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Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

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41–50 of 52 posts

Re: Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you still sit at a desk with a keyboard and mouse, or have you set it up differently to keep your shoulders from rolling forward out of the Burmese posture?

i do! your pelvis should tilt forward on the cushion, which keeps your shoulders at centerline. my desk is a low bench. Ikea used to sell this [1] bench, which was the perfect height for me. any other low bench will do, but you may have to take a saw to the legs. you want your forearms to rest at 90 degrees. [1] https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/266697609154342319/

Do you just use your laptop on that? Don't you get neck strain looking down? I wonder what a full set up with a separate keyboard, mouse and monitors would look like.

Re: Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i do! your pelvis should tilt forward on the cushion, which keeps your shoulders at centerline. my desk is a low bench. Ikea used to sell this [1] bench, which was the perfect height for me. any other low bench will do, but you may have to take a saw to the legs. you want your forearms to rest at 90 degrees. [1] https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/266697609154342319/

Do you just use your laptop on that? Don't you get neck strain looking down? I wonder what a full set up with a separate keyboard, mouse and monitors would look like.

my Thinkpad P50 comes with a dock that slightly raises its elevation. it's a 15 inch screen. i'm 6'1'' and there's no neck strain.

my teachers taught me to tuck my chin slightly when i meditate. my neck (T6 and below of the thoracic vertebrae) stay straight, it's only the the cervical vertebrae which tuck downward giving me a full view of my screen, eyes slightly cast down.

Re: Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

#45
I stopped using office chairs years ago. Instead I have a Togu Powerball ABS (both in the office and at home).

I helped me to get rid of neck and lower back pain, because I had to start building strength in muscles that you need to sit properly.

Re: Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

#46
I bought the ErgoChair 2 from Autonomous [1] for ~$200 after their suspended campaign on Kickstarter. The campaign was suspended because apparently they're just reselling it from some manufacturer in China [2]. I ended up buying the chair from Autonomous anyways for their North American warranty (that and I could never actually find a product website for the Chinese version they knocked off) and have been reasonably happy with it.

It's not quite as well designed and comfortable as an Aeron, and has a number of quirks, but considering the price difference I can live with the compromises. My major complaints are that the armrests are made of plastic and are adjustable but can't lock into place, and that the seat cushion has a strange scent that hasn't gone away in more than a year now (luckily it's not noticeable for me unless I put my nose right next to it, but the smell can get onto my pants and other clothes when in contact for a prolonged period of time, which has been highly annoying. I'll probably try to treat it with some baking soda before I leave for vacation next month and hope that'll take care of it).

I was doing a lot of research into office chairs at the time, and couldn't really find anything else that stroke a reasonable compromise between the crappy $100 department store chairs and the $800 high-end ergonomic chairs like the Aeron. Judging from the replies to this thread, there still doesn't seem to be much else that fits the niche, so I decided to chime in with this one, despite its shady backstory and imperfections.

[1] https://www.autonomous.ai/?slug=office-chair&option20=53

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/shittykickstarters/comments/5825wn/...

Re: Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

#48

Herman Miller Embody, mainly for the extra adjustability and tall back. Only complaint is I like to sit with one leg crossed under the other, and the chair seat isn't padded. It's mesh instead, so it pokes into the lower leg after awhile.

I ended up with an Embody after owning an Aeron (fully loaded, correct size), and Steelcase Leap (Leather).

The Aeron was terrible. Quite possible the most uncomfortable. It felt stiff, not nearly as configurable as the Leap, and unlike the Leap, rocked instead of actually recline. I could never find a comfortable position or sit still.

I liked the Leap, actually ended up keeping it with my Embody and giving it to my dad. The Embody is a nice in-between. The Leap feels better built, more comfortable and I love how it reclines instead of rocking on a spring mechanism, almost like a lounger. Makes those longer days far more comfortable.

Re: Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

#49
post #31

at work: whatever piece of crap I can scavenge from.an abandoned cube. at home: aeron with a headrest.

I can’t stand uncomfortable chairs so bought an aeron for the office ;-)

I picked up a used Humanscale freedom for $40 that I'm almost done refurbishing (recover in leather, lubrication, etc...). Just need a couple missing parts from humanscale and it will be ready for the office.

Re: Ask HN: What office chair do you use?

#50
post #31

at work: whatever piece of crap I can scavenge from.an abandoned cube. at home: aeron with a headrest.

Which headrest do you use? I'm only aware of aftermarket add-ons

http://www.aeronhq.com/

quality is fantastic. I think some old revisions required more assembly, this current revision is awesome. One warning, if you are taller than 6ft it may not go high enough for you.

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