So, you’re thru-hiking the PCT, nearing timberline on a summit push in the Tetons, or on day three of a backwoods campout in RMNP, but you just decided you need to get some work done, ey? Well, did you pack your laptop along? Great. Any trees nearby? Excellent. Did you bring your Tree Desk? Perfect! You can create a workstation in about half a minute using that Tree Desk and any decent trunk around. (Standing desk or sitting? Your call, if you brought a good camp chair.)

Now, to be clear, most of us don’t head out to the woods with a laptop and stack of memos and spreadsheets and such in tow — we don’t go to nature to work, in other words, we go there to escape work. And traffic. And texts. And TikTok. But just because a Tree Desk can safely support your precious MacBook or Lenovo doesn’t mean it has to be used for a computer. Or for work.

The Tree Desk also makes a great little dining table or prep station. It can be used for painting or sketching. You can make it a gear repair and cleaning spot. You can set out your fishing tackle on it. And so forth. 

As it happens, though, work that was the inspiration for the Tree Desk. We caught up with the inventor of this clever piece of hardware, Matthew Huang, who told DGR that being cooped up at home working for hours on end caused the spark that grew into what we’re sure will become a staple piece of outdoor gear for people far and wide.

Can you tell us about yourself and about the Tree Desk story?

“Sure. I'm Matt, a tech worker based out of San Francisco, and [a guy] who just thinks the old way of doing work — nine to five, 40 hours a week, sitting inside at a desk — is so outdated. I'm the type of person who loves to explore, to adventure, and just be out in nature. Surfing, hiking, trail-running, you name it. Nature just makes me feel rejuvenated and alive —” I'm sure you get it.”

(We do!)

“During the pandemic, I got sick and tired of working from home. It was getting so monotonous, it was draining on my mental health to be cooped up inside all the time, and it started to leave me feeling really uninspired. Spending so much time sitting inside just isn’t good for us.”

“So one day I decided to leave the house and do my work from the park — and I was so glad that I did! It was beautiful outside: blue skies, green grass, the sound of birds chirping, and gorgeous views of mountains in the backdrop. Safe to say, it got the inspiration going. And it put a smile on my face; talk about rejuvenating.” 

“Now when I was at the park, I realized that I didn’t have a comfortable place to sit. I didn’t want to get my butt wet by sitting on the grass, and I didn’t want to be hunched over my computer at a bench. I wanted a portable standing desk.”

“For that, I knew I needed a support structure. I didn’t want to bring one, because I thought that something like a tripod might be too heavy, especially since I just keep all my work gear in my backpack. So I figured I'd rather use a support that already existed. I looked around, and saw… trees. And then I got inspired. “I thought to myself: ‘What if I strapped a desk to a tree?’ Trees are everywhere — the options for where you could have a desk would be limitless!”

OK, so you had the idea. How did you get it to reality?

“Well, with that vision in mind, I was off to the races. After countless hours tinkering, testing, and literally tree hugging, Tree Desk was born. Tree Desk is a desk that straps to a tree, a post, or a pole, and I'd call it the world's most portable workstation. It's about the size and weight of a Macbook, think 2.5 pounds and 9-inches by 15-inches and half an inch thick, and slips right into your backpack. It's perfect for when you decide you want to take a break from sitting inside, but still have work to do. And it's made with eco-friendly materials like a bamboo surface, and with weather-resistant and anti-slip coating. And it can support up to 30 pounds!”

Awesome. Tell us about the user experience: how do you set it up?

“So easy; it sets up in about 30 seconds, so no time’s wasted there. Once you find a tree, all you have to do is wrap the belt around the tree, pop the legs down and slip then under the belt, then tighten the belt up, and boom! You're ready to get to work.”

Or get sketching or chopping or prepping a hook, right?

“All that. I wanted to give people the option to fire off those emails watching the sunset over some seaside cliffs, to capture their brilliant thoughts while they're out on a hike, to draw or paint in the woods, or spend their Friday afternoons wrapping up work from the park. I truly believe that humans are their happiest, most rejuvenated and natural selves outside, and that great work doesn't have to happen at a traditional desk.”

“At the end of the day, we're humans who work, not workers who human, and humans should have the freedom and ability to work wherever they want. I'm building Tree Desk to liberate the modern professional from the old way of working and the traditional desk, and I want to invite everyone on this journey with me!”