> but a whopping 50% still say the pain and discomfort of working from home is enough to send them back to the office.
I want a breakdown of remote work preference by dollar amount spent on office chair. I think this would be revealing.
I want a breakdown of remote work preference by dollar amount spent on office chair. I think this would be revealing.
I've found the most important thing is setting the heights of my screen and keyboard properly, that seems to be the main determinant of discomfort.
I now work from home and try to get out some mornings for a walk around the neighborhood but more often than not, I go straight from bed to a chair. My body gradually loosens up during the day but mostly in a seated position.
Yep, what you sit on makes a huge difference.
It’s easily worth every penny.
The same logic for busing a bed should apply to home office ergonomics. You’re going to spend eight hours per day with both. Invest!
Recent survey asked "Are you missing equipment that is only available at the office?" No, it's the other way around thanks.
[1] https://relaxtheback.com/products/hale-aircomfort-recliner
Good setup costs about $200USD, you will be feeling enlightened in no time.
So well made.
[0] Well, no idea what a zafu or zabuton are. My setup cost $0.
Especially for the first half of my day while drinking coffee etc.
If you want something like an Aeron, then ask your friend with a Costco membership to get you a $120 Metrex IV Mesh chair by Bayside Furnishings. It's 90% as good and it doesn't have the insane recline that the Aeron does. Only downside is, Herman Miller uses much sturdier plastic for their chairs, but that's more suited to shared office spaces with employees who don't take care of their chairs anyway.
There's a reason for it. An Aeron will last you your entire working life. As a 250lb man who likes to recline, I was going through cheap office chairs about every 3 months working from home, so I took the plunge and bought one. It very much feels like a piece of heavy duty commercial "equipment", not a cheap piece of furniture. I bought mine used; it's 20 years old and looks brand new. And the ergonomics, while controversial, I've found to be life changing.
I bought a toned-down style version of the Secretlab Titan chair pretty early in the pandemic and it is way better than my Aeron at work. And the Aeron is way better than any other normal office chair.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/10/gaming-chair-shootou...
I was always skeptical of gaming chairs long duration sitting solutions but maybe i'll head to a local store and give it a try.
But...the high back Secretlab Titan chair is so much better. The back and lumbar support is great. The armrests are ok, but for less than $20 you can buy generic memory foam covers that feel like velvet clouds and position your wrists just right to help with avoiding RSD. The neck pillow isn't used all the time, but when I need to literally lean back, it is there. The chair also lays almost flat if you need a nap.
For less than $500 it is a no-brainer. There is an active subreddit (r/secretlab) that is almost cult-like, which was kind of a red flag for me, but it actually seems to be legit superfans and not marketing. The chairs have a five year warranty - up from three but only if you post about it on social media, which is also kind of a red flag. But it is a quality chair and after almost two years of constant use, the arm rests are completely solid and it still feels brand new.
There's nothing wrong with the Aeron but on the rare occasions that I'm in the office these days, it just feels...inferior.
Edit: The arm rests are actually great - I just meant the padding. They obviously go up and down, but they also rotate in and out. So unlike most chairs, you can position them so they actually support your complete arms as you're typing - not parallel to the chair, but angled in so your elbows are at shoulder width but your forearms are supported closer to the keyboard.
I forget about a lot of these adjustments because once you dial them in, it just feels right.
Style, material preferences, and budget will guide the best pick. You can't really go wrong so long as your choice is an adjustable chair.
Can I buy a comma, or buy you some? ;-)
It works really well for me. It's the single best piece of equipment I have in my office.
I have a Lifeform with a custom seat made with a cut out for the perineum and coccyx to make sure all my weight sits on my glutes and thighs and keeps pressure off the spine. It's insanely adjustable, has a amazing lumbar support, and is very comfortable to sit in for long periods of time.
https://lifeformchairs.com/ultimate-2390-ergonomic-office-ch...
I wouldn't think twice of spending full price ($1500?) for one now. But I doubt it will ever need replacing... it was built in 1998(!!), like a tank. Some time later I bought a new gas strut for $50 (the old designs wobble) and some Atomdoc castors so it would glide over the hardwood floor.
Adjusted it once when I first got it. Vastly reduced my back issues - though a chair is just one part of back care.
As I understand it, the key is the good posture. My back pain was caused by weak lower back muscles. Maintaining good posture exercises those, where comfy chairs only relieve the immediate discomfort at the cost of long-term health.
I've had a BodyBilt from even before the DotBomb so I never understood the fuss about Aerons.
They're wicked expensive brand new, but I found mine for $200 off Craigslist. Have had it for 3-4 years and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made.
Haworth are renowned for ergonomic quality, but aren't a stylish tech brand. For that reason you can usually find great deals, especially second hand.
I'm OK either way, my cat is sleeping on the Ikea chair, she won't touch the Aeron, so I get the leftovers.