MacFormat UK – June 2019

macformat.com @macformat

Smart equipment APPLE HOME

T

here isn’t an all-round

answer to the issue of

ergonomics. It’s very

much down to personal choice.

But, at some point, even if you do

go for a standing desk, you’re going

to want to sit. And having used the

PU leather-clad Hero for a couple

of weeks, and its accompanying

FootRest (£109.99), we’d honestly

not want to switch to another chair;

its shape positively encourages good

posture, it’s super-comfortable,

and handsome looking with it.

That’s not to say its standing

opponents were in any way bad.

We’d absolutely recommend the

Yo-Yo Desk if you’re looking to

convert an existing tabletop to

something more f lexible, as it’s

a quick, easy and solid solution.

The Bekant is an affordable

choice if you want a whole new desk

with options. It’s also worth noting,

from an ergonomics point of view,

that there’s a much cheaper non-

motorised version of the Bekant,

which is perfect if you’re unusually

tall or short and just looking for a

seated desk set at the perfect height.

As far as all-in-one

motorised standing

desks go, Ikea’s

example (120x80cm

one tested here, but they run bigger) is one

of the cheapest and most ubiquitous. It’s

decent, if unspectacular – the conversion

process, which involves holding a button,

is reasonably slow and can be irritating

if you’re switching regularly.

It can also be a bit wobbly, since the

legs (by virtue of their cylindrical lifting

mechanism) can’t be cross braced. That

said, it’s sturdier than you might imagine,

and the ability to rise and lower your

entire desktop with 70kg of kit on it

can’t be sniffed at. It’s straightforward to

customise, too: pick up the underframe

only (from £400) and you can basically

select your own tabletop in place of the

melamine default.

Designed to be placed

on an existing desk,

this is an impressive

converter, mechanically

lifting your display or laptop to seated

eye level when fully lowered, and

smoothly raising it to standing eye level

through a number of preset positions.

You may want something wider, and

larger options are indeed available; you

may need to raise your chair to correct

your seated eye level if you’re using it to

hold, for example, a 21in iMac. But the

lowered keyboard position means you

won’t need a monitor arm while

standing, and we found the construction

quality remarkably solid. Even with its

scissor legs fully extended, the Yo-Yo

Desk Mini is a creditably sturdy surface

to work on, and a great option to start

standing but keep your current desk.

While noblechairs is

generally known for its

brash gaming lines, the

more sedate Hero turns out

to be perfectly suitable for

office and home office

environments. It’s precisely

adjustable to suit just about every form.

There’s full lumbar support too,

operated by a back-mounted dial, and all

the appropriate ergonomic certifications.

What’s most impressive, though, is

the rigidity of this thing; there’s minimal

bounce in the gas lift, and while it’s

comfortably padded there’s a stiffness

(and weightiness) imparted by the

Hero’s steel frame that’s far in advance

of most competing wood-framed chairs.

This is a seat that’s built to last, and one

that’ll no doubt help your seated body

last a bit longer too.

IKEA Bekant Sit/Stand Yo-Yo Desk Mini noblechairs Hero Black

Put away that repurposed dining table and three-legged stool and get smart

THE BEST ERGONOMIC HOME OFFICE KIT

+++++ +++++ +++++

From £455 FROM ikea.com

SPECS Max load 70kg, 120x80cm

£250 FROM yo-yodesk.co.uk

SPECS Max load 15kg, 68x59cm

From £ 350 FROM noblechairs.com

SPECS Max load 150kg, height 137cm

A heavyweight chair with a rock-solid frame

THE WINNER

noblechairs Hero Black

Invest in the Hero Black

and your back and body

will be truly grateful.

JUNE 2019 | MACFORMAT | 75

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