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Comment by Mao_Zedang | Hacker News Reader

I used to buy a $100 chair every year because it would break, I have had my miller for almost 11 years now.

I bought a $100 chair, and then I bought a Herman Miller Aeron.

The $100 chair is much more comfortable. For one thing, the seat pan is padded cloth instead of mesh. Even my coworkers prefer it, so we outfitted the office with the $100 chairs, and nobody wants to sit on the uncomfortable $800 Aerons.

What's the $100 chair? I'd love a nice chair that doesn't cost $1000.

Sure thing, jayjay71, here it is (looks like they realized they could bump up the price a bit from four years ago, too):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q5XTE8/ref=oh_aui_sear...

It's the Hyundai of chairs: 90% of what an Aeron is design-wise, but also more comfortable.

Not sure why it has four stars, it had 5 out of 5 back in 2012 when I first discovered it on Amazon, but then I think the listing got removed and then re-added, so all of the reviews went away -- to say nothing of the later explosion of fake reviewers at around 2014 or 2015 that completely destroyed the credibility of Amazon reviews.

So trust me, and take the $150 gamble. :)

The purpose of the mesh is to prevent your ass from sweating. Perhaps you don't have that problem, but it's an issue for a lot of people.

I lost weight down to a BMI of 22 and still appreciate a mesh seat.

I think it's also something you don't really notice until you've used the Aeron a lot - but once you do, you'll become quite aware of it on almost any other seat. Also depends how long you're sitting in a seat at one time.

My Aeron is still one of my favorite purchases (and I paid full price for mine over a decade ago, I don't regret it).

I sit in chairs for 12+ hours a day, I recently got a standing desk though. I can't sit on the mesh without putting a cushion underneath; it's one step above concrete.

It's still also really uncomfortable.

what's the $100 chair, tell me plz

See my cousin post above.

...and it's still in warranty because their warranties are 12 years.

I used Aeron at work. It's decent but not worth that amount of money though.

Can you give me some recommendation ?, i looking for a cheap office chair but ergonomic

Here's the problem: cheap office chairs are not ergonomic. If you're not willing to pay for two-axis adjustable armrests, adjustable seat pan depth, adjustable recline, proper padding, and lumbar support, then you don't have an ergonomic chair.

I'd recommend buying an expensive ergonomic chair from Craigslist or an office furniture liquidation company. You can pick up a great chair at 1/3 the retail price. You should be able to find a Steelcase Leap V2 for $200-300. Then make sure you download the user manual off the web so you know how to configure it correctly.

The other problem is that cheap chairs will often feel pretty good when you first sit in them. But because they're made with cheap, low-density foam, they quickly pancake, and lose any semblance of comfort and ergonomics they might have had.

I used to do the $100 chair every year or two thing too. Then I bought a Steelcase Leap (for considerably more than $100), and while it's only been a year or so, it looks and feels as good as when I bought it. I would have loved to have found one for $200-300, but even buying new it was well worth it.

This is probably the main reason my Aeron has lasted so long vs standard chairs, the seat hasnt lost any of its comfort.

If a cheap office chair happens to fit your body shape and preferences, it's ergonomic for you, even without adjustments.

It's just a crap shoot as to whether or not the fixed adjustments of the cheap chair will match the settings you would select on an adjustable chair, and if the materials are fine for your size and weight. If they do, hey you got a great deal on a decent chair specifically for you.

I'm a pretty light guy, and I think I've only owned two <$150 chairs since 2002.

  > adjustable seat pan depth

Which the Aeron doesn't have. I don't think any Herman Miller chairs do, actually; Mirra has an option to not dig into the calves quite so hard, but that's it.

The Embody has adjustable seat pan depth, and the Celle has it as an option.

The Mirra's "seat depth adjustment" looks like it isn't quite the same (looks like part of the front of the seat bends to provide that adjustment?).

You can pick up a great chair at 1/3 the retail price

Pretty much this. I picked up a used Steelcase chair (don't remember the model, but it was listed for $800 new when I checked) for $65 at an office furniture liquidation company and it's the best chair I've ever owned.

That's going from one extreme to another. Neither gives you value for money. There are many brands in $300 range which sell quality ergonomic chairs built to last. $700 you save you can spend on electric height adjustable sit/stand desk.

Which brands? I've tried a couple $200-300 chairs, and while they last 2-3x as long and are a bit more comfortable, I feel like their utility is still linearly related to cost.

I'm not a chair expert. All I know is that you don't have to drop $1000 on Aeron to get a great chair which will last a decade.

Buro Metro is highly recommended ergonomic chair in Australia. 10 years warranty. I think I paid $250 AUD which is less than $200 USD.

http://www.buroseating.com.au/product/buro-metro/

It's not hard to find a used one for $400-600, often retired from corporate use. Bought a new one for home, and have used one at office - can't really tell the difference.

This is how I feel about chairs. I've had mine for 12 years now, and I'm almost certain it will last another 12. When I was working in a recording studio, we'd go through a $100-200 chair every year, and they were never all that comfortable.

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