Ask HN: What office chair do you use? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

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I spend a lot of time at home programming and I feel like being on a usual office chair is not best and not very comfortable. Do any of you use a less usual chair like the Altwork Station for example ?

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Aeron. Get one from Craigslist for $300-$400, sell it for the same amount in 5 years if you get sick of it. I did that with a size C after I lost some weight and found a size B more comfortable.

From a TCO standpoint, it’s cheaper than buying an IKEA chair once every 5 years, or an OfficeMax chair...ever. And, during the whole time you own it, it’s a nicer experience than either other option.

Steelcase and HumanScale chairs are also similarly acquireable and resealable, but the Aeron is the one people know the name of, plus it’s a bit of a nod to dot-com bust startups in the Bay Area and a nod to chair design in general (read about Eames and the history of Herman Miller if you care). They’re also made in the US if that matters to you: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.fastcodesign.com/1669397/an...

i don't. i sit on a round cushion on the floor. [1]

i struggled with lower back pain all my life. doctors suggested shoving metal in my spine. since removing all the chairs from my home and office and only sitting on the floor, i have better resting posture than my peers (since i am unreliant on back supports), and the pain is gone.

hilariously, the East has had this solved for thousands of years, while we continue to creep toward death in debilitating pain.

you may replicate this setup in your own office by going to Ikea, purchasing the cheapest, lowest bench available, and sitting in Burmese posture [2]. if your knees are in pain, forego the round cushion for a higher square cushion [3] or adjustable sitting bench [4]

[1] https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00G9FMY9K/ref=twister_B00G9FMYC...

[2] http://d2r5da613aq50s.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/0-76...

[3] https://smile.amazon.com/Pure-Life-Meditation-Cushion-Tibeta...

[4] https://www.kindseat.com/meditation_seats/kindseatplus.html

Do you still sit at a desk with a keyboard and mouse, or have you set it up differently to keep your shoulders from rolling forward out of the Burmese posture?

i do! your pelvis should tilt forward on the cushion, which keeps your shoulders at centerline. my desk is a low bench. Ikea used to sell this [1] bench, which was the perfect height for me. any other low bench will do, but you may have to take a saw to the legs. you want your forearms to rest at 90 degrees.

[1] https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/266697609154342319/

Do you just use your laptop on that? Don't you get neck strain looking down? I wonder what a full set up with a separate keyboard, mouse and monitors would look like.

my Thinkpad P50 comes with a dock that slightly raises its elevation. it's a 15 inch screen. i'm 6'1'' and there's no neck strain.

my teachers taught me to tuck my chin slightly when i meditate. my neck (T6 and below of the thoracic vertebrae) stay straight, it's only the the cervical vertebrae which tuck downward giving me a full view of my screen, eyes slightly cast down.

A leather covered seat from wrecked BMW. Mounted on base from an old office chair. It's completely awesome, can sit in all day no problem.

That is awesome! I’ve wondered about using a seat from a car before.

Bmw makes some really comfortable seats.

I bought the ErgoChair 2 from Autonomous [1] for ~$200 after their suspended campaign on Kickstarter. The campaign was suspended because apparently they're just reselling it from some manufacturer in China [2]. I ended up buying the chair from Autonomous anyways for their North American warranty (that and I could never actually find a product website for the Chinese version they knocked off) and have been reasonably happy with it.

It's not quite as well designed and comfortable as an Aeron, and has a number of quirks, but considering the price difference I can live with the compromises. My major complaints are that the armrests are made of plastic and are adjustable but can't lock into place, and that the seat cushion has a strange scent that hasn't gone away in more than a year now (luckily it's not noticeable for me unless I put my nose right next to it, but the smell can get onto my pants and other clothes when in contact for a prolonged period of time, which has been highly annoying. I'll probably try to treat it with some baking soda before I leave for vacation next month and hope that'll take care of it).

I was doing a lot of research into office chairs at the time, and couldn't really find anything else that stroke a reasonable compromise between the crappy $100 department store chairs and the $800 high-end ergonomic chairs like the Aeron. Judging from the replies to this thread, there still doesn't seem to be much else that fits the niche, so I decided to chime in with this one, despite its shady backstory and imperfections.

[1] https://www.autonomous.ai/?slug=office-chair&option20=53

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/shittykickstarters/comments/5825wn/...

Herman Miller Embody, mainly for the extra adjustability and tall back. Only complaint is I like to sit with one leg crossed under the other, and the chair seat isn't padded. It's mesh instead, so it pokes into the lower leg after awhile.

I ended up with an Embody after owning an Aeron (fully loaded, correct size), and Steelcase Leap (Leather).

The Aeron was terrible. Quite possible the most uncomfortable. It felt stiff, not nearly as configurable as the Leap, and unlike the Leap, rocked instead of actually recline. I could never find a comfortable position or sit still.

I liked the Leap, actually ended up keeping it with my Embody and giving it to my dad. The Embody is a nice in-between. The Leap feels better built, more comfortable and I love how it reclines instead of rocking on a spring mechanism, almost like a lounger. Makes those longer days far more comfortable.

I have an embody and an aeron and find the embody far more comfortable.

I have to second the Aeron chair. I started working in a government office a few years ago and when I found out they spent $700 dollars on our chairs I thought it was a huge waste of tax payers money. Now I recognize it as one of the most reasonable purchases we ever made. When you sit and code all day a good chair makes all the difference. It's one of the few things that are still built to last.

Steelcase Leap v2. Refurbished models can regularly be found on Craigslist for about $250-300.

It's an incredibly comfortable chair, arguably much more comfortable than the more well-known Aeron, which I used for a long time. I also used a Humanscale Freedom. Compared to both, settling into a Leap is like sinking into a luxuriously soft car seat. It has levers for everything, and it's just really pleasantly soft. I've also tried the newest Herman Miller chairs (Mira etc.) and they are nowhere as good.

The Wirecutter [1] has recommended the Leap repeatedly. Their current choice is the Steelcase Gesture, which is very similar to the Leap. If you can afford a new Gesture, a great choice, but if you want to save money and can find a refurb Leap, go for that instead.

Note: Avoid leather as a material. It's not anywhere near as breathable.

[1] https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-office-chair/

Ikea markus is a decently comfortable full-back chair for only $100 and has a 10 year warranty BUT it started to make horrible noise after only a few months of use and im not thrilled about the hassle of replacing it.. also it is not very adjustable

I’ve got two Markus chairs. Agree about the lack of adjustability, but mine are both fairly silent after about two years of every day use. YMMV

ditto, mines started to make some creaking noises, maybe needs some wd-40 or something.

i wd40'd the @#$& out of it and it only got worse lol.. i think the design or QC is a bit wanting; looking at the bottom there are clearly several points of the hinge that are rubbing metal on metal

WD-40 isn't actually a true lubricant. WD stands for "water displacing" and its main use is as a solvent or rust dissolver.

Use a silicone lubricant.

I’ve historically used a round medical lab style stool and sat on its edge to force my back straight per recommendation of a spinal specialist after I had a herniated disc in my teens and have had repeated problems. The problem for myself at least is that extended sitting weakens the muscles that help stabilize my back most, so anything to activate it even if it feels uncomfortable is probably better for my health. Combined with a variation on pomodoro technique to get up more frequently and stretch I haven’t had any recurring back problems or sciatica for years as I’ve gotten another 20 years older.

Herman Miller Aeron, had it about ten years now. I couldn't find a second hand one as they all seemed to be the medium size but I needed a large one. It was a lot of money but I don't regret it at all.

Herman Miller Aeron chair I've had forever and ever, 15-20 years? So long I'm not sure. Still looks great and works great. I spent nearly a grand on it, but the best money I ever spent on a chair.

Ditto. (Cept more like $700 for me).

Herman Miller Mirra 2 and I love it. :)

At home I've got a couple of Eames Aluminum Group management chairs: http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/HermanMillerStore/b2c_3x4cro.... I tend to slouch, and these are very firm and force you into an upright posture.

Those are great chairs, both to sit in, and look at. I have a similar chair in red fabric.

Did you ever consider a chair in which you could lay down ?

Those look interesting. But wouldn't fit in my home office...

Ikea POÄNG chair and ottoman with my laptop in my lap.

The company I work for uses IKEA's RENBERGET and FLINTAN. In my desk, I use IKEA's RENBERGET [0]. It's a swivel chair and I prefer it because it's comfortable and nice.

[0]: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50332238/

Herman Miller. Not just because it's a good chair, but because it's repairable and you can buy second-hand replacement parts. I bought my chair used and have since then replaced a number of components on it. It's a Frankenmiller now, and I would not trade mine for anything else.

I stopped using office chairs years ago. Instead I have a Togu Powerball ABS (both in the office and at home).

I helped me to get rid of neck and lower back pain, because I had to start building strength in muscles that you need to sit properly.

I use an Aeron and I also have a geekdesk.com sit/stand desk, which I love. If you already have a desk and want to add sit/stand functionality, get a varidesk.com Don't forget to get a standing mat.

Bought a Herman Miller Aeron from eBay for about £250. Was sick of burning through cheap chairs, this one is the best chair I've ever had and cost less than some of the horribly uncomfortable Ikea jobbies.

Steelcase Leap > Aeron

I use the exercise ball at both office and home. It's perfect.

As a tall fellow 6’2” with the type C it’s extremely more comfortable that old office chairs but the seat doesn’t quite reach the back of my knees. My only real complaint. Also can cross one leg under the other, but that’s prolly a good thing for posture.

Steelcase Gesture. Big fan, very adaptable.

at work: whatever piece of crap I can scavenge from.an abandoned cube.

at home: aeron with a headrest.

I can’t stand uncomfortable chairs so bought an aeron for the office ;-)

I picked up a used Humanscale freedom for $40 that I'm almost done refurbishing (recover in leather, lubrication, etc...). Just need a couple missing parts from humanscale and it will be ready for the office.

Which headrest do you use? I'm only aware of aftermarket add-ons

http://www.aeronhq.com/

quality is fantastic. I think some old revisions required more assembly, this current revision is awesome. One warning, if you are taller than 6ft it may not go high enough for you.

Herman Miller Aeron second hand about a 1/3 Of the new cost, easy repairs.

I use a Herman Miller Aeron and have nothing but good things to say about it.

Steelcase Leap v2. Best chair I've ever had at home or at work.

Haworth Zody is my favorite. Adjustable lumbar is a must.

I like the Aeron but I prefer the Knoll Generation.

I use one of those kneeling chairs.

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