Ergonomic office chair

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LawyerSam

Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Messages
270
I know I toyed with the idea of a Howard Miller Aeron chair, but today, I went into a Relax the Back store and sat in the Lifeform chair. Nice, with a molded memory foam seat cushion, and lots of adjustments. Around $1000 for fabric or naugasoft as they call it. But anyone have any experience with this line? Or some line that may give it a run for the money but be about 40% cheaper? My cheap hand-me-down chair has run its coarse, and the fabric has now started to fray. I dont need impressive grand leather, but since I may sit at the desk and computer for three hours or so at a time, it is about time I think of back issues down the road. Suggestions?
 
The only way to know what a "good/great" chair for your particular body type would be to actually drive around and sit in them. My boss sent me to Relax the Back, OfficeMax, Staples, etc to find myself a chair. I told him I wanted a specific one ($99 at Office Max) and he said, "No, you need to try them out". Good advice.
 
Oh, I intend to test sit as many as I can. Liked the Lifeform over the Humanscale one at the RTB store. Someone may know that they have used ones some place or something that is half of what I am looking at. Just trying to narrow down some choices. It may be that someone pipes in that Office Max has excellent prices on some. I just figured that RTB would have some that are more 'science behind it" than just mere office design.
 
Unfortunately RTB has turned into an IKEA of sorts. Less actual orthopedic items and more aestheics. Somewhat of an unfair trade off I would say. What is your budget, material preference? Maybe this link will be of help.
 
Aerons are very comfortable. The ventilation is very nice for full days sitting. They have several sizes too, so be sure you get the one that is right for your frame.

Like other said though, you really need to sit in a chair to know. Shipping one back is a pain in the neck.
 
I'm not all that sold on the new "ergonomic" chairs. To me it feels like less padding where you need it most. Best to sit in one before buying.
I'm in the same dilemma. I'm sitting in a 10 year old chair. I've re-padded the arms twice and use a nice cushion on the seat. It still feels better than new ones I've tested out.
 
Seems like there aren't as many good chairs at the local Staples and Office Max as there were five or ten years ago.
 
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I had an Aeron for a long time. I hated it. I cross my legs a lot when I sit at work and the Aeron has a hard plastic bar that would cut circulation in my legs, plus the wings on the side made crossing your legs difficult at best. Now....if you didn't cross your legs, it was comfortable. But, the chair should fit you, not the other way around.
 
I am taking my time on this. So far, I have liked the Lifeform chair at Relax the Back the best. Not having sat in a Herman Miller chair yet, so I reserve judgment. But until I can get one, I went to Office Depot. They had a sale on chairs and a coupong for today for 40% off one item. Found a chair there the Pro 3000 for $179, down to $149 and then 40% off so tax and total was a shade under $99.

Almost, like the Lifeform, in a way that a Hyundai is almost a Lexus. The Office Depot chair had arms that went up and down, and back and forth - Lifeform arms swing in and out, so it has the plus. Tilt forward, which is great because I can extend over the desk and still push my back fully against the seat back and lumbar support - could not do that with the chair I had. Raises up and down

The build quality on the Office Depot is not anything like the Lifeform. Also, the Lifeform has memory foam in the seat with, instead of what they call that waterfall seating, it has channels wear your legs rest in and hits you in the right spot a few inches from your knee. My dilemma is getting a mid back, regular back or the high back. I am thinking of the high back Lifeform because you can lean back and get a foot stool and it is almost like a zero gravity chair. Shut my eyes for 30 minutes and take a nap if I need to since the High back has that advantage. Drawback - the price is at least $1800 for the naugasuede as they call it, or a fabric one. Leather, add $800 more
 
I love my Aeron chair. Sometimes I nod off in it and wake up an hour later with no numbness or achy parts. I'm contemplating detuning the thing to make it less comfortable so I won't be inclined to fall asleep in it.
 
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