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Surprisingly, "gaming" chairs might be the best, most cost effective option. Ars Technica[1] reviewed a couple gaming chairs from the home office viewpoint. I

by breput 5y ago

Surprisingly, "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 ago
Wow 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 ago
  I 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 ago
    Do 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 ago
      I 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
  I was always an Aeron fan because it is a great chair but also it was also a status symbol. Back in 2011 I was working at a startup that finally started making real money and one day a semi truck showed up in the back lot and everyone rolled their motley collection of random office shit chairs out and we unloaded the Aerons off of the truck, still wrapped in plastic. I still have that same chair in the office, 10 years later, and it is basically as good as new. But...the high back Secretlab Titan chair is so much better. The back and lumbar support is great. The armrests are ok, but for less than $20 you can buy generic memory foam covers that feel like velvet clouds and position your wrists just right to help with avoiding RSD. The neck pillow isn't used all the time, but when I need to literally lean back, it is there. The chair also lays almost flat if you need a nap. For less than $500 it is a no-brainer. There is an active subreddit (r/secretlab) that is almost cult-like, which was kind of a red flag for me, but it actually seems to be legit superfans and not marketing. The chairs have a five year warranty - up from three but only if you post about it on social media, which is also kind of a red flag. But it is a quality chair and after almost two years of constant use, the arm rests are completely solid and it still feels brand new. There's nothing wrong with the Aeron but on the rare occasions that I'm in the office these days, it just feels...inferior. Edit: The arm rests are actually great - I just meant the padding. They obviously go up and down, but they also rotate in and out. So unlike most chairs, you can position them so they actually support your complete arms as you're typing - not parallel to the chair, but angled in so your elbows are at shoulder width but your forearms are supported closer to the keyboard. I forget about a lot of these adjustments because once you dial them in, it just feels right.
  - breput 5y ago
    The armrests are https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M8F9IYC https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M8F9IYC (medium, black). I'm sure there are a thousand variants, but these work for me.
  - bosie 5y ago
    it doesn't seem to have an adjustable lumbar support area, as in, move it up or down? wouldn't that be a requirement since everybody needs the support at a different position?
- ssully 5y ago
  The Secretlab chairs are nice (especially for the price), but they can be a little stiff and their adjustability is more limited then a Steelcase. I have been using a Secretlab for the last 8 months or so, and it's better then what I had before, but if I had the choice of going back to the office and taking my Steelcase there I would.
- rtkwe 5y ago
  I think the consensus is they're a great option on the lower end of the price range. Steelcase, Herman Miller, et al are usually much more expensive than the Secret Labs making gaming chairs. You might have trouble finding a store stocking them though to try out, afaik they don't generally have any retail presence.
bobmaxup 5y ago
I have found that gaming chairs tend to be bucket style seats that aren't wide enough to not cramp your shoulders.

by breput 5y ago

irjustin 5y ago

Wow 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 ago
I 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 ago
  Do 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 ago
    I 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
I was always an Aeron fan because it is a great chair but also it was also a status symbol. Back in 2011 I was working at a startup that finally started making real money and one day a semi truck showed up in the back lot and everyone rolled their motley collection of random office shit chairs out and we unloaded the Aerons off of the truck, still wrapped in plastic. I still have that same chair in the office, 10 years later, and it is basically as good as new. But...the high back Secretlab Titan chair is so much better. The back and lumbar support is great. The armrests are ok, but for less than $20 you can buy generic memory foam covers that feel like velvet clouds and position your wrists just right to help with avoiding RSD. The neck pillow isn't used all the time, but when I need to literally lean back, it is there. The chair also lays almost flat if you need a nap. For less than $500 it is a no-brainer. There is an active subreddit (r/secretlab) that is almost cult-like, which was kind of a red flag for me, but it actually seems to be legit superfans and not marketing. The chairs have a five year warranty - up from three but only if you post about it on social media, which is also kind of a red flag. But it is a quality chair and after almost two years of constant use, the arm rests are completely solid and it still feels brand new. There's nothing wrong with the Aeron but on the rare occasions that I'm in the office these days, it just feels...inferior. Edit: The arm rests are actually great - I just meant the padding. They obviously go up and down, but they also rotate in and out. So unlike most chairs, you can position them so they actually support your complete arms as you're typing - not parallel to the chair, but angled in so your elbows are at shoulder width but your forearms are supported closer to the keyboard. I forget about a lot of these adjustments because once you dial them in, it just feels right.
- breput 5y ago
  The armrests are https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M8F9IYC https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M8F9IYC (medium, black). I'm sure there are a thousand variants, but these work for me.
- bosie 5y ago
  it doesn't seem to have an adjustable lumbar support area, as in, move it up or down? wouldn't that be a requirement since everybody needs the support at a different position?
ssully 5y ago
The Secretlab chairs are nice (especially for the price), but they can be a little stiff and their adjustability is more limited then a Steelcase. I have been using a Secretlab for the last 8 months or so, and it's better then what I had before, but if I had the choice of going back to the office and taking my Steelcase there I would.
rtkwe 5y ago
I think the consensus is they're a great option on the lower end of the price range. Steelcase, Herman Miller, et al are usually much more expensive than the Secret Labs making gaming chairs. You might have trouble finding a store stocking them though to try out, afaik they don't generally have any retail presence.

bobmaxup 5y ago

I have found that gaming chairs tend to be bucket style seats that aren't wide enough to not cramp your shoulders.