Choosing the right desk chair can be just as important as choosing a mattress. Just as we spend a third of our time sleeping, the average office worker spends more than half of their workday sitting, which means picking a chair should not come without discretion. You will want to choose a chair that offers comfort, back and posture support, and can last a long time. At the same time, while office chairs aren’t known for their aesthetics, you don’t have to sacrifice style. Below, we’ve rounded up the office chairs that offer both ergonomic features and attractive design:
by Contributing Writer, Alana Valko
Highly Rated: Steelcase Gesture
Photo courtesy Steelcase.
There’s a reason this chair ends up at the top of best-of lists (it was ranked #1 overall office chair by both Wirecutter and CNN) and it’s because it checks three boxes: extreme adjustability, tested comfort, and a proven track record of durability. It rings in at over $1,329 depending on how you customize the chair, but its initial sticker shock is well worth the investment.
Features: Office workers love this chair because it can be customized to fit their design preferences and has multiple ergonomic features while in use. The arms adjust 360 degrees to fit any workspace height or range. The seat rest is designed to mimic the natural S-shape of the spine and moves with changing postures. The seat depth, lumbar, height, and recline tension are fully adjustable. The chair arrives assembled and if it’s not a fit for you, you are backed by a 12-year warranty (almost unheard of in competitor chairs).
The “Dot Com Throne”: Herman Miller Aeron
Once credited as the “Dot Com Throne” by New York Magazine back in 2006, this chair arguably built the internet we know today. Workers have depended on this chair for over a decade to support computer-constrained backs, maximize adjustability, and offer breathable design. Prices start at $1,405.
Features: The chair offers adjustable lumbar support pads, adjustable arms, and three different sizes to order depending on your height and weight. The chair can be customized with added features, like a tilt-limiter and seat angle, and each seat is designed with mesh fabric for breathability.
Sleek But More Affordable: Branch Verve
Photo Courtesy of Branch
The Branch Verve is the upgraded version of the popular Branch Ergonomic Chair, which Wired rated as the chair “Best for Most People.” It’s one of the more comprehensive ergonomic chairs on the market, but for half the price at $549. It’s better looking, too; with a mostly matte finish, its design is less techy and more playful. There’s a vivid coral color option that would surely make a basic deskspace pop.
Features: Just like its competition, the chair provides ergonomic features like an adjustable seat height, armrest height, seat depth, tilt, tilt tension, and lumbar support. The back is made of a stretch mesh knit for coolness and breathability. The only downsides compared to a pricier option? Its armrests are less adjustable and it might be a bit too small for someone big and tall.
Design-Driven Back Support: Herman Miller Sayl
Courtesy Herman Miller
For a complete design-led chair, workers might want to consider Herman Miller’s Sayl, which satisfies similar comfort and durability to its big brother Aeron, but for nearly half the price (Sayl chairs start at $750). Forbes rated it the “Best Chair for Back Pain” thanks to its flexible webbed back design, which also makes it one of the more visually distinctive chairs. It’s a win-win for support and design.
Features: Despite not having a mesh back, the ventilated net backing will definitely keep you cooler, and is made of a flexible elastomer meant to flex with your body. This helps support your back and adjust your posture. While there are fewer adjustment features available compared to more expensive chairs, upgraded support, like fully adjustable arms, added lumbar support, and adjustable seat depth, can be added for an upcharge.
That’s a wrap on the latest chair roundup for 2023. We wish you happy comfort!
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