Looking for a way around the serious health issue of sitting at your desk all day without quitting your job? The founder of Keen Shoes is venturing into furniture with an upright workstation called Locus.
According to a mountain of research, sitting all day spells serious trouble for your health. The average person spends a third of his or her lifetime sitting down -- from computer to commute to couch -- which lowers blood sugar, decreases blood flow, and puts you at risk for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
To counteract this problem, Martin Keen, founder of the hybrid footwear brand, started working at a standing desk years ago, but after finding it too tiring opted to devise his own chair -- a hybrid between sitting and standing.
The sleek and simple Locus has a similar aesthetic to an architect's worktable, without any bells and whistles. Its small leather seat is more for leaning than sitting, and the downward tilt makes it difficult to completely rest (and zone out). And that's all part of the goal: to improve balance and mental focus.
You can preorder the Locus, which will ship this fall. Early adopters can purchase the chair for $500 and desk for $950. After the first 1,000 orders, prices bump to $650 for the chair and $1,150 for the desk.
Other office chairs designed to keep you moving while at work include the prototype chair Fitness@Work, which comes equipped with built-in features for stomach crunches, rowing exercises, and arm exercises.
Or you can try the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk, a desk that fits over an existing treadmill ($479/€358). Another option: Walkstations by Steelcase range from $3,500 and $4,500 (around €2,700 and €3,500) -- roughly double the price of a regular height-adjustable workstation.
Prefer cycling while computing? Check out the FitDesk X Compact Pedal Desk for $249.99.
