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Comment by dantheman | Hacker News Reader

I have an Aeron; before I had it my back started to hurt, so I picked one up -- IMHO it's worth the price.

I've used an Aeron for years. I have augmented the upper back support by strapping a cushion to the upper edge of the chair with a big bungie cord. It looks hilarious but it works, which is the important thing.

As I've said before and will say again: A lot of the secret to ergonomics is to experiment with very small, ad hoc changes in your environment. I cured a major chronic pain in my right arm by raising my mouse three inches. Get a selection of books for putting under your monitor for changing its height. (Or invest in those awesome Ergotron arms -- they are great.) Also: A keyboard tray with fully-adjustable articulating arms is your friend.

> Get a selection of books for putting under your monitor for changing its height.

That's where I put my old XML/XSLT books.

"Table of Integrals, Series, and Products" by Gradshteyn and Ryzhik. An awesome book, if you're one of the people who need it.

I wonder if today's physics students use books like that anymore, or if it's all gone Mathematica and Google. I would bet on the latter, but I can't be sure. It's been a long time since I looked up an integral.

This might be strange but I've found that putting my keyboard in my lap keeps my wrists and arms from aching.

Not strange at all. I do that sometimes when I don't have a drawer. But pay attention, because you might find that the gods have not designed your lap to be at the ideal angle and distance for your arms and your wrists. And it's harder to perform mods on your lap than on your keyboard drawer. ;)

I've got an Aeron at home, and a Mirra (http://www.hermanmiller.com/mirra/) at work. Both are made by Herman Miller. The Mirra is a bit cheaper and doesn't look as swish, but I find it about 50% more comfortable than the Aeron (to the point that I'm thinking about replacing the Aeron).

And both are many, many times more comfortable than anything else I've used.

I can't say enough things about my Mirra. I also agree that it's 50% more comfortable than an Aeron. I think they have much better back support.

There is a caveat to Mirra - the seat is pretty firm. If you have a skinny butt you will not like it much. :( I still found it more comfortable than the AAeron though. I now consider craiglisting my Mirra and going for a Steelcase instead.

I suggest finding a showroom and trying it out. Herman-Miller has plenty of resellers in major cities.

+1 for the Mirra. Got a Mirra at home, Aeron at work. Mirra wins! Definitely spring for the adjustable armrests.

I also bought an Aeron. But in my case I'm round (don't get run over by a car, or you'll end up round too). The gas cylinders in the "inexpensive" office-depot type stores wear out after about 6-8 months, so they end up costing more than an Aeron after about 4 years.

If you're the sort of person who puts things in their backpockets - DON'T! Even a thin wallet twists your butt enough that it ends up causing backstrain.

Just to be contrary, I actually don't like the Aeron.

I sit in one 8+ hrs a day and I don't know if it doesn't fit me correctly (I'm 6'4") or what, but I'd prefer a different chair. Unfortunately the only other chair available to me is some terrible ikea chair that is wrong in ever possible way.

For as much as they cost, I thought they'd be way more comfortable.

They come in three sizes, A, B and C. Since you're 6'4" you need size C. You can tell the size of the chair you're sitting in by feeling under the top part. If you're in the wrong size chair, you're probably not going to like it. FYI.

Yep. If it doesn't fit you, it doesn't matter how much it costs. I'm only 6'2" and the Aeron C is a hair short for my legs, so I can well imagine that many 6'4" wouldn't like it.

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