With Christmas coming up, I'm looking for a good desk chair. I am a chronic leaner and always wear out the back for every chair I've ever owned.

I lean back and put way more of my weight than I should on the back until the lock doesn't work anymore and the back of the chair moves if I put any weight on it at all.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a chair that has a strong back that can take a lot of wear? An absolute tank of a chair if possible. Ideally I'd like a chair around $500 or less with mesh available in NA.

Edit: Thanks for the suggestions, I've decided to get a used Herman Miller off of criegslist.

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86tuning t1_isl4vko wrote on October 16, 2022 at 8:11 PM

chairs that have less moving parts are inherently stronger. sturdier design with thicker structure will be stronger too. I'd look for a chair that has a non-adjustable back with sturdy framing.

your requirements are very specific and best done with in-person shopping. i'd look into herman-miller, recaro, and the other well-known brands.

thisguydoyouseethis OP t1_isli40y wrote on October 16, 2022 at 9:40 PM

That's a good point about less moving parts. This makes me this a chair with a strong back could have a ladder system to lock the chair at different angles, like some lawn or pool chairs have.

Muncie4 t1_islawr0 wrote on October 16, 2022 at 8:50 PM

Your budget does not support a BIFL chair unless you find one used. Full stop. BIFL chairs start at $1000 and there is not such animal as a strong back chair...that's not a thing. Steelcase, Herman Miller and Human Scale are brands to search for as craigslist and other person to person sources are out there as are online used office supply stores.

And "with mesh" has many meanings. Mesh back are easy. Mesh bottom....you need to try those out as they have a different feel and are much harder to find.

thisguydoyouseethis OP t1_isli7eg wrote on October 16, 2022 at 9:40 PM

By a strong back chair I mean I am trying to find if anyone here has a similar habbit to mine and seeing if they have found a chair that can hold up. I am mostly talking about breathability in a general sense with the mesh.

Muncie4 t1_ism7ufb wrote on October 17, 2022 at 12:52 AM

Strong back is not a thing in chair. You may think it is, but its not.

Again....mesh.....seat or back or both?

useless_bucket t1_itnxma7 wrote on October 25, 2022 at 1:01 AM

I've been rocking a "global malaga" for the past 20 years. Other than replacing the padded arms once this chair is still awesome.

It's not a mesh back but thus is the most comfortable office chair I've ever bought.

Assuming the quality hasn't slipped its a steal at $800.

https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/810452/Global-Malaga-Multi-Tilter-Chair-High/

Logdog91 t1_ismrukr wrote on October 17, 2022 at 3:29 AM

It’s above your budget, but I got a 2015 Herman Miller XL Aeron chair on Facebook marketplace for 650. It’s been godsend on my back.

IMO I would look for a used Herman Miller or Steelcase over a newer cheaper chair. Facebook marketplace typically has a ton of people that make a living off of selling these high end chairs that they get from office liquidation sales and such.

tv6 t1_isna5uk wrote on October 17, 2022 at 6:54 AM

Look at Craig's List for used chairs from furniture warehouses. Amazon has refurbished chairs too but a lot more expensive. Steel Case Leap is the best chair I have ever sat in. I had had mine for 3-4 years now and it still acts the same. I used to go through normal big box store office chairs every year or two. I got mine for under $100.

[deleted] t1_isl527f wrote on October 16, 2022 at 8:12 PM

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Pokerofmongeese13 t1_islko5d wrote on October 16, 2022 at 9:58 PM

I would take a look at secretlab chairs. While not likely bifl, they have a good warranty and seem to have overbuilt parts. The only other recommendation is to look for a swivel chair from the 1920s. Have one of those (wood/cast iron) and I very much doubt it will ever break. Add a cushion and you have a decent chair.

Py687 t1_it4afsv wrote on October 20, 2022 at 8:45 PM

"Race car" style chairs are absolutely abysmal. I will never understand why gamers gravitate to them.

Z1pl1ne t1_ismbft4 wrote on October 17, 2022 at 1:19 AM

Voca Office Chairs have very strong backs but expensive

hereforthefreedrinks t1_isna0cb wrote on October 17, 2022 at 6:52 AM

I love the caper chair, personally.

Neither-Most t1_isolzea wrote on October 17, 2022 at 3:23 PM

If you are near a city you should be able to find a used herman miller aeron for 300-400 and you can upgrade it to the posturefit for another hundred, it's mesh so I really don't see used as a problem

[deleted] t1_isoq265 wrote on October 17, 2022 at 3:52 PM

You need a Herman Miller Mirra chair. The back is not mesh, but it’s strong and breathable.

As others have suggested, I would look for a used model.

ImBadWithGrils t1_it3f32n wrote on October 20, 2022 at 5:23 PM

Used Steelcase? My V1 leap has adjustable tension and also another knob that controls how far back it is allowed to lean. It can go almost flat if you unlock it

awesometoast47 t1_it8ajli wrote on October 21, 2022 at 5:36 PM

Herman Miller Aeron, is one of the best chairs out there I've been sitting on one for a long time, and I lean all the time, it's a great chair and I can't recommend it enough.