7 Tips For Buying The Best Ergonomic Chair

Ergonomic Chair Features Choosing the best ergonomic chair for the shape of your individual body may not seem like an easy feat, but with some vigilant research you can find your ideal solution in no time. The tips below will provide you with a basis of what to look for when choosing an ergonomic chair, whether for at home or the office.

Tip #1: All ergonomic chairs are not the same. The saying “you get what you pay for” absolutely applies here. They range in price from about $100.00 to over and above $1,000.00, and every price point in between. Some will fail in one way or another within a year and some will last a lifetime. Make sure you spend as much as you can if you want to purchase the best, most comfortable chair for you.

Tip #2: Many different users cannot sit in the same chair comfortably. When shopping for an ergonomic chair you need to look for the most adjustable features. This will make it easier to adjust the chair to your body type and if the chair you buy is going to be used by other people it also will make adjusting it to fit their body types as easy as possible.

Tip #3: Be aware of the size and shape of the seat cushion and back rest of the chairs you look at. Most office chair manufacturers have multiple seat sizes available and they provide measurements of each size so you can match it with your body size. This is the main area ergonomic chairs are different from regular computer chairs because regular chairs usually do not come in multiple sizes.

Tip #4: Is the depth and tilt of the seat cushion adjustable? Most chairs have the ability to adjust the seat height, but adjustable tilt of the seat cushion is a feature that high quality ergonomic chairs come with. Setting the seat cushion tilt to a comfortable position allows for even greater versatility than height adjustment by itself. Seat depth adjustability is also extremely important and this is usually accomplished with a “seat slider” option. This will allow you to change the position in seconds.

Tip #5: Is the depth of the back cushion adjustable to multiple positions? Most ergonomic chair manufacturers include features for you to adjust the depth or tilt of your back support cushion, and some even allow you to adjust the backrest height. When sitting for long hours at the computer an adjustable back rest can mean a world of a difference.

Tip #6: Look for adjustable chair arms. Adjustable arms let you change the height and tilt of the armrests so they can fit users of varying sizes and sitting habits.

Tip #7: Make certain the chair you purchase comes with a good warranty, backed by the manufacturer. High-end chair manufacturers usually include a great warranty and they stand behind their products 100%, it’s the less expensive brands that end up costing you more in the long run between chair replacement and your own personal comfort and productivity.

Some of the best, most adjustable ergonomic chairs available today are made by Neutral Posture and VIA Seating, in terms of quality and value. We personally use and highly recommend the Terra chair by VIA and the 8000 Series by Neutral Posture. Both models are fully customizable, meaning you can choose which features you want and what size you want the chair to be when you’re ordering it. You can also choose from dozens of color and fabric combinations, and many are available to ship within 3 business days.

Herman Miller Mirra Chair

The Mirra Chair by Herman Miller is an ultra-premium ergonomic chair in the price range of $600 to $800. The final price is determined by what options you choose which is a common practice among office chair manufacturers. If you’re looking to buy one of these you may have been on Herman Miller’s website already and realized you won’t find anything but chair-hype over there. Let’s face it, that’s normal, but if you’re going to spend that much money you’ll want to know what other people who already bought it think about it. Read on…

First lets briefly go over the main features. It’s an eco-friendly chair made of 42% recycled materials, without any PVC, and when the chair’s life is over (hopefully very far into the future) its 96% recyclable. Its Greenguard certified if that matters to you. It has a one-piece frameless back rest with a large amount of holes in it and 3 separate flex zones. The “TriFlex” back support is elastic and pliable so it easily accommodates people of different sizes. The “PostureFit” feature is supposed to help prevent you from slouching in your seat by keeping your lower back properly aligned. The “AirWeave” suspension seat is aerated to keep you cool and it distributes the pressure of your body evenly. To prevent there from ever being a gap between the seat and back rest the “FlexFront” seat edge adjusts the depth of the seat without moving its pan, so you’ll have that extra support for your spine that other chairs just cant give. It has what they call a “Harmonic tilt mechanism” which keeps the resistance constant through the entire reclining range. This makes movement in the Mirra chair smooth and balanced at all times.

Here are all the adjustments you can make with the standard mechanism: Lumbar, Arm angle, Arm width, Arm height, Forward tilt, Tilt limiter, Tilt tension, Seat depth and Seat height. Wow… that is pretty thorough compared to the cheaper ergonomic chairs on the market. Keep in mind though that all of the adjustments we just listed only apply to the fully loaded Mirra, the basic model has fewer controls.

Now we move on to the part where you really find out what others think about the Mirra. We took the time to read through dozens of user reviews and we broke it down into two simple lists for you weighing the benefits and disadvantages:

PROS

  • Most people say its one of the most comfortable chairs they’ve ever sat in.
  • It has a sleek, sexy, sophisticated look.
  • It’s easy to assemble – just slide the backrest into place and tighten two bolts.
  • It provides a huge array of adjustments (the fully loaded model).
  • It can conform to different users easily because of its ‘flexible’ design.
  • Some people even find it more comfortable than the Aeron, the more expensive sibling.
  • Most users love it even through 8-12 hours of daily use.

CONS

  • Some users don’t like the mesh seat and report pressure on the hamstring area.
  • Some people don’t like the rigidity of the back.
  • May be uncomfortable for people who are petite (under 110lbs and/or under 5’2″).
  • Some report that the two main installation screws don’t fit properly or come loose easily.

Ergonomic Task Chair Fundamentals

There are many basic principles involved in the design of an ergonomic task chair, most of which are very easy to understand. A good chair is important because nowadays most of us spend of a good portion of every day working on the computer, or using it for our entertainment. Its hard to ignore that almost everywhere you go you see people sitting in chairs that look cheap, old, flimsy and just plain inadequate for daily use. Investing in the right ergonomic chair will reward you with increased comfort and productivity at the computer and a decreased risk of developing any serious conditions in the future.

A high quality task chair will always be available in custom configurations, because lets face it if you’re going to spend upwards of $500 or $1000 on a new chair it better be customized to your specific body size and shape. The one-size-fits-all approach only applies to the less expensive chairs, usually under $200, but there are a few decent manufacturers producing good chairs in this price range. However, you need to make sure you take some measurements of your current chair so that you know whether or not you need to go larger or smaller with a new one. This refers to the actual dimensions of the seat cushion and the back rest (or sometimes called the back support). Premium brands like Herman Miller, Humanscale and VIA Seating offer multiple size combinations with almost all of their products.

The material of the chair is not very important in terms of ergonomics but the firmness of the cushions are something to consider. Most chiropractors usually recommend sitting on the hardest surface you can handle when you are going to be seated for long periods of time. Sometimes referring to a wooden bench as a better alternative than a good ergonomic chair, they cannot always be taken literally, but the concept behind the idea is true. It is actually better for your back to sit on a firm surface rather than a really cushy one. Extremely soft chairs may be ok for lounging but if you’re going to be doing work you need a nice firm seat cushion to help strengthen your back and prevent it from going out of alignment.

Having arm rests on the chair are almost always optional and it is purely up to your personal preference. However, if you do choose a chair with adjustable arms just be conscious of how often you are resting your forearms on the pads, because too much leaning will cause problems to arise in your neck and shoulders. There are many other great ergonomic products on the market that can really help make computing safer and more comfortable. After purchasing a new chair, think about looking into a new ergonomic keyboard, ergonomic mouse and adjustable keyboard tray. Those are the most popular initial upgrades to any workstation. If you need portability in your peripherals you can also opt for a curved wireless keyboard and mouse combo or an ergonomic bluetooth mouse. As far as eyewear there is a new company called Gunnar Optiks that just released their high-tech computer glasses that are specifically designed to prevent Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Fatigue. As you can see, there are a number of things you can do to make working on the computer a more comfortable experience. All in all, buying a good task chair is a major step towards a healthier, happier work environment.

Best Ergonomic Chair Prices

The best ergonomic chairs are going to cost you, so you better be prepared. It is extremely hard to accept the fact that any old computer chair you get at Staples, Costco, Office Max or wherever is just not going to cut it if you sit on it every day for hours on end. Companies that manufacture cheap chairs are catching on that people want a comfortable chair but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, so what’s happening is they create chairs that appear to be comfortable and ergonomic but the truth is it is just as cheaply made as the others.

This creates many disappointed consumers because they see the nice looking chair for $100 or $200 and they buy it, and then anywhere from 2 to 6 months later they hate it and they’re no more comfortable than they were before they bought it. Usually what happens with cheap chairs is the pneumatic cylinder begins to weaken and the chair sinks down when you sit in it. That’s the first sign that you need a different chair.

Please don’t be fooled. Just because a chair looks like it’s ergonomic does not mean it’s actually ergonomic and well-made. Ergonomic chairs are not cheap so don’t expect to get a real one for under $200. What makes a good ergonomic chair that’s worth spending a small fortune on? Good question, there are a few things to keep in mind when you finally decide to make a purchase.

First, you have to decide what your budget is. If you’ve never been chair shopping here’s a general guideline: decent ergonomic chairs will cost you $200 to $400; good chairs will cost you $400 to $600; and excellent chairs can be found for anywhere between $600 and $1400+. There are decent manufacturers that make good chairs in each of those price ranges.

Next, you have to come to terms with the type of chair you are going to get for the price. It basically follows the same rule as everything else in this world – you get what you pay for. Ergonomic chairs on the lower end of the price scale have good solid features, but only moderate research and testing was put into the design. The fact is really good chairs require a lot of research, testing and designing by highly qualified individuals, which is why they cost so much. You will still get a good chair that will last you a couple of years if you stay within the $200-$400 range; it makes a good starter chair. During this period you will get accustomed to the luxuries a good chair provides but after time you may not be fully satisfied with your comfort level if you use the computer heavily every day, and you may find yourself yearning for more.

It’s usually a good idea to refrain from buying a $1000 chair your first time around because you won’t fully appreciate its design and all of its features until you’ve experienced a $400 chair. It’s like jumping from a Honda to a Maserati – get the BMW first.

Quick examples of good quality chairs in each price range include:

  • VIA Seating – very good chairs in the $200-$500 range
  • Balt Inc – decent chairs in the $200-$400 range
  • Safco – decent chairs in the $200-$500 range
  • ErgoHuman – good chairs in the $500-$700 range
  • Steelcase – good chairs in the $500-$700 range
  • Herman Miller – excellent chairs above $700
  • Humanscale – excellent chairs above $700
  • Neutral Posture – great models between ~$600-$1000

Introduction to Ergonomic Chairs

The ergonomic chairs available on the market today are revolutionizing the way we work, how we feel when we’re working, and how we’ll feel 20 years from now from all the work we did. The basic principle of an ergonomic chair is to assist your body in working, or resting, in a healthy posture. Ergonomic chairs are mainly used and known by daily computer users, but there are many other instances as well that an ergonomic chair can prove worthwhile.

Computer chairs as we know them are cheap, mass produced, and provide very little in the way of ergonomics. A basic computer chair that you very well may be sitting on right now is not designed to properly align your body, or provide support in certain key areas, but merely to provide something for you to sit on. Most places that you would see a computer (including libraries, homes, offices, etc…) only provide a very basic chair to sit on while working. Things have been like this for quite some time, but with the number of daily computer users growing exponentially you will soon see a change in the type of seating provided in these places.

One important thing to realize about seating while using computers is that sometimes less is more. From an ergonomics perspective, you are better off using a computer while standing up straight than sitting on a stool or other chair that provides little to no support. For users who only find themselves on the computer 15 minutes or less a day, ergonomics might not be the first thing in mind. However, if you use a computer for more than a half hour in any given day and you are not practicing basic ergonomic principles in regards to your seating, you could be doing long-term damage to your body.

An ergonomic computer chair, or ergonomic office chair, is designed to support your body in sensitive areas. All high quality ergonomic chairs will have the following features:

• Adjustable seat height
• Adjustable seat tilt
• Adjustable back rest (for lumbar support)
• Adjustable arm rests

Notice the key word here is adjustable. There is no way that any single chair could possibly fit any type of user that decides to sit on it. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to seating. A good ergonomic chair will have full adjustability of all the key features listed above. This way each individual that decides to use the chair can properly position themselves for maximum comfort and productivity.

Swopper Chair

The Swopper is an ergonomically advanced, yet surprisingly simple seating option. The logic behind its design is similar to that of an exercise ball chair. It provides all of the benefits of a ball chair with the adjustability of a standard ergonomic chair.

Using a stool like the Swopper as your seat provides many health benefits. It may sound silly, but it works by retraining your body on how to sit properly. The regular office chairs we are all used to almost promote bad posture, as people are regularly hunched over or slouching in their seat. You can almost think of the Swopper as exercise while you sit. How easy is that? Based on the principle of “active sitting” an ergonomic stool helps to improve posture by strengthening your core body muscles, which include your abdomen and back (upper and lower). Scientifically speaking, it improves nourishment to the inter-vertebral discs thus improving circulation to the lower extremities and assisting in lymphatic flow.

This stool is height adjustable with a seat height range of 22″ to 27.5″. The spring tension is also adjustable so you can make the bounce stiffer or softer with ease. Easy lateral motion also gives you extended reach while maintaining healthy posture.

You can buy the special edition Swopper stool online at ErgoDirectUSA.com and get free ground shipping to any U.S. location in the lower 48 states. They are competitively priced and offer all 6 color options.