TrekDesk hits the market, exhausts our soles

TrekDesk, the $479 height-adjustable workstation that attaches to a treadmill, joins a growing population of walk-while-you-work desks.

(Credit: TrekDesk)

The TrekDesk press release is packed with all sorts of alarming statistics about adult obesity, as well as alluring statistics about the benefits of walking. The combination is designed to make you want one, and want one now, in spite of the product's $479-sans-treadmill price tag.

Why go for a lovely walk outside, or exercise on an ordinary treadmill inside, when you can walk at your desk--without even sweating? It is "Easy to Do" and "Requires No Extra Effort." (The All Caps mean they Really Mean It.)

TrekDesk is by no means the first attempt to turn sedentary workstations into something less sedentary, and should not be singled out as such. For two years now, the JW Treadmill Desk has boasted a built-in rack for multiple monitors, just in case you don't have enough things going on.

And the aptly named Walkstation's $6,500 price tag seems intended to guilt its owners into years of use to make up for money that could have been spent on such healthy items as gym memberships and fresh produce.

With our increasingly mobile workstations, humans are already eating, driving, and admit it, even using the toilet while working. Now that we can walk while we work, what does a workaholic multitasker have left? Sex?

[freedoms_stain]

I can't really see these springing up in many offices, home offices maybe.

It does seem like a good idea for those who struggle to find time to get in a decent amount of exercise once the rest of their life has been factored in. Personally I'd prefer shorter working hours...

[solitare_pax]

This takes multitasking to the next ridiculous level.

What next? A computer station that will chew our food for us so we don't need to wear out our teeth?

[Frank Mlinar]

Actually this may be a good idea. I find I sit at my desk for too long. This would alleviate guilt associated with taking multiple breaks or allow one to work uninterrupted. You couldn't do it all day long, but it could help. BTW It's really not multitasking.

[surfgal]

I am scratching my head about this write up. Is the author implying we shouldn't be worried about the rising tide of obesity in the US or that finding time to walk during the day would not be beneficial? As for the price, I checked on some adjustable height desks and the cheapest I found was $1200.00 and it did not fit a treadmill. I use a treadmill desk myself ( not as good as those mentioned in the article) and my soles are far from exhausted, I find it empowering.

I read the info on the TrekDesk site, I think they got it right and this author needs to do a little more research before making senseless judgements. What does she suggest? Hula Hooping?

Americans don't walk enough. Simple. That is a health problem. Seems like we should be embracing activity in the office or at home not attacking it.

[heulenwolf]

I'm with you, surfgal. I'd like to see more options like this. I wonder what effect the motion of walking on a treadmill would have on writing and typing but, if that's something you can adapt to, I'm all for it. Some of us are chained to a desk all day for our jobs because that's the nature of the job, the culture of the office, or whatever. There are many reasons to want to be able to get the blood pumping at the office besides being a workaholic.

Of course, requiring an office worker to stand/walk all day every day probably isn't good, either. If there were a few of these in an office of many workers and we could quickly bring our work over to it for something like 30-60 minutes at a time, it could be a very valuable resource. It could also provide a way to share limited resources such as window offices among many employees and help fight the mushroom treatment.

[sullivanjc]

Actually, I think this would be cool not so much for work but for exercising while surfing the the net ("playing" on the computer). That activity requires less concentration and actual typing than work typically does and but would be great for reducing the monotony of walking on a treadmill. The price needs to come wayyyy down though. The treadmill I have only cost about half that.