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The cute & popular Butterfly Standing Desk Mat we reviewed in October is a definite favorite and conversation piece in our office due to the fun shape and very decent quality you get from rather inexpensive standing desk mat.  For 2017, the same maker has stepped it up a notch and designed a performance mat to better compete with the higher end mats out there. 

Their new high end performance standing desk mat is called the Ergocomfy Mat. 

It’s packed with features and we’ll cover them here. 

Anti-Fatigue

This is the most popular reason mats are purchased.  Anti–fatigue mats and comfort mats have been proven to decrease knee, back, and neck soreness and increase productivity.  Anti-fatigue mats are essential and often used where workers stand to help ease foot, leg, and lower back pain and fatigue. 

Calculated Terrain

They advertise that you can use 10 different standing positions on this mat.  This may sound confusing, but it’s actually a very important part of ergonomics.  Standing in one place has been shown to be almost as bad as sitting.  To optimize the use of a standing desk, it’s important to shift and change position often.  This releases tension and improves blood circulation.  A mat that has terrain encourages you to change your stance, especially when your shoes are off. 

Massage anyone? 

The Ergocomfy has massage bumps integrated into a protruding “exercise” section.  This enables you to dig those bumps into various parts of your feet to stimulate pressure points.  In these areas on your feet, there are thousands of nerves.  In fact, there are over 15,000 nerves in your feet alone!  That’s why reflexology, a method of massage also known as zone therapy, has been practiced for thousands of years. 

While so far there is no scientific evidence that reflexology is effective for any medical condition, millions of people swear by the stress relieving effects they feel from having their hands and feet properly stimulated through pressure points. 

How’s it compare? 

We set up the mat side by side against one of the most popular terrain standing desk mats, the Topo (that we reviewed last year). 

Size Matters

We will start with the most obvious difference — Dimensions.  Ergocomfy has a whopping 24″x36″ size which provides you with a larger space for standing.  In comparison, the Topo is 26″x 29″. The larger width encourages you to occasionally or often take a wider stance.  As a 6’1″ standing desk user, this is very important to me as my long legs prefer a wider stance than the Topo has room for. 

Density

The Topo seems slightly more dense to me.  Although I don’t see any immediate benefit from increased density for my usage, considering the Ergocomfy is dense enough to do the job.  Both mats appear to be made of quality material that won’t fall apart anytime soon. 

Terrain

As for terrain features, the Topo has a center bump, but I haven’t found much use for it.  They both have the raised corners for sliding and positioning the mat by using your feet and can also serve to angle your feet for stretching your calves — equal points there.  However, after trying the massage bumps with socks, I’m leaning towards the Ergocomfy on terrain features.  The bumps feel great and I find myself often squishing my feet into them. 

Conclusion

The Ergocomfy terrain and wide surface area makes it my new favorite mat in this price range and will be replacing the Topo I have been using for the last year.