Ask HN: Best Chair for Programming
I'm look for a new chair for my new desk. What recommendations do you guys have for a desk chair that I can sit for 8-12 hrs on somedays?
Relevant excerpts:
> The importance of extremely comfy and ergonomically dazzling chairs is exaggerated. There is simply no such thing as a perfect chair: your body isn’t comfortable with any position for hours at a time. The problem isn’t the position that your body is in, but the lack of motion, exertion, and variety of stimulation, and no chair can solve that.
> The best chair might just be two or three simple-but-different chairs used in rotation, including or used in conjunction with an destabilizing cushion, such as a Disc-O-Sit or Sissel Sit, or a fitness ball.
> In my office, I have a standard office chair and a stool, both of which I use in combination with a Disc-O-Sit for plenty of variety.
> And, if you still want a good chair, and if you’ve got the cash, by all means — get yourself a fancy chair! I did. I worried about the cost until I sat in it. I’ve now been sitting in it without buyer’s remorse for about 12 years.
(The chair he bought and is referring to is the popular Aeron chair)
Before I sit all day (I work form home). Then I change, use only a fatigue mat and DIY "standing desk" made by my large speakers and flat wood.
Now, I can't stay sit for more than 1 hour and feel good! This way, I must alternate between the 2 modes, and feel better.
BTW, To easy the change, I use a bar char alike:
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Adjustable-Synthetic-Leather-C...
So I can rest for being up easily.
BTW: All up not good, All sit not good. Mix good!
Also, fidget while standing! One of the harmful parts of computer work is the body freezing.
I've had to do lots of physical therapy for the problems developed from sitting in a chair at the computer. The kneeling chair has been a huge improvement.
First, your back has to be in quite good shape to avoid dropping your posture after an hour or two. If you can't stay in good form, you need to strengthen your back and work up to it.
Second, the pressure on my kneecaps causes a certain amount of knee pain after using it for extended periods.
If you are experiencing knee pain, you may want to adjust so the top of your shin is against the pad, not the knee itself, and keep the majority of your weight through your core and seat.
I started using one when I bruised my coccyx (snowboarding accident) and found it to help with lower back pain YMMV
[edit] I prefer the Wing Balans because it is height adjustable with a gas ram, so it can be used in more positions, with a variety of desk heights. I would often use it very low in more of a kneeling position, or at the upper edge of its height range more like a stool
Warning: KickStarter suspended their campaign [2] because they were reselling the product. You may also want to check this Reddit thread [3] before you make your mind.
[1] - https://www.autonomous.ai/office-chair
[2] - https://thetechreviewer.com/tech-news/kickstarter-suspends-a...
[3] - https://www.reddit.com/r/shittykickstarters/comments/58ndet/...
Edit: Newlines.
It's not as comfortable (less cushion) as my old $140 generic "manager" chair from amazon, but the finer grained adjustments and improved back support are a welcome upgrade. After about two weeks in the chair, I'm pretty happy with it. I never thought I'd appreciate a headrest, but it's great when watching longer videos. I wish the seat raised about 3-4 inches higher (I'm 6'6"). That old "manager" chair allowed a slightly higher seat, which I definitely preferred.
I also bought one of their sit/stand desks last year. I absolutely love it. I plan to get two more after I move next month.
I've always wanted to try one of the fancier adjustable chairs out there, but I can't seem to bring myself to spend that much on a chair. Both the desk and the chair are far less expensive than their respective competitors and are of better-than good-enough quality that I'm very happy with both purchases.
The only annoyance I've had with both have been exceptionally long shipping times (multiple months). When I emailed them about it, they were quick to respond with the approximate timeframe for shipping. That said, I recommended the desk to my mother a few months ago (a couple months after I got mine) and she got hers within a couple weeks.
I've had it about 5 years now, no issues with it whatsoever, but if there ever are past the guarantee period the parts market is pretty robust for them.
Just can't go wrong with the Aeron.
2nd hand I paid barely £300 for it. Worth every cent, like when a good CRT monitor made a difference.
While I agree that the Aeron is great (and have one at work that I use regularly), the Marcus fit in my budget ($200 for the Marcus vs $800+ for a new Aeron) and is perfectly reasonable. I usually leave it in the locked forward typing position.
For twelve hour stints, I stand for part of the time (my desk will move up to standing height).
I tried an exercise ball - didn't work for me.
Only complaint is that, apart from replacing the wheels, they're difficult to repair yourself. The seat broke on one a couple of years ago. I bought a replacement seat only to discover that it's held on by a couple of strange custom bolts that you can easily destroy if you try to wrangle 'em out yourself. Thankfully there was a Herman Miller place in town, and they were able to install the seat for me.
I'm constantly changing. Up, down, up, down, cross legged on my chain, up . Long compile - pace back and forth for a few minutes. It drives my co-workers nuts at times, but it is much better for the body.
Note that I said an hour. At least. You can't really tell how it's going to feel after an extended period from just sitting down for a minute. Bring a paper or two. :)
The Embody is another Herman Miller option.
I find the mesh back and seat invaluable. I've used it for about six years now with no problems.
https://www.amazon.com/WorkPro-Quantum-Ergonomic-Mid-Back-Ch...
https://www.humanscale.com/products/product.cfm?group=Freedo...
It's also unbeatable if you tend to run warm, because of the mesh that has great air circulation. In a normal chair, you'd be sweating otherwise.
That said, I also got a standing desk and I think it's fantastic to be able to stand half the day, and sit the other half.
I have a LEAP chair which is broken. It is much better than the overhyped Aeron. In theory the LEAP has a lifetime warrantee but practically the nearest Steelcase dealer who is 60 miles away won't return my phone calls.
A couple years ago the gas cylinder failed and the dealer drove 45 minutes to my house to replace it. Maybe contact Steelcase directly for help?
It's common to find these gently used on Craigslist for around $200 if you live in a populated area. That's where I got mine. I was able to pick any two from a lot of 20+.
Beyond the adjustability that comes with the Mirra, I like this chair because the seat is actually a flexible mesh, rather than a traditional soft cushion. This is best for me, because it allows me to sit longer. By comparison, traditional soft cushions eventually become not-so-soft, and this will lead to pain in my tailbone. Mirra helps me avoid that pain, so I can sit longer.
I have a IKEA MARKUS too. It is perhaps even more comfortable due to it's height and headrest, but because it lacks a mesh seat like the Mirra, it's not great for long periods of sitting. (IMO)
Looks funny, but when you sit it goes down.
I really enjoy rocking and spinning around all day.
It's not the most comfortable thing and forces you to stand and walk around a bit. However, I think that is why this stool works so well for me.
There are also some Steelcase Leaps laying around which are also great.