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Comment by seltzered_ | Hacker News Reader

Stools. Yes, Backless stools, particularly those made for desk usage. Paired with a standing mat and sit/stand setup (either via sit/stand desk or some adjustable desktopper like the ergodesktop Kangaroo) stools can be easily thrown under the desk and hidden away if your home office doubles for exercise or breakfast room use.

My bookmarked list of stools:

The Swopper - http://swopperusa.com/ - Expensive. Use this regularly and it's been nice.

ErgoErgo - http://ergoergo.com/ - Usually ~100 and found at places like The Container Store. Pair with a Muji cushion or any round cushion.

Topstar Sitness - https://www.topstar.de/en/swivel-chairs-seating-furniture/si... - don't own this one but looked neat. They also sell a simpler ball stool called the Sitness Alpine.

Turnstone Buoy - https://myturnstone.com/products/chairs-and-stools/buoy/ - don't own but looks decent too.

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I have a permanent standing desk, it's actually a 3x11 desk surface built into the wall. I basically have two stations on it and I move back and forth between them depending on what I'm doing. I alternate between standing and sitting. For sitting, I got a drafting stool (with a back). These go up high enough. They do have a metal ring, but I found it more useful to keep a small footstool near where my feet will rest. I prefer having a flat surface to rest my feet on.

I got a Flash Furniture drafting stool originally in 2014. It works great, but I didn't like the armrests. In fact, the right hand one started to bend outwards a bit for some unknown reason.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SMTJNO/

Last year, I replaced it with "Staples Cabal Mesh Armless". This one has been working great and has much nicer padding than the prior one. If padding is important, I would recommend this one over the Flash Furniture one. But the first one did last me 4 years, and I still have it for if someone comes over to the office.

https://www.staples.com/Staples-Cabal-Mesh-Armless-Mesh-and-...

I've been using a stool only [1] for my home office for a bit over a year. It's nice, and as a guitar player it's much more comfortable for playing, but you absolutely cannot work off a laptop alone. You need an external monitor at eye level, keyboard, and mouse/trackpad. Any amount of hunching over or cramping your hands together is going to cause back and neck pain, much more than laptop work from a chair.

I still like using a stool though, and it's ruined office chair arm rests for me now - I have to remove them immediately to be comfortable working from them.

[1] https://www.target.com/p/backless-wood-24-counter-stool-natu...

I use drum thrones for the same reason: https://www.guitarcenter.com/ROC-N-SOC/Nitro-Throne.gc

I do the same. For me it’s the DWCP3100.

I borrowed my bosses swopper and used it exclusively for months.. started developing back pain.

As you sort of insinuated, I think maybe the trick is to not sit / stand in the exact same position all day. At my office I now rotate between a backless stool, a couch, a standing desk, and this extraordinarily comfy lounging chair.. haven’t had any problems since.

Have you used the ErgoErgo? I find that one affordable but the reviews are mixed because of its durability.

Sitting on one right now, purchased it used a few years ago. Works fine, occasionally have to re-inflate it and pairing it with a cushion has helped.

I disclaim things a bit as I weigh a bit less than the average american male, but it looks like they now sell a larger version of the stool (ergo extra) which might be in response to earlier durability issues.

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