Review: Staples Union & Scale FlexFit Manual Desk Converter

Standing desk converters are a nice alternative to standing desks, allowing you to go from sitting to standing in seconds without swapping out your tabletop. Unfortunately, very few of these converters look nice; they're often these hulking black structures that ruin whatever aesthetic you were going for.

Staples' house brand doesn't break the mold with its rather drab FlexFit adjustable desk converter, but like all Union & Scale products, this no-frills riser is reliable and affordable.

All Rise

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The assembly didn't take too long, though considering the size of the box it arrived in, I wish Staples would figure out how to ship the riser fully assembled so customers wouldn't have to do anything. That said, you're mostly just adding the keyboard tray.

The FlexFit converter is big (35 width x 32 depth), so you need a relatively large desk to accommodate that size. While Staples advertises that you can stow the FlexFit when you don't need it, it's a little too heavy to do that—you'll most likely leave it as a permanent riser on your desk once you set it up.

The riser supports up to 33 pounds, and it's designed so that your monitor sits on top, with maybe a laptop next to it, and your keyboard and mouse on the tray below. There's plenty of space for the monitor, but don't expect to comfortably work off a sole laptop if you forgo the external screen—you'll be craning your neck, and typing on it won't be natural, especially if you skip the separate keyboard and mouse. Consider a laptop stand if you're looking to elevate just your laptop.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The included keyboard rest is optional to install, though the whole thing is designed to work together. It's a little annoying. I wish you could roll the tray into the riser to hide it, which would go a long way in making the FlexFit look a little more elegant, and could also help with storage. You also can't adjust the height of the tray, so while I didn't have issues typing on a keyboard, I found my wrist cramping up a little when using my Apple Magic Trackpad because it was a little too low. This may or may not be an issue for you—I'm 6' 4" and my limbs are weirdly proportioned.

The FlexFit desk converter ranges in height from 5.9 to 19.6 inches. That's a solid range overall (13 inches total), and I didn't have any trouble using the riser in a sitting position either. Crucially, my monitor has a height-adjustable stand, which helped me position it so that my eyes always hit the top of the screen—that may be something to consider.

The gas-lift height adjustment lever is on the right, and it moves the desk smoothly up and down. Even if you pull it, the whole riser won't crash down—you need to put a little pressure on the desk to have it slide. The whole thing feels sturdy without much wobble.

All Black

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

It's a black laminate desktop and a black metal base, all of which is fine, but a little boring, especially if you have a nice-looking desk. There's a groove on the desktop to route a few cables through to charge devices. Staples includes a few cable organizers in the box so you can route things neatly.

The FlexFit does the job—plop it on a surface, and you'll be able to bring your workstation up to use while standing, or down to use while sitting. Just remember that you shouldn't be sitting all day, but you shouldn't be standing the whole time either. Mix it up, and take frequent breaks with short walks if you can.

There's not much in the way of other features—it'd be nice if Staples had a monitor arm mount to pair with this riser to save some space. You can find cheaper converters from the likes of Flexispot, though I think the FlexFit looks better. Still, Branch's Desk Riser isn't too far in price and kills it on aesthetics. Staples has a better 5-year warranty, though. If you want to try it before committing, the return window is 14 days after receipt.