter that can serve multiple functions, you might find the MOFT Z to be a better fit for your setup.
Choosing from 4 different height options
Levit8 offers four different options to choose from, with the following heights:
- Small: 9.05 inches / 23cm
- Medium: 11.81 inches / 30cm
- Large: 14.17 inches / 36cm
- Extra Large: 16.14 inches / 41cm
All four options fold out to create the same surface area – a square measuring 9.44 inches / 24cm.
Being 5ft 7″ (170cm) and using a 16” laptop, I decided to go for the Large option, and it’s just right. I don’t think the Medium would have offered enough height for comfort when standing, and the Extra Large would have been too big to fit into my workbag.
The Large option fits snugly into my bag and is a comfortable height for me to work at, making it the ideal choice for my situation.
My First Month with the Levit8 Standing Desk
After using the Levit8 standing desk for around a month now, I can say that I am really surprised at how much I enjoy using this as an alternative to a traditional sit-stand desk. Levit8’s sleek design and charcoal fabric covering feels like premium quality and it looks professional.
Due to the strength in the origami-inspired design, the Levit8 feels strong and sturdy – even with a heavy 16” Macbook Pro placed on top of it. I haven’t experienced any wobbling or had concerns that my laptop would topple over while typing.
I have found it to be very comfortable working with the Large Levit8 option, but this might also be helped by the size of my laptop screen. If I was working with a smaller laptop, then I think the Extra Large option would offer better ergonomics for my height by raising the screen up a little more.
The process of setting up the Levit8 flat folding standing desk did take a few minutes to wrap my head around at first. There is a very specific way of unfolding this item to set it up in its standing configuration. Thankfully, there are a couple of tutorials on Youtube explaining how to do this. Now it takes less than five seconds to set this up and transition from a seated to standing workspace.
I also love how portable this standing desk converter is. It folds completely flat, so I can carry it around under my laptop or pop it into my workbag. This means I can easily convert any surface to a standing workstation without having to carry around anything cumbersome.
Evaluating Flat Folding Standing Desks: What Works, What Doesn’t
The Pros
Portability The foldable design enables you to transform any surface into a standing desk, offering flexibility whether you're at the office or working remotely. Affordability Priced significantly lower than traditional sit-stand desks, flat folding desks are an economical choice for those wanting to try a standing setup without committing to a larger investment. Minimal Setup No tools or complicated instructions are needed for setting these up - perfect for those who want a hassle-free solution. Lightweight Given their light weight, carrying a folding desk stand around doesn't add any noticeable weight or bulk to your workbag. Aesthetic Appeal In the case of the Levit8, the sleek design and premium-quality fabric make it suitable for a professional environment.
The Cons
Limited Surface Space These stands are designed to hold only your laptop, meaning there's no additional space for written notes, a mouse, or other essentials when standing. Fixed Height Unlike traditional sit-stand desks, the Levit8 offers no adjustable height features. You're committed to one of four fixed height options, which may not be ideal for prolonged use. Ergonomic Constraints The fixed height could lead to an awkward posture, especially if it's lower than your ideal standing desk height, causing you to look down at the screen. Learning Curve While generally easy to set up, some users might find the unfolding process a bit tricky initially, although this improves with practice.
Final Thoughts
While a foldable sit-stand desk converter may not fully replace the ergonomic advantages of a traditional sit-stand desk, it certainly comes with its own unique set of benefits that make it a worthy consideration.
The Levit8 flat folding standing desk has proven to be a cost-effective solution for me in solving my issue of not having a sit-stand desk at work. It’s a simple product that gives me back the choice to stand during the work day, providing a healthier and more comfortable setup that is easy to transport to and from the office.
This has definitely become one of my office essentials, and I don’t leave for work without it now.
I’m keen to try out the MOFT Z stand or the Extra Large option by Levit8 to see how these compare to the version I have. If you have any feedback on these products, please share them in the comments!