Do you sit at a desk and keyboard for multiple hours? If yes, please recommend a good chair.
I'm Looking for a good office chair.
Thanks! Found a good price for a Steelcase Amia.
Get an office chair and not one of those "gaming chairs"
Source: I use a "gaming chair" and it sucks ass
That's cool! Does it mean you don't need to stand up when you need to use the toilet during a WoW raid?
EDIT: Ummm... I was just joking about literally sucking ass. And referring to the South Park episode with World of Warcraft. Sorry if it didn't come through as funny.
Nevermind the philistines, it was funny. Could make it sexual too, would be even better.
Secret lab is used but a lot of at home workers without issues but you gotta spring for it
I have a secret labs chair and use it a lot for working at home. I often sit for more than 14 hours on it, never had any back pain ir felt uncomfortable. Unfortunately I have one of the older generations and the arm rests are slowly deteriorating and falling apart, otherwise it's pretty good.
Go to a brick and mortar store like Staples and try them out yourself.
The chair that suits one person will be agony another.
You have to find out for yourself.
Second this. Don't get a gaming one, go to an office store. They build them expecting people to need to sit in them for hours.
Don't cheap out either. Remember the most important things to never cheap out on are things that go between you and the ground. Chairs, mattresses, shoes.
Personally I found a great mesh one that doesn't get hot in the summer and is still very supportive after 5 years
I second the mesh chair. I got this one at Staples for $100 a couple weeks ago and my ass is thanking me. I was using a fancy gaming chair before that felt like sitting on concrete.
Just to add. If you find one you like, don't avoid it because it's low cost. Brought the cheapest model at Staples and it's still going great. Cost is often an indicator of quality, but not always.
Steelcase. They make good office chairs that you can get used for decent money.
I've done some shopping and I too would recommend a Steelcase. I have one in the office and want to get one for home - I find everything at Staples and other home office stores just comes close, whereas this one is wildly adjustable (I'm tall and need all the help I can get).
My vote as well. I got a series 2 around 3 years ago now and it's the best chair I've had. I work from home and spend most my free time on a machine so I'm sitting like 10+ hours a day in this and it's still going strong. My back hurts less, my hips hurt less, just a good sturdy chair
Edit to add: My spouse actually does not like these chairs because they're super uncomfortable to sit in with bad posture. That's part of why I like mine because I'm basically forced to use good posture. So if you need a chair that lets you sit like a gremlin a series 2 might not work well
Got a refurbished steelcase leap V2 from Crandall after my budget office chair shit the bed. been really enjoying it. My ass and back are very comfortable.
I've been sitting in the same Steelcase Leap V2 for 8 years at work and it is still comfortable. I love it. When my current chair at home dies (it's good, but not "Steelcase" good) I'm biting the bullet and getting the Leap V2 at home as well.
I work as, amongst other things, an ergonomist and was here to comment exactly this. The Steelcase Leap or Gesture are nearly always my recommendations.
I'll advocate for the steelcase leap as well. Got that as my office chair a bit over a year ago and has been great
Refurbished from Crandall has been great for me. It really makes the top office chairs affordable. A new steelcase leap is absurd.
Yeah me too. I got mine for 150€ and honestly one of the best health purchases I ever did.
Same here. Work had the leather leap v2s and they were a better fit for me than a Herman Miller.
Going to go a bit against the grain on this one and recommend SecretLab. It does have that "gaming chair" aesthetic, but it is a great chair IMO.
I work from home, sit on my ass for 8 hours straight, and occasionally game right after work into the evening. I can park my ass in that thing and sit for 16 hours no problem (obviously getting up to take short breaks etc). It is super comfortable. I own the mesh one, instead of the leather/pleather, and I think it's the way to go.
Furthermore, the customer service is excellent. I needed to replace the armrest after 4 years as it was beginning to crack. My model didn't come with the snap on/snap off armrests, so I had to send an email to customer support to see if there was something they could do. Not only did they inform me it was actually easily replaceable, they sent me instructions, and gave me 50% of the replacement cost, which was only $20CAD, as I was just over the warranty at that point. It might be a 3 year warranty, but I can't quite remember, possibly 4.
My circle of friends largely work from home as well, and many of them have SecretLab chairs, and they also love them. No back problems, super comfy, breathable.
The only downside I can really think of is that it is a fairly heavy chair, as the base uses a large amount of metal, and the price tag can be expensive, at around $500-$700CAD if you purchase new.
They are also sized to fit your height and weight. I own the Titan 2020 model, and I love it.
Hope this helps!
Comfort wise I have to say it saved me. That said, for their price they lack any real durability on the aesthetic parts. The functional parts are amazing (save for the mis-manufactured back I got originally. The warranty process was involved but they delivered a new back).
So it's expensive, wears quickly, has QA issues, and they slow play warranty claims? Glad you ended up with a chair you like, but this is not inspiring confidence. :-)
Seconded this, if you're a bigger guy or like sitting on your legs like I do then the Titan is the right choice, that wide flat platform is ideal
I'd recommend against this. I have a 2020 Titan XL and it's been nothing but headache. It's finally in an OK state after two years.
The QA is poor beyond belief and the support team is nearly useless. The chair shipped with defects resulting in very loud creaking in the backrest when you make any movement (enough to be heard on Zoom or across your home). What's worse is they KNEW about the defect and only sent you a small email about it after the item arrived. Returning the chair requires you to cover shipping, so they banked on people keeping a defective product.
It took them 6 months to replace the chair back and the replacement was even worse. It took them a month to replace THAT one and I had to call twice to get them to schedule a pickup for the first defective replacement they sent.
Finally, the seat bottom was replaced about 4 months ago because some metal wire started poking out of it.
Each interaction with support was awful, it doesn't matter how much detail or how many photos and videos of the problem you provide, it's ignored and you get put on a script.
In hindsight, I should have charged the stupid chair back. You couldn't pay me enough to have next chair be Secretlab.
It does look nice though.
Going to second this. I have a Titan XL from 2019 and it's still going strong. Only issue has been a small crack in the side of 1 of the armrests. I haven't bothered replacing it because it doesn't affect functionality, just aesthetics. The cushion is firm as a chair cushion should be for proper support. It supports my tall, heavy ass no problem. I work from home half the week and I'm pretty comfortable. I cannot speak to newer versions of the chair though. I know about 3 or 4 people that have the Titan XL as well and haven't heard any negatives from them.
I just want to say, I'm in my 40's and most of my friends are late 30's/early 40's, and those chairs are starting to cause some of them some serious issues. If they're the ones that have the 'racing car' style seats, where the left and right are forward of the back, that design is to combat G-forces while driving. When you're stationary though, they can cause your shoulders to bend forward. Over a year or so, no big deal. Over 5-10, it starts to cause issues.
Herman Miller
Had a Marcus from IKEA for years, switched out to a Herman Miller Embody and I can sit in it for hours without any butt or back pain. I do wish I had a headrest on the Embody but its not the end of the world.
The HM range is expensive but with the 12 year warranty they're well worth the cost compared to cheap ones you'll likely replace.
I believe Atlas Headrests makes one for the embody. The one they have for the Aeron is a really nice match for that chair (colors, design and material)
Herman Miller Aeron
Hadn't heard of this and looked it up because numerous people in this thread mentioned it. Is it really that good? Looks like a mesh back chair. I typically strongly prefer padded back when possible.
Idk, I have one at work, and it's fine. But nothing special. I don't know why everyone loves them. I have an Ikea chair at home and it honestly feels about the same.
I've used it a lot and hate it, padded back is better especially in high back
It's very good
It’s not a mindblowing difference, but there’s infinite ways to adjust it and once you get it dialed in to your body, you’ll sit in the same position for half’a day and not realize you’ve been sitting in an office chair. It’s the complete opposite of GAMER CHAIRZ where not only are they uncomfy after a while, but after you’ve used it for a year or two, you’re sitting on a plank of shitty wood.
Other mesh office chairs are good, but the mesh sags after a few years. Herman Miller chairs can last for 20+ years without sagging.
It's not just how comfortable it is (that's a bit of a personal preference), but office chairs like the HM Aeron and competing models come with a good warranty, very long availability of parts, ... HM offers a 12 year warranty on the complete chair, even when used 24h a day. Those are made to last and stay comfortable.
The Aeron is also known for having a great reclining mechanism.
I hate mesh chairs. They're always freezing and never have enough support.
I have two ergoCentric Executive chairs, one in my office that work purchased after having me try out chairs and one at home that I bought myself because that chair is fucking comfy as hell. Fabric, padded, and comfy.
The embody is much better and is actually their more popular chair. We have two of them. One I just bought brand new for my wife and she loves it. The other I’ve had for several years and I got it for free from an old boss.
I've had a refurb one for 8 years now and like it. I sit in it every day for multiple hours but it's meant to force you into an ergonomic position. The mesh feels good but the added benefit is that it is much much easier to clean than a pad.
I work for a company that specializes in ergonomic work setups and the OTs recommend Ergocentric chairs at least 90% of the time.
They're expensive, but if you are having health issues due to sitting then your employer has a "duty to accommodate" to get you a better setup.
We also often recommend sit-stand desks because too comfy of a chair can just cause different problems from lack of movement.
I got a Varidesk and that was a game changer. Standing for half the day helped me lose 5lbs with no other change.
I have had a Herman Miller Sayl chair for 7 years. I work from home.and game in it, it's plenty comfortable for 10+ hours if you need to sit that long.
Only downside is no headrest. Upside is more affordable and less weird looking than the Aeron.
Steelcase leap v2 from Crandall online.
They're an official remanufacturee, so they put new cylinders, new casters and other parts like fresh foam and fabric on them.
Mine was a grade B and honestly, I couldn't find a single mark or scratch on it.
I got the same brand from Madison seating out of new Jersey. Slightly used at less than half the cost.
I second the Steelcase Leap if only for cost reasons, since it's an office staple and could be found all day for around $200 in decent shape (vs. $1000 new) and unlike the Herman Miller competition, the Steelcase Leap v2 is one size fits all with fewer if any optional accessories, making buying one used incredibly simple.
I have a leap v1 I got about 5 or 6 years ago that was reupholstered by a local used office furniture place. I keep using cheap cylinders, so I've changed that out a couple of times, and I changed out the original armests about two years ago (bought from Crandall for that). All in, including the original purchase, I'm at maybe $350 over the entire time I've owned it, and the structural parts and new upholstery are holding up perfectly. The tag on the bottom says it is 22 years old.
The other side of my home office has a HM Mirra v1 I got for free when they shut down my employer's local office, and my wife uses a Steelcase Gesture in the "study," which is to say the nice home office that doesn't have two 3D printers, a soldering station, half a dozen keyboards, a dog crate, and an elderly cockatiel. My 10yo uses a godawful "gaming chair," but it's pink and she's ten, so ergonomics are barely a blip on her radar. She has a standing offer to take the Mirra.
The most important thing, no chair can solve the problem of uninterrupted sitting for 8+ hours. No matter what you spend or what materials they use. Sitting for 8+ hours will slowly do permanent damage to your body. No matter what chair you sit in, stand up occasionally, take little walks, do exercises or calisthenics or something, whatever feels right for you.
I'm Autistic and when I play videogames I can get so hyperfocused that I don't realise the outside world has moved forward a whole day. Until something physically interrupts my gameplay. So I set timers now, and I strictly obey them. Nothing short of surgery will ever heal my tailbone issue, but I can at least prevent it from getting worse.
I also have a standing desk, so I will swap it between standing and sitting every 2 hours if I don't want to take breaks. And I have a VR headset for using my computer from different chairs; a recliner, a kitchen chair, anything different from my computer chair. I also use the VR headset for most of my non-computer gaming. It has become my current console gaming platform.
VR games are a great way to spend 8+ hours uninterrupted in a game without causing body problems, lol. Plus, if it's mixed reality, you can still do real life stuff while playing, like walking over and getting a glass of water or talking to and interacting with the other people in the room. In full Virtual reality it's still a good idea to have timers set, just as a check-in, if you have been standing still in the game, your knees could need some exercise, if you are hungry or thirsty or have to go to the bathroom... you know, the kinds of things you might not notice while the game is running, hehe.
For your tailbone, have you had a ganglion impar nerve block? It may help. A pain management facility can do it.
I would prefer to feel pain when something is supposed to be painful. The whole point of pain is to avoid doing things that are causing you damage. The reason I'm in this mess is my unnatural ability to ignore pain. Not feeling pain isn't a solution to a problem, it's a cause of further problems in the future.
Surprisingly this chair has come out highly in reviews when compared to 4 figure chairs. I have it and can say it is very comfortable. It’s not going to be the best of the best, however if your budget doesn’t stretch to more than mid-3 figures this could be a good alternative.
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/markus-office-chair-vissle-dark-grey-30261152/
Markus is good for 2 hours max due to the non adjustable poor lumbar support. Also, the non adjustable arm rests are a deal breaker.
I was going to recommend this chair. I have it as well and can confirm it is very comfortable.
This is the one
I'd suggest spending money on an adjustable standing desk and get regilar (as in off the shelf, not crappy) office chair not something super fancy. Being able to switch from sitting to standing a lot is more beneficial than a good chair.
I've been working from home about 90% of the time since the pandemic lockdown era. I had a cheap office chair and had noticed my back starting to hurt after a few hours in it per day. I eventually wound up getting a Humanscale Freedom headrest chair, which has been awesome. These chairs are stupid expensive, but I bought mine used, and reeking of the previous owner's perfume. It took months for the smell to completely go away, but I saved about $1,000 over buying one new, and it is otherwise in mint condition.
humanscale makes lovely stuff. I have some of their monitor arms and cable management and they're top notch.
I bought a used Herman Miller about 12 years ago for around $700. Worth every penny. It still feels the same as the day I got it. I would have spent more on cheaper chairs over the same period of time.
I've got a used Embody and my wife has a used Leap v2 (steelcase). Picked em up via office liquidations.
I've had a Leap V2 for the last couple of years, and really like it so far.
That’s how I got mine. It’s the best way to buy good office furniture. I’ve heard good things about Steelcase.
Herman miller aeron. they are outrageously expensive but totally worth it. You can get them used from resellers but honestly just get one new from the store. I got a used one and have no complaints other than I didnt get a brand new one to my specifications.
I didn't find it comfortable at all.
Agreed they are crazy overrated
Come back after sitting in one for a literal decade and report.
This is the only answer. All office chair purchases eventually converge towards an Aeron because it's the only thing that'll last a decade and fix your posture while doing it. I bought one just after the start of covid and is easily the least regret i've ever had spending almost a grand.
I'll also recommend the type c.
The secret to not having back pain or other health problems due to office work is very simple:
Move!
Furniture that enables you to move throughout the day:
A standing desk. Use it to alternate between standing and sitting throughout the day.
Get one of these to seamlessly transition between sitting, near standing and standing: https://www.varierfurniture.com/en/move
Or these, they will make you maintain good posture: https://www.varierfurniture.com/en/variable
Using these will also train your core muscles ever so gently, giving you better posture and preventing back pain. Good posture will also make you more attractive to your preferred gender, so that's a plus.
If you are not in a healthy range as far as the BMI is concerned, obviously fix that first. No furniture can compensate for overloaded joints.
This chair is completely insane, every time I researched about ergonomics it said your knees should be at a 90º angle.
Yea, the stool thing I can understand but the instant I saw the second one my knees were like "nope, fuck that"
I can't recommend steelcase enough. I bought my wife and I a couple chairs from them at the start of covid, and the clip on the lumbar support for my chair broke recently. They shipped me an entirely new chair and told me to keep or donate the other one.
I sit all day and have a degenerative disc condition. I've been sitting in the same Herman Miller Embody for 22 17 years. HM had to come refresh it once, but otherwise its been fantastic for SO long now. It's the same model that LG now sells as a gaming chair.
Edit: I mathed wrong first thing in the morning, and added 5 years to how long I've had the chair.
Standing desk and a standing desk chair. I got work to buy me a tall Herman Miller. way more expensive than I would ever buy for myself but it is great.
You got good replies already, so here is a related lifehack: set a timer to sound an alarm every hour during your sitting time, and when it rings, always go for a 10 minute walk/stretching session.
Bring your phone and headset if you are too busy and keep working if you have to, but make that physical activity a top priority.
When the pandemic started I went to Staples and bought a new chair for home. I spent around $120 and 3 months later I was looking for a new chair. I asked some friends and the top recommendation was SecretLab chairs. I ordered one for around $550 and it's pretty good, however sitting in it for 8 hours is a bit much (it's wonderful for a few hours of gaming though). Then last year I started a new job that required me to be in-office and the chair I have is an Affirm series by Om (https://www.omseating.com/series/affirm-series/). I can sit in this chair all day without any issues.
We have what I believe to be Steelcase Leap at my work, and they've been outstanding for 12 hour shifts and 24/7 use for years now. Best office chair I've ever sat in.
Some desireable things to look out for are a back that pivots separately from the seat (major deal-breaker if not), a tensioner on the backrest so that you can lean forward and back naturally without using a lever, adjustable armrests (the more adjustment options the better), the shape of the armrest (convex is better than concave), correct height, correct seat depth, and correct backrest height.
...a back that pivots separately from the seat...
Is that a personal preference or something backed up by science? I ask because I typically really dislike chairs where the seat and back aren't at a set angle. I don't like leaning back and feeling like I'm just laying down.
Definitely personal preference but not sure if backed by science. Though having to lean the base of the seat back with the backrest can't be good for your legs. With the Leap V2, the backrest has an adjustable tensioner and a lock to limit how easily and how far back the backrest leans.
It's adjustable and lockable on the Leap v2 that I have.
I really like that I can set it at the angle I prefer and like you said, keep it from going back every time I want to sit back in the chair.
Instead of investing in a chair, I would say invest in a sturdy desk that can be raised to standing height.
IDK who the two idiots who downvoted every suggestion of something that isn't a traditional chair but they're both cowards for not even saying why.
Please recommend a good anti-fatigue mat.
Custom fit Wooden clogs. I'm not joking. All cushioned surfaces aim to mold themselves as closely as possible to our body, but if you simply skip that process and shape a hard material to your feet exactly, it's extremely comfortable. There is a reason that clogs have existed for like 1000 years and co-existed with shoes for an extremely long time, only dying out more recently.
I have a Topo Mat and I really enjoy it. They advertise that it encourages you to change your stance with the contours and I've found that to be true. The "mini" one is sufficient.
Steelcase or Herman Miller, find them used from local offices going out of business. Offer $50 and see if you get lucky.
Forget about the usual office chairs. Get an adjustable standing desk and stand. Eventually you’ll get tired, so lower the desk a bit and sit on a saddle chair for a while. Switch between the two positions every time you feel like it.
I have the Haworth Fern chair below and love it. It is expensive, but worth it in my opinion. You don't want to skimp on something you sit in all day- and I could sit in this chair all day without pain.
My only other piece of advice is to schedule breaks to stand and stretch. I had a standing desk for a while and I did not care for it. I never got used to standing and working- maybe I am just not coordinated enough. But taking standing breaks helped with my back pain and improved my focus.
Good luck!
https://store.haworth.com/products/fern-office-chair?sku=SFTE-U0-7S01A6,4H_FT,MB_SL,TR_7,PM_P
I have a sit/stand desk and so I spend about half the day in my chair. I use a Steelcase Think; I like how it's relatively simple but still has a lot of articulation in its armrests, which makes it easy to get decent arm support where you need it. It's very sturdy and of nice quality. my only complaint is that I wish its back didn't have an inch of give before it hits the lock point at the furthest forward point, but this is really very minor.
if you live somewhere that you can go to an office surplus store, I'd super recommend doing that. I picked out this chair after trying a bunch out, and it was much cheaper than MSRP since it was used. they had like 20 different models and perhaps 5 of this one, and I picked out the nicest of the bunch.
Thanks. I'd never thought of an office surplus store.
Edit: The office surplus store here had 2 identical unremarkable shoddy used chairs for new shoddy chair price.
lol, that's a huge bummer though. when I picked up this chair I lived in a fairly major city, and it was during the "we're not doing return-to-office" times so I might've gotten lucky with what was being liquidated.
There are lots of recommendations for Herman Miller - just wanted to point out this is their CEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpYln4ZD0gk
I have a Herman Miller Aeron and kind of wish I had gotten SteelCase instead. Either a SteelCase Leap (any version), Gesture, or AMIA, they all seem nice.
Sheesh.. 20% of me was like "I've had to whoop the team into shape"... "If you don't hit revenue why would you get a bonus?".. "okay... I mean I guess I've done this... Maybe?" .... "Umm I mean I've had to say that and it been accurate .. But also acknowledged my employees' feelings, empathized and shared similar experiences, let them know their feelings matter but we still need to stay on target.." and then she escalated which.. okay.. we gonna switch to some positive encouraging words? That's cool, get pumped.. oh.. still getting more aggro but talking down to her people.. and getting meaner and louder... And a mic drop and a boom .. she's droppin it on them, instead of leading them?! Ugh oh my... That was gross. I want to say some holier than thou shit about boycott but the used chair of theirs I bought years ago is still on track to outlive me.
It really depends on how tall you are, your body type, and your budget. I'm small, so I hate the older Aerons (which is almost all my office had when I started), but the newer ones are a lot more adjustable so it might be better. I have a Steelcase Amia at home that I liked enough to order for work, too. Both of those chairs are pretty expensive though, so they may not be realistic recommendations.
If I was required to sit in a chair for hours, I would insist my supervisors allow me to sit on this:
And of course these are made in actual chair models too, with a stable base and a backrest and everything, but I would prefer the actual ball. Very healthy for your spine and core muscles, if you're required to sit, this is the healthiest method.
I actually am comfortable enough in a dining room chair at home (I sit forward not back) so no equipment rec but I am going to recommend yoga and, well, not sitting for hours at a time. Get up and get water. Get up and go pee. Get up and get coffee. Get up up and go pee again. Get up and stretch. It's very risky to your health to sit for too long.
I've lobbied for standing desks since I got mine and not about to stop ! If you're able, consider getting one. Mine changed my life. I alternate between standing and sitting throughout the day. And it's not just a matter of comfort or back pain (which btw is completely gone): I'm generally more awake, active and productive now. Before that I worked standing up for about a year and a half, and while the change was good, that was excessive, and my knees started to hurt after some time. That's when I understood that what really matters for long-term comfort and health at a desk job is movement. All the best,
Herman Miller Aeron. Tested reliable and proven.
I have a Hayworth Zody but would also recommend steelcase gesture, knoll generation, and Herman miller aeron. I got mine from the used office furniture store in town for 200. Ordered new arm rest caps to replace the old ones and it is going strong several years later. Also second those that suggest standing desks, used office furniture place again for that, I have a $1200 steelcase that was 200ish but like new.
Steelcase Karman. All the comfort and ergonomics of an Aeron, but far lighter, and better materials.
It's one of those, "if you spend a third of your life in it, it's worth a little extra" things.
I prefer a mesh chair to prevent sweating, with an adjustable headrest. I bought an Office Max branded chair years ago and it has held up perfectly.
Don't think they used to be called this but I've been using a decent Staples mesh chair for 4 years now and it's AMAZING without having to spend 300 dollars. It's either this one or a slightly more expensive one made out of nicer materials
Do you tend to sit upright with your feet flat on the floor? I went with a wide flat chair so I could sit cross legged. I’ve tried and disliked the ergonomic chairs that lean slightly forward
"Ergonomic" chairs in my experience force you into one position and don't accomodate people who shift and shuffle a lot throughout the day. Which IMO is much worse since changing things up is important.
Get a chair that is made for moving!
Good ergonomic chairs are certified by government health and safety inspection service in our country to prevent ilness and injuries to workers and come with certifications like NPR 1813 and NEN 1335. My ergonomic chairs are fully adjustable to NEN 1335 specifications. I would not buy any office chair without these certifications.
For mid-tier chairs I can recommend both the Markus from Ikea and the Ergonomic Chair from Branch. The Markus is generally more relaxing and feels really nice to lean back into. Whereas the Ergo feels more like it wants you to sit proper (and it's adjustable). The Ergo def takes an adjustment period do to it's "proper" posture, but after having it for a couple months now I don't even notice
Either should run you ~300 USD
Basic Ikea office chair plus ergonomic butt cushion. No need to spend a ton of money.
Adjustable armrests make a huge difference. Fixed armrests are better than none but really you need to be able to raise them to the right height for you, so your shoulders and back can properly relax. Without supportive armrests your shoulders need to carry the weight of your arms all day.
I have a steelcase chair I like a lot. Not sure of the exact model but it’s got great back support. I paired it with an autonomous standing desk to stretch my legs here and there when I’ve been sitting too long.
Don't stop with just the chair. Make sure you keyboard and monitors are at the right heights. Consider getting an ergonomic keyboard and mouse (or trackball). The positions of your shoulders arms and wrists have a significant impact on overall comfort. They will also keep you from developing an RSI.
Maybe not for everyone, but I really enjoy my Swopper stool. Mostly because I can't sit still and it allows me to bounce around all day. It takes some time to get used to, but it's great for keeping your core active during the day.
One downside is that I caused sea sickness with a colleague during a conference call due to all the bouncing :)
Herman Miller Embody.
I have the aeron, it's nice but a bit uncomfortable if you sit in it in any sort of non standard way, I sit with my legs crossed and my cat in my lap and unless I pad the heck out of the bottom with extra pillow or blanket the hard plastic digs into my feet and legs.
For me a far more comfortable approach is a monitor on a stand and a comfortable easy chair, along with a split ergonomic bluetooth keyboard. Embrace our wall-e future
Whatever chair you end up getting try to swing a standing desk if you can
What is your budget?
No headrest though :( I’m not too happy with mine, maybe because it’s too large (got the extra size as recommended by sales guy)
Got a refurbished Aeron for Christmas and love it.
Once upon a time, I was fairly strong but I couldn't touch my toes. That full deep stretch was just a little beyond me. It always had been, as long as I could remember in my adult life. Throughout years of martial arts and parkour that moderately normal level of flexibility eluded me.
Then I quit my job at Amazon. I was so burned out I ended up taking 6 months off. During that time I mostly hung out around the house. Played with my kid. ... played a ton of Minecraft.
The point is, I wasn't doing any new exercise. I was just doing things other than hunching in a chair all day. And just before I started a new job I discovered that I could touch my toes again!
I asked my new job for a standing desk - and I've kept that practice up at every job since. I alternate between standing and sitting on a tall office chair. I estimate that I stand a little more than half the day all in, but being able to transition has made a huge difference for me.
I'm in my forties now and I can grab my feets no problem. I don't do any dedicated stretching - I'm just not hunching all day.
My husband and I both have been using Tempur-Pedic office chairs for about 15 years. Starting in 2004, we both worked desk jobs from home (he still does, I only recently shifted careers) and both play video games so we have used the shit out of our chairs, and they are still good. I like that the seat is wide enough so I can fold my legs up under me if I want to.
I like Hercules office chairs. They're meant to hold 300lb people for 8 hours a day. I'm not that big, and I don't sit that long, but the chair has lasted me a lot longer than cheap or even moderately priced office chairs.
I've never tried those expensive Herman Miller ones though. That's just too outside my budget and mesh doesn't look very comfortable to me. Not too mention my cats would shred that up.
The mesh of a HM Aeron is the best part. Never getting sweaty is something I never considered before, but its a game changer
I got a "Actiu Tnk Flex" 2 years ago and so far so good.
I got this at the start of the pandemic and it has worked out perfect for me. I would have gone for a normal Herman miller but there’s not much of used market in my location and I’m not paying HM prices.
Aeron chairs are grossly overrated. They have been clever in both making a durable kind of chair and marketing like Apple. They aren't that comfortable and are designed to keep you "upright" but not much else. Originally there wasn't much like the Aeron, but now you have many, many choices for a much better price and comfort. It's personal taste, but I prefer a chair with a headrest. Also, your desk is equally as important for long sessions. Size, leg room, height etc. I built my own custom workstation to suit my needs. I ended up using a cheap Corsair gaming chair and my neck and mouse shoulder has never been happier.
Swapping an Aeron with a Corsair gaming chair is insane to me to think about. At least you feel comfortable I guess.
The breathable mesh material of the Aeron alone makes it head and shoulders above most other chairs, for anyone who ever gets sweaty while sitting. It's interesting to me how basically no one seems to notice this but me...
Also, buying a $200 chair every 2 years costs more than buying a $1300 chair for life.
Who would buy a $200 chair every two years(!?). There are so many other breathable mesh chairs out there that have more articulation/adjustment. and aren't $850-1300. Aeron's just aren't comfortable after 3-4 hours let alone a marathon work day. They are designed to keep you upright and facing a monitor, not for comfort. I think they get away with it because they have become a corporate status symbol. Especially new production offices/agencies/startups love to populate their workspaces with aerons or mira (another terrible chair). Like the eames lounge chair: Gorgeous and futurist to look at, but nigh impractical and uncomfortable.
I stand most of the time. Use the chair when I get tired.
I know this might sound stupid but for several years, I was using a regular kitchen chair with a towel to sit on and a cloth blanket to make the back more comfortable to lean against. Even though I have a different, much more expensive gaming chair, I am still using a towel because the leather sticks to my skin.
I have the GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair from Amazon and I love it.
I have upper back pain due to minor scoliosis. I'm also 6'1" so it's more challenging to find chairs that support my upper back well.
I bought this one because it has a lot of the features of the $1,000+ Herman Miller type chairs, but for less than $300. I bought it during the pandemic and figured if it lasted a year or two it would justify me forking out the money for the real expensive ones. Well 4 years later I'm still loving it.
The only complaint I had was the wheels are kind of crap, but I replaced them with some $30 rubber ones that look like rollerblade wheels. They are smooth fast and don't destroy my laminate floors.
I have one with mesh like that and I'm not a fan. Maybe it's because I'm a bony mfer but I feel like my back and ass are punching through it it all the time.
weird. I'm in Canada and it doesn't show up for me on the Canadian amazon website.
Yoga ball office chair. They're silly looking, but it's more convenient than a giant yoga ball.
I like my Herman Miller cosim by and large... I have experienced tailbone pain though. I'm not sure if it's the chair or just me getting older really.
Been using a Branch chair for ~2 years after having a cheap ikea chair for 1. Definitely notice the difference. You're going to want some adjustability, especially with lumbar support and arm height/ width.
Otherwise, the biggest thing to feel better is just getting up every hour or so to move around. I try to go for a walk/ run once a day since leaving retail and losing 10k steps of physical activity.
By that same token, sit-stand desks are nice if you have the spare budget. Otherwise, just get a nice chair and exercise.
I have an oversized "gamer chair" with a "footrest" that extends the front of the chair that allows me to sit cross legged on it. I replaced the base with a metal one and got rollerskate wheels. It's now quite sturdy and works well for me the last several years.
I'm using this one and like it. Chairs in a similar price range from Staples just didn't have all the right adjustments that this one has.
I also use the autonomous ergo pro. Or 2. It’s the green one. I absolutely love how customizable it is, and it’s got some amazing lumbar support. I had a gaming chair at the start of the pandemic, and my back was in so much pain by the end of the day.
It’s much better now.
I don’t think much can compete with the Herman Miller Aeron, but if you can’t find a good used one nearby, the ergo would be my next recommendation for sure.
Kneeling chairs. They take some getting used to and you won't be able to use it for extended periods of time at first. But they allow you to engage core muscles that would otherwise become atrophied and eliminates a lot of the health issues associated with sitting for long periods of time. I have found that using mine makes me less hungry for snacks while sitting at the desk as well.
Refurbished Ahrend 220. I bought 2 of them for about 50 Euro a piece on our local marketplace. Best chairs for home office I ever had. Ergonomic, comfortable and sturdy.
If you ever want to give standing desk a try I prefer a setup with a high office chair rather than having a desk that goes up and down. Its cheaper and the higher chair gives you part of benefit of standing which is being able to get up and back to work quickly when grabbing food or such and when its so easy to get up and down you will find yourself standing more and more.
I have the bottom half of an unpleasantly upholstered office chair that I pulled out of a dumpster a quarter century ago. I would not recommend it, but it's better than the loose crap I find every time I go chair shopping.
I have a standing desk thus I just use an IKEA foldable barstool https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/franklin-bar-stool-with-backrest-foldable-black-black-50406465/
It’s a makeshift standing desk that can’t be lowered and using such a stool forces me to stand. But even if I just sit in it all day I don’t have any back pain or anything like I did when I used a normal office chair at a normal desk.
big desk and stand up or an ajustable table idk
My HM Aeron is 20 years old. It has seen an embarrassing amount of use, as I've worked from home for over that length of time. It's served me well but it's not without its issues.
What I found at the start, and continue to find, is that it rolls the pelvis and c-curves the spine at the lower back. This loads the lumbar with a lot of force.
What I'm looking for now is a true tilter - not a mere recliner - that keeps the hip angle closed as it tilts. The rolling action on the hips is reduced, and lumbar support won't drift around. This is proving a challenge.
My physio and I disagree on headrests. so I look for one without his blessing or support. The force on the neck due is ideally reduced as well with one.
I also never found the Aeron comfortable on my back, though I also saw tons of them break in our office which seems weird and not a common experience. The most comfortable office chair I've owned was from HON. It was their "pillow soft" high back executive chair. I still have mine after several years, but I had to transition to a mostly standing desk recently, so I'm not using it currently.
My desk is in front of my bed
I found a yoga ball good for my butt and back. It forced me to keep sitting up right. Not good for relaxing though.
i've been sitting in cheapo office chairs my whole life and i'm still having a blast.
honestly, any office chair will be fine as long as you are comfortable in it.
no armrests; they get in the way and are pointless when your arms are on the desk already. if your arms aren't on the desk, you aren't actively working; i'm not saying get the fuck back to work, i'm saying if your hands aren't busy, stretch your arms and wrists. RSI is a reaper coming for us all but you can at least alleviate it.
the key is to get up and have a walk around any time you feel like it. stretch, get a snack or a water refill, give your eyes a break from the screen while you mull over legacy code or whatever problem is currently stumping you.
Get a box, put it on the desk, then your laptop on top and work standing. You’re welcome!
I'm a fan of the Alera ALEEL42ME10B Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Multifunction Chair ($180 at time of posting). I use it both at home and work
I bought it in November 2021 and it's still going strong
The one at work has been there since before i was hired (5 1/2 years ago)
Herman Miller
AeronEmbody and Steelcase Leap are both good.Check out Crandall's Office Furniture for good refurbished chairs.
Edited because apparently the Embody is just way better.
Will echo the aeron. Have had mine for about 5 years, rock solid.
Bought one from a guy who refurbishes them for $500. Definely get it used and look at Craigslist/Facebook marketplace for local deals. May luck out.
I got a refurbished Aeron for $400. The thing was originally manufactured in 2002 and it is still rock solid.
The leap is an excellent “mid range” one since a lot of these chairs can hit $2000 new.
Probably why decent refurbs are such a popular choice as well.
Can +1 for Herman Miller (and maybe mesh chairs in general), however I went for the Cosm instead. It's supposed to be a "relaxation" chair in comparison to their Aeron but the taller back on the Cosm I tried was much more suitable for me than a regular Aeron.
That being said, OP, look up where you're able to try the chairs once you've got some recommendations. Not a good idea to go in blind. For Herman Miller, John Lewis is a good retailer in the UK that has their chairs on display.
I highly recommend the Steelcase Leap (v2, is what I have).
However, you may need the headrest, and they are extremely expensive/hard to find, just a warning.
I got my Steelcase from a place that resold them, so it was like 275 Canadian. Still, a great chair.
I have the headrest, don't recall it being terribly expensive, but I also don't think it's that great.
My Aeron is nearly 10 years old and still great
I've owned £80 chairs that lasted that long though. Everything except the cheapest nastiest chairs from Amazon should be lasting 10 years.
If I bought a £1000 chair, I'd expect to be leaving it to somebody in my will.
I have the Aeron at work and it's pretty meh. Not sure how it's $2k
The embody is much better than the Aeron. I used an aeron for years and switched to an embody that was a decade old and it outperformed the aeron easily. Much more adjustable, much easier to sit in in different positions, none of that mesh. It’s a much better chair
Another place that's got good deals is https://nationalofficeinteriors.com . Learned about this place at an old job. They sell used stuff that's pretty much new but has like one little stain or scuff on it or something, so places making bulk purchases refuse it. Just doing a search for the Steelcase Leap (which I also highly recommend), they've got a bunch for like 50-70% off full price right now.