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> but a whopping 50% still say the pain and discomfort of working from home is enough to send them back to the office. I want a breakdown of remote work prefer
by MattGaiser 5y ago
> but a whopping 50% still say the pain and discomfort of working from home is enough to send them back to the office.
I want a breakdown of remote work preference by dollar amount spent on office chair. I think this would be revealing.
- ekster 5y agoIs there a consensus best pick for home office chair at this point?
- zamadatix 5y agoThe Herman Miller Aeron has been so solidly "the recommended" chair for so long at this point it's meme worthy.
- 1MachineElf 5y agoThe Aeron is comfortable, but the way it reclines feels improper to me. I think their Mirra chair, with it's adjustable arm rests, gets reclining right. I like both because the mesh bottom is soft enough for my tailbone, which gets sore easily due to having broken it a long time ago. The missing feature both these Herman Miller chairs desperately need is a headrest. A 3rd-party one exists for the Aeron, but not for the Mirra. If you want something like an Aeron, then ask your friend with a Costco membership to get you a $120 Metrex IV Mesh chair by Bayside Furnishings. It's 90% as good and it doesn't have the insane recline that the Aeron does. Only downside is, Herman Miller uses much sturdier plastic for their chairs, but that's more suited to shared office spaces with employees who don't take care of their chairs anyway.
- robohoe 5y agoQuantum Workpro 3000 on Amazon or at OfficeMax is a cheaper alternative. It’s roughly $300-350 and offers mesh seat and backrest.
- randallsquared 5y agoThe Workpro chairs are awesome. I've probably averaged 70 hours a week in a Workpro 9000 for 4 of the last 6 years, and it's still great.
- dylan604 5y agoThe Aeron was the first chair I used that tilted & locked forward to help sit upright instead of leaning back. A startup I worked for in the early 00s bought a bunch of these from a failed dot bomb for a fraction of the cost. Not all of the Aeron chairs have the forward lock feature (part of the wide price ranges). The full ones go for nearly $1k USD. I found a chair clearly inspired by Aeron that has this forward lock feature at OfficeMax for $200.
- ramesh31 5y ago>The Herman Miller Aeron has been so solidly "the recommended" chair for so long at this point it's meme worthy. There's a reason for it. An Aeron will last you your entire working life. As a 250lb man who likes to recline, I was going through cheap office chairs about every 3 months working from home, so I took the plunge and bought one. It very much feels like a piece of heavy duty commercial "equipment", not a cheap piece of furniture. I bought mine used; it's 20 years old and looks brand new. And the ergonomics, while controversial, I've found to be life changing.
- loloquwowndueo 5y agoI have a crappy $80 ikea office chair. It’s served me well for years and is light years ahead of random dining room chairs - if people are using those for extended periods of time I’m not surprised they’re getting injured - I’ve been there and it’s why I got a half decent chair.
- MattGaiser 5y agoI’ve seen folding chairs on Zoom calls. I get why those people want to go back.
- officialjunk 5y agostanding desk
- rjbwork 5y agoA lot of people recommend the Aeron, but I am not a fan of the plastic hoop, as I sometimes pull a leg up underneath me. I have a Lifeform with a custom seat made with a cut out for the perineum and coccyx to make sure all my weight sits on my glutes and thighs and keeps pressure off the spine. It's insanely adjustable, has a amazing lumbar support, and is very comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. https://lifeformchairs.com/ultimate-2390-ergonomic-office-chair-lifeform/ https://lifeformchairs.com/ultimate-2390-ergonomic-office-ch...
- breput 5y agoSurprisingly, "gaming" chairs might be the best, most cost effective option. Ars Technica[1] reviewed a couple gaming chairs from the home office viewpoint. I bought a toned-down style version of the Secretlab Titan chair pretty early in the pandemic and it is way better than my Aeron at work. And the Aeron is way better than any other normal office chair. [1] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/gaming-chair-shootout-secretlab-omega-vs-anda-fnatic/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/gaming-chair-shootou...
- irjustin 5y agoWow that's a tall claim because Aeron and the Steelcase leap are the gotos. I was always skeptical of gaming chairs long duration sitting solutions but maybe i'll head to a local store and give it a try.
- nightski 5y agoI spent over $1k on a Steelcase Leap several years ago and ironically switched to a Secretlab last year. It comes down to the fact that the Secretlab reclines a lot more and I find it far more comfortable. I've only been using it for a year and a half though, so who knows about long term.
- breput 5y agoDo you recline while you're working or do you mean in between work? I'm just curious because I've napped in it a few times but generally keep it locked at a slight incline and almost forget how adjustable it is.
- nightski 5y agoI do, it's in recline mode all the time. I have a little foot stool I put my feet on while I work. Probably not the most healthy thing but it's really comfortable.
- breput 5y ago
- AQuantized 5y agoWorking from home for a few years I have a Steelcase Leap v2, standing desk I use about 20-30% of the time, and a crappy office chair I use when I'm just sitting down for a few minutes (one 'problem' with a lot of high quality office chairs is that they tend to be designed in a way that promotes continued sitting).
- prh8 5y agoI got a Steelcase Gesture since it was expensed and I love it. If I had to pay, I'd have gone with the Leap. Great chairs
- dharmab 5y agoSteelcase makes some excellent, but expensive chairs.
- klyrs 5y agoPiano bench and good posture
- spiderice 5y agoIs this for real? Can people really sit on a piano bench all day?
- klyrs 5y agoIt's totally for real, and I stand up and walk a little every hour or so, or I'll get tired and start slouching. WFH eliminated my chronic back pain, and I credit the bench. As I understand it, the key is the good posture. My back pain was caused by weak lower back muscles. Maintaining good posture exercises those, where comfy chairs only relieve the immediate discomfort at the cost of long-term health.
- dylan604 5y agoNot much different than a yoga ball as far as that goes is it?
- loopz 5y agoYoga ball is better and will train back. Allows for improved movement and spreads pressure. Might need something underneath to lift it up a bit.
- eyelidlessness 5y agoI’m every stereotype of queer and ADHD and autistic, when it comes to posture. Good for you that it serves you well but my body needs back support and a thousand places to put my legs :)
- phsau 5y agoThere are lots of good options. The higher end brands include: Herman Miller Humanscale Steelcase Ergohuman Style, material preferences, and budget will guide the best pick. You can't really go wrong so long as your choice is an adjustable chair.
- m4rtink 5y agoSteelcase Please seems to be ideal for my above average height. Quite expensive though, if you are getting it for the list price - check if your company has a discount with them or their local distributors as many companies apparently do.
- throwaway743 5y agoIt's cliche, but the Aeron. Your ass and back will never feel sore or like you need to get up. They're wicked expensive brand new, but I found mine for $200 off Craigslist. Have had it for 3-4 years and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made.
- rootusrootus 5y agoTest out first, if possible, everyone is built differently. For a lot of us the Aeron puts pressure on our legs at the front edge of the seat, and it can become painful. Not something you notice in the first few minutes, but fairly quickly. For those people, the Leap v2 is usually a better option.
- bsder 5y agoBoth Neutral Posture and BodyBilt build really good ergonomic chairs. http://neutralposture.com/ http://neutralposture.com/ https://bodybilt.com/ https://bodybilt.com/ I've had a BodyBilt from even before the DotBomb so I never understood the fuss about Aerons.
- lttlrck 5y agoI bought an used fully loaded Aeron for $320, delivered, on Craigslist 2 years ago. I wasn't sure it would be worth full price, so used seemed like the way to go. I wouldn't think twice of spending full price ($1500?) for one now. But I doubt it will ever need replacing... it was built in 1998(!!), like a tank. Some time later I bought a new gas strut for $50 (the old designs wobble) and some Atomdoc castors so it would glide over the hardwood floor. Adjusted it once when I first got it. Vastly reduced my back issues - though a chair is just one part of back care.
- rufus_foreman 5y agoI think consensus would be to try something out before you buy it, there are those who prefer a $60 Ikea chair to a $1600 Aeron. I'm OK either way, my cat is sleeping on the Ikea chair, she won't touch the Aeron, so I get the leftovers.
- Benjamin_Dobell 5y agoI haven't seen them mentioned yet. However, I've been quite happy with my Haworth Zody. Haworth are renowned for ergonomic quality, but aren't a stylish tech brand. For that reason you can usually find great deals, especially second hand.
- telesilla 5y agoAfter switching to standing and seeing incredible gains in my body health, it's hard for me to consider spending on a good chair. I have a standing stool at the ready if I really need a rest, or at that point it means I need a break anyway. Oh and I started without a standing desk: just repurposed a piece of high furniture to find out if I can work this way. I was tired the first week but you quickly get to where sitting for long periods is unappealing!
- gauchojs 5y agoWhen I tried that, I found that as soon as I wanted to alternate into more "passive mode" (Youtube, reading a blog post) standing didn't work. I like the stool idea, would love to try standing desk one day again.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- andruby 5y agoI love the Capisco Hag "standing desk" chair. The desk stays in standing position and I hop on and off of the chair. It's a chair that encourages you to take new positions all the time. It works really well for me. It's the single best piece of equipment I have in my office. [0] https://www.fully.com/hag-capisco-chair.html https://www.fully.com/hag-capisco-chair.html Video: https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/85magd19k5 https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/85magd19k5
- bamboozled 5y agoI sit on the floor on a Zafu and Zabuton, as if I'm doing Zen meditation. Good setup costs about $200USD, you will be feeling enlightened in no time.
- taejavu 5y agoYou work like this? Like with a laptop on a coffee table?
- yesenadam 5y agoI've done this for decades[0], sitting on cushions on the floor, used to have keyboard + monitor on coffee table, but now it's lower, keyboard + mouse on a large square cushion from a sofa, monitor on a small woofer speaker. Working on Mac minis the last 10 years. I don't know, I just like being low down, it feels grounded or something. I find it very comfortable. [0] Well, no idea what a zafu or zabuton are. My setup cost $0.
- goodpoint 5y agoIn Japan millions sit on the floor at a heated table: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotatsu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotatsu
- bamboozled 5y agoIt's not the only way I work, but I often sit this way, yes. Especially for the first half of my day while drinking coffee etc.
- goodpoint 5y agoYou can get away for less than 100 USD for a real Zafu and Zabuton, and much less if you make it yourself or improvise with pillows and some foam.
- bamboozled 5y agoYeah, probably, still though, I bought mine for probably about $150 USD, all Japanese made with natural Kapok and Soba inside, I've had them for about 7 years, washing the covers of course. So well made.
- lowbloodsugar 5y agoI use a $3999 Hale Aircomfort Zero Gravity Recliner with Air Massage [1]. I have three 27" monitors that are attached to a motorized sit/stand desk, purely so I can adjust their height as I adjust my depth of recline. This is an investment in my health that my employer doesn't seem to want to even discuss. Recent survey asked "Are you missing equipment that is only available at the office?" No, it's the other way around thanks. [1] https://relaxtheback.com/products/hale-aircomfort-recliner https://relaxtheback.com/products/hale-aircomfort-recliner
- MattGaiser 5y agoNowhere near as nice a setup, but same answer to the survey question.
- humen99 5y agoIn recline mode what do you use to type? I imagine you will need something additional to prop mouse and keyboard on.
- lowbloodsugar 5y agoBit of wood, with a hole the size of my belly cut out using a jigsaw, lifted by a layer of foam.
- version_five 5y agoI've worked from home since March 2020 and I sit in a crappy folding chair from Costco. My office sent me a chair, and I also tried a kitchen chair, but I found the folding one the most comfortable, in that it doesn't lead to back pain after long use, while the others do. I've found the most important thing is setting the heights of my screen and keyboard properly, that seems to be the main determinant of discomfort.
- seventytwo 5y agoWhen I found out I was working from home a few years ago, I bought a used Steel Case Leap for about $200. Since then, I’ve probably sat in that chair for at least 5000 hours. It’s easily worth every penny. The same logic for busing a bed should apply to home office ergonomics. You’re going to spend eight hours per day with both. Invest!
- asciimov 5y agoI bought a pair of Steelcase Criterions from a local used furniture store for $75 each. They have been wonderful. But I am going to have to order new pistons for them as mine has started to slowly sink. Those seem to run about $45 and are easy to replace. Might upgrade the casters while I’m at it.
- eyelidlessness 5y agoI’m probably going to be an outlier in any poll because I’ve almost always worked from home, and never bought a chair for my desk. I did however have a really painful experience with my most recent chair, as in significant pain head to heel daily for months. And it turned out it was back pain I couldn’t even feel. A friend gave me a desk chair when he replaced his and now it’s down to head and neck pain. Yep, what you sit on makes a huge difference.
- ImaCake 5y agoI use a dining room table chair and never have any problems. It's not a very fancy one either!
- imjared 5y agoI think there's something to be said for the general lack of movement that comes with WFH. It could be pure coincidence but the years I was in best shape running were the years when I had a 30 minute walk to/from work. I now work from home and try to get out some mornings for a walk around the neighborhood but more often than not, I go straight from bed to a chair. My body gradually loosens up during the day but mostly in a seated position.