Need a new desk chair!

August 22, 2008 3:33 PM

I need a new desk chair. My last desk chair is about 5 years old and on its last legs. It was a rather pricey chair, and I really can't afford that level of expense again. I need a good, ergonomic chair for around $200.

So here's the nitty gritty.

I'm a big guy, so I need a chair that can both accommodate and not break under it.

I've also had some problems with sciatica so I'd like something that's a bit ergonomic.

Otherwise, my only other requirements are that it has wheels, arm wrests, and can lock into a "straight back" position as well as leaning back.

Thanks!

posted by Gideon to Shopping (6 answers total)

Best answer: I have the Acadia chair from Staples at home. I like it better than my Steelcase Leap at work. And it's well under $200.
posted by bricoleur at 3:53 PM on August 22, 2008

We've had good luck buying used office chairs. A lot of the companies that sell new office furniture will make you a decent deal on used stuff as well. Some CEO decides he doesn't like his new chair and it gets returned, or a business remodels and swaps out all their furniture (at a huge loss, no doubt) and the office furniture company resells it (at a huge profit). You might try that avenue.
posted by Death by Ugabooga at 8:04 PM on August 22, 2008

I don't have any experience with 'expensive' chairs, but I also have the Acadia from Staples and would also recommend it. The back is comfy, the seat is comfy, and you can adjust (and lock) the tilt of the back itself and of the seat. It's great.
posted by papayaninja at 8:09 PM on August 22, 2008

How expensive is your current one? Check with the manufacturer, because sometimes they have cheap/free repairs/replacement. I'd certainly expect a chair that's over $200 to last more than 5 years!
posted by explosion at 9:39 PM on August 22, 2008

Im also a pretty big guy. We bought a Lane office chair from Costco a few years back and it's fantastic. Nowhere near the quality of Aeron and the like but it's solid, sturdy, comfortable and should last me another few years. If I recall it was $179 or so, definitely under $200.

It's pretty similar to this one.
posted by camworld at 4:54 AM on August 23, 2008

Bought the Acadia a few weeks ago for home and recently bought another one to replace my work chair. It was hard to find a good, cheap chair that wasn't leather, but I think I finally succeeded.
posted by ontic at 6:48 PM on August 23, 2008