All posts tagged: Desks

The Herman Miller Coyl Standing Desk Is Built Just for Gamers

The Herman Miller Coyl Standing Desk Is Built Just for Gamers

Published by skeptic

“Coils by nature solve a problem, which is how do you keep a space clean and tidy, that has a variable length between two things,” says Steven Harton, senior product manager at Herman Miller. He says the design choice was inspired by the coiled cables on vintage tech like telephone handsets and early mechanical keyboards. The result is fun and orderly. Finally, there’s the rotary dial. This is the height adjustment mechanism on the Coyl desk. Rather than using traditional paddles or levers to make the desk go up or down, Herman Miller employs a dial that feels like something you’d find on an old-school stereo—or a really nice gaming mouse. It lets you fine-tune the desk’s height to a 10th of an inch. (A display shows the table’s exact height.) That level of detail is an ode to the kind of precision gamers are fond of, digging into settings to maximize performance. Twist the knob to adjust the height of the desk. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu “Sensorially, how it feels and the feedback you get …

Best Desks of 2026: I’ve Spent Nearly 4,000 Hours Testing Desks. These Are the Ones You Want

Best Desks of 2026: I’ve Spent Nearly 4,000 Hours Testing Desks. These Are the Ones You Want

Published by skeptic

Testing desks is something of a subjective game. Much like office chairs, the tests are based on comfort, reliability and ease of setup rather than things you can test in electronics such as wattage and battery usage. I still tested each one rigorously and will continue to test them for longevity in the coming months. I tested these desks by asking three people to try each one. Each of them used the desk for at least 16 hours and then gave me their impressions. The three people were 6 feet, 1 inch tall; 5 feet, 8 inches tall; and 5 feet, 4 inches tall respectively, to give me a good cross-section of average user height. James Bricknell/CNET Setup time and package quality Building desks can often be difficult and time-consuming. For each desk, I timed how long it took to unpack and assemble, and I noted whether the manual was easy to follow. I followed the instructions as closely as possible so that each build was performed as if I had never built one before. …

12 Best Standing Desks of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

12 Best Standing Desks of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Published by skeptic

Other Standing Desks to Consider Photograph: Nicole Kinning Luxor Compact Electric Standing Desk for $200: The Luxor is a no-nonsense standing desk that does exactly what you expect and takes up minimal space. It’s perfect for students, small apartments, and anyone who needs a compact, budget-friendly setup. At 23.5 inches deep, the tabletop is shallow enough to fit into tight corners or shared spaces. The electric lift moves steadily at an inch per second, whisper-quiet, and the 154-pound weight capacity can handle a laptop, monitor, and a few textbooks with no sweat. The lift mechanism is exposed underneath, so you’ll want to leave some legroom when at sitting height. —Nicole Kinning Simple Height Adjustable Desk for $850: The Simple Height Adjustable Desk lives up to its name. Assembly is straightforward and cable routing is tidy thanks to an integrated channel that keeps everything corralled. The T-shaped legs slide into a bracket instead of screwing or locking into place, which feels a little ambiguous, but once it’s upright, the desk is solid and sturdy. In practice, …

The Best Chairs and Desks From Branch Are On Sale (We’ve Tested Them All)

The Best Chairs and Desks From Branch Are On Sale (We’ve Tested Them All)

Published by skeptic

We’ve been rigorously testing work-from-home gear for years—even prior to the Covid-19 remote work boom—and that includes dozens of office chairs and desks. Branch furniture has made standouts that are highlighted in our guides over and over again. Its Presidents’ Day deals have been extended, bringing some of the better discounts we’ve seen on essentials we’ve tested like chairs and desks. Check out our other deals coverage for additional discounts on gear we’ve tried and would recommend to a friend. Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro for $449 ($50 off) Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro This price matches the best we usually see for our very favorite office chair. Out of the dozens we’ve tried, this chair strikes the best balance of features for the price. It’s comfortable, adjustable, and easy to dial in so you can get your perfect ergonomic fit. It also has a solid warranty and isn’t too terribly expensive compared to similar chairs. There are different fabric finishes and colors to choose from, all of …

The best standing desks for working at home, tried and tested – do they really relieve back pain?

The best standing desks for working at home, tried and tested – do they really relieve back pain?

Published by Sam Flores

The best standing desks are life-savers for anybody who works at a desk, whether at home or in an office. Why? Because, according to Susie Martin, chartered physiotherapist at Complete Pilates, sitting on a chair for hours on end is a bad thing. “There’s increasing scientific evidence that sedentary lifestyles are a major contributing factor to many chronic health conditions,” she says. “Sitting for long periods, we tend to slump under the weight of gravity and often crane the neck forward. Our deep neck muscles, back muscles, lower stomach muscles and legs get less opportunity to work in a sitting position. Our upper backs tend to get stiff and chest muscles tight.” Standing desks can be raised and lowered, either electrically or by hand, allowing you to alternate between sitting and standing. With manufacturers like Yo-Yo, Sit-Stand and Flexispot competing over price and performance, they have become increasingly popular, especially since the rise in working from home. “Anyone with a condition which is exacerbated by sitting – for example, a prolapsed intervertebral disc, tailbone pain …

Best Standing Desks of 2026

Best Standing Desks of 2026

Published by skeptic

I tested the Seville Classics Airlift Height Adjustable Desk with Glass Top, the Seville Classics Airlift Pro S3 Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk (no longer available), the Steelcase Solo Sit-To-Stand Desk, the Fezibo Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk with Double Drawer and The Grovemade Desk but they didn’t make the cut. The Airlift with Glass Top came close to earning a spot above. It’s a beautiful, sturdy desk at a midrange price. It also features a small center drawer for holding the basics. Unfortunately, its built-in touchscreen wasn’t very responsive and the two USB-A ports, while theoretically a nice tech feature, are outdated for most of today’s phones and tablets. The Airlift Pro S3 was a decent desk, but it was a little tougher to install than the others in its size range, and it had a cheaper-looking finish than the overall winner for best standing desk (the Vari desk). The Steelcase Solo desk was surprisingly simple to install for its size (the same as the Vari desk). Instead of using screws to install the …