Crank standing desks may not be the coolest or most convenient sit stand workstations on the market, but they certainly have their place in the modern office set up.
In this post we’ll be taking a look at what exactly a crank standing desk is, along with the pros and cons to help you to decide if this type of desk is right for you.
We’ll also give you the run down on what other options are out there. So read on to find out more.
What is a Crank Standing Desk
Standing desks adjust either manually or electronically. Cranks desks fall into the manual category, and as the name suggests, they raise and lower by means of a crank handle. This if course requires an amount of effort from the user, and crank desks may not appeal to all. Not just because of the effort involved, but because they can seem a little dated next to counterbalance or electric desks.
But let’s take a look at these points. Firstly, we’re being encouraged to be more active throughout our day, especially whilst in the office. So if your crank standing desk takes around 15 seconds to fully raise or lower, is that such a bad thing? If you alternate between sitting and standing every half hour throughout your 8 hour day, that’s just 2 or 3 minutes of moderate effort. But it’s still 2 or 3 minutes of extra activity.
The point being, it’s not actually going to make too much difference to your life either way, so what’s the biggie?
Of course, there are those who suffer with musculoskeletal disorders or repetitive strain injuries who would not be best suited to a crank adjusting desk. This might include users with carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, tendonitis and so on. In these cases, electric or counterbalance adjustment could definitely prove a more viable option.
So maybe it’s more about status. Do you think you would look cooler with an electric standing desk? At the push of a button you could go from sitting to standing in around 5 seconds or less. Or maybe a counterbalance desk – these babies are super smooth and quick, taking literally a second or two for full adjustment.
Personally, I want my desk to do the work for me. Crank handles remind me of the street musicians and barrel organs of days gone by. (OK, so the monkeys were cute, but that’s beside the point. And probably weren’t looked after particularly well. Don’t get me started!) So, for me the crank is a no-no, but they have their plus points.
These manually adjusting workstations require zero electricity, so that’s a bonus for our environment. There’s also less to go wrong with a crank desk. Electric motors tend to have a shorter life than crank mechanisms. Likewise, the spring or gas cylinders on counterbalance desks may become problematic sooner than a crank.
Then there’s the matter of price. Crank desks cost comparatively less than their counterparts, so if you’re on a budget and are looking for a desk with less chance of malfunction, go team crank! Of course, that’s not to say that cranks don’t go wrong, and there are some great value electric or counterbalance desks out there.
Another point to mention is that crank desks tend to have a lower weight capacity than electric or counterbalance desks. Not a problem if you work light or have minimal equipment, but something to bear in mind if you need to support some extra pounds.
So what features matter most to you? Let’s summarise the pros and cons of the crank standing desk…
Crank Standing Desk Pros
- Generally these are best for budget
- There’s less to go wrong with a crank compared to electric or counterbalance desks
- They don’t use electricity – better for the environment
Crank Standing Desk Cons
- They require more effort from the user
- They may not be suitable for users with MSDs / RSIs
- They take longer for full adjustment
- They tend to have a lower weight capacity
Finally, there’s the cool factor. Do they look dated? Or is this just personal opinion….I’ll let you decide on that one.
Other Options
So we’ve mentioned electric and counterbalance desks above. But there are other sit stand options available which may be more suitable for you if you’re short on space or tight on budget.
Standing desk converters can be a great way to reduce your sitting time, without the need to invest in a whole new desk. Desk converters sit on top of your existing desk. Some are single tier, others feature 2 levels to work from. Simply place your equipment on and then raise or lower as required.
Again, you will need to decide between manual or electric adjustment, so bear in mind the above points when deciding. You’ll also need to check the weight capacity – desk converters support a lot less weight than standing desks. They also come in different shapes, sizes and styles, so as always we would encourage you to do your homework before deciding which model is best for you.
The Crank Standing Desk Takeaway
So now you know what a crank standing desk is and how it stands out from the rest – whether that’s in a good way or a bad way, we’ll let you decide. Just be sure to have a think about the pros and cons, and also know which features of a standing desk matter most to you.
Also, remember there are other options available which will allow you to sit less and stand more at your desk. So if you’re not quite ready for a standing desk, why not have a shop around for a standing desk converter? As with any type of workstation, know what you’re working with when it comes to size, the weight of your equipment, ease of use and of course, budget. Happy shopping!
