If you travel regularly for work, use a coworking space, have multiple job sites, or like to work at your local coffee shop, you may think that using a standing desk is not an option for you. While you obviously can’t take a full standing desk with you everywhere you go, you do still have options.
What to Look for in a Portable Standing Desk
There are a number of portable laptop standing desks available, which will allow you to stand and work in any location. They are lightweight, foldable, and easily carried or packed in your suitcase or briefcase. Operation is quick and easy: simply press the buttons on the sides of the legs, raise to your preferred height, and release.
With the wide variety of portable standing desks available, it can be tough to know which to choose. Your best bet is to select an option that includes these features:
- An aluminum laptop platform. Aluminum is a cooling metal that will prevent your laptop from overheating. Some also include a cooling fan, a great option if you’ll be using your laptop for long hours
- A separate mouse platform. You may find it more comfortable to rest your mousing hand on a platform rather than keeping your arm and wrist turned inward to use your laptop touchpad
- A width that accommodates sitting. If you spend a lot of time at the airport, in waiting rooms, or on public transportation, it’s a good idea to select a unit with enough width to allow you to place it over your lap. This can also come in really handy during your down time, when you want to lay in bed and watch movies on your laptop!
- A stabilizing bar. If you’re tall, you’ll need to raise your laptop stand a little higher than most people, which can result in a bit of lateral sway. You may want to use a stabilizing bar that goes across the legs of the unit, keeping it more stable.
Accessories for Your Laptop Standing Desk
If you’ll be standing and working for long stretches of time, it’s a good idea to invest in a portable keyboard tray and external keyboard as well. Operation is the same: just press the buttons, raise, and release. Using an external keyboard on a platform will prevent you from having to reach up to type, which over time could cause fatigue and soreness. Be sure to select a model that allows you to tilt the keyboard platform so that your wrists are a slight downward angle. This will keep you in a neutral position that prevents wrist strain. Keep in mind that you never want your wrists bent upward, which contributes to repetitive stress injury.
Best of all, you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy the health and productivity benefits of standing. Many of these units start as low as $40, making it easy for you to get up and out of your chair, no matter where your office may be.