Whether you are working from home, or your back acts out when you spend too much time sitting on a desk, a laptop stand seems to be a necessity for our times.
BackPainHelp seems to understand these new lifestyle demands, and it shows in the many practical details they included in this laptop stand. It definitely caught our attention with its looks and rich build. But is that all that it has to offer?
In this BackPainHelp Posture Stand Review, you will get the full scoop on this table tray: The good, the bad, and the not so pretty. Plus, the main competitors and how they compare to BackPainHelp stand.
Let’s get to it!
1. Design
The material of this stand is what caught my eyes, awesome looking devices often work brilliantly too. Every piece of the structure is made from prime quality materials. The zinc-alloy joints and fine aluminum frame are clearly grade-A parts. It puts the plastic-infested stands to shame immediately, with its rich and rugged build.
Then right after that, the intricate details of the laptop plate. This is not just a decorative pattern, the little holes you see are there for two good reasons. First, to provide a vent for cooling off your laptop. And second, to decrease the overall weight of the stand. Genius!
Next on the list, comes the size of the stand, and whether or not it fits the intended usage. This stand is 22 ½ inches across, which is ample space for using it in bed or on the sofa. It stands fully extended to about 22 inches, so it is not a stand-alone desk to be placed on the floor.
At that height, it’s perfect for use on top of a desk/counter surface. And if you place it on the floor, the best location would be beside the couch or beside the bed.
The tray size is also noteworthy. It is approximately 11 x 18 inches, which is quite sufficient for your 17-inch laptop. Leaving a few inches of available space on the sides as well.
The joints are designed to rotate over 360 degrees, but if you attempt to tilt the laptop tray too much, your laptop will probably slide and fall off. That’s because there is nothing to keep it in place. Several users suggested using elastic bands or going all MacGyver with it. This just spells out “room for improvement”.
Again with the joints; while they look original and artistic, they do protrude as you lock the frame in place. If you’re placing it on the couch or on the bed, these protrusions could easily catch in the bed cloth. And tugging at it could easily unhinge the lock. It’s a matter of balancing form and function.
Finally, the mouse pad. While most high-end laptop stands include a detachable, ambidextrous, easy-connect mouse pad, we have here a plate that needs adjustment and screwing-in. I know, not that big of a deal. Well, yes. But good-design also means simplifying the users’ experience whenever possible.
2. Features
Flexibility
The availability of three joints, all rotating a full 360 degrees, also allows for much versatility. While it is improbable that users would turn the laptop tray at any extreme angles, it still helps with positioning the laptop. Fine-tuning the workspace is important. Especially when you have back pain.
Versatility
This stand can function very nicely in a multitude of settings. Whether you are at the office, in your living room, or working in bed, it’ll serve you well. The size of the stand and the shape of the frame open many possibilities for users.
You can use it as a standing office, as a side table, or a bed table. You can even use it as a breakfast table if you like. And if you need to scribble some notes, don’t be shy to use it as a writing table, it can take about 50 pounds of vertical weight!
It is not too wide, not too narrow, and the frame is open in the middle. Some stands have horizontal bases or links facing the front side, and these can never be used in bed. Despite their many other perks and ergonomic features, their usage is limited to flat surfaces.
Durability
The materials used in making this stand do not come cheap. And the elaborate manufacturing processes employed are just as premium.
The tray is designed to carry a hefty weight, that is not mentioned elsewhere with similar products. It is certainly reassuring that it would not wobble and bend after a few months of usage.
Ergonomics
I have experienced some tough episodes of back pain recently. And I believe that most of my colleagues and friends had some degree of neck or backaches as well. Every time this issue came up, several people told stories of how hard it was to work with these issues.
It seems to be associated with our work and lifestyles. That is why having a laptop stand that can be tailored to several positions is a wise decision. And the operative word here is flexibility. The height and tilt of the stand need to accommodate each person’s needs.
Sometimes, getting the height right relieves the pressure on the lower back. But an unsuitable tilt could apply more pressure on the neck, shoulder, and arms. The eyes also suffer if the angle of vision is incorrect or strained.
Proper ergonomics in these stands come with adjustable height and laptop plate angle. Both are fully adjustable in this stand.
Aesthetic
I make a point to use nice-looking devices whenever I can. Good design seems to work inside and out. And I believe that being around beautiful things makes a person more productive. It lifts the mood and creates a general ambiance of wellness.
If you are inflicted with back pain like me, then you might as well create healing surroundings. I actually like the looks of this stand a lot. The materials, elegant black finish, glossy zinc joints, and well-proportioned frame. The whole nine yards here.
Warranty
This stand comes with a 12-months warranty, including a money-back guarantee, or replacement with a new unit. Without any questions asked.
The customer and tech support are quite helpful as well, so if any issues arise, they are expected to sort it out neatly and quickly. They are available 24/7.
3. Performance
The premium materials that go into manufacturing this stand, pay off well in terms of daily performance, as well as long term resilience. It stands close to or exceeds, the best in class.
The fact that the tray can hold up to 50 pounds says a lot about the build of this frame. This is actually a unique feature that I haven’t come across in all the other stands I tried. This is usually more evident long term, but it’s also useful if you decide to put a heavy book on the stand or use it for writing.
The ergonomics of this stand are pretty good and also match the top performers. There might be a few reservations about the resilience of the joints, or the fact that they protrude a little. But all-in-all, the height, and tray-angle are fully adjustable.
4. Value for Money
Having reviewed the design, features, and performance of the BackPainHelp Posture Stand, it’s time to ask the big question: Is it worth the money?
The price of this laptop stand is more than a bit more than the mid-range. In fact, it’s closer to the high-end, where the expensive stuff is. To assess this matter of worthiness properly, let’s take a look at what the more and less expensive products have to offer.
First, the pricey products. The SAIJI Laptop Bed Tray Desk is a completely different design, but eventually offers the same service; an ergonomic laptop stand that can be used in bed, or on a desktop.
It has a wide tray/work surface measuring about 24 x 18 inches, plus a book stand with a ledge. That’s not all; it also has a storage drawer and a mouse pad on the side. The finish is non-slip PVC leather, and it comes in four different variations of black and grey. All this is a wow.
The height and tray-angle are adjustable via a very simple mechanism. And the distance between the stand supports is about 25 inches, which is a bit wider than necessary. But still, would not take up the whole bed, sofa, or workspace. Definite winning points for the SAIJI.
It is foldable into a much thinner size, which is great for storage. That is another plus. It does not have any method to cool off the laptop though, and that could cause some problems for users who spend plenty of time working. This of course isn’t the case with the BackPainHelp.
Next, there is the peer. The PWR+ Laptop Table Stand is quite close to the BackPainHelp in most aspects. It has the same adjustable height and angles, and it even employs the same mechanism.
Among the nice points in the PWR+ is the ledge at the lower end of the tray. This would keep the laptop from slipping if you adjust the tray at a steep angle. Also, the mouse pad attaches easily to the tray, without the elaborate screwing-in drill needed in the BackPainHelp.
There is a cooling mechanism here too, as opposed to the SAIJI, but it’s a bit complicated. There are two fans below the tray, but the user needs to connect them to the laptop’s USB to work. This could give extra cooling efficiency, but it’s also a hassle. The cooling concept of the BackPainHelp is considerably simpler than that.
As for its price, the PWR+ was listed at an amount that’s a tad higher than the BackPainHelp. However, it was slashed by around 40%, so there’s now a clear advantage towards the PWR+. The warranty is also a plus point here, as it has a solid two years of warranty, with 30 days for refunds.
This leaves us with the budget-buy, which is the Uncaged Ergonomics WorkEZ Laptop Stand. Its general design is pretty close to both the PWR+ and the BackPainHelp. The main difference is that it doesn’t have any special arrangements for cooling, and depends mainly on the conductivity of Aluminum. The materials are a bit on the economic side too, but not noticeably so.
There is also a ledge that keeps the laptop from sliding at sharp tilts. We definitely like that. The distance between the stand supports is slightly smaller here, which means a petite person or a child would probably be more comfortable using it.
Among the nice features of the Uncaged Ergonomic stand is the mouse pad. I do appreciate brilliant design, and it certainly has that. It is an ambidextrous attachment that can be connected to the frame on the right or left sides equally well, and it has the easiest latch on mechanism ever. This is in sharp contrast with the BackPainHelp elaborate attachment process. But to be frank, this is neither the main attraction nor a deal-breaker.
