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PC gamers: What is the most comfortable desk chair ever?

The Lamonster

The Lamonster

Member
Shopping for a desk chair isn't easy. Apparently everything at your local office supply retailers like OfficeMax is cheap crap. And if you research the high-end stuff, you'll find the reviews are all over the place.

Right now I'm looking at the Herman Miller Embody, but it's super expensive. I think the Steelcase Leap is my front-runner right now, but I can't count out the Aeron just yet. It's an old design from 1994 and is apparently kind of hard to sit in, but so many people love it and the mesh weight distribution aspect has me wonder how hard it can really be.

My back is not the problem. Heat and sweating is not a problem. It's my butt. The chair I use is rock-hard and almost painful after an hour of sitting. I am looking for the absolute most comfortable seat.

What do you guys recommend?



edit: Footstool recs are a plus, too. Also no Ikea. I don't live near a store and shipping cost is ridiculous.
 
The ones in the gamescom media lounge, forget the name but they are amazing, every part of the chair molds around you, very comfortable.
 
Most comfortable desk chair I've ever had was a leather chair pulled out of an old car we had and converted. Shit was so comfy I feel asleep one day just sitting on it. All downhill since then :(
 
I have the Herman Miller Sayl. A good chair is expensive, but is worth it. I was going through an office chair once every 18 months before I got this.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L05NZ2/?tag=neogaf0e-20

herman_miller_sayl_chair.jpg
 
Cizeta-Moroder said:
I was about to say. Years of experimment and I've found standing the best. It might not be for everyone.
Click to expand...

I couldn't do it when I tried a few months ago but I've since become a lot more active, jogging a few miles a day and most of this weekend I literally didn't sit down once except for 2 hours at night, so I think I'm ready to go back to it.

Once you adjust you do forget you are even standing and it's way, way more healthy since extended periods of sitting is one of the worst things you can an do your body this side of smoking or heavy drinking.
 
Wingwright said:
I just bought an Ikea Markus and I love it. The high back is great and I can rest my head on it nicely.

markus-swivel-chair__69659_PE184857_S4.JPG
Click to expand...

I got one of these but in green cloth instead of leather cause it was a little cheaper. I'd reccomend it for an affordable chair. The wire cutter has a good reveiew on it.
 
The Herman Miller Embody is by far the most comfortable and supportive chair I have ever used. I will be buying one when I can afford it.
 
  • The Aeron can be pretty aggressively priced if you know where to look, but it's kind of a love-it-or-hate-it design and there's a general consensus that the long-term comfort of its mesh seat is worse than a padded one.
  • The Leap is a very nice chair with a ton of adjustable options like lumbar support and "4D" armrests, and the price can also be fairly reasonable. My issue with the Leap is that it's not a terribly large chair, so it might not be ideal if you're a big or lanky person.
  • I'm on a pretty tight budget with a lot of the same issues as you have, so I recently went with the Friant MidZone after demoing one in person. It's got a very cushy "marshmallow" seat that remains comfortable for long sessions, though I really wish there was a full-back version with adjustable lumbar support like the Leap.
  • DXRacer and Need For Seat chairs are supposed to be pretty good, but it's hard to find serious ergonomic reviews for them because they're a "gamer" thing.
  • The Embody is a super high end chair that I've yet to try, but I'm sure it's an upgrade over both the Leap and Aeron in certain areas. I've heard nothing but good things about it.
Here's a chair buying guide that provides a lot of good information and reviews of chairs already mentioned in this thread.
 
decide if you want arm rests OP.

I have a fucked up right shoulder, and i didn't know that while arm rests are comfy, they were messing up my shoulders even more since they are too high.

also, depending on your desk height, arm rests can hinder your ability to slide into the desk or how high you can raise the chair to avoid collision.
 
I have the Embody. It's a fantastic chair, you won't regret it. Yes, it's not cheap, but it's worth it for your back and posture.

Have a look online for second hand/office clearances too. Sometimes you can get great deals. A friend of mine recently bought a dozen Herman Miller's in great condition for £200 each.
 
Wingwright said:
I just bought an Ikea Markus and I love it. The high back is great and I can rest my head on it nicely.

markus-swivel-chair__69659_PE184857_S4.JPG
Click to expand...
That's what I've got. Amazing chair for the price. The reclined position is absolutely perfect and it allows for some breathing which is great if you deal with hot temperatures.
 
CodiesLoore said:
The ones in the gamescom media lounge, forget the name but they are amazing, every part of the chair molds around you, very comfortable.
Click to expand...
If you find the name, let me know!

MultiCore said:
I just bought a DX Racer chair. I like it a lot.

http://www.dxracer.com/art95_dxracer-oh-de63-nbb.html
Click to expand...
eh, looks like a toy.

Orayn said:
  • The Aeron can be pretty aggressively priced if you know where to look, but it's kind of a love-it-or-hate-it design and there's a general consensus that the long-term comfort of its mesh seat is worse than a padded one.
  • The Leap is a very nice chair with a ton of adjustable options like lumbar support and "4D" armrests, and the price can also be fairly reasonable. My issue with the Leap is that it's not a terribly large chair, so it might not be ideal if you're a big or lanky person.
  • I'm on a pretty tight budget with a lot of the same issues as you have, so I recently went with the Friant MidZone after demoing one in person. It's got a very cushy "marshmallow" seat that remains comfortable for long sessions, though I really wish there was a full-back version with adjustable lumbar support like the Leap.
  • DXRacer and Need For Seat chairs are supposed to be pretty good, but it's hard to find serious ergonomic reviews for them because they're a "gamer" thing.
  • The Embody is a super high end chair that I've yet to try, but I'm sure it's an upgrade over both the Leap and Aeron in certain areas. I've heard nothing but good things about it.
Here's a chair buying guide that provides a lot of good information and reviews of chairs already mentioned in this thread.
Click to expand...
Thanks, this is great! Chair reviews are typically so one-sided so it's nice to see some comparisons between the models I'm interested in. And I'm 5'6" so size isn't an issue with the Leap. Still my front-runner.

RockTurtle said:
decide if you want arm rests OP.
Click to expand...
Adjustable arm rests are a must.
 
Mr.Batman said:
Good day to my fellow Herman Miller owners. I am rocking the Aeron and I love it.



Good chairs are expensive but definitely worth it for health and comfort reasons.
Click to expand...

As a programmer, crunch would ruin my back and wrists, until this chair. Will be buying one the minute I get the funds.
 
the embody is the comfiest thing i have ever sat in, if you have the budget its the chair to buy

the armrests are fully adjustable fyi, both in horizontally and vertically
 
Another vote for Herman-Miller (i have a mirra)

Note, they're expensive but also full coverage lifetime warranty. I had mine fall from the back of a moving truck and the back rest break in half and they fixed it for free in less than a week at my local authorized repair center. They also replaced the mesh seat because it had a few scuffs and cat claw marks.
 
iNvid02 said:
the embody is the comfiest thing i have ever sat in, if you have the budget its the chair to buy

the armrests are fully adjustable fyi, both in horizontally and vertically
Click to expand...

And angle? That's one of the coolest things about the Leap: The armrests have four degrees of freedom since you can adjust them in X, Y, Z, and yaw. (No pitch or roll. :P)
 
nbthedude said:
I couldn't do it when I tried a few months ago but I've since become a lot more active, jogging a few miles a day and most of this weekend I literally didn't sit down once except for 2 hours at night, so I think I'm ready to go back to it.

Once you adjust you do forget you are even standing and it's way, way more healthy since extended periods of sitting is one of the worst things you can an do your body this side of smoking or heavy drinking.
Click to expand...

Probably should start a new thread for this, but I'm really interested in putting a walking desk together that would be gaming friendly. Wonder if there is anyone here who already has a walking desk for their gaming pc.
 
I keep reading about Herman Miller chairs on GAF so I decided to look them up. Turns out I sit on a Herman Miller Aeron at work everyday. It's a nice chair for sure, but I wouldn't spend my own money for one at home.
 
I'm rocking the Steelcase Leap myself. I did my appropriate research and while the Herman Miller chairs were comfy and well built, they were a lot more money. I would highly recommend finding a brick & mortar office store that has actual chairs for you to sit on. Ultimately, what is good for one, might not be good for another, and the only way to know for sure at the end of the day is to plant your butt in it.

The main thing with the Leap is that they are so incredibly adjustable that you can almost assuredly set yours up just how you like it. Almost every little piece or part of the chair can be moved or tweaked. That's what ended up tipping me over the fence and going for Steelcase over HM.
 
I use a Human-scale Freedom.

1900573.jpg


It isn't great for lie back and fall asleep moments as the back and headrest are designed to offer support at all times while looking at a screen and so sumiltanously adjust their position based on recline level.

For a chair to work in, its pretty good though.

Another thing I will say is DO NOT even think about a chair without well padded arm rests.
 
The Lamonster said:
Also no Ikea. I don't live near a store and shipping cost is ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Really? That's your problem with ikea? Not the terrible quality, cheapness or the fact you have to build it yourself?:p

I'm subscribing because I need a new desktop chair as well and want to see what gaf thinks.
 
MoFuzz said:
I'm rocking the Steelcase Leap myself. I did my appropriate research and while the Herman Miller chairs were comfy and well built, they were a lot more money. I would highly recommend finding a brick & mortar office store that has actual chairs for you to sit on. Ultimately, what is good for one, might not be good for another, and the only way to know for sure at the end of the day is to plant your butt in it.

The main thing with the Leap is that they are so incredibly adjustable that you can almost assuredly set yours up just how you like it. Almost every little piece or part of the chair can be moved or tweaked. That's what ended up tipping me over the fence and going for Steelcase over HM.
Click to expand...

What do you think about the seat pad?
 
The Lamonster said:
Embody owners:

Where did your purchase your chair? And how much did you nab it for?
Click to expand...

im from the UK and paid close to RRP, not sure about the US pricing

Orayn said:
And angle? That's one of the coolest things about the Leap: The armrests have four degrees of freedom since you can adjust them in X, Y, Z, and yaw. (No pitch or roll. :P)
Click to expand...
the embody just has height and width for the amrests
 
I switched to a DXRacer last year and I've been happy with it. I'd say it's great for its price, and pretty much the cheapest decent quality desk chair. I'd never pay absurd amounts for a Herman Miller or the likes, and the chairs that are cheaper than the DXRacer line are usually of terrible quality and won't last a year.
 
The best chairs are designed specifically to be used for an entire working day without causing fatigue or health problems. If you're going to be sitting at a desk for many hours, it's absolutely worth spending the money on suitable equipment.

I picked up an Aeron chair for a quarter of its retail price from a local office that was selling off unwanted furniture. I was especially fortunate that I could pick from several, barely used examples that were over-ordered.
I expect the chair to last 10 years or more, but if I was shopping for one now, I'd do the same thing.
 
I just got an Aeron. You can get an open box one at a fairly hefty discount (just inspect it before buying), you can get replacement parts for less than the added cost of getting a new one, so IMO losing the warranty is fine as long as the chair is a good discount and the chair seems to be in good shape.
 
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