Ergonomic Chair for Home Office - September 2020

justanick on 14/09/2020 - 05:47

Hi All,

I am half crooked after using my dining chair as my Laptop/Office chair for few months and I can't go on. I created a thread for September with tailored needs for myself. Over the weekend me and my partner went to few Officeworks store and Ikea to try out few Ergonomic Chairs and I wanted some more time to decide and discuss with you all before my purchase. My partner couldn't wait and bought a gaming chair from Officeworks and I know one thing that I will NOT buy gaming chair as I had one before and it was killing my back.

I am short 170cm and 70kg, medium frame body

My requirements:
-Soft and firm enough to support my bum. I use two cushions on my dining chair
-Lumber support
-Adjustable arm rests a must
-the seat length must support my thighs reaching the back of my knee
-Head rest would be a bonus
-Breathable mesh back would be ideal
My Budget:
$380 max I live near Sydney CBD

The options which I saw today and found in Ozbargain are as follows:
1) Scarborough Medium Back chair - Officeworks $199 - I sat on it and it was very comfortable but lacks head rest and tilting but I felt lumbar support to be good
2) Professional Ergonomic Extra-Heavy-Duty Mesh Chair Black $ 319 - couldn't try as it's out of stock on the floor but good reviews
3) Professional ll Ergonomic Extra Heavy Duty Mesh Chair Black - $385 I really wanted this as the seat can slide but it's for someone big 6 feet tall not me. I also couldn't try this at the store. But I was told for smaller person this should fit the bill Matrix Deluxe High Mesh Back Deluxe Arm Chair Black $309
4) I went to Ikea tried out Jarvfjallet with armrests but they were fixed and not adjustable and it wasn't comfortable at all. I tried few more chairs all were bad.

What do you recommend I buy ? I would like to try before buying if possible but if it's not the case then what are my options?
Buro Metro sounds good after the reviews but no arm rests which is a deal breaker
https://www.winc.com.au/main-catalogue-variantproduct/buro-m…

Home & Garden Chair Office Chair

Comments

  • jiberz on 14/09/2020 - 06:48

    I would recommend you try visiting some office furniture stores. I started the same way you did but I recall their stock being pretty below average. Prices are nothing special but they will usually have a lot chairs for you to identify exactly what you want. I ended up with the ergohuman v2 which I got for around 450 which meets your needs but they are a lot more expensive now it seems.

  • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 07:02

    Thank you so much. I was looking at Ergohuman and I would have stretched my budget for $450 but I can't find it anywhere.
    I also do not want to buy used as I have a bit of OCD.

    Is there any other stores that would give me online idea and also I can go try them out ? Officeworks do not have much options and prices aren't great. I just wasted 5 hours online research on their chairs and another few hours physically trying the chairs

  • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 07:21

    What do you guys think of the below:

    https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/Deluxe-Mesh-Ergonomic-Of…

    https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/Black-Hara-Faux-Leather-…

    there's 10% sale and new member $20 off very tempted to order the first chair

    • 87percent on 14/09/2020 - 07:46
      +6

      IMO, stay away from faux leather. It cracks and peels, and is generally crappy quality

    • DannyC on 14/09/2020 - 09:56
      +1

      The link for the Temple n Webster mesh… sizing may be an issue. My friend who is smaller than you got it and it's built for larger people. Especially the seat which is fairly big depth wise. I think it has the measurements on the site so I would check it before purchasing.

      Apart from that Temple n Webster is easy to deal with, I would check out their other chair range but check the measurements to suit your size profile.

  • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 07:56

    thanks supasaiyan what about this: https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/Deluxe-Mesh-Ergonomic-Of…

    Good reviews and if I order it today I'll get it by 10th October worth it ? Also are they legitimate Temple and Webster

    • DannyC on 14/09/2020 - 10:19

      My friend got the exact chair, it is fairly comfortable but problem was sizing, I would check all the measurements of the seat dimensions especially etc etc, it is rather big, especially the seat size. Yes they are legit and it arrived 2.5 or so weeks after ordering (as it was on back order)

    • EVA-01 on 14/09/2020 - 21:10

      This looks exactly the same as the one I got from DealsDirect back in 2010 for $220 - and am still sitting on it as I'm typing this.

    • kranix on 14/09/2020 - 21:48

      I've had one of these for a few years and it's been pretty good:
      https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/Black-Benson-Ergonomic-M…

      Body posture for gaming is different from what you need for office work. Don't buy a gaming chair and expect to be sustainably productive.

  • Amaris on 14/09/2020 - 08:07

    I’ve found mesh chairs get pretty uncomfortable (for me) after a few hours. If you use 2 cushions for your bum, maybe a mesh chair is not the best solution.

    • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 08:13

      The back has mesh but the seat is padded foam for the above product. Are you saying the back needs to be padded as well ?

      • Amaris on 14/09/2020 - 09:19

        I found that I got sore spots on the sides of my back (as well as the bum) from sitting on it for long periods. Might have just been me as the chair I got has rave reviews. But, I've now given it to my daughter and use my old padded chair.
        This looks nicely padded and has lots of adjustments
        https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/rapidline-…

        • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 09:57

          Ya I was looking at this one too but the one and only review it has was bad and there were no floor models to check it out in 3 of their stores in Sydney.
          I am running out of option. I do not want to order online without trying it out first from https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/Deluxe-Mesh-Ergonomic-Of…

          but their customer service was amazing.

          So if I do not like the product I have to pay $28 shipping cost and they would take it back plus I have to pay $3 for money back to my credit card insurance. The reviews are all good but did any of you try this one out ?

          • Amaris on 14/09/2020 - 10:03
            +1

            @justanick: They have that model to try out at Furnx showroom in Eastern creek. Send them an email if you'd like

            • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 10:32

              @Amaris: thanks. But i can't see that in their website did you see it in their store ?

              • Amaris on 14/09/2020 - 11:24
                +1

                @justanick: I emailed them as I was looking for one myself. Search for PU300 chair

                • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 21:22

                  @Amaris: Thanks Amaris. I emailed them and waiting for the price and if they have a floor model for me to try it out before buying. Did they reply to you as I need to purchase one immediately and cannot wait as my bum and back is killing me?

  • Drogo on 14/09/2020 - 09:42
    +2

    Absolutely go checkout office seconds stores. It's not uncommon to find decent brands for $300-400 there.

    • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 09:52

      Do you mean to check out officeworks stores ? Their displays are the same and online they have more options. It's sad there aren't many stores like officeworks to go check out Ergo Chairs for decent price $300-$400.

      • Drogo on 14/09/2020 - 10:07
        +1

        No not officeworks. Most cities will have stores that have second hand office furniture. Often it comes from offices that have good quality stuff but they are just updating all their furniture. The old stuff just gets sold into the second hand places.
        A second hand Herman Miller will beat a brand new Officeworks chair any day.

        • bleach1st on 14/09/2020 - 11:28

          Couldn't agree more. My dad went to one decades ago and got me my current desk chair. Suffice to say I'm still using it to this day every day and it's great.

  • Agarwal on 14/09/2020 - 09:59

    I believe the Trading Post often has ergonomic chairs for sale.

  • DannyC on 14/09/2020 - 10:10
    +2

    Office works chairs I find as not the best value.

    4) I went to Ikea tried out Jarvfjallet with armrests but they were fixed and not adjustable and it wasn't comfortable at all. I tried few more chairs all were bad.

    Avoid the Jarvfallet and the Markus as the head rest is not positioned well for those under 180cm tall. I'm 174cm and still the headrest is too high. Also the arm rests for $50 extra is pathetically bad. No adjustability and very uncomfortable. So I would pass on the IKEA chairs as U said. But for others thinking of these chairs as well if you are under a certain height, the headrest design is not adjustable.

    any suggestions?

    As some have said try some of the office furniture direct stores. Might be different as I am in Melbourne.

    When I wasn't locked down try KROST business furniture. I believe they have a Sydney display office for you to try. They have free shipping and I got a deal on some of their clearance stock. Very good quality chair for the price I paid. And suitable for my own measurements.

    • justanick on 14/09/2020 - 21:14

      Hi Danny very good idea. Krost is only few suburbs from where I am and I am planning to go there tomorrow to check them out. One of the chair I saw fits my specification but it lacks the headrest. Do you reckon I should really eye for a seat with headrest as I spend long hours on my chair ?
      They do not have any clearance or discounts at the moment but I'll try to haggle and see if I can get any discounts. The chair I am looking at they quoted me $370.
      Are they good quality compared to those in officeworks ? Made in China ?

      • DannyC on 14/09/2020 - 21:45
        +1

        In terms of quality, way better than Office Works for sure. I think go in and try the chairs first n get a feel for it, a lot of their chairs have good adjustability and decent quality. It's not Herman Miller or Humanscale quality but for what you pay I think it was a good purchase from my end. I believe they are manufactured in Sydney but don't quote me on it.

        Good thing as well is when they delivered to me they delivered it fully assembled which was nice. Temple n Webster send it unassembled FYI.

        For my use, headrest wasn't necessary unless U like to rock back a lot on your chair, which I don't really do. I mean sometimes it is nice to rock back n have the headrest I suppose. But get something with a higher back panel.

        I usually sit for a work sesh for a bit then get up to stretch n move around. But that's personal preference on the headrest situation, if looking for headrests though make sure it is fully adjustable so it suits your height. Badly designed unadjustable headrests can be very uncomfortable if it is not properly fitted and positioned properly.

        Another chair I was considering was the Ergohuman but decided one of the chairs from KROST fit the bill instead due to sticking to my budget.

        Let us know how it went n if it is good for ya needs. Happy hunting!

        • justanick on 15/09/2020 - 18:46

          Hi Danny,

          You are a champ!! I have ordered several things online over the last few months and anything without trying first before buying proved to be a painful process with return/refund and experience. I was good buying electronic appliances but not shoes, clothing etc.
          With this chair where I am going to spend over 8hrs a day I couldn't risk buying something online without first trying. I had a bad experience purchasing memory foam mattress with very high review but ended up very bad for me and I bought a mattress with low reviews but just perfect for me.

          I wanted to give the above extract for people like me on the same boat as I know many people are trying to purchase chairs now.
          Now long story short I went to Krost in Sydney store today and one of the sale girl who was giving me quotes online before showed me the chairs I was after. She let me spend a long time while I shortlisted them and finally picked one that I liked. She was happy to give me 10% discount and sent me a quote to review. I was in a rush and didn't not see she added GST on top of the discount then the real discount comes to nothing ! I wrote her an email to see if she can refund me the cash otherwise I have to cough it up. I really liked the chair I picked compared to the headrest one as it did not have much flexibility.

          You guys are right on the posts that headrest is not that important if I am not leaning back much the back support is more important. I really wanted to go for Ergohuman V2 which is $750+ I have to assemble them and what if I do not like the product ?!

          In my opinion do yourself a favor let it be Officeworks or any other furniture shop around the block try it, spend at least 10-15 mins in different intervals before you decide.

          • DannyC on 15/09/2020 - 19:18
            +1

            @justanick: No probs no probs glad it worked out ☺️

            My ideal/dream chair would have been the Humanscale Freedom or the Herman Miller Aeron (work use some of the older models). But spending $1200 to $2200 on a chair…. Is a bit crazy for me lol. Some of the most comfortable chairs I have ever tried though, beautifully engineered. Even the $699 Ergohuman was a bit too much for what I was looking for.

            Totally agree with buying certain things online and actually trying them in person. Makes a lot of difference.

            Glad you found something you like at KROST! Their customer service is pretty good from my own experience, hopefully u can get that discount. Which model did U end up with? Price within your budget? Any customisations?

            • justanick on 15/09/2020 - 20:03

              @DannyC: I can't thank you enough mate otherwise I would have bought something online which would be risky or Officeworks !
              I bought the Future II with arm support and molded foam option did not go for the mesh or gel seating as I need a lot of support for my bum. After they added GST it came out to be around $400 but online they advertise it for $447. I lost around $35+ but happy to let it go if they can deliver this on Friday.
              I also liked their Hana series but it did not have too many options but it was comfy. Archie series was good but with the headrest and price point of $890+ was not ideal.

              Which one did you get from Krost ?

              • DannyC on 15/09/2020 - 21:08
                +1

                @justanick: Nice choice. What a coincidence… I also got the Future! But the older model Future 1.

                Yeah not a prob matey, it took me a while to find n test a chair I liked. It was hard due as lockdown ramped up as I am fairly particular. I guess was lucky as I also got a few good recommendations through Ozbargain which helped with my decision.

                • justanick on 16/09/2020 - 00:38

                  @DannyC: Glad mate we made similar decision. It was a close call between Hana and Future but I paid a bit extra to get Future due to the functionality. I am glad I did the research here and everyone helped contributing to my decision.
                  I am also so glad I did not end up buying the gaming chair like my partner :)

  • AustriaBargain on 14/09/2020 - 11:25
    -2

    What does your home office look like, is there a design theme you were going for, clean executive look, or is it just like random desk in random position in a room full of random stuff.

  • username999 on 14/09/2020 - 13:47

    I'm also in the hunt for a good desk chair. Almost settled on one of the many cheap gaming chairs but thought better not to after some research. Please let me know how you go.

  • AncientWisdom on 15/09/2020 - 11:33
    +1

    Have you looked at the old favorite Buro Metro? I've had mine for 5 years (been working from home that whole time) and it is still going strong. I am 1.75, 75kg for reference. It doesn't have a head rest but I don't think that's an issue for an office chair if you're intending to sit with a good posture.

    Buro Metro Task Chair with Nylon Base $249 - Free Metro Shipping @ WINC (a bit more for the stainless steel feet which I recommend)

    Another option might be the Ergo from Epic Office Furniture - https://epicofficefurniture.com.au/product/ergo-office-chair…
    Unfortunately there was a deal on it a month ago (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/556703), if you look at the comments there's a discussion about possible differences between the chairs.

    Good luck!

  • goblues on 11/10/2020 - 07:45
    Merged from What Is The Best Ergonomic Desk Computer Chairs

    Since a lot of us are working at home, I was wondering what the best ergonomic chair was for so many hours on the chair behind the computer.

    I have a couple of issues though:

    I have a bad back which I over came by losing weight and exercise years ago. However since lockdown, I've put on a lot of weight and not exercised as much. Now my back is killing me due to sitting down at home working.

    Another issue is I am 190 cm's and I cant find a chair with a suitable height and strength to hold my weight. My body is longer than legs so my head is always above the head rest.

    So with that, any one has any ideas on getting an ergonomic chair for my situation? And yes, I know all the exercises, posture, protocols for office workers.

    Thanks guys!

    • ihbh on 11/10/2020 - 08:08

      getting an ergonomic chair for my situation

      Try mixing things up and get some movement in every now and then.

      I stand at a buffet with adjustable laptop stand for my keyboard so that my elbow is horizontal when typing.

      I used to use an Aeron chair getting on 10 years old but have sat on the ground for the last 4 years when sitting. You have to use much more of your body getting up and down.

      I have two PC set ups for this rather than raising and lowering a desk because no desk goes down to ground level. One PC is pretty much on the whole day and sometimes two.

      Advantage of this is that you can get in a 10 minute yoga routine anytime you feel like it.

    • NotaSpender on 11/10/2020 - 08:13
      +1

      Herman Miller Aeron or Embody // Steelcase Leap V2 or Gesture are probably the best bet

    • Melb69 on 11/10/2020 - 08:26
      +2

      Aeron V2. Probably Size C for you. Call Living Edge for advice on exact model.

    • DannyC on 11/10/2020 - 08:58
      +1

      First off what's the budget? Some people find spending even $100 expensive for a chair. For me personally around the mid range of $500-650 is a good starting point.

      My Office use the Herman Miller Aeron (size B, fits well for me) and it is one of the comfiest chairs I've ever sat on… But at an eye watering $2000 each for our particular models they are a pricey option for a chair, think of it as the Rolls Royce of Chairs. Though U could prob snag a 2nd hand Aeron for a lot cheaper. But if you do decide trying the Herman Miller then i'd opt for Size C for their biggest size.

      The Eurotech Ergohuman IOO V3 is one that I like using and I have one for working from home. It ranges between $550-650 and has great adjustability features. Just watch out for replicas and copies that are not genuine Ergohuman chairs as there are a number of models available with different configurations.

    • Tinkle Ass on 11/10/2020 - 13:31
      +1

      Ikea has two nice office chairs with headrests, but shitty armrests. Best you sit in the chairs for a good while before buying.
      Herman Millers are too expensive especially during this pandemic. I saw a whole set of second-hand Steelcase chairs being sold for $300 each so look out for those deals.
      Instead of the Herman Miller you could buy a new ErgoHuman and a nice bicycle to help you exercise.

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