When the folks over at The Human Solution saw my prior standing desk and standing desk treadmill review, they asked me if I’d like to take one of their Uplift adjustable-height desks for a spin. Since I was already in the midst of researching a new dedicated unboxing/review desk for videos, I agreed to take a look. Have a look at our hands-on build video for the details.
The Uplift Desk website lets users build their own desk via its desk selector tool, and so I took the opportunity to put together a desk that I felt would be great for unboxings and reviews. Using the Human Solution’s website wasn’t a great experience — it felt a little chaotic, because it’s littered with so much information. I think a streamlined, more modern looking website would go a long way toward improving the shopping experience. The good news is that a new updated shopping experience on upliftdesk.com will launch next week, and thehumansolution.com will see a refresh soon.
Not only can you customize the desktop, including the build material and size, but you can also customize the frame and the various accessories that are included along with the desk.
In the end, I opted for a 36″-by-30″ reclaimed wood desktop with a black two-legged frame. Like most powered standing desks, the Uplift desk comes with motorized legs that are operated via a small control module that’s mounted to the front of the desk. The Human Solution offers two Uplift control module varieties: a standard panel with simple up and down controls, and a more advanced panel with automatic memory slots.
Video hands-on, unboxing & build
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Since the desk I chose was relatively small, I wanted it to be able to move it with ease. As such, I asked Uplift to include four casters to replace the adjustable feet that come with the desk. Uplift also included a nice anti-fatigue desk mat that I have found makes a huge difference while standing, and I absolutely would recommend one for anyone who uses an adjustable-height desk.
Desktop
One of the things that most attracted me to the Uplift desk was its desktop build quality. Not only can you choose from laminate or recycled wood, but you can also choose a solid wood, reclaimed wood, bamboo, or artisan desktop. I opted for a reclaimed wood desktop, which looked great in the pictures on the Uplift website.
Shipping and build
After the initial customized order was placed, the desk and all of its components and accessories arrived at my doorstep in a bit over a week. The packages, which were shipped via UPS, arrived in two separate boxes. The desktop was contained within a flat and wide box, while the legs and accessories were contained within a separate box. Everything arrived perfectly fine without any damage.
Putting it all together
It was extremely easy to put the Uplift desk together. This isn’t the first time that I’ve built an adjustable-height desk, but I’m always amazed at how easy the process is. Granted, putting this desk together was particularly easy, because it’s so small at only 36″-by-30″.
Uplift includes pre-drilled holes to attach the frame to the desktop, and its instructions are clearly laid out. Be sure to watch our video above to see our hands-on look, along with a sped-up build process.
Build quality
I’m quite satisfied with the build quality of the Uplift desk. The reclaimed wood desktop is real wood as expected, and it’s solid to the touch. It has all of the lovely imperfections you’d expect from reclaimed wood and I think it looks awesome.
The black frame is also high quality, and the legs easily supported anything (up to 355lbs) I placed on the desk. I’ve been using the Uplift for a few weeks, and during that time the legs have held up well to continuous usage. There have been no nicks, scars, or other issues thus far, and I haven’t exactly been delicate during my hands-on time.
Adjusting the height
Once the Uplift desk is fully assembled, you’ll need to plug it into a power outlet. From there, it’s just a matter of utilizing the control module to raise and lower the desk.
The control panel features four memory buttons that can be assigned to specific desk heights. These buttons are easily programmable by adjusting the desktop to the desired height, pressing the memory button, and pressing and holding the memory slot button that you wish to assign the height to.
The Uplift desk will easily accommodate most people. The desk lowers to a sitting height of around 25″ and raises to a maximum standing height close to 51″. That amount of range will cover the majority of people who will be using the desk.
The desk raises at an average speed of 1.5″ per second, but that will adjust depending on the weight load on the desktop. Adjusting the desk is definitely audible, but at 45dB, it’s not overly loud. You can hear a sample of the sound emitted while adjusting the desk at the beginning of the video embedded above.
As someone without children, I especially like the fact that I can press the memory buttons once, and it will automatically move the desk to the preset height. Some standing desks require that you hold the button throughout the entire range of movement. If I had small children, I’d definitely prefer the requirement of holding the button, but the Uplift way is much more convenient if you don’t have small children who might get themselves in trouble.
With that said, the Uplift desk has safety mechanisms in place that will stop the desk from rising if it feels sudden resistance. I tested this out by suddenly sitting on the desk while it was rising, and the desk stopped and went slightly into reverse to help alleviate any potential obstructions. The opposite is also true. If the desk is lowering, and meets sudden resistance, it will stop lowering, followed by a slight movement in the opposite direction.
Standing desk accessories
I most certainly suggest wearing comfortable shoes while standing. This, along with an anti-fatigue mat will go a long way towards reducing potential leg and foot pain. Here are some of the accessories that are worth considering:
Conclusion
This desk, with its reclaimed wood desktop, its adjustable height and small size, happens to be the perfect second desk for my office. I’ll be using it primarily for unboxings, reviews, and other video-centric showcases.
More than likely, you don’t need a second desk for filming reviews and things of that nature, but I can assure you that the Uplift desk makes for a great primary desk if you’re looking to upgrade to a standing desk.
I’m not going to go back and rehash my thoughts as to whether I think standing desks are worth it or not, or if they make any health differences. You can read my original standing desk post if you want my thoughts on theses particular areas.
I will, however, reiterate the fact that sitting all day can’t possibly be good, just as standing all day can’t possibly be good. Having the ability to sit and stand for parts of the day is the best of both worlds. It’s even better when you have a desk with the desktop build quality of the Uplift.
The Uplift desk lineup starts at $499, and can be built-to-order and shipped out shortly thereafter. All desks come with a very generous 7-year all-inclusive warranty.
Would you ever consider a standing desk for your home office? Sound off in the comments down below with your thoughts and opinions.
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