Ask HN: Have you found a good desk chair?
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.
361 comments
[ 3.6 ms ] story [ 275 ms ] threadhttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26790132
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.
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/
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 :)
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.
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 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.
Any solutions?
Did anyone have a similar experience and find a solution?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For anyone earning a high wage, though, I'd say a new Aeron at full price is easily worth it.
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?
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...
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.
1: https://theofficeoasis.com/products/rollerblade-office-chair...
I never thought I could get excited about office accessories, yet here I am.
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).
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).
But a chair, like a bed, is a very personal thing. We all have different bodies and different support requirements.
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.)
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'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...)
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.
The warranty is only for the original purchaser and is nontransferrable, AIUI.
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).
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...
That’s a very popular YouTube video with tips on what to look out for when buying an used Aeron.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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.
But maybe the biggest reason for me to not have back pains might not be this or a specific other chair, but the fact that I don't need to sit in my car seat 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. You can do a lot with good posture and regular breaks when you're in an office chair, but in the car you are just stuck there for the entire ride.
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.
Late 40s 5’9” here.
Also farting on an Aeron is a whole new life experience.
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.
I’m similar in terms of height, build and age.
- 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.