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Ask HN: Have you found a good desk chair?
211 points by DamnInteresting on June 18, 2021 | hide | past | favorite | 356 comments
Despite my best efforts, in the past few years I have had no luck with desk chairs--each one I've had grows uncomfortable after 10-15 minutes of working. This discomfort manifests as sore legs, sore back, feeling too warm, poor seating posture, and similar inconveniences. I recognize the need to stand up and stretch periodically, but these uncomfy chairs make it really difficult to get into the zone.

Have you found a chair that makes you happy? Given the amount of time I must spend at a keyboard, I am willing to spend real money. For reference, I am a 40ish 5'10" male with an average build (pandemic deterioration notwithstanding).

I also have a treadmill desk, and it's great for humdrum work, but sometimes it is necessary to sit down and dig in when the task at hand is more challenging.




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've had my Aeron for 15 years (second hand, so it's probably 20 years old by now!). It's still as good as the day I bought it. The gas lift is going strong too, but I've had to replace the front pad every 5 years as they flatten over time.

Before I had the Aeron I'd replace my office chairs every 4 years or so. Not only have I saved money long term, their longevity makes them the better choice for the environment.

Enjoy your chair, you'll get a lifetime of use out of it.


Yes, I got my Aeron secondhand too, about 5yr ago, and it's been great this last year. I did replace the stock wheels with rollerblade casters[1] which are made by a bunch of companies (it seemed like OfficeOasis was one of the originals, so I went with them, though it looks like some of the more recent ones use sealed bearings for the swivel along with the wheel, which might be cool).

1: https://theofficeoasis.com/products/rollerblade-office-chair...


Oh how cool!

I never thought I could get excited about office accessories, yet here I am.


Don't forget to read the reviews though... rollerblade wheels are good for tiles/wooden floors, and not so much for carpet (they won't spin on carpet and just be annoying).


Really? I found that the larger roller blade wheels work much better than stock plastic castors on carpet.


Yes, I am using them on hardwood floors, good point!


My circumstance exactly. My Aeron was used when I first started using it 15 years ago. I’ve always liked it a lot, and just bought another (used) that I could return to my employer so I could keep mine (which I took home a year ago).

I found mine (large) preferable to the newer one I bought (medium). The depth of the seat pan on the medium was just too shallow. (I’m 6’ 1”).

It’s amazing how well this 15+ year old chair has held up. No signs of wear to the seat or back, nor visible scratches on the frame. It does need a new pneumatic cylinder post though ($45).


> ... but I've had to replace the front pad every 5 years as they flatten over time.

Would that be the pad behind your (upper) back? I never replaced anything on mine in 10/11 years but I may have not been paying attention. I'll definitely check for any flattened pad when I get back from vacation (they seem super cheap to replace moreoever).


It's right at the front near your knee. The level of discomfort would vary between people, but I find it to be very noticeable once the padding's worn out.


that's why I got rid of mine. front of the seat behind the knee. too much feeling the hard rim that holds the mesh. despite numerous tries to adjust the chair properly, it still bugged me. got rid of it for a steelcase leap. much more comfy.


I second the Steelcase Leap. I have used both the Aeron and the Leap a lot. The Leap is a significantly better chair


I am very happy with my steelcase leap. It has the right balance of cushion and support as well as lumbar support, and it is quiet, long lasting.

But a chair, like a bed, is a very personal thing. We all have different bodies and different support requirements.


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

It's worth noting that it comes with a 12 year warranty:

* https://www.hermanmiller.com/customer-service/warranty-and-s...

So if you keep it for (at least) that long, the initial price may be high, but if you amortize it over more than a decade, the annual or monthly cost isn't as crazy. You probably spend more on buying lunch or coffee.

(The arm rests may not be included IIRC, so those may have to be replaced at some point.)


Any idea how the warranty works if you bought the chair slightly used from someone else? I know it was originally bought from an authorized reseller, but I'm not the original purchaser. Their warranty support page is a bit cryptic on this topic.


The warranty is based on a label at the bottom of the seat. If yours still has it you should be able to get warranty, using a serial number that's on the label.

Source: previously owned a used aeron. currently have an embody. Never had to use the warranty, but looked up this info when purchasing a previously owned chair.


I 100% agree with all of this. A few tips:

1. This chair comes in sizes. Make sure you are actually getting the right size for your body. 2. I was able to find several of them used on Craigslist locally with a few small minor defects such as worn armrests, gas cylinders, etc.. I was able to buy my chair used with a bad gas piston, buy a replacement for $40 on Amazon and easily install it. I was able to do all of this for a few hours of work and under $300. 3. I would recommend taking a few minutes to read the website on how to properly configure this chair. 4. Even if you have the best desk chair, if your desk, monitors and keyboards are not also ergonomically aligned, you will not be getting the majority of the benefit. 5. There are a number of great accessories for this chair. I also have an Atlas headrest that I really like.


Dissenting voice: I worked for a full decade for an employer which exclusively provided Aeron chairs. They gave me terrible back and neck problems, even after spending substantial effort selecting the correct size and setting the lumbar support correctly. It was like sitting on a trampoline for me, and I grew to hate them.

Conversely I have, for the last four years, sat in a cheap IKEA MILLBERGET swivel chair. It has been excellent, and all my back issues have completely disappeared.


Yes, the reality is a chair is very personal, there's no "one size fits all" no matter how much $$ or how good the warranty, or how available the spare parts.

I think perhaps it's good to temper the enthusiasm of a lot of folks online who seem to be buying Aeron sight unseen -- there's a lot of chairs out there, and people come in a lot of different shapes and sizes.


Same. 15+ years of continuous Aeron use in various offices. Lockdown came, I spent £75 on an Ikea Markus and it's the best office chair I've sat in. YMMV.


Interestingly especially "Millberget" mentioned above gets extremely much better better reviews on the US site.

I wonder what this means:

- has IKEA been unlucky with their first reviews on the Norwegian site? (there are very few)

- has a local competitor placed them?

- are the US versions different?

- have IKEA stuffed their US reviews?

This thread seems to indicate that people do genuinely like their chairs but that is the closest I get right now.

Last I went to IKEA to try one I thought they felt flimsy but maybe I should reconsider now.


Different average body types between Norway and the US could be responsible for a genuine discrepancy in comfort.


Yeah I had been issued an Aeron at my office and although it wasn't the worst chair I've ever had, it did cause me a lot of soft tissue pain.

After about eight months with the HM, I couldn't take one more day of it so I bought my own generic chair and have been happy ever since.


Same here but ikea hattefjäll


The killer feature of the Aeron is its ubiquity.

I have bought three used Aerons, and refurbished them with replacement parts.

Because Aerons are everywhere, replacement parts (both OEM and aftermarket) are incredibly easy to find.

Some of these Aeron chairs are 10 years old, and I can find parts for them now. 10 years from now, I will still be able to find parts for them.

Between their overall durability and the availability of replacement parts, I expect that I will be able to keep these chairs going for a very long time. And frankly, that's more valuable to me than any tiny incremental improvements some alternatives to the Aeron might be able to offer.


Where did you find replacement parts. I was really hoping for original/Orem parts and all the distributors across two huge major metro areas haven’t responded to my inquiries at all


> A year on, I think it was a very good investment.

Ten or eleven years on here: have I think a bit more than a year left on the 12-years warranty. Looks brand new. Nothing has moved. When it came, there was a booklet (or a PDF?) explaining how to set it up: took me 30 minutes to set it up and since then, I never had to change the settings once.

It's not suitable for people used to cross their legs then and kinda sit on their legs (I had a roommate doing that).

The most common complain with the Aeron is that the frame pushes too hard on the back of the thighs but I don't get it: too me it's an improperly set up chain as I'm only in contact with the (amazing) pellicle mesh.

I love that chair. In the US it's very easy to find refurbished ones as good as new at a big discount. In Europe it's doable but not at easy.

If that chair dies before me, I'll immediately rebuy one.

EDIT: a "trick", I think explained in the official doc: the recommended setting (but you do what you want) is that the chair has to lean back if you put both your arms behind your head and then lean forward again when you extend your hand in front of you (for example reaching for your keyboard).


Do you have any recommendations for finding refurbished Aerons? Are there any things that I should look out for when purchasing one?


https://youtu.be/x-aeDaHIEbY

That’s a very popular YouTube video with tips on what to look out for when buying an used Aeron.


> The most common complain with the Aeron is that the frame pushes too hard on the back of the thighs

Yeah I'd read that concern prior to buying it to but like you I've had zero issues with that thankfully. Not to say that it might not be genuine concern for some body shapes/sizes...


Any idea if people with hamstring tendonitis might have issues with this?


Highly recommend buying an Aeron on craigslist. Lots of office buildings buy them (they're $1k/pop) and then just get rid of them in fire sales. You can usually get for $200~$400 used.


I did exactly this at the start of the pandemic - like new Aeron for $400 and it's amazing.


Any risk of fakes?


Not really. Go check a real one in person and I think you'd see the difference pretty quickly. BUT I would check for that there aren't any issues with the mechanics of them.


There's often great deals on used Aerons. The one I got on ebay for $500 was fully loaded (retail $1600) and unused as far as I could tell. And it wasn't a one off, companies will replace their office furniture and sell tons of them.


Agreed. Cost was a concern for me so I spent weeks refreshing Craigslist every few hours. Snagged an Aeron in good shape for closer to $400. I have a hard time working without it; I've tried many office chairs.

For anyone earning a high wage, though, I'd say a new Aeron at full price is easily worth it.


I got three for $50 each when my last company moved to a bigger office. They spent millions fitting out this new swanky 3 level space but skimped on chairs. Left a couple of months later and now WFH full time in my comfy Aeron.


I remember checking out aerons on amazon and I swear lots of the "used" ones were actually new but "open box" or something to dodge the MSRP lock in.


When you pay a lot of money for something, there is a psychological bias to give it qualities to justify the expense.


Sounds like something a non-aeron owning peasant would say to me.


Sounds like something a man with too much money and back pain issues would say to me.


I don't disagree, but even with some unconscious psychological bias, I still think I'd have had some back pain or _something_ creeping in by now after a year even if I was just fooling myself! Whereas all of my previous chairs would leave my body with some sort of noticeable fatigue after a few hours.

I'd liken it to Apple gear. Yes it is arguably overpriced objectively speaking, but it is still genuinely well made (although let's not mention butterfly keyboards...)


That’s true for OP’s case, but many people get their taste of Aerons for free, supplied by their employer in their office. The generally ecstatic response to them is genuine.


I love this chair - I've tried a lot of fancy office chairs and think this one is the best.

Pro tip for bay area people - company liquidation events happen all of the time and lots of companies buy these.

That means you can get a like-new chair on craigslist from someone who bought a bunch of them at a liquidation sale for ~$350-400 which is a great deal.

If you're worried about fakes, check for bumps behind the top back of the chair - the number of bumps is the size. Small, Medium, Large -> 1, 2, 3, bumps.

I'm 6'1" and ~200lbs, I'm comfortable in a medium and a large. I got the medium via craigslist because they're more available, but have a large at work.


I'm surprised all of the responses to this comment are so positive. I worked in a law firm and got an Aeron that was orphaned by a departing lawyer. I found it to be fine, but not amazingly comfortable.

During COVID I bought a desk chair off Craigslist for $60 (MSRP $200, IIRC) and it's been roughly as good for me as the Aeron was. I'm glad to hear others enjoy their Aerons, but I wanted to share my experience since not everyone finds them to be so amazing.


There are three Aeron sizes (for slim, normal and overweight people) and having the right size is very important for comfort.


What are the differences? Is it primarily based on weight or height?


For me, the benefits of the Aeron kick in at hour 8 or so.


I'm not sure any chair can make sitting for 8 hours healthy.


Health wasn't yet a criteria in this thread.


Same issue at a previous office. They spent a lot of money on Herman Miller chairs to much complaining about how it was a waste of money and they’re not even comfortable.

And they complainers were right insofar as I never sat down in the chair and went “damn this is comfortable”.

But that was also the first time in my life by hour 5 or 6 nothing was _uncomfortable_. Body felt fine, nothing was sweaty, everything was still just… fine. I felt the same as when I sat down.

And that’s pretty much been my goal for chairs since. Anything that can make the unnatural act of sitting upright in one place for a third or more of my day not _hurt_ is a good piece of equipment.

I’ve tried other cheaper chairs since. Some sufficed for a while, some sufficed until I got older. Finally but the bullet and got a Mirra and everything’s been great since.


I'm tall, 6'4". I ordered an Aeron a few years ago, even ordered teh large variant. I was incredibly disappointed. Uncomfotable, short, and while very adjustable, not in some of the ways I wanted. I tried it for a month before giving up and gave it to my wife.

I ahve a Titan from SecretLab, most amazing chair I've ever had. I now have three, one at my home office, one at work, and one in a box for a location I haven't decided upon yet.


It sounds like I had a similar experience as you, I'm also 6'4". I had the largest Aeron and it was terrible, especially the hard plastic sides that pressed/cut into my outer thighs. The seat hurt after an hour or two without any real support under, and there was just no configuration that could be done to make any of it comfortable.

I'm not really capable of not-manspreading in order to minimize the Aeron seat side lip pain so one day I brought a belt to the office to tie my legs together so I could relax ... which helped but was just as ridiculous as it sounds. So I just went and bought my own chair instead for my home office and never went back to the office again.

Thanks for mentioning the Titan, it looks like my next chair!


You described my experience perfectly. I too have big thighs that make it hard to sit with my legs pressed together. 20 years of mountain biking will do that. Also I have some organs ther ethat make it hard to do that too.

I accidentally got th eOmega first, and it hasweird hard plastic in the seat at the sides that also pressed into my thighs, so I went for the Titan. No regrets. I got the cloth ones, not the fake leather. In my experience fake leather peels in 2 years.


Those look decent, and I had a similar outcome with my Aeron back in the day. Which size Titan did you get, the L or XL? Am same height as you and am guessing the XL would be better?


[Self-reply] I ended up getting the L size and am very happy with it. The XL was only a little taller (1cm), but wider.

Still getting used to it, but first impressions are that it's comfortable, helps give good posture, and the rocking & recline options are great to mix things up.

It's my first gamer-style chair vs a regular office chair. The side bolsters and head rest are a great addition. I have often felt more comfortable in my car than in my office, and this is a step towards that kind of setup.


Maybe I'll change my tune when I hit 30, but we had Aerons at my $lastjob and while I liked it well enough, I now work from home in what is essentially a Lazy Boy welded onto rolling wheels, and it cost rather less.

I do have a sit/stand desk now too though, so whenever I feel like I've been sitting for too long I switch to standing for about 30 minutes. Maybe that helps too?


I had two aerons - one at work and one at home. The one at home I had bought used for $250. It was old and I didn't use it much... until covid. Then I found it to be a little sacked out and got a new one a few months in. The previous ones were "classic aerons" and and the new one was the updated model, and I got size C.

I have to say I think it's a great chair, but could be a little better. The recline limiter has only two positions and it would be nice to have a continuous adjustment, or at least more positions. The size C is probably larger than I need, but it seems more comfortable than the other one - don't know if it's the size or the brand new web material.

That said - I agree. The ergonomics are excellent and I can use it for countless hours without discomfort.

It would be nice to hear if others have compared say aeron vs embody.


I also use Aerons exclusively. Used they are only around $600-700, and they do last a very long time. I have worn out some of the arm rests but there are replacement parts available cheaply on ebay, which is nice.

The warranty is only for the original purchaser and is nontransferrable, AIUI.


I got an Aeron about a year ago. I had a desk chair from Ikea before that. I guess I'm in the minority here but I don't notice a huge difference. I don't dislike it but I don't find it to be any more comfortable than the Ikea chair. I switch back and forth between them and don't really prefer one over the other.

I guess the wheels are quieter on the hardwood floors, my office is above a bedroom so that is much appreciated. And the armrests on the Ikea chair are getting torn up after only a few years so hopefully the Aeron is more durable.

But for $1600 or whatever it was I could invest the money and replace the Ikea chair every two years for the rest of my life.


Aerons are designed to have individuals dial them in. My 18 year old or so Aeron finally gave up near the start of the pandemic and I really wasn't sure what to do. There were newer HM models, including the Cosm which was billed as basically a self-adjusting Aeron. However, I couldn't try anything.

But it was just for me. So I just ordered another Aeron with the new back support system and I couldn't be happier. Right call. Mirra 2's are OK--we have them at least one of our company offices--but they're not Aerons. (And I prefer the web style to something like an Leap or Embody.)


I've owned one for 10 years now and it's still as solid as it was on day 1.

I would routinely break XL weight and sized chairs, probably because of odd sitting positions although I'm around 260 right now and the chairs were rated for 375.

This thing? Rock solid.

My advice if you are looking for a chair? Buy one. You don't have to buy a new one either. One of the first thing a lot of companies do when they're flush with VC money is to upgrade the offices, and that often means name-brand chairs. There are TONS of Aerons floating around for a few hundred bucks.


I had a similar experience with the Aeron. I got one used a few months ago (it was still like $500 for a used Aeron in good condition), and for the first couple weeks I hated it. Now that I'm used to it, I barely notice it's there. It's much more comfy than any other office chairs I've used. I still wish conformed to my slightly-weird lower back a little better, but it isn't a big deal.


Strong second on the atlas headrest. It feels like the missing piece for the aeron as a chair that can do everything — focused work, lounging back to read, etc. I bought my aeron right at the start of the pandemics (as well as a split keyboard, vertical mouse) and honestly, not sure I can go back. Some consistent wrist and forearm pains have completely gone away.


You're talking about this one right? https://atlasheadrest.com/products/headrest-for-remastered-a...


That's for the "remastered" Aeron (kinda the Aeron "2.0"). I don't know if the headrest is compatible with the previous model so buyer beware in case you don't have/don't plan to buy the remastered.


They are not cross-compatible, so do double-check which kind of chair you're buying for.


Yep that's the one.


Yeah, I have an Aeron chair i purchased in 2006. It is still great. It just recently started to misbehave a little when raising or lowering it (my spouse sits a bit higher in the chair) - still works, but is a little sticky. But this is the vimes boots theory of chairs (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/72745-the-reason-that-the-r...), and totally worth it if you can afford it.


My biggest regret was selling a perfect Chrome Aeron chair when I went to Japan, that thing was perfect to sit in and beautiful.


About the headrest: how tall are you, and does the Atlas headrest raise up to support your head proper? I'm tall and I like a headrest on my chair, but I would prefer not to have a headrest if it only came up to the top of my neck when I'm sitting up straight.


I'm about 6 foot tall and in my experience the headrest goes as high as I'd ever want or need it to. It's very adjustable so pretty easy to get comfortable.

It's worth noting that that I have the larger sized Aeron - can't quite remember if the back is taller on those or if they're just wider...


yeah after a dot com bust a long time ago I got the aeron for something like 400 bucks and it's still basically the same quality it was then still and I use it all day work at home. if you amortize it out the quality per year is great 40 bucks a year so far with no real end in sight. I was buying a somewhat cheap staples chair every year or two and they were only really comfortable for a bit and were always too hot in summer months anyway.


I bought one used off of ebay for my home office. It was pricey for a used chair but worth it. Now I want a 2nd one for my gaming PC.


+1 for the Atlas headrest. Reclining while working and NOT getting sore neck and shoulders was a game changer!


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.


You can purchase used Steelcase chairs from office liquidation companies for a reasonable price (although "reasonable" might be in the eye of the beholder). I purchased a V2 for around $400 and have been using it daily for 1.5 years. It's in great condition and it's easily the most comfortable office chair I've sat it.


If you can, find an office liquidation sale as it happens. Oct 2019 - prepandemic - 2 regional banks merged, and one office was put in to "sale" mode. A local company came in to manage selling everything (or.... they may have just bought it all themselves up front for a song then resold?)

I picked up 16 Steelcase Amia chairs (plus 2 others). Had them delivered to my office. They took away 10 old crappy chairs we had to the dump. Total price was $635. For 18 chairs.

It was a bargain, to be sure. I'm not sure what effect covid will have had on the whole 'office furniture liquidation' process, but there's likely bargains to be had before things get to the 'office liquidation company' warehouse.


Wow, that is an incredible deal. How did you hear about the sale?


IIRC it was listed on craigslist and a Facebook marketplace post.

yeah, it was an incredible deal. the delivery was just icing on the cake. I wish I'd had room to take a few more. That said, I missed the first day of the liquidation. There were around... 30 chairs left, and I think I got the best of what was left. Having them all match was an important part, as I was pimping out our coworking space and wanted things to match :)


This, 100%. My current company moved offices and bought new chairs that the interior designer thought looked better in the new space, so ~50 perfectly good aerons found their way to one of these liquidators.

Many of these liquidation companies with steam clean the chairs for you too, at least in my experience, so the chair will look almost new even if it's fairly old. And a high quality office chair is something that really lasts for quite a while. My used Leap that I got for $150 3 years ago from a liquidation company was manufactured in the mid 90s and I find it every bit as comfortable as the brand new aerons and other chairs that I've used in offices.


I have a Steelcase Leap V2 ($300 refurb) and it has two advantages over the Aeron in my opinion.

1. It’s much more adjustable so you don’t need to be carefully about buying the exact right size (unlike the Aeron which has sizes A, B and C)

2. It has a fabric seat with no protruding edges. If you sit cross legged on an Aeron, you’re going to grind against the seat’s edges. Aerons aren’t good for folks who sometimes sit cross legged.


A fabric seat Aeron would be ideal, too bad they don't make them. I'm just average height: 5'11" but I guess my leg to torso ratio is weird because the hard ridge that suspends the Aero's mesh seat puts my legs to sleep. I suppose sitting so low to the ground that my knees rise above the seat might help but at that point typing may be a chore based on the angle to the desk.

For return to the office we're going to new offices with only Aeron chairs, so I'm just planning to pack in a seat cushion every day unless I can find another solution.


I had the same problem with the Herman Miller Mira 2, which has the same mesh seat. There’s an optional adjustable front seat angle which seems like it would help with this. It’s disappointing that they don’t have adjustable seat depth though (which my current cheapish office chair does).


You might like the Embody if you like HM chairs but not the web designs.


3. it comes with a headrest (optionally?)


I've had a Steelcase Leap for more than a decade (maybe getting on 15 years?), still very happy with it. I was lucky enough to get it from a used office supply store for like $600 if I remember right. But I think it'd be worth it for even full price after all this time.


I have the Steelcase Leap as well for over 15 years at work and the Steelcase Gesture. Both are great chairs.

As another poster suggested, the most comfortable chair is the one you find comfortable. Definitely go and sit on a few, then see which one feels the best.


Same here. I've had one for around the same time and it's my favorite chair. I can sit in all day with no discomfort.


I'd been hearing about the Leap for years and always kind of mentally shrugged, until I started at my current employer, which used that as their standard chair.[1] In appearance, they're mostly just "standard office chair," but wow they're nice. I ended up buying a Gesture for home -- new, although on sale.

I definitely agree with the "everything else" part -- I know keyboard trays are kind of unfashionable these days, but unless you have a desk which is as low as a standard keyboard tray (or an adjustable desk, of course, which lets you get there!), it really makes a difference in posture. My current home desk is a little awkward for this -- it has a tray, but the desk height puts the 27" monitor (iMac) I have at too high a level unless I raise the chair enough that my knees are just about touching the tray. In retrospect, I wish I'd gotten a desk without a tray, and used my chair with a foot rest. (Which I just saw you mentioned.)

[1] I'm using past tense because at the end of 2020 we moved from "independent subsidiary of [LargeCo]" to "just part of [LargeCo]", and when we stop being remote we'll move to LargeCo's offices. I have no idea what they have there.


Got a used leap years ago. The fabric gets dirty and I can't seem to find a way to clean it that doesn't leave a moisture ring where I apply cleaner or even just water. It now looks like I've had several accidents in my chair just from cleaning attempts.

Any solutions?


I clean the entire fabric at a time so that you don't get that effect. One good thing is that it gets me away from my desk for a day while it dries.


My office stocks these in every room and no matter which one I sit in, the back support just is not there. After using for a few hours I get restless and after the first day I woke up with lower back pain every day until I replaced it with a Serta.


I’m on my second Steelcase Leap and don’t have enough good things to say about the chair. Only reason for the second one was having to leave it behind in a move otherwise I’m pretty sure these chairs can easily last 5-10+ years of everyday use


I got the steelcase leap but it doesn't seem to give enough lowerback support no matter how I adjust it. After a few hours of sitting I usually end up with a really sore back.

Did anyone have a similar experience and find a solution?


Totally. I tried so hard to get myself to keep it because occasionally it’s really comfortable but after about 3 weeks of worsening lower back pain, I went back to my cushioned kitchen table chair and it disappeared. I really really tried but my back didn’t feel just sore, it felt bad. I had no back pain before or after using it. Only while. I honestly didn’t like the lower back support. There was no support for the area around your tail bone. Maybe just me though.


Which model was it from Amazon?


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.


Seconded, although I recommend something much more simple: a standing desk. I stand when I get uncomfortable sitting, I sit when I get uncomfortable standing. And if I start to space out I can go for a walk or run. I'm very lucky to have this convenience.

You don't need a super-expensive desk either, in fact you probably don't need to buy anything. I use the counter-top at my house, you can also get a box or chair to put on your regular desk.


how do you comfortably type when standing? never figured that one out


For me it’s about raising the keyboard surface to almost shoulder level so I can rest my forearms on the desk.


I set my desk around belly-button level and use a VESA arm to get the monitor up to eye level.


The rules don’t really change. Elbow at 90 degree angle and the top of the screen at eye level.


Getting an active sitting chair is great if you fidget too. I bought an Ariel from https://qor360.com/ at the begging of the pandemic and I love it. It's an unstable stool so your body can always be in motion. Office chairs had always given me back pain but it went away with this chair (+yoga and a better mattress).

The seat is very firm, however. It took a while to adjust to.


This! I alternate between stand up desk, sitting, lying in bed reading ipad, and sitting in swinging chair w laptop in lap.

I also used to have a floor chair, and floor chairs are amazing! I’ve been considering getting a floor couch just for that reason but not many choices and not many people talk about it.


Check this https://kokuyo-furniture.com/products/office-chairs/ing/


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


I bought a "Swing Chair" back at the final Macworld Expo - after a long day of walking around the exhibits sitting in the demo chair was so satisfying - and it's been my main chair during Covid (with varying use over the prior decade). Other than the arm rests wearing out and a set screw I should replace it is still in great condition and allows me to sit comfortably for longer than I probably should...

They are no longer in business :'( https://web.archive.org/web/20160422143349/http://www.swingc...

This seems pretty similar, but I haven't tried it: https://www.eurekadesk.com/ergonomic-chair-swing-chair.html

I bought a glass corner desk around the same time that's still in use, most likely because it and the keyboard tray seem to be the perfect height for me/the chair. I can't recommend an under-desk keyboard tray enough, if you don't have one I'd strongly recommend investigating it.


Spinalis looks to be similar idea, available in Canada. I had a lot of lower back pain that went away shortly after I started using it.

https://spinalis-chairs.ca/


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.


Counterpoint - I’ve had multiple experiences in furniture buying where I think a chair or couch is comfortable in the store, only to dislike it once I take it home and sit on it for a long time.

Meanwhile, when I got my Aeron, I didn’t like it for the first few days, and even thought about sending it back. But now that I’ve adjusted to it, I love it, and I can confidently say it’s the most comfortable office chair I’ve ever tried.

It’s hard to evaluate comfort in a short period. Ergonomics is all about support, and I personally find that something that is more firm and maybe less comfortable on my first try is actually more comfortable in the long haul.

It’s hard to turn this into concrete advice, other than that you probably want to just make sure there is a good return policy for whatever you buy, and to make sure you buy a product with a good reputation.


>Counterpoint - I’ve had multiple experiences in furniture buying where I think a chair or couch is comfortable in the store, only to dislike it once I take it home and sit on it for a long time.

This has been every chair I've ever tried.


I agree that it takes time to properly evaluate a chair, but doing so in a showroom as opposed to repeatedly ordering and returning from an online store will save you a lot of time and effort.


I guess I lucked out... I bought an Aeron on-line (on-sale) directly from the factory in Medium (because I'm medium). Most comfortable, adjustable chair I've ever had. It has two kinds of castors, for hard or carpeted floors. I have hard, so I ordered those castors. I roll back and forth between my desk and my workbench constantly, fast, and it brings a smile to my face.

Also, this is the only chair I've had whose height adjustment is rock solid. All the others, which were not as comfortable to begin with, started to leak after a few years.


For carpeted floors, good lard get a thick, extra large floor mat. Hard floor casters always.

Leaks are related to worn-out cylinders. They're easy to change. There's nothing wrong with the chair itself unless it's physically-damaged.


This, 100%.

1) Familiarize yourself with basic chair adjustments. Every high-end chair will have some combination of these.

2) Go to a furniture store (or used furniture store) and try out every chair. Don't forget to tinker with the adjustments.

I tried a variety of Herman Miller & Steelcase chairs, and somewhat surprisingly landed on an Amia. Not the most expensive chair they had in inventory, but it felt the best when dialed in. (And even better than the Leap V2s we had at an old job)


I second this. I was sold on the Embody and went to try it and I thought it wasn't for me almost as soon as I sat on it. I ended up getting a Cosm which surprise me personally, because I sort of liked all the knobs in all the other chairs, but I really liked how it adjusted to my body. Try all the chairs with an open mind and listen to your body


I was trying chairs at Design Within Reach recently and I couldn't agree more. I went in expecting to like the Embody best, but the Cosm just really seemed to click with me. It's comfortable without having to adjust anything


I love Aeron but sometimes like I like fold my leg and lay it on the edge of the base. I know it’s not ergo but I sometimes do it when laying back. It’s hard plastic unlike Steelcase Leap.

It bothered me so much, had to return the chair which was a huge hassle.

So even if you try to sit on it in a showroom, you gotta actually use it for a few days.


I could never find a good place or time to go try them out, so I just ordered a Steelcase Gesture from Amazon. It helped me get over the analysis paralysis, it's very comfortable, and I'm sitting in the chair while writing this.


6'5 / 240 and I have an Aeron Size B that just baaarely fits. Size C for most people > 5'9" / 175 cm.


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.


I've had the Embody for maybe four years now and I like it. It's good, but not if you like to switch it up and not have the same posture all the time.


I admit I have terrible posture at times. When I want to move around I just let it recline freely and slouch about. It can be a little rigid, but I sort of flop around in my chair a lot, especially when reading and thinking. I then end up standing some at my desk, and I do sit correctly a lot too. It works out usually :)


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.


Do you happen to have an inversion table and a traction pulley system?


I did not even know what those were!

I've been doing physical therapy and pilates, so never really looked for anything else. I don't think this things are available locally (Brazil) but quite interesting concept!


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.


Do you keep your laptop on your lap in this chair, or sit at a desk?

I found the posture in a similar zero gravity chair super comfy but, I don't think I could sit at a desk with one.

The zero gravity chair idea reminds me of this insane thing: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/06/seat-...


I use a desktop computer, with monitors at about the same height as one would find them at an average desk (surprisingly), just tilted downwards a bit. Mouse + keyboard sit on a long tray that rests across the chair arms, over my lap.

I don't use much paper, so I haven't needed a larger work surface than the foot or two of extra space on the tray. (Obviously this isn't true for everyone.) If I find myself in need of work area in the future, I plan to build or buy a wheeled "overbed table".

>The zero gravity chair idea reminds me of this insane thing: ...

Yes, that insane thing and the other commercial variations of it were part of my inspiration to finally try this. I had wanted to create a reclined setup for years before seeing them, but learning that I was not the only one with such a weird idea validated my beliefs enough to actually try it. I could have splurged on something insane like that. I am, after all, presumably the target audience. But I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars on an experiment, especially if I was buying something hideous and overbuilt. Thus the super cheap, goofy setup I'm using. (Which is hideous, but at least it's hideous for the good reasons of expense and experiment.)

I had expected - if my experiment worked - that I would quickly want to upgrade to a nicer zero-gravity chair. But it turns out these cheap chairs really are damn comfortable. So until I have a "Lenny moment" as in [0], I don't think the impetus to get something nicer-looking solely for the sake of it being nicer-looking will be very strong. (Of course, this will change if I return to an office environment. I'll have to figure out something that won't get me odd looks, because I can't imagine myself going back to upright chairs.)

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPwyyjtxlzU


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 also got the Embody last year and couldn't be happier. It's comfortable and looks good, but mostly I bought it because I just can't stand throwing away one more cheap office chair that only lasts a few years and ends up in a landfill. I expect the HM to last the rest of my life. No more squeaking, creaking, loosening, or faux-leather crumbling. It makes me feel good mentally as well as physically that I won't have to buy or throw away another chair again.


Got the embody in late March 2020. It’s a great chair for me. It developed a creaking sound in the seat after 6 months, which must have been a production issue for a while, as there are threads in the HM subreddit about it.

Free on-site repair. No problems since. I spend a lot of time in the chair and it is top notch.

I also use a Fully Jarvis for standing some of the time.

Monitor height matters, too. I use the Apple XDR pro display and the stand. Adjustments are as good as it gets.


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.


I'm the opposite. Had the Embody for years, but it slowly started to deform (long torso with lots of reclining) and cause back pain. I've since switched to an Aeron C, and after a few months, I'm back to lifting like I used to.


I considered the Aeron but the hard edge of the seat just didn't work for me.

Embody has a huge seat without any hard pieces and a back rest that narrows at elbow height. The first chair I've bought for myself and very expensive, but I love it and expect it to last a decade or more.


+1 for Embody. Had an Aeron. Pretty comfortable. Broke. Steelcase Leap after that. Durable. Had many years. Hadn't sat in for days on end until pandemic. Was killing my lower back. Ordered an Embody without having sat in one before. It's an opinionated chair in terms of design and damn if it didn't save my back. Still good a year later. They're not for everyone, but , man, they're for me.


How long did Aeron last? And how did it break?


I have the logitech version of the HM embody chair. It supposedly has more cushioning and some cooling, but it doesn't seem too different. I think the materials on the Aeron were superior, but the embody has a more relaxed position and won out in the end.


Embody + Aeron and alternate between them. Always amazes me people will spend incredible amounts on a car, but will skimp on something they spend 8+ hours a day sitting in.


+1 for alternation. I rotate between an Embody (when I want to lean back a little), a flat wooden chair (when I want to sit up straight and not support my back against anything), and a wobble stool (when I want a bit of forward tilt). The Embody is perfectly comfortable on its own but I tend to start to veg out mentally if I'm leaning back all the time.


You are the first person I’ve seen with anything good to say about the Embody. I have two friends that sold theirs and I tried it for a week before getting an Aeron.


I definitely second the Embody. I got a decent deal on one on Craigslist and it's been a great investment in my setup.


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.


Same.

One of those chairs that looks like it'd be uncomfortable, but is actually very nice.


For me it’s different. It’s not a chair to relax in. It encourages good posture, but I would not call it comfortable. I still think it helped my back pain. It’s comfortable enough to sit on it during work days but I feel the need to stand up quite regularly. But that’s a good thing. A note for tall people: This chair can be extended higher then any I’ve seen before, even if you don’t get the extra high version.


People say this, and I certainly do move around a bit in it, but only when im in a meeting or something that doesnt involve hands on keyboard/mouse.

I still feel like I spent 4-6 hours in an upright chair position a day, and I find it very comfortable for that.

Re: tall people, agreed. I'm 6'4, have the medium size lift, and it can almost support me while standing.


I have this chair with the optional foot ring and head rest. I also replaced the plastic wheels with some roller-blade style wheels. It's the best chair I've ever owned.


I did the same. I gave a rug pretty close to my desk and getting up and down carpers with the regular wheels was just imposdible.


Do you have a link to the wheels? I bought a set but they changed the height enough to not work well with my desk.


I bought these wheels: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07KSDKZPD?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_...


command-F capisco

Sitting on one right now, and—this is wild to say—it makes me feel human. I feel like I'm sitting in a tree, full-freedom, and am able to work in whatever position I want, in real-time.

It's not the kind of chair to sit back and watch a movie in. But for getting work done, it's really something special.


I have a capisco that I bought last year off craigslist for twenty whole dollars. It needed a patch on one of the arms, but since then I have spent an embarrassing amount of time in it and it has held up like a champ.


Yeah, the Hag Capisco is really good.


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 have one and it's a terrible chair.

The seat is too high, even at lowest setting. I had to raise my desk on blocks so I could cross my legs under it, which is just wrong because tables and chairs have standard heights so this shouldn't happen.

I'm 175cm and my feet barely reach the floor. had to add a foot-stool.

The arm rests are too far apart, I need to spread my arms wide to use them.

The seat cushion is hard and rises up near the front, cutting off circulation to the legs.

Posture is all wrong, my back and bottom start hurting after a while and I'm constantly shifting positions to relieve the stress.

A terrible, terrible chair.


We have a couple of secret labs titans here as well...

Awesome chairs, and have held up perfectly for 3 years now. People complain the cushions are 'hard' but that's because they actually support you rather then just compressing to nothing. The one thing I did do was add some slip on cushions to the plain plastic arm rests.


The hard cushion was causing me circulation issues. The problem was solved when I bought a foot rest to avoid the back on my knee touching the sharp end of the cushion. I bought one of those footrests that look like a foam cylinder cut in half. Very comfortable.


Nice! They really are great chairs :-)


I have personally owned an Aeron, my employer uses the Herman Miller Celle, which is also very nice. For COVID WFH, I bought a Secretlabs Titan, and am very happy with it. I am a tall person though. They make a smaller model as well.


I would second this - my parents bought them as well after trying mine (Dad got a Titan, Mom got an Omega)! I've been using it for about a year now and have no complaints at all. Great lumbar support too.


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 have had the same chair since 2015, and recently bought one for a friend and for my younger brother who have been very satisfied with it. To me it really is a chair that is sort of an end-of-the-line, as I have never felt any need for a better chair. One of my favorite "upgrades" is indeed removing the armrests to be able to sit high from the ground, but right under the desk. Major kudos for the engineer/designer who made the IKEA Markus, especially for a relatively low price of €150.


I’ve been using one of these chairs for about ~8 years now, and while it’s starting to show its age (the faux leather head and armrests are deteriorating), I’m still impressed by how well it has held up and even more surprised by how comfortable it is.

It’s reaching the end of its useful life, and now I’m in the market for a new chair. I’ve wanted to try one of the “top” ergonomic chairs for awhile, but I also know I can just keep coasting for another $200…I just might get another one.


I think chairs is all pretty individual, but for what it's worth I replaced an Aeron with one of these, happily. The Aeron was only ever "pretty good" for me, no matter the adjustments I made.


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.


I have been strongly considering a kneeling chair. I think it might contrast well with my treadmill desk. Also, funny you should mention the TED talk, as I am currently working for TED.

Thanks for the insights!


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.


Exactly. Get on a strength training program. Once you develop a strong posterior chain almost any chair will do. Your back doesn't hurt after 15 mins of sitting when you can deadlift 405.


Yup, this is the comment I was looking for.

I've had more impact through planking and thoracic spine stretches than any chair could ever have (your own case will be different, of course)

The goal isn't to be able to sit still for hours on end, that's your body telling you to get up and move. But you should still be able to sit for generally without feeling uncomfortable.

Consulting a physio has been well worth it, just be prepared to invest some time each day in some targetted exercise as that's where the gains are.


Yes - this is the answer. I used to have an Aeron. Honestly now I just use a regular stiff office chair (not super cushioned). But I also strength train regularly and take a break to walk every 3-4 hours. In particular squatting and deadlifting has basically eliminated all my back problems (I used to sometimes wake up with back pain in the morning).

Now I no longer have to worry about what chair I have -- well as long as it isnt an Iron Maiden :)


I came looking for this comment too. A nice chair helps but the actual fix is to do deadlifts. And squats too. Even just getting up to being able to do 100% of body weight will help a ton.


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.


Yeap. Buying durable goods or electronics new is almost always an exercise in instant depreciation. Let someone else take that hit.


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.


I've been sitting in an Ikea Marcus (not the leather one) every work day since 2016 and I find it very uncomfortable. I like the mesh back but I'm 6'2 and find it just too rigid for me. I went and tried a few cheapo Staples chairs out but didn't love them, so I think the Marcus beats those out, but I'm saving up for a more expensive chair that gives me more customisation.


I'm using Marcus for like 10 years at work. It's perfect for me, I can sit all day on it. I actually want to go to work and avoid working from home just to sit on my chair!

I know that there are better chairs that Marcus but nothing beats it for the price... It was the best 200 euros I had ever spent.


Used it for 1 year and it only got my spinal aches worse. The issue is that you tend to lean sideways in it, and leaning straight back doesn't help. Switched to Ikea's Bleckberget.


Myself and two colleagues own this and love it.


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


Exercise balls (or ball/chairs to avoid rolling), or ottomans for me. You can sit with your hips rolled forward / legs angled down, feet under you, and spinal column balanced above your hips. Comfortable and ergonomic.


I read "tub chair" and thought of Dalton Trumbo in his bath office. I'm sure it's not ergonomic, but I bet it's comfortable and relaxing.


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.


I have an Ergohuman (mesh version) too and I'm quite satisfied with it. It has all the adjustments and supports that I need and the size is just right for me.


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.


Yeah, this is the constantly overlooked option and I highly recommend it (not the chair, never used that), get a little box to rest your feet on if you get a stool/bar height chair that doesn't have something comfortable (most have a terrible and useless metal ring).

The really nice thing about a standing height desk and a tall chair is that you can just sort of constantly slide on and off the chair so there's never a need to like set a pomadoro as a reminder to move. You can just constantly fidget if you want.

Low-key added bonus? if a manager comes over to talk to you while you're seated you're still eye level with them.


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 have the ergo chair 2 from autonomous and quite like it. However the armrests are quite mediocre, they are hard plastic and are quite loose. I’ve been looking for pads to put on them but so far I’ve not seen anything that looked like it won’t flatten or tear quickly (according to reviews at least)


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


I would second this. My last company had these in their office. Indeed the 4 way adjustable arms are a game changer. Besides the comfort I think the build quality and comfort of these are on par with both Steelcase and Aeron.


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.


I have one of these at home, made sometime during WW2--there's a metal label on it indicating that it is (or was) the property of the Defense Plant Corporation. Good chair.


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 have an Aeron at home and an Embody at work. I much prefer the Embody. It's firm but with springiness right where you want it (like in the mid back). Definitely try before you buy though.

I wouldn't really call either of them soft, but the Aeron definitely has more give in certain places. The Embody is pretty evenly firm in all places.


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/...


Adjust your desk so that the keyboard is at a position that your arms are straight down from the shoulders and roughly right angle elbow when your wrists are raised from the desk.

If that means that you need to adjust the height upwards, get a flat foot rest so that your hips and knees are also at roughly right angles.

Have the top of your screen just above eye level so that most of the time you are looking straight on.


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.


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