Looking for an adjustable, travel laptop stand? After over a year of traveling to 9 locations with two different stands, Buck and I share our experience using both the Nexstand and Roost.
To prepare for long-term international travel, we decided to go minimalist and each carry just a single piece of luggage. Since we do tons of computer work, our minimalist luggage needs to hold our computers and all the related peripherals–plus everything else a traveler needs. We want a portable laptop stand that is durable, lightweight, and easy to pack.
Overview of the Roost Adjustable Laptop Stand.
The Roost was the first of the truly lightweight (5.8 oz) laptop stands to come out, and it’s price reflected the high demand . We paid $75 at the time of our purchase, but you can check here for the current price. With the Roost, your laptop height adjusts to 3 different positions, to provide 6 to 12 inches of lift. Although it is lightweight, the Roost is sturdy and does not break when packed away in an Osprey Porter 30 travel bag.
Overview of the Nexstand Laptop Stand.
With the continued success of the Roost, it’s not surprising that a knock-off came on the scene. Buck was thrilled at the prospect of buying a laptop stand at a better price. The Nexstand price is about half the cost of the Roost, and you can check here for the current price. The Nexstand is also lightweight, although at 8 oz, a tiny bit heavier than the Roost. However, compared to the Roost, the Nexstand has a wider range of adjustability for laptop height, which is a pretty big deal for Buck.
Things the Roost and Nexstand Have In Common.
- Either travel laptop stand can save you from neck and shoulder pain when doing lots of computer work.
- Both are lightweight.
- Overtime, we’ll let you know how the rubber construction of each stand holds up, but after a year, we give each stand a ‘thumbs up’ for durability. Both stood up to slight luggage compression while we traveled to and from 9 places in the last year.
- Compared to other stands we researched, each has a small footprint when collapsed.
- While keeping your laptop stable, both the Roost and Nexstand allow great air circulation around your laptop, which helps keep your computer cooler. It is surprising how many laptop stands of any kind include a solid seat for your laptop; that seems like a missed opportunity to cool it off!
- Both the Roost and Nexstand are easy to set-up and to collapse.
- Both hold a laptop securely with rubberized hooks. Each also has rubberized front legs to keep the entire stand from sliding around.
- Both come with a carry bag that keeps it from scratching nearby items in your luggage.
- The cradle of the Roost nor Nexstand can accommodate a small chrome or tablet; the hooks are too far apart.
- The back legs on both stands are soft plastic, but could still scratch some surfaces. Not a big issue – just place a towel or soft feet on those legs.
How the Roost and Nexstand are Different.
- The Nexstand can accommodate a laptop almost 1 inch wide, while the Roost maxes out at .75 inches. This is beneficial for slightly thicker laptops, especially those with the battery component in the front. For most travelers, this will be a non issue–who wants to travel with a huge laptop? In order to hold a larger laptop, the Nexstand has removable tabs in the cradle. That’s both a pro and a con, since removable tabs can be lost, and without the tabs, a smaller laptop will not fit as securely in place.
- The Roost is about 1.5 inches shorter than the Nexstand, which means it takes up less space in your luggage.
- And then there are the contrasting things we have already mentioned:
- The Roost costs about twice as much as the Nexstand.
- The Roost (5.8 oz) weighs 2.2 oz less than the Nexstand (8 oz).
- The Nexstand has a wider range of laptop lift. But although it has more tab stops, they are not as easily delineated as in the Roost. So, you need to make sure the tabs are securely locked before placing your laptop in the cradle. Buck is the regular Nexstand user and says this is a non-issue. And the extra laptop lift can make a difference for taller folks. Of course, any stand can be made taller by stacking books/boxes/etc underneath it, but that involves a bit more effort, doesn’t it?
To optimize the ergonomic value of a good laptop stand, you also need to find a keyboard and mouse. Here are the keyboard and mouse setups that Buck and I use, and why.
After A Year, Would We Purchase These Travel Laptop Stands Again?
Buck would buy the Nexstand again and I would buy the Roost again. Buck loves the cheaper price and he loves the greater adjustment range. I love the better quality of the Roost Stand, partially because I pack more in my luggage which places more pressure on the Roost. Also, the Roost is a single piece stand with no removable/losable parts.
In a nutshell, the Roost and the Nexstand are each a great travel laptop stand. After a year of use, Buck and I say you won’t go wrong purchasing either one. Of course Buck adds that your wallet might disagree if you buy the Roost.
Hope this information is helpful! Safe travels!
Just So You Know:
- These observations are our own. We have received no free products. Also, we received no kind of compensation from these companies to review these travel laptop stands.
- However, if you purchase one of these stands, or anything else, using the product links included in this blog, we do receive a small financial compensation which inspires us to make more informative blogs and videos.