Be nicer to your aching back.

By PopSci Commerce Team | Published Sep 23, 2020 2:23 PM

We’ve all sat in positions—hunched over a screen or a book—that were objectively terrible for our bodies. It’s easy to fall back into, even after investing in an ergonomic desk setup. After all, who wants to get out of bed and sit at a desk just to read on an iPad or Kindle or write in a notebook? An ultra-portable lap desk with an adjustable easel helps remedy these problems, by providing that little ergonomic lift. It’s also great for wheelchair users, and others with mobility issues.

We’ve chosen some of our favorites.

This lap desk is our favorite pick because it’s the most versatile in the bunch—thanks to a design where one half of the desk lays flat, while the other can be tilted like an easel, at a variety of angles. The flat surface can be used for your mousepad or a to-do list, while you find the right height to set your laptop. It’s also a great artist’s companion—a small drawer on the side can stow a small watercolor set or colored pencils—and a much lighter alternative to hauling a full easel to the location you want to sketch.

Saiji’s laptop tray table is one of the most adjustable, with an entire tabletop that rises up to 15.4 inches and swivels up to 36 degrees, to meet your needs. This makes it not only a great lap desk for working from a couch or coffee table—or even from the floor—but also an excellent standing desk converter for your existing work setup. The boost can save your back, and create a more flattering camera angle for video calls.

Enjoy breakfast in bed before getting to work with Asltoy’s laptop tray. This one is extremely easy to use, with legs that pop out just like a folding table, and four different angles to set your work surface. A cup holder, on the flat portion of the laptop tray, keeps mugs of coffee and tea from spilling—making this a great pick for even the clumsiest among us.

Sometimes you just want a wedge that will prop up your books while you read in bed, without having to worry about stubbing a finger or falling asleep near the hard corners and sharp surfaces of a traditional lap desk. This foam block is firm but soft, with a washable ultra-suede microfiber cover. The ridge at the bottom—which keeps your laptop or Kindle from sliding down—doubles as an orthopedic wrist rest, to help ease carpal tunnel or prevent wrist pain in the first place.

For the best of both worlds, this laptop tray has a reliable tabletop surface, with a soft underside. The two parallel cotton cushions at the bottom are set wide apart enough for you to sit cross-legged with the desk on your lap. Where other stands get their range of motion from an adjustable base, this stand makes up for it with an easel that has eight different angle settings, perfect for boosting a laptop to the right height. It’s even got a handle for easy transport.

Refurbished is the way to go.

There is a massive ecosystem of iPhone accessories, and MagSafe is the one ring that wants to rule them all.

Put your PC, cable box, or console on many screens at once!

Like science, tech, and DIY projects?

Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.