# Shoes at standing desk at home with carpeted floor? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437 "2013-03-08T22:57:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/1 "2013-03-08T22:57:30Z")
Okay. I’ve converted my regular desk to a standing desk by means of adding some items to the top of the desk. I have a moderate-depth carpet in my home office. Normally, because I’m in the house, I’m wearing a casual outfit and no shoes. Is it likely to be better for me to do shoes or no shoes? I’m not asking cardio, I’m asking comfort. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/2 "2013-03-09T08:28:35Z")
If your goal is comfort, aren’t you uniquely qualified to answer this yourself after a simple experiment? ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/3 "2013-03-09T16:41:28Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > If your goal is comfort, aren’t you uniquely qualified to answer this yourself after a simple experiment? This. But try shoes. I always wear shoes when cooking, because my feet hurt on the hardwood floor. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/4 "2013-03-09T17:26:00Z")
you can find rubber floor mats with hollow domes in them, made for comfort standing. i’ve seen soft ones that would be good in socks or slippers. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/5 "2013-03-09T19:56:02Z")
> [@Mr.Slant](#): > > Is it likely to be better for me to do shoes or no shoes? That depends. It can vary depending upon the particular structure and condition of your feet and upon the design of the particular shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/6 "2013-03-09T20:19:43Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > If your goal is comfort, aren’t you uniquely qualified to answer this yourself after a simple experiment? I was thinking that the long-term answer might differ from the short-term answer. One day of shoes feels good but my back hurts after a week of it, or vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/7 "2013-03-09T20:21:01Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > you can find rubber floor mats with hollow domes in them, made for comfort standing. i’ve seen soft ones that would be good in socks or slippers. I like that a lot; I’d seen the like in kitchens, but a home deployment might make sense too, albeit for different reasons. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/8 "2013-03-09T20:53:45Z")
I use a gel-pro mat at my work station (with shoes). Variations are available in office supply and also Lowes/Home Depot type places. At home, if I’ll be standing for a long time in the kitchen I wear crocs. In case both of those ideas appeal to you I will share that an orthopedist told a colleague to stop wearing her crocs on the anti-fatigue mats at work. One or the other, because your feet don’t turn as easily and it strains parts in your knee. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/10 "2013-03-29T13:44:22Z")
I know standing desks are all the thing but bear in mind that continual standing is considered injurious by OSHA. If you use your desk in such a way as to stand for long period of time\*, definitely select anti-fatigue matting. \*I know this doesn’t apply to everyone because many if not most people are up & down and moving around at those “standing” desks. However, standing in a relatively static position for an 8 hour day is pretty bad for you over time. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/11 "2013-03-29T14:23:15Z")
Reported post by **kelvinrampton** as spam. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/12 "2013-03-29T17:58:03Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > \*I know this doesn’t apply to everyone because many if not most people are up & down and moving around at those “standing” desks. However, standing in a relatively static position for an 8 hour day is pretty bad for you over time. But is it as bad as [sitting](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sitting/AN02082)? I recently started standing for part of my work because the back pain just became too much. To the OP, I think barefoot is best. I think it allows for a more natural standing position but I’m not an expert. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-at-standing-desk-at-home-with-carpeted-floor/652437/13 "2013-03-29T18:05:55Z")
Timely thread for me, as I just scored a deal on Craigslist for a [Floatdesk](http://www.humanscale.com/products/product_detail.cfm?group=float) for the princely sum of $300. (they cost around $2K new) I’m standing here typing to post this. I have some herniated disc issues, and my neurologist recommended not sitting all day at work. Anyway, for now I’m using a large wool area rug with a sorta thick carpet pad underneath. Wearing shoes, my Merrell Jungle Mocs, and so far so good. The cool thing with the floatdesk is that I can stand up for a few hours, then lower the desk and sit for a while. It’s the variety and flexibility to change back and forth that works for me.