Submitted by ilovetpb t3_zw2i3g in BuyItForLife
I have bad posture and I have a lot of pain from my existing gaming chair. I'm looking for a chair that has great back support and will last as long as possible.
Comments
Dadtakesthebait t1_j1sm8d6 wrote
Agree. My standing desk has made a huge difference. I use it for work and gaming now.
anarchikos t1_j1tjed0 wrote
Yup, I was going to answer standing desk. I had surgery on my l4/l5 and after recovering from all that ended up with a pinched nerve in my neck. Got a standing desk and fixed it all. I stand all day, I don't even have a desk chair. If I get tired of standing I go do something else or lie down for a bit. (WFH is helpful) But sitting all day is a recipe for disaster in my experience.
Ill-ConceivedVenture t1_j1tp5l2 wrote
Sitting all day or standing all day is bad for you. We're meant to be moving or at the very least changing between sitting and standing.
Standing desks are great, especially if you can alternate between the two.
Negative-Reading1989 t1_j1ubj69 wrote
I absolutely agree. Staying in either position too long can be problematic. A desk that can do both gives you flexibility and encourages movement. For the sitting portion I actually have a wooden chair, something that I sit pretty upright on. I probably split my standing and sitting time 50/50.
anarchikos t1_j20um9k wrote
Exactly. Which is why when I get tired of standing go do something else for awhile (great to remind yourself to take breaks) or I lie down for a bit. For me if the option is there to sit, I end up sitting down and not realizing how long I've been sitting. Standing also guarantees you keep moving around, you can't stand without moving around for very long, unlike sitting where you can easily not move at all.
sparrow-head t1_j1tafo5 wrote
I bought an expensive chair and it made my sitting so comfortable. After couple of years diagnosed with spinal stenosis. An incurable (surgery can help though) condition.
So what you are saying is the truth that chair sales man may not admit. Every sedantry person should be aware of this.
Think_Z t1_j1smlr5 wrote
This is the truth.
MrLiverman t1_j1st097 wrote
Been this guy. Worked in this industry. This is the truth.
hacknix t1_j1vrvut wrote
A work colleague used to use one of those kneeling chairs
Chastidy t1_j1wzpj3 wrote
Agree 100% that exercise, PT, etc. I the real issue. Uncomfortable chair is USUALLY a symptom. But a shite chair can definitely contribute to back and neck symptoms (and elbow/wrist issues)
jnortond t1_j1sp9iz wrote
I love my Steelcase Leap chair. I lost a lot of weight lately but it supported my heavy body as well as my lighter one. When choosing between the Steelcase and Herman Miller options, I read a lot of reviews. I do not regret my choice.
Looski t1_j1syh56 wrote
Same, I was rather heavy and the steelcase leap held my weight well. I've lost a ton of weight and my chair is still great. It needs to be re-upholstered, but other than that it's still going strong after 10+yrs of ownership
smashey t1_j1td5i9 wrote
I have a leap v2 refurbished by Crandall . They put a bit more padding in the seat and back and cover it with very nice fabric.
I think the current thinking is that ergonomic chairs should encourage a variety of postures and that is why I love this chair so much. I am 6'3 and use the chair in many positions. Back locked up,back tilted back, sitting on the edge, sitting all the way back.
A chair will not help an injury but I think the steelcase leap/Amia and other top models are the best office chairs ever. I don't like the aeron as much myself.
jnortond t1_j1x4xq4 wrote
I also bought mine from Crandall. Top notch company with great customer experience.
Ambitious-Hornet9673 t1_j1szfr6 wrote
A Steelcase Leap is my wish list chair. I pretty actively search second hand. Just in case someone doesn’t know what they have.
bigredbicycles t1_j1t68h3 wrote
I managed to find some Amias earlier this month for about 1/3 retail price. They were from an office rental liquidation. Very comfortable and a huge improvement over the cheap chairs we had before.
Ill-ConceivedVenture t1_j1tcruh wrote
I also have a Steelcase Leap and I can't stand it. Worst purchase I ever made. It's one of the the most uncomfortable chairs I've ever sat in. There is just zero padding in the seat (it's like sitting on a rock - actually, I've sat on more comfortable rocks than this) and the lumbar is far too aggressive, even when you remove the extra lumbar support.
Just my experience.
CorgiRawr t1_j1sgcdk wrote
Herman millers are great but expensive
Darth-Ragnar t1_j1swx6z wrote
Give this video a try, everyday. I have/had chronic back pain over the past two or so years and I started it about a month ago. It’s helped tremendously.
Also, Aeron and embody are both good. Owned both, and with Herman Miller, you can trial them for 30 days.
GargantuanGreenGoats t1_j1swpq0 wrote
Do Pilates my friend
fjdlslecibw47328 t1_j1t6v8j wrote
I’d say get a huge monitor and blow up the screen size, that’s what I did and it turns out I have bad vision so I was leaning over really far. Now I cruise through the day leaning back with my monitor at 180% resolution and my back feels much better, but also regular and proper exercise helped a bunch too.
Randum_Miss t1_j1tifbd wrote
As a former web developer, I've done the standing desk. I didn't love or hate it. I liked being able to mix it up so I had an adjustable desk. As far as chair brands go, Ergohuman by Raynor is top notch. My husband got one almost 10 years ago as a paralegal who never left the desk and it's still perfect today. He had back pain with his previous chairs and the Ergo was the solution.
Medium_Brood5095 t1_j1sr3s8 wrote
Herman Miller Mirra 2
Burtmacklinsburner t1_j1szg9p wrote
Herman Miller Embody took my back pain away.
954kevin t1_j1t57cz wrote
I use the Steelcase leap v2. I also like the Haworth Fern and the Herman Miller Embody. I got my leap from Crandall Office online refurbished with a 12 year warranty. Aside from a couple light scratches you wouldn't know it wasn't brand new.
Petzl89 t1_j1tgmxb wrote
Standing desk, Swiss ball, inversion table.
HanDave t1_j1tm1je wrote
Not sure if you are gonna be able to get it outside the Czechia, but this is really the only chair that ever helped me.
Herman Miller is a good chair, but it just allows you to sit right, Therapia chairs are made to force you to sit right (making any other way of sitting highly uncomfortable).
At first, I was not able to sit in Therapia chair for longer than 1 hour as it was literally stretching all my shortened muscles.
Korallenriffe t1_j1txyww wrote
Check out Hag Capisco. It encourages moving around and changing your position a little while sitting. That is very important. For me it is also very comfortable and encourages me to sit up straight.
GrapeVanWinkle t1_j1ubho1 wrote
I dropped a G on a herman miller aeron. best purchase i ever made. just do it and thank me later
celticdove t1_j1wdpk1 wrote
Got an Aeron used at an office furniture store. Fixed my back problems caused by another chair.
ZimofZord t1_j1shpb0 wrote
I have a secret lab one they have a 5 yr warranty which I have used twice now so not exactly sure if it BIFL atm
Cfwydirk t1_j1sq60j wrote
YouTube search “best office chairs for back pain”. There are several reviews.
inovawilson t1_j1swno1 wrote
Embody, Clatina, Hyken,.... are very well for back pain. Depending on the budget, you'll have the best solution. High-end product if you can pay thousand $ for a chair like Embody. Or popular products like Hyken is a good option in the price range. For more information about these chairs, find here
[deleted] t1_j1sxaym wrote
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xueimelb t1_j1t2bgh wrote
Been sitting on one of these for a few years. That really doesn't qualify the BIFL title, but it seems sturdy so far, and hasn't hurt anything. That said, the other comments are correct, a chair won't fix this for you. https://www.staples.com/staples-ayalon-mesh-and-fabric-task-chair-black/product_2722088
AddictedtoBoom t1_j1ta9gh wrote
I have a terrible back. I’m past the point of “just stand it’s better for you”. I’ve had multiple spinal surgeries and have nerve damage that prohibits standing for long. I use a steel case leap v2 and my back doesn’t hurt sitting in it.
loonygecko t1_j1u0b0a wrote
It really depends on the shape of your body. Chairs are one thing I don't buy online. Instead I go to Staples or some such place and just sit in them all and see what feels best. Often the expensive ones are not even any more comfortable than the cheaper ones.
vanslem6 t1_j1uqzyj wrote
Probably need to do less sitting.
mb_angel t1_j1ur3bo wrote
Embody chair plus very good bed plus great cushion. Did i also mention physical activity?
anon1002222 t1_j1v4jua wrote
Steelcase Gesture
- “stiffer” chair option for those that like a lot of support
- upgrade from the Steelcase Leap
- best adjustable arms on the market 100% if that’s your thing
Herman Miller Sayl
- surprisingly comfortable with a plastic/rubber back formed for ergonomics
Haworth Fern
- neck hugging high back
- have gamer versions with even more robust ergonomics
Herman Miller Aeron
- use to be a super popular mesh seat chair but doesn’t seem to be preferred anymore in a line up of fabric seat chairs
SwimTechnical8122 t1_j1v86pw wrote
The best office chair is one that actually fits you. Most are made way too big and plush, which leads to poor posture. You should be able to sit with your back supported by the backrest, feet on the floor, and still be able to slide 4 fingers in between the back of your knee and the seat cushion.
Standing desks are wonderful, but I still find the need to have a good chair because I can't stand all day.
roseisnotarose t1_j1vsvdw wrote
You might look for a saddle chair or stool. They are very comfortable and promote better ergonomics.
SlickMiller t1_j1wpvzg wrote
Secretlab Titan
Otto_von_Grotto t1_j1sgu7r wrote
As someone else with a bad back, I hate Herman Miller chairs.
I've got a beat up old chair that I didn't like a whole lot at first but love now. All the information is gone, so I don't know who made it and I cannot find a replacement like it.
I know this didn't help, but I'm hoping for a new chair at some point.
Good luck, OP!
Ok-Illustrator-6903 t1_j1tn5mf wrote
What an annoying waste of a comment
JaredUmm t1_j1vnt5c wrote
Well I had a comment, but it’s beat up and you can’t read it anymore and I’m not sure who actually said it, but it was the best comment I ever had.
Anyways good luck with your search!
Ill-ConceivedVenture t1_j1shtld wrote
Not what you're going to want to hear, but your problem isn't the chair you're sitting in, it's sitting itself. Yes, a chair built for ergonomics won't hurt, but it won't correct the underlying issue and it won't prevent issues going forward.
I've tried all the top chairs, Aeron, Embody, Steelcase Leap v2, Gesture, et cetera. None of them helped. Know what helped my bad back and made it go away for good? Physical therapy. Know what keeps it from coming back? Not sitting as long or as often. Switching between sitting and standing. Strengthening my back with rucking / exercise / building core strength. Strengthening the hips and loosening them up. Stretching.
It's going to take work but the sooner you start the better.