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Part rant part asking for reccomendations, why are office chairs all so !#?!-ing big? I've been sat on a dining table chair for the past year+ whilst WFH, in some way's I really like it (cos it's not some massive setee size thing) but it's not doing my neck any favours!
They nearly all seem to come with arm rests, WHO SITS RESTING THEIR ARMS ON THEM AT WORK? WHY?! I've always ended up removing them in the office so i can get my seat high enough to the desk for my liking. I don't really feel I need a massive chair, office chairs seem to take the massive gel saddle approach to seating, I want something more like an SLR!
So any recomendations for a nice ergonomic office chair that isn't a boat of a thing? I've been meaning to buy one for ages but my inability to google something that looks appealing has stumped me!
I will answer in the morning with a photo. I have something with a fancy brand but reconditioned which appears to mean 2nd hand but cleaned and serviced. It is much better than the Ikea one I had for the last 6 years
Ikea Flintan (the without armrests version) is default answer to this I think. It's what I've got at work and seen them mentioned here before. Mesh back so you don't get a sweaty back if that's an issue. I switch between slumping-in and perching-on.
Humanscale Diffrient
https://uk.humanscale.com/products/seating/diffrient-world-task-office-chair
Try em in John Lewis. Multiple colours/options to satisfy your other-half
Humanscale, yes, but I prefer the Liberty.
https://uk.humanscale.com/products/seating/liberty-task-office-chair
You can customise the arm rests away.
Can't recommend highly enough. I bought mine in 2008 and it's still in excellent condition after working from home in it every day.
Another humanscale Liberty here. It’s not small in terms of floor space used but it’s super comfortable (and adjustable). The arms are adjustable up and down (no point in them if they are fixed) and unless I’m sat up straight typing I do use them.
Giroflex G64 is one of the default STW answers to this question.
Very pricey new but refurbished ones are available.
Minimal office chairs
Any fewer than one per person would be a problem
Arm rests are a very good idea and will alleviate neck pain especially if set up correctly. I am a DSE assessor and whenever I’ve helped people set them up they’ve always seen a benefit.
I have an office-style chair and a kneeling chair at home.. 99% of the time I use the latter.
I bit the bullet after months of working from home and my son's gaming chair wasn't cutting it anymore. Finally caved in a spent a lot of money on a referbed steelcase please v2.
No regrets - it's now almost a pleasure sitting it each morning. Loads of adjustability, the padding is firm but really comfortable.
I have a GiroFlex G64 that I picked up from 2ndhnd.com. expensive chair for cheap and it so much comfier than anything else I've used. Not sure it could as minimalist though.
I recently bought a gaming chair (I'm not a gamer) and it's very comfy. Does have arm rests but lots of adjustable.
Apparently arm rests are for helping you in/out of the chair, not so much for using at the desk (where you should have forearms resting nicely on the desk). I do use them when I hit recline, put my feet on the desk, and have an afternoon snooze though!
As per Dorset_Knob and frogstomp; I have a Stokke Variable (bought it twenty years ago before it became the HÅG Varier) and I don't think you can get much more minimalist. Worth getting a genuine one as the laminated design gives it some nice flex.
I have the Capisco. Takes a little getting used to but I can perch on it all day long without aches or pains and without it triggering my back injury - brilliant. Looks cool too.
Thanks very much everyone, loads there for me to look into! I'm definitely curious about the less vanilla seating options
b230ftw, I always like to be tucked right in to the desk so my forearms are resting on it (and have my chair high enough so that my arms aren't pushing my shoulders up if that makes sense) is this wrong? My work just sends out CBT DSE assessments which just feel a bit tick boxy, having an actual human come round and do it feels like it'd be much more useful!
If you're anywhere near any of their shops, Back In Action were very helpful for me.
Wife and I have Boss Design MoneyPenny Chairs - not as flash as it sounds as from resale place trading as Crown Workspace. But not too bulky and comfy.
I'm intrigued by this. Anyone tried just using a spare saddle on their chair!
Watching this one with interest. We took the office chairs home at the start first lockdown but it was far too big for our house. And the kids spun round in it until one was launched into a wall....
I'm looking for something that doesn't look like an office chair because it's either going to be in our living room or our bedroom. So no wheels or arms. There seems to be a gap in the market for nice looking chairs that you can sit at for hours.
Orangebox Cubb 01 would fit and is very comfortable, but at £400 it's far more than I want to pay.
Maybe you need a saddle stool?
https://www.industrialseating.co.uk/saddle-seats
b230ftw, I always like to be tucked right in to the desk so my forearms are resting on it (and have my chair high enough so that my arms aren’t pushing my shoulders up if that makes sense) is this wrong? My work just sends out CBT DSE assessments which just feel a bit tick boxy, having an actual human come round and do it feels like it’d be much more useful!
You sound about right but there’s no way of knowing without seeing the whole desk setup really.
DSE assessments get a bad name as so many people do it badly unfortunately.
If anyone is struggling with pain and feel like they could do with some help I can help via a video chat for free, just send me a PM. Most of the time it’s the small changes that make a big difference but everyone is different so you can never make strict rules to follow.
How about abandoning chairs entirely and switching to a standing desk?
How about abandoning chairs entirely and switching to a standing desk?
A lot of people think standing desks are the answer and they are a lot more popular but standing for long periods can be just as bad as sitting. And sit/stand desks are expensive, complex if you have a lot of IT to connect up and I found that neither position worked well - it was the change between the two that provided the relief not the actual standing position.
The only people I found who really needed a sit /stand option were people with severe spinal or other issues who simply could not be accommodated any other way.
Unfortunately people don’t get up and move around often enough and no amount of fancy desks, chairs or assessments are going to help someone who refuses to take regular breaks every hour (or more often is ideal). That’s what I always tell the people I help before I start with them.