Office chair

[Red Flare]

With an ever impending opening of my website I am spending inordinate amounts of time at my computer. As a result I realized how inadequate my office chair is. :rolleyes:

Do people here have their favorite office chairs? If yes, could you please share your experiences with them in regards to comfort for prolonged computer work.

thanks for any input, both good and bad

[Dramatic]

http://www.formway.com/life/life.html
I bought one 3 years ago when they were first out, and the cost (about $US400) has well and truly repaid itself as I no longer lose any productive time due to back pain.

The US agents are Knoll.

[Julie Wilber]

As long as I have a high back and arms, I'm happy. But that's only because I have been known to fall off chairs before.

[Tom]

(text not available)

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Yoga Balls...or exercise balls...while not something you can use 100% of the time, i find using them during day to be quite a relief from the "normal pressures" of the job. The fact that, in order to remain upright, you have to sit up straight, is a great added bonus. The only downside is you have to try a few to get the right height. However, then you have several large play balls for your kids.

[Random Confusion]

I don't have the name of the chair manufacturer right with me, but I was able to take the same chair I used at Compaq with me when I left. I've been using it for 7 years now and love it.

I had another at home for home work that had a high back and arms from Office depot ($150 chair) that a year and a half after buying it the back snapped when I leaned back in it and ended up falling out of the chair backwards and spraining my back.

Don't get one that uses chipboard as the main firming agent for the back. That's where I went wrong.

RC

As long as I have a high back and arms, I'm happy. But that's only because I have been known to fall off chairs before.

[dotCOM_host]

Do people here have their favorite office chairs? If yes, could you please share your experiences with them in regards to comfort for prolonged computer work.
Couple years back I discovered the Leap chair by Steelcase. Got one for my home computer room, and fell in love immediately. VERY comfortable. So, when we got a new office early in 2005 and it came time to decorating, my executive decision was to get one of these chairs for everyone here.

They are pricey ($900+... can go as high as $2300/chair depending on fabric, leather and on other options) but your back is worth it. I spend upwards of 16 hours a day in front of computers so a comfortable chair with good back support is really priceless.

[woisatx]

This seems like a great opportunity to plug my store. Its not live yet but we have a very nice selection of office chairs , desks, and other accessories. Also feel free to give some feed back about site quality.

Here is the site http://www.buywittigs.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?

I hope this is helpful.

[apanda]

I have the Global Posturtech II - I like it because it has several adjustment options. One option it has that most chairs don't have is being able to angle the seat forward or back. It's also holding up pretty well. I've had it for over a year and it is still very comfy and supportive. (It has a 6 year warranty.) I had tried it out at and office store, then ordered it online for much less. I actually bought a second one later for my hubby.

Both were purchased this store: http://www.officechairsunlimited.com/globposiiful.html
I was very happy with shipping, etc.

I see they have one with TEMPUR material, too. That sounds tempting. It is more than twice as expensive though...

[ILoveHostasaurus]

Here's another Merchant store: http://www.1stergo.com

[larryh]

http://www.formway.com/life/life.html
I bought one 3 years ago when they were first out, and the cost (about $US400) has well and truly repaid itself as I no longer lose any productive time due to back pain.


You bought yours at a good time. They sell for upwards of US$900 now :(

[lbdesign]

I used an Aeron for many years, then switched to a balance ball chair. This $90 chair is better than my $900 Aeron. But don't just use a ball, this one comes with a wheeled base:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp84123_334918_sespider/gaiam_balance_balls/gaiam_balance_ball_chair.htm

It was $90 when I bought it. Now it's $70. And you can do situps on it too (to strengthen your lower back and prevent injury!)

to your health,
--Lee

[Red Flare]

I used an Aeron for many years, then switched to a balance ball chair.
--Lee
What do you think of Aeron? The problem I felt it has is that one cannot recline in it. It feels like its pretty comfortable to sit upright in it though.

BTW, thanks to everyone for an overwhelming response! :D

[Red Flare]

Couple years back I discovered the Leap chair by Steelcase.
Is there a site I can look up more info on this chair?
thanks

[lbdesign]

Alex,
The Aeron is a beautiful piece of modern sculpture. And comfortable. I especially like the breathable fabric in the summer. But I never sit in it any more, not since I got the balance ball chair.
True, you cannot recline in it, like to nap. You can recline briefly if you push back, like while on the phone. It's a working chair, not a resting chair. What's great about the way it angles though, is that it moves forward with you if you lean forward.
best,
--Lee

>What do you think of Aeron? The problem I felt it has is
>that one cannot recline in it. It feels like its pretty comfortable
>to sit upright in it though.

[Random Confusion]

I don't think I'm thrilled with the idea of a chair that makes me feel as if it's trying to push me out of it...

RC

[quote=lbdesign]What's great about the way it angles though, is that it moves forward with you if you lean forward.quote]

[dotCOM_host]

Is there a site I can look up more info on this chair?
Sure thing - Steelcase has it listed on their web site, and many online stores that sell office furniture, specifically Steelcase, also have more info available, more pictures, etc. But don't take just my word for it - if you have a local store that sells these, or a "Healthy Back" store (all things ergonomic, from office to car to beds) - give it a try there in person.

Links to see it online:

Steelcase site:
http://www.steelcase.com/na/leap_products.aspx?f=11872

Online reseller: (it's listed on their home page as "Wall St. Journal's #1 recommended chair)
http://www.officedesigns.com/


As far as the Aeron chair - it's a terrible, terrible chair, THE symbol of "form over function" and a huge waste of money in the dotcom boom era where status symbol and how quickly you could spend your VC money was the norm. See this site, for example: http://www.dack.com/misc/aeron.html

The videos on it are quite exaggerated, but unfortunately based on many true stories. It's a must-see site if you consider buying Aeron because of all the hoopla about it.

[larryh]

I used an Aeron for many years, then switched to a balance ball chair. This $90 chair is better than my $900 Aeron. But don't just use a ball, this one comes with a wheeled base:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp84123_334918_sespider/gaiam_balance_balls/gaiam_balance_ball_chair.htm

It was $90 when I bought it. Now it's $70. And you can do situps on it too (to strengthen your lower back and prevent injury!)

to your health,
--Lee

What the heck is that thing? It looks like something that belongs at the gym, not in an office. Actually, I think my kids had one of those when they were little, but it had a horse head on it, and no wheels or backrest :D

[larryh]

As far as the Aeron chair - it's a terrible, terrible chair, THE symbol of "form over function" and a huge waste of money in the dotcom boom era where status symbol and how quickly you could spend your VC money was the norm. See this site, for example: http://www.dack.com/misc/aeron.html

The videos on it are quite exaggerated, but unfortunately based on many true stories. It's a must-see site if you consider buying Aeron because of all the hoopla about it.

:eek: That little girl has quite a foul mouth, doesn't she? I wonder if she kisses her mom with that mouth.

[Random Confusion]

Isn't that something you want to give to someone when you want to INDUSE hemmorhoids?

RC

[Tom]

(text not available)

[Red Flare]

http://www.formway.com/life/life.html
I bought one 3 years ago when they were first out, and the cost (about $US400) has well and truly repaid itself as I no longer lose any productive time due to back pain.

The US agents are Knoll.

No offense for the chair itself, I never used it, but their site is something out of this world.

I just wanted to see a picture of their chair, but got so mad :mad: with their navigation, that I closed the browser immediately!

Here is an interesting site to contemplate: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

Hope none of the sites on this forum end up there :)

[myofficechairs]

@Bruce - I have been thinking of trying a yoga ball or a kneeling office chair "part-time" also. My hip flexors get really tight sitting in a normal chair all day. I was thinking a kneeling office chair would sort of help stretch out my legs because I would be in a reverse position. Seems to make sense to me at least.

I think I may add an article about this on my office chair site:http://www.my-officechairs.com/

Any other good web stores that focus on quality ergonomic office chairs at reasonable prices (relative, I know)? I'm trying to get a good list going.

Thanks,
Ben