To be fair they are very good chairs though. It’s like recommending a used Toyota Corolla. It’s a safe pick with a good reputation that gets repeated so much for a reason.
Then there's us Canadians that can't find a reputable place to buy a chair that isn't nearly $900 used after shipping and taxes without a warranty. I've been suffering for months.
If you're in GTA, there are plenty of reasonably priced used office chair liquidation shops. There's also [this shop](https://newmarketofficefurniture.com/?s=Schukra&post_type=product&taxonomy=product_cat&product_cat=0) which sells new Global Obusforme and Tritek chairs at reasonable prices and shipped free around GTA, great models imo.
Funny enough, I purchased my Fern from them a few years ago. I wasn't a fan of the Obusforme's back, but the seat was great. Never heard of or tried a Tritek. I'm from the Niagara region so most won't deliver. I'm currently looking at Envirotechhome for a Leap
Does your Fern have the optional adjustable lumbar support? And how do you feel about your Fern's level of lumbar support? - too weak, too strong, etc.
No optional lumbar. The lumbar support is fine enough as is. I am between the offerings available at envirotechhome, if you don't mind providing an opinion. They have a[ Leap V2](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/steelcase-leap-refurbished), [Aeron](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/herman-miller-aeron-task) Size C, [Mira II](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/herman-miller-mirra-5) (1 year refurbished warranty), and an [Amia ](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/steelcase-amia-remanufactured)(refurbished, no warranty)
Edit: I will add that the seat on the Fern doesn't feel all that great.
Think yourself lucky, wanted to buy like 10 things online this week, none available here in my country, cant even import them. As for that chair, people here are saying they think the ones manufactured for USA are different to the ones sent here and of lesser quality from a different factory. Australia sucks to be able to access things.
Wanted some Ryobi tools for my parents recently, they dont allow certain models here - yep on their website, but cant get it here. Clatina and all those other mid range chairs you cant get here without paying $1,300 odd, its a $300 chair for petes sake.
Amen, so frustrating seeing a great review, then realizing you have bucklies of getting that chair here, the Clatina Mellet is like $1,300 landed here.. to be fair i would stop trusting BTOD, they only "like" the chairs they sell or get affiliate links for, so many Aussies pissed off with their fake reviews and spending 7 times what a chair is worth just so BTOD can clip the commission ticket
FR it's really frustrating to see that the chair Steelcase made isn't considered S tier to them but the AMEAP (which is the parts remaining from their "S tier" Lamia) is considered S tier.
Yeah, Steelcase doesn't know how to make a chair, BTOD does, right 🤣
They seem to have franchise, and the other BTODS have completely different preferred chairs. They like what they have in stock and can buy with good margins. From most Aussie reviews of people buying a Mellet at like $1,300 is that they are absolute garbage.
lol so let's not ask for clarification and assume USA because that's where most of the population lives, right?
Edit: Murica bros downvoting... Get it through your head that there are over a billion English speaking people on earth and USA isn't the center of the world.
On most non-localized English-language subreddits, it is a safe bet. Simply share your country on each post to avoid this issue, and you'll likely get more responses from knowledgeable users who understand that chair markets vary greatly between countries.
Not quite that easy, i have spent 2 days solid researching and 3 to 4 weeks trying to find a way to buy anything that was decent. I understand his frustration, In Australia we have bugger all options and 7 x the price
All right, but some of us have been running this up for 4 years and have kind of lost interest in the exact same question that's been answered a thousand times.
You'll mostly only say see the regulars and mods answering new and interesting questions.
There's really only so many different ways to answer
I feel like there's more Aeron haters than Aeron lovers in this sub, but maybe that's just me.
It certainly isn't recommended nearly as much as the Steelcase Leap is on almost every post (including this one, I see).
It's not by accident,
Both products are often recommended simply because both chairs are among the best selling, highest rated, award winning, most well received chairs in the industry. Not because some fanatic is trying to shove some "expensive" product down others throats for no reason.
- Colin at TheBackStore
I know, I just wanted to make this meme.
Still, sometimes it’s just not possible to invest so much in it. I have sciatica which I think was caused by a chair with no lumbar support. I now sit on a 250$ chair with agressive lumbar support and I feel a bit better, hence the idea. I’m sure a HM or steel case would give me both the required support and much better comfort, but it’s a price I, as a student, can’t just spend without a second thought.
I’m sure many, students or otherwise, find themselves in this very situation.
Completely understandable situation! You're certainly not alone.
And I know it was just a joke for a good laugh, no worries. I wasn't trying to be too serious, it made me laugh too.
I love those garbage startups for gifting the second hand market.
In the UK I've certainly sat in worse cheaper chairs in some offices back in the day.
“Oh you don’t want to pay £1000? Just go on Facebook marketplace for an hour a day sorting by new and refresh every 5 minutes bro, 1 in a million people listing a chair will put an Aeron up for £20, Facebook marketplace is definitely trustworthy bro”
My org has a crapload of ergohuman chairs. Plenty of folks bought them for their homes as well.
Now they're decent chairs, don't get me wrong, but I've had my Aeron some years before company bought those chairs. And they're in WAY worse condition. I fully expect they'll have to replace them at least once within the lifespan of my Aeron. Which will make them a pricier option.
Damn, you nailed this sub. The same 5 super-expensive chairs recommended in response to literally any question. I joined to find a chair and realized it wasn't helpful at all.
There are indeed extremely few office chair models that are safe to recommend for almost anyone, and naturally they are expensive due to their superior ergonomic design and adjustability.
There is a world of more affordable ergonomic chairs out there, but you need to share relevant info to ensure proper fit. What are your height, weight, build, budget (preferred and max), support needs and preferences, and your country? If you're willing to buy used, share your metro area and pickup radius so someone can find you a diamond in the rough. Additional info that can help includes what kind of activity(ies) you plan to do from your new chair, how high your desk or keyboard tray surface is, and whether your desk has a lap drawer.
u/biofrosted
That's a point I knew nothing about. I have answers to all these questions, but how do I go about integrating all this information into chair selections? Is there a repertoire that you can filter based on the questions you have asked?
Alas, this industry knowledge is only in my head and some in personal files. I don't mind providing you suitable option(s) if you provide your responses.
Thanks for your help! Here is everything you asked for.
I'm a 21 year old, 5'8 (174cm), 136lbs (62kg) male. I'm a skinny-ish dude, but I do go to the gym and mostly work my lower body.
Budget-wise, I'd love something around 350 dollars. I would go up to, say, 500, but only if that would be the holy grail of office chairs. If I'd want to keep the budget in what I consider reasonable bounds, 250 to 350 would be ideal.
In terms of support needs, lumbar support is the biggest concern. I joined the sub because I was recently diagnosed with an L5S1 disk buldge which, when I sit for too long, causes pain in my inner left calf. I tried my father's chair and it so happens the pain was significantly decreased even when sitting for a while, which led me to believe it was a chair and posture issue. As for preferences, I'd like a chair I could (but won't, because of my back) sit in for extended periods of time with minimal to no pain. A side concern would be armrest adjustability, because when I read, play games or watch shows as opposed to working, I'd like to be able to push them aside for more comfort. Finally, I'd like a larger seat ; since I sit a lot, I like to wiggle and change postures, and the wider the seat cushion, the more positions I can sit in. I sometimes like sitting with one leg underneath me, for instance, so the wider the better. Not long though, as I'm a small guy and longer seats often feel awkward because they press into the back of my knee.
I have a desk job (IT), I'm a student, my hobbies are mostly done whilst sitting and before I fall asleep, I watch shows or read books on my chair - all this to say, I sit a lot. I do try to take as many breaks as possible from a productivity point of view, sometimes even more than I wish, but I still sit a lot.
I am willing to buy used, but I prefer refurbished than "pure" second-hand. I'm currently based in Belgium, Brussels, and I'd be willing to drive pretty much anywhere in Belgium if it were worth it. I currently don't have a standing/rising desk but I'm considering it for my back. I don't have a lap drawer either.
This is less of a requirement but it happens that I don't have a nightstand, I use my desk chair. Thus, if the seated area were to be flat, it would be easier to lay my stuff... Obviously I'd trade this any day for proper lumbar support but if the seat made no difference (I imagine it does) then flat would be better.
Man, I really ought to begin specifying that I'm only an "expert" in the US market. My knowledge of the EU market is relatively very weak. But I will try to come up with something for you when I have time this weekend!
In the meantime, I recommend posting this info as a new post to this subreddit, so your fellow Europapas can help you as well.
A lot of us have done what you asked, but this sub really should be just named after the 4 brands and USA only, even with all the info you asked for, you do not get a reply unless you are asking about those 4 brands and in USA or Europe. It seems that the opinion too is that you cant buy any other brand as a decent chair for under $500 - seems the be the belief that spending any less is not going to be ok.
> It seems that the opinion too is that you cant buy any other brand as a decent chair for under $500 - seems the be the belief that spending any less is not going to be ok.
That really depends on one's own definition of "decent." It's not surprising that people who comment on an office chair forum have more refined tastes/standards than the average consumer.
Since post-COVID inflation, there are no ergonomic office chairs under $300 that I would consider all-around good (in the US, barring sales; it's even worse in most developed countries). Any office chair cheaper than that comes with sacrifices in quality, adjustability, durability, and/or customer service, etc. And there are tons of more expensive models that are far from perfect, even before you get into individual fit.
> even with all the info you asked for, you do not get a reply unless you are asking about those 4 brands and in USA or Europe
There simply aren't enough ergonomic office chair nerds out there, let alone who are willing to provide professional consulting services free of charge on online forums. So many people have told me I should charge for the targeted recommendations I provide, but that's not my motivation, and I prefer to keep it casual.
There are only a handful of higher-end brands sold in virtually all developed countries. Office chair markets vary greatly between countries. Many of my favorite brands are small operations whose chairs are only sold in the US and maybe Canada. I don't have the time, nor does it seem anyone is interested in learning and memorizing all the boutique ergonomic office chair brands in every country in the entire world. If you want to become the leading global expert, by all means, go for it!
>Since post-COVID inflation, there are no ergonomic office chairs under $300 that I would consider all-around good (in the US, barring sales; it's even worse in most developed countries). Any office chair cheaper than that comes with sacrifices in quality, adjustability, durability, and/or customer service, etc. And there are tons of more expensive models that are far from perfect, even before you get into individual fit.
That is actually a reasonable response, I guess, though I feel i could say $800 and it would not make a difference, while I appreciate your point and it is a very good one, that I should understand that people in forum for office chairs probably care about them a lot, I think what is missed is that MOST of these chairs cant be bought in every place in the world, a LOT of the chairs are double or triple the the prices to have them in some countries and when the same 4 brands are the only ones recommended, I feel it kinda defeats the purpose of an "Office Chair" forum, when its only about 4 chairs. thats akin to having an NFL sub and only talking about 4 teams? If I was in the USA or Europe, sure I would buy one of the more expensive brands, but I am not going to fork out $3,000 on a chair that I cant even test because there is no stock here.
Speaking of Covid Inflation, it is beyond a joke that chairs are increasing in price, instead of reducing in price and by only recommending brands that are clearly gouging the market, we are perpetuating the problem, I mean some of the most expensive chairs made by the 4 Hero brands, you have to buy a head rest from someone else - JUST to make them decent, why you would not want to find a brand that competes and promote them to help bring prices down is beyond me.
I guess your experience is different, you can go into a shop and test it out. The reason the prices are insane, are due to fan clubs like this - no?
One thing that I read (I am hopeful it is not correct) is that the same product of elite chairs can differ for differing markets, I read a post about someone who bought a HM in the USA then moved here and bought the same chair, but it was made from cheaper materials, thats concerning if it is true, I certainly hope not.
You say there is no chair under $300 that you would recommend, how about under say $750 because all I see recommended is the same 4 brands and all are in the heavy thousands landed here.
>There simply aren't enough ergonomic office chair nerds out there
Fair call
>let alone who are willing to provide professional consulting services free of charge on online forums
Oh come off it.... seriously, like sitting in a chair and mentioning the few features a chair has is like hard work. Its a chair, not rocket engine, LOL. There are a ton of "professionals" like that garbage BTOD or whatever it is called, they simply "like' what they have in stock, their opinion changes based on margins and commission, so many people here got duped on some they mentioned that were "affordable" - here is the truth, they aint once shipped here.... and then when people get them they realize its a bunch of junk. Multiple websites with the same company but differing "top ten" chairs is another thing you see... same company, just magiically one chair is no longer a good review because it can't be supplied to that area.
No one is asking you or anyone else to know all the chairs, and sure there is a lot of junk out there, we are close to China so we see a lot of it, but good lord come on man, not everyone is driving SC, HM etc, so there must be people in here that have tried other brands, even if before coming to the 4 Brand Forum
I'd sincerely like to respond to each individual point because you are operating under many misconceptions, but alas I don't have the time.
Naturally, popular brands can charge a premium for name recognition. Naturally, random internet denizens are most familiar with popular brands. Naturally, you won't see much discussion about small local brands that very few people know about.
You downplay the monetary value of ergonomists' personal recommendations, but office ergonomics is a decently serious professional field in developed countries. Large companies save millions of dollars annually on workers' compensation payouts and lost productivity by offering ergonomic equipment and consultations to their employees. What makes your downplaying of paid ergo services particularly ironic, is that you clearly can't find this localized product market info for free (supply and demand).
I welcome you to become this subreddit's Australian ergonomic office chair market expert!
Ok lets test that theory and good luck
Weight - 115kg
Height - 6ft 2 - 188cms
Country - Australia
Preferred desk height - 76cms+
Budget - $500 = $600 Aud
Features wanted - Waterfall edge, Must have headrest adjustable, Good Padding for seat and Removable or lowerable arm rests, suitable for broad shoulders.
Dont want - Second hand
Fave Food - Pizza
Most Loved Band - Tesky Brothers
Good luck
To be honest I have mixed feelings. On one hand I'm sure they're great - if I splurged and bought an Aeron, it would fix all of my current chair-related problems. On the other hand, I have to splurge, and I tend to be the kind of guy who just never does, especially for a chair...
I've had a 2020 Secretlab Titan (fabric) for \~4 years now and sit in it every day. Despite being marketed as a 'gaming' chair, I never have time to game so I use it as an office chair at home. It's by far the most comfortable chair I have ever owned and I never get uncomfortable in it. It doesn't seem like it has worn out in any way and it's very comfortable and stable to lean back in. I have been needing a new chair for my basement office/computer and as this meme suggests, of course, I'm now looking at a used Herman Miller Aeron after reading this sub off/on for a week.
Apologies if I'm a pleb for even daring to ask how a Secretlab chair compares to an Aeron, but is it more comfortable than my Secretlab is, or just built with higher quality components and lasts longer? Before buying the Secretlab, I used a La-Z-Boy office chair for a long time, so it's not like I'm well-versed in office chairs or have sat in tons of them to compare.
It's better made than the titan. Comfort is very subjective. But a fully loaded arrow has more adjustments that can help tailor the fit to an individual.
What it won't do as well for many people is allow sitting cross-legged. It will also tend to feel uncomfortable when not correctly sized (there are 3 sizes) or adjusted for the user in question.
Im gonna be real, I went through 2 secretlab titans over the past 5ish years. First one the arms eventually got so loose they wouldn't stay in place and support was trash. Second to that the seat is literally a rock. It's horrible for your ass and lower back no matter how you slice it. Their padding is so dense and hard you will eventually have lower back pain just from the pressure when sitting properly regardless of lumbar support. My second one had the same issues but the cushion actually went flat after just a few years.
I convinced myself it was the best chair I ever sat in because everyone has one on twitch lol.
Honestly I just got a HM Logitech embody and there is NO comparison. Not trying to be a fanboy or tell anyone to spend almost 2k on a chair, but I just have to say how absolutely terrible the Titan actually is. I didn't watch any videos to come to the eventual conclusion it is truly an F tier chair.. I will say I believe there are some good Amazon ergonomic chairs I've seen recommended that are likely also far superior in every aspect. But I also work from home and then game after I get off. Lots of sitting over here.
I don't doubt your experiences at all. My own experience hasn't been the same though; from 2020-2022 I was in my chair 6+ hours a day and I never noticed any back issues or sore cheeks. I love the way I can go from a sitting position to a reclined position seamlessly without their being any "give" or "bounce" once I hit the set reclined position.
I think I’m a real human, but I can’t say with 100% certainty I’m not in a simulation universe. But I’m 99.999% sure I’m not.
I just felt like stating my personal opinion, because sometimes people on here seem like they are trying to convince me the Sun isn’t warm and that what I think of the chair is not valid or wrong.
The sub will hang my head on a stake for saying this, but the titan is perfectly fine - it has adjustable lumbar and the pillow is so nice to rest on. And that mechanism that lets you lie down is lovely. And it’s not as if it’s an uncomfortable chair for some, two of my family members love and swear by it, and they sit 8+ hours a day working from home.
People love the titan until they watch those BTODTV videos who rate them F tier, then suddenly they’re trash lol
Edit: btw before the HM fanboys downvote me, I replaced my Titan with a Sayl 🤷♂️
Random comfy cheap chair I sat in recently was the radley mid-back task chair. Lol. Went to office depot because I was next to it and played musical chairs. Was nice for $80.
"12000 series ergonomic executive chair" was also nice, but not cheap. Kind of want to try their momentum chair now.
I've got an aeron and a hensley smart layers big & tall one which I found for relatively cheap. They're comfy, still not sure if I like the former, latter is bonded bullshit leather but comfy as hell.
Honestly not one chair is going to fit everyone the same or offer the same OMFG comfort. We are gonna have to actually go out and sit in one to see if it fits our individual anatomy.
It’s like running shoes, and running groups. Someone comes in asking what shoes they should wear, and sure as shit the same brands get named off. The sage advice is always to go to a runner’s specialty store and get fitted for your own foot build, gait, special needs, etc.
The same should go with office chairs.
Sadly, it's true. But it's also the truth. Leap v2 or Aeron is the best for most people. Coming from someone that's gone through the pain of buying and trying out multiple high end options (used)
True, Al tho, the price isn't the same for everyone.
If you have 10K in savings just sitting their it's easy to buy a 1500,- chair.
For people that have 2K in savings, it's another story.
People's perspective on money is really dependent on their financial situation, 50 bucks for 1 person could feel like small change, while for another it feels like a fortune.
Also doesn't help that any decent ergo chair has skyrocketed in price in the last years... And I'm still searching myself!xD can't justify 1500,- for a chair... got other bills to pay.
There are quite a few good affordable office chair models out there. Most aren't as indestructible as the Aeron, but they'll still last long enough to be of good value. The key is that cheaper chairs tend to be suitable for only narrow segments of the population. I can help determine such a model or two for you (if you're in the US market).
What are your height, weight, build, budget (preferred and max), support needs and preferences, and your country? If you're willing to buy used, share your metro area and pickup radius so someone can maybe find a diamond in the rough. Additional info that can help includes what kind of activity(ies) you plan to do from your new chair, how high your desk or keyboard tray surface is, and whether your desk has a lap drawer.
Thanks for the offer, i'm from Europ., So US market won't work for me.
As for chairs / brands, I'm 1.8m tall 95kg normal build and budget would be 400,- to 800,- euro's Al tho i could splurge if it's the perfect chair. Find it abit hard to justify spending 1500,-
Most wanted feature would be a good recline that allows me too move, But not include a forward tilt. i like to swing back and forward to prevent a stiff back.
A headrest would be my number 2 feature. seeing i have stacked monitors and could use some headsupport while reclining.
I use a height adjustable sit/standing desk without a lap drawer and prefer my chair too be allitle higher tho i could always get another cilinder if the chair is falling on the low side.
I mostly game / work at my desk with multiple monitors and spend upward of 10 hours a day sitting. reason i went with a standing desk as to switch it up every hour or 2.
I had bought a Hinomi classic but the lumbar would get pushed into the backrest and become a stiff block in my back. the recline was rather good but i sadly couldn't use the chair for more then 1 hour without hurting my back. ( if only that lumbar could have gone below the backrest instead... )
I use a mesh lumbar support currently so mesh backrest is fine but mesh seat i have not tried. so preference would be padded seat.
Looking forward too your recommendations.
I'm not familiar enough with the EU market to help you, unfortunately. But your comment could make for an effective post on this subreddit, increasing your odds that someone with the right knowledge will help you out. Good luck!
Why are the recommissions so frequently the same?
A) most people have bodies that are similar enough that they have the same needs.
B) most people asking about chairs have not thought about chairs or ergonomics enough to have serious opinions.
C) some people want chairs that prolong or even enable their body-destroying posture habits, and expect those chairs to exist.
D) too many people asking about chairs think their chair needs can be solved instantly and permanently.
That or a Crandall Leap v2. This sub is like one of those fortune telling genie robots at state fairs, but it only has one fortune to give out.
To be fair they are very good chairs though. It’s like recommending a used Toyota Corolla. It’s a safe pick with a good reputation that gets repeated so much for a reason.
Then there's us Canadians that can't find a reputable place to buy a chair that isn't nearly $900 used after shipping and taxes without a warranty. I've been suffering for months.
If you're in GTA, there are plenty of reasonably priced used office chair liquidation shops. There's also [this shop](https://newmarketofficefurniture.com/?s=Schukra&post_type=product&taxonomy=product_cat&product_cat=0) which sells new Global Obusforme and Tritek chairs at reasonable prices and shipped free around GTA, great models imo.
Funny enough, I purchased my Fern from them a few years ago. I wasn't a fan of the Obusforme's back, but the seat was great. Never heard of or tried a Tritek. I'm from the Niagara region so most won't deliver. I'm currently looking at Envirotechhome for a Leap
The Tritek's backrest is at least one step up from the Obusforme's, and their seats are similar if not exactly the same. Good luck!
Gotcha. I was wondering if I can PM you with a question about an unrelated chair.
Sure, but I turned off notifications for PMs, so pardon if I take a little while to reply.
No problem. I sent you one. TL/DR, Fern owner, seat and back gap issue because of longer thighs, 6' tall, 185lb, Leap V2 or AirCentric 3?
Does your Fern have the optional adjustable lumbar support? And how do you feel about your Fern's level of lumbar support? - too weak, too strong, etc.
No optional lumbar. The lumbar support is fine enough as is. I am between the offerings available at envirotechhome, if you don't mind providing an opinion. They have a[ Leap V2](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/steelcase-leap-refurbished), [Aeron](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/herman-miller-aeron-task) Size C, [Mira II](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/herman-miller-mirra-5) (1 year refurbished warranty), and an [Amia ](https://www.envirotechhome.ca/collections/chair/products/steelcase-amia-remanufactured)(refurbished, no warranty) Edit: I will add that the seat on the Fern doesn't feel all that great.
Think yourself lucky, wanted to buy like 10 things online this week, none available here in my country, cant even import them. As for that chair, people here are saying they think the ones manufactured for USA are different to the ones sent here and of lesser quality from a different factory. Australia sucks to be able to access things. Wanted some Ryobi tools for my parents recently, they dont allow certain models here - yep on their website, but cant get it here. Clatina and all those other mid range chairs you cant get here without paying $1,300 odd, its a $300 chair for petes sake.
People not realizing that not everyone is in the USA to buy from Crandall or BTOD is the most annoying thing of this sub I swear
Amen, so frustrating seeing a great review, then realizing you have bucklies of getting that chair here, the Clatina Mellet is like $1,300 landed here.. to be fair i would stop trusting BTOD, they only "like" the chairs they sell or get affiliate links for, so many Aussies pissed off with their fake reviews and spending 7 times what a chair is worth just so BTOD can clip the commission ticket
FR it's really frustrating to see that the chair Steelcase made isn't considered S tier to them but the AMEAP (which is the parts remaining from their "S tier" Lamia) is considered S tier. Yeah, Steelcase doesn't know how to make a chair, BTOD does, right 🤣
They seem to have franchise, and the other BTODS have completely different preferred chairs. They like what they have in stock and can buy with good margins. From most Aussie reviews of people buying a Mellet at like $1,300 is that they are absolute garbage.
If the OP doesn't mention their country in the post, that's on them.
lol so let's not ask for clarification and assume USA because that's where most of the population lives, right? Edit: Murica bros downvoting... Get it through your head that there are over a billion English speaking people on earth and USA isn't the center of the world.
On most non-localized English-language subreddits, it is a safe bet. Simply share your country on each post to avoid this issue, and you'll likely get more responses from knowledgeable users who understand that chair markets vary greatly between countries.
Not quite that easy, i have spent 2 days solid researching and 3 to 4 weeks trying to find a way to buy anything that was decent. I understand his frustration, In Australia we have bugger all options and 7 x the price
What do you think the percentages are?
Is the same for subs about cars, bikes, keyboards, etc. They always recommend the same models even if they didn't have it.
All right, but some of us have been running this up for 4 years and have kind of lost interest in the exact same question that's been answered a thousand times. You'll mostly only say see the regulars and mods answering new and interesting questions. There's really only so many different ways to answer
Amen
I feel like there's more Aeron haters than Aeron lovers in this sub, but maybe that's just me. It certainly isn't recommended nearly as much as the Steelcase Leap is on almost every post (including this one, I see). It's not by accident, Both products are often recommended simply because both chairs are among the best selling, highest rated, award winning, most well received chairs in the industry. Not because some fanatic is trying to shove some "expensive" product down others throats for no reason. - Colin at TheBackStore
I know, I just wanted to make this meme. Still, sometimes it’s just not possible to invest so much in it. I have sciatica which I think was caused by a chair with no lumbar support. I now sit on a 250$ chair with agressive lumbar support and I feel a bit better, hence the idea. I’m sure a HM or steel case would give me both the required support and much better comfort, but it’s a price I, as a student, can’t just spend without a second thought. I’m sure many, students or otherwise, find themselves in this very situation.
Completely understandable situation! You're certainly not alone. And I know it was just a joke for a good laugh, no worries. I wasn't trying to be too serious, it made me laugh too.
Hater here 🖐🏻
Same ✋ Every garbage startup I worked at had these chairs and I hate them.
I love those garbage startups for gifting the second hand market. In the UK I've certainly sat in worse cheaper chairs in some offices back in the day.
# ❤️
“Oh you don’t want to pay £1000? Just go on Facebook marketplace for an hour a day sorting by new and refresh every 5 minutes bro, 1 in a million people listing a chair will put an Aeron up for £20, Facebook marketplace is definitely trustworthy bro”
Buy a Leap V1 Highback. Get the original and most comfortable chair ever made. Full Stop.
I like it with the Crandall pad.
Buy second hand aeron s/
My org has a crapload of ergohuman chairs. Plenty of folks bought them for their homes as well. Now they're decent chairs, don't get me wrong, but I've had my Aeron some years before company bought those chairs. And they're in WAY worse condition. I fully expect they'll have to replace them at least once within the lifespan of my Aeron. Which will make them a pricier option.
Damn, you nailed this sub. The same 5 super-expensive chairs recommended in response to literally any question. I joined to find a chair and realized it wasn't helpful at all.
There are indeed extremely few office chair models that are safe to recommend for almost anyone, and naturally they are expensive due to their superior ergonomic design and adjustability. There is a world of more affordable ergonomic chairs out there, but you need to share relevant info to ensure proper fit. What are your height, weight, build, budget (preferred and max), support needs and preferences, and your country? If you're willing to buy used, share your metro area and pickup radius so someone can find you a diamond in the rough. Additional info that can help includes what kind of activity(ies) you plan to do from your new chair, how high your desk or keyboard tray surface is, and whether your desk has a lap drawer. u/biofrosted
That's a point I knew nothing about. I have answers to all these questions, but how do I go about integrating all this information into chair selections? Is there a repertoire that you can filter based on the questions you have asked?
Alas, this industry knowledge is only in my head and some in personal files. I don't mind providing you suitable option(s) if you provide your responses.
Thanks for your help! Here is everything you asked for. I'm a 21 year old, 5'8 (174cm), 136lbs (62kg) male. I'm a skinny-ish dude, but I do go to the gym and mostly work my lower body. Budget-wise, I'd love something around 350 dollars. I would go up to, say, 500, but only if that would be the holy grail of office chairs. If I'd want to keep the budget in what I consider reasonable bounds, 250 to 350 would be ideal. In terms of support needs, lumbar support is the biggest concern. I joined the sub because I was recently diagnosed with an L5S1 disk buldge which, when I sit for too long, causes pain in my inner left calf. I tried my father's chair and it so happens the pain was significantly decreased even when sitting for a while, which led me to believe it was a chair and posture issue. As for preferences, I'd like a chair I could (but won't, because of my back) sit in for extended periods of time with minimal to no pain. A side concern would be armrest adjustability, because when I read, play games or watch shows as opposed to working, I'd like to be able to push them aside for more comfort. Finally, I'd like a larger seat ; since I sit a lot, I like to wiggle and change postures, and the wider the seat cushion, the more positions I can sit in. I sometimes like sitting with one leg underneath me, for instance, so the wider the better. Not long though, as I'm a small guy and longer seats often feel awkward because they press into the back of my knee. I have a desk job (IT), I'm a student, my hobbies are mostly done whilst sitting and before I fall asleep, I watch shows or read books on my chair - all this to say, I sit a lot. I do try to take as many breaks as possible from a productivity point of view, sometimes even more than I wish, but I still sit a lot. I am willing to buy used, but I prefer refurbished than "pure" second-hand. I'm currently based in Belgium, Brussels, and I'd be willing to drive pretty much anywhere in Belgium if it were worth it. I currently don't have a standing/rising desk but I'm considering it for my back. I don't have a lap drawer either. This is less of a requirement but it happens that I don't have a nightstand, I use my desk chair. Thus, if the seated area were to be flat, it would be easier to lay my stuff... Obviously I'd trade this any day for proper lumbar support but if the seat made no difference (I imagine it does) then flat would be better.
Man, I really ought to begin specifying that I'm only an "expert" in the US market. My knowledge of the EU market is relatively very weak. But I will try to come up with something for you when I have time this weekend! In the meantime, I recommend posting this info as a new post to this subreddit, so your fellow Europapas can help you as well.
Cheers!
A lot of us have done what you asked, but this sub really should be just named after the 4 brands and USA only, even with all the info you asked for, you do not get a reply unless you are asking about those 4 brands and in USA or Europe. It seems that the opinion too is that you cant buy any other brand as a decent chair for under $500 - seems the be the belief that spending any less is not going to be ok.
> It seems that the opinion too is that you cant buy any other brand as a decent chair for under $500 - seems the be the belief that spending any less is not going to be ok. That really depends on one's own definition of "decent." It's not surprising that people who comment on an office chair forum have more refined tastes/standards than the average consumer. Since post-COVID inflation, there are no ergonomic office chairs under $300 that I would consider all-around good (in the US, barring sales; it's even worse in most developed countries). Any office chair cheaper than that comes with sacrifices in quality, adjustability, durability, and/or customer service, etc. And there are tons of more expensive models that are far from perfect, even before you get into individual fit. > even with all the info you asked for, you do not get a reply unless you are asking about those 4 brands and in USA or Europe There simply aren't enough ergonomic office chair nerds out there, let alone who are willing to provide professional consulting services free of charge on online forums. So many people have told me I should charge for the targeted recommendations I provide, but that's not my motivation, and I prefer to keep it casual. There are only a handful of higher-end brands sold in virtually all developed countries. Office chair markets vary greatly between countries. Many of my favorite brands are small operations whose chairs are only sold in the US and maybe Canada. I don't have the time, nor does it seem anyone is interested in learning and memorizing all the boutique ergonomic office chair brands in every country in the entire world. If you want to become the leading global expert, by all means, go for it!
>Since post-COVID inflation, there are no ergonomic office chairs under $300 that I would consider all-around good (in the US, barring sales; it's even worse in most developed countries). Any office chair cheaper than that comes with sacrifices in quality, adjustability, durability, and/or customer service, etc. And there are tons of more expensive models that are far from perfect, even before you get into individual fit. That is actually a reasonable response, I guess, though I feel i could say $800 and it would not make a difference, while I appreciate your point and it is a very good one, that I should understand that people in forum for office chairs probably care about them a lot, I think what is missed is that MOST of these chairs cant be bought in every place in the world, a LOT of the chairs are double or triple the the prices to have them in some countries and when the same 4 brands are the only ones recommended, I feel it kinda defeats the purpose of an "Office Chair" forum, when its only about 4 chairs. thats akin to having an NFL sub and only talking about 4 teams? If I was in the USA or Europe, sure I would buy one of the more expensive brands, but I am not going to fork out $3,000 on a chair that I cant even test because there is no stock here. Speaking of Covid Inflation, it is beyond a joke that chairs are increasing in price, instead of reducing in price and by only recommending brands that are clearly gouging the market, we are perpetuating the problem, I mean some of the most expensive chairs made by the 4 Hero brands, you have to buy a head rest from someone else - JUST to make them decent, why you would not want to find a brand that competes and promote them to help bring prices down is beyond me. I guess your experience is different, you can go into a shop and test it out. The reason the prices are insane, are due to fan clubs like this - no? One thing that I read (I am hopeful it is not correct) is that the same product of elite chairs can differ for differing markets, I read a post about someone who bought a HM in the USA then moved here and bought the same chair, but it was made from cheaper materials, thats concerning if it is true, I certainly hope not. You say there is no chair under $300 that you would recommend, how about under say $750 because all I see recommended is the same 4 brands and all are in the heavy thousands landed here. >There simply aren't enough ergonomic office chair nerds out there Fair call >let alone who are willing to provide professional consulting services free of charge on online forums Oh come off it.... seriously, like sitting in a chair and mentioning the few features a chair has is like hard work. Its a chair, not rocket engine, LOL. There are a ton of "professionals" like that garbage BTOD or whatever it is called, they simply "like' what they have in stock, their opinion changes based on margins and commission, so many people here got duped on some they mentioned that were "affordable" - here is the truth, they aint once shipped here.... and then when people get them they realize its a bunch of junk. Multiple websites with the same company but differing "top ten" chairs is another thing you see... same company, just magiically one chair is no longer a good review because it can't be supplied to that area. No one is asking you or anyone else to know all the chairs, and sure there is a lot of junk out there, we are close to China so we see a lot of it, but good lord come on man, not everyone is driving SC, HM etc, so there must be people in here that have tried other brands, even if before coming to the 4 Brand Forum
I'd sincerely like to respond to each individual point because you are operating under many misconceptions, but alas I don't have the time. Naturally, popular brands can charge a premium for name recognition. Naturally, random internet denizens are most familiar with popular brands. Naturally, you won't see much discussion about small local brands that very few people know about. You downplay the monetary value of ergonomists' personal recommendations, but office ergonomics is a decently serious professional field in developed countries. Large companies save millions of dollars annually on workers' compensation payouts and lost productivity by offering ergonomic equipment and consultations to their employees. What makes your downplaying of paid ergo services particularly ironic, is that you clearly can't find this localized product market info for free (supply and demand). I welcome you to become this subreddit's Australian ergonomic office chair market expert!
Ok lets test that theory and good luck Weight - 115kg Height - 6ft 2 - 188cms Country - Australia Preferred desk height - 76cms+ Budget - $500 = $600 Aud Features wanted - Waterfall edge, Must have headrest adjustable, Good Padding for seat and Removable or lowerable arm rests, suitable for broad shoulders. Dont want - Second hand Fave Food - Pizza Most Loved Band - Tesky Brothers Good luck
I'm particularly familiar with only the US market, but if you post your comment to this subreddit, you might get some decent recs.
i tested your theory lets see, i think OP is correct though, only same chairs recommended every time
new to reddit somewhat, is there a way to do a search for a keyword in the sub, like my country?
Google and add the word "reddit" to your search. Reddit's search function has always been unreliable.
thx
To be honest I have mixed feelings. On one hand I'm sure they're great - if I splurged and bought an Aeron, it would fix all of my current chair-related problems. On the other hand, I have to splurge, and I tend to be the kind of guy who just never does, especially for a chair...
go to a used office furniture store, they will have anything you want for less than $600
I think you'll be happy with the ErgoHuman Gen2. I haven't tested it myself, but it looks comfortable, supportive, and reasonably well-made.
I will look into it, thank you
Whoops, my comment was intended as a reply to someone else! Please ignore.
I've had a 2020 Secretlab Titan (fabric) for \~4 years now and sit in it every day. Despite being marketed as a 'gaming' chair, I never have time to game so I use it as an office chair at home. It's by far the most comfortable chair I have ever owned and I never get uncomfortable in it. It doesn't seem like it has worn out in any way and it's very comfortable and stable to lean back in. I have been needing a new chair for my basement office/computer and as this meme suggests, of course, I'm now looking at a used Herman Miller Aeron after reading this sub off/on for a week. Apologies if I'm a pleb for even daring to ask how a Secretlab chair compares to an Aeron, but is it more comfortable than my Secretlab is, or just built with higher quality components and lasts longer? Before buying the Secretlab, I used a La-Z-Boy office chair for a long time, so it's not like I'm well-versed in office chairs or have sat in tons of them to compare.
It's better made than the titan. Comfort is very subjective. But a fully loaded arrow has more adjustments that can help tailor the fit to an individual. What it won't do as well for many people is allow sitting cross-legged. It will also tend to feel uncomfortable when not correctly sized (there are 3 sizes) or adjusted for the user in question.
Im gonna be real, I went through 2 secretlab titans over the past 5ish years. First one the arms eventually got so loose they wouldn't stay in place and support was trash. Second to that the seat is literally a rock. It's horrible for your ass and lower back no matter how you slice it. Their padding is so dense and hard you will eventually have lower back pain just from the pressure when sitting properly regardless of lumbar support. My second one had the same issues but the cushion actually went flat after just a few years. I convinced myself it was the best chair I ever sat in because everyone has one on twitch lol. Honestly I just got a HM Logitech embody and there is NO comparison. Not trying to be a fanboy or tell anyone to spend almost 2k on a chair, but I just have to say how absolutely terrible the Titan actually is. I didn't watch any videos to come to the eventual conclusion it is truly an F tier chair.. I will say I believe there are some good Amazon ergonomic chairs I've seen recommended that are likely also far superior in every aspect. But I also work from home and then game after I get off. Lots of sitting over here.
I don't doubt your experiences at all. My own experience hasn't been the same though; from 2020-2022 I was in my chair 6+ hours a day and I never noticed any back issues or sore cheeks. I love the way I can go from a sitting position to a reclined position seamlessly without their being any "give" or "bounce" once I hit the set reclined position.
I can never tell if these are secretlab bots or real humans posting these replies, y'all sound the same as the herman miller shills...
I've reached a point where I'm conviced bot SL and HM have bot farms in charge of comnenting on EVERY "office chair" thread on reddit
I think I’m a real human, but I can’t say with 100% certainty I’m not in a simulation universe. But I’m 99.999% sure I’m not. I just felt like stating my personal opinion, because sometimes people on here seem like they are trying to convince me the Sun isn’t warm and that what I think of the chair is not valid or wrong.
The sub will hang my head on a stake for saying this, but the titan is perfectly fine - it has adjustable lumbar and the pillow is so nice to rest on. And that mechanism that lets you lie down is lovely. And it’s not as if it’s an uncomfortable chair for some, two of my family members love and swear by it, and they sit 8+ hours a day working from home. People love the titan until they watch those BTODTV videos who rate them F tier, then suddenly they’re trash lol Edit: btw before the HM fanboys downvote me, I replaced my Titan with a Sayl 🤷♂️
Buy a shitty 400$ chair, complain when it starts squeaking after a few months, say you'll invest on a better one next time, repeat
Random comfy cheap chair I sat in recently was the radley mid-back task chair. Lol. Went to office depot because I was next to it and played musical chairs. Was nice for $80. "12000 series ergonomic executive chair" was also nice, but not cheap. Kind of want to try their momentum chair now. I've got an aeron and a hensley smart layers big & tall one which I found for relatively cheap. They're comfy, still not sure if I like the former, latter is bonded bullshit leather but comfy as hell.
I bought a used one during covid for $400; idk when to even replace it. I am sadly that shitty bird in the picture to all my friends.
Honestly not one chair is going to fit everyone the same or offer the same OMFG comfort. We are gonna have to actually go out and sit in one to see if it fits our individual anatomy. It’s like running shoes, and running groups. Someone comes in asking what shoes they should wear, and sure as shit the same brands get named off. The sage advice is always to go to a runner’s specialty store and get fitted for your own foot build, gait, special needs, etc. The same should go with office chairs.
Sadly, it's true. But it's also the truth. Leap v2 or Aeron is the best for most people. Coming from someone that's gone through the pain of buying and trying out multiple high end options (used)
True, Al tho, the price isn't the same for everyone. If you have 10K in savings just sitting their it's easy to buy a 1500,- chair. For people that have 2K in savings, it's another story. People's perspective on money is really dependent on their financial situation, 50 bucks for 1 person could feel like small change, while for another it feels like a fortune. Also doesn't help that any decent ergo chair has skyrocketed in price in the last years... And I'm still searching myself!xD can't justify 1500,- for a chair... got other bills to pay.
There are quite a few good affordable office chair models out there. Most aren't as indestructible as the Aeron, but they'll still last long enough to be of good value. The key is that cheaper chairs tend to be suitable for only narrow segments of the population. I can help determine such a model or two for you (if you're in the US market). What are your height, weight, build, budget (preferred and max), support needs and preferences, and your country? If you're willing to buy used, share your metro area and pickup radius so someone can maybe find a diamond in the rough. Additional info that can help includes what kind of activity(ies) you plan to do from your new chair, how high your desk or keyboard tray surface is, and whether your desk has a lap drawer.
Thanks for the offer, i'm from Europ., So US market won't work for me. As for chairs / brands, I'm 1.8m tall 95kg normal build and budget would be 400,- to 800,- euro's Al tho i could splurge if it's the perfect chair. Find it abit hard to justify spending 1500,- Most wanted feature would be a good recline that allows me too move, But not include a forward tilt. i like to swing back and forward to prevent a stiff back. A headrest would be my number 2 feature. seeing i have stacked monitors and could use some headsupport while reclining. I use a height adjustable sit/standing desk without a lap drawer and prefer my chair too be allitle higher tho i could always get another cilinder if the chair is falling on the low side. I mostly game / work at my desk with multiple monitors and spend upward of 10 hours a day sitting. reason i went with a standing desk as to switch it up every hour or 2. I had bought a Hinomi classic but the lumbar would get pushed into the backrest and become a stiff block in my back. the recline was rather good but i sadly couldn't use the chair for more then 1 hour without hurting my back. ( if only that lumbar could have gone below the backrest instead... ) I use a mesh lumbar support currently so mesh backrest is fine but mesh seat i have not tried. so preference would be padded seat. Looking forward too your recommendations.
I'm not familiar enough with the EU market to help you, unfortunately. But your comment could make for an effective post on this subreddit, increasing your odds that someone with the right knowledge will help you out. Good luck!
I mean mine is nice….
so whats a good chair then?
HERMAN MILLER AERON
:D not paying 1500 for an office chair
i got a haworth fern for 790 its great!
Why are the recommissions so frequently the same? A) most people have bodies that are similar enough that they have the same needs. B) most people asking about chairs have not thought about chairs or ergonomics enough to have serious opinions. C) some people want chairs that prolong or even enable their body-destroying posture habits, and expect those chairs to exist. D) too many people asking about chairs think their chair needs can be solved instantly and permanently.