When it comes to standing desks, everyone has their own opinion. Some feel they do make a difference and are better for your health while others feel they’re pointless and a waste of money. Back in February 2014 we asked if you should get a standing desk, and in January 2015 we asked if standing desks are better for your health. There wasn’t a lot of discussion in the comments, but one person did suggest that it’s best to have an adjustable desk so that you can sit or stand whenever you want.

Well, that’s exactly what Ergotron had in mind when they recently introduced their WorkFit-T Sit/Stand Desktop Workstation. If you’re not familiar with Ergotron, they’re a company committed to delivering affordable and innovative solutions that promote healthier, more productive environments for digital life and workstyles around the globe.

To be clear, the WorkFit-T isn’t a desk itself; it’s a desktop workstation that basically becomes an extension of your current desk. So you’ll need to place it on a strong table or desk in order to use it. The size is 35″ x 25″, so it will cover a large surface area – pretty much the entire desk unless yours is huge.

The workstation provides ample room for a monitor (or two) and can even be paired with one of Ergotron’s monitor mount kits (for single or dual monitors). There’s also a separate lower tray for your keyboard and mouse. If you like to have some important items within reach, like your mobile device, pens, highlighters, a notepad, etc., you’ll have plenty of space on the desktop for them.

Note: due to the position and space constraints of my personal work area, I couldn’t really get any decent pictures. However, the stock pictures and the video below will give you a great idea of how the desk looks and works.

Setting Up and Using the WorkFit-T

For the most part, I have no complaints about the Ergotron WorkFit-T. For starters, it’s extremely heavy (close to 60 pounds). You’ll want to make sure that you have someone that can help you take it out of the box and place it onto its permanent home. To reiterate, the desk or table you choose will need to be extremely strong, sturdy and durable. You might want to test your desk or table first by placing something heavy on it or even sit on it yourself. Once you have everything set up (workstation, monitor mount, monitor), it’s going to be quite heavy.

The Monitor Mount

The desktop workstation is extremely easy to set up – the monitor mount is a bit of a pain, though. I got to test out the WorkFit single HD monitor kit, and while I love the convenience, attaching it and putting everything together can be a little frustrating. It’s not difficult; it’s just time-consuming with all of the screws and small pieces. Plus, if you don’t get things right on the first try, you’ll find yourself taking it halfway apart so that you can readjust things. Here’s what’s included in the kit:

  • 5″ lift engineone HD monitor pivotcable management tubes and ties (to hide them)attachment hardware

Depending on the type of monitor you have, you can probably do without the mount since it does seem to take up just as much space (maybe even more) as most modern monitors on their stand. However, it’s nice that the height is adjustable; you can lift it up to 5 inches up from the desktop. You can also tilt and rotate your monitor as needed. You will, of course, need to have a mountable monitor in order to use the mount kit.

The Keyboard and Mouse Tray

Once you have the desktop situated and your monitor in place, all that’s left to do is place your keyboard and mouse on the tray, and you’re in business. The tray is 25″ x 9″, which gives you plenty of room for your keyboard and mouse.

I tested with a gaming keyboard and mouse; both of which are on the large side and have plenty of space for my needs. Everything fits nicely, and there is plenty of room to feed the cords through the back of the desk (if you’re not using wireless). If you make a lot of big movements with the mouse (maybe for designing or gaming), then there may not be enough room for you.

The tray is in a fixed position; it doesn’t slide in or out. I am used to working with a sliding tray for my mouse and keyboard, so it took some getting used to. Also, I find when sitting down that the keyboard and mouse are a bit too high up for me. I’m sure this will depend on the height of the desk or table you’re using. Also, I’m short and have a low chair (it’s already up as high as it will go), so that probably also had something to do with it. I often end up moving the keyboard and mouse back down to the lower tray on my actual desk.

Going from Sitting to Standing and Vice Versa

What’s so great about the Ergotron WorkFit-T desktop is that whether sitting or standing, everything moves up and down with you. The desktop workstation features two hand-brakes for easy adjustment.

You simply pull up and hold both hand-brakes up, then move the desktop up or down as desired. When doing so it glides effortlessly (no staggering or jerking) in either direction and doesn’t require much strength at all, thanks to a “counterbalancing mechanism using CF technology.” You’ll be surprised at how light it feels when moving everything.

Even though the workstation provides fifteen inches of vertical adjustment, you can adjust the height as needed, which is great for short people like me who only need to pull it up about halfway. Feel free to lean on it or put all your weight on it if you want. As long as you have a stable base, you won’t have an issue. It won’t tip, lean, or drop in height; it’s that strong and secure.

Adjusting the workstation may not be as cool as those sitting/standing desks that are electronic and move up and down at the push of a button, but it’s pretty close.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve thought of getting a standing desk but didn’t want to give up your sitting desk either, the Ergotron WorkFit-T is a great option. It’s stylish, extremely functional, spacious, and convenient. If you don’t like the black version, it’s also available in white. Once set up, it’s super easy to convert from sitting to standing and vice versa – anyone can do it. You’ll just need to be extremely careful when lowering it, making sure no items (or person for that matter – hands or arms) are in between or underneath the desktop.

Personally, I find that it’s really hard to stand in one position for too long because my feet start to ache. It’s not so bad when moving around, but standing in the same position seems to put a lot of extra pressure on them. However, it’s still a nice way to change things up a bit. Even if you go back and forth standing for an hour and sitting for two, you’re giving your legs a nice stretch, and can move more freely. A standing desk is not for everyone, but thanks to the WorkFit-T you don’t have to make a choice between sitting or standing. You have both options.

Ergotron WorkFit-T Sit/Stand Desktop Workstation

Charnita has been a Freelance Writer & Professional Blogger since 2008. As an early adopter she loves trying out new apps and services. As a Windows, Mac, Linux and iOS user, she has a great love for bleeding edge technology. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.

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