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Posted In: Custom Home Plans

Aubrey Farhart says...

The TrekDesk arrived in a timely fashion.Assembly was not too difficult or time consuming. I was able to assemble it by myself without assistance.It is important that you have a power drill with a philips head screwdriver bit, because there are many screws to put in place and doing it manually would take forever. The desk is sturdy, attractive, and very well designed and constructed. It serves its intended purpose very well.I am strolling on my treadmill as I write this.I am amazed at the reality of being able to get exercise while using a computer at the same time. The walking is almost effortless yet I am covering miles every day.My one item of concern to mention is the adjustable height of the desk.It is important that it is set up so that it is ergonomically correct for your body, so that you are not straining in any way to see the screen or use the keyboard. Your forearms are supposed to be parallel to the floor when you type. The TrekDesk is just right for me in that respect, but only with it set at the lowest height setting. I am five foot seven inches tall. I'm not the tallest guy around but there are certainly plenty of people that are shorter than I am that would want to use this product. I think that they might have a problem with this. Actually, it's not just your height to take into consideration, because someone might be a bit taller than I am but have longer arms. That person would need a lower height setting than the desk provides for. My treadmill is a new Reebok V8.90. I'm happy with that so far, and the walking surface is between 7 and 8 inches above the floor. That is, with the incline set at 1 degree. The surface of my desk is about 39 inches higher than the treadmill surface, and about 46 inches above the floor. The bottom line is that anyone considering purchasing this item should try to investigate the height issue if you are around five foot seven or shorter. Measure the distance from the floor to your elbow when you stand. If that measures less than approximately 39 inches, and your treadmill belt is 8 inches above the floor or less, you may have a problem.

I think that it would be a good idea for the TrekDesk people to consider making the desk able to accommodate shorter people in future versions of this product.Overall I am thrilled with it and hope to use it for a very long time.

Posted on May 26, 2011

Gladys Gally says...

With any sedentary similiar to mine, calorie burn rates are pretty low.Given that weight goes on easy and prevention of weight gain was almost impossible just by limiting calories for me.This desk has been the break through for this problem



TrekDesk has allowed me to walk at a rate of 2 mph for up to 3 to 5 hours a day when in my office and burn over a 1000 cals per day and log well over 20000 steps per day.It does not hamper work productivity.



On items that require a lot of heavy duty concentration, I have found that sitting might be better than trying to walk at my 2 mph rate ( I haven't been able to convince myself to walk at .5 mph where I might be able to concentrate more effectively).But checking email, regular mail, writing simple reports, performing basic office stuff, etc. the desk has not been a constraint.Phone calls are a easy as well.



The desk comes unassembled.If you're somewhat handy, assembly is not a problem.Some might need some help even though the instructions are good.



Overall it's a breakthrough item for me to overcome the health risks associated with my sedentary occupation.

Posted on May 26, 2011

Agnes Dougall says...

Like others, I too was waiting for this product, trying to be patient. I'd looked at other similar products, but none were quite right. I am happy to say that it was worth the wait! I need to spend a lot of time on the computer (I teach online courses), and my body was not reacting well to sitting so much. I can honestly say that this is just plain awesome.



Pros: large desk area, sturdy construction, fits over most treadmills, cut out allows easier access to the whole desk, accessory slots



Cons: assembly instructions could be a lot more clear, had to get desk pad (desk surface is too rough for writing), cord management would be helpful

Posted on May 27, 2011

Belen Lookadoo says...

I did a lot of research on this because I really wanted to be more mobile during work hours.It literally is a "pain" to just sit all day.I found the Trekdesk but the product was not available for ordering (still in production). I checked other vendors, but I liked the Trekdesk design best.So I waited for Trekdesk to send out the announcement.



I received my Trekdesk and used the Youtube video to help me put it together.It was a bit of a challenge -- but I got it done.The desk is huge!Trekdesk recommends you walk at speed of 1 - 1.5.Speed 1 was too slow, so I walked at 1.5 -- that was too slow -- so now I am at speed 2.I found that I can do all my normal admin functions, except when I need precise "mouse clicking action."I straddle the treadmill and then get back on.



I had to keep changing my shoes to find a comfortable pair my feet could bear for the long walks.Then, I saw the ad for the Shape-Ups and had to drive all the way to San Diego, because no other local store stocks.They are comfortable and Skecher store has a 30 day return policy --can't lose!



I love my Trekdesk!If you are working from home - it's a great way to work and burn calories!I would highly recommend it.

Posted on May 27, 2011

Marci Northrup says...

I bought a TrekDesk, have been using it for over two weeks and love it!I have had lower back pain for over 20 years and feel it gets worse by sitting all day.My company has a corporate wellness program and has been promoting "walking meetings", so when I learned about TrekDesk, I figured why not walk at my desk?



I work for a commercial real estate company and in our environment, we are all in cubicles.When my TrekDesk arrived I bought a treadmill at Costco, went in on a Saturday with a buddy, removed my workstation desktop, wheeled the treadmill into my cube and then assembled my TrekDesk.The whole process, installing the treadmill and assembling the TrekDesk took just over an hour.The instructions were easy to follow and desk adjusted so that the ergonomics recommended were optimized for my computer setup on my new worksurface.



There are 16 cubicles in my work area, so come Monday morning I was curious as to how my cubemates would react to my new setup.After everyone got over the novelty of it, we all settled back to our normal routines.The treadmill is quiet and has not disturbed anyone in my area.Have also found that walking at approx 1.5 mph is not a problem at all.Have settled into a program where I walk all morning and generally 2 - 3 hours in the afternoon.No problems wearing my comfortable (rubber soled) dress shoes.



My back feels better, energy level is higher and my productivity is up.Only complaint I have is that I wish I had one 20 years ago!

Posted on May 28, 2011

Kendall Harts says...

I have had my Trek Desk for one week and I can tell you it is used alot.I get on in the morning and go through my emails and web surfing.That took me 4 miles one morning.I will get on again during the day and make my phone calls and then get on again at night when I either want to surf or look at email.I have moved my whole home office into our exercise room.My husband is jealous because he keeps asking when is it his turn. He brings everyone into my "new" office.I have told everyone that now you can surf, make phone calls, do everything without feeling guilty.Not bragging but I even do my knitting when I just want to relax at a slower pace.Thanks for helping me get motivated to get healthy.

Posted on May 28, 2011

Raguel Higgin says...

I have had a desk job for the past 5 years.I was feeling it: sore back, sciatic nerve pain, gained 15 pounds, lousy sleeping patterns, felt like a lump of clay when I went home every night. Nine hours a day dedicated to an early grave!I always promised myself I would start exercising regularly.But, like many people, I never chose to make that a priority.I finally started pursuing a treadmill with stand-up desk option after my doctor told me I was killing myself.I looked and looked for 6 months, never satisfied with either the quality or the price.Finally, last September, 2009, I found what I had been looking for, and I knew it instantly when I saw it.



My TrekDesk arrived in early October, 2009.I had already found a high-quality treadmill in the want ads, one that sold for $2,500 new, but was being sold for $750. Deal!HINT: don't skimp on the quality of the treadmill you use; it's worth the effort to get the right one.I use a Precor USA and it is solid and quiet.I put together the TrekDesk with not too much difficulty.After speaking with the good folks at TrekDesk, giving them feedback, they told me they have greatly improved the assembly instructions process since I bought mine (I was one of the first buyers they had).Assembly instructions were my only complaint about this desk, be it very minor, but it sounds like they're taking care of that.Good people!



The desk design and price combined are what sold me on this desk, and I haven't changed my mind.I love how you stand in the indent shape, with desk space to the left and right of you.I've mounted an external monitor to the wall, so I have two screens to work from.My customers never even notice I'm walking on the treadmill while I talk (provided that I'm using my headset and NOT the speaker phone).Anyone that complains about the desk's quality is just a whiner.Sure, it was not meant to be leaned upon much (or you get movement in the desk), nor is it a good idea to have it touching the treadmill (possible vibration from your feet landing on the treadmill deck).Neither of these issues HAVE to be issues because the desk is designed to stand alone, free from the treadmill.



I actually disassembled the bars coming up from the treadmill, so my treadmill's control console is sitting up on the right-hand, front corner of the desk.It works wonderfully!The desk bears plenty of weight and I confess, I'm a clutter-bug!No complaints about any of the desk's functionality.The included accessories are perfect!



Anyway, I was being laughed at by all my coworkers about this quest to walk all day as I worked, using the phone and the computer intensely.They said I couldn't walk and type or walk and talk without being compromised in focus or quality.Well, they're not laughing anymore!I've lost over 12 pounds and I haven't changed my eating habits one bit.I feel great!I walk, on average, about 7 miles per day.Taking into consideration that I have to sit in meetings and do other tasks away from my desk, that's quite respectable, I think.



My posture is better, my focus is better, my energy with my customers is better, I love my job even more; there are no downsides to my choices here!None whatsoever!About the only time walking all day gets to be a drag is when I haven't walked much over the weekend (then Mondays are a little rough by 4PM), or when I've chosen to stay up late and not get much sleep; the following day is going to be a 4 to 5 mile day, that's all.I started tracking my actual walking patterns in December, 2009.Now it's a highlight to my day to see the numbers on my spreadsheet.The current log for me right now? Here goes:



Actual days of walking (business days): 36

Total hours:minutes walked: 182:45

Average miles per day: 6.6

Average miles per hour: 1.3



I wish I had started logging this in October when I first set it up!



I had bought a small, separate, sit-down desk when I first set this all up, anticipating the possible need to sit for part of the day.Well, in the average week, I only sit at that desk for maybe an hour or two.



If you realized how much of a life-changer this would be for you, you would be buying this desk today and you would start your journey.TrekDesk is the best option I've seen out there, considering quality AND price.You can buy other desks that have more features (like electric motors for adjustable height), are more sturdy (although TrekDesk's desk is plenty sturdy if you use it right), etc., but you'll pay twice as much or more for it.



This has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.When I go home I have no battle with the guilt of not exercising, because I did it all day and I feel great!The compliments from people who notice the difference is in no way a downside either!



Buy this desk and start living again!!!



Thanks, TrekDesk, you guys are great!

Posted on May 29, 2011

Rochelle Vrazel says...

I saw the benefits of a trek desk on TV early in 2009 and waited patiently until the product was released and a few reviews had been posted.Then I took the plunge and made my own purchase.My job has me in a chair at a desk all day long and sitting for hours was killing my health.So, I hoped that the Trek Desk would be the remedy and I waited for a few weeks of use to write my review. I love my Trek Desk and it was worth the money.



Here are the pros:

1) It's exactly what I had hoped for. I've gradually, day by day, transitioned the activities I did in my chair at my desk to my Trek Desk.But make no mistake, it is a transition to change those habits of where you "do your work". So, give it several weeks to get used to your new workspace.

2) In no time at all on a daily basis, without giving it a thought, I walk 3 miles and I'm in the middle of the work transition between chair/desk & Trek Desk.

3) It's a spacious work surface--I have my laptop, my monitor, phone, papers spread out and no shortage of work space.

4) It's easily moveable away from your treadmill(but a bit awkward to move by one person because its large).



Here is the only con: Installation

1) Yes, installation was intimidating and the written instructions are not the place to start--watch the video. I asked my husband to put this together for me as a favor (because he is good at this kind of thing) and it still took him over 45 minutes.He watched the video twice and understood what he had to do.He wasn't at all confused, but it still took that much time to put together.

2) It took two of us to lift it up after installation and to easily put it in place--so call a friend over for assistance!I wouldn't have wanted to be lifting this myself.

3) You need space to put it together and maneuever the desk into position onto the treadmill.

4) When they tell you that you need a power screw driver/drillbit--yes, you do!



Advice to become a happy trek desk user:

1) Expect that the first 3 days, you will spend time experimenting/adjusting it higher/lower as you figure out what works best for you ergonomically and for access to your treadmill controls.

2) I think it's unlikely that someone would instantly be able to shift 100% of his/her work from his/her previous work setting to the trek desk.Recognize that you are "breaking" old work habits and allow for a gradual transition.

3) I found, because I'm a bit clumsy, that I had to acquire some new habits of combining walking and working to avoid dumb outcomes (losing my balance!).

4) Some positions for me were awkward--if I'm walking forward, my work had to be in front of me (and not to the side). The desk is large enough that you could be turned to the side left or right, but I can't manage that unless perhaps I slowed the treadmill down.

5) I tend to get on and off the treadmill alot, so I need easy access to the pause button.

6) I have found it motivating to let the mileage accumulate on the treadmill display all day. Otherwise, I don't think I'd be aware of just how far I've actually walked.

Posted on May 29, 2011

Cedrick Winebrenner says...

I've been looking at workspace / desk options for a couple of years.I first saw the concept of "Walk / Work" with a product made be SteelCase. Theirs is a nice looking unit with a built-in treadmill, but two major problems: 1) Extremely expensive, and 2) The built-in treadmill is essentially featureless.So I kept looking and came across TrekDesk.I dropped some hints with my wife about the TrekDesk for Christmas and sure-enough, there was a huge box under the tree on Christmas morning.I put the TrekDesk together in about 25 minutes with only minor tools, and not-so-handy handyman skills.I found the TrekDesk simple and easy to put together... some reviews here suggest that it is difficult to assemble. Personally, I'm all thumbs and found it very simple, with good pictures and diagrams in the assembly directions.



Despite the advice at TrekDesk, I thought it would be a good idea to put the speed up on the Treadmill to 2-3mph (seemed slow compared to Gym workout), however i found within a few minutes that was much too fast.After 6 weeks of near-constant use, I find that anywhere from .8-1 mph is perfect for me.That is the speed (for me) that I can carry on a very normal conversation, type comfortably, file, sort, etc.At that rate, I get more energy than I give... overall a very comfortable pace.By the way I bought the NordicTrak Elite 9500 pro for about $850 and find it to be a great match with the TrekDesk. The tread portion of the 9500 is long enough that I can actually run on the treadmill for my workouts without needing to move or adjust my desk.



Six weeks in:



1.) Very Even Energy -- no afternoon lows, or mid-morning blahs... I have consistent energy during the day (averaging about 5-6 miles / day)

2.) Low Back Pain Gone -- I've had chronic lower back pain for years.I'm now convinced that pain was from tight hip flexors caused by sitting in conventional chair all day.My back pain isn't better, it is completely gone.

3.) Weight Loss -- I wasn't expecting or wanting to lose weight, so not a big surprise there for me.If I ate the same amount of food and made the same choices I used to make... I'd probably be losing at least 1 lb / week.I view this more as a "eat-whatever-you-want-and-not-gain-weight" proposition!



I thought that I'd want to keep my old sitting desk and have the TrekDesk for a couple of hours each day, but I'm 100% on the TD now (averaging 25-30 miles / week), and no longer have a sit desk at the office. The office staff thinks I'm a bit wierd, but I've never felt better and had more fun at the office.

Posted on May 29, 2011

Lory Logel says...

I have been waiting for months for the Trekdesk to be released.I ordered mine minutes after receiving the email that it was available to order (I was on the waitlist).I had lofty expectations for this product. Now that I have been using it for a few days I can safely report that Trekdesk has met all my expecations.I am thrilled with my new office routine!



Let me start with the bad to get it out of the way.I am nit-picking here. These are fairly minor complaints.

THE BAD:



- Assembly instructions could be more helpful.It took me 45 minutes to assemble the desk, although I admitedly am not much of a handyman.Others could probably assemble it in half that time. The instructions were detailed, but do not have drawings/pictures which would have been very helful to me.The video helped some, but I wish it also was more detailed in showing assembly steps.I was surprised at the number of parts to assemble...and the number of screws.It would be helpful to have the different size screws in separate bags instead of all in one bag.



- Difficulty accessing the treadmill control panel under the Trekdesk.I believe Trekdesk recommends a treadmill with a side panel instead of the panel in front.However, my treadmill has the front panel, which sits under the Trekdesk.I can't see the treadmill display without performing gymnastic contortions. Also, must reach under the Trekdesk to press the start/stop buttons on the treadmill.However, after a few hours I was used to the routine.I haven't changed the speed or incline on the treadmill since the first day anyway, so no need to have easy access to the control panel.



- cord control.They should add features for tying down cords somewhere.Between the computer, monitor, phone, printer, etc....lots of cords running from the desk.



- Not a full-time desk.I found that I like to alternate between a chair and the treadmill during the day.I work/walk for a couple hours and then spend a half hour sitting at the desk.However, I have only been using the treadmill for 2 days and noticed that today I spent a lot more time on the treadmill than I did the first day.Ok, you have probably guessed I am not the picture of fitness (yet).



Now for all the good stuff...

THE GOOD:

- solid construction. When I ordered I was a little worried this would be a cheap product because the price was a fraction of other treadmill workstations.However, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the desk when unpacking the box.



- packaging.Speaking of unpacking..no way this desk will be damaged during shipping.All parts are fit into layers of custom-molded styrofoam.



- video tutorial for assembling.



- adjustable height.I am 6' 3, and the Trekdesk fits me perfectly when I am on the treadmill.I could still raise it a couple more inches if I wanted to.



- customer service.I emailed customer service with a question and received a response and helpful instructions within an hour.



- large desk.Plenty or room for a work area, even with a laptop docked and a monitor/keyboard/mouse.



- the best news of all is that it works!I feel great during and after work.I have been working from home for quite some time now, and have been feeling more and more lethargic sitting in my chair all day long.What a difference the Trekdesk makes!I had more energy today at work than I have had in a long time. It only took minutes to get used to walking while typing away at the keyboard or using the mouse.The setup feels quite natural now.I use all the accessories that came with the desk, especially the cup holders.Those are a nice touch.Overall, I have no reservations about recommending the Trekdesk.It has been well worth the purchase price to me.

Posted on May 30, 2011