After waking up with terrible back pain yet again, thanks to a day spent working from the couch, I was more than inspired to research ergonomic task chairs. With a variety of price points, I discovered task chairs available for nearly any budget. It's often said it's fine to pinch when it comes to everything but your task chair if you plan to work from a desk more than a few minutes daily, not only for productivity, but also your longterm health... Just remember, choosing a task chair is not a one-size fits all process. Be sure to try-on any chair in person at a showroom or store. Make sure it's the right height, and be sure to consider the three rules of ergonomics before you commit to a possible long term relationship between your backside and a chair: fit for the user, fit for the task, and flexibility of movement while seated. MORE TASK CHAIRS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:(Images: all image credit as linked)Everyone knows that sitting for hours in the office is bad for the back, but we rarely do anything about it.
Backcare Awareness Week, which runs from 6 to 12 October, is a good time to change your usual office chair for one that offers better ergonomic support. But there are a lot to choose from, so to help you out, here’s our pick. 1. Humanscale Freedom Office Chair, £999, John Lewis With a backrest that automatically adapts to your body shape and headrest that moves according to how far you recline, the Humanscale Freedom Office Chair offers the latest in ergonomic technology. Plus, the snug cushions mould to the shape of your body. At nearly a thousand pounds, it’s a lot to cough up for a chair, but worthwhile if you want one of the best on the market. 2. Herman Miller Aeron Office Chair, £925, John Lewis If you are a design buff, this is the one for you. The Museum of Modern Art in New York has an Aeron in its permanent collection, so its design credentials are well established. But this chair is not just pretty to look at – its cushions are made from Pellicle, a high tech material which avoids heat build-ups, helping prevent muscular discomfort.
3. Comfort Operator Chair, £49, Office Furniture Online It’s not a thing of beauty, but the Comfort Operator Chair is good value for its specification. The three levers allow you to vary the height of the chair and tilt the back rest and seat. Also, the curved foam provides good ergonomic support. This is the reliable Volkswagen – rather than the flashy Ferrari – of the office chair world. Available with or without arms. 4. HÅG Capisco Saddle Chair, £291, Wellworking If you find yourself fidgeting in your usual seat, try the Saddle Chair. The unique design, modelled on a horse rider’s saddle, allows you to sit equally comfortably whether facing forward or turned to the side. Free movement does not have to cost the planet though – this product is made from recycled car bumpers. 5. Classic Balance Ball Chair, £80, amazon You are sure to be greeted with a few raised eyebrows when you bring this into the office, but bemusement could soon turn into envy.
Not only is the Classic Balance Ball Chair comfortable, but the act of balancing on it also gives you a powerful core-strengthening workout. 6. Herman Miller Sayl Office Chair, £383, Wellworking Effective spine and neck support needn’t result in a sweaty back. Inspired by the design principles of suspension bridges and modelled on a ship’s sail, the webbed chair back allows good air circulation, keeping you cool. Comes in four colours. 7. Markus Swivel Chair, £130, Ikea This is one of the cheapest executive style office chairs on the market. Offering easy height adjustment and a lockable tilt function – plus a headrest for good neck support – you get all the basics for a reasonable price. Also, this product comes with a 10 year guarantee, so it won’t risk your hard earned cash. 8. Back App Ergonomic Stool, £556, Back2 When you sit on the Back App your feet are placed on the footboard rather than the floor. This allows the chair to rotate around as you move, allowing a greater freedom of movement than that offered by conventional office chairs.
At first this can make your lower back feel tired, but after a week or so this should go away. For wacky style with green credentials, go for the HÅG Capisco Saddle Chair. If you are on more of a budget, the Comfort Operator or the Markus Swivel Chairs are your best bet. Office chair technophiles with money to spend should consider the Humanscale Freedom. But for sheer workmanship and iconic design, the Aeron is my top pick. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testingThere's really no "best" office chair since not everyone is looking for the same thing. As someone who sits in front of the computer for at least 8 hours a day, I require an office chair that can support my long hours of sitting. For many people, they just require something comfortable for the few hours they sit.
Many office chairs will give you a range of hours that it's designed to use for on a daily basis.For office chairs around or under your budget, here are some highly rated office chairs. I've used chairs that were around $50 and it felt awesome when I first got it but with my long sitting hours, the cushion and support deteriorated after about 6 months. My back and shoulders started to hurt and a slew of other problems started to affect me. So yes, there are cheaper chairs than the ones I mentioned but it’ll cost you more down the line in terms of health.If you are able to spend a bit more, then I recommend the Quantum 9000 which is the 4th chair at the site above. It looks similar to one of those famous Aeron chairs from Herman Miller which are one of the best chairs you can get but this one is a bit cheaper. It costs more than most office chairs but seriously, in the long run, you'll actually save money. I’ve had it for 5 years and it feels just the same as when I first got it. I know because my friend recently got one and it felt the same as mine even though mine was 5 years old.
With quality chairs, you can customize them to fit your body more. From front tilts do forward adjustments to lumbar support to adjustable arm rests, you'll have more options to help you find the best setup for your body. Cheap chairs are very limited in this area which is why over time, you're likely going to experience pain.Getting a good office chair is more important than most people realize. Go cheap and you can end up with a lot of pain from your neck down to your feet believe it or not. A company I used to work for where we were at the computer all day would have specialists come to everyone's desk to make sure we got the right chair adjustments and used the right posture while sitting. Our desks were adjustable in case we wanted to stand every now and then.The chairs they used weren't cheap and the reason for this is because the money they would save by preventing injuries/pain/discomfort would be far cheaper than the medical bills resulting from having employees develop long term chronic pain.
I'm not sure exactly what chair they used but it's similar to the chair I recommended above.I was hesitant at first since I've never spent that much on an office chair but nearly 5 years later, I'm so glad I did. There are some things you can go cheap on and get away with any bad consequences but an office chair isn't one of them. If you hardly sit at a desk, then I guess it doesn't mater what you get but if you sit a lot like me, do yourself a favor and investment the money in a good, quality chair. The difference over a long period of time is immeasurable. If you're planning to spend nearly $200, you might as well add in bit more and get a highly quality chair.The chair you are looking for is the Kare no frills ergonomic chair. It comes in at 226 dollars, sale price, so you'll have to shell out a little more, but you get a 7 year guarantee, something which you won't find at Ikea. Yes, there are amazing ergonomic chairs with more features, but if you want one for under 200, you can't go wrong here.