Considering trying this but it's such an expensive investment, I wanted to get some advice first. I spend most of my day writing code or on phone calls, if you have any experience with either, I'd love to hear about it.
Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
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Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#2save the money and buy an actual treadmill to keep in your office
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#3I was able to try it out for ~1 week.
Can highly recommend.
A cheaper alternative would be two have a 'high' desk with a separate treadmill (haven't tested this one myself, but am considering this setup)
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#4I was able to try it out for ~1 week. Can highly recommend. A cheaper alternative would be two have a 'high' desk with a separate treadmill (haven't tested this one myself, but am considering this setup)
Isn't it too hard to type using it? I tried using something improvised to mimic (I used the high desk as you say) but it was too hard for me to type consistently.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#5Another question for those that do, what speed do you usually walk at?
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#6I did this for a few months when working at home. I bought a used treadmill for $100, and built a desk on top of it using spare parts and material I had lying around. It went pretty well, as I was writing code all day, but sometimes I would still need to stand still or sit when doing something like writing. For what you're doing, you should be fine.
Before spending a lot of money, try out something cheap like a used treadmill and building your desk. If you love it and want something even more convenient, then you may feel more confident about spending more money on it. If you don't like it, well, you found out and didn't have to spend a lot of money!
Edit:
All I did was take the top of an old desk I no longer used and taped it to the top of the desk where the handles are. It wasn't very professional looking, but I didn't care. If you're working in an office, it may be more challenging, as a normal treadmill probably makes more noise than an "official" walking treadmill built for an office. But if you can, still try it out the cheap way first!
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#7When I worked at Salesforce we had these. I loved them. Especially when I had to do something like writing test coverage. It was great being able to just focus on work and walk for an hour or two without even realizing it. There is definitely an adjustment period, just like if you were trying a new keyboard.
If you have the ability to work on something uninterrupted and you get into that 'flow state' I'd say yes go for it, well worth the investment. Phone would be fine though if you have a handsfree setup.
That being said, if you work in a noisy environment with alot of distractions, walking just becomes another added stressor. An additional downside is that you can get sweaty if you forget for how long you've been walking!
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#8It doesn't have to be. I put together my own. Here is what I purchased:
Jarvis Stand Desk Frame Only ($445) Home Depo Door ($60) Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Treadmill Black ($200)
So total of $700~ for basics.
Additionally, to make it look nice I added: WireTamer Cable Trays ($20) Shelf and Drawer Liner Wood Grain (x3 for a total Of $27) LED Lights ($20) Drill-able Cable Clips (x2 for $10) Belkin Power Strip ($22)
Since the higher position meant I started getting hit by the AC stream and I also didn't like people being able to see me through the windows when standing, I added: Frost King Air Deflectors ($10) Gila Privacy Window Film ($30)
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#9Hospital workers at a local hospital have warned me personally to never use a treadmill desk. They tried them for some of the staff and after one injury per week for a while — to people’s noses, mouths, and faces — the treadmill desks were banned outright.
They are not a viable substitute for being away for monitor. It’ll work fine for a while, but the eventual injuries that occur are to the most sensitive human-social area available: your face.
Overwork isn’t worth that. Please take breaks instead of using a treadmill desk.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone use a treadmill desk daily?
#10Hospital workers at a local hospital have warned me personally to never use a treadmill desk. They tried them for some of the staff and after one injury per week for a while — to people’s noses, mouths, and faces — the treadmill desks were banned outright. They are not a viable substitute for being away for monitor. It’ll work fine for a while, but the eventual injuries that occur are to the most sensitive human-soci…
How did that come to pass? Was it people losing their balance and falling?