Calling All Office Furniture Geeks!
January 16, 2012 5:16 PM Subscribe
My entire body is screaming at me that it's time for a new desk chair, and it's got some pretty specific requirements. Can you recommend an awesome ergonomic task chair that meets my needs?
Actually, it's really only one specific requirement: a back that can be locked into an extreme upright position, so that the back is pretty much at a right angle to the seat. Most fancy ergo desk chairs either lock into a position that's much more reclined than I'd prefer, or have some advanced mechanism that's supposed to provide gentle floating support by moving with my body as I lean back, which doesn't help, either--I need something that won't let me recline. I also need armrests, adjustable height, wheels, and a comfortably-padded seat, but I think nearly all good office chairs have those.
I've been using Steelcase Leap chairs for many years and am pretty happy with them, but I've had two break on me irreparably, and I want to try something new anyway. Aerons are not an option, as there's something about the seat geometry that doesn't fit my body quite right--even in the proper size and after being fitted by the office ergo folks. Kneeling chairs, exerball chairs, and switching to a standing desk aren't options, either.
So what's out there? Price isn't really a factor, though if we're talking four digits it's got to be something really special.
Actually, it's really only one specific requirement: a back that can be locked into an extreme upright position, so that the back is pretty much at a right angle to the seat. Most fancy ergo desk chairs either lock into a position that's much more reclined than I'd prefer, or have some advanced mechanism that's supposed to provide gentle floating support by moving with my body as I lean back, which doesn't help, either--I need something that won't let me recline. I also need armrests, adjustable height, wheels, and a comfortably-padded seat, but I think nearly all good office chairs have those.
I've been using Steelcase Leap chairs for many years and am pretty happy with them, but I've had two break on me irreparably, and I want to try something new anyway. Aerons are not an option, as there's something about the seat geometry that doesn't fit my body quite right--even in the proper size and after being fitted by the office ergo folks. Kneeling chairs, exerball chairs, and switching to a standing desk aren't options, either.
So what's out there? Price isn't really a factor, though if we're talking four digits it's got to be something really special.
"share" should be "chair", but I guess that's obvious.
It's also more comfortable than the Steelcase Jersey, but that and the Aeron are the only two other chairs I have for comparison.
posted by supercres at 6:08 PM on January 16, 2012
It's also more comfortable than the Steelcase Jersey, but that and the Aeron are the only two other chairs I have for comparison.
posted by supercres at 6:08 PM on January 16, 2012
I'll second supercres' suggestion. I love my Humanscale Freedom chair.
posted by nerdcore at 6:10 PM on January 16, 2012
posted by nerdcore at 6:10 PM on January 16, 2012
Thirding Humanscale's Freedom chair.
posted by omarlittle at 8:00 PM on January 16, 2012
posted by omarlittle at 8:00 PM on January 16, 2012
I have used a Steelcase Leap at work for years. At home I have the $179.99 Staples Arcadia. I vastly prefer the Arcadia because, among other things, it allows me to set the pitch of the seat. After something like 6 years, I've managed to create some splits in the armrest padding by pounding the hell out of the armrest padding due to MMPORPG frustrations. Other than that, not a single complaint.
posted by bricoleur at 9:36 PM on January 16, 2012
posted by bricoleur at 9:36 PM on January 16, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the great suggestions so far. Please keep 'em coming!
Those of you with Freedoms, have you had any issues with the armrests? I've found a few reviews complaining that they break easily.
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:26 PM on January 16, 2012
Those of you with Freedoms, have you had any issues with the armrests? I've found a few reviews complaining that they break easily.
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:26 PM on January 16, 2012
Best answer: We have had a half-dozen Freedoms at work for the past five years or so. No breakage that I know of, certainly less than other kinds of chairs.
I'd be careful with the Freedom however. We have a couple of people with very bad backs. For them, the chair does not offer enough support, particularly in the lower back. They have to use chairs which are pre-adjusted to them. Those of us who can use the Humanscale chairs prefer them, but the auto-adjustment does take some getting used to.
posted by bonehead at 5:40 AM on January 17, 2012
I'd be careful with the Freedom however. We have a couple of people with very bad backs. For them, the chair does not offer enough support, particularly in the lower back. They have to use chairs which are pre-adjusted to them. Those of us who can use the Humanscale chairs prefer them, but the auto-adjustment does take some getting used to.
posted by bonehead at 5:40 AM on January 17, 2012
Best answer: My Steelcase (Leap?) does total upright as does my Teknion Contessa at work. Note that there is lumbar support in both. The Steelcase was fairly easy to remove, while the Contessa was very difficult.
posted by evening at 7:26 AM on January 17, 2012
posted by evening at 7:26 AM on January 17, 2012
Best answer: If you exert a ton of pressure on the ends of the armrests when standing up you can definitely snap the arms.
In our office of ~50 people, just 2 employees accounted for 100% of the Freedom Chair's arm breakages. Those dudes broke at least 2 chairs each for the same reason every time: they launched themselves out of the chairs by pressing downwards on the ends of the arms.
No one ever admonished silly coworkers that they should maybe try to not break the expensive chairs, so they just kept on launching themselves out of the things. I suggest standing up without applying tons of pressure to the armwrests. They're not hard to get out of.
posted by nerdcore at 4:25 PM on January 17, 2012
In our office of ~50 people, just 2 employees accounted for 100% of the Freedom Chair's arm breakages. Those dudes broke at least 2 chairs each for the same reason every time: they launched themselves out of the chairs by pressing downwards on the ends of the arms.
No one ever admonished silly coworkers that they should maybe try to not break the expensive chairs, so they just kept on launching themselves out of the things. I suggest standing up without applying tons of pressure to the armwrests. They're not hard to get out of.
posted by nerdcore at 4:25 PM on January 17, 2012
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(Honestly, it's the first thing that came to mind after "Price isn't a factor.")
posted by supercres at 6:02 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]