I spend a lot of time at home programming and I feel like being on a usual office chair is not best and not very comfortable. Do any of you use a less usual chair like the Altwork Station for example ?
Herman Miller. Not just because it's a good chair, but because it's repairable and you can buy second-hand replacement parts. I bought my chair used and have since then replaced a number of components on it. It's a Frankenmiller now, and I would not trade mine for anything else.
Ikea markus is a decently comfortable full-back chair for only $100 and has a 10 year warranty BUT it started to make horrible noise after only a few months of use and im not thrilled about the hassle of replacing it.. also it is not very adjustable
i wd40'd the @#$& out of it and it only got worse lol.. i think the design or QC is a bit wanting; looking at the bottom there are clearly several points of the hinge that are rubbing metal on metal
Herman Miller Aeron, had it about ten years now. I couldn't find a second hand one as they all seemed to be the medium size but I needed a large one. It was a lot of money but I don't regret it at all.
Herman Miller Aeron chair I've had forever and ever, 15-20 years? So long I'm not sure. Still looks great and works great. I spent nearly a grand on it, but the best money I ever spent on a chair.
Aeron. Get one from Craigslist for $300-$400, sell it for the same amount in 5 years if you get sick of it. I did that with a size C after I lost some weight and found a size B more comfortable.
From a TCO standpoint, it’s cheaper than buying an IKEA chair once every 5 years, or an OfficeMax chair...ever. And, during the whole time you own it, it’s a nicer experience than either other option.
Steelcase and HumanScale chairs are also similarly acquireable and resealable, but the Aeron is the one people know the name of, plus it’s a bit of a nod to dot-com bust startups in the Bay Area and a nod to chair design in general (read about Eames and the history of Herman Miller if you care). They’re also made in the US if that matters to you: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.fastcodesign.com/1669397/an...
Herman Miller Embody, mainly for the extra adjustability and tall back. Only complaint is I like to sit with one leg crossed under the other, and the chair seat isn't padded. It's mesh instead, so it pokes into the lower leg after awhile.
I ended up with an Embody after owning an Aeron (fully loaded, correct size), and Steelcase Leap (Leather).
The Aeron was terrible. Quite possible the most uncomfortable. It felt stiff, not nearly as configurable as the Leap, and unlike the Leap, rocked instead of actually recline. I could never find a comfortable position or sit still.
I liked the Leap, actually ended up keeping it with my Embody and giving it to my dad. The Embody is a nice in-between. The Leap feels better built, more comfortable and I love how it reclines instead of rocking on a spring mechanism, almost like a lounger. Makes those longer days far more comfortable.
I have to second the Aeron chair. I started working in a government office a few years ago and when I found out they spent $700 dollars on our chairs I thought it was a huge waste of tax payers money. Now I recognize it as one
of the most reasonable purchases we ever made. When you sit and code all day a good chair makes all the difference. It's one of the few things that are still built to last.
As a tall fellow 6’2” with the type C it’s extremely more comfortable that old office chairs but the seat doesn’t quite reach the back of my knees. My only real complaint. Also can cross one leg under the other, but that’s prolly a good thing for posture.
I’ve historically used a round medical lab style stool and sat on its edge to force my back straight per recommendation of a spinal specialist after I had a herniated disc in my teens and have had repeated problems. The problem for myself at least is that extended sitting weakens the muscles that help stabilize my back most, so anything to activate it even if it feels uncomfortable is probably better for my health. Combined with a variation on pomodoro technique to get up more frequently and stretch I haven’t had any recurring back problems or sciatica for years as I’ve gotten another 20 years older.
quality is fantastic. I think some old revisions required more assembly, this current revision is awesome. One warning, if you are taller than 6ft it may not go high enough for you.
I picked up a used Humanscale freedom for $40 that I'm almost done refurbishing (recover in leather, lubrication, etc...). Just need a couple missing parts from humanscale and it will be ready for the office.
Steelcase Leap v2. Refurbished models can regularly be found on Craigslist for about $250-300.
It's an incredibly comfortable chair, arguably much more comfortable than the more well-known Aeron, which I used for a long time. I also used a Humanscale Freedom. Compared to both, settling into a Leap is like sinking into a luxuriously soft car seat. It has levers for everything, and it's just really pleasantly soft. I've also tried the newest Herman Miller chairs (Mira etc.) and they are nowhere as good.
The Wirecutter [1] has recommended the Leap repeatedly. Their current choice is the Steelcase Gesture, which is very similar to the Leap. If you can afford a new Gesture, a great choice, but if you want to save money and can find a refurb Leap, go for that instead.
Note: Avoid leather as a material. It's not anywhere near as breathable.
i don't. i sit on a round cushion on the floor. [1]
i struggled with lower back pain all my life. doctors suggested shoving metal in my spine. since removing all the chairs from my home and office and only sitting on the floor, i have better resting posture than my peers (since i am unreliant on back supports), and the pain is gone.
hilariously, the East has had this solved for thousands of years, while we continue to creep toward death in debilitating pain.
you may replicate this setup in your own office by going to Ikea, purchasing the cheapest, lowest bench available, and sitting in Burmese posture [2]. if your knees are in pain, forego the round cushion for a higher square cushion [3] or adjustable sitting bench [4]
Do you still sit at a desk with a keyboard and mouse, or have you set it up differently to keep your shoulders from rolling forward out of the Burmese posture?
i do! your pelvis should tilt forward on the cushion, which keeps your shoulders at centerline. my desk is a low bench. Ikea used to sell this [1] bench, which was the perfect height for me. any other low bench will do, but you may have to take a saw to the legs. you want your forearms to rest at 90 degrees.
Do you just use your laptop on that? Don't you get neck strain looking down? I wonder what a full set up with a separate keyboard, mouse and monitors would look like.
my Thinkpad P50 comes with a dock that slightly raises its elevation. it's a 15 inch screen. i'm 6'1'' and there's no neck strain.
my teachers taught me to tuck my chin slightly when i meditate. my neck (T6 and below of the thoracic vertebrae) stay straight, it's only the the cervical vertebrae which tuck downward giving me a full view of my screen, eyes slightly cast down.
I use an Aeron and I also have a geekdesk.com sit/stand desk, which I love. If you already have a desk and want to add sit/stand functionality, get a varidesk.com Don't forget to get a standing mat.
51 comments
[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 126 ms ] threadUse a silicone lubricant.
From a TCO standpoint, it’s cheaper than buying an IKEA chair once every 5 years, or an OfficeMax chair...ever. And, during the whole time you own it, it’s a nicer experience than either other option.
Steelcase and HumanScale chairs are also similarly acquireable and resealable, but the Aeron is the one people know the name of, plus it’s a bit of a nod to dot-com bust startups in the Bay Area and a nod to chair design in general (read about Eames and the history of Herman Miller if you care). They’re also made in the US if that matters to you: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.fastcodesign.com/1669397/an...
The Aeron was terrible. Quite possible the most uncomfortable. It felt stiff, not nearly as configurable as the Leap, and unlike the Leap, rocked instead of actually recline. I could never find a comfortable position or sit still.
I liked the Leap, actually ended up keeping it with my Embody and giving it to my dad. The Embody is a nice in-between. The Leap feels better built, more comfortable and I love how it reclines instead of rocking on a spring mechanism, almost like a lounger. Makes those longer days far more comfortable.
at home: aeron with a headrest.
quality is fantastic. I think some old revisions required more assembly, this current revision is awesome. One warning, if you are taller than 6ft it may not go high enough for you.
It's an incredibly comfortable chair, arguably much more comfortable than the more well-known Aeron, which I used for a long time. I also used a Humanscale Freedom. Compared to both, settling into a Leap is like sinking into a luxuriously soft car seat. It has levers for everything, and it's just really pleasantly soft. I've also tried the newest Herman Miller chairs (Mira etc.) and they are nowhere as good.
The Wirecutter [1] has recommended the Leap repeatedly. Their current choice is the Steelcase Gesture, which is very similar to the Leap. If you can afford a new Gesture, a great choice, but if you want to save money and can find a refurb Leap, go for that instead.
Note: Avoid leather as a material. It's not anywhere near as breathable.
[1] https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-office-chair/
i struggled with lower back pain all my life. doctors suggested shoving metal in my spine. since removing all the chairs from my home and office and only sitting on the floor, i have better resting posture than my peers (since i am unreliant on back supports), and the pain is gone.
hilariously, the East has had this solved for thousands of years, while we continue to creep toward death in debilitating pain.
you may replicate this setup in your own office by going to Ikea, purchasing the cheapest, lowest bench available, and sitting in Burmese posture [2]. if your knees are in pain, forego the round cushion for a higher square cushion [3] or adjustable sitting bench [4]
[1] https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00G9FMY9K/ref=twister_B00G9FMYC...
[2] http://d2r5da613aq50s.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/0-76...
[3] https://smile.amazon.com/Pure-Life-Meditation-Cushion-Tibeta...
[4] https://www.kindseat.com/meditation_seats/kindseatplus.html
[1] https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/266697609154342319/
my teachers taught me to tuck my chin slightly when i meditate. my neck (T6 and below of the thoracic vertebrae) stay straight, it's only the the cervical vertebrae which tuck downward giving me a full view of my screen, eyes slightly cast down.