Like many people, when we first started using standing desks, we faced fatigue and stiffness that drained our energy. Something needed to change - here's the story.

Way back in 2012, Kit and Ryan were the only two people with standing desks in the whole office, sticking out like two prairie dogs above the cubicles.

Everyone thought they were weirdos, but Kit and Ryan didn't care, because they were doing the healthy thing for their bodies (or so they thought)...

Still - there was a problem. Even though standing felt more natural, something wasn’t quite right. Even relatively short standing sessions were tiring, adding fatigue instead of energy. It was way too easy to end up stiff and stagnant while standing. Being too still, locking knees, and leaning against the desk. Something was missing.

So they dug into the research. Standing desks were still pretty new and unpopular, but a lot of studies had been done on people who stood all day at work.

One big study found that cashiers developed health problems from standing in one place, but nurses got healthier from being on their feet all day (because they weren't standing still).

It was clear that what was missing was MOVEMENT.

So they pitched in together and bought a treadmill that they could share. But they quickly learned that it’s pretty much impossible to type while walking, and it was way too distracting.

It was clear you don’t want to be full-blown walking while you work, but it would still be good to move and change positions often.

Then a stroke of genius! What if the ground under your feet just magically morphed while you stood, encouraging you to shift and move? That would be perfect!

So they got to work building a dozen prototypes with gears and motors and handed them out (along with Go-Pro cameras) to friends who used standing desks.

They were pretty cool! Unfortunately they also cost a ton of money and broke constantly.

But Kit and Ryan noticed something when they reviewed the Go-Pro footage from the testers. As long as the prototype broke in an interesting shape, the user would subconsciously move around and explore the shape with their feet while they worked. They had found the movement they were after - interesting shapes were the answer!

They tested various shapes. Like, HUNDREDS of shapes. And along the way, they realized that the best way to provide all these shapes in a useful package was to shape them into a foam anti-fatigue mat that you could easily slide around as one piece.

So they learned the chemistry of foam, and made molds, and tested shapes. And made more molds, and tested more shapes.

They gave out more prototypes and Testers filled out surveys giving feedback on their favorite shapes. They even put sensors under the mats to see what shapes sparked the most movement.

Eventually, the ideal shape was converged on! And they named it "Topo". Topo launched with a crowdfunding campaign in 2015, selling 1,000 mats and getting off the ground.

Now Topo has been The NYT Wirecutter’s Top Pick for almost a decade, is used by more than 650,000 happy standers, and has amassed over 10,000 5-Star Reviews.

People LOVE standing with Topo - because it drives you to move more, without thinking about it. So you sit less, stand more, and leave work each day feeling energized. Topo unlocks the true value of your standing desk. 

FYI - Today, get $20 Off Topo with code TOPO-20. Try it risk-free for up to 90 days with our satisfaction guarantee. Why wait? Start standing better now!

 

Get Topo Now ($20 Off Today)