Ergonomic Chairs

[Toast]

Due to a lovely ruptured disk in my neck, I am embarking into the wonderful world of ergonomic office chairs.

First of all, these sumbitches are expensive. Anyone have any recommendations for high-end, highly adjustable office chairs?

Ones I am considering:
Humanscale Freedom
Henry Miller Aeron
Steelcase Leap
Neutral Posture
Stuff from Relax The Back:  Tempurpedic and Backsaver chairs.

By the way, a ruptured disc is an interesting ailment. It's great having my entire arm go numb throughout the day at random times!

[WayAbvPar]

The Relax your Back options are fucking ridiculously expensive. I looked into them last year and nearly laughed out loud when the sales maggot told me they STARTED at $1295. For a fucking office chair.

I have heard nothing but good things about Henry Miller Aeron. They are expensive, but worth it by most accounts.

I have one of these here at work, and it is pretty damned comfortable. Now that I found it, I think I may order one for my home. Thanks for prompting me to Google it!  :-D

[schild]

If I had the money, I'd get an Aeron and not look back.

[Viin]

My office recently 'demo'ed' chairs by both Henry Miller and Steelcase. I liked the Steelcase one better.

The Henry Miller chair had too much play in the stretch material they cover the seats with. Felt more secure and comfortable in the Steelcase.

Of course, everyone else was blinded by the henry miller brand name so we'll be getting those POSs when we move our office.

[Trippy]

I've had my Aeron chair for over 9 years now. There are definitely problems with the design. For a humorous look at some of them check out this site. I've run into all the problems listed there except for the "sandpaper" one. I'm not sure what that guy is doing on his chair to do that to his pants but I don't think that's typical. Other problems I've had include the arm rests slipping down (now I just leave them all the way down), the seat back "position lock" slowly slipping so the back starts to lean back (easily fixed by unlocking and locking the position again), my butt touching the bottom suspension when the chair is in full recline position (I never use that position normally), and last year I managed to tear the Pellicle material in the seat back and fixing it properly will require replacing the entire seat back for like $125.

That all being said, there is no other chair that I've sat on that is as comfortable for my butt as the Aeron. The Pellicle material, despite its problems, minimizes any pressure points on your butt (contrary to the propaganda on the Humanscale site) compared to your typical cushioned office chair seat bottom and as a consequence I can sit on it for catassing amounts of time without having a sore butt. And I'm not talking 16 hours on a Saturday type catassing. Oh no, I'm talking 40+ hours camping Ragefire for my fricking Cleric Epic with only short breaks to use the bathroom and to run to and from the kitchen for food and water type of catassing.

If back support is your main issue, the standard Aeron with the goofy slideable lumbar support is probably not a good option (I keep mine at the lowest position so it helps a little without being uncomfortable but I've never had back problems). They now have a newer optional back support design but I haven't sat in one of those so I can't comment on its effectiveness. Maybe when I replace my seat back I'll have them install that in there as well.



The Herman Miller Mirra is in many ways an updated Aeron but I've heard that the seat bottom is not as comfortable as the Aeron's even though it also uses a mesh design.

[Toast]

Aerons definitely win on style points. At my office (Dell), Aeron chairs are reserved for executives at about assistant VP level.

So, tonight, I went to Relax the Back with a pretty strong intention to buy a chair. I got approved for a a boatload of 12 month interest free financing. Then, I picked out the two chairs that I liked.

Chair A was 1,395 and chair B that I liked was 1,695. Sticker shock set in, and I bailed out. That store is INSANE.  As I stood there working the math in my head, I suddenly realized that the price they were charging roughly equalled 1 Loaded Aeron + Dell 24'' widescreen LCD.

Thanks for the feedback. The hunt continues. Neutral Posture is looking good, even if it was invented by a damn dirty Texas A&M Aggie.

[Nazrat]

Gig 'em. 

I have never sat in a Neutral Posture but they are quite the booming business in Aggieland.

[Paelos]

I had an Aeron for two years at my old job. Honestly, it's the best chair I've ever sat in. You don't even notice it. I used to have certain problems in other chairs that never existed in the Aeron due simply to the high level of customization that you can do with each model.

[Pococurante]

Geez next you guys will be comparing ailments, walkers, and medications. ;)

[Sky]

Mmm...liniments and unguents!

[Toast]

Geez next you guys will be comparing ailments, walkers, and medications. ;)

How old are you? I'm 28 now, and I'm starting to fall apart. I can also start a thread about health insurance if you like. Co-pays FTW.

[HaemishM]

I have serious problems sitting in my office chair for the 37.5 hours a week that's required. It hurts the backs of my legs, my ass, and when I start shifting position to relive those pressures, my backs and elbows. I haven't been able to find a comfortable chair since I was 28.

Damn kids need to get off my lawn.

[MrHat]

My problem is that no matter what chair I buy, I ruin the butt cushion with my incredible ass.  I was thinking about an Aeron, but I want something that's guarunteed for life if I'm spending $900+ on a damn office chair.  WoW makes my bottom hurt.

[WayAbvPar]

WoW makes my bottom hurt.

Insert anal rape joke here.

[Righ]

WoW makes my bottom hurt.

Don't play a night elf.

[Soln]

Steelcase Leap

I had a staffer just return from 6 months recovery from back surgery (not including time off before).  Feel sorry for you dude, hope you get well.  She has steelcase and had someone recommend it.  She says she's happy with it.

[Miasma]

I like the Steelcase Leap chair, the Aeron just doesn't feel solid enough for my liking.

If you have a bad disk in your neck wouldn't you need a high-back chair to support your head though?  I don't think the leap or the aeron have that option.

[Sky]

WoW makes my bottom hurt.

Sofa gaming ftw. Though it may not help a sore back much. Recliner gaming!

[Pococurante]

How old are you? I'm 28 now, and I'm starting to fall apart. I can also start a thread about health insurance if you like. Co-pays FTW.

Yeah I first started noticing the cold winds of age when I turned thirty.  "What do you mean I can't empty a new bottle of Wild Turkey, stay up all night, and go to work without sleep - Damn You Father Time!"  As far as how old I am, let's just say I can remember where I was when Neil Armstrong took that first small step.  Nothing I love more than listening to young rapscallions acting older than me. :P

Steelcase Leap looks good actually.

[Signe]

I have this little bump on the bottom of my foot.  It's not a wart, I'm not sure what the heck it is.  I can feel it though, when I rub my finger across the bottom of my foot.  I don't know what sort of chair would help.

[Toast]

[WayAbvPar]

I could have used something like that in Vegas. I walked what had to be 10 miles in 4 days, all in Teva sandals. My feet STILL hurt.

[Pococurante]

I don't know what sort of chair would help.

Got 1,800 little george washingtons you don't need anymore?

Mmmm... I'd never leave the house.

[Signe]

I am so getting that chair!  I get weak just imagining it.

[Viin]

I don't know what sort of chair would help.

Got 1,800 little george washingtons you don't need anymore?

Mmmm... I'd never leave the house.

Those things hurt. I'd much rather just pay for a massage every once in awhile, it's like $60 for an hour.

[Pococurante]

Massage is supposed to hurt - that's the point.  Massage is for people who don't exercise enough to get the poisons out, or who exercise so much they stay beyond the body's ability to heal itself and so again need to get the poisons out.

[Viin]

You can take pills for that.

[Pococurante]

Sure but when the psychedelic wears off you still need to sweat out the speed.

[Strazos]

I could have used something like that in Vegas. I walked what had to be 10 miles in 4 days, all in Teva sandals. My feet STILL hurt.

I would tell you to try walking around in Rome for a month, but it's evident that you like to hurt yourself anyway.

[Toast]

When i backpacked Europe for a month, I brought a pair of newish shoes that began eating into my achilles around, oh, day 3. My backup shoes were a pair of basic sandals. So, the sandals became first string. I think my feet still hurt.

By the way, I have tried that massage chair. The leg massage feels absurdly good.

[Strazos]

I went over with a near-new pair of shoes. They got wrecked by all the damn cobblestone.

[Signe]

The only reason we never bought a massage chair is because I would annoy Righ too much continuously saying "aaaahhhh" to hear my voice vibrate.  My uncle had a chair that was more like a mechanical bull years ago... that thing was so fun.  When I'm nervous and shake my leg, I say "aaaahhhh" too and it's annoying.  Sometimes I just do it in my head but he still gives me "that" look and I know I only thought  I was doing it in my head.  It annoys him when I do the "who who who who" bit to the CSI theme song, too, because I can't stop once I start.  Maybe I shouldn't get the chair but I still want it.
This turned out sad, didn't it?

[HaemishM]

Well, Signe, you could always use the washing machine for that, now couldn't you? Spin cycle 4TW.

[Toast]

I could just buy a washing machine, attach some seat cushions, and shove it up to my desk. I think I would have to fight my girlfriend for the computer.

[Signe]

Well, Signe, you could always use the washing machine for that, now couldn't you? Spin cycle 4TW.

Well, doncha know?  I do.