April 27, 2014
Chairs for programmers
I need a new chair. My current no-name mesh back chair has these problems:
- worn out seat no longer provides cushioning
- reclining lifts my feet off the ground
- arm rests are too tall to fit under desk
- mesh back doesn’t provide enough support, and enforces bad posture
- seat is too deep for my legs
(this list keep growing as I learn more about ergonomics)
Over the past few months I’ve tried out a bunch of chairs at home, in stores, and showrooms. Here’s my picks in order from Awesome to Not for me:
- Zody
- Aeron
- Very
- SAYL
- Liberty
- Embody
- World
- Mirra 2
- ReGeneration
- Celle
- Setu
Here are my impressions of each chair, roughly in the order that I tried them out (tried first = top of the list)
Herman Miller Aeron
I rented a Herman Miller Aeron for 2 weeks from Executive Furniture Rentals in Toronto just to try it out. I used one when I worked at marketing agency around 2007. It’s as good as I remember! I find I compare all the other chairs to this one.
Pros:
- best feeling mesh seat and back
- I can feel it improving my back and should posture. My shoulders aren’t pushed forwards, and my upper back is straightening. I can feel it stretching.
- reclining tension and feel is great
- even the non-adjustable arm rests fit under desk
Cons:
- seat depth is not adjustable. You pick a chair size (A, B or C), and you are stuck with it
- adjustable arm rests don’t quite come to the right spot for my body – a bit too low at the highest setting
Other links:
Herman Miller SAYL
I spent a couple of hours in a Herman Miller SAYL at a consulting job a few months ago, and in a few stores.
Pros:
- less expensive than many other chairs here (30% – 50% less). That money could go towards a better standing desk
- narrow back is great putting my shoulders in the right place (I can feel my collar bones sink back in to where they should be), and makes it easy to stretch by reaching behind your back
Cons:
- spongey seat isn’t as nice as Aeron’s mesh
- fixed armrests are too tall to fit under desk. Need adjustable armrests which negates most of the price advantage
I wish I could find a place to rent one in Canada. CORT in the USA rents the SAYL.
Other links:
Herman Miller Mirra
This is supposed to be one of the successors to the Aeron. I spent a few minutes in Herman Miller Mirra at a store. The mesh seat as good as the Aeron, but lacks in other areas.
Pros:
- has an adjustable length mesh seat
- arm rests are almost perfect
Cons:
- back rest is less comfortable than other chairs – it feels like hard plastic
- less lower back support than an Aeron
- almost the same price as an Aeron
Other links:
Mirra vs Mirra 2
The Herman Miller Mirra 2 has a softer feeling back than the Mirra. I didn’t notice other major differences. The seat is comfortable and the seat length adjustment is really cool, but I fit better in the Aeron.
Knoll Regeneration
The padded seat and mesh back of the Knoll Regeneration reminded me of the SAYL, but without the freedom to move my arms around due to the wide back.
Links:
Herman Miller Setu
The Herman Miller Setu is not a heavy duty office chair, but it was nearby and meshy looking, so I gave it a try.
Pros:
- lightweight and simple compared to something heavy and complex like the Aeron
- feels great when you first sit in it and it bends around your body
Cons:
- not as comfortable as some other chairs after sitting in it for a while
- expensive for a chair without adjustments
- tall arm rests stop it from rolling under desks
HumanScale World
The Humanscale Diffrient World chair was a surprise find at Nirvana Home. I spent about 20 minutes in it in a few sitting sessions.
Pros:
- HumanScale’s 15 year warranty is the longest in this comparison
- really lightweight and simple design compared to most other chairs
- mesh seat and back for great breathability
Cons:
- backrest doesn’t feel as good as the Aeron. It probably works well for people wider than me
- recline feature doesn’t feel as luxurious as the Aeron
HumanScale Liberty
I tried out the Liberty at the HumanScale showroom in Toronto back-to-back with the World chair. The Liberty feels a bit more solid than the World. Sitting in it was silent, and recline mechanism felt smoother. The back support fits my body very well.
Pros:
- simple and light design
- mesh back as a great shape
- 15 year warranty is a loooong warranty
Cons:
- arm rests aren’t as adjustable as other chairs
- seat might be too firm
Haworth Zody Task Chair
I tried out the Haworth Zody at the Haworth showroom in Toronto back-to-back with the Very. This chair feels solid and comfortable, and packs in many features.
Pros:
- great feeling mesh back and foam seat
- armrests adjust to a perfect spot for my body
- pretty good at letting my shoulders settle into the right spot
Cons:
- just missing a mesh seat
BTW, it’s pronounced hay-worth, not haw-orth.
Haworth Very Task Chair
The area around the shoulders doesn’t feel as nice as Zody, probably because the frame isn’t flexible. Otherwise, it feels very similar and is a bit less expensive.
Herman Miller Celle
The Herman Miller Celle offers a lot of features at a good price, but isn’t right for me. The cellular suspension design and recline tension are too stiff for my weight, and the shape of the back didn’t feel right to me.
Herman Miller Embody
The Herman Miller Embody felt good to sit and recline in once adjusted properly, but the only things that really stood out about it were the arm rests and high price.
Pros:
- luxurious reclining feel
- arm rests come to the perfect spot for my body
Cons:
- back rest doesn’t feel as good as some other chairs
- it’s bloody expensive!
Links
Related Posts
If these chairs seem pricey, check out my thoughts on buying a new vs used ergonomic chair.
Other ways you can improve your work space: