A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk. The desk arrived via FedEx in 4 boxes. It took me a couple of hours to assemble it.
Although there are several companies that sell adjustable height desks, I bought a Jarvis brand desk because it was recommended by multiple sources I trust. The company claims it’s “rated #1”. I know several people who have had Jarvis desks for several years and are very pleased with them.
The company provides a generous warranty, with a 15-year warranty on all desk frame components and a 5-year warranty on desktop surfaces. Furthermore, I purchased the desk at a 20% discount during their November sale event.
Why I Purchased an Adjustable Desk
According to ergonomics experts, the ideal is to have a 90-degree angle at the elbow when sitting at a desk and using a keyboard. My prior fixed desk did not allow me to have a 90-degree angle. Rather, I had to raise my forearms at an upward angle to type. With an adjustable desk, I can set the height of the desk to facilitate a 90-degree angle whether I’m sitting or standing.
In the last couple of years, I’ve had increasing pain in my shoulders and rotator cuffs. I wouldn’t be surprised if a large contributing factor is the awkward angle of my arms while typing. I’m hoping that being able to maintain a proper ergonomic position will help.
I’ve been intrigued by adjustable desks for some time. As I age, I wanted to add more movement and flexibility when working at my desk. I decided to get a desk where I could both sit and stand.
There’s a lot of hype about the health benefits of standing desks. I think some of it is overdone and makes exaggerated claims. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any health benefits at all. Sitting at a desk for hours at a time with no break is linked to health issues.
However, I wonder how many of those negatives are mitigated if a worker takes regular breaks for standing and moving around. Overall, I think that alternating between periods of sitting and periods of standing gives me the best of both worlds.
What I Think So Far
I’ve only been using my desk for a few days, so these are my initial impressions:
- I like having the ability to stand when I feel like it, and sit when my legs start feeling tired. When working for several hours, I alternate every hour or so between sitting and standing. When I’m feeling tired in the afternoons, I do more sitting.
- I’ve been very favorably impressed with the quality and build of the desk. It has a heavy, stable frame. It will wobble a bit if I push on the front edge of the desk, but when I’m typing or moving my mouse or using my trackpad I don’t detect any wobble.
- The motors that lift and lower the desk are quiet and smooth. I’m glad I paid a bit extra to get a programmable keypad. It allows me to make manual up and down height adjustments, but also lets me program up to four keys to predetermined custom heights. When I’m standing and want to sit, I just tap one button and the desk lowers to my preferred height. No messing with the controls to get just the right height.
- I love the color and texture of the bamboo desktop. It looks very classy and light and goes great with my white and silver desk accessories, my Studio Display, and my Mac Studio. I opted for a white frame as well. Since the walls in my bedroom “studio” are white, it helps it to blend in.
- I’m glad I purchased the Wire Management Kit that was optional. It gave me several ties to tidy up wires underneath the desktop and two trays to mount under the desktop that hold cables and surge protection power strips. I’ve mounted a USB hub and three backup disk drives under the desk with velcro strips.
I still have a semi-mess of cables running from under the desktop to the cable modem and wall plugs. I’ve ordered a CrocSee 10ft – 3/4 inch Braided Cable Management Sleeve Cord Protector to clean things up. - I purchased optional locking castors to replace the standard leveling feet. This makes it much easier to move the desk around if I need to fiddle with the wiring or access a wall plug.
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, I’m delighted with the desk. Although the company provides free returns up to 30 days after purchase (and free shipping labels to return the parts), I don’t intend to return it. I kept all the boxes for a few days, but recycled them yesterday.
I’m excited to use my adjustable desk regularly from now on. I’m sure over time I’ll settle into more of a routine of when I stand and when I sit.
If you’re interested in an adjustable desk, I’d recommend you take a look at the Jarvis Adjustable Desk. With a little searching on the internet, you’ll find many articles reviewing desks from different manufacturers. There are many desk styles and desktops available. Besides bamboo, you can find solid wood of various types, veneers, Formica, and reclaimed wood.
With Black Friday and holiday sales coming up, this might be a great time to get a new desk and save some money!