I’ve been using the same el-cheapo Office Depot desk chair (similar to this one) for about 6-7 years now, maybe a little longer. It was fine when I was working at a BigCo and only occasionally doing work at home, but now that I’m working from it 40-70 hours a week, I’d like to get a chair that is a little more comfortable and better for my back.
I used an Aeron chair for a few years at the BigCo but was never a big enough fan to justify the price. I’ve also looked at little at the Relax the Back store – very expensive but comfortable stuff. The foot rest seems like a good investment.
I’ve also considered a kneeling chair – my mom used one of these for years and really liked it.
What kind of chair do you use? Do you recommend it? What are some things you would look for/avoid if you were choosing a new chair?
Popularity: 6% [?]
Amanda adds this Comment:
We just bought Aeron’s for the new office and I really like them. I’ve had ones at other companies and never really liked them, but Scott found that come in sizes and bought ones to fit our height and weight. They are much better than the ones I had used before. My justification…we spend at least 1/3 of the week in these chairs…don’t skimp.
I’ve had the kneeling ones and they are cool for about 2 weeks. Thye actually discourage good posture if your desk isn’t the perfect height for them and the perfect distance from the chair. Its very easy to hunch over. If you don’t have normal good posture, then I wouldn’t recommend it.
I’ve tried many of the relax the back chairs in the store and I have to say that I wasn’t amazed at the quality of the fabrics or the lack of adjustability for tall people.
I’m not sure what to recommend other than taking another look at the Aeron. I wish there were more good options.
April 25th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
Scott Sanders adds this Comment:
Alex, I went with the Aeron Size C for my ‘big bones’. You might look at the Mira by Aeron, significantly cheaper, although still pretty spendy.
April 25th, 2005 at 4:49 pm
Yaoke adds this Comment:
My brother recently bought an office chair from IKEA. It was pretty good, kind of cushiony, neck support and different settings for those who like the extra lean. I can’t seem to find it on their website but if you get a chance I would recommend a look at IKEA. It won’t hurt to look, right? Right. Unless, you don’t have an IKEA then please check out the website. ^__^
April 25th, 2005 at 5:21 pm
Aldoblog adds this Trackback:
Desk chairs
“Alex asks”:http://alexking.org/blog/2005/04/25/desk-chair/ for recommendations for desk chairs. I was going to answer in his comments, but it got to be long, so I thought I’d post here instead. I have three data points about desk chairs….
April 25th, 2005 at 7:44 pm
Alex adds this Comment:
Yaoke – no IKEA in Denver unfortunately; maybe I’ll swing through the E. Palo Alto store when I’m in the Bay Area next month.
Scott – the Mirra does look nice.
Aldo – good thinking about going to the store and working for a few hours, I like that idea.
April 25th, 2005 at 8:34 pm
Tr909 adds this Comment:
I am quite fond of Girsberger chairs.
I have some chairs of the older Trilax model and it has a very nice (whool?) cushioning.
Only nag is that i wish it could be leaned back even more when you take a time-out.
April 26th, 2005 at 2:19 am
Lelia Katherine Thomas adds this Comment:
Being at work right now, I’m sitting in a half-broken, uncomfortable chair that might possibly be from the Middle Ages. It’s undecided thus far.
Oh, and my back is killing me. Haha.
April 26th, 2005 at 8:42 am
littleman09z adds this Comment:
What about just a stool? That is what I use, i am on it for 2-3 hours a day after school, doing hw, coding, chatting, i think i hav fine position, somtimes i put a sheet or pillow below my butt so it doesnt hurt, but I have a nice chair, just the stool works for me, i put my feet wherever. and i get comfy, i might use the bac of my nice chair to lean against (oh and its cheap)
April 26th, 2005 at 5:59 pm
Rob adds this Comment:
I swear by a sit ball. It is the largest version of the same ball that people use to do ab execises. It does not let you sit still, but causes your hips to move around a bit. It is the absolute best once you get used to it.
April 26th, 2005 at 7:52 pm
seth adds this Comment:
Check out the swopper…My friend has one and he says it beats the aeron hands down. I have an Aeron size C and it’s pretty good, but I’m intrigued by the swopper.
I actually also have one of those fitness balls mentioned previously…I need to try sitting on that using my desk…I’ve been using it while watching tv and it seems to work very well…
April 26th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
Alex adds this Comment:
The Relax the Back store has the Swopper – it’s interesting but I doubt I’d want to spend 10-12 hours on it.
April 27th, 2005 at 6:46 am
Bill Manning adds this Comment:
I used to have the sitting ball at Octane. I loved it. It really worked but then when I left the BigCo I brought it home. Then my dog got a hold of it. Alex, BEWARE OF DOGS and having a very appealing ball laying around. Then I had a very appealing yellow rubber floor mat. I currently have the Mirra by Aeron. I really like it for work. Just a thought.
April 27th, 2005 at 11:31 am
alexking.org: Blog adds this Trackback:
Gone Aeron
I went down to the Herman Miller store today to check out the Mirra and give the Aeron a second look. Based on some of the recommendations I received and other reviews I’d read, I was leaning towards the Mirra.
However, after some sitting around in…
April 27th, 2005 at 4:42 pm
steve adds this Comment:
Office liquidators off 6th ave & around simms has used Aerons for $500, I am thinking about one myself, I spent 170 on Office depot leather and it’s junk, same thing I spend a lot of hours on my …..
April 27th, 2005 at 5:05 pm
Chris Pirillo adds this Comment:
Grahl Synchron 8… all the way.
Trust me, it’s a dream come true.
May 1st, 2005 at 2:14 am
Shawn Oster adds this Comment:
Any chair update? I’m in the same situation, I’ve been eyeing the Aeron and Mirra chairs down at Room & Board in Cherry Creek. I currently have a fit ball as my chair but sadly my nature has found a way to defeat any of it’s health benifits. I wedge the back of my ankles up underneath it and after about 40 minutes they fall asleep and I realize I’m slumping forward.
June 3rd, 2005 at 5:39 pm
alexking.org: Blog adds this Trackback:
Enjoying the Aeron
My Aeron was finally delivered last Friday.
I think it was worth the extra wait to get the colors and specs I wanted, I should have this chair for a long time. I’m quite enjoying the breathability and better fit compared to my old chair. My …
June 7th, 2005 at 1:05 am
Nora adds this Comment:
Hi, I know I’m late to the party but I wanted to add my 2 cents anyway. While I do think the Synchron 8 is a decent chair, I very much prefer the Synchron 5 – not only does it feature four available armrest options (Synchron 8 only has 2) but it also comes in more attrctive colors and both, Synchron 5 and Synchron 7 contain the option of enabling or disabling the neck rest – wheras the Synchron 8 doesn’t. I wrote an in-depth review. Disclaimer: I personally use an Aeron
April 17th, 2007 at 11:33 am
annie adds this Comment:
I won’t use chairs more than 2 or 3 years max. will be given to someone, keeps on changing my furnitures frequently to have a good looking office or home….
December 12th, 2007 at 12:10 am
jaulla adds this Comment:
I have been working as an ergonomist for several years now and my favorite office task chair, by far is the ECD (Ergonomic Comfort Design) line of chairs I sit in a $300 fully adjustable Quest chair and I couldn’t be happier. I often recommend Soma, Steelcase Criterion, Knoll Sport, Girsberger Reflex, and other chairs, but for the price, very few manufacturers beat ECD.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:30 pm