Ergonomic Desk Chair - Recommendation

[marble_pars]

I'm thinking of replacing our office chairs with something a little more ergonomic, mainly due to my back aching after a few hours of use. I've been looking at a few different options such as the obvious Herman Miller Aeron but due to the amount they cost I was wondering what everyone else would suggest?

 

[Talay]

In a similar boat here. I'd love to buy the Herman Miller options but at around £1200 each, they are a significant investment.

That said, I have not found anything in the sub £500 range, which is where I would prefer to be, as if you go much over £500 then you have to question whether you shouldn't just buy the Aeron in any case.

 

[marble_pars]

After a bit of reading I'm pretty much decided on the Herman Miller Mirra 2, according to sources its an improved version of the Aeron and costs around £600. You can pick up the Aeron for much less than £1200, have a look at https://www.wellworking.co.uk/.

 

[Newchodge]

You might want to ask @GraemeL who is usually around here somewhere.

 

[GraemeL]

Thanks Cyndy.

Sounds like you have already chosen some pricey chairs, but I will say a few bits and bobs that might help others who use keyboards a lot.

Before changing any chairs, if you have not already done so, take a good and critical look at your seated posture. The most expensive chairs won't help if you are not sitting in the right position. An appropriate chair will allow you to adopt a good posture and then can be adjusted so that it supports you in that position.

It is hard to visualise how you are actually sitting, while you are sitting. I offer advice to clients by asking them to send me a picture of themselves taken by a colleague in their normal working position, taken from the side, with the camera at about waist height and showing entire body from head to feet.

Common causes of back ache at work are:-

Leaning on your elbows on the desk top with the keyboard pushed away. So your back is bent forwards. (Back should be vertical, with upper arms also vertical. Keyboard close to front of desk)

Seat too low because the desk top is too low. Scrunches up stomach and does not allow proper upper thigh support, legs always in odd positions. (Seat height should allow lower legs to be vertical with feet flat on floor. Thighs to be horizontal or pointing slightly down. May need higher desk)

Bending head or back to look down at laptop or low level monitor. No seat will solve this one. Get a monitor that can be set at a height viewable when the back and head are vertical and you are looking directly ahead.

Desk height too low. This is a very common cause of problems for taller people (Say 6ft and over). However the seat is adjusted, the low desk will cause the user to adopt a poor posture as the user attempts to adjust themselves to suit the desk.

Sitting with a good posture may feel odd. It takes a while to get used to it.

 

[marble_pars]

@GraemeL really interesting points. Thanks for taking the time to write them, thinking about what you said I do lean on my elbows while at the desk. I do know for sure that my chair is on its way out so I will be replacing it.

As someone who obviously knows about these things, do you think it's worth spending so much on a desk chair? Are cheaper alternatives just as good?

 

[GraemeL]

@GraemeL As someone who obviously knows about these things, do you think it's worth spending so much on a desk chair? Are cheaper alternatives just as good?

Hello.

I have spent 30 minutes writing a long winded answer and have given up as an essay was on the way! Much easier to say this:-

Personally, I would not spend that amount on an office chair, unless it was essential that I had to make a visual statement. Also, I dislike mesh chairs!

Yes, there will be cheaper chairs just as good and better, but the problem is finding which one. The £80 chair can be perfect for some, others need a £300 chair, because everyone is different physically and psychologically.

Graeme

 

[Talay]

I have used Aeron for years but not at my expense usually (inherited, client, procured etc.) but having liked them so much, I feel somewhat constrained by the crap that is PU rubbish from an endless list of suppliers through to four figure luxury.

Aeron is "safe" but expensive. I'd happily look elsewhere but where, apart from the 2 links in this thread (thanks for those).

 

[Talay]

...

Personally, I would not spend that amount on an office chair, unless it was essential that I had to make a visual statement. Also, I dislike mesh chairs!

Yes, there will be cheaper chairs just as good and better, but the problem is finding which one. The £80 chair can be perfect for some, others need a £300 chair, because everyone is different physically and psychologically.

Graeme

Why do you dislike mesh chairs ? Don't they allow free movement of air and dissipate heat better than more solid seating ?

Psychologically, I think I may be ok but how do I choose a chair from a website ?

 

[GraemeL]

Mesh does not have a structure. It can be stretched across a frame to make it firm, but the shape that is created is limited by that.

Foam can be formed into 3D shapes that mesh cannot.

Generally, when using a mesh seat or seat back, the mesh will follow the shape of the body. If you have a back problem, then you probably need a seat or seat back to guide you to a different position than your body is currently adopting. Shaped foam can do this, mesh cannot.

 

[Talay]

Many thanks Graeme. May I press a little further on the points you raised.

Mesh does not have a structure. It can be stretched across a frame to make it firm, but the shape that is created is limited by that.

So presumably the design of the frame is critical, which if well designed, offers suitable structure ?

Foam can be formed into 3D shapes that mesh cannot.

Perhaps, but again, surely the frame can be in any 3D design and the mesh covering that would mirror the frame, somewhat negating this point ?

Generally, when using a mesh seat or seat back, the mesh will follow the shape of the body. If you have a back problem, then you probably need a seat or seat back to guide you to a different position than your body is currently adopting. Shaped foam can do this, mesh cannot.

Will a good frame not be so designed as to provide critical touch points where maximum support can be given ? I think most good mesh chairs (that I have seen) do have lumbar and other supports, adjustable in many cases.

As to the chair requiring the body to form to it, then presumably a good frame will achieve the same as the shaped foam.

As mentioned earlier, I have experience of expensive mesh chairs and have sat in some very nice non mesh chairs but I have not had to buy decent chairs and yet have wasted money on rubbish in the (thankfully distant) past.

I thank you for your advice.

 

[GraemeL]

Hello Talay,

The manufacture of a seat back or a seat in mesh can be totally automated, a foam padded seat or back cannot. Mesh is cheap, much is imported from South Korea to China. The attraction of mesh to a factory is ease of manufacture. The attraction of mesh to a designer is that it allows the item to be 'thin' in comparison to foam based padding.

Whatever shape a frame is made, mesh can only stretch across it and no more. It is physically impossible to create the same shapes in mesh as in molded foam.

Items like lumbar pads can be added behind a mesh seat back, but they can only affect the area that they touch. The overall shape of seat back is formed by the stretch.

"I think most good mesh chairs (that I have seen) do have lumbar and other supports" I can't think of any other support than a lumbar support?

I think that the only application where I have seen mesh chairs extensively used in are offices. Other places that require good posture support are Care Homes, Lorries, Cars, Cinemas, Hospitals - but I can't recall ever seeing chairs made from mesh in those environments.

Mesh chairs will suit some, I am not saying they are all dreadful, all I said was I don't like them and tried to explain objectively why not.

Graeme

 

[Philip Hoyle]

Different approach - have you considered a standing desk instead? I had major back problems and bought an adjustable height standing desk thinking I'd maybe stand for an hour or so at a time as I assumed it would be hard work. It wasn't, I barely drop it and usually stand at it all day, every day. Get the height right and it's easy to use computers or write - no different to sitting really. My back problems have completely gone and I feel a lot more alert and mobile these days. I've had it 2 1/2 years so far and never looked back.

 

[marble_pars]

Really interest, I did look into desk stools but not a standing desk. I will look into this, thanks.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Looking at that range at wellbeing one thing stands out, they all offer support to perfection in different area's so basically if one maker is right the others are all wrong, just high priced goods for suckers to a name

If you take high end car seats they have moveable back area's that give support exactly where you need it giving fitting just for you, these you talk about are the same as the mass market and sold on perceived value

Don't think that spending great amounts of money will make a better chair just find one fit for purpose