I worked from the viral Couchmaster for a month – here's my buying advice now

I recently flipped to fully remote work after over a year of enduring a five-hour round-trip commute a few times a week. Along with the extra time to sleep, the change has allowed me to radically shift my working environment during the day. My days of office swivel chairs are over, and now, my setup fluctuates between three core spots: my traditional desk, my standing desk, and, thanks to my Cyworx — my couch. 

Also: Why the argument for WFH could get a big boost from AI

I’ve gone all in on my WFH setup, optimizing my spaces with vertical mice, MagSafe desk pads, under-desk walking pads, smart coffee mugs, multifunctional charging stations, and more, and I’m not turning back. 

That’s right, you can pry my Nerdytec Couchmaster Cyworx from my cold, dead hands. Here’s why. 

This lap desk setup solved a problem I hadn’t yet identified. Before testing this out for several weeks, I worked on the couch for a fair amount each day. My regular desk is admittedly short for my stature, and my standing desk is most preferred for working and walking. The couch is my happy medium. 

Also: 5 habit trackers on Android that can reveal your patterns – and motivate you to change

During my testing of the Couchmaster Cyworx, it became abundantly clear to me that my neck and back pain had subsided significantly, and that maybe the culprit was how I was working with my laptop on the couch. After all, nothing good could come from straining my body in various alphabet letters. 

Now, I’m not a doctor, so I can’t scientifically confirm my suspicions for you, but I can say the Cyworx’s bulky memory foam support blocks are great for aligning your shoulders and back and giving your elbows a spot to rest. 

The Couchmaster comes in several iterations, some in varying colors and others offering more features like USB hubs, lighting, and limited-edition designs. These are primarily advertised as gaming lap desks, ideal for gaming on the couch, but the Cyworx, which offers the most basic package of features, is also great for people who work from home, children, college students, and more. 

The setup

Here’s the basic breakdown: The Couchmaster Cyworx is a wood desktop on top of two memory foam blocks covered with a removable textile upper (great for accidental spills). The wood board isn’t fixed to anything, to allow for custom positioning every time. 

Also: This Lenovo laptop is great for students, especially at over 40% off

The desktop comes with a few accessories, like a mouse bag, an oversized mousepad, and wrist pads, which I could apply, thanks to the easy adhesive backing. There’s also a built-in ventilation grill for optimized device cooling. 

Besides applying your adhesive components, the rest of the setup is simple. Pop the blocks on your couch, add the board, and add your laptop and favorite accessories. I opted for a wireless mouse. 

There are a few instances where this may not work for you. If you have a smaller couch or a couch with a shorter seat, you may have some stability issues. This worked best for me on a couch with a lounge piece or ottoman, especially if you like having your legs propped up. 

Also, this won’t be for you if you’re looking for a portable workstation. While I could toss this into my trunk for car travel, it isn’t exactly ideal. I also wish the wood desktop came with a sealant or finish to help stand up to accidental spills and stains. 

Also: This laptop accessory has replaced standing desks for me, and it’s easy to travel with

But all in all, my body feels aligned and in tune while using my Cyworx, and I no longer feel guilty for working in one of my favorite spots (this entire review was written from my couch). So ditch the sofa stigma. Your couch can be an office. 

ZDNET’s buying advice 

The Nerdytec Couchmaster Cyworx may not be for every WFH employee, but it’s an excellent option for students, workers, gamers, kids, and others. It also doubles as a great tabletop option for activities like reading. 

At $150, it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s justified on a price-per-use basis for a product I have continued to use daily since acquiring it. I can’t put a numerical price on improved comfort and decreased physical pain. 

Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.