Today I will be reviewing a product that we have had on BTOD.com for several years now, the TaskMate Go by HealthPostures. This product has some impressive statistics. It is made in the US and has a strong warranty. I was very excited to find out if it would live up to the expectations I had built for it. Here is what I found through my testing.
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HealthPostures 6300 Review Snapshot
Pros
- Made in the USA
- Keyboard lowers below desk
- Dual ergonomics
- Large adjustment range
- Easy height adjustment
- Strong warranty
- Very limited assembly
Cons
- Poor stability
- No infinited position lock
- Small Task Space
- No wire management
TaskMate Go Manufacturer
The TaskMate Go is manufactured by HealthPostures. They are one of the original standing desk converter companies dating back to 2004. Their company is focused on proving high quality products to allow people to avoid sitting throughout their workday.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
– Country of Origin
– Specs / Features / Pricing
– Return Policy and Warranty
– Installation
– Build Quality
– Footprint
– Mobility
– Making Adjustments
– Stability
– Ergonomics
– Task and Keyboard Space
– Wire Management
– What I Like
– What I Don’t Like
– Bottom Line
Country of Origin
Made in USA
Product Specifications
Weight Limit: 35 lbs.
Max Monitor Size: 30”
Max Monitor Size with Dual Attachment: 24”
Overall at lowest height: 28”W x 32”D x 23.5”H
Overall at highest height: 28”W x 32”D x 41.25”H
Base Dimensions: 16”W x 12”D
Keyboard Tray Dimensions: 19”W x 12.75”D
Mouse Dimensions: 9” Diameter
Upper Platform Dimensions: 19”W x 11”D
Max Keyboard Platform Height: 14.25”H
Max Upper Platform Height: 20.5”H
Min Keyboard Platform Height: – 3.5”H
Min Upper Platform Height: 3”H
Min Monitor Height: 10″ to center of mount
Maximum Monitor Height: 38” to center of mount
Distance Between Keyboard Tray and Upper Platform: 6.75”
Distance from Monitor to Front of Keyboard: 20”
Min Desktop Thickness: 7/8”
Max Desktop Thickness: 2”
Product Features
VESA standard monitor mount
Dual ergonomics
Front to back monitor tilt
3 keyboard tilt options: 0°, 5°, 10°
Single handle height adjustment with gas assist with 10 height positions
Monitor height adjustment with 6 different positions
Clamps to front of your existing desk
Upper platform with lower keyboard & mouse platform
Wrist pad included on keyboard tray
Built-in copy holder on keyboard tray
Mouse platform can swivel underneath keyboard tray
2019 Price – $393.00
Finish Options
Black
Return Policy
The TaskMate Go is returnable within the first 30 days. The item must be returned in the original packaging and in “like new” condition. You will be responsible for the return shipping charges and you may be responsible for the original outbound shipping costs, depending on who you bought the unit from. Once the item is received back, inspected and determined to be in good condition, you will be issued a full refund. Please note that missing parts will result in a deduction from your refund.
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Warranty
The TaskMate Go includes a five year comprehensive warranty. There are no exclusions.
Shipping
After placing your order, the TaskMate Go will ship within 7-15 business days. It will arrive a few days later via UPS Ground. The item has very good packaging and everything was well protected by foam and thick construction paper. I did not find any visual damage to the product and everything functioned as it was intended.
Assembly
The TaskMate Go does ship fully assembled, but due to the nature of the product, you will not be able to simply take it out of the box, place it on your desk and start using it like other models that arrive fully assembled. You will still need to attach your monitor to the mounting bracket and then attach the bracket to the column. You will need a screwdriver to complete this step. You will then need to install the unit to the front of your work surface with the two clamp mounting brackets provided. You will not need a tool for this since the clamps are tightened by hand with knobs.
One thing to be aware of is that it is very easy to overtighten the hand screws when clamping the product to your desk. At a certain point, the metal bar that is holding the knob will begin to bend from the force of tightening it. Do not tighten this too far or you could damage the bracket.
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Build Quality
The TaskMate Go is an interesting product when it comes to build quality. The metal and phenolic are good quality. The drawer slides and gas lift used for the movement of the unit are well made and allow for smooth and quiet movement. The monitor mounting bracket is very strong and holds firmly into place on the column. It also holds the monitor itself tightly in place, while still being fairly easy to adjust.
While the TaskMate Go is comprised of good, quality parts, the unit as a whole is actually pretty crude compared to models like the Humanscale QuickStand and Ergotron WorkFit-S. The adjustment process is very primitive. The main adjustment is made with drawer slides and a gas cylinder. This is the type of technology we see on lower priced products like the Victor DC300. Don’t get me wrong, the quality of parts used is much better on the TaskMate Go, but the technology is still the same.
The monitor height adjustment is also very basic. There are two screws positioned vertically on the back of the monitor mounting bracket. They are not fully screwed in so that you can hang the monitor by the two screws to the column. There are seven notches in the front of the column in an upside-down tear shape. You will hang the monitor to the column by lining up the two screws with two of the holes on the column.
The aesthetics of the TaskMate Go are also a bit lacking compared to other models in its price range. The speckled finish on the phenolic is outdated and the plastic column cover is not very attractive. The clamp mounting system is also not sleek like other models in its class.
One positive aspect to this simplistic design is that there is not a whole lot that can go wrong with it.. It is not overly complicated, so there is a lesser chance of it breaking down.
Footprint
The TaskMate Go only requires 16”W x 12”D of desk space to clamp the unit to. The platforms are a bit wider than the base and the unit pushes you almost two feet from your desk. You will need to make sure you have an extra two feet behind your desk and about 28”W to provide adequate clearance.
Mobility
The TaskMate Go is heavy, awkwardly shaped and is securely clamped to your desk. The product does not have any desktop mobility and it is not a good option to move from office to office.
Adjusting the TaskMate Go
The TaskMate Go has a few different adjustments on the unit. The monitor height adjustment is performed by removing the entire monitor and bracket from the column, as discussed above. This can be tricky at first because if you pull the bracket too high, the screw will get caught on the top of the hole and won’t come out. But, if you don’t lift it high enough, it won’t release from the bottom part of the hole. I found that the best method is to use two hands and grab the monitor mount directly and lift up from there. It is then much easier to move the bracket up or down slightly to find the openings to the holes This will allow the bracket to come off the column. Once, you’ve done it a couple time, it is very quick and easy
The monitor is also front to back tilt adjustable. The best way to adjust the monitor tilt is to grab the monitor on both side and move it front to back. It will take a bit of effort to move it but it is still pretty easy.
The main height adjustment will move the monitor, auxiliary platform and keyboard tray all at the same time and the same distance. This movement is controlled with a single lever found on the underside of the auxiliary platform. Pressing the lever will unlock the unit and it will automatically rise due to the gas lift. Release the lever when you’ve reached your desired height to lock in place. Adjusting the main height downward will require you to press the lever and then push the unit down. I think it is best to press down on the auxiliary platform. It will require a little effort but it is easy to perform. Be aware that this unit does not have infinite position lock so you may need to move the unit up or down slightly from your desired height to get it to lock in place.
The final adjustment is the keyboard tilt. There three different positions to choose from. There are a couple small, black, plastic support brackets right behind the keyboard tray. They are able to turn and do so in unison. These are used to adjust the tilt of the keyboard tray. First you should lift the keyboard tray so that it is tilted forward. Then turn the plastic brackets. Next, lower the keyboard tray so that it is contacting the brackets again. Two of the positions will put the keyboard tray flat. One will offer 5° of tilt and one will offer 10° of tilt.
Stability
The stability of the TaskMate Go is one of its downfalls, when compared to other standing desk converters. The general stability of the unit was marked down heavily due to the clamp system used to attach the unit to your desk. The metal piece on the bracket that is used to hold the screw is not strong enough to be able to fully tighten the clamp. As I discussed above, the metal will start to bend instead of continue to tighten the screw. Because of this, I am not able to get a completely tight grip. Even after the metal starts to bend, I am still able to move the bracket with my hand.
One other thing to note is that the unit doesn’t fully lock into place. There is a little bounce that allows the unit to move downward instead of fully locking. This is a little more pronounced when in the lowest position.
Another problem, which may be caused from the issue above, is that the back of the base will tip forward if you put pressure on the keyboard tray. There is nothing anchoring down the back of the base and in turn, the column. This produces movement and wiggle in the column, which translates into an overall increase in the instability of the product as a whole.
The wobble is only really a factor at higher heights because the instability of the base allows the entire column to wobble side to side. There is also noticeable side to side movement on the keyboard tray when a small amount of pressure is applied.
The keyboard bounce on the TaskMate Go is very pronounced at all heights. The main reason for the keyboard bounce is that the keyboard tray is quite a bit of distance away from the point that it is attached to the unit, which is the column. It is really hard to produce something that won’t bounce with this type of design choice. We see similar keyboard bounce problems on the QuickStand and WorkFit-S. The keyboard bounce on the TaskMate Go is more pronounced though because of its lack of a strong anchor point. This accentuates the front to back rocking motion on the unit which increases the keyboard bounce.
The monitor shake is not a problem at sitting height but it gets more pronounced as you raise the unit higher. The mounting system used provides a very secure connection to the column but the wobble and wiggle of the unit as a whole produces quote a bit of monitor movement, especially at the highest heights.
| Sitting Wobble (10%) | Standing Wobble (15%) | Sitting Bounce (10%) | Standing Bounce (15%) | Sitting Shake (10%) | Standing Shake (15%) | General (25%) | Total Score |
| 87/100 | 68/100 | 58/100 | 42/100 | 82/100 | 72/100 | 55/100 | 66/100 |
Ergonomics
One area that the TaskMate Go really excels in is ergonomics. This is one of the few products that allows you to lower the keyboard tray below the height of your desk. It will go as low as 3.5” below your existing desk. It will then adjust up to about 14” above your desk in ten different height positions. Each height position is about 2” apart. The keyboard tray also has three tilt options, two of them being negative tilt. This allows for the proper ergonomic typing posture with a neutral wrist position.
The monitor is independently adjustable from the keyboard tray, so the TaskMate Go is dual ergonomic. It has six different height positions with each being about two inches apart, providing a massive ten inches of monitor height adjustment. This is a wider range than similar products with dual ergonomics. The monitor is also tilt adjustable to help improve your viewing experience.
The TaskMate Go features a three tier design with a single column that tilts away from you. This angle, along with the multiple platforms, helps to achieve the proper ergonomic viewing distance. In the lowest monitor position, the front of my monitor is 20” away from the front of the keyboard tray. In the highest position, it is about 23”. This will put your viewing distance anywhere from 23” to 31” from your monitor.
I will go more into detail on the task space in the next section but the amount of task space available in your neutral reach zone is a bit lacking.
Task Space
The task space is phenolic with a speckled gray finish. The task space is found in between the keyboard tray and monitor. It is a touch smaller than the keyboard tray. It provides an adequate amount of space for smaller objects like, a headset, notepad or phone. I would recommend upgrading to the larger work surface to help alleviate some of the task space problems present on the base model.
Keyboard Space
They keyboard tray features the same finish as the task space. The keyboard tray was not wide enough for my ergonomic keyboard. Even after removing the wrist pad, my keyboard was both too wide and too deep to fit on the tray. You will need to use a standard or compact sized keyboard. Please note that upgrading to the larger keyboard tray will give you more width but it won’t be quite as deep.
The keyboard tray does have a few nice features. It has rubber pads that prevent your keyboard from sliding. These are especially useful when using the keyboard tray in a negative tilt position. A comfortable palm support that runs the length of the keyboard tray comes standard. The keyboard tray also has a built-in metal copy holder that is helpful with tasking.
The mouse platform is spacious. It swivels so you can slide it under the keyboard tray when not in use to save space. There is a curved piece of plastic around the front edge of the mouse platform. This is in place to keep your mouse from sliding off the platform when you are in a negative tilt position and you let go of the mouse.
Wire Management
The TaskMate Go does not have any tools included for wire management.
Safety
I am not concerned when it comes to safety on the TaskMate Go. The sliding system is not exposed and there are no other pinch points on the product. The unit is not completely stable but I do not feel any risk of it tipping. Overall, the unit feels safe to use and operate.
What do I like?
Made in the USA
The list of standing desk converters, that are made in the USA, is very short compared to the list of imported products. Although the technology used on the TaskMate Go is very primitive, the parts are of good quality, with strong testing standards.
Good Ergonomics
The biggest upside to the TaskMate Go is its ergonomic capabilities. Having dual ergonomics is going to allow for a lot more people to use the product with proper typing and viewing heights. The keyboard and monitor tilt options are also welcome upgrades to improve the ergonomic experience.
This is one of the few options that provides a true ergonomic experience while sitting. Being able to have the keyboard platform lower than the desk is a huge positive for proper ergonomic keyboard positioning.
The back-leaning column design, with three separate tiers, is also a good design for allowing the proper monitor viewing distance. Many similar models will have viewing distances that put you a little too close for comfort. This is not a problem on the TaskMate Go.
Easy to Adjust
The unit is very easy to adjust. The main height is controlled with one lever that is easy to push. The movement can be done with one arm, in either direction in a matter of seconds. While the monitor adjustment requires more physical effort, it was still simple and easy to perform.
Limited Assembly
Only having to mount the monitor and clamp the unit to my desk was very nice. Products like the QuickStand and WorkFit-S took me upwards of an hour to assemble. Being able to use the TaskMate Go within a few minutes was nice.
Strong Warranty
HealthPostures offers one of the best warranties in the industry at five years. It provides peace of mind knowing you have five years of coverage from a US based company, that has been in the standing desk converter business for over 15 years.
What don’t I like?
Poor Stability
The stability on the TaskMate Go is going to be one of the biggest things holding it back. At sitting height, the stability is not that bad. The wobble, shake and general stability when sitting are pretty decent. The keyboard bounce is bad ,but I found myself using the item with the keyboard resting on my lap which reduced any keyboard bounce while I seated.
Standing is another story though. When the unit gets near full height, it is unstable in almost every direction. The keyboard bounce is very noticeable and there is quite a bit of front to back rocking and side to side wobbling with the column. All of these factors contribute to the monitor shake that normally would be absent.
No Infinite Position Lock
Having a set number of height adjustments on both the height of the overall unit and the monitor individually is a bit of a disappointment. I am not opposed to incremental positions, but I think two inches is a bit too much of a gap. There will be quite a few people that find their preferred position is between two of the allowable options.
Small Task Space
The task space that comes standard is quite small, especially when compared to competing models. Being able to upgrade to a larger work surface is a very nice option. It is just a bummer that it will cost extra to have a nice amount of space. It seems more reasonable for the larger work surface to be the standard.
No Wire Management
The TaskMate Go does not have any wire management. Your cords will not be at risk to being damaged from pinch points, so this is purely a looks issue. But, many people will have cords coming from three different levels when using the TaskMate Go. Being able to organize them in a tidy fashion would be a very welcome addition.
Bottom Line
The TaskMate Go didn’t end up being the world beater I was hoping for. I think that the product has some pretty noticeable stability problems. It is also disappointing that an item with so much adjustment capability has a limited number of height options on both the monitor and keyboard tray. Upgrading to the larger platform is a must, in my opinion, and the wire management may be an issue for some people.
With that being said, I do think the TaskMate Go offers good value for a lot of customers. Although it lacks infinite position lock, it still provides a better ergonomic experience than almost every other standing desk converter on the market. The product is very easy to operate and comes fully assembled. The item is built right here in the USA and comes with one of the best warranties in the industry. If you place a high value on ergonomics, ease of use and prefer to buy from companies that make their products in the USA, then the TaskMate Go will probably be a good fit for you.
