I have an old chair that’s comfortable enough. I’m wondering if my life will significantly improve if I spend $400-$600 on a new chair for my desk at home.
Anyone have experiences with buying a better computer desk chair? Can you tell me if it will make a huge difference?
Most chairs use the same mechanical parts, so If you are considering buying a new chair because your old one is wearing out, don’t bother spending more money.
As a large guy, I go through chairs faster than most. I bought a “big and tall” chair with huge, comfy Seely cushions. It cost over $400, however, it had the same support system underneath as my previous $75 Costco and $50 Target chairs. It didn’t last any longer then the cheap ones did. My current chair has an extra support bar that connects the back, armrests, and seat together. I hope this will keep the thing intact for longer then my previous chairs. Unfortunately, the whole thing isn’t very comfortable.
I’m sitting on a Herman Miller *Aeron *chair right now that I bought 12 years ago, so I can attest that the things are rugged as all get out. I’d been through other cheap chairs before, and it’s a bit like Terry Pratchett’s Boots Theory - that you’ll spend more over time on the cheap stuff.
If your present chair is “comfortable enough”, then you have everything you need. Save your money and buy a steak and some wine.
However, if you spend a great deal of time in the chair, maybe you want more than “comfortable enough”. Best advice is to try out the new prospect. Sit in it. Read reviews, and listen to my fellow Dopers. They are comfortably numb.
I work from home, so I spend a fair bit of time sitting in my home office. To me, a high-end chair is worth it. I’ve definitely had aches & pains from cheap chairs.
I had a nice upholstered chair I bought on sale maybe 15 years ago, for around $350; I think it’s true price was maybe around $450-$500. It worked great, but after almost daily use for 15 years, the upholstery started to fray and thus I needed a new chair last spring.
I shopped around (which is trickier than you think when you live in the middle of nowhere) and ended up buying a Herman Miller Mirra chair. Dropped about $800 on it, but I expect it’s the last chair I’ll ever buy. No upholstery to fray, 12 year warranty, easy access to spare parts if needed, and it’s incredibly adjustable.
For those who keep up on such things - the Mirra is very similar to the Aeron. I sat in both, and ended up liking the Mirra slightly more. And it comes in different colors (the Aeron is only black) and that was a plus for me.
I’m not looking for a chair that I can pass down to my grandchildren. I’m more concerned with comfort rather than longevity.
Looking at the Herman Miller chair online I can’t imagine how it will significantly improve comfort. It may be that the chair forces you to improve your posture, which can lead to less aches and pains in the long run.
I don’t think I can explain it to anyone who hasn’t spent hours sitting in one. The mesh seat and back keeps your back and butt from sweating. It is wonderfully adjustable as Athena mentioned.
I will third Athena and gaffa. Those Herman Miller chairs let you sit on your ass all day without feeling like you sat on your ass all day. The form and support are just right (and can be adjusted if they are not).
But I have to think that if you drop the money that a good chair will cost, you’d prefer it to last for a while. I know I’m not particularly interested in replacing an $800 chair anytime soon.
That said, I agree that comfort is the #1 priority. Doesn’t matter how much it cost or how long it lasts if it’s not comfy. I can’t really improve on what JKilez said:
I can honestly say that since I got this chair, I’ve never left my desk at the end of a long day with an aching back because I hunched over the keyboard for hours on end, or bursitis in my shoulder (an issue with my old chair) or any other of the many aches & pains that come from sitting in a bad position for a long time. Well worth the $$ for me.