Friska Stockholm standing desk: two minute review
If you’re looking for a standing desk, chances are you’ve shopped around stores like Ikea to find a cheap deal, which isn’t a bad idea if you’re on a budget. However, if you’re looking for an entirely more premium, customizable offering, there’s another Swedish desk manufacturer that should be on your radar.
Friska has a large selection of electric sit/stand desks from which to choose to suit your needs, with the Stockholm range representing the bulk of its designs. At first glance, this may not seem like something to shout about, at least if you’re familiar with the traditional style of standing desks, but what it lacks in unique aesthetics it more than makes up for with customization options.
The ability to customize the desk to your exact requirements also makes the Friska Stockholm standing desk more affordable than you might think, which is great news for those wanting the numerous health benefits of a standing desk, without costing the earth. .
Likewise, this also means you can make the desk as luxurious as you want it to be, with the option to include different frame colors, topper and additional specs or accessories such as cable port holes and enhanced controls.
Even budget-friendly standing desks are a big purchase, and both are something you’ll want to jump into blindly. Fortunately, because Friska has such a variety of configurations, it’s fairly easy to select options to suit your needs without breaking the bank, and the build quality is sturdy and reliable enough to ensure your purchase lasts for many years to come.
Friska Stockholm Standing Desk: prices and availability
Prices for the Friska Stockhold counter start at £749 (around $920 / AU$1,300), and shipping to the UK is both free and exceptionally fast, with next day delivery if you place your order before 2pm. Prices don’t change if you choose one of several color options for the frame or topper, so if aesthetics are your only concern, you can customize the desk to suit your environment at no extra cost.
The size of the topper can also be adjusted if you would like a slightly deeper or longer surface for your equipment, although these types of adjustments will drive up the price. For example, switching from the standard 1200mm x 700mm to the largest size 1800mm x 800mm will cost you an extra £50 (around $60 / AU$90), which feels like a reasonable price.
You can also add some optional extras like a cable tray, cable port holes, power outlets in the desk and more premium controls with a memory switch if you want to spice up your order.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems with the Friska range is shipping, as unsurprisingly it can be quite expensive to ship such a large product abroad. Obviously the target market for Friska is mainland UK given the free shipping, although other regions are also available at an additional cost.
Shipping to the US is estimated to take 1-2 weeks and costs a flat rate of £498 ($610), but other regions such as Australia are completely excluded. Most of Europe is thankfully included, but while the Friska website does offer an option to switch from displaying prices in GBP to Euros, at the time of writing this doesn’t seem to work correctly.
Friska Stockholm standing desk: design
The Friska Stockholm is configurable in different sizes, as the frame can be adapted to different toppers. The basic kit is usually the same, with all parts arriving well protected in cardboard and polystyrene, although any optional extras will be shipped in a separate box.
like you to do includes any extras such as an upgraded control switch or built-in power outlet, it is important that you remember to open the smallest of the boxes before you start building as it will contain the instructions specific to your configuration.
Unfortunately, the desks all come with a set of generic desk building instructions and hardware, which can lead to some confusion as the manual may not provide the correct guidelines for putting together your particular desk. This goes for screws and accessories as well, as we found that some of these configurations require different mounting requirements, so if you follow a set of instructions that come with the main desk, you may later discover the actual mounting guide you should have followed. most of the desk is built.
If you’ve selected options that require extra holes or larger space for accessories, these are all pre-drilled and mounting guidelines marked on the toppers to help secure the frame to the worktop as painlessly as possible.
The standard control hub is a straightforward affair with two buttons and up and down arrows to mark the direction of desk movement. These are silicone coated for grip and have a satisfying click feel, but don’t have an option to save height presets for easy adjustments. If you needed this functionality Friska has an upgrade available for an extra £99 (around $120 / AU$170), although you still get the standard control switch on delivery, which can feel a bit wasteful.
The Friska Stockholm features dual motors that allow the desk to be lowered all the way to 62cm or raised to 130cm (measured from the surface of the desk), and the desk can support a maximum weight load of 264.4 lbs (120 kg). ) wear. † These stats are nothing to rummage around, and the weight limit is enough not to bear the weight of a hefty desktop computer and all your other office equipment, but is also stable enough for a full grown man to stand on if necessary (although we certainly do not recommend doing this regularly).
The topper itself comes in a selection of different styles such as black, white and a variety of wood and granite inspired looks although this is all art vinyl wrapped around engineered wood so if you want a solid wood option you have go look elsewhere.
Friska Stockholm standing desk: features
If you don’t include any of the optional upgrades, the Friska Stockholm is fairly bare-bones, but you get all the essential features that make it a worthwhile investment. The up/down controls are a bit rudimentary, but with a movement speed of 42mm per second it’s quick to make adjustments without moving equipment on the surface.
One criticism we have if you opt for the improved memory switch is that you still have to hold down the control buttons while the desk is moving, even if you select one of the two available buttons that allow you to save a specific height (useful if you want to switch between your ideal sitting and standing position). It would be nicer to see a one-touch adjustment for saved elevation profiles instead, but otherwise it works as intended.
The desk itself ships in two or three boxes: the topper, frame and internal mechanisms, then a smaller box with optional extras, specific mounting instructions and correct screws for desks that need it.
As mentioned, the main frame shipping box also includes generic desk assembly instructions, which can cause some confusion, but if you open the smallest box first, that shouldn’t be a problem. The packaging does a great job of protecting all desk items and nothing arrived damaged. Friska recommends laying down a blanket or using the desk box to protect it during assembly. This goes for other standing desks as well, and it can be quite easy to scratch a desktop or even your floor when assembling one.
Assembling the Friska Stockholm was a piece of cake. The instructions are clear, well illustrated and written in fluent English, and while it is recommended that two people assemble the desk due to its heavy weight when complete, a single person can complete most of the assembly alone, provided someone can help to turn the desk. desk in the correct position when the frame is attached to the topper.
From here, it’s just a matter of plugging the desk’s motor into the power adapter on the back and plugging in the power cord before flipping the finished desk over. This is also a good time to use the included cable clamps to tidy up some of the cables so they don’t hang and fall out of place when you turn the desk over. These come as a free gift in the box, but unlike the screw holes there are no directions on where to place them so you can use as many or as few as you like to keep the bottom of the desk tidy.
Should I buy the Friska Stockholm Standing Desk?
Buy it if:
Don’t buy it if:
First assessment: May 2022
