Ask HN: What are some cheaper Herman Miller alternatives?
Is it possible to get the comfort and looks of a HM chair, but for less?
Testimonials (especially from people with sciatica) appreciated!
Testimonials (especially from people with sciatica) appreciated!
Personally, I have a Steelcase Leap v2 chair. It was manufactured in 2004 (according to the sticker on the bottom). I purchased it used for around $150-200 in 2017 and it was in seemingly perfect condition at the time, although the used-office-furniture place I bought it from gave it a nice steam cleaning before I took it home. In 2024, it is still in nearly perfect condition and I'm not particularly careful with it. If you saw the fabric, arm rests and other visible parts of the chair, you would probably think it's a year or two old. I think it will easily last another 10 years. And I LOVE it.
The point is that if you buy a used chair in good condition made by a great company, it's a much better deal than getting a so-so new chair [1]. In my case, they sold it at a heavy discount, because the rest of the Steelcase Leaps that they had were grey and mine was the only navy one, so a corporate customer was less likely to want it. Didn't matter at all to me, and the truth is that had I spend $500 instead, it still would have been a great investment.
I would look for companies selling used office furniture in your area. In my case, they weren't really a "store", but instead a big warehouse that I went to. When companies move out of offices, they buy up all the good furniture and then sell it to other companies, but they were willing to sell to me. What's nice about this is they will likely let you look at all the chairs they have and pick the one that works best for you. You can also look for private sellers in your area. If possible, spend $30 to rent a steam cleaner to clean the chair when you get it. Not necessary, just nice to make the chair look like new.
Edit: I have had lower back pain and sciatica in the past, so a good chair is important for me. I found the Steelcase Leap great for this.
[1] Reminds me of the old quote from Charlie Munger / Warren Buffett: "It's better to buy a great company at a good price than an okay company at a great price".
https://www.staples.com/union-scale-flexfit-hyken-ergonomic-...
It used to be the WireCutter's budget pick for several years straight (however, now it's "universally reviled by our testing panel...")
I personally find the Markus very comfortable.
Look at their coverage of air filters, particularly IKEA's air filter and it's obvious they're bought and paid for.
I bought a $300 chair off amazon, that actually isn't comfortable. The trick was to buy a seat cushion with memory foam. This made the experience 100% better.