Ergodriven Topo Anti-Fatigue Mat Review

Topo by Ergodriven is the standing desk mat inspired by nature. After 5+ years of standing at work and testing several types of flat cushioned floor mats, Topo is the most comfortable and ergonomic anti-fatigue mat I’ve tried.

emily-binder-standing-ergodriven-topo-mat-review

Standing barefoot on my Topo

Addressing the hidden problem with standing desks:

Standing is only healthier than sitting if it’s done right.

-Ergodriven

At my standing desk, on my mat, long hair don’t care.

I’ve always recommended a high-quality anti-fatigue mat at least 3/4″ thick. You can certainly buy a cheap mat for $15 or $20 and kid yourself that you’re not wreaking havoc on your feet and legs, but prolonged standing with little movement isn’t healthy. Topo is a fun new take on foot relief, and it’s rooted in science.

Standing Science

I got rid of my chair because sitting can kill you. But standing on a flat mat, even a nice one like my $75 Rhino Mat, wasn’t cutting it. My legs still felt tired and heavy – stagnant.

Emily Binder standing on ergonomic mat at standing desk

To test it out, I stood on Topo at least six hours a day for two months. Sometimes in cushioned wedge sandals like this. Usually barefoot. Still using it.

Ergodriven is led by mechanical engineers who care about science. Topo’s calculated terrain keeps you moving while standing so blood doesn’t pool in your calves, which can cause poor circulation and increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. You subconsciously shift into different standing positions, engaging the anti-gravity skeletal muscle pump. Increased blood flow mitigates the risk of varicose veins. Great news for me, because although my CEP Women’s Progressive+ 2.0 Calf Sleeves are a big help for circulation while sitting or standing for long stretches, adding more movement is the best medicine.

Inspired by Nature

A Data Driven Playground for Your Feet

Topo’s design was inspired by hiking, swimming, and cliff-jumping.

Office cliffs and peaks – Topo in grey

Our office environments are hardly natural for our bodies, so any way that we can introduce more of what we were really meant to do – run around the forest all day – the better our health. Topo increases range of motion and circulation vs. standing still.

The Amazon links in this post are referral links. Here’s my disclosure policy.

Startups and Crowdfunding

Ergodriven eschewed Kickstarter. They took the time to calculate costs and benefits instead of just following the herd. They put in the grunt work required to market a new product; driving traffic and building relationships takes elbow grease. Here’s their homegrown product launch campaign. It worked nicely, and best of all, had a 0% fee.

In fact, we have everything Kickstarter would have provided us set up on our own domain now, and it only took us about 150 hours. Compared to the estimated 8,000 hours we’ve put into developing and launching Topo so far – well that only represents about 1% of our time. So why would we give up 5% of our users’ hard-earned money?

Because that’s truly what it means. Avoiding Kickstarter’s 5% fee means we can charge 5% less.

People focus on funding too much.
Product is sexy; customers are sexy; revenue is sexy.

Product Details

Material: Environmentally-conscious, 100% polyurethane foam, with no PVC or plasticizers (like phthalates), or added flame retardants
Durable, breathable pebbled skin which feels nice barefoot
7-year warranty against manufacturing defects
Hands-free sliding is easy with one foot (no reaching down)
Size: 26.25″x29″
Thickness: 2.7″ at highest point
Weight: 8 lbs
Colors: Black, grey, blue, purple, or green
Amazon Prime cost: $99 (as of 12/6/2017)
30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee (free return shipping)

I asked Ergodriven CEO Kit Perkins why he’s proud of Topo:

I’m most proud of how many people love Topo and how much they love it. Topo’s return rate is incredibly low, and the reviews we get online and sent directly to our customer service via email are absolutely glowing and incredibly heartwarming to read. I’m so proud that Topo has improved so many lives, and continues to make a big difference in happiness and health for our users every day.

One Drawback

I still find myself striking my signature desk yoga pose with one foot on the ground and the other leg resting horizontally on my desk, bent at the knee, which may or may not be healthy. The flat areas of the mat are a bit thinner than I would like, so standing on those areas for a long time gets tiring. A larger footprint for more stretching and angled standing would be nice, but the current size is nicely manageable in a cube. Overall, it’s a great product from a company I respect, and it’s worth the $99.

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Buy Now with free shipping on Amazon Prime

Disclaimer: Ergodriven provided me with a Topo in order to write this review. My recommendation is not for sale: this is my honest opinion after two months of testing. The above links to purchase this product are Amazon Associate links – read more here.