Quick Tip: Adding desk height

Our last Quick Tip looked at adding height to your desk to accommodate your chair. This week we have a great tip for you taller standing desk users: just add wheels.

The Adjustable Desk 129 (found here) is one of the tallest desks on the market, rising to 51”-52” or more depending on the thickness of your desk top. If your standing elbow height is greater than 51” one way to add another 3” of height to your desk is simply to add casters. This of course will work for anyone looking to add a little bit of height to their desk, not to mention mobility. As we mentioned last time, ESI makes desk risers to give your fixed-height desk a lift and they can be used on your height-adjustable desk as well.

Finding the right seat height: HAG Capisco

HAG Capisco Puls, open hip angleSometimes a few inches can make a big difference in comfort when working at your desk. Many clients look to the popular Capisco saddle chair to help alleviate some of the discomfort that comes from sitting at a desk all day. The innovative and ergonomic design of the Capisco chair encourages movement in ways traditional task chairs simply fail. However, the key to unlocking some of the features of the saddle seat is the ability to sit a bit higher than a standard office chair allows. A taller seat height encourages an open hip angle, a crucial component to healthy and active sitting.

The perfect seat height / desk height combination will be slightly different for everyone. Below we’ve outlined the guidelines we work with when talking to clients.

Most task chairs have a maximum seat height ranging from 19”-22”. The standard pneumatic lift on the HAG Capisco and Puls chairs start at 19” and goes up to 26”. A low pneumatic lift is available on the Capisco (16”-21.6” of range) but the benefits of sitting higher in a saddle seat are unmatched at lower heights. We very rarely recommend the low lift for the Capisco.

For a fixed height desk, the target work height range when looking at a Capisco is about 32”. If your work surface (table top) is close to 32” you’ll have no problem getting comfortable in the standard 200mm pneumatic lift.

One idea for adding those crucial few inches is ESI’s desk risers. They are stackable and can add up to 3” to your desk. This can be the difference between a standard 29” desk and the 32” needed to feel the benefits of the Capisco.

Of course, if you have an adjustable height desk 32” is likely to feel incredibly low. I am sitting on my Capisco 26” high, with my adjustable-height desk at 39”. If for whatever reason a sit-stand desk won’t work for you but you are still interested in the Capisco chair, look into something like ESI’s desk risers, or maybe a couple of bricks to add the height you need to maximize the benefits of the Capisco.

Video: HAG H05 Office Chair Review

In keeping with our HAG chair theme this week, here's a video review of the HAG H05 task chair:

The main differences between the H05 and the very similar H04 Credo is the mechanism under the chair and the arm options. The H05 uses one lever under the chair to control both the backrest slider and the seat slider, where the H04 uses two separate controls. The H05 also features optional swing-back arms which is a great option for a lot of users.

Fore more on the H05 task chair by HAG, check out our product page here.

Video: HAG H04 Task Chair Review

Earlier this week we looked at the benefits of micro-movement in HAG desk chairs. These chairs truly are some of our favorites, so we've put together a couple of video reviews of the chairs. Below is the H04 review.

The H04 Credo is one of the best-selling chairs in Scandinavia. The contemporary design and incredible comfort has made this chair incredibly popular all over the world since 1984. For more information on the H04 chair, check out our website.

HÅG Task Chairs: A better way to sit

Micro Movement And Variation: The Secret Sauce Of HÅG Office Chairs

Surely all office chairs allow movement and variation as you work, right? If it's got a swivel base then it moves when you move so why would you need to look at anything different?

Of course all swivel office chairs move as you move that's not in doubt. What we're talking about here is a bit more subtle. If you were to use a chair designed for you body's micro movements for a couple weeks you would appreciate the difference. Especially if you had to go back to an ordinary task chair again, the contrast would be immediately noticeable.

Let's look at this a bit more closely.

Chairs designed for movement and variation

For many years Norwegian seating manufacturer HÅG has been promoting the importance of movement and variation as you work in your chair. The mechanisms on its seats operate differently to the vast majority of office chairs. Its chairs are designed to let individual users reach a balanced working position.

It's actually something you don't necessarily notice while you work in a HÅG chair. How it works is you adjust the chair to your body's weight until you have body and chair in perfect balance with each other. Then, as you shift you body weight while working the chair actually moves with you.

The movement isn't some wild gyration, rather it shifts gently as you change position. One of the most notable features is how the chair back remains in contact with your back giving great support.

Why most office chairs don't promote healthy movement

Most good office chairs adjust for height, seat angle and user weight to allow comfortable reclining. So it's only natural to assume that this is all that you need. Where these chairs fall down is they rarely compensate for all the little movements you make while you work. Chances are you don't even notice the changes of position you make. And after a while you find yourself shuffling and shifting around trying to get more comfortable. This is only natural because our bodies were designed for movement and so crave constant little changes to keep muscles active. 

How HÅG's micro movement chairs are different

A HÅG task chair is designed to provide micro movement support. So as your muscles tire and yearn for a change of posture the mechanism in the chair moves the chair with you and supports your body. As a result you actually keep making small movements and adjustments to your working position without even realizing it.

Because this works so well you don't find yourself shifting your body around in your chair trying to find comfort. HÅG chairs move with you. The continuous balanced support mechanism takes care of all your little moves and changes of posture. And there aren't any issues with stability as the chair is completely stable as you move.

Why movement is vital for long term health

These days there is a lot of talk about the health risks of excessive sitting. Many people are looking to alternatives like adjustable height desks which do offer a great way of getting more movement into their working day.

However if you are stuck with a fixed height desk it actually makes good sense to consider investing in a HÅG chair. Once you sit in one for any length of time you will quickly notice the difference in comfort, especially if you have to switch back to your old chair!

More about HÅG chairs

HÅG offers a number of great seating solutions for encouraging movement and variation as you work. Its H04 and H05 chairs have manual controls which are quick and easy to set up, both are great chairs. Short built people find the H04 works very well for them. And if you want a chair with that top of the range look the H09 makes an excellent choice.