Have you found a good desk chair?

After years of crappy chairs, I finally invested in a Herman Miller Aeron at the start of lockdown.

Due to lockdown restrictions I took a risk and ordered one without trying it first (knowing I had the return policy to fall back on).

I was immediately disappointed with the comfort when it first arrived, and almost sent it back. But I stuck with it for a few more days and found that once I'd adjusted to the chair, I now find it the most comfortable thing I've ever sat in. I've since read that it's quite common to take a few days to adjust to a chair like this, where the ergonomics are very different (better) than cheaper chairs.

I used to get various aches and pains after sitting in my cheap office chairs for a few hours (even with breaks in between), now I find that there is almost no upper limit for how long I can comfortably work in this chair.

So yes it's f*king expensive, but I do highly recommend it. A year on, I think it was a very good investment.

BTW I highly recommend the Atlas Headrest for the Aeron - it looks 100% like a genuine original part and it really makes a big different to comfort (in my opinion). The only downside is the headrest alone costs about the same as what I used to spend on "upper-range" office chairs from Staples.

I think the Steelcase Leap one is pretty universally considered good. The only problem is the price...

My employer sent me a Steelcase Series 1 to use at home and it's total crap compared to the Leap. The back adjustment is either 89 degrees (totally upright) or like 10 degrees (basically laying down), nothing in the middle. Those numbers may be approximations based on my feelings.

I have a $40 chair I bought on Amazon and it's almost as good as the Steelcase Series 1.

But let me tell you something: I recently bought a split keyboard (Dygma Raise) and it allowed me to change my posture significantly and adjust the chair height, and it made me much more comfortable. Chair height is such a changing factor, and pretty much every one supports it.

I am also considering buying a keyboard tray to attach under the table (just search for Keyboard Tray on your favorite sales website) so I can lower the chair even more.

I am also considering a foot rest.

So, to conclude: comfort is not only the chair, but everything else around you, which makes you sit differently.

Warning: controversial...

Getting uncomfortable after remaining stationary for 15 minutes is normal. Your body is telling you something - being stationary is the enemy. I think trying to optimize your chair is the wrong solution. Instead the answer is a diverse work environment you can move around in and continually adopt different postures! My favorite work environment is a carpeted floor which I can lie down on, crouch, sit up, work at a coffee table, or even pace around. Any one of those postures would probably get uncomfortable after a while, but I cycle through them too quickly. Admittedly this probably wouldn't work well for work involving huge amounts of typing, such as long form writing - but for the kind of programming and data exploration I do it's great! I've always been a fidget, and being able to fidget with my entire body feels like I'm finally embracing something I was always meant to be doing.

This working style has only become practical in the last decade or so, with the advent of very light computers with excellent battery life, and I don't think we've culturally caught up.

I'm a fan of active sitting. In Germany we have "Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V." (working group healthy back) and they publish a list of "Active office chairs" (Aktiv-Bürostühle) with their seal of approval at

https://agr-ev.de/de/ratgeber-produkte/produkte/2837-aktiv-b...

These chairs aren't for everyone, i encourage you to try them before you buy!

The ones i know personally are

- Aeris 3Dee

Super nice chair, very ergonomic, quite pricey, starting at around 1000€

- Dauphin Stilo with 3d-balance system

Bought this chair for my adult son who is super happy with it and uses it lots. Costs around 550€. I may buy one for myself, too.

- Haider Bioswing

I bought a used chair with this mechanical principle and it's pretty good but not as good as the other two, at least for this (quite old) chair. A new one would probably be more ergonomic

ALWAYS try a chair in person first, whether Herman Miller or Steelcase. DO NOT order blind and try to "tough it out" to see if a chair is for you.

The thing is, high end chairs differ radically in comfort. I thought the Embody was a great chair but the Aeron outdid it. I thought the Aeron was great but the Mira was better. For me, of course.

If I ordered online I wouldn't have known this. At the most I'd have returned the Embody for an Aeron but not found the chair that suits me best - the Steelcase Gesture ;)

To answer your question, I would recommend going to a furniture store and trying chairs from Herman Miller and Steelcase.

Not a lot of love for the Embody on this thread. It has been my only chair for the last 10 years and it is amazing. I’ll never use anything else. Aeron just isn’t good enough and I have spent several weeks trying to use the one I have. I know Aeron works for a lot of people, but I could not get it right. As a general compliment to Herman Miller, I had some issues with the arm pads and the arm adjustment at about 9.5 years in. Herman Miller sent someone to my house, redid all the fabric, replaced the pads and chair arm adjustment gear. No charge. They really do stand by their warranties. It’s still going strong. I can’t recommend it enough. I know these chairs are expensive, but if you are going to sit, get the best chair you can. A good one lasts over a decade. You could easily replace a crappy 200-300 chair every few years and have no where near the comfort of this chair.

Desk chair is only half of it. I bought an Aeron a few years ago and was never totally satisfied with it. Then I bought a standing desk and was slightly more satisfied but still something was wrong. Then I bought a monitor arm. Boom, suddenly everything clicked.

Ergonomics depends on the right distance from seat to floor, from arms to floor and from eyes to floor. A good chair solves the first, a good adjustable desk solves the second and a good monitor arm solves the third. If you only solve one, you won't be comfortable. Especially if you're tall, you'll realize that most default setups are not built for people above 6 feet. Without my monitor arm, I was always craning downward to look at my screen. Without my desk my legs wouldn't fit underneath and my wrists were always angled downwards.

I have two herniated discs that hurt like hell for a couple years now, so a few months pre pandemic. I got exactly 3 different chairs in my home office now, as I tried several models until I finally succumbed to the gaming chair.

I bought a DX Racer Drift looking for the foot rests, but I rarely use those.

The big, big difference I saw in gaming chairs over most of the desk chairs is the ability to recline the backrest independently from the seat. While most office chairs will allow you to recline, the seat is fixed into the backrest so the angle between your legs and your back is always fixed at 90 degrees. Being able to tilt just the backrest, making a >90 angle between my legs and the back is the super-dupper-killer-feature for me.

I usually leave it slightly over 90, not too much, maybe something like 110 degrees, which gives me max confort without hurting my shoulders (which start to hurt if you go too far back, as you lose some support while typing).

What I found in the end is that all this ergonomics bs is just that: BS. Find a chair that works for you, it does not even need to be expensive. For a long time I was using my kitchen chairs because they were less painful then my previous two other office chairs.

If you want to try something kinda unusual, here's what I'm doing. I have a sit stand desk, and I have two different chairs. A saddle seat and a drafting chair. The saddle seat is very good for posture because it opens the hips up and increases the angle from your legs to torso, which makes sitting upright much more comfortable. However, I can't sit in it for more than a couple hours (maybe I'll adjust over time), so I switch between either standing or sitting in the drafting chair. The drafting chair is great because it goes super high so you have a lot of different posture options with an adjustable height desk. I think any solution that involves being in the same posture for too long is flawed, so variety is a good idea to keep your body happy.

I think I spent about $250 on the saddle seat, and $150 on the drafting chair, so it's a pretty cheap solution that offers a lot of flexibility. I made the desk from a full sheet of plywood cut in half, finished smooth, and glued together to make it thicker and some electric legs I bought for $250. All in about about $700 for the desk and two chairs.

I'm going to suggest something strange and almost embarrassing. It's not for the office, unless you have a very relaxed work environment. Get a cheap, folding "zero-gravity" lawn chair. This sort of thing (...though perhaps detach the beer can holder):

https://www.amazon.ca/Goplus-Folding-Gravity-Reclining-Outdo...

You'll need a monitor mount to give enough space.

If your tastes are more haute couture than mine, or indoor patio furniture doesn't match your decor, there are more elegant version of the same "zero gravity" idea. Versions with wood and leather and padding and so forth. But my tastes are simple, my aesthetic sense is stunted, and it is the most comfortable I have ever been working at a computer.

HM Embody chair. I know it's a bit controversial especially because of the cost. I picked it partially because how exotic it looks, but it also ended up being supremely comfortable. I hurt my back several years ago doing crossfit and further aggravated it with a Spartan Race, and the Embody chair helps a lot.

I have an Aeron from ~2006 which is still in good condition, virtually no drop in the pellicle mesh despite near daily use for 12 years. The foam under the seat near the front lip has died a little, and the arm rest pads needed replacement once.

In 2018 I purchased an Aeron Remastered which for some reason I did not care for, it seemed to tilt differently in the seat and I felt the front lip more on my legs.

So I sold it and purchased an Embody, which I've been very happy with so far.

I think they are only for commercial buyers, but our office uses SitOnIt Torsa chairs (https://www.sitonit.net/productcatalog/torsa_taskchair.html) which I have found to be quite nice in quality and comfort.

HÅG Capisco 8106. Have it both at the office and at home.

Its design somehow encourages you to change positions regularly, which is important to avoid getting sore.

I've been using the SecretLabs Titan chair for a few months and am very happy with it. May be larger than you're looking for. https://secretlab.co/collections/titan-series

I was so happy with my Ikea MARCUS that I bought another for my hobby desk. $200 bucks, mesh back, comfy seat and reclines/locks. The armrests are removable which is great since I prefer them removed.

I have been sitting on these chairs daily for 8-16 hours a day for ~8 years now with no pain and no complaints. They hold up quite well too.

With the money saved vs an aeron between the two I could buy a laptop.

I'm also a 40ish man, about 5'11". I was having back pain, and it has stopped. While I haven't found a perfect solution, here's what I'm doing.

- Nowadays, I'm mostly using a kneeling chair.

- I've also built a button chair. (See the TED talk at https://buttonchairs.org). I use it some of the time, and it is okay.

- I also use a fairly plain wooden chair at times.

Additionally, I take regular breaks (every couple of hours) and go for a walk around the block. I've also heard that exercising your core helps.

How is your posture? You may go further by strengthening your back, hips, neck, shoulders. If every chair is uncomfortable it could mean the issue is more in your own physical state. You could invest some money in a physiotherapist to check you out.

Have a Herman Miller in the office, got myself a https://www.autonomous.ai/?lang=en-US&quickview=ergonomic-co... for home use. At the 3 month mark I can say I love the Ergo Chair Core more and will definitely recommend since its not as expensive as HM, but comfortable enough.

Steelcase Gesture. I am 310 lbs, 5'10". I bought one at the start of the epidemic when it was on sale, new for ~$1k (directly from Steelcase). After a recent change in work plans (going full time WFH post COVID), I decided to get a second, but the price had increased to ~$2k for the same configuration. Was able to get a factory return in pretty much the same configuration and like new condition from a US based liquidator, Crandall Office Furniture, for $780 shipped. (They do authorized Steelcase factory returns).

I like this chair over Aeron as I don't like floating mesh seats. It's fabric so it breaths. Has good options for me to change it's configuration quickly/easily through out the day.

I have an Aeron at work. It's pretty good. But I have a steelcase Leap at home and I love it. Largely it's a matter of preference though.

My advice: look for something used or refurbished (although this is harder than before covid since so many people want good chairs now). I got the steelcase leap on craigslist from a used office supply store. They basically buy up furniture from companies that go out of business. When I went to pick it up they did a complimentary steaming for me. And it cost me $150 vs closer to 1000 new. The chair is about 15 years old, but Steelcase chairs are very well made and it honestly doesn't look more than 1 or 2 years old.

I bought a kneeling chair during the pandemic. I've used and enjoyed them in the past, so I already knew what I was getting into. They are pretty hard to adjust to, and IMO one ought not stay on one for several hours at a time, but after several months of using it I feel like my posture is dramatically improved from my past slouchiness.

Ikea Marcus. It's decent, but switch it out after few years (or less) for something smaller and less supportive. Being too comfy can wreck your spine.

A counterpoint I read on HN back in April, wherein the author decries expensive office chairs, and recommends exercise balls and tub chairs: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26919449

My goto chair is an Ikea Poang with foot stool.

It is not a desk chair.

It is a laptop chair, and the laptop gets used as intended.

In my lap.

Yes I don't get multiple monitors. Instead I use xmonad and get nine screens just a two key keychord away. I switched when I was older than you and have never looked back.

Sitting with the laptop in my lap lets me shift my weight, arms, eyes, etc. when I start to feel discomfort. The hardest part was learning not to try to power through discomfort after decades of habit.

Good luck.

Current favorite: humanscale freedom with headrest (1 year) Runner-up: Herman Miller Mirra (2 years)

- I find the Mirra than the Aeron and more comfortable for my body (2 years on the Aeron) - I've used various Steelcase models and liked them but not as much as the Mirra or Humanscale (~7 years on various Steelcase) - My issues tend to be caused by over exercising and I think the relaxed options with Humanscale are good for this.

People will tell you all kinds of models but in the end it totally depends on you. You just have to try some. I needed years to finally find the right chair. I did so at work. We can take an "ergonomics course" where we learn how sit and can try different chairs. I now have the exact same one at home because I love it.

Another thing is: you most likely need to move more. Find a sport and do it regularly. You don't have to be especially good at it. Key is to have fun and do it regularly. I also had problems with sore legs over a long time. Not so much with a good chair but it still was there sometimes. This is often a circulation issue.

- Sit correctly (adjust height of seat, keyboard, monitor etc => Youtube has guides for sure) - Stand up regularly and walk somewhere (fetch tea, coffee, water). You can even go outside for 5 minutes.. This will also benefit your eyes. - Do sports. You can even just do a stroll every day.. it will help.

edit: spelling

I always thought spending more than $500 for a chair was for suckers. Then I did some house sitting for a friend. They had a Herman Miller Aeron Chair.

At the time I was doing my CS final project and was putting in consecutive 12 hour days. I had chronic back issues, and had never been able to pull that kind of project off without at least some back pain! I was sold on this chair.

Once I graduated and got a real job, I upgraded to an Aeron and never looked back. That being said, I got a significant discount by shopping used on eBay. There are people who go to offices, buy the whole lot of used chairs, then refurbish and sell them. Paid about $650 for it, and I feel good knowing there are replacement parts available if something wears out in the future.

I threw out the headrest and the lumbar thing, though. Didn't find those comfortable.

Here's an underrated alternative for people who stand: LEANRITE. Love mine, been using it for 4 months so far. Next level standing desk.

Having used many office chairs for extended periods over my career here's my ranking. (I have a long torso, and use it for productivity, not lounging).

* Herman Miller Embody (current main).

* Ikea Jarvfjallet

* Ikea Karsten (discontinued but great and cheap. Ikea Volmar and Flintan are similar).

* Ikea Markus (non-adjustable lumbar sucks for long torsos).

* Clutch gaming chairs. (all gaming chairs sweat hard).

* DX Racer gaming chairs. (built for short people).

* Generic $100-300 office chairs (uline, source office, etc. Horribly uncomfortable after 4+ hours)

* All other cheap office or cheap gaming chairs.

I think the Four Kings of chairs are the Herman-Miller Aeron, the HM Embody, the Steelcase Leap, & the Steelcase Gesture (my preference). I've not tried the Embody myself, but I'd bet it's good. HM Mirra is a close runner up. I've got maybe 11,000 hours in the Leap, it's fantastic. My Gesture is new but I think I like it more; the arms truly are great.

It's really hard to guess what you'll prefer; just keep your eye out for trying out as many as you can. Also note Aerons come in 3 sizes, so maybe you like the M better than the L, or vice versa.

At a previous job, I had an Ergohuman chair for 8 years. https://ergohuman.com/ergohuman-high-back-chair-le9erg-w-hea... They are expensive at ~$800, but worth it if you can find one. About three years ago, I managed to get one for home via CraigsList for $75. Had to replace the casters and the arm rests, but the additional $85 (+ tax) was an easy spend. If you can find one with the leather seat, even better.

Agree, regular movement is key and even switching between sit and stand every 15-30m is not enough. We are working on an easy to adopt smart robotic chair along these lines to support more frequent useful movement without being as interrupting as a treadmill. Have a handful of prototypes out and looking for a few more early beta users in Bay area, NYC and Boston for July/August- if interested https://movably.typeform.com/to/y5NPOA2U

This comes up a lot, actually, if you search "chair hacker news," maybe include Aeron or Steelcase in there to seed the engine a bit.

Think you have a couple of comments recommending the Embody. This is a copypaste of a comment I wrote a couple of years back:

I have an Embody. They are fantastic chairs. Couple of quick things you should know:

* They're heavy as hell. Probably the Aeron is too, but I was shocked just how heavy the chair was when I was bringing it up stairs.

* They aren't very adjustable--kind of. The whole thing about the Embody is that it, in theory, adjusts to you by itself. The tradeoff is you have quite a few less axes of manual adjustment than you do on most ergo chairs. In particular, there's no lumbar support setting--instead it has a back curvature knob, but I've heard from people who couldn't find a good fit. Test it before buying.

* They don't use cushions.

I can't remember if the Aeron is like this too, but the Embody seat uses [several layers of] plastic webbing as a spring layer and then a lightly padded fabric sling on top that rolls under in the front (it's extendable by essentially unrolling it). The back is the articulated skeleton and a frame with lightly padded fabric over it.

It is quite comfortable, but you will notice the webbing causing the fabric to wear a little in its pattern after a few months, particularly in the seat. You don't feel it at all, though. Just keep in mind it's very much a firm support ergo chair, not a comfy exec chair.

That said, I love being able to swing my arms backwards to stretch my shoulders and chest and absolutely adore being able to lean back and arch my back to stretch with the chair following my back curve and arching with me. It even twists with you some.

When you do get it dialed in right, it's like sitting on a super-articulated back brace with a butt hammock and wheels.

Edit: also, be careful how you buy them. If you expect the Herman Miller warranty, make sure you get it somewhere authorized. Most of the really cheap offers aren't. Your employer might help. I went through my then-employer's furniture distributor as part of a larger shipment, so I got it for about 50% retail.

Gizmodo actually did a pretty nice review with pictures of the construction I mention: http://gizmodo.com/5071571/herman-miller-embody-review-the-b...

I see other comments mentioning Autonomous.ai's ErgoChair, a slightly more unconventional option from them is the ErgoStool which I use daily and absolutely adore: https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chairs/ergonomic-stool

It's not a "chair" per se but paired with a sit/stand desk, it's comfortable and encourages good posture. I have owned it for the past year and have put it through its paces, it works equally well when transitioning between sitting and standing, and also while sitting full-time.

It moves up and down, and it's got a heavy base so you can sit down solidly, or stand up and just lean into it when you want some weight off your feet. The top is very plushy and you can even sit with your leg/foot underneath your butt and it doesn't dig into you or anything.

As a caveat I am 6' 1" and don't weigh very much (165-175) so depending on body type, using a stool instead of a chair might not be a good idea.

However if you are the type who kinda thinks this might work for you, it probably will. I was skeptical at first but it's paid off for sure. At $99 ($89 if you find a promo code, look for reviews on YouTube) it's cheaper than most terrible chairs from Amazon.

I stand. I gave up on sitting years ago. It takes some time to adjust, but I do everything standing. Occasionally I'll go lie down for a few minutes, or take a walk.

I had the same need after using for the past 12 years an Ikea Makus at home; it is fine for shot term use, but not for 10-12 hours a day. I recently managed to buy a second hand office chair from a local office that was selling their old chairs; I don't remember the brand, I know that I searched it on Internet and I found nothing, but a few years ago I was using that model of chair for more than 12 hours a day and it was extremely comfortable. The info from the office management guys is that model of chairs is not sold to end-users, only in bulk to companies (minimum order over 50 pcs) and the price was around 600 EUR ($650), that is more than the average net monthly salary in the country.

I heard many people talking about Herman Miller Aeron, but the price is high and availability low here, so for $100 I am happy with my purchase. I definitely don't recommend any Ikea chair, we had several in my family and none is good enough.

Another thing that I saw it works very well with any chair is standing as often as possible; every time I am in a meeting I stand and walk around in my home office while I am talking, while doing desk work I stand and take a walk to grab a tea or water every hour even if I am not thirsty; that minute or two helps.

I'm 5'10" too and have an average build! I had terrible back pain from my Office Max chair so I tried the Aeron, Mirra, and Embody. I didn't like any of them. I was about to give up, but then I tried the Steelcase Leap v2 and it was perfect! I purchased it ~6 years ago and haven't looked back. I think someone with a stocky build might prefer the Aaron since it has more seating room, but for my build the Leap is perfect.

In Sweden, the supreme office chair ruler is the ergonomically benevolent Kinnarps 8000 [1]. It is a good litmus test for tech companies. If they have these chairs, it’s a good sign.

[1]: https://www.kinnarps.se/produkter/sittmobler/kontorsstolar/8...

I got a Herman Miller Mirra from an office liquidator at the beginning of lock-down and love it. Although I spend most of my day working at a standing desk. I love the chair so much that I would probably pay full price for it, or look around for a reasonable reseller. I like that it doesn't have a pad. I've also heard good things about the other models they have.

I have had Herman Miller v1 of Mirra and it was awesome for well over a decade. (I still use it in one of my offices, it's probably 17 years old and still in decent condition, but the latest model is built a lot cheaper, don't get it)

I moved to a new office and they gave me a "very expensive" Steelcase leather chair, and it gave me back pain.

I then invested in a Herman Miller Aeron (newest model as of 2021) and it's the greatest chair I have ever had. But keep in mind, I intentionally use it for doing work. Work chairs suck to watch movies and relax in. If you have good posture and you want your chair to help you with your posture they are pure gold.

I have spent over 22 years in a chair, and I have spent 22+ hours a day in my Mirra and 10+ in my Aeron (I am older and wiser now, ha!) and I wouldn't go back to anything less ever again.

NOTE: Do NOT get the Herman Miller Cosm, it is a conference chair NOT a task chair. Go to a show room if you can and try them out, it was worth the time to drive there and do this for me.

I recently bought a $1,100 Haworth Fern Office Chair[1] used it for a few weeks and returned it. The armrests didn't lock, it started squeaking and creaking and for over a thousand dollars was absolutely not worth it.

So instead, I bought the Staples Hyken Mesh Task Chair[1] which has a cult following. For the price I paid on the original Haworth chair I can buy nearly seven Staples Hyken chairs. The Hyken built quality is plastic and yes it feels cheap, but so far it's been very comfortable and no issues with sounds. Again, for the cost, I'll just throw it away and buy another.

[1] https://store.haworth.com/products/fern-office-chair [2] https://www.staples.com/Staples-Hyken-Technical-Mesh-Task-Ch...

Finding a comfy chair got to be a bit of an expensive obsession, ended up going through a lot of them, including things like the Aeron and Steelcase Leap 2 before ending up with a ErgoHuman Plus which is tolerable when used with a layer of padding over the back.

By the end of the search, I came to the concluson that for extended comfort:

1) Unless specifically designed for it, chairs with mesh seats are best avoided if you are bigger than the average person (say 90 kg + ), as the mesh distorts too much causing the frames to dig in (Aeron had this problem).

2) The chair must allow the spine to move easily while still offering support: - Back reclines separately from the Seat. - Back's lumbar support is not solid, but instead has plenty of flex and give in it (where both Aeron and Leap fell down).

3) Trying them in stores is a waste of time as a plank is comfy for five minutes. If an extended test is not possible, then the best bet is to look for one that works for someone with the same physique as yourself.

I bought myself a moderately expensive chair last year after using cheap little computer chairs my whole life. It's a Secret Lab Omega and... meh.

Didn't change my life. Even like half a year later, sometimes I'll touch an area under the chair that's constantly covered in oil and makes my fingers black, even though i've wiped it down several times. The left arm rest has a long crack across the length. And I found it bizarre that when you assemble it, the main part of the chair just plops down onto the roller base, and doesn't actually click in anywhere, so if you were to lift it up vertically the base would fall off.

Later on I bought an Autonomous standing desk and it felt like a much better investment. I think no matter what kind of chair you get, if you're sitting all day every day, you're gonna have back problems. I'm still getting used to it, but if you have the option, I'd go for a sit-stand desk over a chair.

Everyone is different. If I were you I’d look up “used office furniture” near you and go sit on a few. The idea behind of a used furniture place is that it won’t have just one brand, it will have whatever comes through.

I took a Steelcase Amia for 200. I used it like 3 times because my girlfriend loved it so much she took it. Her back problems are much worse than mine (barely any) so I let her have it. A couple weeks back I found another one on FB marketplace and I got it for 100. This one with some kind of meshier fabric (not see through and not hard) on the back so it’s a bit breezier.

What this comes down to is: you need to sit on them to figure it out. Sit on a few different ones to see what you like and what you don’t.

People claim the Aeron is great, but we have them at work and my legs always go numb and the lumbar support is painful in any position. I hate it with passion, I rather sit on a stool. But others love it.

I have the Ikea sit-stand desk, but I find it hard to stand during deep focus work. I rotate between a tall cushy stool and standing when the desk is up. When the desk is down I rotate between a standard office chair I got when a former company shut down and a kneeling chair (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W4YFQTK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_...).

The kneeling chairs mimics my natural sitting posture in the office chair and the stool, but it's brutal on my shins after an hour or two. Sitting like that (which I do anyway) is also quite bad for my hamstrings, which are super short.

I don't really get back pain so much as hamstring and hip pain, but using a resistance band to do a few stretches a day helps a lot.

I've told this a few times and people seems to think I'm joking. The best chair I've had at home --better than one Aeron I had once at work-- was a cheap plastic garden chair. They key was that it fit perfectly my anatomy. I sat and everything came into place. I think the moral is: look for a chair that is adjustable. Unless you find a cheap plastic garden chair that perfectly fits you, that is.

A couple more personal observations: if the chair can rotate over the horizontal plane, I don't really want it to have wheels. I can turn away from the screen and stand up, no need to displace the chair away from the desk. Actually, the possibility to do that is extremely uncomfortable for me, it's like trying to walk with skates on.

And of course, consider that the chair isn't the culprit, at least not the only one. Squats and dead lift make wonders, can confirm.

After years (decades) of crappy office chairs, here's what I found. High end gaming chair. Not sure which model, but I tested them all at a computer store first. Surprising as usual, the most expensive one wasn't the best fit. It took over an hour of trying different positions. I chose one that you can lay completely flat, and won't tip over, even if you put your feet up at that position.(nap?) It's been 3 years, and it's great. I change positions often. It has a dual recline, which gives just straight sitting flexible positions. Then there are many in between options as long as you have longer keyboard mouse cables. Quick and easy, changes to chair. I agree that desk important too. But with this chair, I often sit at angles to the desk, feet on desk, crossed legs, etc. Recommend one. (About$250-90 CAD)

Omg, you've gone too long without a good chair my friend. I did not like the Aeron at my last job more than my Herman Miller Mirra 2. A good keyboard and properly adjustable monitor arm are key as well.

I like the Mirra 2 more because it it suspends my boney ass in a way that I can easily just forget that I'm sitting for hours. As another person mentioned, this is awful for general health, but if you'd be doing it anyway, this is one option. I also like it because it's more adjustable, and looks way better. It's the nicest thing I own, and after 7 years, (12 year warranty), it's pristine. I've also tried the Sayl, and HM has a few othwrs that look and feel great. I'm sure the Aeron can be good, but I don't find it to be. I do not have a headrest either, and I'm a good few inches over 6 feet.

I just started looking, too. There's a lot of information in the Office Chairs subReddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OfficeChairs/

I can't vouch for how good the information is, but there is a lot of discussion.

How was your desk, screen and keyboard setup? A bad setup cause bad sitting posture too

I used to be picky about having a good chair. My back, legs, shoulder, and neck got sore. But now, try to improve the setup and it bother not much anymore. I just got a normal chair. Some issues I used to have and why:

- sore legs: I keep raising my legs or holding tension without me knowing it. The setup should keep your legs relax

- sore back: I didn't lean on the chair without me knowing it. Because screen might be a little far and I'm short-sighted. Naturely, I lean forward to see clearer

- sore shoulders: the table is too high or too low. I realized my shoulder needed to work all the time to keep my hands on the right position

- sore neck: screen angle is too high or low. I realized my neck also adjust naturely for the eyes to look at the screen. Set the screen at the right angle allow neck to relax more

Hope it helps

After years of problems, pain and search I've found that sattle-chairs are conceptually and ergonmically the best. I've got this one:

https://salli.com/en/products/salli-swingfit/

The chair should be witdh-adjustable. It's important to sit on your sitting bones.

Still, after some hours I need to change to another chair (Ikea Marcus is great or some gaming chairs) or standing, because the sitting bones start to ache.

I suggest to do the Pomodoro Technique. 5 Minutes breaks laying down on the floor. That helps a lot. Change in the working periods from mainly sitting on the sattle-chair to standing or sitting on a normal chair. Try to sit on the sattle-chair as long as possible. I found standing a long period of time not working for me.

When I ordered my standing desk I made the mistake of choosing the crank power over electricity power (because I had bad experience of other standing desks' electricity control broke down after a while). As a result my standing desk is more like "a desk I can adjust the perfect height and then leave it there", instead of "a desk I can adjust the height whenever I want".

For that reason, I chose a standing desk chair, Capisco Puls (https://www.fully.com/chairs/for-standing-desks/hag-capisco-...), that I can keep the desk at the same height no matter I'm standing or sitting.

I've been using this chair for more than 2 years now and am still very happy with it.

I've bought a fairly cheap office chair around 3 years ago which I've been happy with.

For me the solution was to go to a few stores and actually sit on a bunch of them until I found one that had lumbar support at the right height, and mushy enough on the actual seat and armrests. Nothing but the seat height is adjustable on this model, but at the end of the day I spent 1/5th the cost of the cheapest Aeron chair available at the time.

With that said, no chair will save you from the wrong posture. Which also means: never ever, ever, ever consider using both the laptop's screen and inputs as anything more than an "emergency use only". At the very least either use an external monitor, or use external K&M with the laptop on top of a very tall support that puts the center of the screen right at eye level.

Here is my strategy:

Try to keep moving. Pile up emails, youtube videos, essays, whatever you need for work in audio format and transfer them to an mp3 player. Go for a run/bike/shop/walk or whatever you feel like outside. You can even make calls work like that, but I don't need to do many of these day-to-day so I wouldn't know.

Stand up desk. I need to do a bunch of programming so standing up is highly preferred with occasional eye breaks and walks to refill on water/tea.

Chair. Occasionally I need to sit. Might get a lot of hate here, but swivel chairs distract me and tend to promote a bad posture over time. They also tend to be expensive to make. I go for a thin padded basic chair, no folds, no mechanisms, without arm rests. I try to sit for 1-2 hours max and go to standing up again.

Hope this helps.

Adding my thoughts to this.

I have been using one of these for the past few years.

https://shoplifeformchairs.ca/collections/high-back/products...

Although it's a Canadian based company, they have dealers across the US - https://relaxtheback.com/apps/store-locator

Anything that is adjustable with a chair can be done with one of these. It's unfortunate that they are expensive and marked as "executive" chairs but the chairs are a couple of notches above Aerons and the SteelCases in comfort and adjustability.

I can no longer sit at a desk. I use a cheap lapdesk while sitting in a Slumber rest chari manufactured by the CJ Streit Company in Ohio. This chair is a direct eveolution of the Morris chair and is perfect for sitting. I work about 12 hours a day from this chair with zero pain.

Steelcase Leap. [1]

Bought one 10 years ago, still great. Main thing is that when you lean back, the base slides forward, but doesn't lift up at your knees. Lumbar support is adjustable, same with armrests on all axes.

At the time, I went around and sat on all the "fancy" office chairs I could find, Herman Miller Aerons & Embody, Harmony Freedom etc. The Leap was the best from the moment I sat down. I got one customized with the colors I wanted, chrome frame and headrest. It was expensive, basically AUD 2K at the time, but the best office investment I made.

[1] https://www.steelcase.com/products/office-chairs/leap/

Can't recommend Branch's ergonomic and elevate chairs enough — I have the ergonomic at home and the elevate at the office.

I've tried basically all of the premium chair options from Herman, Steelcase, etc. but haven't found a better quality:price ratio than Branch's. The value is just so much better than any $800+ chair (added plus, Branch is a small company and their customer service is excellent — you can trade in your chair for credit when you're done with it).

Check out the elevate if you're looking for strong upper back/neck support: https://www.branchfurniture.com/products/ergonomic-chair

My theory is that chairs are like shoes. Everyone fits a chair somewhat differently so it's really hard to find universal good choices.

I have a 10 year old old $100 Ikea chair that works for me.

Personally I prefer a standing desk, but admittedly I often kneel on a traditional chair on and off.

Bought a Steelcase Leap for my home office almost 10 years ago and the chair looks just as good as the day I got it.

How did I make the decision to buy it? I went to a store that specialized in ergonomic office furniture and asked them if I could work from the store for a day while trying out different chairs. They said sure and that day I tried four different high-end chairs from Steelcase and Herman Miller while sitting on each one for about two hours. This trial helped make my decision easy and I readily went with the Leap with confidence. Interestingly enough, I strongly remember, after that day, leaving with the impression that the Aeron felt like sitting on cement for two hours.

After looking at Steelcase and Herman Miller I had some sticker shock and ended up going with an Autonomous ErgoChair Core

https://www.autonomous.ai/

Only $250 and it's really nice.

I had bad back issues for a while, and my employer got an ergonomic assessment for me - they used this company to build a personalized chair:

https://somaergo.com/products/somacustom-chairs/somacomfort/...

There are loads of options but that chair in particular has a design I’ve not seen elsewhere, which has a narrow back so your shoulders can be free to move/retract. I find normal chairs to be quite uncomfortable in comparison now that I’m used to this one.

For anyone looking to buy Steelcase brand new, it's worth knowing that the warranty for the fabric component depends on which series of fabric you choose from. The hardware components are all covered for 12 years, while the choice of fabric can land you the same 12 years… or as few as 5 years. The fabric options can be researched in advance[1]; find the matching swatch name/id, and check the bottom of the "Material Characteristics" tab for the warranty.

[1] https://finishlibrary.steelcase.com/

I've been using a Haworth Zody for 7 years, and I like it pretty well.

Nothing wrong with the Aeron, but I find the Zody is (1) a better price ($200 used for mine, or $650 new[1]), (2) more attractive, and (3) the adjustment mechanisms are smoother (armrests in particular).

The Zody has pretty much all the same kind of ergonomic options as the Aeron. Although, the backstop and forward tilt option is not standard on all Zody chairs for all time (mine has neither)

1: https://store.haworth.com/products/zody-office-chair

Another vote for the Steelcase Leap. I sit in it for 10+ hours some days, with continuous stretches as long as two hours, and have had no discomfort. (I'm older than you and not in great physical condition, FWIW.)

I'm a web developer and I sit about 6-8 hours on a normal day, and when I'm gaming or writing code for fun it can easily reach 18 hours uninterrupted (except restroom breaks).

Over the many years and different office chairs I've finally found the holy grail:

===> Serta Smart Layers Jennings Super Task Big and Tall

(NOTE: there seems to be another version without the word "Super" that I have also purchased and its bottom cushion/back support is sub-par. do be vigilant)

- Supportive, soft leather (or substitute I dunno) cushions - Good neck/head support - Comfortable arm rests (though after 6 years have begun to flatten)

Good luck!

I've been extremely lucky with a wooden "bankers" chair from probably the 1930s. Possibly this chair, though a lot of similar chairs were made during that time period:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124317815232

I removed the tiny, useless swivel wheels and covered the bottoms of the feet with felt padding.

Also, I do not sit for prolonged periods. Right now by happenstance, my home office / lab has three computer stations, one with this chair, the other are makeshift standing desks -- plywood on top of boxes.

Not exactly what you asked, but a few squats, just once per day, really help with blood circulation to legs. Not having enough blood circulation results in leg discomfort no matter how comfortable your chair is.

Didn’t see it anywhere else in the thread, so I’ll toss in my current: The Uplift Pursuit [0]

Great lumbar, head and neck support, lots of adjustments. The reclining is very nice, it’s on a double pivot. Pretty sure it’s a ‘replica’ of a Scandinavian design, the same design featured in HBO’s Silicon Valley (the CEO chair)

I paid closer to $300 this time last year, but apparently it’s gone up to nearly $400 now.

[0] https://www.upliftdesk.com/pursuit-ergonomic-chair-by-uplift...

This mesh chair at Costco seems good!: https://www.costco.com/bayside-furnishings-metrex-iv-mesh-of...

$120 — Bayside Furnishings Metrex IV Mesh Office Chair

I haven’t had it for long but so far so good. I’ve had Aerons at work and this seems to do most of the same job. The armrests aren’t good, but (I don’t tend to use armrests anyway. I might customize them a bit. Feels like they could be hacked somehow to have them sit lower.)

How does the Aeron compare to the Embody? I like chairs that are tough and firm on the back (I also prefer sleeping on the floor and use no padding) and get constantly disappointed by soft furniture.

I've got a refurbished Steelcase Leap, purchased here: https://www.btod.com/steelcase-leap-v2 I'm very happy with it. Excellent seller, has a wide range of chairs including Herman Miller, lots of reviews, great customer service. Free returns on many items (not on the Leap, though my wife bought one first, and I liked it so much I bought one too). Also put skate-wheel style casters on it, makes it much more maneuverable.

Herman Miller Sayl. Verdict: Nope!

I thought I'd splurge a bit (on a name) without trying it out. I only paid £250 used and have had it for about 3 years now.It's ok, but not great. It squeaks a LOT and I can't figure out for the life of me where to lubricate it to stop the noise. The seat is too hard. The lumbar is too shallow. Adjustability is great though. Everything can be moved to accommodate.

Overall it's just a bit meh.

That said, it's head and shoulders above anything I've sat on from Ikea. But I'm going to keep looking.

I'm a big fan of the HON Wave Mesh Big and Tall Executive Chair. I've purchased four of them for at home and one for my last work office. Thick padding, wide seat.

https://www.hon.com/chairs/wave/hvl705vm10

I do often accidentally smack the foam arm rests into my desk and they end up cracking after a few years of abuse. But you can get replacements pretty readily and they're easy to change (two screws).

Any recommendations for an actual desk+chair combo? Ie a chair with a desk attachement? I need something comfortable but ultra mobile. Something like below but ergonomic, arm rests and space for keyboard, monitor, mouse. Probably a very long shot.

https://www.anguloconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/...

This is an FAQ, for example https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27265275

I grabbed a Steelcase Leap V2 just before the pandemic started. It's greatly customizable, and is absolutely the most comfortable desk chair I've used.

I was able to get one at a huge discount via a secondhand office supply company, but I know they became harder to acquire as the year went on. Good luck!

https://www.steelcase.com/products/office-chairs/leap/

I have an Ikea chair, nearly a decade old, and based on GIS, I think it probably was a TORKEL, (or a RENBERGET, I can't tell the difference) which if it were in stock would probably be between $50 and $70.

I've had an Ikea desk for the same amount of time as my chair, that is probably more or less an ADILS, currently about $25 ($9 for the top, $4 for each leg).

While I have had some brief back issues, they went away, so I haven't been desperate to find a better chair, if there is such a thing.

The Aeron size C is too large for me everywhere except for my legs which it fits fine.

The Aeron size B is just a tad too wide, the arm rests are too far apart but the seat depth is just a tad too short for me.

Overall, though, I just accepted that this is one of those “fighter plane cockpits can’t be average on all fronts” situations and the Aeron size B is good enough for me.

For comfort, getting my arms on the arm rests and my keyboard split far apart is the best thing.

I got my two Aerons in lab liquidations so I spent some $200 each.

I got an Aeron and I don't like it. Mesh chairs aren't as cushioned, Aeron included. You can easily feel the border between mesh and frame and it gets painful after sitting for hours.

I dont buy that ergonomic chairs are any better for your body, there doesn't seem to be any real research showing this is so. They are just less comfortable.

It's extremely durable though so I'll probably be living with this mistake for a long time :)

I miss my padded chairs but the padding always wears out

I am using an IKEA swivel chair `ÖRFJÄLL`[1]. I have a tendency to slouch or slump in a more comfortable chair and never got a hang of standing desks. This makes me sit upright for most of the time and my back loves it (so far).

[1] https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/oerfjaell-swivel-chair-white-vi...

I have finally settled with a standing desk and an Ikea Ingolf bar stool - basic flat wood seat, no padding. As a 6'4" person, many chairs are awful, create pain, etc., but I love this setup.

The idea that having a slightly less comfortable chair would lead to more movement has proven true. It's also relaxing enough to sit in when I'm tired of standing up, but not super comfortable to slouch in, so it encourages better sitting posture.

Herman Miller Mirra. Compared to the Aeron, it is stiffer and has better back support for sitting upright. It makes you feel "locked in". Great for work.

Herman Miller Embody. Had an Aeron before and loved it, move countries and left it behind.

The Embody beats the Aeron for my preference – the "pixels" aren't a gimmick, and it was more adjustable to my needs.

Pro tip: Lookup the corporate dealers/authorized resellers and give them a call. It's not uncommon to get one new for 30-50% off the retail price. You may even be able to find people who're making group purchases on some local forums.

I bought the Steelcase Gesture based on the recommendation from https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-office-chair... , but from the Steelcase website in December 2019 and I like it.

Prior to that, I was using the HON Exposure recommended by the same Wirecutter site at time and I still own it.

If you get pains from just sitting 10 minutes, I would look further than just a chair. Working out or moving more in the daily. Fix tight hips, lower back. Etc.

Humanscale freedom. I’ve tried pretty much all of them and this one ‘just works’ for me, but it’s definitely a matter of taste.

I’m similar in terms of height, build and age.

I have had a terrible time finding a good desk chair. The center post for office chairs over time warps and bends. I’m 210 pounds so I’m a bit hefty I understand, but after a while, usually about three months, the chair starts to lean and become terribly uncomfortable. I spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on these chairs and the only thing that seems to stand up is a hardback chair on wheels

Check out the Branch Ergonomic chair for a great blend of price, comfort, quality, and customer service. Has been a great place to park my :peach: through COVID. https://www.branchfurniture.com/collections/office-chairs/pr...

Maybe placebo, but I don't find Embody the most "comfortable" chair among HM lineup, but a properly adjusted Embody also doesn't aggravate any pains and niggles I've accumulated powerlifting over the years. I frequently find myself healing/feeling better after long sessions on Embody.

Steep but worthwhile investment. Sometimes what feels best doesn't perform best.

I think this is always going to be a very personal choice, I have Herman Miller Embody office chairs and they’re hands down the most comfortable chair I’ve ever used. Beats out the H-M Aaron, the Humanscale Freedom, and all of the Steelcase chairs I’ve tried too.

I think they tend to run about $1700 USD so not inexpensive, definitely worth trying any chair in person before spending money.

I'm looking at this issue myself and after months of searching, the best ergonomic solution seems to also be the priciest and most thoroughly engineered.

The desk-chair recliner by Altwork is the way to go and demos are available in the Silicon Valley area.

https://altwork.com/

At some point, these will be cheap enough for the masses.

Herman Miller Embody, worth every penny. Call wholesalers or office furniture suppliers in your town to see if you can get them at a discount.

This was after years of doing the normal 'buy $200 chair from local place every couple years' routine. I've had this chair now for probably 12 years with no issues at all, no wear either and I sit in it for 8-16 hrs a day too.

I have been an Aeron user since I moved to San Francisco in the late '90s and picked one up cheap after the (first) .com bubble exploded.

I highly recommend looking for a used Aeron; they are everywhere and can easily be refurbished and cleaned. My current gig offered me a brand new Aeron for $150 CAD (net) so my used one is going to get cleaned up and resold.

I don’t really know why it works, but I have an L5-S1 disc protrusion, and the Aeron chair is literally the only chair I can sit in for more than an hour without my back hurting. From just looking at them, it doesn’t seem like desk chairs are shaped all that differently, but I guess there’s just something subtle about it that keeps the pain away.

Based on looks and reviews I almost purchased a Herman Miller Sayl until I sat in it and noticed how cheap it looked and felt. It also wasn't comfortable and the lumbar support was a joke.

I then tried a Herman Miller Aeron and Leap but didn't like them. I went with a Steelcase Gesture that I had at my last employer's office and I love it.

I bought a Herman Miller Embody for my home office and I love it. Yeah, it's insanely expensive, but it's worth it.

I had an Ullman Niteflite at a previous job. Everyone did. Best chair I've used.

So after realizing both IKEA Markus and a gaming chair were just murder on my back I ended up getting one as I was improving my office.

Works great. High thin back that suit me as a tall person, good support but shoulders can move back. Armrests removed I can get close to the desk.

Very happy with it.

I have two Aerons. They are great and really comfortable. I think in general I hate office style chairs though and I prefer to move around a lot, lounge, or stand up. Its hard to sit for a while.

You can get good refurbs on ebay just avoid madison seating. They are a scam (got sued by HM). They list chairs NEW on ebay that are literally refurbs.

Also love the Ikea Markus chair. Even upgraded it with new wheels (they are ball-bearing rollerblade wheels which run smoothly, quietly and are good for hard floors). Its simple in design (which i prefer over most other office and gaming chairs) does have a nice ammount of things to adjust and it does not cost a lot of money.

An exercise ball. It's hard to passively sit on it, you'll move and use some of those core muscles that sitting on a chair with a back might weaken. I very rarely slouch, but can't be sure if that's the ball or not. They're a lot cheaper to try out, for me, 6'2, a 70cm ball was about £35.

Humanscale Diffrient World Task Office Chair

I found a very nice desk chair about twenty years ago at Ikea.

It is unusually large, robust, fake leather, very comfortable, but they stopped producing them at some point, more than ten years ago.

This chair followed me in five cities and three different countries, it doesn't look brand new, but still in a pretty good shape.

And it was quite cheap, about 90 euros.

How about investing in a split keyboard? Uaing one promotes good posture if both halves are kept at shoulder-width.

I switched to a vluv sitting ball, really happy one note is it makes you stand up as after while it does get awkward sitting on it, but for me thankfully thats a positive.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26790132

4 legged stool like the one pianists use. Large enough to be comfortable but no backrest. Height is adjustable.

If anyone has suggestions for a good chair for overweight people I would appreciate it. I'd love to get an Aeron like others suggest but I'm over their limit and would worry about breaking the chair. The options I've found for big and tall have left me unhappy and uncomfortable.

I've been using an IKEA MALKOLM for the last 6 years. It's more comfortable than anything we have in any office I've worked at. I'm sure there are better chairs, but it seems to be the best cheap range one. The IKEA MARKUS is more popular but I don't like it as much.

Herman Miller Mirra from ~2006. I am not light or gentle, and it’s going strong after ~8hrs a day since then. Replaced the gas lift (~50GBP) this year, had the back replaced under warranty after a decade, and the only regret I have is buying rollerblade style wheels which were just awkward.

You might also consider upgrading your keyboard. The Leopold FC660C with topre silent keys is pretty great.

I bought the Secret Lab Titan about 2 years ago, and I'm quite happy with it.

It's the first time I buy an expensive chair:before I was spending around 150 to 200€, this one is 400€.

I have no regret, for the first time I can spend hours seating without any problems.

Given this experience I would not go back to a cheaper chair.

Check out the startup Branch: https://www.branchfurniture.com/collections/office-chairs

They're the same quality as Herman Miller but quite a lot cheaper

(disclosure: I'm an investor)

Just gonna go ahead and cast my vote for Herman Miller Aeron as well. Aside from comfort/support, for me the killer feature is the breathability. I'm sure there are others like it somewhere, but I haven't found anything that regulates heat while sitting like it does.

I'm pretty happy with a refurbished Steelcase Amia from https://www.crandalloffice.com/. I want to say it was around $400 and came in a variety of custom fabrics and designs.

I love my Branch Furniture Ergonomic Chair! So comfortable and offers great support: https://www.branchfurniture.com/products/ergonomic-chair

I've happily used the Bambach saddle seat for many years. It's uncomfortable to slouch in that chair, so upright sitting happens naturally. https://www.bambach.co.uk/

I'm very happy with my Steelcase Think. I've had it for about three years now.

As others mentioned I'd also suggest optimizing other parts of your setup: desk height, keyboard height/angle, keyboard itself (I love my Keyboard.io Model 01, monitor height, etc.

When I first started working from home because of the pandemic, I had a IKEA Marcus chair, however, this soon was too bad of a chair to sit all day in, so I ended up investing in a Herman Miller Embody, and have not been looking back since. Great chair!

I ditched my chair and use an inflatable ball. I bought the 20€ max size at a sports store (Decathlon, France).

It is wonderful, I did not have any adaptation time and it firces me to make micro (or macro) movements while I sit.

I also bounce on it, lay flat and twist my spine.

I really recommend to try.

I have a Herman Miller Aeron that works great, bought at a reasonable price off Craigslist.

Along with the Aeron I often use an inflatable cushion, the "Gymnic Disc 'o' Sit". Sitting on it keeps me alert and greatly improves my sitting posture.

After using the Steelcase Think in my office for a few years, I picked one up last summer and could not be happier. I spend a good deal of time at my desk each day and moving from a crappy Amazon chair to this one was an immense improvement.

Herman Miller Mirra 2, it keeps your back straight. It is comfortable, but not relaxing.

A previous job had several Herman Miller Embody's and several Sayl's. The Embody was honestly an amazing chair. Plenty of adjustments, and the back would "move" with you if you twisted against it. I miss that chair.

You can find a steelcase leap 2 in my area for 300 or less on craigslist. It's my favorite chair in that pricerange by far. Some prefer the aeron, but I'm not a fan and it's usually hardsr to fjnd deals in my area.

Aeron Remastered here, but it gets used maybe 20% of the time - the rest is spent standing. Any prolonged sitting just puts a ton of undue pressure on my lower body and makes me hot and miserable (being 250 lbs or so does that).

With every chair I've tried I always have pain in my elbows from the arm rests. I've tried those strap on pads (soft and firm) but still have pain. Does anyone else have this issue and did you find a good solution?

Secret Labs Titan here. Best chair I've ever sat in personally. Actually supports you without being too hard, the back goes all the way up, it's comfortable in many different positions, it's rock solid, etc.

I'm happy with the Steelcase Gesture... And taking regular breaks to stand. I find Aerons dig painfully into my thighs. (Plastic rim on front). Cheaper chairs can be comfortable, but generally break after a few years.

If the pandemic started right now, I’d get a Herman Miller on day one and be done with it. I feel we’re too close to the end now though. I’ve been through three chairs since we started working from home last March.

I’m one of the founders of Branch Furniture (venture backed DTC office furniture startup based in nyc). We founded the business to help growing companies (think WeWork graduates) furnish their office space with ergonomic office furniture without an Aeron level budget. Our enterprise business basically disappeared during the pandemic, so we’ve been selling to consumers for the past year and have learned a TON about what makes a great home office.

You definitely should check out our seating line if you’d like an option that offers a fair amount of adjustability and (though this is subjective) a home office friendly aesthetic at a sub $300 price point. If you’ve got a higher budget ($400-500) and willing to work the liquidator / Craigslist home office grind I’d honestly endorse the used Aeron approach as well — they’re rock solid chairs, extremely adjustable and buying used is objectively better for the environment (we have a trade in program for our enterprise clients and working on one for consumers).

But beyond the chair you pick, three big lessons to keep in mind:

1) For most folks in tech, it’s not the chair that’s the problem. Adjusting it to your body and needs is critical to maximizing its ergonomic benefit for your body. Something like 80% of office workers only adjust the height and tilt of their chair. Would strongly recommend giving the user manual for the chair you buy a read (download it online if used). We offer an ergonomic consultation to every buyer and are working on a few cool tools to guide folks who use our furniture in making the most of it.

2) The rest of your setup is equally as impactful to your comfort. Get a monitor arm or put your monitor on a stack of books. If you’re short or petite, get a footstool so you upper and lower legs are at a 90 degree angle to each other and your backs of your knees don’t press against the chair seat. A standing desk makes a difference, if not for standing than to adjust the height of your work surface to your own height.

3) Take breaks. Seriously. There are no chairs I know of that will support you adequately over 10 or even 8 hours of work, summed over weeks and years.

I’m so glad to see this question being discussed! Figuring out the most supportive setup for your needs is like flossing; you don’t always see the benefit immediately, but you’ll be glad to have done the research after a decade of desk work (and perhaps before). Feel free to reach out — email in bio — if you have any questions about ergonomics. We also released a cool guide to basic ergonomics that might be worth a read. [0]

[0] ergonomics.branchfurniture.com

Yes. A lifeform 2390 high back executive with a custom made coccyx/perineum cutout seat. It cost me a pretty penny but I've had it for about 9 years at this point and it's been totally worth it.

Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I don't think there's such a thing as an ergonomic chair. The problem is likely to be your poor physiology. Fit people can sit on a wooden chair and be happy.

It's a pretty big investment, but there's a sit/stand/lay workstation here: https://altwork.com/

Herman Miller Sayl is my fav by far. Have sat for hours without getting up and never had any chair-cause discomfort. After 4 years of constant use in office still looked and worked as good as new.

I actually do not use a chair, or if I do, it is for short periods of time. I recommend a standing desk. A standing desk has really been great for my back, and fatigue for long periods of working.

I have used a steelcase leap, a herman miller aeron, a low budget costco chair.

Nothing has worked for me. I have given up and moved to a standing desk.

I use a wooden counter height chair when I get tired. It works great for me!

Just get the Vitra AM-Chair. Solid performance on a shoestring budget.

I have a a HN Aeron and a HM Mirra and I like them both a lot but if I had to choose I would perhaps go for the Mirra, even if it is cheaper. I tend to work in a very reclined position.

Second hand Herman Miller Aeron and Amazon basics foot rest. Can’t beat the combo. Just make sure you get the right size chair for you.

Late 40s 5’9” here.

Also farting on an Aeron is a whole new life experience.

Try Staples Hyken Technical Mesh Task Chair and they have another one for slightly bigger bodies. Quite nice for the price. I was quite satisfied and I am also a picky sitter.

Stay away from office supply stores and online. Walk into a showroom that offers office furniture and prepare to liberate some cash. The starting point is generally $600.

Herman miller embody is great. The steelcase gesture is almost as good and it is less expensive. I have both. If I could buy only one I'd probably get the steelcase.

You can't go wrong with the ErgoChair Pro from Autonomous: https://www.autonomous.ai/

Check out PostureHealth: https://theposturehealth.com/beta

The app uses your webcam to monitor your posture and alerts you if you've been slouching for an extended period of time. It's a desktop app and no visuals are stored/recorded on the cloud. It will also remind you to take walk breaks and gives you stretches for back and joint care.

Herman Miller Aeron. I still have to get up every hour or so and stretch my legs. Luckily, I work at home, so I go outside and play frisbee with my dog.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27265275

Every ergonomic chair I've ever tried was wrong. I just don't understand it. I decided to just learn every skill required to make my own.

I've been using a Variable Balans kneeling chair for the last 12 months. It's hard to go back to a normal chair.

Also, it's amazing for squatting on.

Try the steelcase leap v2.

Aeron Miller was the 2nd alternative but ended up going with steelcase.

I've had it for almost a year and would still recommend it.

Been using kneeling chairs for 20 years. Doesn't allow you to get away with bad posture. Recommended.

Costco $99 office chair is just fine. This is after getting physical therapy for back problems though.

Start resistance training. A strong back can take more.

The best posture is the next posture (move from time to time).

I recently bought an Amazon Commercial office chair and am pretty impressed by it actually.

Aeron. Find a gently used one in good shape from an office liquidator for less than 500$

I've used NeutralPosture chair for the last 20 years. Swapped out the seat once.

One way to sort this out is strengthen your back, spine and improve your posture.

ikea hattefjäll! I just bought two because they are great. Had herman miller at work and I don’t see a difference honestly (and I have back pain). Go to IKEA and try their chairs!

I am really comfortable with Malmstolen - a Swedish manufacturer.

Featherlite liberate is pretty good if you are buying in India.

IKEA Markus chair. I can't recommend it enough.

Would strongly recommend POMODORO technique for all computer professionals. Everything else is just a growing side business due to the lack of knowledge of our own physiology.

JÄRVFJÄLLET from IKEA works great for me.

Steelcase Leap V2 works best for me.

Secretlab.co makes fantastic chairs!

Allegedly Hermann Miller chairs are very good, but on a horrendous price. Whoever tried them, still claims they worth it.

Herman Miller Mirra is awesome !

I use a "gym ball" :)

Most chairs in office settings are task chairs. They are not made to be comfortable for long periods of sitting time. All the major brands like HM, Steelcase, Humanscale, etc are task chairs. If you want a comfortable chair then I would suggest a 24 hour Chair. These are used in settings where someone will be sitting in it 24/7/360 days a week (911 Operator, Etc). They are about as expensive as the higher end (office) task chairs and what they lack in fashion they make up for in comfort.

https://www.911chair.com/#247

Going to offer a slightly different opinion here...

Used a Herman Miller Aeron, yes...pretty decent. Is it worth retail though? No. If you can pick one up cheap, then fine. But I had some backpain/shoulder issues with the office chair I had, looked for an Aeron. Couldn't find one. So I bought a SIHOO off Amazon, as good, back/shoulder pain gone, and can now put in a 10-hour shift no problem (iirc, Gamer's Nexus had a review on this chair, there are other Chinese clones of it). It is as comfortable as any chair is going to be.

Used Aeron Size C. I suggest getting a larger one than you need. Be careful about which vendor if buying online. Try to get one from a local office interior repo reseller, which are typically located in commercial or industrial areas near airports. Test the cartridge before buying by sitting in it for an hour or so to see if it sinks.

the best chair I've ever owned, if you like laid-back posture https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/304556/Serta-Smart-La...

it's only $220 and much more comfortable than $1400 Aeron that kind of forces you to sit in a certain way, plus you can fold and seat on your leg if you're into that kinda thing