Hi!
Can someone please recommend me some office chairs? I’m 183cm tall and around 85kg. Need a chair with a headrest. I’m looking for the best chairs in the market so not too fussed about the price. Thanks!
Best Office Chair
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Free one work pays for
Have you tried looking at Herman miller Aeron chairs? Or steelcase leap? They’re having some sale soon too https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/663759.
I suggest you go to a living edge showroom or similar and try some chairs out and see what you like.
As always, try and test out the chairs you are thinking about buying…. this means going to a couple of quality stores that have these chairs on display.
Headrest at about $1K - Serati Pro: https://seated.com.au/product/serati-high-back-chair-with-he…
There are other sellers of this, do shop around but make sure you get the Donati Pro mechanism even if it costs more. That's the most important part of this chair and some sellers offer a cheaper version - don't be tempted. Otherwise it is insane value for money, has pneumatic lumbar and a few other touches that only come in at $300 more with most other chairs.
Headrest paying Herman Miller Embody money (aka 'The Best') - RH New Logic 220: https://seated.com.au/product/rh-new-logic-220-executive-cha…
RH is a brand of the Flokk company who also make HAG chairs, and I personally have one with the XL seat and love it. I find them well above Herman Miller in quality and ergonomics if you want a high-back and headrest. If you want to pay less, look at the RH Mereo 220 which is about $1400-$1500 but may not quite suit your height. RH (or HAG or Flokk) is what you buy to last 15+ years.
Both have free-floating mechanisms which is great to engage your abs during the day and helps with back issues. They have good warranties and high weight ratings too. I have recommended the Serati Pro numerous times on OzB, those that have bought them have only good things to say. Just do a search for my posts, or 'Serati Pro'.
Thanks mate this is amazing. What are your thoughts on Steelcase Gesture? I’ve spent the evening going through OzB and that seems to be the most highly rated. I’d say my maximum would be $2,000 so RH New Logic is out of range. Others that I looked at were Steelcase Leap and Humanscale Freedom but I didn’t like either due to their weird/poor headrests.
I used to sit on a Steelcase Leap - it was old but it basically fell apart and threw my lower back and Sacurm alignment out badly which needed Chiro to get some movement back into. The current Steelcase distributors really sting you on delivery. The Gesture at the price - well they appear to have increased it to discount it again for Black Friday. It's okay I guess…. but nothing amazing and there is better value out there. My other half bought a Steelcase Series 1 last year, and it is fine as a more basic chair but better quality than the random chairs you find at a similar price.
The RH Mereo 220 is an option, but you might be a little tall for it and it has a weird headrest on a articulated arm which may not suit you as much. The Mereo 300 can be specced with a headrest at $1700-$1800. You could try the RH Logic 400 - https://seated.com.au/product/rh-logic-400-models/ - an older model but has a headrest and does suit bigger sizes. It comes in under your $2K limit and I would get that over the Steelcase Gesture w/arms & headrest at a similar price.
Now I have an actual budget from you, Therapod make a good chair called the X-HR, Aussie made and looks good to my taste, comes in around $1600-1700 as something else to suggest in case someone calls me an RH/Serati Fanboi: https://backcare.com.au/premium-plus-1-1/therapod-x-hr
Again, see if you can try the chairs somewhere first. If you sit in the Serati and you love it, why spend any more? With the exception of the fabric, it goes toe-to-toe with the New Logic 220 and is 45% of the cost. There is some slight design & shape differences, but you lose very, very little. I think it is one of the best value chairs on the market and is almost criminally overlooked.
Edit: Yeah, the Humanscale is weird. Good boardroom/lazy manager chair, absolutely shit at a desk and doing actual work.
Thanks mate, I’m looking through RH chairs at the moment. Do you know what the main difference is between the Mereo 300, Logic 400 and New Logic 220?
@drakdaystar: Just slightly different shapes and ergonomics. If you are not fat like me then a Mereo 220 is probably a better shape and quite a bit cheaper. I prerfer width across my shoulders so the Logic 400 and New Logic 220 is far better for me.
Logic 400 is an older model now, no longer being imported by the local distributor except for special orders (I was told). Some sellers may place those orders but most resellers are not able to get the 'standard' chairs directly from the local distributor as a 'stocked item'. The price has come down a bit over the last 2 years.
New Logic 220 is the latest and IMHO best chair in the range although I am seeing some pics of a new RH model which I cannot find locally yet. They have some nice extras like XL seat pan if you have a fat arse like me. I just find I sit into this chair better than any other and puts me into the correct position, and can use core muscles to help me stay upright. It's a much more active experience and I do not slouch.
Do seriously recommend finding a local stockist to try them out. Even sitting on one for 5 minutes can give you a very good idea, as well as trying a few different ones. Get them to show you the floating mechanism and how that can be set up. BadBacks also has the Serati Pro which is a good option for many people too.
@Monsta-AU: I’ve tried the RH in store and am intrigued by the floating mechanism. It is definitely different to anything I’ve experienced. Hopefully I can get used to it as it’s a weird experience trying it for the first time. Think I’ll probably go ahead and pull the trigger in the Logic 220. Any thoughts on leather vs fabric material?
@drakdaystar: Yes, it is different but you can see what I mean about having to engage your abdominals more. It's a much more 'active' seat to sit in which is going to be better for you as you are not always in the one position (or worse, slouching forward from that position).
I'd personally only go fabric for airflow, and that is what I have. Leather will add $300 and can get a bit sticky in the hotter weather. It may be easier to care for and keep clean, but it may stretch more over time. I have not seen a 5-year-old RH in leather so cannot confirm it
@Monsta-AU: I was thinking of going leather as I have dust mite allergies. But I’m not really sure if either really makes a meaningful difference
@drakdaystar: Only a little, with fabric just vac it often then the occasional steam clean. You probably already have a little Bissell machine or something similar to do it.
@Monsta-AU: Don’t have a Bissell actually. I’ve never had a fabric chair before - my current chair is a leather IKEA Markus and it’s lasted quite well over the last 7 years
Do you know anywhere in Sydney where I’d be able to try out the Therapod?
@drakdaystar: Either
Backcare: 124-126 Parramatta Road Camperdown
or
Ergonomic Essentials: 1/1 Talavera Road, Macquarie ParkThere may be others but those are the two that come to mind as stockists with showrooms.
@Monsta-AU: Thanks mate, and do you have any recommendations for chairs with a mesh back, and fabric seat and headrest?
https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/matchspel-gaming-chair-bomstad-…
Little heavier than you and sit on this for 10 hours a day no probs. Recommended.