What we bought: The standing desk I chose after looking the hell out of the competition

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When I started working from home five years ago, my chair was the floor and my desk was a stool. I was allowed to clap with both hands when the baby on the floor next to me was napping or otherwise busy. So really any desk would have been an upgrade but once I knew working from home was going to be my long term reality I gave it my all and bought a standing desk motorized.

After some research and lots of YouTube, I settled on an Uplift V2, opting for the 42 x 30 inch curved bamboo desktop with the standard (non-commercial) C-frame. I jumped on the advanced keyboard, as recommended by Uplift, and chose the storage grommets, thinking I might want to put some pens or a drink in there (I don't).

Amy Skorheim / Engadget

I thought of a few other companies, including Autonomous, Vari, and Fully, when deciding which desk to choose. At the time I ordered, Uplift's offerings seemed the most comprehensive, with tons of customization options for size, color, and desktop hardware, and they had the most accessories.

This is something you will notice when setting up your desktop: there are a number of add-ons available. Probably the most unexpected is the hammock under the desk, but it's only available for desks 72 inches wide and larger, so I didn't get one. Also, I have a couch. Mine came with two free accessories when I bought it a few years ago, but lucky buyers now get six freebies. I opted for the free rocker board, which I don't use, and now wish I had grabbed the padded standing mat instead. I also chose the drawer under the bamboo desk, which I use daily, filled with a few of these metal storage bins.

If you peruse the image galleries on Uplift's site, you'll notice idealized desk setups, with a curious lack of cables over, under, or snaking away from the desks, as if buying one would somehow of wireless power transmission a reality. Turns out that's not the case, but Uplift offers a number of ways to route and hide those still-needed cords. Each desk comes with a cable management tray that mounts to the back of the desk, as well as cable tie brackets to keep cables in place and out of the way. I paid $35 more for the