Getting a great standing desk is only part of the battle. You do have to keep moving, of course, and standing while you work can be tough on your feet. That’s why most standing desk enthusiasts (ourselves included) suggest an anti-fatigue mat for use with your desk. This week we’re looking at five of the best, based on your suggestions.http://ift.tt/1IbZAzx…
Earlier in the week we asked you which anti-fatigue mats were the best, and you turned up some surprising nominations. We only have room for your top five though, so here they are, in no particular order.http://ift.tt/1D4ei6g…
CumulusPRO Commercial Grade Anti-Fatigue Comfort Mat
The mat that earned The Wirecutter’s recommendation for the best anti-fatigue mat comes with a pretty high pedigree. The team at The Wirecutter break down beautifully what you really want in a mat—including the fact that you want it to have some give, but you don’t want it to be too squishy (because that’s just uncomfortable on its own), and that you want one that also encourages you to move around a bit over the course of the day. There are some super expensive mats out there, but this one comes in at $100 for a 24”x36” mat at Amazon, has a soft and supportive core but is still firm enough to stand on for long periods, and the mat features a beveled edge that reduces the chances you’ll trip over it (and makes it easier to clean.) It’s generally a tough thicker than a number of other anti-fatigue mats, but that’s offset a bit by its firmness, and it comes with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.http://ift.tt/1RH94XZ…
Those of you who nominated the CumulusPRO (disclosure, I did) pointed out all of these features specifically, and noted also that those beveled edges won’t curl up over time and long term use. Some of you called out the smaller version of the same mat as an equally good deal if you don’t want—or don’t have—the same amount of space as this one requires, but overall, it’s a good buy if you have the money to drop on it. You can read more in its nomination thread here.
Sky Mat Anti-Fatigue Mat
For about $62 at Amazon (for the brown one, the black one is $68) you can have a more affordable option that’s still comfortable, appropriately thick and firm, but still giving enough to use while wearing shoes or over long periods without making your feet ache. This model is a 20”x39” mat that’s a little thinner and longer than many, but perfect for the space in front of a desk. Like any good mat, this one has a beveled edge to prevent tripping and injury, and also is made of a firm, rubberized material that’s easy to clean and dries quickly. This mat is also designed so the edges never curl, and has just the right amount of give whether you stand all day or just occasionally throughout the day.http://ift.tt/1MBARSZ…
Those of you who nominated the Sky Mat pointed out that you’ve owned yours for ages and love it, and several of you chimed in noting your satisfaction with it as well. You correctly noted that the Sky Mat is the number one anti-fatigue mat on Amazon, and the ratings are full of stories of satisfied customers who are happy with their product—and the price they paid for it. You also praised the Sky Mat for retaining its good looks for years without getting ragged or rough around the edges, which is definitely a testament to its durability. You can read more in its nomination thread here.
SmartCells Anti-Fatigue Mats
SmartCells’ mats come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and specifically tops. The standard smooth-topped 24”x36” anti-fatigue mat will set you back $106 at Amazon, and the 24”x36” version with a textured top is the same price. For a little less, you can get this replaceable carpet-topped model for $130. Either way, the original two are generally what people nominated, and they’re the closest to a standard anti-fatigue mat. SmartCells says their mats have just the right amount of give and can stay in place even under an office chair if you switch between sitting and standing over the course of the day. Instead of having a single core and outer layer, these mats have rubberized “cells” that allow them to adapt to where on the mat you’re standing, kind of like springs on a bed. The SmartCells mats also have beveled edges to prevent tripping, and because of the cells, they’re remarkably firm and supportive to stand on.http://ift.tt/1MBAPue…
Those of you who nominated the SmartCells mats pointed out that it’s that lack of squishiness that drew you to the mats—that they’re supportive without giving too much, and they’re a breath of fresh air if you don’t like super squishy anti-fatigue mats. You also praised the company for its attention to detail and myriad options for different sizes of mats, types of mats, and, most notably, that some of the mats come in different shapes to fit various workspaces that may not always be right a rectangle behind a desk. You can read more in the nomination thread here.
Stanley Utility Mat
This Stanley 24”x36” utility mat will set you back $50 at Amazon, a mere fraction of many of the other mats in the roundup, but that’s because it’s not totally designed to be an anti-fatigue mat for standing desk use. You’re not really supposed to stand on it all day, it’s more of a utility mat that’s supposed to provide some support for your feet while you stand at a workstation, to be resistant to spills and messes, and to be easy to clean. The Stanley mat is certainly all of those things, with its textured top resembling a kind of gunmetal pattern that’s super easy to clean, and the firm, consistent body offering just enough firmness to keep you on your feet without getting uncomfortable. You’ll still need to take periodic breaks and sit or walk around with this one—it’s not designed to be an all-day mat, but it is designed to be easy to clean, difficult to trip over, and perfect for just about any workstation, no matter where it’s located. It packs a 20 year warranty, should you pick one up.http://ift.tt/1c2r5VL…
Those of you who nominated it said that the anti-skid bottom and the textured top make it easy to put anywhere—even indoors—and that it’s rugged enough to take a lot of punishment. Plus you noted that it feels just fine to use with your standing desk, without having to spend a ton of money on a designer anti-fatigue mat with more features but also a much higher price tag. You mentioned that you do use it with your standing desks, and that it’s much thicker than many other standing desk mats—this one’s about one to two inches thick, and that gives it a bit more support than other mats. You also praised it for showing no signs of wear after over a year of use, all day long. You can read more in its nomination thread here.
Smart Step Home Fleur-de-Lys Anti-Fatigue Mat
For $80 at Amazon you can get this just-squishy-enough floor mat that might be too squishy for some (it’s actually a kitchen mat, and not explicitly designed for standing desks, but Smart Step suggests it for any workspace) but just right for others. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and widths, with this one being 36”x20”, which gives you a good deal of space for not a lot of money compared to many of the others. Like the others in the roundup, this one features beveled edges to prevent tripping, a rubberized surface that’s super easy to clean and is resistant to spills and stains, and carries a 7 year warranty in case you need it replaced for any reason. The mat is commercial Polyurethane that’s comfortable and offers anti-slipping features, but is also non-toxic, and puncture and heat-resistant. Plus, if you have a larger workspace, there’s a 72”x20” version that’s only $141.http://ift.tt/1MBAS9m
Those of you who nominated this one (disclosure, it was me again) pointed out that even though it’s not traditionally a standing desk mat, it’s an exceptional mat for general use everywhere, and those people who want a bit more support while standing all day might want something a touch firmer—but I found that it’s just the right balance of squishy and supportive that I actually want to keep moving while I stand on it, which you should do with your standing desk anyway. Plus, the price tag isn’t too bad for the space you get. You can read more in its nomination thread here.
Now that you’ve seen the top five, it’s time to put them to an all-out vote to determine the community favorite:
No honorable mentions this week, since the nominations fell off quickly after the five here. Still, there were a couple of other good ones mentioned in the nomination thread, even though these were by far the most popular. Just remember that if you do go with a good mat and a standing desk, it’s not a panacea—you still need to get around and move regularly. http://ift.tt/1MBAS9u…
Have something to say about one of the contenders? Want to make the case for your personal favorite, even if it wasn’t included in the list? Remember, the top five are based on your most popular nominations from the call for contenders thread from earlier in the week. Don’t just complain about the top five, let us know what your preferred alternative is—and make your case for it—in the discussions below.
The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it didn’t get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it’s a bit of a popularity contest. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!
Photo by SmartCells.