Best chair for long term sitting/gaming?
Posted by Accomplished_Jelly97@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I know this question has been asked a million times but any thread I look at is just people suggesting a ‘Herman miller‘ chair. I am a young adult and unfortunately cannot afford to drop 700$-900$ on a single chair.
I have been using an office chair for the last 2ish years that has detiorated into a bit of foam and the wooden plank beneath it - and predictably it’s been giving me awful hip and lower back pain. Does anyone have a cost-friendly (150$-250$) chair that they can vouch for? I’m looking for something comfortable and cushy with a soft seat! I use my computer for 8-10 hours a day whether it be for gaming or for art and am in desperate need for something good for the hips/lower back. I would appreciate any suggestions! Thank y'all for your time :]
iamapizza@reddit
What about something second hand off eBay? The brand itself doesn't matter much as long as you search for it and can find it. You should be able to find something cheaper.
Accomplished_Jelly97@reddit (OP)
This is a good idea!! I’ll have to take a look for some good quality second butt chairs haha. Though I do worry as I live in Hawaii and it is rare that people will go through the trouble to ship it overseas :( I also want to be sure of the quality just in case!
Eternlgladiator@reddit
Look for used office supply stores or something like that. I got a really nice one for 250 a couple years ago. It’s not the aeron but they also had them at similar prices. I preferred a different model.
isuckatcsgo34@reddit
Might have some luck on local markets like Facebook marketplace. Got a herman miller Aeron for $300 on there
snmnky9490@reddit
Yeah if you're in Hawaii, I'd bet the cost of shipping some random chair from ebay would be many times more than the chair itself
canyouread7@reddit
I'll put my vote in for a used ergonomic office chair. Not only are they much more comfortable than your standard gaming or IKEA chair, they retain their value. I repeat, they retain their value. If you buy a Herman Miller, Steelcase, Haworth, or whatever, you can sell it for roughly the same price that you got it for (assuming you took care of it).
Yes, the upfront cost is higher, but overall it's much better value. I currently use a Steelcase Leap V2 that I got for $400 CAD, so that's kind of in your budget.
SaulR26@reddit
Not sure about other office chairs, but my refurbished herman miller that I bought for myself 8 years ago for like $450 is still the best purchase I've ever made for my desk setup.
VeryHairyGuy77@reddit
Mesh bottom was a game changer for me. Think I spent $300 for mine 11 years ago. Not proud to say it probably (ha - certainly) has more than 10k hours on it.
Mesh back is far less important in my experience.
100% would buy again.
Accomplished_Jelly97@reddit (OP)
This is actually perfect!! It’s directly in my price range and just a glance at some of the listings on Amazon look very comfortable. Thank you so much I will definitely be checking these types of chairs out!!!
TendieAficionado@reddit
Plus you can always invest in a decently priced seat cushion if you need a bit more padding.
jetstrea87@reddit
Ergonomic chair, I have a Secret Lab which I love but sadly it is showing its age (7 years in)
xela2004@reddit
i mean hermann miller is expensive, but you can get a decent la-z-boy executive chair. We use those and they are very comfortable for all day work and nighttime gaming. Sams and Costco both sell them, along with bestbuy or staples too. And ofc walmart and amazon. You want a good high backed executive chair by a good brand like lazy boy. They have big and tall (if you are big or tall) and regular versions.
Drenlin@reddit
Secondhand office chair. Herman Miller gets all the recommendations but there are dozens of brands of similar quality out there. I have a Humanscale Freedom at home that I'm a huge fan of, and currently use a Nightingale CXO at work that's really nice too. We had mesh Ergohuman V2's for years as well and I liked those a lot.
FakeJoestar@reddit
Honestly check facebook marketplace. There should be a lot of office liquidations where you can find a Herman Miller Aeron for 300-350! Just got mine from there.
TuhFrosty@reddit
Can you buy refurbished? I got one for Covid when j got sent to WTH and its a better lifr decision. Still going 6 years later with 0 probs.
https://crandalloffice.com/collections/steelcase-authorized-factory-return-chairs?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22426348298&gclid=CjwKCAjwq6DQBhBVEiwA4ZD5XFrDVDY2W7jDls0XyXI1ArHWIM9UzJ1OLtFjYo8fN1H6_6iucbKdDBoCLp0QAvD_BwE
Borigh@reddit
I use and quite like this - I work from home and am glued to the damn thing all day, and it holds up.
I can't stand the current breathable mesh fad, I feel like it's either not supportive or too hard. This manages to be both soft enough and supportive enough for me.
That said, there's a reason it's less expensive - I don't think it's quite as durable as some of the more expensive chairs, and I doubt I'll get more than three years out of it. I was told that I can probably get a replacement via warranty if that happens, but who knows. Either way, I don't think it's a screaming deal, but it's worth the expense over the average "gaming chair" and a lot cheaper than other models.
b0wzy@reddit
Hah I actually picked up that same Sharper Image chair like two weeks ago to replace my Staples Hynek. I got about 9 years out of the hynek before the arm padding started to crack and the seat hydraulics lowered on their own.
I also work from home and find this one way comfier, working in a basement office the heated seating option is nice too! The massage option is kinda meh but I didn’t really buy it for either of those features.
Accomplished_Jelly97@reddit (OP)
This chair looks INCREDIBLY comfortable and I might hold out a little longer till I’m back on the mainland in a few months so I can have it delivered as it’s currently unavailable to be shipped to my area. Thank you so much I will for sure bookmark this :D I also enjoy that it’s white - it’ll match my setup as an added bonus!
Borigh@reddit
If you get the chance, try sitting in it at a retailer. That's ultimately what sold me.
drifting_anomaly@reddit
The first thing that you need to decide is whether you want mesh or foam and list out your must have and nice to have features. If you can find a showroom where you can try high end chairs of different types, it can help you narrow down what type is most comfortable for you.
I agree with considering the used market for a higher quality chair. I just paid $100 for a Steelcase Leap chair off of Marketplace for my stepson. A couple of years ago, I picked up a Hayward Zody for my wife for $75. I paid considerably more for my used Herman Miller and it was very worth it for my reduced back pain, but I understand that is out of your budget.
When considering new chairs at your price range, there is a large variance in quality. Looking for a chair with BIFMA and SGS certification will ensure that it has a basic build quality. Sihoo and Colamy are two brands to consider. At work, I have a Sihoo M57. It is nothing compared to my HM, but it is far better than the chairs that I had previously at work.
Flatulent_Father_@reddit
I've had a staples Hyken chair for a decade now and it's still going strong. I'm waiting for it to die so I can upgrade but it just won't. As comfortable as herman miller for me but way cheaper (not as good looking or the same build quality, but still better than I expected for under $200).
Sammolaw1985@reddit
Check FB Marketplace.
Might be an office that's trying to move a bunch of herman miller or steelcase for cheap.
GetChopped@reddit
Look for an office resale shop in your area. That’s how I got my Herman Miller chair.
Atitkos@reddit
You can also search for office clearence sales, you can get some pretty nice stuff for a good price.
Destructo-Bear@reddit
look for decent second hand chairs from facebook marketplace
MasterPenguin5@reddit
You should be able to find Herman Miller or Steelcase chairs for $3-400 pretty easily from office resellers on Craigslist or Marketplace. That's how I got mine, MSRP on those are ridiculous and no one should actually pay that. You could try negotiating one of those down a little more or if you can save up a little extra they really are worth it.
If you can't make that work though, I had a Staples Hyken for a few years before my Steelcase that I also liked a lot.
wryterra@reddit
8-10 hours a day, five days a week is 2340 hours a year. What’s the hourly rate you’ll pay on your comfort?
My rule is anything that goes between me and the ground is something I don’t skimp on. Chairs. Shoes. Beds. I spend far too long in all three to short change myself and give myself back problems.
Accomplished_Jelly97@reddit (OP)
I unfortunately cannot accommodate for that as I’m on the younger side and money is tightish. Especially with this economy for younger living as of late 😭 The most I can do without putting a huge dent in my living budget is 250$ which is why I insisted on it in the main post! I did see someone suggest a mesh bottom chair which was like right in my price range so I’m hoping that turns out good
wryterra@reddit
I get you but back pain is no joke. I'm not saying buy a Herman Miller but probably look to the higher end of what you can afford, not the lower. Mesh bottom is a good way to go, at least.
Big-Pineapple-9954@reddit
If you have an IKEA close by, have a look at their MARKUS chair. I have had mine for 12 years, and while it is time to replace it now after 12 years, it's held up really good. I am a quite large guy, so I never used it with it's armrests. It's been comfortable until now where the cushion is on its last legs. But again, it's been holding up with me who is double the weight of it's weight rating, it's comfortable to sit on for long sessions and it's around $200 for a new one.
Separate_Shake_3681@reddit
I'd invest a little bit more to be honest. It doesn't have to be a Herman Miller. What I'm looking at is Haworth and they have chairs around $5-$600.
Accomplished_Jelly97@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately I cannot afford that much at the moment as that is half a paycheck and the amount I have set aside has taken a while to comfortably collect 💔 I am hoping to get something sooner rather than later as my hips are starting to hurt more than usual. However I’ll keep that name in mind for when I have the money for something more expensive!! Thank you for the suggestion :]