The Best Laptop Stand - Roost vs Nexstand
Nicole Copestake
The Nexstand K2 often gets compared to the Roost Stand. While there are many similarities, there are a few points of difference you should be aware of.
We’ve gathered three different articles comparing the Roost Stand to the Nexstand K2. See what each of them have to say about the portability, height adjustability, durability and sturdiness of each laptop stand.
You can also watch some video comparsion reviews here.
Here are some key takeaways from the articles below:
"You can buy close to three Nexstands for the same price as one Roost stand—and it is still a perfectly capable stand." - Tom Wahlin, Pack Hacker
"Both the Roost and Nexstand are excellent, solidly built stands that will hold your laptop steady. The Nexstand’s price represents excellent value and there’s nothing really negative about its quality." - Tim, Customer Review
"They both guarantee comfortability when working on a laptop and support upright, healthy posture. This is the most important function to consider." - Natalia B, Remote Work Advocate
Roost Stand |
Nexstand |
|
| Weight | 170 grams | 234 grams |
| Size (folded) | 3.3 x 3 x 33 cm | 1.3 x 1.3 x 13 in | 3.81 x 3.81 x 35.6 cm | 1.5 x 1.5 x 14 in |
| Adjustable Height |
3 settings 6 to 11 inches above tabletop (15.2 to 28.0 cm) |
8 settings 5.5 to 12.6 inches above tabletop (14.0 32.0 cm) |
| Material |
Glass-Reinforced Polymer, Silicone Elastic |
Industrial-grade Reinforced Nylon |
| Compatibility |
Fits laptops with front edge less than 0.75 in (1.9 cm) |
Fits laptops with front edge less than 0.79 in (2 cm) |
| Weight Capacity |
50 LBS |
20 LBS |
| Price |
$89.95 USD |
£20.83 GBP |
Portability
When folded, the Nexstand is about 1” longer than the Roost, and slightly thicker. This means the Roost is more compact than the Nexstand, and for me that is a bonus - the extra inch that I save in my bag means I can stuff an extra pair of socks in that space!
When expanded though, the Nexstand’s extra inch of length makes a big difference in that it appears considerably larger than the Roost. It suggests the Nextstand can hold a thicker or wider laptop than the Roost, but the Roost is still very capable despite its smaller size. The Nexstand comes with extra clips for thinner laptops. - Tim, Customer Review
Right off the bat, the Roost just looks smaller. We weighed them ourselves, and the Roost stand comes in at 6.05 ounces, while the Nexstand is a bit heavier at 8.2 ounces. A minor difference in weight, but for someone who travels a lot and is concerned with the weight of their pack or wants to travel ultralight— two ounces is nothing to sneeze at.
As far as physical size, the Roost measures 1.3 x 1.3 x 13 inches (3.3 x 3.3 x 33m), while the Nexstand comes in at 1.5 x 1.5 x 14 inches (3.81 x 3.81 x 35.6 cm). Again, we’re talking about a pretty small difference here, but when you actually look at them the Roost stand definitely feels more compact. - Tom Wahlin, Pack Hacker
Both Roost and Nexstand are small in size. Also, they are both portable, which makes it easy to commute with them (to the office, café, or while traveling). Also, you don’t need a large table or desk to work comfortably — no matter which model you choose. And, they don’t take up much space when folded or unfolded.
Although Nexstand is bigger, and it is a bit more massive compared to Roost, I personally don’t consider this difference to be significant. However, if you care about having the smallest possible laptop stand, in both folded and ready to work positions, then Roost definitely meets these needs. - Natalia B, Remote Work Advocate
Height Adjustability
When it comes to height, Nexstand definitely wins, as it is not only taller than Roost but also has a greater number of height adjustment rings. For me personally, this functionality doesn’t matter much because I use Nexstand at the same height I use Roost at. However, if you care about the greater number of the height levels, then Nexstand would be the best choice. - Natalia B, Remote Work Advocate
The Roost stand offers three different height settings that you can easily adjust between, which is very convenient. Depending on the height of the table or your chair you may need to adjust the stand a bit. But the Nexstand offers eight settings—which is amazing. The Nexstand scores major points there. It should also be noted that both stands have the same maximum height—20.5 inches to the top of the screen with a 15” Macbook Pro. - Tom Wahlin, Pack Hacker
Durability & Sturdiness
Here at Pack Hacker, we are always looking to find products that will last a lifetime. With these stands, the Roost feels really robust and solid when you first pick it up. The rubber on the contact points—where the stand will be touching the laptop—is definitely of a higher quality than the Nexstand. The Nexstand feels a little looser, more wobbly—if that’s a word—and the rubber is much harder.
As far as durability goes, the Roost wins again for durability and sturdiness. Although the Nexstand marketing team really likes to put gym weights on their stand to show its sturdiness, the Roost stand is built out of better materials—glass-fiber reinforced nylon vs. PVC—and feels a lot better. - Tom Wahlin, Pack Hacker
For me, the material used for making the product is one of the biggest features that distinguishes the laptop stands from each other. The creators of Roost definitely win here, offering better quality materials, rubberized handles, and a slim design.
All this affects the quality and comfort of use — in the first impression, in touch, and during stability tests. Nexstand is made of plastic-like materials, and you can tell the quality when feeling, using, and looking at the stand. - Natalia B, Remote Work Advocate
The laptop is held in place on the stand by the front clamps. It’s an ingenious design and well executed that prevents the laptop from slipping off even when you tilt the stand. However, as the front clamps are the point of contact with the laptop, I wanted to make sure that the clamp would not scratch my laptop. Here the Roost provides the better quality material, using rubber front padding whereas the Nexstand’s clamp is purely plastic.
That would seem to make the Roost the more favorable option, but then I notice that the Roost’s plastic back has a middle plastic ridge sticking out - perhaps the result of the manufacturing process or a quality control issue?. I don’t think it will scratch the laptop but it’s irritating, especially compared to the Nexstand’s smooth surface. Also it should be noted that the Nexstand clamp looks to be capable of holding thicker laptops than the Roost. - Tim, Customer Review
Conclusion
For me, both Roost and Nexstand are great solutions to help you when working on a laptop as well as for people who are traveling or working at home. If you are looking for portable, cost-effective, and satisfying solutions for an ergonomic workstation setup, then consider one or both of these products.
They both guarantee comfortability when working on a laptop and support upright, healthy posture. This is the most important function to consider, as no matter which laptop stand you choose, the same goal is achieved. Thinking about proper, long-term sitting posture, I’m happy using both brands. - Natalia B, Remote Work Advocate
The Roost stand is clearly the superior laptop stand. That being said, both are capable stands, unless you’re working in some extreme environments you should be fine with either one. Ultimately, we think this decision comes down to price.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to have the best gear possible (we fall into this category), go for the Roost. If you’re a little more budget conscious, the Nexstand will serve you well. After all, you can buy close to three Nexstands for the same price as one Roost stand—and it is still a perfectly capable stand. - Tom Wahlin, Pack Hacker
Both the Roost and Nexstand are excellent, solidly built stands that will hold your laptop steady. I don’t want to advocate one above the other and have personally kept both for now. The Nexstand’s price represents excellent value and there’s nothing really negative about its quality, so if price is important to you, or you have a really large thick laptop, go with the Nexstand.
The Roost provides extra luxuries such as rubber paddings and a more compact frame, but for the price it’s slightly more difficult to justify - if the price point doesn’t bother you then the Roost certainly represents a more “upgraded” model. - Tim, Customer Review
References
Laptop Stand Showdown: The Roost 2.0 vs. the Nexstand K2 - Author: Tom Wahlin
Roost vs Nexstand — Laptop Stands Comparison & Review - Author: Natalia B
Roost vs Nexstand Customer Review - Tim