The Ergonomic Task Chair Guide *OLD*

[mkawa]

THIS THREAD IS OLD GO HERE: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37338.0


new OP courtesy of gunner100. still figuring out how to change the OP to give him editing privleges. -KAWA

This is a work in progress, I'm busy with school so this will take some time to complete.

If you own or have sat in any of these chairs, please post your comments in this thread and I'll update this post accordingly. I'm listing the most popular chairs here; if you've sat in the less known high-end chairs, post your opinions here!

Online Retailers: SmartFurniture, TheHumanSolution

I highly recommend purchasing from SmartFurniture. Their customer service is great, and I got a 5% discount through their offer system. They are also having a 10% off Steelcase sale near the end of November if anyone is interested in purchasing a chair from them

Herman Miller
Aeron - $629.00 base, no arms

Embody - $1,099.00 base, no arms

Mirra - $599.00 base, fixed arms

Sayl - $399.00 base, fixed arms

Steelcase
Leap - $769.00 base, no arms
Most expensive of the steelcase chairs, with the most features, and also the most well known by Steelcase.

Amia - $519.00 base, no arms
The little brother to the Leap, with most of its features for only about 2/3 the price. It has a slightly different curve on its back, compared to the Leap.

Think - $629.00 base, no arms.

Humanscale

Freedom - $899.00 base, w/ arms

Liberty - $879.00 base w/ arms

Diffrient - $659.00 base, no arms

Knoll
Generation - $711.00 base, no arms

ReGeneration - $541.00/$643.00 base, no arms

Others


OLD OP

in this thread: let's all share our stories of suffering and let input nirvana guide is to... input nirvana

my problem: my effing back always hurts.

context: i have a family history of bad backs; my grandmother threw out her back at around 40, 3 slipped discs. my dad had two herniated discs at 30 something (i'm sure having three kids didn't help), etc. etc. etc.

i've been having pretty bad back pain for the last 6mos to a year. it's mostly in my upper back, but my lower back often feels as if it's been pre-injured when i work it or my lower abs during my major core workouts (bootcamp-style free-body-weight training mostly, gymnastics style stretching).

it's very clearly due to my chair and desk position, i think, and is most alleviated when i use my office workstation, which utilizes no desk surface, a free-floating ergotron LX arm and a pure and trackball on a laptop with a herman miller mirra.

things i've though about: keyboard arms/trays, buying a real chair, lowering my desk (did this, moved pain to my upper back), removing cheap chair's arm rests (did this), kneeling chairs,

i do often change position and/or workstation, and that definitely does help, but it would be nice to have an affordable workstation at home that i could use for an extended period of time without spending a fortune.

[Amarok]

I used to have terrible back pain after sitting in my chair for even as little as an hour. At the time I was using a leather office chair from Staples that cost around $200.00. With our tax refund this year I convinced by wife I needed to invest in a decent chair since I usually spend at least 4+ hours a day sitting in it.

I went to a local dealer and tested out quite a few chairs (Herman Miller Aeron/Mirra/Sayl/Embody, Steelcase Leap/Think) and ended up getting a fully loaded Aeron during the 15% off Herman Miller sale at SmartFurniture.com.

This helped a bit with my back pain but didn't solve it. I was using an old desk from Office Max that was way to high and poorly designed, so I went to Ikea and got a two Vika Amon table tops, 4 height adjustable legs and 4 regular legs. Lowering my work surface so that my feet rest comfortably on the ground and having my keyboard at the same height my arms hang at has has helped just as much as the chair has.

Workstation: http://i.imgur.com/H69E9.jpg

I keep my main desk surface about 5 inches lower than the second desk surface. This makes the lower surface great for using the mouse and keyboard, and the higher surface good for writing or homework.

I've found that getting up to stretch for a couple of minutes and changing my position every hour or two helps a lot also.

[Input Nirvana]

Let's address the easy and the obvious.

How is your health? If your pain has mostly started/gotten worse in the last year...has your overall physical condition deteriorated at all? A vast majority of back pain is attributed to a weak core (abs, etc.) which then does not support your back muscle structure, and that leads/contributes to injury, physical stress, general discomfort. Pilates is very good for core workouts. Face it, we aren't bio-mechanically engineered to sit rigidly at a desk and type. It ain't natural. If an area is bothersome, often it needs to get worked MORE to build it up/increase the musculature so it can withstand other forms of stress. Upper back is very different than lower, it sure seems it's workstation related from what you say, and maybe stress, both of which can be fixed.

I've noticed the people with more active lifestyle and stronger cores have far less back issues...almost as an absolute statement.

You can ergo your butt off, but if it's just to take care of symptoms...you may need to address an underlying problem. Just throwing it out there. Take care of your back and it will last longer and better, just like anything. Be proactive. Every dollar and time you spend on being more comfortable/happier translates to being more productive, healthier and satisfied.

I like my arms being supported and a split keyboard. The 'flatboards' most of you guys use drives me nuts. Hurts my eyes just to see it.

[mkawa]

point taken. i am well aware of muscle weakness in my lower back and in my leg stabilizers (ergo a pretty bad case of runner's knee last year that forced me to substitute swimming for _all_ my running and cycling)

that said, i need a new damn chair and my back hurts *grumble grumble*

[Okita]

1. Herman Miller Embody Chair or Aeron Chair (adjustable backs and arm rests). There's a good reason these chairs cost so much - cheap knock offs will leave you suffering still.

2. Height-adjustable desk from Ikea. The desk's height should be adjusted to the user's chair-height, not the other way around.

3. Height-adjustable LCD display (eye-level display)

4. Inverion Table for daily stretching.

5. Tempurpedic pillow

If you sit long enough you'll still suffer from backpain no matter how good your ergo setup is. Imo this can only be countered with daily stretching and exercise.

[hoggy]

If you need to work your core muscles, then sitting on a swiss ball might help - but you'll get the weird looks that most people try to avoid.  If you don't fancy the pilates, then you might want to invest in a slendertone system abs belt.

Of course taking a frequent break will really help.  Develop a caffeine addiction to get you moving about (only joking). 

Edit: just noticed the muscles/lower back bit - I doubt strengthening your stomach but not the back will help much...

[Okita]

If you need to work your core muscles, then sitting on a swiss ball might help - but you'll get the weird looks that most people try to avoid.  If you don't fancy the pilates, then you might want to invest in a slendertone system abs belt.

Of course taking a frequent break will really help.  Develop a caffeine addiction to get you moving about (only joking). 

Edit: just noticed the muscles/lower back bit - I doubt strengthening your stomach but not the back will help much...

I forgot about fitness ball chairs + pilates. Learning pilates atm, and the fitness ball chairs are real nice for 20 minutes of use a day to strengthen up those core muscles and improve posture.

[Findecanor]

A question from another angle: How much do you work out, and do you get enough sleep?
The body repairs itself and builds muscle when you sleep properly. Workout without enough sleep only wears you out.

[sordna]

Herman Miller Aeron, can't go wrong with it. Note it comes in 3 sizes. The lumbar support thing it has is rather obtrusive though, I tend to move it all the way down, to support my pelvis, otherwise it pushes into my lower back too much. This chair has helped my back a lot!

[Lanx]

backs hurt imo and my experience because of 2 things
1, ppl sit like they are a hunchback, you goto any office (or student lab) and you'll see the hunch back
2. ppl sit straight up like a soldier.

if either of this is happening (and it is 99% of the time) then you need to change your habits.

one major thing to note, if your spine hurts then everything hurts since your spine and spinal cord is the center for everything painful, and this is where most back issues stem from.

1. stop being a hunch back, lean back into the chair let the chair "cradle" you, of course if you have a $20 kitchen chair or even some $50 to $150 office depot(staples) chair, it's not going to help.

2. again while it is believed sitting up like a soldier is good for you, it actually creates "pain areas" all this sitting up prim and proper like is creating issues in your lower back/hip area, or even your ass. People could stand at attention for hours at a time, but not sit at attention for hours at a time why is that? 100% of your weight is being distributed evenly in a nice way vertically to your legs, but if you're sitting at attention for hours on end, you're distributing your weight and stops at your hips/lower back, so while your ass is the biggest muscle in the body, it's not like it's working when you're sitting on it (in fact it's a flacid muscle at this point and just a "sack of meat") you're then putting all the stress on your lower back or in ergonomics, why there is a thing called "lumbar support".

so stop being a hunch back or a sitting soldier, (of course there will be more to add) and there are other options that "make" the sitting soldier work like sitting on an exercise ball or having the computer at standing height so you're standing all day, so why does this work instead of sitting? cuz we covered why standing is great and distributed, but for exercises ball, you have to engage your leg muscles to take and distribute your weight all the time, less you fall down.

we'll talk about why you "have" to get a good ergonomic chair next time (be prepared to spend at least $500)

[mkawa]

thanks for all the extremely good info folks. waiting for your update lanx. have not heard this advice but it makes quite a bit of sense.

[Gerk]

Herman Miller Aeron, can't go wrong with it. Note it comes in 3 sizes. The lumbar support thing it has is rather obtrusive though, I tend to move it all the way down, to support my pelvis, otherwise it pushes into my lower back too much. This chair has helped my back a lot!

Yep I have to agree with this.  The lumbar support is ok for me but yes I think it needs to be all the way down for it to be effective.  Very important to get the right size for you.  I also added a headrest (that I bought from Input Nirvana) which helps for some postures (depends what I'm working on and how I'm sitting).  I tend to lean way back when doing large amounts of reading so it's helpful then.

[alaricljs]

I would love to discover this (see vid) in a shop in the states to at least try out for a day.  That would actually be an awesome service.  Office furniture showroom/demo room w/ wifi.  Try out a setup for a day while actually working.

[Lanx]

I would love to discover this (see vid) in a shop in the states to at least try out for a day.  That would actually be an awesome service.  Office furniture showroom/demo room w/ wifi.  Try out a setup for a day while actually working.

i actually have that setup, but a bit better imo, the difference i see is that you're using a laptop and i do NOT believe a laptop that keeps both your monitor and keyboard area fixed, is good for ergonomics, they both have to be to be adjusted independently to be optimal, i'll upload a video of my work setup in a bit, but it's basically the same thing. (with more adjustments for monitor/keyboard but the  swivel is more limited since i am locked down to a wall, (but who wants to swivel 360 while working anyway?)

[alaricljs]

Yeah, I would not be using a laptop w/ it.

[Lanx]

disclaimers,
yes quality is horrible, fiance took the good camera, and the only other good camera i have (surprisingly) is on my galaxy s3 and i can't tripod mount that.

oh and i noticed i didn't have full range of motion with my main monitor cuz well, it's been in that position for a year (i only moved it to demonstrate for you guys, so now i have to find my perfect setting again!) and to be honest that monitor is 24in and probably a bit too heavy for the mount, also i have 2 speakers velcro stripped to the side of the monitor as well adding lots of weight (as you can see i have no wall in front of me so i had to go old school and tape speakers to the side of the monitors).

i found with this setup my neck just moves up or down, so it was far easier on my neck muscles to position my second monitor on top of my main (instead of the traditional side by side)

this is also the chair cradling your body or spine, that i talked about previously, it'd be great for the chair to take the brunt of the weight distribution and ergonomics instead of your unflexed gluteous maximus. This also makes lumbar support essential and not optional (lumbar support basically is where there is support for your lower back, where it curves from the "S" shape).

i'm not saying this is optimal, but it has worked wonders for me, i almost never have backpain (unless i do a 15hour stretch of work lol, but who wouldn't) when i used to complain b4 after 2hours of work.

my floating desk is basically attached to the wall where my nightstand should ideally be, yes my foot rest (which i believe most people should have) doubles as my bed (i don't wear shoes in the house, so it's not like i track nasty stuff inside), you could just use a standard ottoman.

i actually have removed the arm rests from the chair, i found them limiting my body movement and "kept me" confined in a position, this might be different if they were more adjustable (lower actually) but for now without them it's great.

oh and just recently my plastic floor mat, got totalled, i rolled on that thing so much i actually caused rips in them, so thats why i'm not rolling smoothly, i need to get a new plastic mat (i'm on carpet atm).

[alaricljs]

So what chair Make/Model is that?

[Lanx]

it's a ergo human, quick google produced this amazon link
http://www.amazon.com/Ergohuman-Ergonomic-Chair-Headrest-Chrome/dp/B002LK1YNO/ref=pd_sbs_op_1
me7erg

i guess there's a new version out now, haven't looked at it, don't know the difference (i will soon, i'm curious now)

[stingrae]

Ergohuman is a nice chair, preferred it over an Aeron. Found it to fit better than cheaper chairs which seem to be made for people shorter than 6'1...Not a perfect chair indeed the arm rests could do with some improvements but it's not bad either and defiantly improved my third year at university comfort wise as I had noticed my back was getting sore from the long hours on a standard chair. Since moving quite suddenly back to South Africa it is ironic that I'm now sitting on something intended to watch Cricket on, on a normal table chair...(http://howzatseat.co.za/ lol). It is well better than nothing and I've added cushions. Still would prefer my chair

[Lanx]

yea i preferred the ergohuman over my herman millar chair(which is on my porch) sadly for chairs above office depot/staples you have to goto a specialty store or just one of those "posh" furniture stores in order to try a "slick" looking aeron or steelcase. When i was looking at more varieties of ergonomic chairs i had to find those "upscale" type office stores where they had like the "zen" look or whatever crap. I found aerons and steelcase chairs to try out, not because that store cared about ergonomics, but rather these chairs probably just "looked" cool or had that new age look/feel. (i found out office depot at one point sold rebranded ergohumans in a few select stores but couldn't find one to try out).

but it has been a while since i did research on chair buying/trying, i know most others were just lucky enough to be in an office that had an aero or steelcase to try out, what about others?

[alaricljs]

I've worked in an aeron and it's comfy... but that only lasted a couple hours longer than other chairs for me.  I'd love to find a showroom around here to try out the ergo human.

[dorkvader]

I used to have some lower back pain, so I raised up my laptop, so I use it in a standing position. It allows me to shift around a lot, and forces me to stand with good posture. Perhaps a standing desk is an option to consider? (My chair was free, I can't really afford an ergo chair, but I've never tried (or even seen) one, so I really don't know if it'd help that much).

I was a competitive gymnast for 9 years, so I guess my core is in good shape. This could be why standing works so well for me.

That's the extent of my knowledge in this area.

[WRXChris]

I used to have bad lower back ache after long work days at my computer desk.  Turned out it was from being in horrible shape; I now spend at least an hour a day swimming or cycling and the pain is gone.  As others have mentioned core strength takes a ton of strain off the weak lower back muscles and makes long sitting sessions much more bearable.

I also switched from a $200 staples chair to an auto-like seat that came with my obutto desk.  The more ergonomic tilt angle is definitely an improvement, but the obutto chair has humongous bolsters that force me to type with my elbows too far away from my body (apparently the obutto engineers over-estimated the lateral g's my race sims produce..).  I plan to eventually fab a mount for a recaro from a mkv gti, which should improve ergonomics immensely!

I realize that you mentioned you are in good shape, mkawa, and have a regular exercise routine, so this info probably won't be helpful for you but is relevant for others. Also I doubt you want an obutto cockpit, again, relevant to the ergo discussion.

[shrap]

I work using a standing desk and a drafting stool. Although I spend probably the majority of time in the stool and probably in a hunchback position, it's awfully nice to stand up and stretch while still doing work.

Plus, when someone needs to talk to me, we're at the same level instead of me looking up at them standing.

[Lanx]

yea you ppl with good cores (core strength, someone could explain more or just google core strength) could stand more abuse lol cuz you got muscle holding you up.

[mkawa]

I realize that you mentioned you are in good shape, mkawa, and have a regular exercise routine, so this info probably won't be helpful for you but is relevant for others. Also I doubt you want an obutto cockpit, again, relevant to the ergo discussion.

omg i'd never heard of the obutto cockpits before. my friend has the seat that specifically pairs with the DF2 and GT5, but i'd never seen a general computing version. WANT!!

it sounds like i do need to modify my routine even more to do the lower back, glut and leg stabs workouts that i've been half-assing. i've gone from cycling -> running + cycling -> (achilles tendonitis) running -> cycling + running + gymnastics -> (runner's knee) -> gymnastics + swimming ->

[dorkvader]

You did Gymnastics? What and how much? Sorry, it's just so rare I see others that have dabbled even a little in Gymnastics.

friend convinced me to try. loved it. small build, masochist, just happened. i mostly focus on conditioning though because i get very dizzy doing most beginner skills

edit: oh crap DV, i (kawa) just clobbered your post by accident. and i wanted to read the rest! crap! grumble. if you remember what you said about gymnastics, please repost. this is my reply to that anyway

[fartq]

aaaaaahhh hate supermans so so much

[demik]

my dad had two herniated discs at 30 something (i'm sure having three kids didn't help)

your father had 3 kids?

and it wasn't on the news???

[dorkvader]

aaaaaahhh hate supermans so so much

In my time as a gymnast, I came to recognize waking up, barely able to stand (let alone walk), with every muscle as sore as possible as the natural order of things. Now, I enjoy the soreness I get after a good workout the day before. Eventually, I thought I might become addicted to working out (I feel the endorphin release very strongly) so I had to quit. Now I'm slowly working my way back into it.

I normally combine exercise with reading. Yo,u really can't go wrong there. If you have a phone or tablet, you can GeekHack and exercise at the same time.

[Lanx]

reading? i usually work out to either
1. rap/rock
2. pdf with text to speech (via droid phone)

[Icarium]

You know what I do when I work out?



I work out.

[Trent]

Master race reporting in



You'll never have any sort of back pain whatsoever!

Linky: http://store.hermanmiller.com/Products/Aeron-Chair

Some people pay the ~$900 price tag for one but I got mine used for FREE, so investigate craigslist a bit you may be able to get one used for a fair price [or free if the person is an idiot and doesn't know what they have  ]

[dorkvader]

I realize that you mentioned you are in good shape, mkawa, and have a regular exercise routine, so this info probably won't be helpful for you but is relevant for others. Also I doubt you want an obutto cockpit, again, relevant to the ergo discussion.

omg i'd never heard of the obutto cockpits before. my friend has the seat that specifically pairs with the DF2 and GT5, but i'd never seen a general computing version. WANT!!

it sounds like i do need to modify my routine even more to do the lower back, glut and leg stabs workouts that i've been half-assing. i've gone from cycling -> running + cycling -> (achilles tendonitis) running -> cycling + running + gymnastics -> (runner's knee) -> gymnastics + swimming ->

yea you ppl with good cores (core strength, someone could explain more or just google core strength) could stand more abuse lol cuz you got muscle holding you up.

I don't know much about ergonomics, but I will contribute what I can in the areas I do know. Directly, to respond to Lanx, IT 's true! I would rate core strength as the most important muscle group. I was a gymnast for 9 years, and my coach was a physical therapist (which basically meant that she knew everything). When we worked on our "core" muscles, it normally included: Abdominals, Obliques (On the side), and Latisimus dorsi (lats). Sometimes we'd also do the hip-flexor muscles, (right below the abs, and related to raising the legs up) but I consider them to be more lags than core.

There are a number of exercises that are useful to do for core work. Abdominals are easy to work out. Hollow holds (upper back and legs held off the ground) are easy to do, and good. Hollow-rocks are better, and for hardcore people V-ups are excellent. (From a hollow hold, snap arms and legs upwards and touch your feet. I used to do 3*100 as part of conditioning). Perhaps the most useful is the "seal stretch" which is where you push your upper back up off the ground, stretching your abs. It's very helpful after exercising.

There are some less that I know for lower back (lats). One of the best is the superman hold, on your stomach, your legs and upper chest are off the ground. We used to do superman rocks in this position, bu I wouldn't really recommend it for guys unless you're good.

Side crunches normally suffice for the obliques (one very important and oft overlooked muscle group). I, however, prefer to hold on my side, elbow bent, and forearm on the ground. Arch upwards as far as possible, and hold until you get tired. A surprisingly good reading position, as your other hand is free.

Finally, Prone hold is great. Like the above, but with both arms on the ground. I usually did it hands clasped, reminiscent of it's other name "punishing prayer". You hold your back as flat and tight as possible. Facing the ground, elbows bent. Elbows and forearms on the ground.
---
There are other better holds and exercises, but most of the ones I know require Gymnastics equipment, or are somewhat difficult. Some, such as the candlestick hold, can be very difficult (and really good for your core), but hard to do "right". If you do it wrong, it's very easy.

There's really a lot of good exercises that can be done. I don't really "do" weights, because I never needed them in gymnastics.

Somewhat also on topic: I've been looking at some of these chairs, and been astounded by the enormous expense. Although some look relatively useful, and interesting, some just look like chairs to me. Still, I'm interested, and perhaps I should look to upgrade my current "free" chair to a better one, though it gets less use.

(As expected, my typos are much more common after a few drinks of Delirium noel - Highly recommended.).

[alaricljs]

So I'm sitting on an HM Mirra right now.  Quite adjustable, only thing missing according to the directions is the forward tilt.  I'm not a fan of leaning into the desk, so no problem there.  The best part about it is that I'm sitting in front of an adjustable height desk. 

All my desk work for the week will be at this station, so hopefully I'll have enough time to decide what I like or don't about it.  Right now the thing  that I am liking the most is the adjustable height desk with soft-roll front lip (gently rounded instead of square w/ a small quarter round).

[mkawa]

yep the mirra is quite a nice chair. finally bit the bullet and ordered a refurb aeron. hopefully it works out, but if not i'll just go back in time and become a gymnast for 9 years like DV

fyi, you can do L-holds, leg lifts, (not sure what a candlestick hold in), and a bunch of other stuff with just an iron gym style pull-up bar (assuming you're not too tall)

oh, and if it DOES work out, look forward to a keyboard sale to fund the chair. HAH!

[Lanx]

which aeron did you end up getting?
do they even have one with a head rest? i use mine lots.

[mkawa]

"fully loaded" refurb off of sit4less

[absyrd]

Right now the thing  that I am liking the most is the adjustable height desk with soft-roll front lip (gently rounded instead of square w/ a small quarter round).

This is as much of a big deal to me as a nice chair (along with adjustable monitor height). Just one of the three doesn't do it for me. If you get the nicest chair in the world and your desk is still too low and monitor isn't at the right height, most people end up falling into the same old posture habits. I know I did when I first got my debilitating injury.

I'm still using a standing desk right now, but I think I'm ready to give sitting a try again for 10-15 mins at a time. This chair discussion will sure help guide me as all I have is a yoga ball atm.

[swagpiratex]

Let's think outside of the box.

mkawa, do you have a gym membership? If you do, and if you read the description of how to do squats on fitocracy and watch some youtube videos, maybe you can alleviate your problems for the cost of gym membership and a little time & sweat? (as little as 15 minutes a session)

EDIT: Just kidding, didn't see dorkvader's post re: working on your body to alleviate problems. But yes, I recommend starting squats. My back is now more than 5x stronger than when I first started. I think it will definitely help with your back pain.

[dorkvader]

Let's think outside of the box.

mkawa, do you have a gym membership? If you do, and if you read the description of how to do squats on fitocracy and watch some youtube videos, maybe you can alleviate your problems for the cost of gym membership and a little time & sweat? (as little as 15 minutes a session)

EDIT: Just kidding, didn't see dorkvader's post re: working on your body to alleviate problems. But yes, I recommend starting squats. My back is now more than 5x stronger than when I first started. I think it will definitely help with your back pain.

As a gymnast, we did squats with no extra weight. Several hundred at a time. It is a very good exercise, especially if you can set up a pillow or something to make sure you go down far enough. Focusing on form, it can be an excellent exercise. That said, I don't think it'll do much for mkawa's upper back, or core. Sure, any balancing exercise like a squat will work out core a little, but squats are much more legs (and back, if you do them wrong).

I personally don't like squats with weight due to the fact that if your form is a little off (like it will be if you are learning, or lazy/stupid, like the guys at my old gym) you can really injure yourself. If you don't have a bar or extra weight, it's much more forgiving. Also, using your body weight is very similar to how you move. If you have a job that requires picking up things with weights, then squats with extra weight make sense. Otherwise, I like to use the weight my own body provides.

Not recommending against squats, I just feel there are exercises that should be focused on first.

Hah, maybe I should split this topic into a "ergo chair" topic and a "excercises for core strength & ergonomic benefits of exercising" topics.

You'll have to tell us what you think once your chair arrives.

[PointyFox]

Do this:


Note the angles the arms and legs need to be at and that the feet should supported.  It's critical to have the arms, table, and chair and the correct heights.  If your feet can't reach the floor and the table and your arms are at the correct height, use a floor footrest.

[mkawa]

like dv said, my problem is that i do too many squats and not enough superman holds/lifts. not my fault! I HATE THEM. seriously, when i first started it was the only thing that had ever made me want to puke

[PointyFox]

like dv said, my problem is that i do too many squats and not enough superman holds/lifts. not my fault! I HATE THEM. seriously, when i first started it was the only thing that had ever made me want to puke

Weightlifting will wear out the cushioning between your bones and make the pain worse, especially later in life when your muscles start atrophying and can no longer redistribute loads as effectively.

[The_Beast]

That thing looks bad ass

[alaricljs]

That "ergo" chart can't be right.  I seem to recall the new recommendations to be wider angles all around.  I know I can't have all my joints at 90s and be comfortable.

[PointyFox]

That "ergo" chart can't be right.  I seem to recall the new recommendations to be wider angles all around.  I know I can't have all my joints at 90s and be comfortable.

I'm not sure.  It works for me.  I usually recline around 110-120 degrees, which is within the range on the chart.  Right now my arms are about 80 degrees, which is putting extra pressure on my elbows.

[xcelerate]

I picked up a leather humanscale freedom chair for a steal about 2 months ago, and what little lower back pain I was experiencing after extended seating disappeared, the task chair I was using previously did not have a headrest so that may have had something to do with it. Ergonomic corrections to your existing layout are well worth the effort in the mid-long run and I am happy I splurged on the chair and made the smaller ergo adjustments where possible. I would recommend 2nd hand for higher end, there are some great deals out there.

[PointyFox]

Show Image

I picked up a leather humanscale freedom chair for a steal about 2 months ago, and what little lower back pain I was experiencing after extended seating disappeared, the task chair I was using previously did not have a headrest so that may have had something to do with it. Ergonomic corrections to your existing layout are well worth the effort in the mid-long run and I am happy I splurged on the chair and made the smaller ergo adjustments where possible. I would recommend 2nd hand for higher end, there are some great deals out there.

Your eyes should be about even with the top of your screen to help prevent eye/neck strain.   :cool:

[xcelerate]

Your eyes should be about even with the top of your screen to help prevent eye/neck strain.   

They are, my head extends above the headrest, and the headrest is adjustable as well, i typically have it raised up a bit more than pictured, as per ergo chart above  )

[Lanx]

that chart is from 1998 , ppl spend more hours in chairs/online. it's even before the dot com boom and bust, before ergo chairs and height adjustable everything, imo old chart, should be thrown out. (for instance it does not take into account 2 or 3 or even more monitor setups, i mean who has one monitor anymore really?)

[Glod]

I spend up to 18 hours a day in my chair (usually 12) as i work from home most of the time and then leisure/game from the same desk. Yes that sounds ridiculous but its the truth i swear

I used to be in major pain, i didn't feel energetic at all, i was suffering. I think it was actually causing me to gain weight more than being at a desk for 18 hours does already.

Then i saved up and bought the HM Embody chair about 2 years ago and wow, just wow, things are so much better now, i mean this thing is freaking amazing and durable too, only fabric discoloration is the only issue i can think of.

http://www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/work-chairs/embody-chairs.html

its pretty expensive though......

[absyrd]

That thing is nuts, glod. Looks like it is straight out of a sci-fi film.

I watched as much as I could of the adjustment tutorial vids. Can't believe after 2 years that none of the knobs and levers have given out.

[Glod]

That thing is nuts, glod. Looks like it is straight out of a sci-fi film.

I watched as much as I could of the adjustment tutorial vids. Can't believe after 2 years that none of the knobs and levers have given out.

After spending a little more than a grand on my chair, it better damn well last me a decade lol

[Lanx]

actually, my chair, even tho it was expensive, i used the shifter knob so much it broke off, and it was hard plastic too. I then found gorrila glue and that makes an incredible bond, it can stand up to me shifting again (it requires a lot of force) i did have to reapply the gorrila glue once after 2 years i believe but it's not a bad fix.

[mkawa]

so i've had a few days with the aeron and the foam lumbar support. in general, i like the aeron, and in some ways i can definitely see how it's superior to the mirra. in particular, i really like having the sized-to-fit aeron seat pan rather than the one-size-fits-all-but-here's-an-adjustment mirra seat pan. i also like that the back suspension isn't obviously going to break off of its supports like all the mirra ones eventually do. however, i kind of like the higher back of the mirra more than the aeron, and well.. i think the key difference between the two is:

the HM aeron is completely unusable without one of the "optional" lower back support kits

seriously, the aeron has 0 lower back support without either the foam lumbar thing or the posturefit. with good lower back support it's very nice, but i can see why there are multiple options available, because there's just no support down there built into the design.

anyway, i have the posturefit kit coming next week, and i've found that even after a few days, i'm still tuning the chair settings. i'll check in periodically with how the chair is going, but so far i know it's definitely a keeper.

also, dv: hahhahahaha 3x 100 v-ups? FFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU

i bet you followed that with like 10 x 75 muscle up-and-overs on the high bar. i hate you born and bred gymnasts when i'm at the gym lol

[ferociousfingerings]

This is a topic i can identify wi- "with which i can identify." (lol.)

I played high school football in a small town in TX. I played "line," both ways, and was only ~6' 190lbs., by my junior year. (in other words: not really big enough to play line...)
Before my football years, i was very into skateboarding. (lots of falling and odd motions)
Around age 11-12, i started learning/playing guitar on a regular basis. (constant asymmetrical positioning)

My freshman year of HS ("long story short") (edit: ok, not really), we had 11 grade-eligible guys on JV, all playing every snap, and while on defense, i both took and delivered a direct helmet to helmet crown-hit, and experienced my first neck-related nerve injury. This type of thing happened 2-3 more times in the next 2 seasons. During my Junior year, i had a mild concussion, and another nerve-injury, due to an illegal, below the knee "cut-block," during a kick-off, which resulted in me doing a vertical "180," and landing directly on top of my head. Luckily, my helmet jammed into my shoulder pads and stopped, before anything more serious occured... but it still caused damage. Same year, I broke my right fibula at the ankle, on the growth-plate, twice; once during a game (next to last game of the season), and again 6-months later trying to rehab for next season. Unfortunately (perhaps not-so-unfortunately), after that 2nd break, i didn't suit up again. My neck has always bothered me, ever since... but my ankle almost never gives me trouble. Only if i "stomp" flat-footed.

Jump ahead to ~4 years later, i was living in Austin, TX, very into "urban bmx," and riding down increasingly large stair-sets. Not "rails" or "grinding," but actually riding down the steps themselves, often at high rates of speed. I was getting ridiculously good at "manualing" (riding a sustained "wheelie" for long distances, often over obstacles), and riding every day, like a madman.

Around this time, i had also been introduced to a somewhat-well-kept-secret tai-chi/kung-fu "school," in the outskirts.

I learned about mindset, breathing, relaxation, flexibility, posture, positioning, technique, movement, some "actual kung-fu," and even falls... (a not well known northern shaolin family system, in case anyone is wondering... along with some tai chi, chi kung, and even a bit of yoga. Not saying i'm a "badass" or anything; just that i learned some very useful stuff at a place i'm glad i was allowed to experience.)

And despite all the problems and injuries i've had, the stuff i learned at that place literally changed my life. I didn't even complete "the long form," but what i learned changed the way i approach interactions with everything; including the way i sit, mouse, and type. ^^

So back to "urban bmx;" one day i was "kung-fu-biking" (lol), and i guess my balls were bigger than my eyes, and i rolled up on this 4-section, 32-total-step set, and thought "f'yeah."

So close... but slammed so hard. Whole left side of my body, meet concrete. Thigh meet cross-bar.

So i get up in a daze, wondering if i had been out longer than a blink... and rode about 1.5 blocks home... and proceeded to leave my bike in the open doorway, collapse on my bed into a "post-concussion-nap," and have a nightmare that i got hit by a car, while riding my bike. When i woke up ~2 hours later, at first i didn't remember what happened, but as i came-to, i started freaking out when i realized that the pain in my dream was real. For a few panicked moments, i had no idea... until i finally got up and walked out of my room, to see my bike still laying in the open doorway.

"Oh yeah... damn this hurts..."

I could barely even walk, for the next two weeks. At the time, it seemed terrible... but i eventually got over it.

BUT THEN... (lol)

I moved out of the city, back to the small town, with my best friend from HS, and we got back into skateboards again. By this time, i had learned to be more careful, and could usually avoid serious injuries. Quite a few times i rolled that bad ankle enough to scare myself, but never really messed it up.

We had built a little rampish plywood platform at the house, to avoid the need to drive several miles to anything skateable.

One day, i was trying to learn a heelflip, rolled off a 1' drop, and ended up folding my "back leg" (left) knee sideways. That sh!t was excruciating. Another 2 weeks of immobility... doc said "sprained MCL;" I said "you mean tear. That one took... years... to start feeling "stable" again, without tender soreness. ~10 years later, it still aches sometimes, especially when the seasons change.

So, for a while, i didn't have any new crazy injuries... but almost 3 years ago, i flipped my '95 integra after double-over-correcting, after a "lift-throttle-oversteer" in the middle of a ~40mph curve, pushing 90+.

Could have died. Didn't. Lucky as hell... but hurt my neck again. That one still bothers me every day.

The really weird thing is that i didn't even know i was hurt at all, for about 3 months.

I flipped it, landed on it's wheels, and it even started back up, and i was able to drive it, all smashed up, to within a block of my home, before the damage caused it to swing itself into another ditch at ~20mph, and get stuck there.

Since then... almost everything has gone wrong in my life... and so on top of all those past injuries, i've struggled with severe depression... which really doesn't help living with nerve damage, in the slightest.


And on top of all this... my chair sucks too! (lol). It has a slight side-lean. Last thing someone with symmetry issues and nerve damage needs.

What i can recommend for the topic, is that i fully agree with all the suggestions about "core strength" being of utmost importance, but also emphasize breathing, "active relaxation" (supple; not loose, not tense), and probably most of all, your mental state. You have to be in a reasonably appropriate "comfortable" position, but your mind needs to be comfortable as well... and try not to be static. Get up, move around. Go outside and just breathe some fresh air. Improve your nutrition. Stop worrying. Slow down. Try to let your body find it's own most appropriate position. (i know, some of this is easier said than done) And when your back hurts, be gentle with it. You only get one!

(lol: "fix your chair with your mind!)

Or, you know, you could maybe check out "bizchair {dot} com" (no affiliation; just found it a week or so ago, and thought "hey, lots of chairs...")
They might have something reasonable that doesn't suck.
Or maybe even something unreasonably awesome. ^^


TL;DR:

"my chair also sucks, and my back hurts too. Try to be more careful. Try to be healthier. Breathe. Relax... and stuff. And probably find a chair that doesn't suck, but instead, gently suggests your body into a more appropriate, long-term sitting posture."

[alaricljs]

Anyone know of a place closer to CT than Manhattan where I could try out a Humanscale Freedom? 

cross posted from the task-chair thread...

[SleepingInMyCode]

So let me throw in my two cents. You're probably not going to like it but... here goes.

1) Get a standing desk.
2) Barefoot or minimalist footware.
3) Fix imbalances in your posture proactively.

I've been doing all three for the last two years and it's been great.

For the back pain as well as the posture, check out http://www.mobilitywod.com/

http://www.mobilitywod.com/tag/psoas
http://www.mobilitywod.com/?s=back+pain
http://www.mobilitywod.com/?s=Standing+Desk

[Icarium]

Well, we have discussed standing desks earlier.

There seem to be studies that came to the conclusion that they're not really healthy and personally I find it extremely exhausting to use one for an extended time period.

Haven't made my final judgement yet.

[mkawa]

i have to agree on #2 though. building up your balancers is hugely important, not just for your knees (but also for your knees), but for your back.

finally, i think everyone agrees that fixing one's posture is important. the question is HOW

ps,

i just realized that i forgot to update on the posturefit kit. it's FAR superior to the chintzy little lumbar support thing, and pretty much trivial to install (people on amazon etc make a big deal of it but seriously rolleyes)..

[Lanx]

being in retail for 4 years, i just don't see how a standing desk can be good for you in the long run, trading forced posture for eventual foot pain/aggravation. On a side note i did have this issue of not being able to study sitting down, i had to stand and read for a few months to kick that habbit.

[DarkShot]

I mean not to threadjack at all, but was wondering for those who've gotten an ergo chair, did you try it out before you got it?

I don't have the readily available option to do so without taking a lot of time to travel to, and then around Toronto (over an hour away and I don't have a vehicle).

I don't think my posture is the greatest, but a standing desk won't do it for me as I'm on my feet for 8+ hours a day for work and most of my time not standing is spent at my desk. Hence, I intend to get orthopedics and an ergo chair but have no way to try one out.

Anyone take the 'leap' and get one before trying?

Crossposting from the Task chair thread.

[alaricljs]

You really have to analyze your usage and figure out what sort of things you need to have in a chair.  On top of that try to find reviews of the chairs most interesting to you.  I will not get a Freedom without trying it since many people agree that you either love how it works or hate it.  I can't risk $1k+ like that.  On the other hand I've sat in a Mirra and in an Aeron and can say that either is an excellent option if they meet your specific needs.  I have not used an Aeron with an ergo desk but I have done so with a Mirra, if you want a lowered-height desk the Mirra will function with it nicely and is a comfortable chair (with the full adjustment package).

I'd really like to get the HM Envelop desk and believe that if I find the Freedom comfortable it would be an excellent match given what I've seen of how it reclines.  HM shows the Envelop with the Embody without arms... I've never tried an Embody but it's price is above my threshold of pain.

[DarkShot]

I can't risk it either, as I'm located in a town where reselling is absolutely not an option.

I've been looking at the HM Celle as it's one of the cheaper chairs that I could get as money is tight as is, so even dropping a few hundred on a new chair is tough but this 10+ year old chair isn't cutting it anymore.

I'm really looking for a chair with an adjustable seat pitch and length as well as lumbar support. Adjustable arm wrests aren't a priority for me, however a headrest would be an added bonus. Of course, the chairs with this are dead expensive, even on the used market.

[mkawa]

one of the problems with "try before you buy" is that you really need to use a workstation for a good few weeks to get a good idea of how it's going to work in the long term.

[kurplop]

one of the problems with "try before you buy" is that you really need to use a workstation for a good few weeks to get a good idea of how it's going to work in the long term.

That's a good point, a complete tryout is sometimes impractical. I know that I always get funny looks when I go to a mattress store with my pajamas and teddy bear.  Unless they let you spend the night sleeping on it, how can you really know how your back is going to feel in the morning?

Another difficulty with a highly adjustable ergo chair is that is can take weeks of fiddling around with the settings before you get it right for you and then another few weeks of use to confirm that they really are the best settings.

My point about trying it out is more to identify the glaring issues about the chair that would immediately disqualify it from your consideration.

Don't you love/hate making these decisions?

[Amarok]

I tried out the HM Aeron for 45 mins or so in a furniture store called Copenhagen. It's an extremely expensive store and the sales staff seemed pretty annoyed that I was just sitting in a chair playing with my phone for so long, but whatever.

When I bought the chair I ordered it from Smartfurniture.com and I actually didn't like it at all for the first week or so until I found the adjustments that worked best for me. I highly recommend Smartfurniture.com because they have a great return policy if you end up hating what you buy(see below).

When you buy from SmartFurniture.com, if you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, we will be happy to accept a return for a full refund for up to 365 days from your date of purchase -- we will even pay the cost of shipping the product back to us if you return the product within 30 days after it is delivered.*

[alaricljs]

Found a place in Greenwich CT which has the Freedom on the floor... yaaaaaay.

http://www.relaxtheback.com/

[alaricljs]

They didn't know he was going to buy on-line and perhaps if they didn't treat him that way he would have bought from them?

[thegunner100]

They didn't know he was going to buy on-line and perhaps if they didn't treat him that way he would have bought from them?

Kinda applies to the very few stores that sell mainly headphones. A lot of people go in to try the headphones... but the chances of them buying the stuff in the store is fairly low, cause most most products can be found for cheaper on-line, and perhaps tax-free.

[Lanx]

lol, the sales staff could probably tell if you are a customer or you are just there to try out stuff and basically take advantage of the fact that the store has stuff out there for ppl to try. I was in sales for 4 years, i could tell with 90% accuracy if a person was.
a buyer
a browser
an abuser

[thegunner100]

lol, the sales staff could probably tell if you are a customer or you are just there to try out stuff and basically take advantage of the fact that the store has stuff out there for ppl to try. I was in sales for 4 years, i could tell with 90% accuracy if a person was.
a buyer
a browser
an abuser

Could you explain? I'm actually pretty curious about this.

[Amarok]

lol, the sales staff could probably tell if you are a customer or you are just there to try out stuff and basically take advantage of the fact that the store has stuff out there for ppl to try. I was in sales for 4 years, i could tell with 90% accuracy if a person was.
a buyer
a browser
an abuser

Probably haha. Perhaps if they didn't price a $700 chair for $1400 I might have bought it there. Then again I probably wouldn't have since I didn't have to pay tax when buying it online.

[mkawa]

relaxtheback is a nationwide chain btw

[Lanx]

lol, the sales staff could probably tell if you are a customer or you are just there to try out stuff and basically take advantage of the fact that the store has stuff out there for ppl to try. I was in sales for 4 years, i could tell with 90% accuracy if a person was.
a buyer
a browser
an abuser

Could you explain? I'm actually pretty curious about this.

sure, this is of course dependent on one criteria,

is the salesman/staff on commission,
if yes, then they can tell, if they are just on salary, then they can give 2 %%%%,

why? well when you're on commission, you make your paycheck from a customer that buys from you, and that's it (some stores go halfsies, where they pay you min wage + commission or you're put on like a waiter hourly salary and commission, so you have something to fall back on when it's dead slow).

So if you're on commission, you scrutinize the customer, cuz if you don't well you just might be wasiting your time, for example,

guy comes in, wants a chair, you help him and show him this chair, that chair, oh you want this dot com era chairs? or the chairs from 24? sure here they are, 1 hour later he says thanks, i'll go buy it online, and now you've potentially lost 20bucks or how much you would have made in that hour if you had customer that bought from you, a salesman on commission doesn't think that "oh well that's a lost sale" no a salesman on commission thinks, "that customer STOLE, 20bucks from me" because in the end, what do you have in your pockets? nothing, exactly what you got from that. Of course someone can come in with BS, like it's your job to help ppl, or it comes with the territory, or crap like that, those ppl if they are salesmen themselves just suc, they are the lowest common denominator as a salesman, and these kinds of salesman can't tell the difference between...

bleh getting called away will be back to this post later.

[alaricljs]

I foresee a lot of retail stuff moving toward brand sponsored showrooms (no salesman) and on-line sales.

[Amarok]

guy comes in, wants a chair, you help him and show him this chair, that chair, oh you want this dot com era chairs? or the chairs from 24? sure here they are, 1 hour later he says thanks, i'll go buy it online, and now you've potentially lost 20bucks or how much you would have made in that hour if you had customer that bought from you, a salesman on commission doesn't think that "oh well that's a lost sale" no a salesman on commission thinks, "that customer STOLE, 20bucks from me" because in the end, what do you have in your pockets? nothing, exactly what you got from that. Of course someone can come in with BS, like it's your job to help ppl, or it comes with the territory, or crap like that, those ppl if they are salesmen themselves just suc, they are the lowest common denominator as a salesman, and these kinds of salesman can't tell the difference between...

Exactly why when the sales people asked me if I needed help I made it very clear that I didn't want to waste their time and I could look around on my own. That didn't stop the same few people from coming back up to me every 5-10 mins and trying to start selling again, leading to them being annoyed with me. I tried to not waste their time at least... 

[kurplop]

I foresee a lot of retail stuff moving toward brand sponsored showrooms (no salesman) and on-line sales.

I think that is the missing element of online sales. Do you think these showrooms would only display 1 brand or combine with there competitors. For example would Steelcase, HM, Humanscale, etc. display at the same showroom or would a brand have its own proprietary showroom? Another alternative might be renting display space from an office chain like Office Max or Staples. Unfortunately I think the economics of 50 showrooms dedicated to one brand conveniently scattered across the land that doesn't sell but just displays may not pencil out as well as simply offering a 30 day return policy.

[thegunner100]

Problem with offering a 30 day return policy is the inconvenience/cost of either bringing it back to the store, or shipping it back. That being said, a few online retailers do offer free 30 day returns though.

[kurplop]

I agree, I guess I'm just stating the obvious. The showroom idea may just be cost prohibitive.  When I was looking for a chair I was frustrated too that there was no place local to try out the more esoteric ergo chairs. I'm just trying to see it from the vendors perspective. 

[thegunner100]

Vendors can always lower the price on their floor models, as long as they don't advertise it. It's a way of bypassing MAP and perhaps they can convince their customers to buy the chair from their store instead of buying it online.

[alaricljs]

MAP... lol.  The showrooms I'm looking at are in areas where they can sell the chairs hundreds above MAP.  Hell, I can get the Freedom cheaper directly from Humanscale.

[Lanx]

anyway long story short, a commissioned salesman can tell what type of shopper you are usually the first step you take into a store, everything is evaluated, sex/race/clothing,demeanor blah blah. For example 10 years ago i wouldn't really go and help a lady buy a laptop, usually they just come in browse, ask tons of questions, unless...
1. they are with a kid (usually kid says i want this)
2. it's july/august/september (college/high school starts)
3. they are pretty

now when i say they are pretty, i don't mean that my 21 year old self was a horn dog, no them being pretty means that they probably married well, and even if they didn't dress up just to look at laptops, i would always eyeball the ring, if the rock was oversized (as in it was too big for her fingers, guys who have bought engagement rings know what i mean) that means she married into money, and for her just buying a 2k or 3k laptop just off a whim was no big deal for her.

i could say more for example but it'd just really make me look like an a$$, i mean it was really like "mean girls" for salesmanship.

[alaricljs]

Sat in 2 Humanscale Freedoms today.  First one was base model w/ std arms and headrest.  It was ok... made me think I should try some other ergo chairs.  On the way to the office I thought maybe they'd rent it to me for a week so I could make a solid decision.

The 2nd one was after work and had upgraded fabric, arms and seat.  Wave fabric is plush, quite nice compared to the base Vellum.  The arms don't really effect me since I don't use arms, but the upgrade is that they swivel in over your lap.  Then there is the seat bottom, the upgrade is some gel substance instead of firm foam and it solved my decision dilemma.  The gel seat bottom really completes this chair.

[mkawa]

alaric enjoys soft gel on his bottom. duly noted.

[DarkShot]

Went to Staples today to try out some of the chairs and wasn't impressed with most of them. Somewhat disappointing, seems like I'll have to save up to actually get a good chair.

[mkawa]

for long periods of sitting, i can't think of a single chair i've used under 400$ or so that has not ended up causing some kind of pain, and i've gone through quite a few. in retrospect, if i'd thrown down on a proper ergo chair 10 years ago, i'd have spent the same amount of money total and saved myself a lot of soft tissue pain.

photographers often say the same thing about tripods, and i'm sure there are tons of other examples in the world of mechanical engineering. there's a certain amount of hard reality that the laws of (bio!)physics provide.

[thegunner100]

for long periods of sitting, i can't think of a single chair i've used under 400$ or so that has not ended up causing some kind of pain, and i've gone through quite a few. in retrospect, if i'd thrown down on a proper ergo chair 10 years ago, i'd have spent the same amount of money total and saved myself a lot of soft tissue pain.

photographers often say the same thing about tripods, and i'm sure there are tons of other examples in the world of mechanical engineering. there's a certain amount of hard reality that the laws of (bio!)physics provide.

Agreed, cheap chairs really just don't make the cut. You're better off saving up some money for a decent chair than wasting money returning cheap chairs. I learned this the hard way, even though i'm still at a pretty young age.

[Lanx]

craigslist put up some nice 400ish to 600ish results for my area just by typing in "aeron", seems a few of these postings are by businesses (not surprised) that sell refurbished or they do in house refurbishing of the aerons.

i just used aeron as an example, since it's most widely known ergo chair, putting in a more obscure term like leap, humanscale provided no results.

[mkawa]

there are a lot of dotcom era aerons floating around. keep in mind that aerons have 10 year warranties only when purchased from an authorized retailer and only for the original purchaser. ironically, although there are tons of aerons floating around, parts for them are still shockingly expensive.

[DarkShot]

for long periods of sitting, i can't think of a single chair i've used under 400$ or so that has not ended up causing some kind of pain, and i've gone through quite a few. in retrospect, if i'd thrown down on a proper ergo chair 10 years ago, i'd have spent the same amount of money total and saved myself a lot of soft tissue pain.

photographers often say the same thing about tripods, and i'm sure there are tons of other examples in the world of mechanical engineering. there's a certain amount of hard reality that the laws of (bio!)physics provide.

Well I had assumed as such, but hadn't gone out looking for a new chair in for ever as I've been using the same ancient chair for 10+ years already, and this year it's been killing me. Had to replace the base that it came with, so it messed up the forward balance of the chair so it's not centered anymore. Not to mention my rear goes numb after an hour of sitting. Although I think that might be just me, but this isn't comfy for long term.



If I knew that an Aeron would do for me, I'd save up the money and go ahead and get one, as that 10 year warranty is enticing.

[thegunner100]

Has anyone had any experience with instylemodern? They have a pretty big selection of refurb chairs, at a very good price, and free shipping, 30 day returns. It seems like they have their own retail stores and recently opened up their online store in June according to Yahoo.

Really tempted to buy off of them, but just unsure of their reputation.

http://news.yahoo.com/style-modern-furnishings-launches-official-website-225220530.html
http://www.instylemodern.com/category-s/65.htm

Crossover from my thread. We should just combine the two threads somehow into a single thread, since it's pretty much about the same thing. Maybe the "Ergonomic chair thread"?

[Beta32Delta]

1. Herman Miller Embody Chair or Aeron Chair (adjustable backs and arm rests). There's a good reason these chairs cost so much - cheap knock offs will leave you suffering still.

I can second this, went through a few chairs before I shelled out for a aeron and not only does it save your back it also ultimately saves your wallet as the chairs built to last for decades.

[thegunner100]

A guide to high-end ergonomic task chairs!

This is a work in progress, I'm busy with school so this will take some time to complete.

If you own or have sat in any of these chairs, please post your comments in this thread and I'll update this post accordingly. I'm listing the most popular chairs here; if you've sat in the less known high-end chairs, post your opinions here!

Online Retailers: SmartFurniture, TheHumanSolution

I highly recommend purchasing from SmartFurniture. Their customer service is great, and I got a 5% discount through their offer system. They are also having a 10% off Steelcase sale near the end of November if anyone is interested in purchasing a chair from them

Herman Miller
Aeron - $629.00 base, no arms

Embody - $1,099.00 base, no arms

Mirra - $599.00 base, fixed arms

Sayl - $399.00 base, fixed arms

Steelcase
Leap - $769.00 base, no arms
Most expensive of the steelcase chairs, with the most features, and also the most well known by Steelcase.

Amia - $519.00 base, no arms
The little brother to the Leap, with most of its features for only about 2/3 the price. It has a slightly different curve on its back, compared to the Leap.

Think - $629.00 base, no arms.

Humanscale

Freedom - $899.00 base, w/ arms

Liberty - $879.00 base w/ arms

Diffrient - $659.00 base, no arms

Knoll
Generation - $711.00 base, no arms

ReGeneration - $541.00/$643.00 base, no arms

Others

[mistakemistake]

Thanks for posting this! Those Herman Miller chairs look amazing. One day.

[jeroplane]

Great start; there's not many good guides to ergonomic chairs around.

I wonder, would you be able to do a "best chair under $X" guide (e.g. $200, $300)? It would be really helpful to me to know what's the best bang-for-your-buck at lower price points.

[gameaholic]

My next ergo purchase will be the Geek desk:

http://www.geekdesk.com/

Maybe there should be a standing desk guide too.

then I will get a chair.  I definitely want to try out a Herman Miller but here are some chairs I'm interested in that don't get much attention:

http://www.swingchair.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THiR6pRrZwA

http://www.backdesigns.com/Health-benefits-of-saddle-sitting-W13.aspx

[thegunner100]

Great start; there's not many good guides to ergonomic chairs around.

I wonder, would you be able to do a "best chair under $X" guide (e.g. $200, $300)? It would be really helpful to me to know what's the best bang-for-your-buck at lower price points.

I'm going to making another thread again, as requested by mkawa. I'll do my best to to make a "best chair under $X" guide, or atleast the best contestants for the price range. A lot of it is subjective, and of course the chair's comfort will vary a lot by an individuals size, weight, and build.

 Got midterms and papers... sooo it'll have to wait . Meanwhile, I'm enjoying my Amia.

[thegunner100]

New thread posted(sorta). Please continue the discussion in the new thread! Lock away(?), mkawa.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37338.0

[TheQsanity]

Omg. These chairs are so expensive.... But looks so comfy!

I have a cheap one that is worth way less than 50 bucks and though it is cushioned, it feels worse than wood...