Ask HN: Where do you sit?

We have IKEA chairs. But everyone has different chair needs. One of the best things about IKEA is that you can go to one of their stores and try them all out to see which one(s) suit you most.

I don't work for Herman Miller. I sit in an Herman Miller since 12 years and the warranty on my Aeron is expiring now (they come brand new with a 12 years warranty, which speaks about it's quality). Is it pricey brand new? Yup (although I ordered mine without the armrests and it was a bit cheaper). Is it worth it? Totally.

I read its manual and spend about 30 minutes configuring it when I bought it. I've done that once, 12 years ago. Settings haven't changed.

Some complain about the plastic part hurting their legs: that's either an inappropriately sized or inappropriately configured or a wrong sitting position.

Basically the "trick" to configuring an Aeron is that if you put both your hands behind your head the chair should basically lean back by itself. And if you then extend your arms on top of your keyboard, the chair must lean forward again.

The "pellicle mesh" on the Aeron was at first designed for old people, to prevent injuries and sweating due from sitting hours and hours. Then they realized that offices had people sitting long hours and they pivoted.

I do prefer the Aeron to the more recent models Herman Miller made.

As a bonus the Aeron is at the MoMA as a permanent exhibition. It's a work of art. It's seen in oh-so-many series and movies and it used to be the iconic Web 1.0 chair.

Fun story: sister-in-law saw mine at my home office back when I bought it and told me "oh, I've got the same at work, I don't like it I'm not comfortable in it". So I told her to have someone come and configure it correctly for her. A few weeks later my brother ordered four of them for its house.

My best friend has one. My brother has two, my sister in law has two. My wife has one.

Should mine break I'd buy a new one instantly and be good for 12 years.

They're pricey but it's my endgame: it's the last chair I'll be using.

I've been using an IKEA Markus chair for -- I believe -- at least 10 years. It's pretty OK. I can sit in it for a whole day (sans brief breaks) and not experience any pain. I'm a bit shorter and a lot lighter than the average adult male in the US.

It's starting to show signs of wear around the headrest -- flakes of the covering are coming off.

just left, but I'll take one when I get in tomorrow - so check back. padding aside i think having a tall work surface and a stool is really alot more natural and convenient than a desk with motorized screws.

Posture is most affected by muscle (im)balance, so if you want to fix hunching, consider exercises like face pulls that strengthen the back muscles that counter the chest muscles that pull your shoulders forward. There are ways to do these exercises at home with no equipment.

Second to that is the fit of all of your equipment: chair height, keyboard/mouse height, and monitor height. This can be difficult, especially if you are below the median male height.

I use motorized standing desks because they offer the greatest amount of control over surface height. I have a keyboard tray on one that allows me to set the keyboard lower than the work surface. I have all my monitors on arms so that I can set them to the proper height.

As for seating, other posts about spending for quality are right, as are options to buy used.

Herman Miller isn't the only game in town, though. I've been very happy with Steelcase products. I have the Gesture at work, and it's a great work chair with fantastic back support. At home, I have the Leap. Also a great chair for work, but I find it's easier to use in more relaxed tasks (e.g., gaming or watching YouTube).

It's taken me a while to get everything set up ergonomically, and while if you are judicious there are ways to save money, it isn't cheap. Of course, it's a lot cheaper than healthcare, so spend what your budget allows to take care of your body during working hours.