Office/computer chairs

[RizzoTheRat]

Any recommendations for office/computer chairs for the home with decent lumbar support that isn't insanely expensive? Ideally I'd like to find something in a shop I can sit on first before buying one


My wife's got an Ikea Marcus (€150) which isn't bad, but I'd prefer something with adjustable armrests.

The Ikea Gronfjall (€300) looks decent but is all fabric, I quite like the mesh back of our work Haworth Zody's

Looks like I can get a refurbished Haworth Zody for around €350 which is currently probably my preferred option

People usually rave about the Herman Miller Aeron, looks like I could get a refurbished one for a bit over €700, and the Mirra 1 seems to be about €500 for a refurb

Steelcase seem to start at around €600, but the ones that look good (Karman) are more like €1k. A refurbished Leap V2 looks to be about €650

I've seen SecretLab recommended here before but look rather chunky. Are "gaming' chairs much different from office type chairs?

Flexispot C7 gets good reviews, looks a little mad though

Then there's loads of brands I've never heard of like Holludle, Sihoo, Songmics, etc, are any of them any good or cheap crap?

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 10th March 14:23

[dxg]

I have a refurbished Herman Miller Aeron.

I'm a bit disappointed, tbh. I can easily sit in this chair for 10 hour sessions (which I why I spent the money on it), and the base mesh becomes uncomfortable after that amount of time. Further, if I allow the back to lean forward to sit upright without leaning back into the chair (i.e. to try to achieve a good, straight posture), the base also tilts forward which is really uncomfortable. The lack of forwards or backward sliding of the base is a third problem as it digs into the backs of my knees.

Would not buy again. I think the main issue is the fixed back to base angle.

[mmm-five]

Don't forget to factor in the warranty, as I've recently had a Herman Miller engineer replace 2 parts of my 4 year old Mirra 2 under warranty (12 year parts & labour).

Both times he's travelled 200 miles to do the repair...and after the first one (seat base) he told me the rear mesh was looking worse for wear so ordered that for his next visit.

I got mine on a 20% off deal in 2021 (still over £700 though) when we got a company grant for WFH after covid lockdown. Decision was based on years of using Herman Miller Aeron's in the office...but I wanted a fancier colour choice so went for the orange mesh with chrome legs.

[RizzoTheRat]

The Mirra 2 is one of the better looking options, looks like I can get a refurb €665 (compared to <€500 for a Mirra 1) with a 90 day return period if it's not comfortable, but I'm not sure if it's twice as good as the Hawarth.

What repairs did it need, we've got hundreds of Hawarths at work that must be around 4 or 5 years old and I'm not aware of any needing repairs. Some of the comments online suggest the backs can crack on the Mirra 2's

[mmm-five]

RizzoTheRat said:

The Mirra 2 is one of the better looking options, looks like I can get a refurb €665 (compared to <€500 for a Mirra 1) with a 90 day return period if it's not comfortable, but I'm not sure if it's twice as good as the Hawarth.

What repairs did it need, we've got hundreds of Hawarths at work that must be around 4 or 5 years old and I'm not aware of any needing repairs. Some of the comments online suggest the backs can crack on the Mirra 2's

The first repair was the mesh coming away from the seat base frame...so the whole seat base was replaced with a new one.



Whilst the engineer was there, he spotted some cosmetic cracking/crazing in the butterfly rear mesh (I hadn't even noticed it) and said he'd replace that too.

[Murph7355]

I've had a Markus for 10yrs+ and it's been great. But it's adjustability isn't great. Biggest issue for me, as a larger athlete, is seat tension.

Am looking at chairs "professionally" at the moment and the best I've seen, by far, is the Steelcase Gesture. To the point I'm prepared to drop my own cash on one, it was so comfy. The only downside is a supplier suggesting they may not have the best longevity. (Suggestions of gas struts needing sorting).

[Murph7355]

PS have never got on with Herman Miller products. They're always recommended/pushed and I've never liked them.

[Hanslow]

I'm happy with my refurbed Humanscale Freedom, I'd certainly recommend trying to sit in one to see if it suits your comfort levels. They're the wrong side of 1k new though which was why I went for refurbed.

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

I have one of these that was an office chair I took home from Covid and hasn't made it back to the office yet!

https://resaleofficefurniture.com/new-used-furnitu...

It has adjustable height lumbar support, adjustable back firmness if you have it as dynamic rather than fixed, and adjustable height arms. Really comfy for me to sit in for hours every day and has lasted really well, although I had to replace the armrest pads after about 3 years (just screw off and screw the new ones on).

It might be a choice between something you can try out from Ikea and a gamble on a higher end refurbished chair that you won't necessarily have a chance to try.

[RizzoTheRat]

Gin and Ultrasonic said:

It might be a choice between something you can try out from Ikea and a gamble on a higher end refurbished chair that you won't necessarily have a chance to try.

Yeah, this is a big issue. I don't want to blow several hundred on something and then find it's not comfortable.

I currently have a Zody from work which I've had since Covid WFH kicked off, but now they've remembered and want it back. Tempted just to buy a refurbished one of them as I know it's pretty comfortable, whereas most of the other options I'd need to buy and then send back if I didn't get on with it.

Hanslow said:

I'm happy with my refurbed Humanscale Freedom, I'd certainly recommend trying to sit in one to see if it suits your comfort levels. They're the wrong side of 1k new though which was why I went for refurbed.

€1700-€3100 depending on covering These things are crazy prices new aren't they.

Only place I found doing refurbished Humanscale only have the low ones, not with the upper section.

Not found any refurbed Boss Design yet but will keep looking

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 11th March 09:07

[Hanslow]

I like many others had to hunt mine out during/post covid when everybody was on the hunt for one. I can't recall exactly where I got mine from, but I think it was around £330 with new cloth. They seem to go for around £3-400 refurbed, sometimes cheaper as-is privately if you can find one.

I've had a quick look online and this place has some in, but I can't vouch for them as I've never used them and given chairs can be so subjective I wouldn't want to sway you on my say so other than to say I'm happy with mine and find it comfortable. Here's the place that has some cloth and leather full chairs in: https://chairsmith.co.uk/humanscale/

Ah, just seen your profile says you're in the Netherlands in which case a UK company is probably of little help to you!

[wyson]

RizzoTheRat said:

Holludle, Sihoo, Songmics, etc, are any of them any good or cheap crap?

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 10th March 14:23

Cheap crap.

Check ergonomic furniture shops to see good brands. A lot aren’t household names. Hag, RH etc.

More importantly, go and sit in them, have a consultation with someone so they can get to know your needs, help you make adjustments etc.

Also if you can stomach the upfront investment, a lot of these chairs work out cheaper in the long run. My RH400 cost £1k but has been going 18 years now. I just swap out the arm pads and seat pads which wear down through wear and tear. The mechanisms are really durable.

Because I have a deskjob, and spend a third of the day sitting in the chair, I refuse to skimp.

Edited by wyson on Tuesday 11th March 12:52

[Griffith4ever]

Take a look at SecretLabs Omega, or equivalent. They don't have to look like "gaming" chairs. Mine is black nappa leather and by far teh best seat I've ever used. I can sit in it all day, days on end with no aches. The lumbar support is a piece of memory foam - but it works. Perfectly.

I owned a Miller Aero and it wasn't a patch on this Omega.

I'll not be the last to recommend one on this thread.

[FamousPheasant]

Best to try if you can, or buy somewhere with a decent return policy.

BTODtv on youtube is an exhaustive resource if you want to watch reviews and get a idea. It helped me eliminate some models from my search (like the Humanscale Freedom which I didn't think I would get on with the adaptive headrest due to my long back)

But overall it's worth investing in a decent chair. I moved from a cheap Staples chair to a Haworth Fern and haven't looked back.

[RizzoTheRat]

FamousPheasant said:

Best to try if you can, or buy somewhere with a decent return policy.

Yeah, that's the issue. There's a place in town that claims to have 300 different types in stock, but Haworth, RH and HÅG are the only brands I've heard of. Might go and have a look at the weekend.

Another place I found has refurbs and a 90 day return policy, need to check the smallprint on who pays for the return though

[fooman]

I was impressed with a clients Steelcase Reply Air that I bought some for our office. They look basic compared to the other models but I find them all day comfortable, the base is perfectly flat, gives even pressure and back supportive. I bought mine second hand off eBay.

[mikef]

I’ve used Orangebox Joy chairs for years in the office and now have a couple at home

[outnumbered]

mikef said:

I’ve used Orangebox Joy chairs for years in the office and now have a couple at home

Currently parked on one of these myself... When I was looking a few years ago, these were pretty much the best value for a well made chair that had all the ergonomic adjustments I wanted.

[Red9zero]

I was provided with an RH Logic 400 when I returned to work after I had a disc replaced. Someone from Occupational Health actually came out to set it up for me. When our local office closed during Covid, I was allowed to take it home with me, where it still resides. It is very comfortable, if a little bit overkill. Not sure I would pay the £1800 myself either

https://www.posturite.co.uk/rh-logic-400-xl-includ...

[superlightr]

Recommend a seceetlab chair. Had issues in the past with back pains, sciatica issues etc all due to bad chairs. Secret labs has been fantastic. Went for the xl size as I like to wriggle and cross legs etc.