Best Office Chair [Forget Price - I Need Comfort/Support]
- Noobvestor
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Best Office Chair [Forget Price - I Need Comfort/Support]
[Note post date. The OP has restarted the thread with a follow-up. - admin alex]
I need the best office chair I can get - ideally a swivel chair on wheels. When it comes to my back, and sitting in my home office for much of the day many days a week, expense isn't a big factor for me.
The catch: I don't spend much time in offices in general, and don't have a good sense of what is comfortable, physically supportive for my back, etc... outside of the obvious candidates (e.g. Aeron Chair).
What I have right now is an older version of the Steelcase Cachet, which is fine, except it is literally falling apart from years of use. My default is to go with the same thing again, but I'd really like other suggestions.
Thanks Bogleheads!
Edit: Also, I *am* thinking about Aeron Chairs, so if anyone has thoughts/recommendations between the types (basic, executive, etc...) that would be swell as well.
I need the best office chair I can get - ideally a swivel chair on wheels. When it comes to my back, and sitting in my home office for much of the day many days a week, expense isn't a big factor for me.
The catch: I don't spend much time in offices in general, and don't have a good sense of what is comfortable, physically supportive for my back, etc... outside of the obvious candidates (e.g. Aeron Chair).
What I have right now is an older version of the Steelcase Cachet, which is fine, except it is literally falling apart from years of use. My default is to go with the same thing again, but I'd really like other suggestions.
Thanks Bogleheads!
Edit: Also, I *am* thinking about Aeron Chairs, so if anyone has thoughts/recommendations between the types (basic, executive, etc...) that would be swell as well.
"In the absence of clarity, diversification is the only logical strategy" -= Larry Swedroe
I had an Aeron chair at my last job. It was mesh butt, back, headrest. At first I nabbed it because it was cool, but over time, I fell in love.
The mesh never seemed to wear out or lose elasticity.
It was very temperate, never got too hot or cold.
It was comfortable and supportive.
The nuts & bolts and hardware never broke or got saggy.
I can honestly say that I would spend 1k for one of those chairs.
That being said, there are so many knock offs!!! I'd want to see and touch the chair to make sure it was like the one I had.
The mesh never seemed to wear out or lose elasticity.
It was very temperate, never got too hot or cold.
It was comfortable and supportive.
The nuts & bolts and hardware never broke or got saggy.
I can honestly say that I would spend 1k for one of those chairs.
That being said, there are so many knock offs!!! I'd want to see and touch the chair to make sure it was like the one I had.
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I like Lazyboy recliner since retired.
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For years I suffered from lower back pain. I changed beds and recliner chairs and that didn't help. Then, I bought an Aeron Chair with the lumbar support and my back problems went away.
The Aeron chair is very comfortable. However the lumbar supports kept wearing out. I decided to buy a Steelcase Leap Chair about 3.5 years ago. Bad move. It was comfortable but it squeaked all the time. I called the local distributor last summer. They took the chair in and replaced all kinds of parts on it and didn't charge me because the chair was still in warranty.
While I was waiting for the Leap Chair to be fixed I ordered an inexpensive, highback desk chair online that I had seen at a friend's house. It's much cheaper than the Aeron or Leap chairs. I've been using it for the past 6 months and haven't had any back problems. Herman Miller found a fix for the lumbar support for the Aeron Chair and Elke now uses it in her office. The Leap Chair sits in a corner.
The most comfortable of the 3 is the Aeron Chair. It would be perfect if it had a headrest. They may make a model that has one now. If I were buying today and cost were not an issue, I'd buy an Aeron with the lumbar support and a headrest. Otherwise, I'd just buy the less expensive chair I'm using now. I picked up a mesh back support at Staples that makes it more comfortable. Here's a photo and info on the chair. http://www.everythingofficefurniture.co ... z0ruGN9wE5
The Aeron chair is very comfortable. However the lumbar supports kept wearing out. I decided to buy a Steelcase Leap Chair about 3.5 years ago. Bad move. It was comfortable but it squeaked all the time. I called the local distributor last summer. They took the chair in and replaced all kinds of parts on it and didn't charge me because the chair was still in warranty.
While I was waiting for the Leap Chair to be fixed I ordered an inexpensive, highback desk chair online that I had seen at a friend's house. It's much cheaper than the Aeron or Leap chairs. I've been using it for the past 6 months and haven't had any back problems. Herman Miller found a fix for the lumbar support for the Aeron Chair and Elke now uses it in her office. The Leap Chair sits in a corner.
The most comfortable of the 3 is the Aeron Chair. It would be perfect if it had a headrest. They may make a model that has one now. If I were buying today and cost were not an issue, I'd buy an Aeron with the lumbar support and a headrest. Otherwise, I'd just buy the less expensive chair I'm using now. I picked up a mesh back support at Staples that makes it more comfortable. Here's a photo and info on the chair. http://www.everythingofficefurniture.co ... z0ruGN9wE5
Best wishes, |
Michael |
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Invest your time actively and your money passively.
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Re: Best Office Chair [Forget Price - I Need Comfort/Support
I have a Steelcase Leap chair that I've owned for roughly 8 years. I have absolutely no regrets with the purchase. They are obviously quite expensive but, in my opinion, worth every penny. Very comfortable, easy to clean, elegant modern design.
Exactly the reason for the cost of a lot of things in life, and in my life too. After a few days with the guys from our company who have bottomless expense accounts, I was reflected that probably 9 of the best 10 meals I've ever eaten have been on someone else's dime. Not unlike your average call girl in that way.Beantown85 wrote:I would imagine because most of the people making the decision to buy them aren't using their own money.Opponent Process wrote:I never understood why office chairs are so expensive. I think there is an office chair bubble.
That said, Aeron is the nicest chair I've ever sat in. But that doesn't mean it's the best: From : http://www.businessweek.com/print/magaz ... 221162.htm
The above-mentioned Swopper is new to me: http://www.thehumansolution.com/swopper.htmlThe basic Aeron, by Herman Miller, costs around $700, and many office workers swear by them. There are also researchers who doubt them. "The Aeron is far too low," says Dr. A.C. Mandal, a Danish doctor who was among the first to raise flags about sitting 50 years ago. "I visited Herman Miller a few years ago, and they did understand. It should have much more height adjustment, and you should be able to move more. But as long as they sell enormous numbers, they don't want to change it." Don Chadwick, the co-designer of the Aeron, says he wasn't hired to design the ideal product for an eight-hour-workday; he was hired to update Herman Miller's previous best-seller. "We were given a brief and basically told to design the next-generation office chair," he says.
The best sitting alternative is perching—a half-standing position at barstool height that keeps weight on the legs and leaves the S-curve intact. Chair alternatives include the Swopper, a hybrid stool seat and the funky, high HAG Capisco chair. Standing desks and chaise longues are good options. Ball chairs, which bounce your spine into a C-shape, are not. The biggest obstacle to healthy sitting may be ourselves. Says Jackie Maze, the vice-president for marketing at Keilhauer: "Most customers still want chairs that look like chairs."
The HAG Capisco is compelling, but it's adaptability is probably limited by your desk setup:
http://sitincomfort.com/ofchizhagcaq.html
An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered. -- GK Chesterton
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The Aeron by Herman Miller is well made, very adjustable, and (unless the product has been changed) comes in different basic sizes for different sizes of people.
http://www.officedesigns.com/product-ex ... ddle_aeron
http://www.officedesigns.com/product-ex ... ddle_aeron
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+1 on Aeron. Spend the extra $ to get adjustable arms -- really nice to be able to adjust em higher/lower to reduce neck strain.
Also critical: use a foot rest in order to relieve strain on your back. Can be as simple as a 2" 3-ring binder, or spend $25 at an office supply store for an adjustable-height wedge-style foot rest made of high impact plastic.
-- David
Also critical: use a foot rest in order to relieve strain on your back. Can be as simple as a 2" 3-ring binder, or spend $25 at an office supply store for an adjustable-height wedge-style foot rest made of high impact plastic.
-- David
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I won't help your posture, but using an exercise ball as a chair may have other advantages:ryuns wrote:Ball chairs, which bounce your spine into a C-shape, are not.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18351381
Logically, it should also diminish the deleterious effects of chair sitting on lipoprotein lipase production.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Jun;103(3):353-60. Epub 2008 Mar 20.
Increasing passive energy expenditure during clerical work.
...The purpose of this study was to determine the energy expenditure and liking of performing clerical work in various postures... Energy expenditure was measured while word processing in three standardized postures; sitting in an office chair, sitting on a therapy ball, and standing... Energy expenditure was 4.1 kcal/h greater (p <or= 0.05) while performing clerical work while sitting on a therapy ball and standing than while sitting in an office chair. There was no difference in energy expenditure between the therapy ball and standing postures. Subjects also liked sitting on a therapy ball as much as sitting in an office chair and liked sitting on a therapy ball more than standing (p <or= 0.05).
from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/20 ... read-this/
I'm sitting on one of these - http://www.amazon.com/Anti-burst-Stabil ... ads.org-20 - as I'm writing this.Get rid of your office chair and replace it with a therapy ball: this too uses more muscles, and hence more energy, than a normal chair, because you have to support your back and work to keep balanced. You also have the option of bouncing, if you like.
Or you could take all this as a license to fidget.
Re: Best Office Chair [Forget Price - I Need Comfort/Support
I have an Aeron--inherited, I'd never pay the price--and my partner has an ErgoGenesis--even more expensive than an Aeron but it IS a wonderful chair--lots of selection:Noobvestor wrote:I need the best office chair I can get - ideally a swivel chair on wheels. When it comes to my back, and sitting in my home office for much of the day many days a week, expense isn't a big factor for me.
Edit: Also, I *am* thinking about Aeron Chairs, so if anyone has thoughts/recommendations between the types (basic, executive, etc...) that would be swell as well.
http://www.ergogenesis.com/
I have sat in an Aeron (it was even the right size of the 3 for my body), and thought it was great.
Unfortunately, my employer will only pay for the "standard-issue" chair that everyone gets, and I don't feel like shelling out $800 or whatever of my own money. I can deal with the standard-issue chair.
Unfortunately, my employer will only pay for the "standard-issue" chair that everyone gets, and I don't feel like shelling out $800 or whatever of my own money. I can deal with the standard-issue chair.
I bought an Aeron 9 years ago after the dot com bust; loads of businesses were going under, and they all had Aeron's (as you might expect). I got it used on the internet. It's as solid as when I bought it. It's good for when you sit appropriately working at a desk; very adjustible, etc. Mine is at home, and my preferred position is with my feet up on the edge of the desk, and my laptop in my lap. I only use my desktop when I have to. In that position, it's impossible to get and stay comfortable for more than a half hour or so. My legs hurt, my butt goes numb, and I just hurt. The seat is stiff and just doesn't do well in that position. I realize that this may be a minority work position preference, but don't pick an Aeron if you're like me.
Herman Miller now has a new chair that is less expensive, the SAYL.
http://www.hermanmiller.com/Products/SAYL-Chairs
Price $399
http://www.google.com/search?q=sayl+chair
http://www.hermanmiller.com/Products/SAYL-Chairs
Price $399
http://www.google.com/search?q=sayl+chair
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- Noobvestor
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Wow. I knew this question was worth asking here - what a wealth of information. In no particular order:
@Linuxizer: good point - I now plan to do both (i.e. nice chair + a session with someone, because I know my posture is terrible).
@penumbra: actually, I do that too, but I worry about it ... probably not the healthiest thing for my back.
@Alex: that just opened up a new world of possibilities - including chairs *made with balls* I just found surfing Amazon. Amazing!
@ryuns: good points, for sure. The Swopper ... wow, that thing looks awesomely functional. I'm going to see if there's one at a shop locally I could try sitting in.
Re: Aeron - sounds like that's still the best default 'normal chair' on the market, so with the reinforcing critiques listed here, I think I'm likely to opt for it if nothing else but ... now I'm starting to think: ball or something else that forces good posture out of me, maybe.
@Linuxizer: good point - I now plan to do both (i.e. nice chair + a session with someone, because I know my posture is terrible).
@penumbra: actually, I do that too, but I worry about it ... probably not the healthiest thing for my back.
@Alex: that just opened up a new world of possibilities - including chairs *made with balls* I just found surfing Amazon. Amazing!
@ryuns: good points, for sure. The Swopper ... wow, that thing looks awesomely functional. I'm going to see if there's one at a shop locally I could try sitting in.
Re: Aeron - sounds like that's still the best default 'normal chair' on the market, so with the reinforcing critiques listed here, I think I'm likely to opt for it if nothing else but ... now I'm starting to think: ball or something else that forces good posture out of me, maybe.
"In the absence of clarity, diversification is the only logical strategy" -= Larry Swedroe
I sit down in normal position, feet on the floor etc. and I also cannot stand (or is that sit on :lol: ) Aeron chairs. It feels to me like I am sitting on a screen door wire mesh. No cushioning at all. And the so-called lumbar support is just a plastic piece that pokes into your back.penumbra wrote:I realize that this may be a minority work position preference, but don't pick an Aeron if you're like me.
BTW, I speak from experience. I bought an Aeron, tried to use it for about a 6 months, then sold it on craiglsist for a $400 loss.
Now, I just use a $150 chair I bought a number of years back at an office furniture store. I add a Tempur-pedic seat cushion and it works great.
My advice is not to put down big $$ on a chair unless you can sit-test it for at least a week so you do not make an expensive mistake like I did.
BTW, if you look at the Amazon reviews of the Steelcase Leap some people hate it. The Amazon selected negative review states
That was enough to keep me from buying one without being able to try it for an extended period.This chair is HARD HARD HARD on the tush. It is like sitting on a park bench.
Two years ago when I bought mine, I examined three chairs:
The Aeron, Liberty by HumanScale, and Leap by Steelcase.
While the Aeron was comfortable it ended up not being my first choice.
Number one was the Liberty. However, after I bought it and sat on it for a week, it was awful (IMHO). VERY few adjustments, it did have a headrest and it reclined, however the lack of adjust-ability was a biggie.
I then went back and they let me spend time both the Aeron and the Leap by Steelcase. I selected the Leap and have not regretted it.
I spend at least 3 hours per day at my desk, some days twice that.
The Aeron, Liberty by HumanScale, and Leap by Steelcase.
While the Aeron was comfortable it ended up not being my first choice.
Number one was the Liberty. However, after I bought it and sat on it for a week, it was awful (IMHO). VERY few adjustments, it did have a headrest and it reclined, however the lack of adjust-ability was a biggie.
I then went back and they let me spend time both the Aeron and the Leap by Steelcase. I selected the Leap and have not regretted it.
I spend at least 3 hours per day at my desk, some days twice that.
I've had an Aeron for years. I have a somewhat bad back - and it is OK when I use this chair. Not great, but OK. Unfortunately, I sometimes also get hemorrhoids and the Aeron chair is terrible when they flare up. I think it's because of the mesh seat. Not sure why, but I simply can't use it when they arise.
I've recently been looking into this chair http://www.harachairusa.com/products.html Claims to be able to help with my specific issues. Haven't tried one yet however. I'm also interested in the swopper. Has anyone used this chair? The reviews I've read said you need to slowly use it... because it takes some time for your back to strengthen so you can use it all day. I don't like the sound of that, but would love to hear someone elses experience.
I've recently been looking into this chair http://www.harachairusa.com/products.html Claims to be able to help with my specific issues. Haven't tried one yet however. I'm also interested in the swopper. Has anyone used this chair? The reviews I've read said you need to slowly use it... because it takes some time for your back to strengthen so you can use it all day. I don't like the sound of that, but would love to hear someone elses experience.
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I do really, really, really like my Aeron. It's an extravagance. I get that. Not all that Bogleheadish. But I love the chair.
On a more bogleheadish front, I broke a chair a year, through my weird leanings. Pressure in odd spots would simply cause them to fail over time. In the 4 years before I got an Aeron, I probably went through $250 of chairs. That doesn't make the Aeron a great choice from a cost perspective, but it does make it a somewhat more sensible choice, given my proclivity to break cheaper chairs.
On a more bogleheadish front, I broke a chair a year, through my weird leanings. Pressure in odd spots would simply cause them to fail over time. In the 4 years before I got an Aeron, I probably went through $250 of chairs. That doesn't make the Aeron a great choice from a cost perspective, but it does make it a somewhat more sensible choice, given my proclivity to break cheaper chairs.
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I haven't been entirely comfortable since my spine surgery in 1981, so I have 30 years experience searching for chairs. The Aeron is a fine chair - probably the best I've seen - but for me it's too much to pay for an incomplete solution. I agree that it's best to have the weight shifted forward and supported by the legs; if I have to sit in an office I usually raise the seat and perch on the edge. If you sit in a way that eliminates the need for back support, you don't need to worry about the back support. The Swopper looks promising, though I'm not sure it's that much different than the way I normally sit on any task chair.
My preferred solution is probably the most boglehead at all - at home I've more or less given up chairs entirely, other than to eat. Aside than the kitchen/dining chairs and the recliner, I don't really use the chairs in my own home. I usually sit or kneel on the floor; a sofa is to me a backrest. In the past I have created a work surface maybe 16-18 inches high as my desk, but these days the laptop usually sits on a coffee table (too high, really) or on my lap. I try not to argue with my back because my back usually wins; I've generally found it best roll with it and sit however my back wants to sit.
My preferred solution is probably the most boglehead at all - at home I've more or less given up chairs entirely, other than to eat. Aside than the kitchen/dining chairs and the recliner, I don't really use the chairs in my own home. I usually sit or kneel on the floor; a sofa is to me a backrest. In the past I have created a work surface maybe 16-18 inches high as my desk, but these days the laptop usually sits on a coffee table (too high, really) or on my lap. I try not to argue with my back because my back usually wins; I've generally found it best roll with it and sit however my back wants to sit.
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I am on my third office supply special $99 chair at home. I spend probably less than 2 hours a day sitting on it and would estimate they last about 4 years.SP-diceman wrote:Beantown85 wrote:I would imagine because most of the people making the decision to buy them aren't using their own money.Opponent Process wrote:I never understood why office chairs are so expensive. I think there is an office chair bubble.
At work where I spent at least 30 or 35 hours a week using it, my $700 chair purchased in 1985 is going strong. Grade A chairs are cost more because they are the least expensive option for a business.
Just to clarify, I was quoting the Business Week article, and that wasn't my opinion. The idea of minimizing the negative effects of sitting on a chair all day, besides issues of posture (and there are many, as you note), is worth considering.Alex Frakt wrote:I won't help your posture, but using an exercise ball as a chair may have other advantages:ryuns wrote:Ball chairs, which bounce your spine into a C-shape, are not.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18351381
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Jun;103(3):353-60. Epub 2008 Mar 20.
Increasing passive energy expenditure during clerical work.
Working from a home office (people are more impressed when you say "home office" rather than just "home"), it's probably worth my time to have a ball sitting around at least to change up the sitting arrangement once in a while.
Ryan
An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered. -- GK Chesterton
You might wish to consider a standing desk. As you may be aware, a recent study warns of the cardiac risks of a sedentary lifestyle - one which cannot be mitigated by regular exercise.
Due to low back problems, I recently started trying a standing desk after a colleague suggested the same.
Due to low back problems, I recently started trying a standing desk after a colleague suggested the same.
The cure shouldn't be worse than the disease.
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Really great feedback here from one and all. I've settled in on an answer: two seats.
1) Yes, I'm getting the (drumroll please) swopper, sight-unseen no less. I've looked into it a *lot* and am confident I will be able to use it as a part-time seating solution.
2) I'm going to go for a cheaper-than-Aeron answer (from my limited experience in them in offices years ago, I was never fully sold) for the other one, probably one of the following three:
I'm still open to alternate suggestions aside from those above, but otherwise: any last thoughts on the rest? And by the way: thanks AGAIN to everyone who responded - I really appreciate the well-rounded thoughts on Aeron and alternatives, plus the general advice and ideas related to exercise, health, etc... you folks are so helpful!
Edit: Also, I plan to report back here in case anyone wants to hear about how the Swopper works out, and whatever else I end up with
[Edited to add BH org affiliate link - had to learn how to do it first!]
1) Yes, I'm getting the (drumroll please) swopper, sight-unseen no less. I've looked into it a *lot* and am confident I will be able to use it as a part-time seating solution.
2) I'm going to go for a cheaper-than-Aeron answer (from my limited experience in them in offices years ago, I was never fully sold) for the other one, probably one of the following three:
- A) Steelcase Cachet - this is my 'go with what you know' answer, mid-range price. Maybe this time I'll get one with cushions
B) Steelcase Leap - a tempting option, and from a company, again, that I know, though the most expensive ... not a huge deal, but sight-unseen, hard to say.
C) The high-rated 'Ergo Value Mesh' chair I keep seeing around the interwebs - something not so expensive I can't afford to break it, basically, but that gets good reviews for the price regardless. http://www.amazon.com/Ergo-Value-Mesh-M ... ads.org-20
I'm still open to alternate suggestions aside from those above, but otherwise: any last thoughts on the rest? And by the way: thanks AGAIN to everyone who responded - I really appreciate the well-rounded thoughts on Aeron and alternatives, plus the general advice and ideas related to exercise, health, etc... you folks are so helpful!
Edit: Also, I plan to report back here in case anyone wants to hear about how the Swopper works out, and whatever else I end up with
[Edited to add BH org affiliate link - had to learn how to do it first!]
Last edited by Noobvestor on Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
"In the absence of clarity, diversification is the only logical strategy" -= Larry Swedroe
Yes, please let us know how the Swopper works out. I've been using a stand-up desk now for two years. Standing up 8 hours a day, almost never sitting, and the back pain is pretty much gone now. I've been thinking of trying a bar stool or a Swopper type chair to give my feet a rest. The bar stool option looks appealing because it keeps your hips rotated forward keeping the lumbar curve in your back. I've tried the balls, they suck and offer zero low back support and because you don't really perch on them you end up slouching and giving up curve in your lower back. The balls require way too much concentration and back muscle to keep proper posture. Standing takes zero effort to maintain correct back alignment since we evolved that way!
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@jhd: good point - I'm going to keep my eye on the local Craigslist and see if something turns up - I have two home office spaces, so I can always A/B test if nothing else
@cloud: definitely - I'll keep the forum apprised of the results on that front ... I looked into all the options, and am buying a ball on the side since it is cheap and easy to do, but am crossing my fingers that the Swopper ends up being my favorite solution of the bunch. We shall see!
@cloud: definitely - I'll keep the forum apprised of the results on that front ... I looked into all the options, and am buying a ball on the side since it is cheap and easy to do, but am crossing my fingers that the Swopper ends up being my favorite solution of the bunch. We shall see!
"In the absence of clarity, diversification is the only logical strategy" -= Larry Swedroe
I went to Relax the Back today (a local store) to try the Swopper chair in person. Be very careful before you buy this chair... I didn't like it, at all. And the salespeople in the store said there were many better options for your back. They specifically said this chair is not for long term sitting, but rather 1/2 or 45 min bursts.
I also went to Pasadena and tried the Magic II Black chair from Hara ($450): http://www.harachairusa.com/products.html It is very unique, I've never tried a chair like it. Both the seat and back move and allow the chair to auto adjust to whatever body type and position you sit in. I tried it for about 10 min... wish I could've sat in it longer (it was in a physical therapists office and I felt uncomfortable staying longer). I did like it - but wonder if the seat cushions have enough give.
Which brings me to a chair the store recommended (Relax the Back). It was the Grand Office Chair ($995) http://www.relaxtheback.com/office/task ... chair.html The cushions are very comfortable - and lumbar too. I'm sure it's the best of the lot, but for 1 grand I just couldn't pull the trigger.
They actually sell the seat of the grand chair as a travel cushion for $135. So I bought that and slapped it on my Aeron. Yay! Definite improvement. I didn't buy the lumbar back which they also sell - gonna go tomorrow and get that. Hoping this is a $200 way to improve my Aeron so I don't have to buy the 1 grand chair.
At least if I do upgrade I know I can get about $400-$450 back for the Aeron - craiglist is full of them selling for these prices.
I also went to Pasadena and tried the Magic II Black chair from Hara ($450): http://www.harachairusa.com/products.html It is very unique, I've never tried a chair like it. Both the seat and back move and allow the chair to auto adjust to whatever body type and position you sit in. I tried it for about 10 min... wish I could've sat in it longer (it was in a physical therapists office and I felt uncomfortable staying longer). I did like it - but wonder if the seat cushions have enough give.
Which brings me to a chair the store recommended (Relax the Back). It was the Grand Office Chair ($995) http://www.relaxtheback.com/office/task ... chair.html The cushions are very comfortable - and lumbar too. I'm sure it's the best of the lot, but for 1 grand I just couldn't pull the trigger.
They actually sell the seat of the grand chair as a travel cushion for $135. So I bought that and slapped it on my Aeron. Yay! Definite improvement. I didn't buy the lumbar back which they also sell - gonna go tomorrow and get that. Hoping this is a $200 way to improve my Aeron so I don't have to buy the 1 grand chair.
At least if I do upgrade I know I can get about $400-$450 back for the Aeron - craiglist is full of them selling for these prices.
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I may be on the dangerous path to becoming a chair addict - step one: completed. I have been using the Swopper and the ball chair bought from Amazon for 70 bucks for a month or so now. Here are my conclusions:
Which Wins? Alright, you wanna skip the rest, then fine - if I could only own one, it would be the ball chair. Expensive != better, as we all know from mutual fund investing.
The Ball Chair: Well, it was awkward at first. And it looks so silly ... I would have difficulty bringing it into a 'real' office setting simply for fear of looking like an idiot, I'll admit. But it did wonders for my back, and the seat is soft (duh!) so my derrier didn't fare too poorly either. I can use it as an all-day, every-day office chair, roll it around on its wheels, yet not lose the ball because it sits in a frame. You do have to re-inflated it periodically, though.
The Swopper: I actually really like the Swopper too, and can tell it works different muscles - I also think it may help enforce slightly better posture, but I'm not an expert so it is hard to say. Its weakest point (aside, perhaps, the fairly steep price by comparison to a ball chair on wheels) is the somewhat hard seat ... not exactly comfortable for long periods, thus not a full-time replacement work chair by extension.
So, unseen, I would personally go for the ball chair - at worst, you are out 70 bucks and have a great gag gift for a friend. At best, you might find it a great full or part-time replacement at your workspace. The Swopper is way cooler, takes up less space, and definitely helps force you into a position that uses your back muscles, etc... but is probably more of a person-by-person question when there are so many options out there in its price range. And, as always, if you go for the ball chair, you should consider using the Bogleheads 'Help Support this Site' link to Amazon - far as I can tell they have the best prices out there, and it doesn't cost you anything (and no, for anyone curious: I don't profit from that - just trying to help the community and its hard-working admins!).
Which Wins? Alright, you wanna skip the rest, then fine - if I could only own one, it would be the ball chair. Expensive != better, as we all know from mutual fund investing.
The Ball Chair: Well, it was awkward at first. And it looks so silly ... I would have difficulty bringing it into a 'real' office setting simply for fear of looking like an idiot, I'll admit. But it did wonders for my back, and the seat is soft (duh!) so my derrier didn't fare too poorly either. I can use it as an all-day, every-day office chair, roll it around on its wheels, yet not lose the ball because it sits in a frame. You do have to re-inflated it periodically, though.
The Swopper: I actually really like the Swopper too, and can tell it works different muscles - I also think it may help enforce slightly better posture, but I'm not an expert so it is hard to say. Its weakest point (aside, perhaps, the fairly steep price by comparison to a ball chair on wheels) is the somewhat hard seat ... not exactly comfortable for long periods, thus not a full-time replacement work chair by extension.
So, unseen, I would personally go for the ball chair - at worst, you are out 70 bucks and have a great gag gift for a friend. At best, you might find it a great full or part-time replacement at your workspace. The Swopper is way cooler, takes up less space, and definitely helps force you into a position that uses your back muscles, etc... but is probably more of a person-by-person question when there are so many options out there in its price range. And, as always, if you go for the ball chair, you should consider using the Bogleheads 'Help Support this Site' link to Amazon - far as I can tell they have the best prices out there, and it doesn't cost you anything (and no, for anyone curious: I don't profit from that - just trying to help the community and its hard-working admins!).
"In the absence of clarity, diversification is the only logical strategy" -= Larry Swedroe