VertDesk Standing Desk Giveaway

by Brett and Kate McKay on January 11, 2013 · 5,538 comments

It’s a new year, and that often means new resolutions. It is estimated that half of all Americans make some type of New Year’s Resolution. Can you guess the most popular? You got it — lose weight! Coming in just a few spots behind is to get fit and stay healthy. Unfortunately, only 8% of all resolutions are actually achieved. We’d like to help you out as you start the new year, and the new you, so we are giving away a standing desk from Beyond The Office Door. The benefits of a standing desk — from health to focus (as well as the harms of sitting in a chair all day) — are well documented. Get off your keister and start working like the manly writers and statesmen of old.

The Prize

The VertDesk is an electric adjustable height desk. That’s right, with the simple push of a button, you can move your work station up or down. It’s a 30″ x 36″ model, available with either a cherry or hardrock maple top color (winner gets to choose). The motor can lift up to 200 lbs, and it adjusts from 28″ high to 46.5″. Plug it in, and watch it smoothly move up and down at about an inch per second. The easy adjustability means you can switch from sitting to standing throughout the day. Click here to watch a video of the VertDesk in action.

This is a $689 value!

How To Enter

Entering is easy: simply tell us what kind of work you’ll be doing on your new standing desk. Writing the great American novel? Sorting through TPS reports?

Please be patient if your comment doesn’t show up right away! We moderate all comments, so your comment will not show up immediately. But it went through….so don’t post multiple comments!

If you’re an email subscriber and want to enter the contest, do not reply to the email to make your entry! You must click on the comment link here in the email and leave a comment under the post to enter.

A winner will be drawn randomly from the entries. The deadline for entry into the giveaway is Jan. 18, 2013. This post will be updated within 72 hours of the deadline with the winner’s name.

Good luck!

***UPDATE***

One winner was randomly drawn from the comments. And the winner is:

Keith Kuric, from Knox, IN

Congrats Keith!

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5401 James January 17, 2013 at 2:56 pm: I will be usuing it to write the Great American Novel and the Great American Screenplay.
5402 Joe January 17, 2013 at 3:00 pm: I will manage my team of analysts in other cities and keep fit at the same time. Thanks for the opportunity.
5403 Tank January 17, 2013 at 3:10 pm: I would be using the desk to compete my bachelor’s degree and then start my master’s.
5404 Robert January 17, 2013 at 3:10 pm: I’ll be editing science textbooks and other resources for middle school kids while working on short short stories in my spare time.
5405 Patrick January 17, 2013 at 3:12 pm: Studying for my fundamentals of engineering exam.
5406 Rose January 17, 2013 at 3:15 pm: My husband was just telling me how much he would love one of these for when he is working on data analysis at home. I’d love to surprise him with one of these!
5407 Eric Jacobson January 17, 2013 at 3:20 pm: This would be PERFECT for my man cave! (Now that the kids are gone, I got the loft :-)
I have recently rediscovered the joy of handwriting with a nice fountain pen and this would be a great tool to help in that endeavor.Plus it plenty big to hold the notebook and ink bottles and othe stationary items.
5408 Michael Crago January 17, 2013 at 3:28 pm: I spend 6 or more hours sitting in lecture Monday through Friday. Then I come home to sit at my desk and study. I would love to have a standing desk! Not only will it increase my overall health, standing will help me focus so I spend less time studying altogether!
5409 Kim H January 17, 2013 at 3:29 pm: I am a college geography student, and on a standing desk I would produce Geographic Information Systems including flow analyses of major rivers, elevation modelling of islands threatened by coastal sea-level rises and attempt to develop my own iPhone app for mapping emergency refugee camps in crisis regions (though I am far from achieving that at present). I also have back problems (scoliosis) so a standing desk would make college a whole lot more enjoyable.
5410 Dz Le January 17, 2013 at 3:29 pm: Sitting for 6+ is not part of our (the homo sapiens’) natural lifestyles. So essentially working while standing, I’m saving my life and essentially securing future lives. :D
Apart from the usual word processing, I can see myself producing music and DJing from time to time on top of this magical desk.
5411 Andy January 17, 2013 at 3:33 pm: I’d use it at work – I’ve been having a really hard time getting my posture right at the office, and it’s really bugging me :(
5412 Cole Madell January 17, 2013 at 3:37 pm: I’ve been a really lazy student in the first couple years of my degree. I’ve just recently discovered The Art of Manliness, and it has totally changed my outlook on my education, social life, and overall inspired me to become a better man. I would use this desk to get down to work and create a new start in my University career as a Biology student.
5413 Justin January 17, 2013 at 3:40 pm: I work in behavioral research and I am prepping for the MCAT. I spend 15 hours a day sitting at a desk, using a computer, reading manuals and notes, and doing phone interviews.

I’ld love to be able to get off my ass during the day.
5414 Guillermo January 17, 2013 at 3:49 pm: I will be using my awesome desk to sling some code and work on my calves while am I at it!
5415 Matt Stockwell January 17, 2013 at 3:55 pm: Teleworking by day, studying law by night, creating my board game by…later at night?
5416 Mark January 17, 2013 at 3:58 pm: Homework, mostly… this particular semester is Systems Analysis & Design.
5417 David January 17, 2013 at 4:02 pm: At 30 years of age, I find myself back in school as a seminarian. It’s never something I imagined when I graduated from college. That said, I’d love to have a VertDesk for two reasons:

1. As an older guy I find the long hours of study to be very tiresome, especially as I have to work a bit harder than the young minded college age students. Additionally, I recently found that I study more efficiently, and with much less back pain, when I work on my assignments while standing. The problem I now face is how to turn this realization into a reality when it comes to paper writing. I find myself writing a good deal of papers for my philosophy and theology classes. That said, it’s difficult, or at least it’s getting old, to stand then lean over to type a thought on my computer then stand back up to think and then shortly there after lean over again to check another source on the table. As you can see, a cycle like that would become very tiresome, especially after many hours. Long story short, the solution seems to be the VertDesk.

2. Again as an older guy, I’ll take the opportunity to burn a few more calories everywhere I can, especially when I’m having to spend more time on my studies then others might, which happens to cut into time I could be spending doing more exercise.

All in all, I see the VertDesk as a helpful tool for both physical and mental health, as well as providing an avenue for greater productivity. Hopefully you agree and find me to be the best candidate to receive a VertDesk. Either way, thanks for the great website you produce!
5418 Michael January 17, 2013 at 4:03 pm: I will use this desk to write code. The code is used for artists tools, The tools are used by artists to create VFX for movies. VFX usually blows stuff up. So I will use this desk to blow stuff up.
5419 Brian January 17, 2013 at 4:05 pm: I will be developing my core and saving my back while solving problems for my software consulting clients which will allow me to spend more time with my lovely wife and daughter!
5420 Rob January 17, 2013 at 4:08 pm: I will be doing college homework onthis bad boy
5421 Lucas Dunne January 17, 2013 at 4:13 pm: to prevent myself from going hours and hours on the computer vegging out. as well as writing uni papers and hopefully being more productive.
5422 Jamie Taylor January 17, 2013 at 4:21 pm: I would be using it to plan and teach lessons. I am a history, health, and PE teacher at a small K-12 school, and being able to stand up at my desk without having to bend over constantly to find a document on the computer or write something down would be so helpful to the flow of my classroom and my own health. Awesome!
5423 Christopher January 17, 2013 at 4:22 pm: I’ll be paying bills on it.
5424 Daniel January 17, 2013 at 4:22 pm: I’ll use the VertDesk to greatly improve my health while adding efficiency to the operation of my business.
5425 NG January 17, 2013 at 4:23 pm: saving the world, one filing at a time.
5426 Ben Krug January 17, 2013 at 4:27 pm: I’m a physics student at CU, and my work involves a whole lot of number crunching. Currently, my desk is simply a record player console that I’ve managed to squeeze a laptop onto. It would sure be nice to be able to move this console into the common room and blast some old Sinatra while working out the next Nobel Prize-winning equation, all the while preventing bad posture and ensuring better health and productivity.
5427 Jefferson Burruss January 17, 2013 at 4:32 pm: I will not be sitting on a yoga ball at my desk, which I am convinced will be mocked without mercy by all children of the current generation when they reach adulthood. It’s the poodle skirt of the twothousandteens or whatever the hell we’re calling this decade. I will be standing.

I will be using the stand up desk in the house or office, where I may or may not be writing the great American novel. Or just online shopping. Or watching stupid YouTube videos.
5428 Dan Fields January 17, 2013 at 4:34 pm: I am planning on making a career change at 30 and I will be going back to school. A standing desk would be a wonderful motivator to help eliminate the procrastination habits of my youth.
5429 Mike C January 17, 2013 at 4:42 pm: applying all sorts of technology to higher ed teaching and learning. at this time my desk is standing on cinder blocks. safety first!
5430 Joel K. Davis January 17, 2013 at 4:56 pm: I am starting a business with my tax returns this year and will be using this standing desk at home as my office desk.
5431 Thomas E January 17, 2013 at 5:08 pm: I will be studying civil and transport engineering along with pursuing my goal of publishing a novel before I turn 18. I could also put my computer on the desk and use it to continue development of a website for my churches mission work in Nepal.
5432 Daniel January 17, 2013 at 5:11 pm: I will be designing a deck for my new home.
5433 DC January 17, 2013 at 5:13 pm: I will be folding laundry for my six little ones on it.
5434 Michael Rohan January 17, 2013 at 5:29 pm: I will use the vertical desk prize for my college assignments, writing a contractarianism theory for romantic relationships, and writing my daily journal entry. Thanks for the offer.
5435 Andrew January 17, 2013 at 5:35 pm: I would be briefing cases and drafting memos like a champion law student on this thing! I’ve been wanting one forever. I had actually started plans to convert my desk to a standing desk, but this would be much nicer!
5436 Roe Gammon January 17, 2013 at 6:05 pm: I will write letters to my soon-to-be wife and will continue studying to hopefully improve the efficiency of jet propulsion in hopes of bringing aviation’s golden years to the regular man. Amazon provides anyone with the ability to learn advanced subjects for only a few dollars a book; thus making anyone the next great innovator.
5437 Jeff A. January 17, 2013 at 6:35 pm: I’m a graphic designer with back problems…a shock, I know! I’ll be using the VertDesk to help eliminate that problem. Then I’ll move on to getting rid of my dental problem, my Low T, and various and sundry other problems. You won’t find a more worthy recipient of this desk, I promise! And even if you do, you should still give it to me.
5438 Alexandria Chiesa January 17, 2013 at 6:42 pm: I work for a men’s custom tailoring studio in downtown Boston and I love reading your site everyday for new info on men’s lifestyle! As a woman, I need to constantly read up on what is important in a man’s life today, whether it be related to clothing, jobs, family etc. Many of my clients come to me for all sorts of advice beyond suiting and without your help I wouldn’t be as confident in offering my advice. With that said, most of my work day is spent sitting at a fitting table or at a desk submitting orders etc. I would love to have the opportunity to use and to feature a standing desk at our studio. It would be a great way to get involved in a healthier lifestyle for both our studio and our clients. It will certainly be appreciated by many if we win! Thank you!
5439 David January 17, 2013 at 6:45 pm: I will use it to pen a manifesto for the modern man to ensure such traits of proper Mandom will never vanish from this Earth.
5440 Zac January 17, 2013 at 6:52 pm: I’d give the desk to my Dad. After running his own motorcycle shop for nearly thirty years, it went out of business and he’s had to take a desk job. He’d love to be able to get back on his feet.
5441 James January 17, 2013 at 6:53 pm: I’ll be studying economics and painting in my spare time.
5442 DF Green January 17, 2013 at 7:11 pm: I sit at the kitchen counter most of my day. I homeschool my children and am the editor of a local paper.This desk is a much healthier option! I will be using this desk for school related activities, as well as writing articles for our community. I just might have to write about this desk!
5443 Frederick Clark January 17, 2013 at 7:14 pm: I would replace my desk for performing engineering review and writing field reports. I have been contemplating pulling the trigger on a standing desk for some time, but I have yet to do so.
5444 Dan January 17, 2013 at 7:18 pm: I would use it for work-work, school-work (I’ve started taking classes again!), and writing nice – and cheesy – notes for the amazing lady in my life!

And! It would be a central feature in the future mancave after said lady and I tie the knot (which will be very soon)!
5445 Daniel Lowery January 17, 2013 at 7:25 pm: I really enjoy writing poetry and prose. I can imagine many an hour would be spent standing behind that desk letting my creativity fill up many journals.
5446 Spencer January 17, 2013 at 7:28 pm: I am a homeschool student in high school. I don’t have a desk. This desk would definitely help with my studies. It would also serve as a great work station to complete my Eagle scout project.
5447 Chris Lambert January 17, 2013 at 7:32 pm: I would put it to good use studying engineering.
5448 E. Peyton January 17, 2013 at 7:35 pm: I will finish degrees in philosophy and journalism..and I’m pretty sure my days of writing won’t end there..
5449 Christian January 17, 2013 at 7:41 pm: I will be using it to write and edit deployment plans for my Soldiers.
5450 Ray Robinson January 17, 2013 at 7:46 pm: I will love this desk as I si… stand and create strategic communications plans.
5451 Jacek January 17, 2013 at 7:50 pm: I would like to work on my mobile apps and open source software on this amazing standing desk.
5452 Tass Iliopoulos January 17, 2013 at 7:56 pm: I’ll be using it every day in my quest to master as many programming languages as I can get my hands on.
5453 Tom Marshall January 17, 2013 at 7:57 pm: I’ll use it to write the great American novel. What else are these good for?
5454 Joseph January 17, 2013 at 7:59 pm: I work from home as a financial systems analyst and spend hours staring at a computer. I have an office with a regular desk but have turned the kitchen bar into my standing desk. It isn’t the best workspace when the family is in the kitchen. It would be nice to move back into my office with a real standing desk.
5455 John January 17, 2013 at 8:04 pm: Will be writing Web copy and all manner of materials. And updating our family’s Excel budget, as I work at home.
5456 Tango Delta Delta January 17, 2013 at 8:11 pm: I’d love to win this desk to increase my productivity while making healthier choices. (Plus, modular desks are cool.)
5457 Fred January 17, 2013 at 8:18 pm: I am trying to setup a home office. I spend 10 hours a day sitting at a desk working on computers and my back needs a break. If you covered this with plastic it would also make a good fish cleaning table for King Salmon!
5458 Joshua Ludlow January 17, 2013 at 8:32 pm: This desk would serve as two functions:
First, I love writing. I write about a vast array of topics such as my relationship with my girlfriend, philosophy, science, and just cool man stuff. I have a great avidity for words and literature so I use writing to expand my vocabulary and literature skills. This desk would work phenomenally as a platform for my writing.
Second, my girlfriend is an amazing artist. She mainly uses pencils to sketch. Her talent never ceases to amaze me. However she doesn’t get to sketch much because we share a desk, and I spend a great deal of time on it for studying. With this desk, she would have ample opportunities to make more artwork to hang on our walls.
5459 Tyler January 17, 2013 at 8:38 pm: Exegesis. Massive amounts of exegesis. In Greek, no less.
5460 Chris January 17, 2013 at 8:41 pm: I’ll be using the desk to study the Bible and prepare my sermons. I need some room to spread out!
5461 Aaron January 17, 2013 at 8:41 pm: Get a PhD to become a professor
5462 Arthur White January 17, 2013 at 8:52 pm: I will be posing, bearded and nonchalant, at my desk, wearing various horizontally-striped shirts and doing a laudable job of imitating Ernest Miller Hemingway.

Why, you ask?

Respect.
5463 Logan January 17, 2013 at 9:04 pm: I’ve been needing a desk so I can set up a home office in which to do my freelance graphic design work. I also will be getting back into screen printing posters and other art soon and this desk would be perfect!
5464 Dave Lenton January 17, 2013 at 9:11 pm: Writing for my blog, writing short stories, moderating for a website I work for, drumming my fingers while humming a tune.

Showing off my awesome new desk…
5465 Jef January 17, 2013 at 9:13 pm: This would make a nice addition to my shop. I am on my feet much of the day anyway. This will help for taking calls and making appointments.
5466 David James January 17, 2013 at 9:17 pm: I will be studying law and also using it for repairing vintage guitars on the weekends. AoM rocks!
5467 Eric Wolfe January 17, 2013 at 9:19 pm: With help from this desk, I’d never again fall asleep while completing my homework!
5468 James January 17, 2013 at 9:44 pm: I would use it to work and my posture and get my homework done.
5469 Henry January 17, 2013 at 9:48 pm: Late at night I’ll be programming or studying for my computer science and business classes. It’s hard to fall asleep while standing up!
5470 Daniel Gross January 17, 2013 at 9:49 pm: I run a non-profit organization.
5471 Jacob Juneau January 17, 2013 at 9:50 pm: This desk would be awesome. I’m currently a student, and this would make my homework SO much more enjoyable!
5472 Denis Golub January 17, 2013 at 9:51 pm: I will be writing 3 essays to apply for the IB program in High School!
5473 Greg January 17, 2013 at 10:02 pm: Lesson planning.
5474 Eli January 17, 2013 at 10:17 pm: I would use it in my classroom once I’m done with college and become a teacher.
5475 Matt January 17, 2013 at 10:22 pm: I often times work from home. When I work at the office I try to take a walk every hour because we have not gotten standing desks, or the option for them, yet. I will be doing computer work when I work, however what I’m really excited about is being able to practice my hand writing with parchment and a proper quill. I’ve gotten in the habit of journaling and composing my freelance articles by hand, as it is productive on multiple fronts, and therapeutic at the same time. Please consider me for the winner, and keep up the good work!
5476 Matt January 17, 2013 at 10:23 pm: I forgot to mention in my last comment that I’ve been looking at one of these for both office and home use, what do you guys think?
http://www.ergodesktop.com/content/kangaroo-0
5477 Joe L-E January 17, 2013 at 10:32 pm: Going to be starting my first solo post-law school law review article. I’m going to need to stretch out a bit by using a standing desk, or else I’ll probably fall asleep reading some other really dull law review articles.
5478 Bryan Rutherford January 17, 2013 at 10:47 pm: I would definitely use the height adjustability with my hot wife to do… the taxes. Yeah, that’s it, the taxes.
5479 Shaun January 17, 2013 at 11:02 pm: I would use it for drafting and other art.
5480 Jason Winkel January 17, 2013 at 11:03 pm: I will be developing media plans, negotiating rates, and placing advertising campaigns for education, city, non-profit, medical, and health and fitness clients. My health and fitness clients will be impressed!
5481 Stephen Chan January 17, 2013 at 11:09 pm: I will be writing my father’s story of escaping China during the Cultural Revolution to British Ruled Hong Kong. He did it on foot with nothing but a stash of beef jerky in his pocket. With guards and dogs everywhere, he ran in the darkness for a chance at freedom. I remember him showing his barbed wire scars on his leg to me when I was a kid.

My father is nowhere near a perfect man. But he has more backbone than anyone I’ve ever met.

On this desk, I will author his story by hand-the old fashioned way.
5482 Gabriel January 17, 2013 at 11:16 pm: I will be refining my art of manliness by learning how to restore an heirloom axe, memorize a deck of cards with superhuman speed, fold an american flag, patch a hole in drywall, build a small game survival snare, survive an avalanche, choose the perfect survival knife, make my own canoe paddle, in between performing software scans on client’s IT environments, and then comparing it to their licensing entitlements for the sake of maintaining a day job.
5483 Patrick Carpio January 17, 2013 at 11:20 pm: I will be making a storm trooper costume from scratch, I figure its good place to spend countless hours
5484 Sterling January 17, 2013 at 11:25 pm: I would use it to continue my efforts to a stunning architecture graduate portfolio, and the daily reflection on this thing we call life.
5485 Gordon January 17, 2013 at 11:37 pm: IF this desk is won, I will finally get a headstart on my work-from-home projects. From working on my sales websites to finishing some requested drawings, this desk would be another step toward achieving my family’s financial freedom. It would be an enormous asset to myself and my wife once our businesses take off, and will fit in with our goals to become more fit, and train our children to do the same.
5486 Amie January 17, 2013 at 11:59 pm: I would use it to write and study music.

=)
5487 Ben Krug January 18, 2013 at 12:12 am: possibly deriving the next Nobel Prize-winning physics equation.
5488 John Marc Hickey January 18, 2013 at 12:22 am: I work in a job that requires me to stand long times. In my spare time I am an electrical engineering enthusiast. Commonly projects on my days off can last for hours on end. It’s fun, and a hobby. I wish to use my hobby and passion to excell my career in the future. One downside is that I live in a smallish studio apartment. This allows for limited furniture. I have been attempting several workspaces over the past couple weeks. Including, sitting on the floor, working on a small table, sitting on a couch and working on the same table (which is a lot of bending). Both hurt quite a bit. I am more comfortable in a standing position. This desk would allow me to stand or sit depending on comfort. The size of the desk would allow me to use it in my studio and not overwhelm the room. I was thinking about workspaces just the other day! I even considered building my own. It would be awesome to work on a desk that was built for my purpose!!
5489 Chris January 18, 2013 at 12:23 am: I would use it to practice good ergonomical posture while I work and create, everyday.
5490 Jared K. January 18, 2013 at 12:30 am: Was going to try to build one of these, but it would be awesome to use a properly-produced one. Sign me up!
I’ll be doing photography editing and general business development work at it.
5491 Tyrus January 18, 2013 at 12:44 am: I will be editing video and creating motion graphics.
5492 JP January 18, 2013 at 1:14 am: I do believe I would be using it to do taxes.
5493 Clark Nova January 18, 2013 at 2:26 am: I will mainly use the desk to carve out military history pop-up books. I’m preparing one about the Great War of 1914 for the forthcoming 100th anniversary of the conflict. I have fourteen major scenes planned, covering everything from trench warfare to aerial combat, submarine attacks and chemical weapons, and the battles of the Marne, Verdun, Jutland, the Somme, Ypres, Passchendaele and Gallipoli. I’m putting all my heart into it, as I believe more people, especially kids, should learn about those terrible times and the courageous men who lived and died through them. It’s a tall order, so the desk would really help me keep up with my schedule and deliver everything on time for the 2014 memorial.
5494 Ari Teger January 18, 2013 at 2:43 am: I am studying civil engineering. A lot of time spent sitting when I’d rather be standing!
5495 JW January 18, 2013 at 3:24 am: I will be writing notes, stories, and drinking coffee
5496 Anthony Snell January 18, 2013 at 3:34 am: I’m an undergrad student/Film Editor by aspiration and a Home appliance mover by necessity. My day job is already working on giving me back problems and attempting to do all my work from my bed is not helping. I’d mainly use it for cutting my freelance projects and saving my lower back.
5497 Brandon P January 18, 2013 at 3:54 am: I will be composing classical music – one height for MIDI input, and a different height for handwriting.
5498 Martin January 18, 2013 at 4:50 am: I am working from home and I have a lot of documents to sort through and due to the nature of my business, aviation, documets are all in fat binders. At the moment I have no place to put them if just need to browse through them. So I have to put them on my normal desk. After a day of bending to the desk level my back starts to give in. If I would have a desk like this I would replace a part of the desk I am using at the moment with it and have a great solutin for my back.
5499 torgny January 18, 2013 at 4:52 am: I don’t need one as I have recently built my own standing desk where I now do all my reading, journal keeping, computer programming, &c.
5500 Michael Pilarczyk January 18, 2013 at 5:51 am: I would love to have one of these! I would do a lot of my finances, and since I am a computer programmer I would have to learn how to stand and do it, but I think that would help me in solving programming issues.