I need a new office chair. Suggestions?

Hello all,

After many hours put into the GWJ Minecraft server this past week, it's become patently obvious to me that I need a new office chair. I'm looking for recommendations either for specific chairs or just for good places online to order such things at a reasonable price. My budget is not enormous, but I would consider a couple hundred bucks if it's a chair that will hold up in the long run, I am notoriously hard on office chairs.

Cheers!

Is space an issue?

Does it have to be a chair?

MojoBox wrote:

After many hours put into the GWJ Minecraft server this past week, it's become patently obvious to me that I need a new office chair. I'm looking for recommendations either for specific chairs or just for good places online to order such things at a reasonable price. My budget is not enormous, but I would consider a couple hundred bucks if it's a chair that will hold up in the long run, I am notoriously hard on office chairs.

With the chair meme jokes out of the way I have no specific chair recommendation, but would like to say I have had good success with your standard Staples, Office Max, Office Depot. I prefer midback (highback means I can't rest my head on the back of the chair) and padded armrests. I always go into the nearest store to test a chair for comfort before buying.

Are you a big guy? Do you have back problems? How many hours a day are you going to be using it?

I've heard good things about the Steelcase Leap, and I used the Ergohuman Executive at my last job, which was very comfortable.

I just need to convince my wife it's worth the extra money, since I'd rather pay $500-800 for a good chair that'll last me 10 years than $100-150 every year or two for a piece of sh*t that's going to hurt my back and break down to the point it's like sitting on stone.

Quintin_Stone wrote:
MojoBox wrote:

After many hours put into the GWJ Minecraft server this past week, it's become patently obvious to me that I need a new office chair. I'm looking for recommendations either for specific chairs or just for good places online to order such things at a reasonable price. My budget is not enormous, but I would consider a couple hundred bucks if it's a chair that will hold up in the long run, I am notoriously hard on office chairs.

With the chair meme jokes out of the way I have no specific chair recommendation, but would like to say I have had good success with your standard Staples, Office Max, Office Depot. I prefer midback (highback means I can't rest my head on the back of the chair) and padded armrests. I always go into the nearest store to test a chair for comfort before buying.

What he said up there. My wife and I did this and bought chairs at Office Depot so long ago I don't remember exactly when we got them (12-13 years ago at least). They're still in use and doing fine.

Good work Lester and Jayhawker, you do us proud.

Try before you buy. Find a chair that supports your posture. And remember you often get what you pay for. Give a sit in each one for 5 minutes or so, see if you are comfortable.

My chair is no herman miller, but it was 100 bucks at ikea. But it suits me, and after about 6 months I have zero complaints.

Bonus_Eruptus wrote:

Are you a big guy? Do you have back problems? How many hours a day are you going to be using it?

I've heard good things about the Steelcase Leap, and I used the Ergohuman Executive at my last job, which was very comfortable.

I just need to convince my wife it's worth the extra money, since I'd rather pay $500-800 for a good chair that'll last me 10 years than $100-150 every year or two for a piece of sh*t that's going to hurt my back and break down to the point it's like sitting on stone.

I was going to suggest the Steelcase Leap. I have two of them and wouldn't use another chair. They helped clear up a lot of back problems I was having at the time. Also Steelcase frequently has dealers in medium to large cities where you can go try the chair out first.

http://store.steelcase.com/brochures/leap/

When I get home I'll try and figure out what brand my chair is but it's an Aeron knockoff that was in the $300-400 range. Worth every penny. It completely removed all back problems I was having from my previous cheap big box store chair.

I don't doubt that the Aeron would be even better but it's way out of my price range.

I've been looking at Herman Miller and Steelcase chairs myself. Looking for cheaper, though, you might want to look at the Ikea Markus. It was in a recent user picked top 5 on lifehacker.com . I tried one out and liked it, but since I work at home several days every week plus spend a lot of time sitting at the desk gaming, I decided I should probably buy something that felt more durable, and therefore was more expensive.

I've been using a Theraball for about 4 years now and once you get used to it, it's very very comfortable. No back pain or anything like I would get from sitting in the same position in a chair. Also, you look really cool and chicks, guys, whatever you're into will be all over you guaranteed, and it only cost about $30 so there's plenty of money left over to get a motel room.

Since you mentioned that you are "hard" on chairs you might also want to take a look at 24 hour Task chairs or Call center rated chairs.
They may not be as attractive as the awesome Aerons but they will stand up to just about any amount of normal use that you can dish out.

I am sold on the clown chair.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm not a big guy, but I used to be, so I guess I'm actually not as hard on chairs as I once was. I'll be heading off to staples or something of the sort this evening and do some hands on testing. Sure wish I could swing $700+ for something fancy, but probably not.

If you're on a $200 budget or so, then hitting up staples/office depot and trying stuff out it a good route. Alternatively, hitting up a gov't auction for surplus stuff might not be a bad way to get an Aeron on the cheap, but I don't know how easy or quick that would be if you've got a timeline in mine.

koshnika wrote:

Since you mentioned that you are "hard" on chairs you might also want to take a look at 24 hour Task chairs or Call center rated chairs.
They may not be as attractive as the awesome Aerons but they will stand up to just about any amount of normal use that you can dish out.

I'll second this. I'd even go so far as to see if there's a second-hand place in your area and get a chair from the 80's or older. At work we have old Steelcase chairs from that era that have held up to us this long because they are not inferior plastics or metals.

It seems most major cities have an "Office Furniture Warehouse" where they buy from businesses cheap and sell at a relatively fair price. You could even get lucky hitting up Craigslist too.

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I'd say spend more than $100 unless you happen to find a task chair that seems like it was designed just for you.

Usually, to get height, back angle, and tilt lock, you're into about $300.

I draft and work at the computer, then game a bit at night. I would never buy anything but a fully adjustable chair. Tilt lock is the feature which seems to be at the price threshold, but I wouldn't buy a chair without it.

And, yes don't underestimate the value of a "broken" office chair on craigslist or local classified.

On good chairs the adjustments in the base are the meat of things. I got a chair with a bad seat pad, but a top end base, and just replaced the seat and backrest.

Not curious at all.

Bonded leather, now that's a sign of quality.

Bondage leather office chair?

clover wrote:

Bondage leather office chair?

With excellent lumbar support.

OG_slinger wrote:
clover wrote:

Bondage leather office chair?

With excellent lumbar support.

It just makes regular old office chairs seem so boring.

Do they make chairs that have arms that would serve as like a small shelf? Maybe 4"x4" (shelf surface area) or bigger? Bonus points if they can fold out of the way. (not to derail from the bondage office chair conversation)

IMAGE(http://fancycribs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/pencil_chair_7.jpg)

I'm not sure I see the... point.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I'm not sure I see the... point.

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Is trace an issue? Do they have to be pencils?

ARISE....

Looking for a new office/gaming chair. My current ergo human chair (and myself) are getting older. Time for a replacement. My lower back is starting to complain.

Suggestions? I'm looking at this as a long term investment so cost isn't as much of a factor.

The below 3/4 keep coming up in searches:
Herman Miller Embody (logi version or stock)
Herman Miller Vantum (although some of the reviews have been less than flattering)
Secret Lab evo 2022

Chairry

I’m in the same boat. Take a look at the Steelcase Leap, and also the ever present Aeron. I was looking for ergonomics and back comfort with lumbar support, ended up going with a leap.

I got a SecretLab Titan 2020 two years ago and loooooove it.