computer / gaming chair for bigger guy
September 19, 2015 7:28 PM   Subscribe

Anyone have recommendations for a computer / gaming chair for a bigger guy? He's about 5ft 7, 315 lbs. We had a generic slightly heavy looking office chair from Costco that just died - the thing that raised and lowered the seat gave out. We're looking for a replacement but don't want to end up with something else that dies quickly. <<

He liked the look of this Merax chair in part because it looked like you could recline but there are only a few reviews. Amazon also had Serta and Lay-z-boy chairs that claim to be for bigger and taller people. Any reviews of these or suggestions for chairs would be helpful. We were hoping to stay below sub Herman Miller pricing.

If you do have a favorite expensive chair that we might be able to find on sale or used (there's a lot of used tech office furniture available around here)that would be ok too.
posted by oneear to Home & Garden (9 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Office Max has a lot of broad, padded, comfy, durable nice looking office type chairs. I bought one for $179 ten years ago. I assembled it and it has endured moves, cats on the back, and me. I may have replaced the pneumatic cylinder once, but that may have been a loser chair I tossed from my studio space, come to think of it.
posted by Oyéah at 7:45 PM on September 19, 2015


That Merax chair looks a lot like the DX Racer chairs, one of which I purchased for myself, and one for a friend, who is around 6'4", 260 lbs. I know many pro gaming teams use them and I've heard positive reviews from other big guys.

They are pricey, but good quality and comfortable. I think you'll want the King series, which is the biggest/most heavy-duty (supports 396 lbs, according to them), but you can call or email their customer service and they'll help you narrow down the best choice.

There's also this Maxnomic chair that specifically says it supports up to 374 lbs. There does seem to be a wait list, though.
posted by rachaelfaith at 7:48 PM on September 19, 2015


I'd avoid Office supply store plus sized chairs as a 275lb+ woman I've had no luck with the hydraulics in any of them lasting even a year despite what they may claim their weight ratings are.

I managed to get a plus sized lazyboy office chair (I was surprised to find out they made them) as a one off sale at Sams club. It is super comfy & has held up to me plonking my self down into multiple times a day. It's so wide I can sit cross legged in it no worries too & it reclines. It has avoided that annoying little wobble the cheaper chairs get and the hydraulics are great, the recline is also hydraulic & you can set how fast & how much effort you want to exert before the seat goes flying back.

This is the model I got. A quick online check shows that one Sams club near me still stocks them, but it's sold out online but it's only half the price if you can find one near you.
posted by wwax at 8:17 PM on September 19, 2015


I love my Steelcase Leap, and I know they have a Plus version that's good up to 500 pounds.
posted by CrystalDave at 8:18 PM on September 19, 2015 [3 favorites]


Living XL have a bunch of chairs for big folks, sadly mail order only. I don't like to buy a chair without giving it a test sit.
posted by Marky at 8:56 PM on September 19, 2015


Working in furniture for over a decade, I'm going to throw out a general caveat that you shouldn't get a chair that's less than $500, or you'll be replacing it within a couple of years of uncomfortable experience.

I wouldn't recommend any puffy, soft office chair skinned in vinyl or leather -- they don't breathe and the foam compresses immediately and then you're sitting on the frame. Puffy and thick do not equal comfort or support.

Although its official weight capacity is rated at 300 lbs, I'm going to suggest the Herman Miller Mirra 2 -- it's the successor to the Aeron, but with a generally larger frame and better control interface. Like all HM office chairs, it's got a 15 year warranty.

The Herman Miller Embody is pretty good for larger users too, with a more relaxed fit, but check out the Steelcase Leap Plus that CrystalDave recommended too.

I don't know about Steelcase, but Herman Miller does an annual sale coming up in the end of November that gets you something like 15% off.

I would probably pass on the Knoll Generation chair -- it's less expensive, but is definitely a lighter built chair, so I'm not sure how well it would hold up over time.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 1:51 AM on September 20, 2015 [1 favorite]


Don't bother with Living XL. I broke three castors on their 1,000 lb capacity office chair in the year I had one before the weld holding the seat on failed.
posted by zinon at 8:38 AM on September 20, 2015


2nd Steelcase Leap. You can get them used for $200-300
posted by hamsterdam at 1:24 PM on September 20, 2015


Also, you can replace the hydraulic cylinder at a fairly reasonable price, even replace it over and over if the chair works in every other way. I think it's mostly about how long it is...check out eBay for 'hydraulic chair lift'.
posted by DandyRandy at 10:15 AM on September 23, 2015


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