Ask HN: Where do you sit?

The trouble with chair recommendations is that the best chair for me isn't the best chair for you. If you are able, going to a warehouse or store of some kind where you can try the chairs out will make all the difference.

To answer your q directly: I have tried Herman Millers in the past but they just didn't do it for me, too stuffy and I dislike the arms. I went for a Humanscale Diffrient World instead, it is all mesh which is perfect for summer. I'm able to lead a sedentary lifestye in it without discomfort.

Net/mesh chairs are just nonsense for me. Why is that even recommended? Is it because people sweat profusely when they sit?

Almost obligatory but I sit in a Herman Miller Aeron that I bought used for £400.

I sit and sleep on solid, hard surfaces.

None of that springy, bouncy, squishy surfaces for me.

My bed is custom build from hard oak wood with a very thin layer of cushioning.

And my main work chair has also a solid wood seating area, with some thin cushioning of the base.

I own two "Autonomous ErgoChair Pro" and I'm pretty happy with them. I have a standing desktop and I work standing around 30% of the time, daily.

Aeron for life.

I had a bad back and got a HAG H09 with the medium back but a long seat tube. I worked at home for several years in it. Now retired if my back hurts, sitting in it is the best remedy! Works for me.

Also set up your workplace correctly. First adjust chair so that feet are lightly on the floor. Bend your arms by your sides at 90deg. Where your hands are there should be you desk/keyboard. I have 2 bricks under each leg of my desk to make that work. Then your monitor at eye level - I have a laptop screen lower but a second monitor as main work place at eye level. Works for me.

Years back, I found an oversized Amazon Commercial desk chair.

It's built like a tank, ridiculously wide, and has a decent tall back on it. Apparently it's rated for 500 lbs. I find it supremely comfortable, as I can lean to one side, slouch, sit up straight, anything. Sadly, I can't find it anymore so I'm holding onto it for dear life.

I sit on a flat surface in cross legged position with a laptop in my lap and a single monitor at eye level.

My desk chair is an antique wooden armchair similar to what would be called a "jury chair" e.g.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fc/f7/cc/fcf7cc5c5c238f8ad303...

Not exactly that but pretty close.

It's surprisingly comfortable and happens to be at a perfect height for me, but not so comfortable that I can sit in it all day. This encourages me to get up and walk around every couple of hours.

Apparently a singular need for my office chair is that the cat can sit on it and my shoulder. All other considerations are secondary.

steelcase leap v2

I sit in an IKEA Längfjäll https://www.ikea.com/at/en/p/langfjaell-conference-chair-gun... have been for a few years and I’m really happy with it. I feel like my back ache has improved since starting to use it, it’s affordable and sufficiently stylish. I don’t like wheels although they can be installed.

I sit half-standing at a really tall desk on a stool I made out of a big sheave, a 3" steel pipe, and a piece of rough-cut 3/8" plate. so I get to stand up and work and sit down and work without a big fuss. it tilts forward and back just because of the way the casters sit under the sheave. it sounds really uncomfortable, but anything else makes me feel all cramped up.

I've got one of these cheapo kneeling chairs in my home office: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274436164319

I told myself that if it was okay I'd get a better, more expensive one, but never did.

I stand a lot

Standing desk, can highly recommend. I worked at Google for some time, and most offices had a Lifespan TR1200-DT5 or similar, which I made regular use of.

When I started working remote, I picked one up on Craigslist. I have a random no-name drafting chair for when I'm done walking for the day, but it's intentionally not-great to encourage more walking.

The Steelcase leap is the best when it comes to the high end office chairs. I had aerons for the longest time but the non adjustability is not worth the price paid.

find a place that sells steelcase leap... they should have a chair that works for you

At the start of the pandemic, I was using my girlfriend's piano bench, but she wants it to be at her piano. Now, I sit on an Ikea bekväm step stool. For decades now I've dealt with lower back pain, but that's almost entirely gone ever since I stopped sitting (and slouching) in office chairs. Sitting on the edge of a hard chair encourages good posture (for me? for classically trained violinists?). It's not terribly comfortable on the sit-bones! That's a feature: sitting motionless isn't good for you.

SecretLab Titan Evo (with fabric instead of leather), great chairs. I also got their standing desk which is very nice.

A former colleague once gave me some of the most important advice I’ve ever received a few years ago:

> Spend your money on what goes between you and the ground.

For about a decade I sat on a version of an IKEA chair, with a mesh neck and foam cushion. They’re good for the price, but I wish I upgraded sooner. The foam only ever lasted about 2 years.

The Aeron is a nice chair, but use one first before you buy. They’re often available second hand for cheap, which is great value. For me, I found them to be a bit uncomfortable.

My main chair now is a Herman Miller Cosm, with the high back. I love it, it looks great, and the leaf arms are the first chair arms I’ve ever left on a chair. The main draw for me was the single mesh across the whole chair. I find mesh more comfortable, and it doesn’t wear like foam.

I also have a qor360 active sitting chair. These take getting used to, but they’re pretty good. Definitely keeps me alert.

Finally I got one of the cheaper folding desk treadmills (walking pad I think?). I found I can walk for hours if my brain has something interesting to do.

Overall I spend most of the time in the Cosm. I’ve spent more on fixing back pain than any of these, and each has meaningfully improved that.

As our bodies all vary in shape, size, weight and proportions, you need to try as many different options to find what features are best for you.

The Cosm and qor360 ain’t cheap, but they’ve been worth it for me.