One of the great things about being a part of the Twitter community is learning about great products. When I first heard about the Surf Shelf I was instantly intrigued. First because I spend a lot of time on the computer and second I have been wanting to increase my treadmill time. The concept of Surf Shelf would help me with both these goals.
If you haven't heard of the Surf Shelf it is a exercise equipment attachment that allows the user to safely use their laptop while working out. It is very versatile because it can be attached to a treadmill, a stationary bike, a stairmaster, or a elliptical machine.
Basically, it's a plastic shelf made of a sturdy 100% polycarbonate, "the same stuff used to make bullet-proof glass", designed to hold up to 15 pounds. It comes in two pieces with three straps (two 6" and one 5" with Velcro) and a bevy of instructions to help you attach it to your machine. One to two straps are used to attach it to the machine while the Velcro is used to secure the laptop in place on the shelf.
Other features:
* Air vents to keep laptop cool
* See through panels to see console
* Adjustable angle
* Easy to remove and carry
I have to admit it took me a bit longer to set up than I expected (about 20 plus minutes) but now that I have it in place I have no doubt I could move it to another with no problems.
The Surf Shelf is designed to fit most machines "past and present" and while it does fit my machine, which is about eight years old, the essential controls are blocked. The instructions offered a work-around for this but my machine has an awkward console design. But I managed to develop my own work-around to spend an hour walking on the treadmill and surfing (I had to set up my walk and click start before attaching the laptop. To stop I just reduced speed to zero so I could remove laptop and press stop button).
I absolutely loved being able to Twitter, check email and read an email book I have delivered. It was surprisingly easy to walk and do these things. Doing tasks is definitely easier during the warm up phase but I had no problem doing tasks like typing short messages and reading. I was expecting the shelf to bounce around a little but it hardly moved at all. I'm looking forward to hanging out on You-Tube and watching the occasional movie as well. Surf Shelf is also partnered with In-Gym.com to provide free video entertainment and news while working out.
Service wise I was totally impressed at how quickly it was delivered and they were really quick to respond to questions via email. I absolutely love my Surf Shelf and plan to get in many more hours of surfing and walking.
Get your own Surf Shelf from the official website.
