School me on office chairs

[asdfghwy]

I've been getting all kinds of aches and pains from my shoulders down. I think its my shitty $99 amazon basics office chair with a clearly worn cushion (after a year). I'm looking to get something with great ergonomics and comfort so it seems like 2 recurring brands in all my googling:

1) Herman Miller (Aeron / Mirra 2 / Embody)
2) Stealcase (Leap v2)

I went to a Herman Miller store and sat on all 3 and they were all comfy but the Embody seemed like the best support for my back. I don't need to spend ~$1.5k on an office chair but I will if its truly the best of the best and I can use it for WFH (10+hrs and some PC gaming in the evening)

Anyone have any of these, or a different chair recommendation that worked for you? I'm pretty close to puling the trigger on the HM Embody

 

[Butch]

Er, I bet someone here has a retired one they can have you “test”...

 

[GPzPop]

I've been getting all kinds of aches and pains from my shoulders down. I think its my shitty $99 amazon basics office chair with a clearly worn cushion (after a year). I'm looking to get something with great ergonomics and comfort so it seems like 2 recurring brands in all my googling:

1) Herman Miller (Aeron / Mirra 2 / Embody)
2) Stealcase (Leap v2)

I went to a Herman Miller store and sat on all 3 and they were all comfy but the Embody seemed like the best support for my back. I don't need to spend ~$1.5k on an office chair but I will if its truly the best of the best and I can use it for WFH (10+hrs and some PC gaming in the evening)

Anyone have any of these, or a different chair recommendation that worked for you? I'm pretty close to puling the trigger on the HM Embody

I work for an office furniture dealer, emeryville.

https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508140

we have a retail outlet, where we have chairs from various manufacturers, including the Herman Miller Aeron and Embody chairs, in a range of price points
test sit before you buy, and we have some in stock, as well as we can order for you.

so pm me if you want

 

[bikeama]

Try different ones, chairs are a personal preference. I had a Herman Miller I loved at work. Got a promotion and new office. Took my old chair and gave the new one to the person who got my old job.

 

[JesasaurusRex]

i have an embody and couldn't be happier

check on FB, got a new one for like $500 iirc (probably stolen from work, don't ask don't tell)

 

[mrzuzzo]

We have Aerons and Mirras at work and I prefer the Aeron.

Swiped an Aeron for home at the start of the pandemic. My back was also hurting after sitting on my cheapo $80 Scandinavian Designs chair.

 

[TylerW]

Are you sure it's your chair? Make sure the rest of your ergos are in order:

- get your seat to a height where your feet are flat on the floor, and your knees are at a 90 degree angle. You good? Now do this:

- Put your hands on your work surface so that your wrists are restong on it or are elevated by a wrist pad. Your elbows should be at a 90-100 degree angle to your upper arms.

-Finally, raise your monitor so that your eye line, looking straight forward, lines up center with the top edge of your screen. This will probably mean that if you're working on a loaner laptop from work, you'll either need an external monitor, a laptop riser, an external keyboard and mouse, or a combination of two or all three.

Ergonomics sounds like a buncha hooey, but they make a HUGE difference. Working in a poor workspace, even for a day, will have me suffering for 2-3 days. And for some kinds of work, cuts my productivity to 20-40% of normal.

 

[TheRobSJ]

I have been looking into chairs too recently. And holy crap does the price get out of control in a hurry. The La-Z-Boy motorized recliner I’m sitting on as I write this cost less than just a mid level Herman Miller office chair? Jesus how’d that happen.

 

[Wolf]

Similar thread on another forum had some good opinions on the Autonomous ErgoChair 2:

https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chairs/ergonomic-chair


I'm also looking for something with good lumbar support so I don't have to use a back pillow.

 

[JesasaurusRex]

Are you sure it's your chair? Make sure the rest of your ergos are in order:

- get your seat to a height where your feet are flat on the floor, and your knees are at a 90 degree angle. You good? Now do this:

- Put your hands on your work surface so that your wrists are restong on it or are elevated by a wrist pad. Your elbows should be at a 90-100 degree angle to your upper arms.

-Finally, raise your monitor so that your eye line, looking straight forward, lines up center with the top edge of your screen. This will probably mean that if you're working on a loaner laptop from work, you'll either need an external monitor, a laptop riser, an external keyboard and mouse, or a combination of two or all three.

Ergonomics sounds like a buncha hooey, but they make a HUGE difference. Working in a poor workspace, even for a day, will have me suffering for 2-3 days. And for some kinds of work, cuts my productivity to 20-40% of normal.

My chair solved most of my issues with extended sitting. Obviously the chair makes you sit with better posture, comfortably i might add, if you set it up right.

So you're probably right, but the chair helps with that imo

 

[bikeama]

I have been looking into chairs too recently. And holy crap does the price get out of control in a hurry. The La-Z-Boy motorized recliner I’m sitting on as I write this cost less than just a mid level Herman Miller office chair? Jesus how’d that happen.

Comparing a La-Z-Boy to a Herman Miller. :laughing There are recliners that are in the Herman Miller quality range. I am sitting in an IMG leather Divani. Like so many things in life you get what you pay for.

 

[asdfghwy]

I work for an office furniture dealer, emeryville.

https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508140

we have a retail outlet, where we have chairs from various manufacturers, including the Herman Miller Aeron and Embody chairs, in a range of price points
test sit before you buy, and we have some in stock, as well as we can order for you.

so pm me if you want

Thank you I appreciate the offer but I'm in Tejas. In your opinion is either one (HM vs steelcase) different than the other in terms of build quality/durability, or is it just a matter of finding a chair that fits/works?

i have an embody and couldn't be happier

check on FB, got a new one for like $500 iirc (probably stolen from work, don't ask don't tell)

I don't have FB but I will definitely check that out. $500 new seems too good to be true

We have Aerons and Mirras at work and I prefer the Aeron.

Swiped an Aeron for home at the start of the pandemic. My back was also hurting after sitting on my cheapo $80 Scandinavian Designs chair.

Yes, this $99 amazon basics office chair is horrible. The Aeron size C was so fucking comfy. I wish I could get the base of the Aeron with the backing of the embody :laughing

Are you sure it's your chair? Make sure the rest of your ergos are in order:

- get your seat to a height where your feet are flat on the floor, and your knees are at a 90 degree angle. You good? Now do this:

- Put your hands on your work surface so that your wrists are restong on it or are elevated by a wrist pad. Your elbows should be at a 90-100 degree angle to your upper arms.

-Finally, raise your monitor so that your eye line, looking straight forward, lines up center with the top edge of your screen. This will probably mean that if you're working on a loaner laptop from work, you'll either need an external monitor, a laptop riser, an external keyboard and mouse, or a combination of two or all three.

Ergonomics sounds like a buncha hooey, but they make a HUGE difference. Working in a poor workspace, even for a day, will have me suffering for 2-3 days. And for some kinds of work, cuts my productivity to 20-40% of normal.

I took a few ergonomics courses during undergrad. I try to sit up straight with elbows tucked in at the sides and 90 degree angle. The chair is basically not adjustable besides height and the sizing is all fucked up. This chair is trash, regardless or not if its the thing causing my backpain

Similar thread on another forum had some good opinions on the Autonomous ErgoChair 2:

https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chairs/ergonomic-chair


I'm also looking for something with good lumbar support so I don't have to use a back pillow.

I will definitely check it out, thank you

 

[Starpower]

I retired a couple of years ago and I should sell my HM Aeron. It is in pristine condition. I'm 20 min. North of Ukiah. Obviously not shipping!

Lifetime of back issues and one surgery, I can spend the day in this thing.

$500

 

[GPzPop]

Thank you I appreciate the offer but I'm in Tejas. In your opinion is either one (HM vs steelcase) different than the other in terms of build quality/durability, or is it just a matter of finding a chair that fits/works?



I don't have FB but I will definitely check that out. $500 new seems too good to be true



Yes, this $99 amazon basics office chair is horrible. The Aeron size C was so fucking comfy. I wish I could get the base of the Aeron with the backing of the embody :laughing



I took a few ergonomics courses during undergrad. I try to sit up straight with elbows tucked in at the sides and 90 degree angle. The chair is basically not adjustable besides height and the sizing is all fucked up. This chair is trash, regardless or not if its the thing causing my backpain



I will definitely check it out, thank you

well ... life long herman miller dealer employee, so biased towards that

Herman Miller bases ALL of its chair design based on in-house research, so best ergos possible, but as others have mentioned, at a price

most sales are contract, to other businesses, all with 12 year warranty, so higher cost can get ammortized over the anticipated lifespan of the furniture

so buying as an individual, they are kinda pricey

also look at the “Sayl” chair from Miller, lower price point, iconic design, designed locally in SF by Fuse Studio

 

[KnifeySpoony]

I couldn't be happier with my lifeform chair. Not as much of a task chair like an aeron, more executive style. It was expensive but it's both incredibly comfortable and supportive. Countless options for material and fitting. Mine is memory foam (even the armrests) which is amazing. Real full grain leather that will last a lifetime.

 

[TylerW]

My chair solved most of my issues with extended sitting. Obviously the chair makes you sit with better posture, comfortably i might add, if you set it up right.

So you're probably right, but the chair helps with that imo

I'm sure it does, but ergoes go a long way. My home office chair is an all hardwood office task chair from the 50's or 60's. It was my late mother's old office chair. If it's set up right I can work comfortably in it for 8+ hours. Though I do need to sit up right straight and not use the backrest unless I need to sit back for a minute or two.

I am starting to think I need a newer chair though. The hardwood seatpan wears a little on my aging bones.

 

[berth]

Chairs suck. If you're hurt, if you have something that's chronic, they're almost impossible to test for enough time to make a sound decision.

If you don't have that, then they're so similar it mostly doesn't matter.

Then they're just bulky and fiddly to deal with.

The one at my office is a dilapidated wreck, but it's my dilapidated wreck. Like worn jeans.

 

[gnahc79]

I've been getting all kinds of aches and pains from my shoulders down. I think its my shitty $99 amazon basics office chair with a clearly worn cushion (after a year). I'm looking to get something with great ergonomics and comfort so it seems like 2 recurring brands in all my googling:

1) Herman Miller (Aeron / Mirra 2 / Embody)
2) Stealcase (Leap v2)

I went to a Herman Miller store and sat on all 3 and they were all comfy but the Embody seemed like the best support for my back. I don't need to spend ~$1.5k on an office chair but I will if its truly the best of the best and I can use it for WFH (10+hrs and some PC gaming in the evening)

Anyone have any of these, or a different chair recommendation that worked for you? I'm pretty close to puling the trigger on the HM Embody

I have both chairs. Steelcase Leap V2 at work and Herman Miller Aeron at home. Both are really good. It's worth it IMO if you're going to be sitting in this thing nearly all day. Both support me very well, no back pain or anything at the end of the day. At the beginning of the pandemic I was using an old padded cheapy Officemax chair and my back started to hurt after a week or so.
The mrs is more particular and she really likes the Herman Miller, which is why we got that one for home :laughing. The biggest plus of the Aeron over the Leap is that the Aeron is crazy easy to clean compared to any padded chair.

 

[EarlyApex]

I own both the leap v2 and aeron. I prefer the leap.

 

[asdfghwy]

thanks all. I found a used steelcase on ebay from a pro seller for $399 so I pulled the trigger so I can get something under my butt ASAP while I continue to shop around for a used Embody. Who knows, I may just like the leapv2 more.

Waking up with backpain the moment I get out of bed at the ripe age of 28 is fucking unbearable so at least I will have this LeapV2 within the next week.... if i survive that long given my wfh schedule