I’ve reviewed 30+ standing desks in my home office over the past 5 years. Everything from $350 cheapies like the Artiss to the fully specced hardwood monsters like the recycled Messmate UpDown Pro+. All of them have wobbled – to an extent.

This is ironic, because I know from my ties to the industry that Australian consumers prioritise standing desk stability over any other feature.

So, what the? How does one square this apparent contradiction?

Every Standing Desk Wobbles Eventually.

There is no contradiction.

“Is this desk sturdy?” is one of the most common questions consumers ask – but it’s the wrong question. It’s too binary.

Almost every desk is stable at sitting height (and if you find one that’s not, run!)

So the more meaningful question is – does substantial wobble appear below your typical standing height, and how severe is it?

Above: Measure your standing desk height like this, but reduce it by about 2cm to offset for the height of the standing mat (you’ll need one to ensure your feet don’t hurt – trust me).

Australian Standing Desks Are Reasonably Stable.

The good news is that most standing desks on the Australian market don’t wobble a lot. You could buy any desk in my review and be OK.

Of the 30+ desks I tested, only the horror show that is the Otto Newhaven from Officeworks and a few cheapies from Amazon failed the test – badly.

Some were certainly better than others, but I think there’s little value in debating which sufficiently sturdy desk is the sturdiest.

For me, stability is non-negotiable – the desk must clear that certain (admittedly difficult to measure and standardise) threshold to pass.

Once it does, I care far more about the features that meaningfully distinguish it from its rivals.

Your best bets here are UpDown and Desky.

The former has two locations across Australia (Dee Why in Sydney and Hawthorn in Victoria) that you can visit. Desky, meanwhile, has 5 locations across Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

Why Do Standing Desks Wobble?

Stability is rarely a result of one feature that makes the desk feel bulletproof. It’s usually a function of many variables adding up.

In case you’re wondering, glides are little wedges that sit between the leg columns.

Think of them as doing the same work as cartilage does in your knee joints – they act as a cushion that prevents hard metal parts from grinding against each other.

Above: Cheaper desk brands (e.g., Ikea) have top-only glides, which are worse at keeping the desk stable.

Problems with glides arise for three reasons:

Quick release legs can also undermine stability.

Some manufacturers have started to introduce legs that simply snap into position. Just push on a lever and hey, presto – the leg is attached.

Unfortunately, this mechanism can introduce stability issues – especially over time. I’ve reviewed several desks with this design (the EverDesk, which is no longer in production, as well as the Dora Pro by 9am Home.

Both passed, but were noticeably less stable than desks with a traditional leg attachment system.

The other two factors that typically cause stability issues are user errors:

The second point is particularly important – because it’s within your control.

You likely won’t rip up carpets in your house just to improve the stability of your standing desk. But you can be smarter about your gear choices.

As guys (yes, it’s always guys), we love to flex out WFH setups.

But while clamping multiple monitors to an arm clamped at the rear of your desk vastly improves your Instagram feed, it also makes your setup less stable. That arm is a long lever that will amplify any play you introduce into the system.

Steven

Shots fired. The war is on. That’s what I could not stop thinking about as I was assembling the UpDown Ergo Elite in my home office.

Every part I lifted out of the box gave me a case of déjà vu.

Not only because I’ve assembled 25+ chairs over the past 5 years (and sometimes every chair part looks the same), but because the parts reminded me of a chair I’m familiar with – my current favourite mid-range ergonomic chair, the ErgoTune Joobie.

UpDown partnered with ErgoTune’s supplier to bring a nearly-identical competitor to market. But it differs in a few important ways I’ll talk about in a moment.

5 Things I Love About The UpDown Ergo Elite.

The Ergo Elite pleasantly surprised me. I was expecting another me-too ergonomic chair.

What I saw was a legitimate contender for my “best office chair in Australia” award.

1. You Sit Like A Rockstar.

Above: The UpDown Ergo Elite cuts a handsome shape. Broad angled edges at shoulder level contrast nicely with curves in the seat and the armcaps.

On first impression, the Ergo Elite is a remarkably comfortable chair.

I find that the first time you lower yourself into any chair, you immediately register either a “hmm, not sure about this” or a “hell yeeeees” type of experience.

The bucket design has a contoured seat and backrest, and these add up to make you feel cradled – almost hugged – from all sides.

15 adjustment points make it easy to find your ideal ergonomic position. You get everything you’d expect at this price point:

Above: Side view of the Ergo Elite offers a fairly typical ergonomic chair aesthetic.

You also get an integrated footrest – which, although easy to scoff at as a Boomer-only utensil – is surprisingly usable.

Slide it out, recline the chair fully, and you end up in what I refer to as “dentist chair mode” – a couch-like experience perfect for binge-watching Netflix.

The leatherette pad on the footrest is also a nice design touch.

2. Best-In-Class Armrests.

The Ergo Elite’s armrests are the strongest part of the chair. I can’t fault them – almost.

For example – if you make the armcaps soft, their durability will suffer. But if you make them durable, they’ll irritate people’s forearms and elbows.

Above: The outstanding armrests are covered in soft leatherette.

Ergo Flex erred on the side of softness for sure, making these the most comfortable-feeling armrests I’ve ever used. Period.

Super-soft, large and without hard edges, they never dig into any part of the arm at any angle.

This is partially due to Ergo Elite’s ability to tilt the armcap – a rare feature, and one I haven’t seen since reviewing the (30% more expensive) Sihoo S300.

3. Two-Piece Lumbar Support.

Above: Dual lumbar pads have a gap in the middle that can dig into your back.

Speaking of the Sihoo S300, that was the only other chair I ever encountered that had a two-piece lumbar support.

While a single horizontal pad can feel like a hard roll always pressing into your back, two independently hinged pads can offer more comfort – because they are better at contouring themselves to your back.

That’s the theory, at least. What does it feel like in practice?

Exactly as intended. Much better than a single roll design, actually.

I was expecting something gentle – probably the two pads look gentle – but the real-world experience is that of an urgent, confident pressure against the C-spine.

You can make it friendlier using an independent depth control knob. Height control is also possible, but it’s synced to the backrest height control – much like the original ErgoTune Supreme was.

You can feel it against your back if you move off-centre – especially if you also recline.

It’s not enough to become irritating, but it does mean the backrest doesn’t eventually disappear, as it tends to with single-piece backrest chair designs like the Steelcase Series 2 or Haworth Fern.

4. Solid Build Quality.

Above: The contrast grey trim panel on the rear and the splashes of chrome break up the monotony of black plastic.

UpDown’s build quality is exactly on point for its $699 price.

You get hard injection-moulded plastics – and surprisingly, a metal base. Mazel tov!

None of the chair’s body panels feels flimsy or cheap to the touch. And the whole thing feels satisfyingly heavy – without being difficult to drag around.

This is also the first chair I’ve ever used where the upright lock position has a legitimate lock.

Not so the Ergo Elite. Lock it in a tasking position, and you feel zero wobble. What kind of sorcery is this, UpDown?

But the build quality of the controls is a mixed bag. Some are fantastic while some are just “meh”. It’s as if every one of them was designed by a different team:

Thing is, these are purely UX observations. I’m not worried about the controls’ longevity – because all major components are covered by UpDown’s outstanding 10-year warranty, which I’ll discuss in a moment.

I’m also not worried about the longevity of the chair’s mesh. It’s certainly on the more utilitarian side, and what it trades off in softness it gains in robustness.

5. Ridiculous 10-Year Warranty.

Above: Dentist mode activated. Cue Netflix and popcorn.

Mid-range office chairs typically offer 3-6 years of warranty. Cheapies from Amazon offer 1-2. Premium luxury brands like Herman Miller and Steelcase offer 12.

UpDown decided to offer 10.

And they’ll cover the most important stuff, too – i.e., mechanisms and structural components.

Chairs aren’t just a piece of furniture. They’re a statement about our identity – and we tend to outgrow them psychologically in parallel to wearing them out physically.

A 10-year warranty means you’re far more likely to “feel ready” for a new chair than the chair falling apart on you.

Which is excellent – and means you spend roughly $70 bucks a year for the next decade on seating. Bargain. And if something does go wrong, it’s an UpDown problem – not your problem.

6. Handsome Looks (To An Extent).

Above: The Lumbar depth mechanism offers two settings. Here it is in the open, “firmer” position.

OK look.

As I’ve said dozens of times on this blog, ergonomic chairs are never pretty – unless you pay closer to $2,000 for more advanced materials and engineering (e.g., fully integrated backs and weight-sensitive mechanisms).

However, some brands are better than others at stylising them – and the Ergo Elite is one of them.

I particularly like the chair’s front and 3/4 front angles – they remind me of the premium Humanscale designs, like the Liberty.

And the same square-ish edges differentiate the chair from the plethora of el cheapo ergo chairs, which for some reason always look like they’re melting.

3 Things I Dislike About The UpDown Ergo Elite.

The Ergo Elite has a few issues. It also doesn’t have recline tension control, which is an unusual design decision.

1. Dynamic Backrest Support Is A Gimmick.

Above: Lumbar depth control is on the right. The dynamic backrest support lever is hidden just behind it.

The ErgoTune Joobie has it. Apparently the UpDown decided the Ergo Elite must have it, too.

But it’s just as useless here as it is on the Joobie.

But in reality, it just reduces the depth of the seating position when you lean back, making the chair a little bit less comfortable.

Worse, it does this with a sudden mechanical “clunk” that catches you off guard when it happens.

I never use it. You’ll never use it. Ignore it.

2. Looks Like Every Other Ergo Chair.

Above: From the rear, the Ergo Elite looks familiar – because it looks like just about any other ergonomic chair.

Have a look at the photo above – have you seen this chair before?

I’m willing to bet that if I lined up 20 ergonomic chairs from different manufacturers side-by-side, even the owners of their respective businesses would struggle to pick out their chair from the bunch.

On one hand, that’s fine – because it works well, and if something isn’t broken, why change it?

On the other hand, wouldn’t it be nice to see something different? Even a little bit?

For example, I would love to see an ergonomic chair at a $700-ish price point with a solid backrest that hides all the controls within it. Like the Fern does.

Just sayin’.

3. No Recline Tension Control.

I’ve left the worst till last.

Where’s the recline tension control, UpDown?

By not including it, you’ve turned off everyone who likes to sit with the recline unlocked, balancing the tension against their body weight.

I weigh 110 kg, and leaving the lock open means I rapidly travel backwards until I’m in the (admittedly impressive) 150-degree recline position.

People who weigh roughly 80 – 85 kg will be fine – because their weight will roughly match the default tension of the chair. But lighter people will remain stuck upright, while people like me will be stuck lying down.

I’m not sure how much money UpDown saved by not speccing this feature, but I’m sure it wasn’t a lot. It’s a huge miss.

How The UpDown Ergo Elite Scored.

The Ergo Elite scored fantastically overall. The strongest areas are its ergonomic chops and warranty. The weakest – return policy.

Key Takeaways:

The UpDown Ergo Elite is:

It’s great for a very specific type of person:

My Verdict On The UpDown Ergo Elite.

Uff. This is a hard one. The Ergo Elite is an excellent chair, and is outstanding value for the price. But is it better than the OG – the ErgoTune Joobie?

Its warranty and armrests are the standout features. No other chair under $1,000 even comes close in those departments.

But these gains come at a price – namely the Joobie’s lovely fabric-infused mesh and the recline tension adjustment.

For me, the tension control is a must-have, and I don’t keep my chairs for longer than a few years, which is why the Joobie is still #1.

But you may be different – in which case, the Ergo Elite is a great pick.

Steven

I’ve been geeking out over office chairs for about 5 years now. Dozens of them have graced my home office as I’ve searched for the best ergonomic chair you can buy.

On this quest, I’ve purchased everything from the cheap-and-cheerful Sihoo M90 to the eye-wateringly expensive (but not very comfortable) Herman Miller Aeron.

Secretlab chairs have never been my thing. The bulky gamer aesthetic has always been too garish for my liking – largely because I’m a 45-year-old married man with a kid.

As in, not a kid myself.

Above: The Pure colour options are 100% colour coded, so a Pure Black+ chair will be entirely black. A Pure White+ chair, meanwhile, will be – you guessed it – 100% white.

The Atlas, released in early 2026, attempts to solve this problem.

Secretlab decided to take a chunk out of the ‘adult’ ergonomic chair market by creating a chair with a more muted, slimmer aesthetic.

I got one in Pure Black+ leatherette option to maximise its sober minimalism, and take full advantage of the (allegedly superior) Nanogen option.

Above: Atlas retains some of that ‘sculpted bucket’ aesthetic, but the backrest is much slimmer than Titan’s, so it won’t take up as much space.

Reasons To Buy The Secretlab Atlas Ergonomic Office Chair.

Despite Secretlab’s attempts to give the Atlas a less outlandish look, it’s still a big chair – largely because the one-piece backrest is so tall.

Secretlab did a great job balancing the (impossibly) competing needs of nodding to its gamer heritage while distancing itself from it sufficiently enough to attract people like me.

It won’t overpower your home office in the way the Titan will, but it will not blend in, either.

Secretlab’s designers achieved the sleek look by miniaturising controls to an almost unreasonable level.

You won’t find ugly levers or buttons anywhere – all controls are tucked away into two dual-use mechanisms on either side of the chair.

Above: Right-hand-side control. The outer ring controls the height. The inner red tab controls the recline lock-off.

The knobs wobble a little more than I’d like, but this is a minor detail.

But before I delve too deeply into the chair’s build quality, let me talk about assembly.

It’s probably the best experience I’ve ever had assembling a chair.

The entire process is a carefully managed event in itself. It genuinely makes you feel excited about what’s inside.

A mysterious-looking box starts the show.

Above: Secretlab has clearly thought about the theatre of assembly.

You pop it open to discover assembly instructions – clear, beautifully designed, easy to follow.

Inside is a black envelope that looks like something Tom Cruise would receive just before embarking on yet another Mission: Impossible.

You can assemble your Atlas by referring to a giant poster or an A4-sized booklet. Up to you.

Above: The Atlas isn’t a difficult chair to assemble, and the gorgeous instructions make it even easier.

Most office chair brands just shrinkwrap components and throw them inside the box.

Secretlab’s packaging feels more like an action-movie reveal, where the hero opens a hard case and reveals every component of a sniper rifle, laid out with military precision.

I’ve never seen a chair brand do this – and it might seem like an inconsequential detail, but it reinforces the already positive experience.

Above: The packaging doesn’t feel like a bunch of chair parts.

Alright, I’ve raved about Atlas’ assembly process for long enough. What’s the actual chair like, Steven?

Did Secretlab succeed at building a legitimate ergonomic chair? Or did they create a gimmicky spinoff of the Titan?

Neither.

Because the Atlas would have been an almost-unbeatable ergonomic chair – if it wasn’t for two critical details (see my Reasons To Avoid, below).

It’s a shame, because it has so much going for it.

The build quality is rock-solid. I wouldn’t call it high-end, but it’s exactly on par for its $700-$1100 price point.

I hate when office chairs wobble or rattle, and, notwithstanding the somewhat loose control handles I mentioned earlier, I’m happy to report that none of these quirks exists on the Atlas.

The chair feels bulletproof.

Above: Stencilled logos are cool AF.

Seating position, meanwhile, is … nuanced.

I suspect Atlas will get a fair bit of hate online for being “too firm.”

Mostly from people who have spent the last decade in squishy gaming chairs – and expect Secretlab’s first ergonomic chair to feel like their grandma’s sofa.

To be clear – an ergonomic chair isn’t supposed to feel soft and spongy. By definition. Don’t listen to those people.

In my view, Atlas has the right amount of firmness.

The backrest and seat pan do not physically flex. 

You sit wedged inside a bucket-style shell, much like you would in a traditional gaming chair.

But Atlas does allow you to move a little by pressing your various body parts into the foam.

It feels like a simulated flex of sorts – and makes the seating position less rigid than you might expect.

Above: The aggressive-looking side bolsters are actually soft to the touch – they’ll allow you to sit cross-legged (but you shouldn’t do it if ergonomic seating is a priority).

The recline, by the way, is outstanding. Secretlab opted for a classic synchro-tilt which, unlike gaming chair mechanisms, raises your seat pan by only 1 degree for every 2 degrees of tilt.

This means your feet don’t come off the ground when you recline.

The only minor downside is that it’s always a little reclined. The most upright position is 100 degrees at the sharpest angle, so you never quite get that perfect tasking feeling.

Reasons To Avoid The Atlas Ergonomic Office Chair.

Atlas offers you a choice of two sizes: regular and large. But don’t be fooled into thinking that the latter raises your sitting position. It doesn’t.

While seat and backrest widths increase by about 5%, the seat height stays the same on both sizes. 41cm at the lowest setting, and 48.5cm at the highest.

It also means the larger size caters to heavier people – but not taller people.

This is a bizarre blunder by Secretlab – for several reasons.

It also makes ergonomic forearm placement tricky, as desktops of many regular desks will be on a higher horizontal plane than you need (unless you have a height-adjustable desk).

Finally, Atlas’ seat depth adjustment is one of the deepest I’ve ever seen.

Its 46cm – 52cm maximum depth is huge and perfect for tall people like me with long legs. And yet, this opportunity to provide under-leg support is squandered by the low seat height.

So in a weird way, Secretlab created a chair with a seat pan that is too low for tall people, but a seat depth that is too big for short people.

Above: The exposed stitching is a beautiful detail that reminds me of expensive Audis.

The second downside of the Atlas chair is its tendency to trap heat. Thick, solid backrest and fake leather are the perfect recipe for poor breathability.

And poor breathability = sweat.

If you have a high metabolism and/or are overweight, I strongly recommend choosing one of the three fabric materials instead – that will help keep you cool.

Especially if you live in one of Australia’s hotter cities.

Above: The armcaps have a strong front edge that can dig into your forearms when reclining.

I like – but don’t love – the Atlas’ armcaps.

Their density is perfect – hard enough to provide support to your forearms, but soft enough not to irritate your elbows when you lean into them.

But their front edges are quite, um, sudden. If you like working in a semi-reclined position, you’ll notice them pressing against your forearms – and not in a soothing way.

The armcaps do pivot, and Secretlab wants you to believe that this replaces the need for a dedicated width control.

It can – but only if the front edges of the armcaps have a smooth taper. Which they don’t.

Or, more precisely, its lack thereof.

Secretlab made the controversial decision to remove all lumbar adjustments on the Atlas, arguing that the vast majority of users never adjust it, anyway.

On the surface, that’s an intelligent argument. It certainly matches my anecdotal experience – I dial in the lumbar once, and never touch it again.

Secretlab erred on the weaker side. The built-in lumbar support is flaccid. Almost nonexistent.

But this is the smarter decision – because you can always add more lumbar support using lumbar pillows.

Secretlab is more than happy to sell you a (very cool-looking) lumbar pillow for $99. I recommend you get one – your lower back will thank you.

The downside I’m worried about is that all these additions are pushing the chair’s price up.

If you’re tall, you’ll need a large chair, modified with about $100 worth of rollers and a piston, plus a $99 lumbar pillow.

Your total price for a Nanofoam model will be hovering dangerously close to $1,400. This is still competitive, but I fear it may be steep for many folks this chair is aimed at.

How The Secretlab Atlas Ergonomic Chair Stacks Up.

The Atlas scores below average for adjustments and warranty. But it compensates for those with superb aesthetics and good comfort.

My Final Verdict On The Secretlab Atlas Ergonomic Chair.

Uff, this is a hard one.

The Atlas is not a chair for short people. If you’re shorter than ~155 cm, the 46 cm minimum seat depth will likely press into the back of your knees and affect circulation. Stay away.

The Atlas can be an ergonomic chair for tall people – but only if you modify its lumbar and height using about $200 of aftermarket parts I described above.

The problem is, Atlas’ 3-year warranty (that can be extended to 5 years by posting about the chair on socials) jars against this figure.

$1400 is firmly in the premium chair category, where most brands offer 8-12 years of coverage.

If your $ 1,400 chair fell apart after 3-5 years of use, would you be upset about it? I would.

Because Atlas is not a boring office chair – it’s a beautifully sculpted statement piece that will elevate your home workspace while keeping you in a reasonably ergonomic sitting position.

That’s worth something.

Steven

I became an accidental standing desk “expert” about 5 years ago, when I wrote about my experience with the UpDown Pro. To my surprise, people read it – and asked me to write more reviews.

Fast-forward to today, and this blog is the #1 resource Aussies use to help them choose their ideal standing desk.

I’ve also learned a lot on this journey.

Turns out, the standing desk industry loves using marketing hype to stretch the truth (are you surprised?), so I thought I’d dispel some of the common myths I still see people fall for – despite my best efforts to educate them.

(Related: Ultimate Guide To Standing Desk Stability).

1. Not A Panacea For Health Issues.

The standing desk industry has been guilty of overstating the health benefits your standing desk is likely to deliver.

Buy one – and it will apparently fix your bad back while curing that chronic thyroid issue you’ve had since you were a kid.

But let’s get real – if you’re buying a standing desk to mitigate serious health issues, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

You likely have issues upstream (e.g., diet and exercise habits) that you’ve been avoiding – and need to address first.

Back pain, however, is a valid point. I’d stop far short of viewing a desk as something that will “fix” your back. But I recognise that the best way to avoid back pain is to ensure you switch between several postures throughout the day.

So, think of a standing desk as a tool that offers you an additional position to choose from – and this may relieve some of the discomfort you’re experiencing.

2. Calorie Burn Is A Myth.

Let me call this out as total BS, as well.

You won’t get skinny by using a standing desk. It’s marketing hype at its worst.

The difference in caloric burn between standing vs sitting is about 50 calories per hour. The naive conclusion is that this delta can help you lose about 1kg per month, because:

Now, 1 gram of your stored fat contains 9 calories, so in theory, an 8,000-calorie deficit is just shy of what you need to lose that stubborn kilo.

There are several issues with this argument. First, I promise you that you won’t be standing 8 hours per day (and if you do, you’ll quickly develop plantar fasciitis).

This argument falls apart when you consider that a large apple has roughly the same number of calories.

So, you’re far more likely to reach your weight loss goals by making tiny adjustments to your diet, rather than buying an expensive standing desk.

3. Custom Sitting Height Is A Bigger Deal Than You Think.

People who are either taller or shorter than average often struggle to find a comfortable, ergonomic position at a standard desk, because:

A standing desk is a game-changer here – not because it allows them to stand, but because it allows them to dial in the exact desktop sitting height they need.

This feature is priceless for many people because it allows them to sit with their forearms and thighs parallel to the floor.

4. Don’t Worry About Wobble.

Australians are more worried about their standing desk wobbling than they are about the Iranian uranium enrichment program.

Most of their concern is understandable – but misplaced. It’s true that most standing desks used to suffer from this issue. It’s also true that many desks in the US market still do.

We have better consumer protections, which lead to less garbage being sold. I’ve personally assembled and used more than 15 standing desks in my home office at this point, and I’m yet to come across one that has serious stability issues.

Not even the el cheapo Artiss from Amazon disappointed me.

In fact, the only desk that shocked me was the Officeworks Otto Newhaven desk.

Add a hardwood desktop, a PC tower, two monitors on heavy-duty arms and a drawer full of junk, and even the most bulletproof desk will wobble more. Because, um, #physics.

5. Accessories Make Or Break Your Desk.

The first thing you’ll think after assembling your $1,500 desk and plonking your computer on it will be, “Is this it?”

It will look bare. Unfinished. Because it is.

The desk you just bought is a foundation. What makes it pleasant to interact with – and vastly more usable – is the collection of accessories you add to it.

I wrote extensively about the must-have accessories you need for your desk, so I won’t repeat myself here.

Except to say that your non-negotiables are:

Last but not least – invest in cable management. Don’t leave cables dangling below the desk – it’s unsafe for kids, pets – and it kills the aesthetic.

Also, don’t know about you, but when my workspace is messy, I feel less organised. Less productive.

6. EOFY And Black Friday Sales Are Great.

If you’re on a tight budget, wait until one of those. You’ll easily shave a few hundred dollars off your purchase price.

In conclusion, your standing desk is just one component in your broader WFH ergonomic strategy. Your objective is not to eliminate sitting.

It’s to reduce static load on your body by encouraging regular movement.

Steven

I’m an office furniture nerd. The type to visit an Officeworks on a Saturday morning (and be appalled at their selection of standing desks). Does this make me a tragic loner with no life? Probably.

But if you’re looking for standing desk setup inspo ideas, you get to reap the benefits.

Because I’ve bought – or was gifted – over 20 standing desks in the last few years.

By the way, my review of Australia’s top standing desks has received over 500,000 visitors so far. If you’re on the fence about which standing desk to buy, it should be your Bible.

(Related: 10 Standing Desk Accessories That Are A Waste Of Money).

1. Scandi Nostalgia.

Above: 9am Home Atom Pro Standing Desk.

You can create an airy, breezy, welcoming look by buying a standing desk with white tubular legs and a light-coloured desktop (e.g., birch or American oak) and placing it against a white wall.

Create contrast using black furniture and green foliage.

Add dark tan highlights.

Finish off with a rug that pulls in the white and dark tones.

2. Rich Guy Vibes.

Above: UpDown KLIK standing desk.

This standing desk setup achieves a very different vibe with a couple of tweaks.

I swapped out the light-coloured desktop for a hardwood walnut one. And the white legs for black ones.

Also, notice how the square legs on this desk give this setup a more masculine look. It’s a subtle detail, but has a big impact on the overall feeling of the space.

3. I Want To Be A Tech CEO.

Above: Steelcase Migration SE Pro standing desk.

This setup is ideal for a young tech executive. A Steelcase Karman chair is paired with a Steelcase Migration SE Pro desk.

It’s an expensive setup – definitely not for people on a shoestring budget.

If you want to avoid the “young dude in his 20s” vibe that many standing desks give off, this setup is for you.

4. YouTuber’s Den.

Above: Artiss standing desk.

Are you aspiring to be the next YouTube superstar?

Start building your standing desk setup with a background for your videos. You’ll need a stylish set of shelves. Fill them with items that reinforce the context of your YouTube brand.

(Related: What Most People Get Wrong When Buying A Standing Desk).

Your standing desk won’t appear in the shot, so it doesn’t have to be a fancy one.

(The Artiss in the setup above is only $400).

Spend the money on a microphone, lights, lenses and cameras instead (in that order – trust me).

5. Industrial Luxury Chic.

Above: Secretlab Magnus Pro standing desk.

You can combine leather and metal for an unexpectedly edgy-looking standing desk setup.

Here, the all-metal, leather-topped Magnus Pro is paired with a luxury armchair to invoke a warehousey, arty vibe.

The round pillow and green foliage add a dash of femininity.

I can see this setup in an architect’s or a photographer’s studio.

The only downside is that the armchair is obviously not ergonomic – I wouldn’t recommend sitting in something like this for 8+ hours per day.

You can “solve” this problem with a Herman Miller Eames Executive chair – if you have about $12,000 to spend.

Steven

This may come as a shock to you, but I’m NOT a 19-year-old moody teenager living in his parents’ basement. So when Secretlab contacted me to review their Titan Evo NanoGen gaming chair, I initially declined.

The gamer image isn’t exactly what I’m going for.

But then I took a closer look – and reconsidered.

Yes, the Titan Evo NanoGen is a gaming chair. But it’s a gaming chair wearing a tux.

Above: I like the Titan Evo’s sculpted lines. Classic Secretlab stuff.

Only available in minimalist black and white (no garish Pokémon colour schemes, thank God), it offers ultra-soft upholstery and a sculpted look that maybe – just maybe – could not look out of place in a home office of a married 45-year-old guy.

Moreover, I had the same hesitation when I reviewed Secretlab’s Magnus Pro standing desk – but walked away seriously impressed.

I decided to suspend my scepticism and find out.

Reasons To Buy The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Chair.

The NanoGen’s pure black (or white) leatherette material makes a statement. It’s certainly not a chair that’s designed to blend in.

Every single part of the chair is blacked (or whited) out.

I love the exposed stitching – it’s a nice nod to seats you see in expensive Porsches.

The leatherette, meanwhile, is ultra-soft and reminds me of an (expensive) aniline couch I bought many years ago. Yes, it’s fake leather, but visually it’s impossible to tell apart from the real thing (unless you’re some sort of leather expert, which I most certainly am not).

By the way, I glossed over the assembly, so let me come back to it. I’m glad to report that the chair is easy to throw together.

(Related: Secretlab Atlas: The Best New Office Chair In Australia?)

It’s a bit on the fiddly side – as expected from a direct-to-consumer mid-range chair – but the clear instructions make up for it.

Above: Skip the giant assembly manual. Use the booklet instead – you’ll make less mistakes and work faster.

I was relieved to find armrests pre-attached, as this is one of the clunkiest steps when assembling an office chair.

Speaking of armrests, if you read my chair reviews regularly, you’ll know that I’m a harsh marker. I hate almost all of them.

But the Titan Evo’s are not far behind. They adjust in 4D, and even though I wish they were closer to my body at the narrowest setting, it’s a small gripe.

NanoGen’s PlushCell armcaps (a $99 option on the standard Evo) are included standard – and are the real stars of the show.

Secretlab’s marketing gushes about their “pillow-like softness” and “unmatched comfort” – and thankfully, the product does live up to the hype.

Above: Exposed stitching is a nice touch that makes the chair look more expensive than it is.

The ultra-comfortable vibes continue to the backrest and the seat pan.

I’ve seen reviews where people complain about the firmness of the seat pan, but I disagree. It’s definitely on the firmer side, but it’s not a deal-breaker. NanoGen’s seat pan is roughly as firm as the one on my Steelcase Series 2.

If you remember anything from reading this review, let it be this – all expensive ergonomic chairs are firm.

I guarantee you that people who make the most noise about this “issue” have transitioned from cheap, plush office chairs – or cheap mainstream gaming chairs.

Above: Knee-tilt hinge is typical for a gaming chair, and works well. You get a deliciously smooth rocking motion.

They don’t realise that firmness is a good sign.

If the Titan was more plush, it’d be even more likely to trap heat (which is the issue I need to talk to you about) – and make you sweat “down under”.

The seat is unapologetically a bucket. As is the backrest. It doesn’t flex at all, so you’re locked – as you are in an Aeron.

But unlike the Aeron, the NanoGen Evo has soft side bolsters, so you are free to give yourself hip issues by sitting with one leg tucked under.

Above: The bucket seat and sculpted bolsters give you a nicely cossetted feeling.

The recline function of the Titan Evo NanoGen is brilliant.

Most mid-range office chairs use a synchro-tilt mechanism, but the Evo opted for a knee-tilt. The result is a wonderfully rocky motion that not only reclines – but sinks back and down.

Again, the gold standard for a smooth, rocky recline is the venerable Aeron – and the Evo gives it a great run for its money.

I haven’t noticed any noticeable creaks or wobbles, and the chair feels like it’s been forged from premium materials.

Forums say that creaks can develop over time – especially in the lumbar – but I can’t speak to that (I’ve only had the chair for two weeks before writing the review).

Reasons To Avoid The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Chair.

Coming in at just over a grand, the Titan Evo NanoGen chair isn’t cheap. And I don’t love that I have to pay $100 extra for an XL.

You also get a good range of accessories, but the costs stack up quickly.

Above: The headrest pillow attaches using magnets, and is surprisingly useful.

A memory foam footrest is $109, while the recliner add-on will set you back around $300. Your total cost can start nudging $2,000 if you’re not careful.

That’s why it’s disappointing that the chair is backed by a 3-year warranty as standard (it can be extended to 5 years if you boast about your purchase online).

You’ll need to pay for return shipping, which – because the Evo is a heavy and bulky beast – will cost you a kidney (budget at least $200 around Sydney and Melbourne metro areas).

And because the chair comes with an ungodly amount of packaging, I guarantee you won’t keep it for 49 days anyway. Unless you live on a farm.

But these are trivial matters.

I have high metabolism, so I tend to sweat a lot – and a solid bucket chair made from synthetic leather is the perfect recipe for overheating my backside.

I must emphasise that you may not have the same issue. Especially if you live closer to Melbourne or run aircon all day.

The second issue is the lumbar.

It’s adequate for making sure your back isn’t 100% flat, but it doesn’t support the S-curve of your spine in the same way as “proper” ergonomic office chairs do.

If you have a wonky back, you should look elsewhere.

Above: The metal tabs that unlock armrest height adjustment are outstanding. They feel cool to the touch – and remind me of steering wheel paddles on expensive sports cars.

Finally, I wish Secretlab was more consistent with the build quality of its controls. The two paddles underneath the chair (controlling height and tilt lock) are on the flimsy side.

Like the lumbar, they’re perfectly adequate, but lack that precise tactile feeling you get on the (cheaper) ErgoTune Joobie, for example.

But surprisingly, the metal tabs that unlock armrest height and pivot adjustments are wonderfully tactile. Yet the armrest width adjustment is flimsy.

And the tilt tension knob is located in the worst possible spot – under the seat pan. I also wish it was easier to turn and offered more tension.

How The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Chair Stacks Up.

A standard Titan Evo is almost as good and is $200-$300 cheaper, but I think the visual appeal of the NanoGen makes the extra cost worthwhile.

My Final Verdict On The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Chair.

Secretlab’s marketing is outstanding.

You’re bombarded with trademarked terms that make you feel like the chair is packed with exotic technology.

CloudSwap.

PlushCell.

NanoGen. NanoFoam. SoftWeave.

EpicFury. Whoops, no – that was from a different article I’m writing.

Let me translate all the marketing jargon for you.

The Titan Evo NanoGen is a stylish gaming chair with dialled-back aesthetic, outstanding armrests and gorgeous faux leatherette upholstery that feels like real Nappa leather.

I haven’t tried the standard Titan, so I can’t make a direct comparison, but as someone who doesn’t mind paying for nicer things, I wouldn’t regret spending the extra few hundred dollars.

I can see the Titan appealing to big and tall guys. If you feel that every ‘regular’ ergonomic chair feels like a children’s toy that you spill out of, the Titan will feel right.

It’s less a chair and more a throne.

The monochromatic colour palette and sumptuous hand-feel of NanoGen fabric elevate it from gamer-chic to a chair that’s suitable for a ‘grown-up’.

Just make sure you have enough space around your desk to accommodate it. It’s a beast of a chair that can easily overwhelm a tiny space.

Steven

You’ve decided to buy a standing desk. I’m willing to bet that you’ve been trying to figure out which one is the best for at least a few months. But the more research you do, the more undecided you become.

Your first problem is that standing desk brands are bombarding you with almost identical features. Such as:

Let me make your life easier immediately – you can remove those from your consideration set.

Not because they’re not important – but because all (except the absolute cheapest desk manufacturers) include them. They’re table-stakes (excuse the pun, ha).

The second issue is that the standing desk industry is stagnant.

Innovation is moving at a glacial pace, which is why even the best brands like Desky and UpDown are selling the same designs that they did 7 years ago.

Above: 9am Home is a new brand that offers unusually innovative designs. Note the sculpted tubular legs, built-in tray, and bevelled desktop edges.

And they look almost identical.

Square legs. A couple of crossmembers between them, housing the dual motors. A choice of hardwood or softwood desktops bolted to the top.

Instead of innovating the actual desk designs, brands compete by bundling in (often useless) accessories – or finding new and clever ways to pitch the positive aspects of existing designs.

Because I’ve tested over 20 standing desks in my home office since 2023, I’ve learned to see through the gimmicks. Here they are, from most useless to least.

1. Bluetooth-Enabled Mobile App.

Most of them now include built-in standing reminders, health coaches and productivity timers.

Some are voice-activated.

We live in a world of digital overwhelm, and the last thing you need in your life is a standing desk app.

2. Rising And Lowering Speed.

We, men, are obsessed with getting somewhere fast, and this habit has leaked into standing desk design.

Yes, some desks move like Speedy Gonzales at around 50-60mm/sec. But truth is, anything above 35mm/sec is perfectly adequate – and all but the cheapest single motor desks will hit that number.

For example, the el cheapo Artiss travels at 25mm/sec – but when you are paying ~$300 for a desk – delivered to your door – are you in a position to complain?

3. Weight Lifting Capacity.

Here’s what standing desk brands don’t tell you.

Most of the time, they achieve higher weight capacity at the expense of speed. Remember how I said they don’t innovate?

Well, instead of creating a new, stronger actuator, they simply push suppliers to reprogram existing motors for more torque at the expense of speed.

For example, top brands like Desky and UpDown cap out at about 150kg.

But your computer and peripherals weigh 5-20kg. Monitor is 5-10kg. Other bits and pieces are another 5kg.

Your forearms, which you’ll also rest on your desk, add another 5kg.

So unless yours are like Arnie’s, you’ll rarely have more than 50kg on your desk.

4. Motor Noise Level.

I’ve never encountered a desk that is offensively loud. This isn’t something you need to think about.

5. Sustainability Credentials.

Above: A Secretlab Magnus Pro standing desk paired with a Desky wobble stool.

Most brands highlight the fact that their desktops are ethically sourced.

UpDown goes further by offering recycled timber desktops (which are gorgeous, actually – check out their Recycled Messmate).

Let me call a spade a spade.

You are not saving the planet with your standing desk choices. You’re just “buying sustainable” because of an image you like to project.

Take your ethically sourced copy of the Communist Manifesto with you.

6. Adjustment Range.

Most standing desks on the Australian market will travel between 65-125cm, which is more than enough range for 98% of the population.

But if you’re a weirdo like me who lives in the other 2% (I’m 200cm), then yes, you are an exception to this rule.

7. Returns.

Don’t be fooled by this one.

You’re VERY unlikely to return your desk – even if they offer a standard “30-day return” policy, where the brand will accept the desk back in pristine condition and original packaging.

The reason?

Your standing desk will arrive in 2-3 unwieldy, heavy boxes and a desktop that weigh about 40-60kg in total.

If you try to send that from your residential address back to the distribution centre using a courier like FedEx or Couriers Please, expect to cough up $200-400.

The only exception to this rule is an instance where the brand offers a legitimate 100-Day trial (e.g., UpDown), where they explicitly mention that they’ll cover the cost of return shipping.

8. Hidden Under-Desk Wireless Charger.

Stand Desk was the first to offer this as a standard feature back in 2024, and I got excited about it back then. Now almost every brand offers one. But I changed my mind about it since.

Truth is, you can buy one on Amazon for far cheaper – and attach one to any desk. It’s not a differentiator.

9. USB Port On The Controller.

The latest generation of OLED controllers has this feature standard. It’s good in theory.

But in reality, you’ll never use it – except in rare, exceptional circumstances.

Most people love having a clean, minimalist standing desk setup with no loose cables.

The USB port on the controller puts an ugly cable right under you nose – the worst possible spot. You’re much better off running a USB back from your computer on monitor.

10. Hardwood Desktop.

Above: Check out the gorgeous glint and swirls of this desktop. This one is a 9am Home’s American Oak.

I saved the most controversial one until last.

A hardwood desktop can be a thing of beauty. If you can afford it – it can easily add $500-1,000 to the price of your desk.

I’m a big fan of nice furniture, and I always appreciated the New Messmate desktop on my UpDown Pro. It’s stunning.

A large mat, a monitor riser, a mug coaster and a few books cover 80% of my desk, so I never got to see much of the Messmate.

Last year, I swapped the hardwood for a black melamine desktop, and TBH, I am equally happy with it.

Steven

I’ve been obsessed with finding the best Steelcase chair for the past year. The flagship Gesture was underwhelming. The entry-level Series 1 felt overpriced. I’m left with a Leap and a Series 2. Both are my current WFH daily drivers on days I’m not in my coworking space.

But which one is better? I’ll need to sell one eventually.

Let’s figure out which one gets to stay.

Above: I bought the Series 2 and the Leap with my own money. The Leap is in a limited edition colour called Medley Pepper Black. The Series 2 is in Meshback 3D Microknit Medley.

1. Seat, Backrest & Armrest Comfort.

Above: The Leap and Series 2 side-by-side. The difference in backrest padding is particularly evident here.

Which chair feels more cushy?

Definitely the Leap, for two reasons:

The Leap’s seat and back are also more contoured. They cradle your body. The Series 2 doesn’t.

Net result: the Leap delivers a softer, more relaxed, lounge-style sit. If that’s what you want, the story ends here. Go out and buy the Leap.

(Related: Herman Miller Embody: Why People Pay $3,500 For It).

But comfort with cushiness is not always the same thing.

When tasking, I want a chair that will help me stay productive – rather than sending me to sleep.

This is where the Series 2 has an advantage.

Some people – myself included – will appreciate its unemotional vibe when tasking.

If you’re a sports car person, the comparison will make immediate sense.

Your workday habits will determine which chair feels more comfortable. Do you:

However, the Leap flexes further – and with less effort.

Through both the seat pan and the backrest. It’s almost comically pliable. The Series 2, meanwhile, offers a more stoic vibe.

Armrests on both chairs are almost identical. The mechanisms are the same, but the Leap’s armcaps are slightly larger. In day-to-day use, the difference is negligible.

You can target the C-curve of your spine using small tabs on either side of each chair.

But only the Leap gives you the option to make the lumbar feel less aggressive.

At its weakest setting, it’s noticeably more friendly than the Series 2’s.

2. Recline Comfort.

Above: The lumbar’s depth on both chairs is largely set by the shape of the backrests. But the Leap’s firmness can be fine-tuned using a knob on the right-hand side of the chair.

This section will be short and sweet – because the verdict is clear-cut.

The Leap has a superior recline in every sense.

It’s an extension of the chair’s dual purpose, allowing it to switch between tasking and lounging duties with ease.

There’s no recline lock. Tension is limited to a single setting. And even then, it’s too loose. I constantly feel like I’m tipping backward.

3. Aesthetics & Design.

Above: The Series 2 looks more modern and minimalist than the Leap. Big props from me.

Conventional wisdom dictates that design is subjective.

I call BS.

It’s something your uncle, who drives a beige Corolla, likes to tell himself.

Both chairs exude a safe office aesthetic. Steelcase isn’t known for creating garish, attention-seeking masterpieces.

It was launched in 2020, while the V1 version of the Leap dates back to 1999. And this age cap shows up in subtle design cues.

My favourite is the total absence of reinforcement on the Series 2’s frame. Most ergonomic office chairs use a combination of external spines or support braces to keep the backrest sufficiently rigid.

The Leap has a thin one extending from its base and looping across its backrest.

The Series 2, meanwhile, eschews it altogether – and relies only on the backrest’s material to stay stiff. And, as I mentioned earlier, it’s objectively more rigid.

That’s remarkable.

4. Pricing.

Above: You can clearly see the curve in the Leap’s backrest here.

This is a hard one. Priced at about $2,000, the Leap is about 50% more expensive (depending on how you spec it).

But it’s technically two chairs in one – a tasking chair, and an ergonomic lounging chair.

If you’re not planning to lounge, recline and kick back during your workday, and are unlikely to regularly do 8-12 hour workday stints, the $1200 Series 2 suddenly looks like excellent value for money.

5. Warranty, Assembly & Build Quality.

Above: The Series 2’s headrest is far better than the Leap’s – for one reason. It doesn’t protrude forward.

This is the easiest call I’ve ever had to make. Both chairs have the exact same build quality, warranty periods and assembly options.

Both are built like tanks. Both offer 12 years of coverage.

And Steelcase will deliver both within Australian metro areas fully assembled – for an extra $50.

My Verdict On The Steelcase Leap vs Steelcase Series 2.

Delete 50% of the padding from the Leap and replace its recline mechanism with an inferior one (from a Series 1 office chair) – and you get a Steelcase Series 2.

Oh, and reduce the price by about $800.

Your decision will come down to how you spend your workdays.

While the Leap’s not-so-subtle message is “settle in and get comfortable for the long day ahead”, the Series 2’s is “sit up, shut up, and start your 2-hour productivity sprint now!”

This is not to say that the Series 2 is uncomfortable. Far from it. But it does send a distinctly different signal from your body to your brain.

Do you like to recline during your workday?

Leap’s hip-thrust recline isn’t as comfortable as the Aeron’s, but it is still one of the best around. It will also let you dial in the precise amount of tension you need.

The Series 2, meanwhile, tries to keep up with its bigger brother – but struggles. It makes you feel like you’re falling backwards in a dream – Inception-style – rather than reclining.

For me, the Leap is the all-around superior chair. But I keep gravitating to the Series 2 for my short productivity sprints.

I’m keeping both – for now.

Steven

At first glance, the Stando Pulse looks like every other premium standing desk in Australia. If you don’t look closely enough to see the Stando logo on the controller, you could easily mistake it for an UpDown Pro, a Desky Dual or a Stand Desk.

And I would forgive you – because visually, the Pulse is almost identical.

You get a robust-looking frame and a selection of melamine, bamboo and hardwood desktops.

But the Stando Pulse differs from them all in one important way.

(Related: UpDown Standing Desk Review: Why I Love It 4 Years Later).

Quick Verdict.

Above: The Stando Pulse with an Australian-made melamine desktop by Laminex, called “Elegant Oak”.

Who Should Buy The Stando Pulse?

The Pulse is a desk for people who have high expectations, are slightly OCD, time-poor, impatient and allergic to fuss.

I hate that even the tidiest WFH standing desk setups always have a power cable running up a desk’s leg.

The Pulse solves the issue once and for all by hiding the cable inside one of its legs.

Brilliant.

Only one other desk in Australia – the youth-oriented Secretlab Magnus Pro has this feature.

You also get Stando’s magnificent cable management channel, with its 8 external-facing power ports, as standard.

This is indispensable for people who regularly need quick access to their desk’s power plugs.

I’ve been reviewing Australia’s best standing desks for almost 5 years, so I’ve assembled dozens of these things.

And regardless of what manufacturers tell you, assembling a standing desk is never an effortless, pleasant experience.

But click-together legs remove one of the clunkiest steps of the process.

(Related: 10 Standing Desk Accessories That Are A Waste Of Money).

Personally, I wish Stando had leaned more fully into the “fast assembly” vibe by delivering the desktop preassembled and prewired (e.g., like the 9am Home Dora Pro).

That said, this move would also jack up the desk’s shipping cost.

Instead, Stando caters to people who are short on time (or patience) with the option to have the desk assembled by its delivery team on arrival.

Stando’s corporate clients will likely pay this without blinking, but something in the neighbourhood of $100 would be more appropriate for retail customers.

(Related: 9am Home Atom Pro Full Review: Good, Bad & Ugly).

Speaking of fees, all the extra fruit you get on Stando Pulse costs roughly $300. Expect to part with roughly $1400 for a model with a softwood or melamine 150x75cm desktop.

Is it worth it?

Depends on your priorities and personality.

Let me sum it up for you this way:

5 Things I Love About The Stando Pulse.

The Pulse is Stando’s premium model. There’s a lot to like.

1. Concealed Power Supply.

Above: Stando Pulse’s power cable plugs in at the bottom of its left leg.

Look around your home.

Can you find a single electrical appliance with a power cable that attaches at the top of the device?

Would you buy a kettle with a power cable that runs into the lid – rather than the base?

So why do most standing desk brands insist on doing the equivalent of this by running the power to the crossbeam – rather than the leg?

I get it – this creates engineering challenges. And it’s more expensive.

I’m writing this in October of 2025, a month when SpaceX is scheduled to launch three rockets into space.

Are you telling me that we, as a humanity, haven’t yet solved the problem of running power to a standing desk?

Above: Would you buy this kettle?

And pinning the cable behind the leg (or stuffing it inside a cable management spine) isn’t exactly neat.

I love the fact that Stando took a bold stance here, putting the power supply where it belongs – at the bottom of the leg.

I predict that in five years this feature will be standard on all but the cheapest desks.

But for now, Stando is leading the charge.

2. Excellent Cable Management Tray.

Above: Pulse’s cavernous cable management channel runs the entire width of the desk.

Have you ever had to unplug a peripheral, only to realise it’s plugged into a powerboard inside your cable management channel?

Locating it means pulling out a spiderweb of cables, untying zip-ties. Then stuffing it all back in.

Or you have the opposite problem – you need to add a peripheral.

But your cable management tray is full. You have no physical space left. And even if you did, you have no power sockets available.

You won’t experience either of these issues with the Stando Pulse. The desk comes standard with a huge cable tray equipped with 8 external-facing power sockets.

You unlock it in one swift motion by pulling on levers at either side of the tray.

Desky and UpDown, meanwhile, opt for dual-action screws that never go in smoothly – and need to be finessed into position.

3. Click-Together Assembly.

Above: Stando Pulse’s 3-section matt powder-coated legs click into position.

Click-together legs are becoming increasingly popular on Australian standing desks.

Instead of fiddling with an allen key to drive 4-8 screws into each leg, you align the leg with its slot and press a lever.

The leg locks into position.

But does it make a difference? Yes, but it’s a minor one.

As I wrote in my review of the UpDown KLIK, attaching the legs is one of the many time-consuming steps involved in assembling a standing desk. The others are:

Do you care that your assembly time is now 50 minutes instead of 60?

4. Flat 10-Year Warranty.

Above: The programmable controller has four memory settings, which you can switch between at a speedy 36mm/sec.

Stando is one of few standing brands to offer both generous and simple warranty.

And while some brands complicate your life by segmenting the warranty (e.g., three years on controllers, five years on desktops and ten years on frame), Stando gives you a total peace of mind with flat coverage.

5. Excellent Stability.

Above: Buyers of Stando Pulse don’t need to worry.

Wobbling is the #1 concern for Australian standing desk consumers.

Thankfully, Stando excels in this department. It wobbles very little – and on par with other premium standing desks in Australia, like UpDown and Desky.

Yes, the Pulse will wobble a little – mainly side-to-side – if you extend it to its near maximum height, but this is normal behaviour.

Even the most expensive premium desks wobble slightly when pushed to their limits.

Above: Stando’s height controller is smart and minimalist. Narrow form function means it’s less likely to jam against your chair.

3 Things I Dislike About The Stando Pulse.

Despite its strengths, the Stando Pulse has several quirks and downsides:

1. Not For Short People.

Above: The Elegant Oak melamine desktop looks great, considering it’s not real wood.

Remember that engineering limitation I mentioned above?

One downside of running power inside the desk’s leg is that the electronics don’t allow the telescopic sections to retract fully, leaving you with an unusually tall 69cm minimum height.

Is this an issue?

Only if you’re short.

Stando openly admits that the Pulse is a desk for people who are taller than 175cm, but in my view, they’re being quite conservative.

You could get away with using one if you’re 165cm – especially if you have long limbs.

But if in doubt, I suggest you make an effort to see a Pulse in person before buying.

2. High-Ish Price Point.

Above: The 150x75cm desktop is the ideal size for most Australian homes. It’s deep enough to accommodate a monitor and still leave you with plenty of room for keyboard and peripherals.

The Pulse is loaded with fruit, and that comes at a price.

The click-together legs and power management features add a ~$300-$350 premium over equivalent models.

Whether you splash the extra dough on the Pulse will depend on your relationship with time and money.

I can see the Pulse appealing to people for whom time is literally money. For example, freelancers, salespeople and business owners.

3. No 100-Day Trial.

Above: Stando Pulse looks smart and minimalist in a WFH setting. Especially when paired with a nice office chair (my Haworth Fern, in case you’re wondering) and peripherals.

Unfortunately, Stando decided not to offer a risk-free trial, for reasons I can understand.

It means UpDown and Stand Desk continue to lead the pack in the Australian market when it comes to offering 100-day risk-free trials.

Is a trial 100% necessary?

No.

Nonetheless, Reddit is full of people who spend months – often years – deliberating about the “best” standing desk to buy.

Their analysis paralysis is often caused by the fact that most standing desks in Australia are sold sight-unseen, via direct-to-consumer brands like Stando.

And for a lot of people, parting with $1,000-$1,500 on a product they’ve seen only online is a big deal.

For them, a 100-day risk-free trial serves as a mechanism to derisk their purchase.

Which is why I keep raising as an important “nice-to-have” feature.

Technical Specifications.

Key engineering facts:

Is The Stando Pulse A Good Buy?

Is the Stando Pulse worth the money?

Yes, but it’s not a desk for everyone. It’s not for:

Rather, it’s a desk aimed at an astute buyer who expects strong foundations and a healthy dose of innovation.

On the one hand, the Pulse embraces strong foundations that have proven to work time and time again in Australia.

On the other hand, it introduces tech that I haven’t seen in many desks.

Yes, it’s not cheap.

But people it’s aimed at won’t care.

And they’ll appreciate the peace of mind that comes with Pulse’s flat 10-year warranty.

Yes, I wish the company offered a 100-day trial, or at least an option for Sydneysiders to view the desk before buying it, but these are minor quibbles.

Steven

You need a new office chair, but don’t want to spend more than roughly $500. No problems. Meet the UpDown Ergo ProFlex. It misses out on some premium features (e.g., depth-adjustable lumbar), but offers a lot of comfort per dollar.

I get it – it can be stressful to fork over $500+ on something you have never seen. So I used one for a few weeks to tell you all about it.

(Related: Secretlab Atlas: The Best New Office Chair In Australia?)

Reasons To Buy The UpDown Ergo ProFlex.

Above: The Ergo ProFlex cuts a handsome, contemporary shape.

I have to start with the seat pan. This is a super comfortable seat that provides just the right amount of support.

The foam is firm yet plush – you can sink down to get that cossetted feeling, but it’s never so soft that it begins to feel like a spongy old couch.

Frame flexibility is also great.

The seat pan and backrest don’t have a tonne of flex, but they do allow you to move around in the chair – you never feel like you’re locked into one place.

Above: I love the contemporary geometric shape of this backrest. Perfect if the back of your chair faces into the room.

Unusually for this price point, the UpDown chair doesn’t shortchange you on adjustments. You get:

Last but not least – the chair’s recline is outstanding.

Smooth and following a nice rearward arc, it uses a sycnro-tilt mechanism to tilt you back without lifting your feet off the ground.

(Related: Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Chair Full Review).

It stops short of that perfect suspended feeling you get on ultra-premium chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron. But it is on par with the more expensive ErgoTune Joobie.

It also locks in 3 positions – tasking (upright), semi-reclined, and fully reclined. The upright setting is unusually vertical and may not be to everyone’s liking.

But the good news is that the semi-reclined position is also usable for tasking.

Above: Notice the non-aggressive lumbar curve and uncomplicated controls.

The included neckroll-style headrest is a pleasant surprise.

I don’t personally use them, but if you’re someone who works in a hybrid mode, and likes to kick back in the chair after work, you’ll find it comfortable and well-positioned.

All this makes for a comfortable sitting experience.

I’ve felt well-supported in the Updown Ergo ProFlex, and could easily spend 8 hours a day in it.

But how attractive is it?

Plenty. I’ve pointed out before that ergonomic chairs are rarely attractive, but Ergo ProFlex is a rare exception.

Above: This chair has one of the prettiest backrest designs I’ve seen. And I’ve seen many.

ErgoPro ProFlex’s backrest frame is the opposite. It is as geometrically beautiful as it is minimalist.

The clean lines continue to the armrests and backrest.

Overall, it’s a very aesthetically pleasing chair that looks sleek and inviting in my office.

In fact, when sitting next to the $2,000-$3,500 chairs currently cluttering my office, it’s not obvious that this one is 4-5X cheaper than the others.

Reasons To Avoid The UpDown Ergo ProFlex.

Above: Armrests adjust in four dimensions, but the armcaps are quite hard.

Let’s start with the armpads. While their 4D adjustment range is outstanding, they have a couple of annoying quirks:

I also wish the backrest’s mesh was more taut.

If you recline back fully, you’ll feel the “Y” part of the frame through the mesh – especially if you’re tall and heavy like me.

This isn’t a dealbreaker problem, but it is something to consider if you spend a lot of time kicking back in the chair (e.g., watching Netflix or gaming after work).

My second gripe is recline tension of the (admittedly excellent) recline:

Above: Lumbar support pad is uncomplicated – and adjusts for height only.

How The UpDown Ergo ProFlex Stacks Up.

I’m on the fence about some areas of the UpDown Ergo ProFlex, so let me mention them before I offer my verdict.

The build quality is a mixed bag.

It doesn’t blow me away, nor does it do anything wrong. You get hard, durable plastics everywhere that feel more utilitarian and mass-produced than luxurious.

Mechanisms are simple and functional. Armrests wobble a bit more than I’d like, but not enough to be problematic.

Above: Slightly contoured seat pan allows you to sit cross-legged.

But I really like the mesh and seat materials. And there are no rattles or creaks – every part fits together nicely.

Lumbar is my second “on the fence” item.

It’s very gentle – and adjusts for height only. But the adjustment doesn’t do much, so you’re stuck with this borderline nonexistent lumbar forever.

If that’s what you prefer – great. If you prefer an aggressive lumbar, this isn’t a chair for you at all.

My Verdict On The UpDown Ergo ProFlex Office Chair.

I currently have five different ergonomic chairs in my home office. The UpDown Ergo ProFlex is by far the cheapest – yet it doesn’t trail the others by much in comfort or ergonomics.

It’s for people who frequently sit for an extended period of time and demand plenty of adjustability and ergonomic functionality – without paying a premium price.

You can dial in an ergonomic position regardless of body size.

Because of the seat depth adjustment and 4D armrests, the chair will accommodate unusually tall and short people.

You can’t build a highly adjustable ergonomic chair at the mid-$500 price point without compromises – and UpDown made them. Smartly.

For example, there is a lot of plastic, but it is moulded into an excellent design.

Yes, the armrests and the backrest can be somewhat pokey in the fully reclined position.

But otherwise, the chair is supremely comfortable. And if you spend most of your day tasking in a relatively upright position, this is a non-issue for you.

Steven