Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#61

Post by tgsovlerkhgsel » Mon, May 24, 2021, 4:55 PM UTC

A chair that works for you. Part of what makes this hard is that no chair works for everyone, and very small changes can completely change the outcome.

Try to find a shop that lets you borrow a chair for a few days before you buy, or has a generous return policy - there really is no way of knowing without trying, and trying for several days.

Or buy a bunch of cheap chairs and try those.

Also, definitely adjust your WFH setup to be ergonomic - correct desk height (manually adjustable desks aren't expensive at all), correct monitor height (e.g. by putting a stack of books under the monitor), and of course a proper keyboard. Also, try to move and don't stay in the same position for too long.

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#62

Post by blackearl » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:00 PM UTC

I got a used Herman Miller Aeron about 5 years ago for a couple hundred $. Since then I've added a third party headrest. All these years later and it's still in great shape. I've seen these actually increase in price on craigslist which is nuts

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#63

Post by runjake » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:06 PM UTC

I bought a $150 Hon chair from Costco. It was great for about 5 months but then the padding got worn out and now it puts my legs to sleep.

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#64

Post by kulor » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:14 PM UTC

PStamatiou wrote: post #8

After years of the Herman Miller Embody, I moved on to the lighter Cosm and love it: https://turbo.paulstamatiou.com/uploads/2020/02/copyright-pa... https://paulstamatiou.com/stuff-i-use/#desk

Stammy, discovered your site through this comment. Sending you bags of kudos for the time you put into your site & craft. It's a marvel in this world of cookie cutter sites & clickbait content.

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#65

Post by devfatigue » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:16 PM UTC

If you have an Amazon return warehouse or people that buy pallets, they often have gamer chairs, office chairs and some nice ergonomic ones. Some places have the already assembled. Deep discounts, nice and it doesn't require waiting on Prime. If you don't have that option try a foam wedge, also cheap and will work with many existing chairs.

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#66

Post by wenc » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:16 PM UTC

timw0j wrote: post #19

Steelcase Leap v2 with a headrest. I bought it new, since finding a refurb one with a headrest is really difficult. My company gave us a WFH-office-setup stipend at the start of COVID lockdowns though, so that paid for about half of it. I went from a crappy Staples faux-leather chair with terrible padding to this, and the comfort level is night and day.

I have a Leap v2 too (refurb, $300). Definitely helped with ergonomics. I was debating between the iconic Herman Miller Aeron and the Leap, but I got the Leap because I tend to sit with folded feet and the hard plastic edges of the Aeron aren't amenable to that style of sitting.

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#67

Post by sys_64738 » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:39 PM UTC

I use a standing desk. No chair 4 U!

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#68

Post by whycombagator » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:52 PM UTC

herman miller aeron with all the bells & whistles + an after market headrest. I also considered dozens of other chairs, but it came down to various steelcase models (including the leap & lounge) & the HM aeron. I really wanted a headrest and I wanted to resell it easily down the line (HM aerons arent easily refurbished, they are iconic, and so they sell for more $$$ than a used steelcase) - so i went with HM.

I bought mine open box return from an authorized reseller, during a HM 15% sale, with an extra discount from the reseller for $600 off new retail. It is literally like new. In 10-20 years, assuming the HM used market is the same as it is now, I will be able to sell it for 50% of what I bought it for. Meaning it cost me roughly $450

Now for the review of the chair itself:

It is good, but not mind blowing or life changing like some HM fanatics will have you believe. It is a decent chair, I have back, neck, hip, etc issues and it does help - but to be honest I expected the chair to be better than it is.

I have sat in a steelcase leap, a HM embody, a haworth zody, and many others. No office chair out there blew me away, but the build quality, aesthetics, and resale of the HM helped sway me in the end.

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#69

Post by frompdx » Mon, May 24, 2021, 5:57 PM UTC

I bought a used Herman Miller Mirra for $350 at the start of the pandemic. I wanted to find an Aeron but supplies were short at the time. It's better than most chairs employers have provided me in the past. Look for an office furniture liquidator near you.

Re: Ask HN: What kind of chair are you using for WFH?

#70

Post by tom_mellior » Mon, May 24, 2021, 6:35 PM UTC

I have a sit/stand desk that I bought expecting to stand the first half of the day, then sit the second half. On the very first day I forgot to ever sit down, and I've been 100% standing ever since. I stand on a rubber mat thing with some bumps and raised edges that makes it enjoyable to switch stances. But I've always been someone who fidgets a lot, and I tended to constantly reposition myself on office chairs too. Like others, I also suggest walking around often, whether sitting or standing. Drinking a lot of water and having a very small bladder definitely helps.

All that said, while I recommend trying a standing setup if you can, it's definitely not for everyone. My partner has tried my desk several times and always became infuriated at the concept of standing while working.