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Ask HN: Best Office Chair?
My home desk-chair is nearly ten years old at this point, and wasn't anything special even when it was new. This is starting to become pretty noticeable now that I'm using it for eight hours every day.
Anybody have recommendations for their favorite office/desk chair? I don't want anything huge or ungainly, and ideally not one of those garish "gamer chairs". Something minimalist but comfy, and durable, and good for your back. I've really enjoyed those mesh-based chairs in the past, though I don't remember any specific brands.
- jonah 7y agoSteelcase Leap. I've had mine for maybe 17 years and it still works perfectly and looks good. I find it far more comfortable that those mesh chars like the Aeron (its main competitor back when I bought it). They also have fantastic warranties, I had it maybe 12 years when the gas strut failed, the tech drove up from 2 towns away to replace it the next day in my home office.
- _bxg1 7y agoThat sounds great, but woof, it is expensive ($1,036 normally, $880 right now for those following along at home). Seeing as I'm hoping to be back in an office a few months from now, I was hoping to ideally spend more in the $100-$300 range.
- mattm 7y agoIf you're in the Bay Area, you can get them used on CL in that range. That's how I got mine.
- brundolf 7y agoI am not, but maybe they can be found in Austin too
- jonah 7y agoThere seem to be a few: https://austin.craigslist.org/search/fua?query=steelcase+leap https://austin.craigslist.org/search/fua?query=steelcase+lea... and https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/austin/search/?query=steelcase%20leap&latitude=30.2677&longitude=-97.7475&radiusKM=65&vertical=C2C&sort=BEST_MATCH https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/austin/search/?query=st... Look at other local sources as well.
- freeqaz 7y agoThere are often times liquidators that will have mass stock of common office chairs. Especially with the state of the current economy, I wouldn't be surprised if there will be more chairs hitting the liquidators soon. You may have to get creative with contacting these companies (they tend to be B2B) but if you're motivated you can likely save yourself quite a few dollars by going this route. :)
- smacktoward 7y agoIf it’s a business expense, you can write it off on your taxes as such. Takes some of the sting out of the price.
- buss 7y agoI just bought a used/refurbished one from Madison seating for about the same price as I could find a used one on CL in SF (~$400). I've been using a Leap for years at the office and swear by them.
- mturmon 7y agoA used Aeron for in the neighborhood of $400 might work. Assuming you’ll continue to use it, this really is a “hurts once when you buy it, rather than a little every time you use it” thing.
- pmiller2 7y ago+1 to this. I got an Aeron with all of 3 days worth of use on it for $600 about a year ago. It's one of the best purchases I've ever made.
- Someone1234 7y agoSteelcase Leap. I went and sat in a bunch of high end office chairs including the Herman Miller Aeron, Herman Miller Embody, and Steelcase Gesture. I feel like the HM chairs are a lot more "opinionated" about how you sit, and sitting wrong will be punished with pain (e.g. back of the legs for folding your legs under the chair). I have heard that shorter people find them more comfortable though (6'1" here). The Steelcase Gesture is a good chair too, but the arms on the Leap are leaps and bounds better (fixed Vs. semi-lock on the Gesture). I just feel like for computer/mouse users, having fixed arms makes a lot more sense than infinitely moveable ones that don't lock as well. It was absolutely the right decision to spend almost $1K on a chair. I've already owned it longer than any other chair and it remains comfortable after a few initial weeks of tweaking.
- moepstar 7y agoI find the not-really-locking arms on the Gesture infuriating - this is my chair, i sit on it each and every day and after some initial adjustment i don't expect it to move, like, at all :/
- wink 7y agoWhile they are not "locking" it happens to me like once a month that I move the chair too near to the desk and twist them. It hardly ever happens with my elbows, so this might not be a problem for other people.
- db1 7y agoLove the Steelcase Leap as well, the chair has all the right adjustments for me and feels very sturdy and well built. If shop around you can usually find these available second hand. I have two and spent 350 each on them.
- kevinherron 7y agoI also have one of these (Leap) and have been pretty happy with it. It's very adjustable so I have no problem getting comfortable in it. I did not have the luxury of trying other high end chairs, though, so I couldn't offer any comparisons. I bought it secondhand for ~$350 sight unseen.
- janjongboom 7y agoI really like my Autonomous chair (https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chairs/ergonomic-chair https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chairs/ergonomic-chair) - prefer it over Aeron and decently priced at under 400$.
- systemvoltage 7y agoAeron. Look no further.
- oyebenny 7y agoWow, didn't realize that these were actually recommended. I have grown to dislike these so much because these chairs are in every company I've worked for. Ugh.
- dijit 7y agoWell count yourself lucky. I worked in one company that had them and the difference is astonishing. Right now we use Kinnarps; something like this in black, maybe an older model: https://www.kinnarps.com/products/seating/task-chairs/plus/ https://www.kinnarps.com/products/seating/task-chairs/plus/ The adjustment options are meh, they get super warm, I find myself shifting in place a lot. Before that the company I was working for didn’t put any real value in the chairs they bought, think ASDA/Walmart office chairs, but used for a decade or more. Office chairs aren’t often invested in by most companies in the UK or Sweden I think. Anyway, When I was working on an Aeron I could sit comfortably for hours and hours. The only downside is that it “clicks” more than other chairs with a big hollow clunk... maybe the other downside is that I’m seated much longer. After using one at work I went and bought one even though it cost me >1% of my annual salary at the time. I don’t regret it at all.
- Tepix 7y agoThat's an odd reason to dislike something. Perhaps they are everywhere for a reason?
- moooo99 7y agoWe have them at work as well and I quite like them. It is just annoying if you have to constatntly re-adjust when someone else sat on your desk for a week. But that's not really an issue with the chair itself.
- systemvoltage 7y agoI disagree. I think Aeron chair is a masterpiece of ergonomics engineering. They are also not for everyone - some people I know hate it. But, Herman Miller is an amazing company with strong engineering culture - they’ve essentially perfected what an ergonomic chair should comprise of. Perhaps you should try a different size. Aeron comes in A, B and C sizes. This can make or break your opinion.
- abinaya_rl 7y agoProud owner of Steelcase Leap V2 I find the Leap more comfortable for sitting long periods of time. The Leap also allows me to sit on one of my legs (I know, not a good idea), while the Aeron makes this impossible. The Leap also has more adjustments for the arms which I move quite often. Regardless of the chair model, take frequent breaks and our back does not made for long sitting!
- danielbarla 7y agoSome decent options in this thread, I thought I'd add some general advice, which I could have used in the past. Firstly, figure out if you want / need a neck rest. This turns out to be important for me, and I would not want a chair that doesn't have one (this point could be expanded with exceptions). Next, adjustability is key. Some things are standard (backrest angle, height), but many are rarer. For me, being able to adjust the height of the armrest was eye-opening. Without this, you will either slouch in the chair, or hold your elbows in the air, neither of which are ideal. Lastly, a word about sturdiness and durability. Some chairs start to misbehave as they age, e.g. I once had a cheap office chair which started to "list" slightly. I didn't pay much attention until I noticed frequent cramps on one side of my back, and realised it's because I'm sitting at a few degrees angle to the right. Overall my advice would be: get the right chair (for you), sit correctly in it, and do plenty of exercise. The best chair in the world doesn't help enough if you sit for 14 hours every day, without any of the latter.
- Insanity 7y agoSeconded the last point. For me, starting to work out in the gym was a better improvement than just making changes around my desk. For OP: Personally I don't have a super fancy chair, cost me about 80-100 euro IIRC but don't even know what "brand" it is. Generic office chair :P
- somid3 7y agoErgohuman — have had mine for a decade. They have sent me replacement parts for free. Amazing.
- kccqzy 7y agoPreviously on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15733672 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15733672
- salt-licker 7y agoModway Articulate is what we have for everyone in our office: https://www.amazon.com/Modway-Articulate-Ergonomic-Office-Chair/dp/B006IY89ZA https://www.amazon.com/Modway-Articulate-Ergonomic-Office-Ch... At $150 I find it comfortable enough to sit in all day without issue, which is rare even among more expensive chairs I’ve tried. One of our employees has ergonomic issues and loves it. I really like having the ability to adjust seat tilt and back tilt separately, as well as initial back height. The only downside is the armrests don’t go low enough to fit under your desk easily, so we generally leave the armrests off when building them
- camhart 7y agohttps://www.staples.com/Tempur-Pedic-Mesh-Computer-and-Desk-Office-Chair-Fixed-Arms-Black-Black-TP7000-RAV-COAL/product_1539761 https://www.staples.com/Tempur-Pedic-Mesh-Computer-and-Desk-... $240 right now. I prefer it over the tp9000 because of the lumbar support. Great chair at that price--unbeatable in my opinion.
- neilk 7y agoIt's an extremely personal choice. Bodies are different. The following are somewhat pricey options. In my opinion the Knoll Regeneration is pretty good. Hermann Miller chairs are also good, but the Aeron is probably the least ergonomic thing they sell now – and definitely not "minimal". The Setu might fit your criteria. Just remember, the ideal chair for six hours of sitting doesn't exist; your goal should be to keep changing your body position as much as is feasible. https://www.painscience.com/articles/chair-trouble.php https://www.painscience.com/articles/chair-trouble.php
- petewailes 7y agoSteelcase Leap or Humanscale Freedom would by my recommendations.
- chiefsucker 7y agoIf you want something minimalist I can recommend the HÅG Capisco. It looks a little bit weird, but is really comfy once you get used to it. The chair supports active sitting which means you won’t sit in one position for eight hours straight, instead the chair will invite you to move around and try out other seating positions which will inevitably lead to more movement and stronger muscles. https://store.flokk.com/us/en-gb/products/hag-capisco?store=auto https://store.flokk.com/us/en-gb/products/hag-capisco?store=...
- hasperdi 7y agoI second this recommendation. HAG Capisco is not cheap, it is an investment (that will hopefully last for at least 10 years). It fixed my chronic neck pain using regular office chairs. Before buying it, I suggest you go to a retail shop / showroom to try it.
- freeqaz 7y agoThey have a 90 day return policy and, if you live near a store (they have one in SF), you can return it to the store easily. If you do try to return the chair, note that it's a PITA to disassemble.
- gulbrandr 7y agoThank you for the recommendation and the link. I've been lucky to test it once, it is a very good chair. What is the price?
- freeqaz 7y ago$800 for the Capisco new. They have the "Capisco Puls" model which is a bit cheaper but I'm not sure it's as comfortable.
- moxd 7y agoI just got the Puls. It is very comfortable, but I've never tried the Capisco. It's very sturdy and really helps me maintain a good posture while working. I also like the fact that it's a good looking minimalist chair which is nice when you care about your interior design and not having a bulky black office chair in your house
- roel_v 7y agoI have a Herman Miller Mirra 2 that I like a lot. But it's very personal, you should go try several out, which in most of the world you can't right now. Higher end chairs also come in multiple sizes, making it even more important to try them out.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- hirundo 7y agoMy favorite thing about the Mirra 2 is how you can set it to follow you when you lean forward, and it still gives good back support. The worst thing is that it's so comfortable I can sit in it for many hours straight, so I don't get up and move around as much.
- pplonski86 7y agoGood for back: https://www.lifespanfitness.com/workplace/treadmill-desks https://www.lifespanfitness.com/workplace/treadmill-desks I have this one with an electric-height desk (custom built) and switch between chair and treadmill. I would recommend it. However, the treadmill, when not used, is taking a lot of place.
- Tepix 7y agoI researched the same thing yesterday. Looking for something that promotes "active sitting". I came up with this list (for the German market). Most are quite pricey (in the 500-1000€ range): ○ Viasit F1 Move ○ Sedus Swing Up ○ Profim Accis Pro ○ Aeris 3Dee ○ Köhl Anteo Up with AirSeat ○ Rovo .. "Ergo Balance" models YMMV. Bodies are different etc. I'm very interested in hearing about more options as I haven't ordered just yet.
- evook 7y agoThe Haider Bioswing series is missing in this list.
- Tepix 7y agoThanks. I guess the chairs recommended by AGR are all of interest: https://www.agr-ev.de/de/ratgeber-produkte/produkte/2837-aktiv-buerostuehle https://www.agr-ev.de/de/ratgeber-produkte/produkte/2837-akt...
- nextos 7y agoCheck out Norwegian chairs made by Håg and Varier.
- CraneWorm 7y agoikea markus
- temptemptemp111 7y agoAltwork
- gulbrandr 7y agoI use the Variable balans chair from Varier [1]. It is particularly useful to keep your back straight and in a good position. It's also important to place your screen at the correct height to avoid neck pains. [1] https://varierchairs.com/product/variable-balans-quickship/ https://varierchairs.com/product/variable-balans-quickship/
- cillian64 7y agoI have two of these for work and home and love them. However I find it best to spend about half my time on this and half on a normal office chair otherwise my back gets tired. Also, the Varier isn't height adjustable and my home desk is a touch too high for it which is annoying.
- shem73 7y agoI've had a Stokke Duo for 23 years. Varier is a new name for the company and the Duo is a milder version of Varier Gravity Balans [1]. It's been so good that I just recently had it reupholstered. I've tried Gravity and find it excellent as well. With a nudge you can change between four different positions. The positions are quite stable, it's not like a rocking chair. [1] https://varierchairs.com/product/gravity/ https://varierchairs.com/product/gravity/
- deltron3030 7y agoSomething that isn't too costly, is comfy (thick cushion), designed to last (one of the product design objectives) and blends into a more classic mid century modern environment (Apple style) is the Alefjäll chair from Ikea.
- eHNTi 7y agoNone! I use a very uncomfy IKEA wooden step to sit on. I've got a standing desk for years and had a treadmill for a while. But those are loud and take up too much space. You don't WANT to be comfortable. You need to move your body and be forced to stand up as much as you can. Otherwise your body will wither. Every artificial "support" will tell you body it doesn't need to support that part on it's own. That's true for all walks of life really. Don't be too comfy. Nature will find a way to fuck you over.
- yami 7y agoI've been looking for a threadmill for a while to put under my standing desk but yeah I'm afraid they'll be too loud... Do you have a good reference?
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- inertiatic 7y agoI don't think being comfortable when you're supposed to be comfortable and be able to focus on other things is a bad thing. You can be uncomfortable outside of your focus or leisure time and be perfectly healthy.
- tummybug 7y agoProbably not the answer you want to hear but the best office chair is no chair. I only have a standing desk at home and my back/legs are so much better after 3 weeks of WFH than they have ever been.
- Insanity 7y agoSwitching between standing and sitting is better yes, standing the entire day is not the best option IIRC.
- harlanji 7y agoPaired with a task chair was nice some days, mostly before I leveled up my fitness. Any cheapie with no arms is fine since it’s for short periods. Task mat, very firm, is necessary. Worth $90 or whatever, esp. post-chair. Now I work mostly service jobs, 100% standing, feels great. 2013 was the first attempt at a standing desk, seldom stopped.
- Krasnol 7y agoIt surely is not something for everybody. I'm almost 2m tall so always had back and chair problems so I took the opportunity to switch my desk to a standing one for 4 months with a college who went on a project abroad. It was hell from the first to the last day. Not only was standing problematic, it distracted me so much I got angry and used every opportunity to get away from it and to sit and talk to other colleges in their offices (been told about it at some point because I didn't even realise it). I'd say if you're not OK with it after 4 months, you probably won't be after 4 years. I joined a swimming club again. It helped.
- joshschreuder 7y agoI’m tall too (190) and found standing very uncomfortable too. I had a standing mat and monitor arms too, and I think it made my mid back pain worse than it was before. I think a lot of ergonomic recommendations are very personal.
- DeathArrow 7y agoHere are mentioned some studies that say LBP is not linked to sitting. https://www.painscience.com/articles/chair-trouble.php https://www.painscience.com/articles/chair-trouble.php
- dejawu 7y agoI know for many of us a chair is a worthwhile long-term investment, but for those of us on a budget, I can recommend the IKEA Markus. It's sturdy, costs less than $200, looks nice, and I routinely sit in it for hours without getting uncomfortable. I also hear you can get Aerons and other similar chairs for around $300 on Craigslist/FB marketplace when companies are trying to offload them en masse.
- muzani 7y agoI prefer the Malkolm over Markus. But mine is falling apart after 4 years. Great chair, though.
- meddlepal 7y agoBought a WorkPro 9000 Quantum from OfficeMax a year ago and it has been my favorite chair (and I used to have an Aeron when I worked in an office).
- ttn 7y agoIkea järvfjället is a decent option.
- vlokshin 7y agoJust went pretty deep in researching these... If you're not budget conscious, look at the Herman Miller Aeron, Steelcase Leap V2, Steelcase Gesture, or Humanscale Freedom. Budget, seems to be a serious crapshoot. Lots of people like the top end Ikea chairs and those will cost 1/4 as much, but depends on if they fit your body and if you're ok with rigid arms. Steelcase Leap V2 seems like the winner to me. Most adjustable, with a soft seat (Aeron has hard edged bottom mesh... and looks like an insect). Humanscale Freedom with headrest looks best IMO but not as comfortable and couldn't find good remanufactured ones. Lots of refurbished/second hand options. I ended up going with a remanufactured (starts with refurbished, gets cleaned up nicely, reupholstered and rebuilt). Half price for a chair that I hope feels like new. BTOD (https://www.btod.com/ https://www.btod.com/) and Crandall (https://www.crandalloffice.com/ https://www.crandalloffice.com/) look like they sell the same product (and Crandall is the "factory" for both). If you go this route, see what price works better for you after promo codes and tax are factored in. I went with this BTOD Leap V2: https://www.btod.com/steelcase-leap-v2 https://www.btod.com/steelcase-leap-v2. Ordered yesterday. Fingers crossed that it feels like new. I can't believe a great $300 or $400 (new) chair that's fully adjustable doesn't exist.
- aggie 7y agoI have a fully-adjustable chair from Office Depot similar to this one for $350: https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/448575/WorkPro-Quantum-9000-Series-Ergonomic-Mid/ https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/448575/WorkPro-Quantu... $450 for separate lumbar support: https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/9518879/WorkPro-12000-Ergonomic-MeshFabric-Managerial-Mid/ https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/9518879/WorkPro-12000...
- vlokshin 7y agoHead good things about the WorkPros. Wish the design was a bit better. How long have you had it and how do you like it? I'm surprised there isn't a modern/stylish chair that can compete with HM/Steelcase and hit the $400ish range. Maybe I just don't understand enough about the materials and manufacturing costs necessary, but seems like this should be doable -- and the deeper I research brands who try this (like Autonomous.ai), the more I read about the chairs being creaky, poppy, and sometimes uncomfortable. A Casper/Purple/Saatva for office chairs seems ripe for this climate (WFH).
- veidr 7y agoI have the "Remastered" version of the Aeron chair, and I love it. I've been using it for several years and it still feels like new. It is mesh-based, although not super minimalist. https://www.btod.com/blog/aeron-classic-vs-remastered/ https://www.btod.com/blog/aeron-classic-vs-remastered/
- chewxy 7y agoI have used my Ergohuman for about 10 years now in my home office. No complaints. Still looking for an ideal table tho
- darkteflon 7y agoLots of recommendations for the Steelcase Leap here. I’ve not tried it, but I’ve been using a Steelcase Think for about 12 years and have found it to be superlative. Can’t imagine sitting on anything else for an extended period. Fwiw I have also tried an Aeron - it wasn’t for me at all.
- KlaymenDK 7y agoSpeaking as a European, do USians have access to HÅG chairs, or some of the other brands designed by Peter Opsvik? They definitely allow varied sitting positions and have a very high ergonomic track record. See for instance: https://store.flokk.com/global/en-gb/products?type=office%20chairs https://store.flokk.com/global/en-gb/products?type=office%20...
- tareqak 7y agoI got the Steelcase Gesture based on the recommendation from The Wirecutter here: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-office-chair/ https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-office-chair/ . I like it.
- pxtail 7y agoMy Steelcase Gesture has uneven armrests, after I noticed it I also checked other chairs in the office and almost every one of them has this flaw. It's not much - maybe 0.5cm but it is impossible to adjust it to same level. It's not that much of a problem - after sitting for a while and concentrating on work my mind loses 'awareness' of this problem (or maybe body adjusts? skews?) Another thing is that seat/seat angle is profiled in such way that I have feeling of slowly sliding down over time. Overall chair is sturdy solid etc. but for this price it shouldn't have mentioned flaws. I wouldn't buy it again.
- tobylane 7y agoAn exercise ball, the right one for the height of your desk. I'm tall, at a high fixed desk, so I'm on a 75cm ball. It forces me to wiggle a little, and to straighten my back. They're better than the mesh chairs, and under £40. It's certainly more acceptable for home than the office, though I hope that changes.
- wink 7y agoI got a Steelcase Gesture a few years ago, I found a marked down exhibition piece with a few scratches. It's the best office chair I've ever had, but I've never had a Herman Miller, so not sure how they compare.
- knbknb 7y agoYears ago I have made a bargain deal by buying a used Vitra office chair https://www.vitra.com/en-us/office https://www.vitra.com/en-us/office . Some company got rid of a whole lot of them, and another company refurbished them. I think adjustable armrests are indespensable for a good office chair.
- mstaoru 7y agoHerman Miller Embody is great, but hard to clean (or prepare to pay 25-35% of its price for the service) and looks terrible after 9 years of use. Similar age Aeron looks new, but my back much prefers the Embody.
- RickJWagner 7y agoMy GoodForm propeller chair, circa 1958. I bought it at Goodwill for $10, it has lasted years longer than any other office chair in my home office. The styling is timeless, the construction indestructable. I have had to replace the castors and one of the arms is missing a piece of plastic, but that's not bad for 60 years of service.
- drakonka 7y agoWe got fancy ergonomic chairs when moving offices a few years ago and immediately after the move I developed back pain. I tried adjusting the chair and we even had trained professionals come to help us adjust them, but it didn't seem to work. A coworker of mine had gotten a kneeling chair for his back issues at the same office, but that didn't work for him, so he let me borrow it. I noticed a positive difference immediately. The chair is a Varier Wing Balans and I have been using it at work for several years now. When we switched to WFH due to the virus, we were unable to take office equipment home aside from necessary hardware which was securely shipped to us. Because of this and because the switch was too sudden for anyone to really be able to prepare their home environments, we got an allowance to buy some home office equipment and many people opted for chairs. The Wing Balans was a bit expensive for me to justify, so instead I got the Varier Variable Balans. Also a kneeling chair, but no adjustable height. Aside from being much cheaper, one thing I love is that it sits on two rocking rails instead of a wheeled base. I am a fidgeter and it lets me rock back and forth as I work. It lets me have just as much flexibility in my sitting position as the Wing Balans at the same time. The one negative is that it can be quite fiddly to place properly - the Wing Balans single swivel foot does not get in the way of certain table legs as much as these two rails. I also learned that to take full advantage of this chair a height adjustable desk is recommended (which we have at work, but which I do not have at home). For example, if I want to sit on it by putting one or both feet up on the shin rests, my knees hit the underside of my normal-height desk. I've purchased a height-adjustable laptop stand which should be here this week and look forward to using the chair with that setup.
- dhoerl 7y agoI had an old Staples office chair and started having terrible Piriformis pains in my hip - I think it was a broken spring pushing on the hip but who knows. I kept reading about different chairs, and as many have mentioned, the most important aspect for programmers is to move around and get up from time to time. I ended up trying a "SONGMICS Standing Desk Chair, Adjustable Height Ergonomic Standing Stool", which I got from Amazon. Trust me, you won't sit in one position all day, and my butt does get a bit sore when I sit for 2 hours, but after a week the hip issue disappeared, and its been nine months now and I'm satisfied with it. The one aspect of this particular stool is that it pivots a bit so you can option to shift some weight onto your feet. Not that I don't dream of a comfy captains chair (I did read and archive this discussion), but its an option you might want to consider.
- gwittel 7y agoThe best chair varies person to person. There are some good things to try in this thread, but ultimately trying one for a few minutes in a store is not adequate. Buy from somewhere with a good return policy and support. Years ago I'd tried a Humanscale Freedom. In store it felt great. After a day I was sore. After a week I couldn't sit in it for more than 5 minutes without a fiery pain running up and down my back. Back it went. I ended up with a Steelcase Think with the mesh back (I liked it was lighter and simpler vs the Leap), and have been using it for 12 years. 7 of those were working from home full time. In the end what works for me (good chair, fully adjustable thin keyboard tray, height adjustable monitor) may not be right for you. There are no absolutes in ergo. But the guidelines around monitor height, arm angles and positioning, etc are a place to start. Even with the right chair, take a look at the rest of your setup. Wrist/shoulder pain -- Is your keyboard or mouse position OK? Are you using a wrist rest when you should have none? Shoulder/neck/back pain -- How about your monitor height, do you hunch or lean a lot?
- nunez 7y agoI got a refurbished Hermann Miller Aeron chair for $230 or so after using them at a bunch of client sites for ~5 years. It's been a great purchase.
- deanebarker 7y agoI have used the same Aeron for 12 years. It's so good that I just never think about it.
- pcunite 7y agoNeutral Posture is worth consideration. I do wish for a better arm support system, like the Aeron. I chose the Neutral Posture, however, because of the way the back support worked. Seating is a very personal thing.
- cepp 7y agoLate but wanted to chime in. Although not possible right now, the best way to test chairs is to go to a Design Within Reach (a Herman Miller subsidiary). They employ chair specialists in the showroom who can work with you to find the best chair. People vary a lot and things like seat-pan sizes are not universal. Finding the right chair with the right options takes time. I went in thinking I would get the Sayl and left with a Mirra 2 due its customizability which enabled full back support and a better seat-pan. You can spend a whole day their testing the full offering. For instance, the Aeron comes in 3 sizes and without going and testing them you might not know which is best for you!
- pcvarmint 7y agoI'm still using my Aeron after 20 years, but the best chair for you is the one with most comfort, the best encouragement of good posture, the best durability and longevity, etc.
- avetisk 7y agoI bought recently from https://www.be-mydesk.com/16-chaise-de-bureau-professionnelle https://www.be-mydesk.com/16-chaise-de-bureau-professionnell... But unfortunately AFAIK they're only implemented and deliver in France. I've been using the Polo model https://www.be-mydesk.com/chaise-de-bureau-professionnelle/1890-polo-chaise-de-bureau-lumineuse-assise-confortable-et-support-lombaire.html#/3146-couleur-vert_foret_gris_clair https://www.be-mydesk.com/chaise-de-bureau-professionnelle/1... And it's just heaven :) Their chairs are extremely configurable and sturdy but most importantly they are amazingly comfortable.
- 7fYZ7mJh3RNKNaG 7y agoI'm pretty happy with my Herman Miller Celle. And it comes in one size only so you don't have to guess anything.
- hansvs 7y agoI've been using the Swopper (https://www.aeris.de/en/swopper/ https://www.aeris.de/en/swopper/), a swivel stool which is similar to sitting on an exercise ball. The stool is built on top of a spring fitted shaft, which means you can _bounce_ up and down while sitting. Additionally the shaft is attached to the base with a free swinging joint, meaning that you can rock around 360 degrees. The whole design rational is about keeping your legs active while you are sitting. In order to sit on the stool, you need to continually balance yourself using your legs and back. I've had a few friend sit down on it, completely unaware of this, and fall off immediately. It can be tiring but really I've gotten use to it and can sit for hours without problems. The stool has helped a lot with my back pain and improving my posture. I have two versions, one with and without rollers. The one without rollers is nicer to use, as the rollers don't always _lock_ meaning as one is bouncing around the stool base might shift. Aeris also make a more traditional desk chair based on the same principle, see https://www.aeris.de/en/3dee/ https://www.aeris.de/en/3dee/. The price is about $1K for the Swopper, and for me was totally worth it! Also it's built like a tank and weighs 10kg.
- madjayhawk 7y agoJust ordered a Herman Mill Aeron from Crandall. They have a 10% off sale going on. 2 year warranty. It is taken apart, inspected, damaged parts replaced, steam cleaned, new cylinder, and put back together. Free Shipping (both ways if you do not like the chair). I got bigger cylinder and better casters. Paid around $530 with discount. Could have gotten a used chair off of CraigsList for $350 and taken a chance. To be sure this chair is expensive. My current chair cost $89 and I hate it. This Aeron is hopefully my last chair. I'm old and spend a lot of time contest programming. Appreciate all the comments people made. Really helped me to make a decision. Shows we are all in this together especially now. Thanks.
- BrandoElFollito 7y ago10€ inflatable ball. I got rid of a chair four years ago, in favour of a large inflatable ball. I got mine from Decathlon (a French sports outlet) for about 10€, I took the XXL size (the largest, maybe it was XL). I subjectively feel that I have less back pains, I move on the ball all the time (twists, jumps) and when I remember I lay fown with my upper back on the ball and feet on the ground. One person asked me once to please stop bouncing during a video confrence because he was feeling sea sick. This is to say that one really moves all the time with such a ball.