Kangaroo Sit Stand Workstation Review

The Sit Stand Workstation

With the growing body of research demonstrating the dangers of too much sitting, more and more employers are seeing the benefits of giving their workers the option to stand while they work. Stand up desks have long been the most effective tool to encourage employees to get out of their chair, but few offices have the time and labor to replace all of their desks.

The sit stand workstation, which converts existing fixed-height desks to standing heights, is an easy alternative to a brand new desk. However, these devices, also known as desktop risers, are not without their own disadvantages. Most obvious is the relatively smaller work surface. Stability is also a concern: When compared to the rigidity of both standing and fixed-height desks, these smaller devices have a greater tendency to shake as you type on them. An exception to this rule is Ergo Desktop’s Kangaroo. This sit stand workstation offers a wealth of customization options that modify the available work space, and presents its own ingenious solution to a more stable work surface.

Set it Down, Raise it up

It really is that easy. Out-of-box assembly is fairly simple, and installation is as easy as setting the Kangaroo down on a suitable desktop, where a solid, non-scratch base provides a nice compromise between heft and desk preservation. For a more hands-off process, the Kangaroo can also be shipped fully-assembled, so you’re ready to start your new standing lifestyle right out of the box. Once installed, the Kangaroo’s keyboard and monitor platforms rely on gas-assisted springs and a little bit of human intervention to slide up and down to appropriate heights.

The Kangaroo’s shape is specially optimized for corner desks and cubicles. Both its base and work surface are trapezoidal, to better fit into a workspace’s corners. The steel base has a smaller footprint than the work surface, so you can maintain as clear an area on your desk as possible. Its central adjustment column, positioned in the back, is likewise unobtrusive and won’t get in the way during use. And with its 28″ x 24″ work surface, the Kangaroo provides plenty of its own space for your work.

Adjustability is where the Kangaroo really shines. Its 16″ adjustment range allows users of nearly any height to work comfortably between sitting and standing. Also, Kangaroo sit-stand risers have independently moving monitor mounts, unlike the Varidesk, which doesn’t come with any monitor mounts, or the Winston Workstation, whose monitors are fixed in place on the mounting column. And oh my does this extra bit of mobility help. We always recommend pairing an adjustable height desk with a mobile monitor arm. The reason? If you’re going to work ergonomically, then you need a good bit of space between display and keyboard. One old office hack to solve this is to type with your keyboard in your lap – but that’s not exactly feasible for standing workers. The Kangaroo lets you find the perfect amount of space between monitor and keyboard, protecting your wrists and neck from strain.

Also impressive is the Kangaroo’s lift capacity, which can support monitors up to 34lbs. We don’t expect most users to need that kind of lifting power, but it’s a reliable indication of the Kangaroo’s capabilities.

Sit stand workstations, particularly ones that rely on an adjusting column in the back, have a tendency to shake as you apply force to the work surface. It’s an inconvenience we’ve noticed on the Winston Workstation, the Humanscale Quickstand, and the Workfit-A. Kangaroo’s solution is to prop the front edge of its work surface with an adjustable stabilization leg. This support does add an extra step to the adjustment process, and it certainly isn’t pretty, but it gets the job done more than any other riser on the market. With the stabilization leg installed, we could even lean on the work surface without worrying about the cup of coffee resting on top.

We would advise some caution to the truly tall. Older complaints that the Kangaroo couldn’t be used by anyone over 6’2″ are a little outdated – new ‘Roos can stretch unmodified for anyone up to 6’5″. Taller than that? Never fear, a separately sold keyboard riser can get everything shipshape.

Sit-Stand Workstations of All Sizes

Ergo Desktop’s product line is comprised of a wide variety of offerings for users with different needs. Most users will find that the standard Kangaroo model will work well for them – it’s basic, full-featured, and an extremely solid product. Upgrading to a Kangaroo Pro nets you a swiveling VESA mount for your monitor, which is a more secure mounting method than the standard ‘Roo’s monitor shelf. And the Kangaroo Elite will leverage you dual monitor capability on swiveling VESA mounts, with each monitor adjusting independently. But why stop there if you can add another monitor to the total, and make it three with the Kangaroo Tri-Elite?

There’s even an option for a hybrid solution, called the Hybrid Kangaroo, which combines a laptop platform with a VESA monitor mount so you can use your laptop screen as a second monitor. And if smaller is better for you, you can try one of the junior options, but they carry less weight than their larger siblings. If you’re on the other end of the spectrum and want the most lifting capacity, (not to mention an extra dose of panache), Ergo Desktop offers a motorized Electric Kangaroo which, among other upgrades, can lift up to 150 lbs!

Ergo Desktop also offers a variety of accessories for ‘Roo-lovers. Keyboard extensions are available for both standard and junior models, and increase the work surface’s depth. Detachable side work surfaces, each 11.5″ square, can greatly expand working area. wherever you want, and extra stabilization legs can help keep these new add-ons secure. And don’t worry Mac users: Ergo Desktop has a Kangaroo for you! Mac-compatible Kangaroos (called MyMac’s) come in both standard and pro options.

And to make sure you’re getting the most out of your converter, check out the iMovR Tucker Pro Cable Management Kit for standing desk converters. It’s the first kit on the market designed specifically for standing desk converters.

Price Options

Warranty

Kangaroos also come with a decent warranty – 5 years for their steel frames, and two years for the rest of the ‘Roo.

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