Chronic Desk sitters; What chair y'all using?

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TL;DR: A document of my journey of finding The One Chair; Gaming chair bad → HM Aeron nice, but not perfect → Steelcase Leap v2 via Crandall re manufactured chairs

Edit: Added another ruling decision

I’ve been on the hunt for a new chair ever since I decided my “gaming” chair was absolute crap (about 5 years ago). Early last year, on a whim, I happened to come across a mid-base Herman Miller Aeron chair at a local (well, the local) consignment shop for a hefty saving: $99+tax (the configuration, new, is about $579). I did replace the hard, non-moving casters with some rollerblade casters I got for my previous gaming chair.

Fast forward to about three months ago, despite still considering the Aeron a massive upgrade over the gaming chair, but I decided I still wasn’t happy with it. So, I made some decisions

  1. I’m going to find The One Chair
  2. I’m going all out (price was, somewhat, not an issue)
  3. I’m going to deck this chair out with all the bells and whistles
  4. Seat pan and back must be separate (unwritten rule)

Since then, I have been on the hunt for The One Chair. I was directed towards the Haworth Fern, Halo Edition, but it looked like it had the mesh or mesh like fabric (which has always been a contentious point for me, even with the Aeron (but have since put a slipcover on).

Additionally, looking at reviews for the base model, the reviews read as

“this is great! (because sunk cost fallacy)”

or

“this ~$1400 chair is basically just a $200 staples base model”

Also, during that review time, I learned that many luxury office chair brands have since marked up their chairs sometime during covid, effectively taking advantage of the situation. The affects of which are surely still felt today. Around this time, I realized that our office has some Haworth Improv HEs and took the time to sit in one.

Holy crap! It’s amazing! Exactly what I want. Comfortable to sit up in and comfortable to relax. I can put my feet up or cross my legs. I decided this was The One Chair. Until I looked online, the Improv line looks to be discontinued. My only options appeared to be office liquidation sites, which wouldn’t have been a problem, but I couldn’t seem to find one in a configuration I wanted (decked out to the nine divine) AND at a reasonable price.

However, as I kept looking at reviews, I noticed that a chair I had previously passed over as possibly having too much hype, Steelcase Leap v2 looked remarkably similar to the Haworth Improv, if not a spiritual successor! Fantastic! Everything about it looks just right, minus the flipper armrests, but I’m still unsure I even want armrests. Problem: this chair also suffered post-covid, work from home price gounging. Nearly $1400 and you can’t even add a headrest in the configuration (despite the website prominently depicting the chair with one)

In reviewing the Leap v2, I came across a website, Crandall Office Furniture, that sells remanufactured (basically, they get liquidated chairs from offices and recycle them by stripping and replaceing everything but the base frame Leap v2 for nearly half the price, with significantly more config options AND a headrest, via Atlas, on the way, due sometime in the next few weeks, according to a reddit comment.

I further looked into reviews about the website and, admittedly slightly impulsively, pulled the trigger and bought the SC Leap v2 via Crandall.

Admittedly, I’m still apprehensive about the Leap v2 itself, but also the site. I’ll try to keep this post updated with my experience. Furthermore, I am resolute in my resolve to find The One Chair and I will settle for absolutely nothing but the best for my preferences and if the Leap v2 doesn’t cut it, I will continue searching, which brings me to the titacular question, “What chair do you use?”

What makes this journey so difficult is the thought of dropping this much money on a chair with the inability to actually sit on any of these luxury chairs (Where I live, my options are marked up, dirt cheap big-box office chairs or ultra luxury chairs from names that you can only comprehend if your couch change is enough to buy a third house on impulse).

For reference, I am between 5’8 and 5’10, inclusive, and between 140-170 pounds, inclusive. I tend to lean back with my feet on an ottoman, either an Office Ottoman or a chair-height ottoman.

Thanks for taking the time to read and additional thanks in advanced for any responses.

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We have Herman Millers in my office and the hype is real. Ive had the same chair for 3 years and its still exactly the same. Comfort and quality is phenomenal and they have a great warranty.

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Herman Miller Aeron ( with headrest) and Embody in my house office

Aeron with headrest 9/10
Embody 7.5/10

I buy 2 secret labs chair to try. Awful trash. 3/10
I owned steelcase, it was average

HM is best for me for life

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Every time I’ve seen or heard this discussion it ends with Herman Miller Aeron lol

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The Aeron is The One for me. I do not use them decked out. We had Aerons at my office once upon a time a few jobs ago.

During COVID I had to purchase a chair and received a sizable discount through work on Steelcase. I purchased a Gesture. It’s been good, but I don’t really sit a desk quite as long as I used too.

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Work won’t expense an HM and I cannot bring myself to drop that kinda scratch on a chair, even though I sit in it 8+ hours a day.

I work in a neochair n-gen + their optional foot rest + a purple cushion on the chair to sit on.

I like it and it lets me elevate my feet which is needed for my disability.

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You can get a used Aeron for $250 if you scouting classifieds. No WFH-ers buy new $2200+

me and my
Brother probably buy 7-8 Aeron in our life (some for family too), always Craigslist $250-300

I even get 2 for 400 one time for other house

Worth to look for because disability. Aeron suspend you from fabric so no direct pressure point, this is why it is referred to as ergo marathon chair and most can sit 10+ hour comfortable

My brother ergo obsessed so before we decide Herman miller we go to office supply store every weekend for an month and spend hours to use every chair available on market

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We have chairs like the Aeron (not sure if they’re exactly the same but that’s what they look like) in my work office and I really don’t like that kind of chair.

I work from home and I game a lot so I’m in my chair for hours a day. I got myself a La-Z-Boy and my butt thanks me for it.

I think this is it https://www.staples.com/la-z-boy-arcadian-bonded-leather-executive-chair-black-60009/product_24398915

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Good to know, thanks!

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Wow! Looks like there’s a lot of +1s for the Aeron. What the heck am I missing? Was there a party to which I wasn’t invited? I want to love the Aeron, but I absolutely cannot stand mesh, which seems to be the only fabric available for Aeron (by design?).

Fwiw, my mid-tier, second hand Aeron is probably one of the best chairs I’ve ever had (excluding my office chairs, which are Haworth Zodys and Haworth Improv HE) but the Aeron still leaves something to be desired.

+1 for second hand chairs. Def recommend scouring your local consignment shops or craigslist (etc)

@kawaii.kaede is your Aeron headrest OEM or is it Atlas (or other)?

Also, if I thought the price was right, I absolutely would drop $1000+ for a new chair, but my research shows that these prices are marked up at least 200% from pre-covid. Leaps, for sure, should be around $600-$700 (accounting for inflation), but anything but the cheapest fabric is nearly $1400.

Personally, I’m staying away from gaming/race-car seat chairs, especially chairs with a primary marketing focus of “gaming.” I also had one with the footrest and I thought it was too short to actually be useful. I still needed an ottoman to support the rest of my legs (but that might just be a personal preference / height issue)

@SlowThrow Yeah, that seems to be the case usually

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full agreement with @kawaii.kaede 100% herman miller aeron, bought one off ebay for roughly $500 6 years ago, haven’t looked back since. I had to replace one part last year because I tend to fling myself into my chair and it was super easy to find a replacement and install it.

Avoid any and all gaming branded chairs like the plague, I have so many friends with these chairs and they ALL are awful and get thrown out within 3-4 years of real use, none of the materials are high quality and you are unlucky enough to be a sweaty individual… it gets bad.

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I use my legs. I actually haven’t put my desk down in months (maybe close to a year?). Someone abandoned a standing desk converter so I grabbed it and haven’t sat since. My chair now just holds my backpack so it’s not sitting on our moldy carpet. I know standing all day is bad but I make a point to move around a lot and I take seats when I’m on my laptop doing school work.

For home use, I have whatever we were throwing out. Some cheap leather thing that works fine. I don’t sit long. But if I did, I’d want the Steelcase Gesture or the Haworth Fern. Dream chairs. One day…. I’ll find one in a dumpster.

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Aeron is popular for a reason I suppose. I’m eyeing some remanufactured stuff and Herman Miller is grail tier for me (mostly because of Frasier).

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I did actually end up shelling out for a standing desk at home (still waiting on one for work), but I’m not actually able to use it all that much for a variety of reasons, least of all both of my (short) doggos will demand pets when I’m at my desk, regardless of position, so I’m pretty much bending down, unable to do any work when standing. At least while sitting, I can either put them on my lap or throw an arm overboard and reach down while reading/watching. Would love to get a desk treadmill, but again, doggos.

I’m looking for the mattress equivalent of a chair. 10+ years though thick and thin and by the time I get a new one, it’s essentially reupholstered with duct tape.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Crandall’s and the customer service seems pretty top notch, plus a 12 year warranty :exclamation_question_mark: Everything but the base replaced? Yes please. And it comes in unique with it’s own dents, scratches, and gounges? Anyone who knows how I like my throws, know this is going to happen soon enough anyway.

@fradiger I made the mistake of buying my gaming chair JUST as the 2+ year criticisms were starting to roll out. I brushed it off because it sounds like a bunch of contrarians at the time. Cut to now, I get it. Every one I know that has one and uses it for more than an hour a day has also been looking to replace theirs. Some are going luxury gaming chair upgrades and some are going to established names (and one, went with a no-name plushy executive from the rainforest site; I’m planning to follow up in a few weeks to see how they like it)

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I think it’s called Aeron because it’s mesh, the name implies airflow, I’m guessing

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@megachicken289
atlas headrest

All the rest are cheap garbage,
Same reason atlas headrest $300 same reason Aeron $2k,

I try 2 other headrest and they lack 80% adjustment as atlas. I buy 2 atlas head rest because they are so good!!

For anyone here that don’t like Aeron, when you add atlas headrest it is the best chair on earth.

I actually get my first Aeron, did not like it. SOLD IT to buy secret lab chair (total POS). Then my brother add atlas headrest to his Aeron chair, I try it and immediately jealous and give away my new secret lab to buy Aeron + headrest again

It takes 7/10 Aeron to 9/10

I hope this information help

I also did few month of standing desk research if anyone need good electric stand desk (90% of standing desk have bad wobbles at max height)

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time to start saving for you and me lol

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Ooo 25% off, time to pull that trigger lmao

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Herman Miller Sayl for me! I wasn’t the biggest fan of the aeron so went with the Sayl.

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I’ve tried an Aeon and Leap V2. Currently using a SecretLab Titan (I know…). Massively disappointed with all 3. Currently eyeing a BodyBilt. But I’m a bigger guy at 6’2" 220lbs.

Ironically, the ‘cheap’ Office Star chairs we have at work are stupidly comfortable.