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Other Home office upgrades (chair, standing desk, monitor arm)

Discussion in 'General' started by GeorgeStorm, 22 Oct 2024.

  1. GeorgeStorm

    GeorgeStorm Aggressive PC Builder

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    Hi all,
    Pretty sure I've asked these kind of questions before, and have considered upgrading stuff for a while but my wife's physio suggesting some changes has triggered me to commit. (and use it as an excuse to try and upgrade my own setup!)

    Wanting to get a new chair with some kind of lumbar support, a standing desk (or two), and potentially a couple of monitor arms.
    At the moment just got ikea basic desks, so just the frame will be fine as we can reuse the top(s).
    Monitor arm(s) would need to support 27-32in, U2711 is quite heavy so if we were to get something I think it'd need to be fairly beefy compared to a newer 27" screen.
    I see so many copycat designs it's a bit of a minefield I feel.
    Budget is quite open, but to give a bit of context from a quick look I'm temtped to risk something cheaper like:
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C6QKK...pperugc03-21&ascsubtag=ppr-uk-2747718396&th=1
    Or a little more expensive but something I'd have a bit more faith in longer term:
    https://www.maidesite.co.uk/product...ding-desk-frame-t2-pro?variant=42922364633271

    Chair wise I see maidsite have a chair with adjustable lumbar support, but no idea if it's any good. Potentially happy to spend a couple of hundred but again so many options it's difficult to judge, I know herman miller are widely regarded as top notch, but from a quick look it seems for a refurb still looking at £3-400 as a starting point for the mirra/aeron which are names I recognise.

    Monitor arms I see lots for £25-40 for a single arm and then £60 or so for double, I think ideally would want a gas lift one as they don't seem to be that much more and are more versatile/less faff (having had a non lift one in the past which always felt like such a faff anytime I wanted to move the monitor for any reason).

    So, any recommendations?
     
  2. Mr_Mistoffelees

    Mr_Mistoffelees The Bit-Tech Cat. New Improved Version.

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    Budget permitting, don’t hold back on buying a quality chair, that suits you well. Your back will thank you every time you use a good one.
     
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  3. DeadP1xels

    DeadP1xels Social distancing since 92

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    I have this standing desk which is pretty similar to what you've shown https://amzn.eu/d/2Q8ZcWU very strong and sturdy, very well put together for the money.

    I did think about going a bit more pricey but this honestly works just fine, I use the sit stand functionality every single day. Occasionally it has its moments but nothing a quick reset won't fix and I'm 99% sure it's from my own usage anyway.

    For comparison, I use a £1000+ sit stand desk at work and while it's maybe slightly more rigid I really can't tell the difference otherwise.
     
  4. Fingers66

    Fingers66 Kiwi in London

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    ^^^ This many times over.

    I have had my Aeron for 9 years now (used when I got it, not even refurbished), still good as new. I have replaced the gas cannister/lift thingy in that time.

    The best thing about them, apart from being perfectly ergonomic, is that every single part can be replaced so it is really a forever chair.
     
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  5. GeorgeStorm

    GeorgeStorm Aggressive PC Builder

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    Ok that's good to know, can get two of those stands for one of the slightly nicer ones so fair enough, how much stuff do you have on yours? One of the reasons I was leaning towards a nicer one is the weight limits are often quite a bit higher than some of the cheaper ones. Can see myself leaning on it whilst standing and that plus my monitors etc easily going over the 60kg limit on some of the models I've seen.

    Yeah I think putting more budget to chair and less on the desk is the way to go, any recommendations for refurb places? A couple of the ones I checked/used in the past no longer exist :D
     
  6. Fingers66

    Fingers66 Kiwi in London

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    Yeah, the place where I bought the gas cannister has folded but a quick UK google brings up a shedload of office furniture salvage & reselling firms.

    As the chairs are almost bulletproof and individual parts replaceable, there won't be much difference in the condition across multiple sellers.
     
  7. legoman

    legoman breaker of things

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    I got my operator chair from officeresale.co.uk
    Picked up a Steelcase Please V2 for about 200, OK the gas lift gave out earlier this year, but I've had it about four years at this point so I can't really complain given its nearly daily use and over COVID I was doing 12-16 hr days on it.
     
  8. fix-the-spade

    fix-the-spade Multimodder

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    That chair looks like the Boullies one but without the (completely useless) footrest. It's a perfectly ok chair, the lumbar support however is fixed to the back so it goes up or down but but can't really be adjusted. The headrest is too low for me as well, but I'm 6ft 5 so YMMV.

    If you can get a Herman Miller for £400 I'd take it over one of them for £200.
     
    Last edited: 22 Oct 2024
  9. SuperHans123

    SuperHans123 Multimodder

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  10. DeadP1xels

    DeadP1xels Social distancing since 92

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    I don't have loads on mine to be honest, 34" monitor mounted on an arm directly on the back. Because the arm is essentially a straight pole (no adjustment) it does put that weight directly on the edge of the desk making it tilt ever so lightly backward. Noticeable only when you put a pen on the table but otherwise fine. No wobble or shake when rising and lowering. I'd say there's maybe a 5mm gap from monitor to the shelf next to it and it rises and falls perfectly parralel to that every time.

    Leaning is a slight issue for me because the majority of the weight is toward the back of the desk which makes it less stable when leaning. But I honestly don't find myself doing that. If you plan on throwing a tower and other bits and pieces it'll likely balance it out.

    Plenty of times I've been tidying and loaded the desk up with a whole range of stuff rising it up and down as I shifty bits around and its had no issues.

    I think mine is rated at 80kg, I can't imagine overloading it at any point.
     
  11. Byron C

    Byron C I was told there would be cheesecake…?

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    I agree with the others, don’t skimp on your chair. Kinda wish I’d gone for a refurb Herman Miller, but I have a Secretlab Titan XL that’s been fantastic.

    Standing desks seem to be much of a muchness, but if you want to push the boat out a little then Flexispot seem to be well regarded. There are also standing desks from Secretlab which have some nifty features, but you’ll pay for them. Only other thing I’d say on this front is to make sure you get an appropriate mat if you’re using a standing desk, it’ll make sure your feet are properly supported and not in awkward positions.

    Monitor arms are also a bit of a commodity these days. Gas lift is definitely preferred, but as long as it can take the weight of the monitor and it doesn’t look hideous… ehhh… it probably doesn’t matter what you choose :happy:

    The important point about that study is that it only evaluates circulatory health implications, it doesn’t assess musculoskeletal issues or issues brought about by bad posture/ergonomics.

    The key point with a standing desk is that you don’t stand, or sit, all day. You vary your position between standing and sitting throughout the day.

    You also still need to make sure you’re regularly taking breaks, getting up and moving about, getting away from your desk, etc - the article even includes quotes saying just that:

     
  12. SuperHans123

    SuperHans123 Multimodder

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    I've worked from home since Covid, so sat down for around 8 hours each day. (4.5 years)
    Putting a shout out for a decent 'office;' chair.
    I am a heavy dude (18 stone, 6 foot) and have had no back trouble with this one.
     
  13. IanW

    IanW Grumpy Old Git

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    +1 for Flexispot. If you're worried about leaning and loads on the desktop, they do a 4-legged one.
     
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  14. Byron C

    Byron C I was told there would be cheesecake…?

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    I’ve toyed with the idea of a standing desk off and on for years, but they’ve always been quite expensive in the size I’d want…

    On the weekend I picked up one of the Ikea “Utespelare” desks (160cm x 80cm) second hand via Facebook Marketplace. It looks almost brand new - the only marks are on the underside so can’t be seen. OK yeah, it’s an Ikea desk complete with their crappy construction of “honeycomb” cardboard sandwiched between thin pieces of laminate… But it’ll only ever be used for working from home in a spare room - it’s not for my gaming machine - and I really can’t argue with the £30 I paid!
     
  15. GeorgeStorm

    GeorgeStorm Aggressive PC Builder

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    The chair is primarily for my wife who has had her sciatica flare up again since working mostly from home, but part of me wouldn't complain about getting two and me getting an upgrade now I split my work/home setups I only have one 'nice' chair (orangebox do task chair I got 2nd hand a while back) and am using a cheap partially broken chair for the other desk, although to be honest I haven't felt any ongoing issues, it's just not as nice to sit in.
    Think I'll have more of a looksie into some of the refurb places and see what's available.

    Desk wise we have plenty of desk tops, from existing desks or spares in the garage we picked up for free/cheap with other intentions, so it's only the legs that are needed, can always get a nicer/different top at some point if wanted later down the line.

    Yeah I had a look at flexispot, considered them in the same way as maidesite, bit more money for something with more of a name/better 'specs', in theory longer warranty etc (although not always the case)

    And yeah I guessed monitor arms were going to be much of a muchness so I'll just have a look and grab a couple at some point to tidy things up.
     
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  16. mrlongbeard

    mrlongbeard Multimodder

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    When it comes time and you fancying an upgrade hunt around for Ikea Galant desks, they're bloody solid heavy old things before the time of laminated honeycomb cost savings
     
  17. Byron C

    Byron C I was told there would be cheesecake…?

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    Honestly this thing does the job I need it to; this is my “all I do at this desk is work, it is not for fun things” desk I put up in the spare room. All it has to deal with is a laptop or two, a docking station, and a monitor… oh, and a CRT monitor because I don’t really have anywhere else for it and I kinda like the idea of having a 20ish year-old CRT hooked up to my expensive high-end work laptop :grin:

    [​IMG]

    My “regular” desk for my gaming PC is already wood. Granted it’s chipboard covered in laminate rather than “solid” wood, but it’s still sturdier than the cardboard stuff Ikea uses these days. If/when I upgrade that it’ll likely be something custom.
     
  18. bawjaws

    bawjaws Multimodder

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    Aye, my Galant is going strong and must be over 10 years old by now.

    On the honeycomb point though, I feel like this is a bit of a features vs benefits issue - sure, honeycomb construction desks are not as "good" as solid wood tops, but functionally they do exactly the same job for the majority of people. I feel like PC users in particular are obsessed with specs even when those specs don't actually offer any real-world benefits to them :D
     
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  19. Byron C

    Byron C I was told there would be cheesecake…?

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    Yeah, I know what you mean, it gets dunked on a lot but for the most part it’s fine.

    Though personally I wouldn’t trust clamping anything to one, especially something that’s got to take any weight like a monitor arm. I’ve got camera & light stands mounted to this desk… but they’re clamped on to the metal part at the back, not the actual “tabletop”. But, again, even among PC nerds I’m in the minority - not many people have an external 4K camera clamped to their desk to use as a glorified webcam :grin:
     
  20. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    I *think* my Ikea desk top is honeycomb - it's heavy, but not heavy enough for solid wood - and I've got a monitor arm clamped at the back. Seems fine... touch wood. Or, err, honeycomb.

    It's only got the one monitor on it, mind. Not sure I'd trust a multi-monitor arm...
     
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