I feel like I’m going against the grain here, but I’ve tried 5 of the most recommended ergonomic chairs in multiple sizes (Herman Miller Aeron, Embody, Sayl, Steelcase Leap, Ikea Markus) and I f*cking hated every single one of them. Yeah, the build quality is fine, but they’re super uncomfortable to me. I don’t sink into them, I don’t relax, I just feel like I’m sitting on a stiff frame that locks me into one position.
For context: I’ve never had back problems in my life, and to my understanding going to the gym religiously kinda eliminates the need for the whole “perfect ergonomic chair” thing anyway. I don’t want a torture device designed for HR departments, I want a chair that’s actually comfortable to sit in for hours.
So here’s what I’m looking for: • I don’t want RGB clown chairs, but I do like the simple one- or two-color gaming chair look. • I’m open to a cushy office/boss style chair, but only if it doesn’t look like total crap. • I want something durable enough not to snap under me in 2 years (already killed one with brackets holding it together lol).
Are there actually good gaming chairs that aren’t Secretlab 1000+ BGN/€500+, or is there a “hidden gem” office chair that has the same cushy vibe but doesn’t look like an eyesore?
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I'm 30 and I've had gaming chairs ever since I was 17-18, despite never having any back issues, I thought to myself, "my poor gaming chair is falling apart, I might as well change for something that'll be far better for my back, better safe than sorry"
I sit for about 12+ hours a day on my chair, almost everyday of the year, I work at home on my PC and my main hobby is being on my PC, though I work out a lot, my back is quite strong
I first bought a Sihoo S100, it looked good, people didn't say that many bad things about it on reddit so I thought, why not, it got here and immediately it was awful, in a week I wasn't able to find a comfortable spot on the chair, no matter how I changed the settings
So I went for the nuclear option, sent it back, got my money and bought a used Steelcase for 400 bucks (Herman Miller are quite hard to find here in Europe), and it's even worse, I've never sat in a worse chair in my entire life, it's horribly uncomfortable to the point that I wasn't even able to give it a full week, I already went back to my gaming chair
So at this point I'm just wondering, am I so used to having a bad posture that chairs forcing me to have a better posture, actually hurt my back, or have I just been unlucky twice in a row ?
Ergonomic chairs seem to be good for working but in my case it's mixed use, I use it as much to play games, to work or to just lay around and watch youtube videos
I'm looking to buy my wife a good quality office chair for Christmas that's $300 or less and I was wondering if anyone here has a brand or model they swear by?
I've done research and a majority of Redditors are either Herman Miller (HM) or Steelcase (SC) purists, and recommend the average person to buy it used for $500-1000+. They are GREAT products but that is still damn expensive. The biggest justification is 'back health' which is valid and it's going to last you for 15+ years, and maybe I get it if you truly sit on your desk 4-8+ hours a day straight or have chronic pain.
But for the average WFH person from my experience, you are at your desk maybe 1-2 hours straight, then you take breaks - step out for lunch, take a shit, lie down in bed/chill out, etc. In addition I see chairs as a fashion accessory - preferences change over time, some people don't mind changing chairs every 5-10 years.
Apart from taking breaks, I also think you have other factors for back health such as - whether you exercise/stretch regularly, have chronic pain, an ergonomic desk with proper screen positioning, etc.
There can only be more competition for ergonomic chairs over time to compete with these high end office suppliers like HM or SC, prices will go down over time, and I find it hard to believe there are no cheaper alternatives for the average person in 2023.
IMO, I think recommending HM and SC is just a lazy excuse, assuming everyone is a workaholic with chronic pain history, and users will point at these brands blindly out of convenience and popularity.
TLDR: I find high-end, expensive, ergonomic chairs are overrated like HM/SC - change my mind. Do you agree/disagree?
An ergonomic office chair is one of the mosst important items for your home office I bet, but you may not know how to choose the right one for your needs. I'll help you!!
You can find countless reviews from long-time users on Reddit about the value of ergonomic chairs. Brands like Herman Miller or Steelcase are often mentioned due to their popularity and outstanding quality, even though they can be quite expensive. However, there are many other great alternatives that can ensure your 8-hour workday is as comfortable as possible.
Few KEY points to consider are: budget + purpose + specs + warranty
Sort these out and you'll get the right chair, TECHNICALLY...the final and best is….comfort/fit
Regardless of whether it's technically the right chair, under the 4 main subjects, it might be uncomfortable, and no one wants that. Regardless of the types, models, and brands of the chair, you need to ensure that your chair is comfortable for working. If you want to buy online, you should check the level of comfortability they are offering. The comfortability of the desk chair depends on the materials used to produce the chairs.
Budget, no point looking at a one thousand chair, when you only have $500 to spend
Purpose, no point buying a chair, when you need a stool.
Specifications, if you weight 250lbs, you don't want a chair only for 150 lbs weight limit. Next, the armrest of the working desk is a crucial part of the chair bc to concentrate on working fully, you need to set the armrest in the proper place. Adjust the height of the armrest so that the seated elbow height is parallel to the armrest. Too higher and too lower of the height of the armrest provide an uncomfortable working experience.
You should also check the height adjustability feature of the chair, I'd highly advise this.
So what are the "BEST" office chair companies today?
They must be store.hermanmiller.com (Herman Miller) and steelcase.com/products/office-chairs/. These 2 are the TOP on the market but of course they're pricey. If you're willing to pay, let's go with them.
Tier 2 brands are Xchair, Haworth, Branch, Sihoo and Flexispot. They make the best mid-range office chairs on the market today.
Best specifc office chairs models for each that are highly recommended for every budget at the moment:
- Herman Miller Aeron, Herman Miller Embody and Steelcase Gesture are high-end options $1400+.
- If you want to find the best choices under $500, here you are:
Sihoo Doro C300
HON Ignition 2.0
Branc Chair Pro
Haworth Breck
Flexispot C7 Chair
- Steelcase Karman - Haworth Fern are really worth buying if you have $1000 budget.
Hope this helped you!
A 300-350 dollar budget will give you more liberty to choose a comfortable office chair. There are more nice options compared to a meager 100 or 200-dollar unit.
But the ones that offer a lot of ergo features, and these must work for the chair and complement the other parts of the unit.
Best office chairs within $350 - Recommendations for Redditors
⭐ SIHOO Doro C300
⭐ Branch Daily Chair
⭐ HON Crio
⭐ Nochaus Ergo3dL
⭐ Molents Office Chair
⭐ La-Z-Boy Sutherland Quilted
⭐ Oline ErgoPro
⭐ Branch task chair
⭐ Modway Jive Ribbed
Our buying guide outlines the more important factors that you should consider for your 350-dollar budget.
You may not be able to get a unit that feels sublime on your lower back, but it can be decent enough to use for more than 5 hours.
And here are some of the ergo features that you should prioritize
Seat height and depth
You now will be able to find a unit that can go high enough if you are 6 feet tall. But you also have to consider the seat depth or if the seat pan can be adjusted. Not all 300-dollar chairs that can go high enough will allow for ample clearance for those with longer legs. So you have to watch out for this.
Lumbar support
Either fixed or adjustable, you may still be able to find a unit that will be comfortable for long hours of work.
And if you need more customized back support, there are 300-dollar chairs that offer both adjustable height and depth.
Overall comfort
If the chair is made of. mesh material, make sure that it isn’t too rigid. Though you cannot expect a very intuitive mesh chair for this budget, you can’t find one that is sufficient enough, so do not settle for a very rough mesh thinking that you have no options here.
And if it’s a padded chair, the padding is not too firm. Does it offer enough support?
Unlike 200 or 100-dollar chairs where a mesh one is the safer choice, you can enjoy a padded chair and still get enough support.
Durability
It may not be an expensive chair, but you are still looking at something that can last about three to five years.
As such, you must refrain from buying ones that have more plastic parts and feel squeaky when you first sit on them.
You should also pay attention to how durable the material of the chair is including caster wheels and the backrest. You will be able to see more insights on legit reviews.
I've tried a couple of 'gaming' chairs and cheap office chairs, but nothing works.
Budget is around $500, but willing to stretch for something that will last 5+ years.
What's the actual best ergonomic chair right now that's worth the investment?
When you spend up to 8 hours a day sitting for work, it can truly become a long-term torture for your back. In fact, the time you spend sitting might even exceed the time you spend lying in bed. Are ergonomic chairs really helpful? The answer is definitely yes. Just think about the millions of dollars you could earn over 10 to 15 years of office work, and the fact that you won’t need to spend money on therapists or chiropractors. Wouldn't it be wonderful to invest $1000 or $1500 in a high-quality chair?
You can find countless reviews from long-time users on Reddit about the value of ergonomic chairs. Brands like Herman Miller or Steelcase are often mentioned due to their popularity and outstanding quality, even though they can be quite expensive. However, there are many other great alternatives that can ensure your 8-hour workday is as comfortable as possible.
Here are some of the best chair models to help you find the perfect solution for your back:
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Herman Miller Aeron Chair
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Steelcase Series 1
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Nouhaus Ergo3D Ergonomic
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HON Ignition 2.0
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GABRYLLY Ergonomic Mesh
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Steelcase Gesture
We all want that indulgent seat and backrest that can support our backs and butt when we are in front of the desk for longer than 5 hours. But the question is, are you willing to pay as much as a thousand or more?
If not, that comfortable chair still exists. We have curated this list for that specific reason. You don’t have to anticipate bad back or lingering pain in the butt should you need to work for long hours. We have seating solutions that are within your budget but can still provide enough support for your body.
Hi there,
I'm looking for a mid-range (400-700 Euros) ergonomic chair that I can sit cross-legged on. I have done a ton of research and watched probably every review about chairs on Youtube and I am still unable to decide on one. Although the Herman Miller Aeron seems to have the best features, it is too expensive, and I cannot sit cross-legged on it. I am not even sure if any regular office chair will allow me to sit cross-legged comfortably.
The other option that I am considering is the Secret Lab Titan Evo 2022 Leatherette edition. Although it is marketed as a gaming chair, it seems a lot of people think it's a solid office chair overall.
To sum it up, I would like to hear your opinions and experiences with ergonomic chairs that are high quality but affordable. Sitting cross-legged is not a strict requirement for me, but it's a factor.
For reference, my height is 1.70 meters.
Edit: a lot of people suggested great chairs, so I ended up with choice paralysis and went with the "Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022" since it has a lot of good reviews. It worked great and it doesn't cause any back pain. I can also sit cross-legged.
I’m trying to upgrade my home office setup, and I’m realizing that choosing an ergonomic chair is WAY harder than I expected. I know a good chair is one of the most important parts of working from home, but I honestly don’t know what to look for or which brands are actually worth it. I could really use some guidance.
I’ve been reading a lot of Reddit threads and keep seeing people talk about Herman Miller and Steelcase, which look amazing but are pretty pricey. Are they really worth the investment? Or are there more affordable chairs that still give great comfort for long workdays?
I’m trying to figure out how to narrow things down based on:
budget + purpose + specs + comfort + warranty
But even when the chair looks good on paper, I’m not sure if it’ll actually feel good for me.
A few things I’m confused about:
Budget
If I only want to spend around $300–$600, should I even bother looking at higher-end brands? Or is there something mid-range that still offers solid ergonomics?
Purpose
I work full-time at a computer, so I need something that can support long sessions. Do I need full adjustability? A headrest? Or are those optional?
Specifications
I’m not sure how much the weight limit, seat depth, or armrest height matter. For example, if I weigh around 220 lbs, should I avoid chairs with lower limits? And how important are armrests in terms of elbow and shoulder comfort?
Comfort Fit
This seems to be the biggest one. Even if the specs are right, people say the chair can still feel uncomfortable depending on the materials or design. How do I know what “comfort” to expect if I can’t test it in person?
Basically, I’m overwhelmed.
If anyone has recommendations or tips to help me pick the right ergonomic chair (or brands I should check out), I’d really appreciate it.
What did you choose and why? Anything you regret?
From quality brands, which is the best style of chair for sitting long hours working or studying programming? Ergonomic office chairs like Herman Miller or a high quality executive chair like this?
I don’t like a standing desk but need a nice office chair for sitting in 8+ hours a day. I was thinking the branch ergonomic basic model but would love to hear other opinions
**TLDR:**I'm for a chair that does this:
Provide some back support.
Allows for some degree of comfort for relaxation (leaning back, so I could put legs on the table).
Is not more than 600€ (or it's so good I'll wanna pay for it).
Preferably mesh, so it's breathable.
I do not care for aesthetics.
Can be shipped to EU(?).
Please, if you have some tips on what should I actually be looking for in a chair, correct me.
EDIT: I'm 180cm, 90kg, with slightly wide buttocs and mild scoliosis.
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Hello, dear chair enthusiasts.
I work from home as a 3D artist/graphic designer/programmer, and am a very occasional gamer.Main reason why I'd want to sacrifice comfort for ergonomics is that, despite being 19yo, my back is not that healthy and I don't want to damage it even more by sitting 7 hours a day on a wrong chair.
I'm skeptical about getting an ergonomic office chair, because I tend to sit in very awkward positions when doing light work or relaxing (leaned back, legs on the table,...) and office chair could restrict me from doing that.
I've been mainly looking at Secret Labs chairs due to their comfort as well as their not-totally-annihilating-your-back characteristics, but the absence of mesh makes my body sweat already.
I'm down to whatever office chair that can provide good back support as well as occasional relaxation.