The following is a sponsored post from Staples. As regular readers know, we don’t often do sponsored posts (our most recent before this series was in 2013). But we agreed to work with Staples again for two posts because they sell so many different organizing and productivity products in their stores and we like so many of the products they carry. Our arrangement with them allows us to review products we have extensively tested and have no hesitation recommending to our readers. And, these infrequent sponsored posts help us continue to provide quality content to our audience. For as much time as most people spend in their desk chairs, I’m always surprised when someone purchases an uncomfortable one. If you work a 40-hour week, 50 weeks a year, you’re looking at roughly 2,000 hours each year of use from this piece of furniture. That’s a lot of time to sit in something that isn’t super comfortable. I needed a new office chair for the home office, and opted to try the Staples® Sonada Bonded Leather Managers Chair in black.
Some of you may not know this, but Staples offers a wide variety of office chairs under their own brand. The Staples Sonada Bonded Leather Managers Chair is $249, and at this value, looks (and feels) much more expensive than the price. And, after a number of weeks of use, I can say that I’m very happy with this choice. I’ll admit the most shallow thing first: I feel like a super villain when I’m doing work now. It’s as if I’m Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Dr. Evil, or Dr. Claw. My cat has so far refused to sit in my lap while I work, but one day it will happen and my imaginary alter-ego will be fully realized. More seriously: The chair is faux leather, which I actually prefer because it cleans really easily. I’ve spilled coffee on it twice already, and unlike my previous fabric covered chair, the coffee didn’t leave a stain or mark of any kind. The chair is also the epitome of comfort. It’s like going to work and sitting on a pillow. The company says it’s good for up to 10 hours a day of use, and I buy that.
You shouldn’t be sitting for any longer than that anyway. You can adjust the lumbar, seat height, and tilt of the back (you can lean back and tap your fingers together when you’re thinking, if that is something you like to do). My son likes to sit in it and read, while spinning himself around in circles. Such a thing would make me dizzy, but he says it’s very smooth as it goes around and around. It’s also on casters, so you can scoot around your office if necessary. One thing you may want to consider with this chair: It only comes with fixed arms. I haven’t wanted to adjust the arms, but if that is something you really want then you might look at the chairs they have with adjustable arms, and Staples offers several options. Check out the Staples Bonley Mesh Chair (which comes in GREEN!!) if arm adjustability is your thing. Another thing you may want to consider if you are under 5’4″ — your feet might not touch the floor if you sit all the way back in the seat (it’s 23.9″ deep).
My friend who isn’t a giant like me says this is standard, though, so you may not even notice. Staples Vexa Mesh Chair has a smaller seat depth, so give it a test drive instead. Conclusion: I really like the Sonada Bonded Leather Managers Chair. It is by far the most comfortable chair I’ve had at my desk and my repetitive stress injury isn’t acting up with its use, so I see no reason to use anything else.CEH has been leading the national effort to eliminate health threats from toxic flame retardant chemicals that are used in almost all of our furniture. Many people have heard about “killer couches” that pose health threats to our children and families, but often people don’t realize that office furniture can also pose a significant health risk to America’s workers. Now CEH has won commitments from major companies, including Facebook, Genetech, Staples and others to seek furniture without flame retardant chemicals for their massive furniture buying. The companies that have signed the CEH Purchaser’s Pledge collectively spend more than $520 million annually on furniture.
When major companies make demands like this from their suppliers, the entire marketplace shifts to safer products without flame retardant chemicals. We have also partnered with HDR Architecture, the nation’s 2nd largest architectural design firm, to determine which furniture suppliers are offering office furniture made without flame retardants. Our guide to flame retardant-free office furniture gives you and your workplace the tools you need to buy safer products. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts San Francisco Department of Environment Office Furniture Companies Offering flame retardant-free products Companies who have removed ALL FR chemicals from their Furniture Companies who have removed FR chemicals from SOME of their products Chemicals are ineffective at preventing fires Studies show that flame retardant chemicals don’t improve fire safety in furniture, but they can leach out of products and contaminate workplaces and homes. Toxic flame retardants have been detected in the bodies of virtually all Americans tested and in nearly all workplace environments tested.
Many of these chemicals have been linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption and other serious health problems. For more information, see the CEH press release. Triple Pundit article, 16 Major Companies and Agencies Say No to Chemical Flame Retardants. Capital & Main article, Offices Pledge They’ll Buy Chemical-Free Furniture.Black PneumaticPneumatic LiftOffice ChairsMesh Office ChairOffice FurnitureChair AzofficechairsChair MeshLift OfficeOffice OfficeForwardMesh office chair - Pin it :-) is your Officechair Gallery ;) CLICK IMAGE TWICE for Pricing and Info :) If you click a merchant link and buy a product or service on their website, we may be paid a fee by the merchant..: $109.99: Reflected in sale price: FreeFinal Price: $109.99 + Free ShippingAlso available in Red for the same price.HomeToday's GlobeNewsBusinessSportsLifestyleA&EThings to doTravelCarsJobsHomesLocal Search Straighten up and sit right Better posture at work can keep back pain at bay.
If that doesn't work, try a better chair Didn't your mother ever tell you to sit up straight?That advice is echoed by Karen Jacobs, a board certified ergonomist, occupational therapist, and clinical professor at Boston University who spends her time showing people how to avoid office injuries."When sitting, it is very easy to slump into a posture which significantly changes the shape of the spine and drastically increases the pressure on the intervertebral discs in the low back," according to Jacobs's research. "Slumping posture can result in low back pain and, over a prolonged period of time, can cause more serious back problems."However, no matter how much you try to sit right, sometimes it's not how you sit but what you sit in that matters. So the Globe tested four office chairs designed with the utmost in comfort and ergonomics in mind. We tested the Humanscale Freedom at $1,300, the Herman Miller Embody at $1,600, the Sealy Posturepedic High Back Executive Chair at $269.99, and Staples Inc.'s Acadia Multifunction Mesh Task Chair at $159.99.
The first two are generally available through direct order or at specialty stores."Many office chairs have traditional, padded, fixed-height lumbar supports that are unlikely to provide a comfortable or appropriate seat for people of various body types," Jacobs said. Translation: a good, healthy chair will be more adjustable and allow you to manipulate it to suit your needs.Jacobs doesn't endorse a particular brand of product, and we really had a hard time deciding between Humanscale and Herman Miller, two companies that seem to compete like Coke and Pepsi. In the end, after sitting in the chairs in front of our ergonomic keyboards typing away, we went with the Humanscale and its supportive headrest as the best option.Jacobs's research says you put more pressure on your joints and lower back when you're sitting for a long time, as opposed to standing. Sitting increases the risk of lower-back pain and compresses the discs in your spine. When you slump, the pressure on your spine is drastically increased and can cause serious problems down the road.
Most chairs you'll find in an office have traditional lower-back support, but one of the major problems is that people often fail to adjust even good ergonomic chairs to best fit their body type.Adjust your chair so you're sitting up straight. A good chair should contour to your body and not put any excess pressure on your back, rear, thighs, or knees.The two in-store chairs were decent. The Staples Acadia mesh chair was better than the cushy Sealy chair. The Acadia reminded us of the $1,000 Humanscale Liberty Chair we also tried out. Both chairs are mesh-backed and lean back easily and smoothly.We did worry about the long-term viability of both cheap chairs being able to stand up to constant sitting. We feared they'd break eventually. The other chairs felt sturdier.In response, Staples spokeswoman Amy Shanler said the company stands behind its branded products. "We put these chairs through intense testing so we can stand behind our brand and customers know they can count on our quality."
The Sealy chair is also a Staples exclusive, but is licensed by Sealy and built by Chairworks. "We go through strict testing programs with Staples to make sure product is completely up to their standards," said Peter Ravn, the vice president of sales and marketing for Chairworks.HUMANSCALE FREEDOM$1,300Pros: It's comfortable and makes the back feel good while you're typing away.Cons: The chair pan (what you actually sit on) slides too easily, not locking into place. That was a pain.The final word: Your body will thank you.HERMAN MILLER EMBODY$1,600Pros: The Embody is comfortable, adjusts well, and looks built to last.Cons: Price has to be a worry for some.The final word: You can downgrade the fabric and save a little money, but, really, this is a fabulous chair that you wouldn't regret buying.SEALY POSTUREPEDIC HIGH BACK EXECUTIVE CHAIR$269.99Pros: It's comfy like a pillow-top mattress.Cons: The chair shook a bit. We were worried it wouldn't hold up under a lot of use.The final word: The chair feels nice and was on sale for less than $200 when we stopped by our local Staples.STAPLES ACADIA MULTIFUNCTION MESH TASK CHAIR$159.99Pros: The mesh back is comfortable and reminds us of more expensive ergonomic chairs.