Should I pay a small king's ransom for this chair
July 11, 2013 9:50 AM Subscribe
After years of back problems, I am seeking a chair that I can actually sit in comfortably. I am looking at the Gravity Balans, but it costs a small fortune. However, I am desperate. Does anyone have any experience with this chair and is it worth it? Any suggestions for alternatives?
So I have been through physical therapy, massage therapy, a new mattress, a new sofa, chiropractor's appointments, and doctor's appointments. It would be really nice to not go to bed in pain, and then be in pain again within a few hours the next day.
There's not a lot I can do about my seating arrangement at work, other than try to make sure I get up and walk around a lot. However, at home, I still sit a lot, and even with exercise, this isn't going to go away. I have a lot that needs to be done on computer (both laptop and desktop), and I like to hang with my friends in the living room on the weekends.
I have a perfectly decent regular type office chair, and a comfy sofa. Both of them leave me in agony. I have been looking at recliners. Many of them seem huge and overstuffed, and I suppose this is one way of getting the job done. I also have a friend who sprang for a Gravity Recliner and swears it is the only thing that ever helped her. But my god, it's 2K, so I think I need a few more anecdata from people who have long term experience with this chair before I start smashing over piggy banks (I will try one out in a store, but obviously that will just give me a few minutes with it).
Was it worth it? Or, did you manage to find something similar that worked for you? It seems like I could move this chair back and forth from the living room (for reclining) to the office (for more upright work), and hopefully also use it while balancing a laptop on my lap. And also for NAPPING. Is it heavy? Is it too huge and awkward? And will it actually make a difference, or is it an overpriced assemblage of wood and foam?
Note -- I am actually looking for something that can recline, rather than just an upright chair, like an Aeron.
(I wasn't sure whether to put this askme in health & fitness or home & garden, sorry!)
So I have been through physical therapy, massage therapy, a new mattress, a new sofa, chiropractor's appointments, and doctor's appointments. It would be really nice to not go to bed in pain, and then be in pain again within a few hours the next day.
There's not a lot I can do about my seating arrangement at work, other than try to make sure I get up and walk around a lot. However, at home, I still sit a lot, and even with exercise, this isn't going to go away. I have a lot that needs to be done on computer (both laptop and desktop), and I like to hang with my friends in the living room on the weekends.
I have a perfectly decent regular type office chair, and a comfy sofa. Both of them leave me in agony. I have been looking at recliners. Many of them seem huge and overstuffed, and I suppose this is one way of getting the job done. I also have a friend who sprang for a Gravity Recliner and swears it is the only thing that ever helped her. But my god, it's 2K, so I think I need a few more anecdata from people who have long term experience with this chair before I start smashing over piggy banks (I will try one out in a store, but obviously that will just give me a few minutes with it).
Was it worth it? Or, did you manage to find something similar that worked for you? It seems like I could move this chair back and forth from the living room (for reclining) to the office (for more upright work), and hopefully also use it while balancing a laptop on my lap. And also for NAPPING. Is it heavy? Is it too huge and awkward? And will it actually make a difference, or is it an overpriced assemblage of wood and foam?
Note -- I am actually looking for something that can recline, rather than just an upright chair, like an Aeron.
(I wasn't sure whether to put this askme in health & fitness or home & garden, sorry!)
See, this one is much less than a kings randsom, and it might really help you.
Balans Variable
Have you tried this? I liked mine a LOT.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:54 AM on July 11, 2013
Balans Variable
Have you tried this? I liked mine a LOT.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:54 AM on July 11, 2013
I went on the same trek you did, including forking over for a pricey office chair. I still like the chair, but what fixed my (agonizing) back pain was acupuncture, from a couple of Beijing-trained doctors.
posted by bearwife at 10:02 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bearwife at 10:02 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
my mom has a deck chair that reclines in such a way that it takes pressure off your back - maybe you can try one of those and see if it helps before shelling out the big bucks on the fancy desk chair? I think she got hers at canadian tire, if that helps
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:22 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:22 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't know where you are but I would not buy a $2,000 chair specifically being purchased to solve a problem without trying it, no. Can you try it in a store or at your friend's? And not just for a minute or two; really lounge on it for a good 30 - 60 minutes.
Assuming that it is actually Seating Nirvana for you when you try it, though, just know that while $2,000 is a crazypants amount of money it's not completely out of the norm for Really Special Problem Solving Chairs. We paid more than that for an orthopaedic recliner for my dad when he was in a nursing home.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:26 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Assuming that it is actually Seating Nirvana for you when you try it, though, just know that while $2,000 is a crazypants amount of money it's not completely out of the norm for Really Special Problem Solving Chairs. We paid more than that for an orthopaedic recliner for my dad when he was in a nursing home.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:26 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
On a closer look at that Gravity whatsit chair, I am seeing that you'd still be sitting at a 90 degree angle, just, like, tilted. That would not do a thing for me.
Try sitting at an actual recline, where your back and legs are at a wider angle, for a while and see if that helps you.
posted by phunniemee at 10:39 AM on July 11, 2013
Try sitting at an actual recline, where your back and legs are at a wider angle, for a while and see if that helps you.
posted by phunniemee at 10:39 AM on July 11, 2013
The chair you're looking at doesn't look like it would be all that comfy for long-term sitting. It has no support for the area right behind your knees, so it's going to leave a lot of weight on your mid-thighs and lower legs. That can hurt.
I heartily second a chair of a design like the deck chair recommended by 5_13_ above. I've been using one as my main living room chair for years. Due to illness, I spend a LOT of time in My Chair, and it never gives me the sore back I used to get from a standard recliner. I customized it with an extra foam pad, and covered it with a couple small cotton rugs and some pillow shams so it looks a little more like it belongs in the house instead of at the pool. (Pool?)
If you try one of these chairs, have extra laces on hand. There will come a time when one will go SPROING and leave half your butt hanging in the air.
posted by Corvid at 11:20 AM on July 11, 2013
I heartily second a chair of a design like the deck chair recommended by 5_13_ above. I've been using one as my main living room chair for years. Due to illness, I spend a LOT of time in My Chair, and it never gives me the sore back I used to get from a standard recliner. I customized it with an extra foam pad, and covered it with a couple small cotton rugs and some pillow shams so it looks a little more like it belongs in the house instead of at the pool. (Pool?)
If you try one of these chairs, have extra laces on hand. There will come a time when one will go SPROING and leave half your butt hanging in the air.
posted by Corvid at 11:20 AM on July 11, 2013
Best answer: The "Perfect Chair" has the same zero-gravity posture.
posted by supercres at 11:23 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by supercres at 11:23 AM on July 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would not pay retail for something like this. I would be searching craigslist/ebay/everywhere like mad for someone selling a used one who didn't like/didn't have space for it/etc.
This type of specialty item with a high purchase price generally has a comparatively low price in the used market because of the small size of the market for it.
posted by emptythought at 2:01 PM on July 11, 2013
This type of specialty item with a high purchase price generally has a comparatively low price in the used market because of the small size of the market for it.
posted by emptythought at 2:01 PM on July 11, 2013
Definitely try it before you buy. I've sat in this type of chair twice, and both times I only lasted a few minutes because they actually made me feel nauseous. Why I do not know, but it was very unpleasant.
posted by 1066 at 3:59 PM on July 11, 2013
posted by 1066 at 3:59 PM on July 11, 2013
Best answer: Is it heavy? Is it too huge and awkward?
I don't think it's that heavy, but it's pretty bulky to be moving from place to place a lot. It's definitely doable, but you might get sick of it, especially if you've already got to be careful of your back. Can you try moving it around in the store? Also, what kind of surface will you be moving it over? You'll need to make sure it won't damage your floor or the chair if you're dragging it from place to place.
And will it actually make a difference, or is it an overpriced assemblage of wood and foam?
My anecdata, bearing in mind that I was using it to elevate my legs, not because of any back issues: I've spent the better part of a day and night (in one go) sitting/lying in one of these chairs. It was a-maz-ing. To the point that I still think about that chair. To the point that if I thought I could get one for "only" $2K over here in one of the most isolated capital cities in the world, I'd seriously consider it even though I don't have any justification for it.
posted by pianissimo at 6:56 PM on July 11, 2013
I don't think it's that heavy, but it's pretty bulky to be moving from place to place a lot. It's definitely doable, but you might get sick of it, especially if you've already got to be careful of your back. Can you try moving it around in the store? Also, what kind of surface will you be moving it over? You'll need to make sure it won't damage your floor or the chair if you're dragging it from place to place.
And will it actually make a difference, or is it an overpriced assemblage of wood and foam?
My anecdata, bearing in mind that I was using it to elevate my legs, not because of any back issues: I've spent the better part of a day and night (in one go) sitting/lying in one of these chairs. It was a-maz-ing. To the point that I still think about that chair. To the point that if I thought I could get one for "only" $2K over here in one of the most isolated capital cities in the world, I'd seriously consider it even though I don't have any justification for it.
posted by pianissimo at 6:56 PM on July 11, 2013
So, it's unclear to me and I think a few clarifications are in order for folks to help you.
Have you tried this specific chair? If so I guess you're looking for information from people who have.... what?
Either,
a) bought this chair and if they liked/disliked owning/sitting in it or
b) bought *an expensive chair* they tried and if they liked/disliked owning/sitting in it or
c) bought *an expensive chair* sight/butt unseen/unfelt and if they liked/disliked owning/sitting in it or
d) had back/sitting problems and have ameliorated them in one way/shape/form something something chair?
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:16 AM on July 12, 2013
Have you tried this specific chair? If so I guess you're looking for information from people who have.... what?
Either,
a) bought this chair and if they liked/disliked owning/sitting in it or
b) bought *an expensive chair* they tried and if they liked/disliked owning/sitting in it or
c) bought *an expensive chair* sight/butt unseen/unfelt and if they liked/disliked owning/sitting in it or
d) had back/sitting problems and have ameliorated them in one way/shape/form something something chair?
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:16 AM on July 12, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
I have back problems, and sitting at 90 degrees is just absolute torture for me. But if I stick pillows behind my back and neck, put up my legs, and hang out at more of a 135-140 degree angle, I'm great.
posted by phunniemee at 9:54 AM on July 11, 2013