Recommendations for New Office Chair and Showrooms in Sydney

jjsu on 19/06/2024 - 22:39

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new office chair to replace one that I'm currently borrowing. I'm not interested in ordering one off the web from the get go, so I would need to try before buying. My only real requirements are a chair with mesh material, good lumbar support and a headrest. I'm looking to spend somewhere in the ballpark of $1000, a little bit over is fine too.

Is there any place in Sydney where I can try out some of the well-regarded chairs under the one roof? And any recommendations of which to try?

Thanks, and stay warm

Home & Garden Chair Office Chair

Comments

  • Randxyz123 on 19/06/2024 - 22:59
    +1

    Herman Miller aeron for that budget all the way. I’d head to their authorised sellers as they’ll have other brands as well.
    Also Stealcase leap V2

    For both, call ahead to make sure you can test one at a desk and get comfy.

    • jjsu on 20/06/2024 - 10:27

      Thanks for the recommendations! Herman Miller Aeron isn't really in my budget atm, but I'm still willing to give them a go and see if it's worth breaking the bank over.

    • brifog on 20/06/2024 - 11:48

      Would love to know where you can get an Aeron for $1000 brand new. Theyre going for over $3000 these days, a bit under on sale. Even leap v2 is almost $1300 on sale. State of office chair prices these days…

  • ReaperX22 on 20/06/2024 - 09:42
    +2

    Living Edge in Alexandria have the Herman Miller chairs, and Steelcase have their own showroom in the City.. But brand new you'll find these to be well over 1k usually.

    I, personally, have the Embody which I tried at (and bought from) Living Edge a couple years back, and then I bought the Atlas headrest online to go with it once it got released. Expensive but it's been good. Not perfect, but that may be partly due to my desk height too as it's just a touch too tall for what I need it to be with this chair (I JUST got a standup desk but I've not yet assembled/swapped it out so pending judgment).

    Steelcase don't have the leap in a mesh variant AFAIK, but have cheaper models in mesh.

    When I was looking at chairs, the Ergotune kept popping up everywhere, the fact they're still around suggests they may be decent, but they had a LOT of paid sponsors so YMMV. But it does fit all your criteria. Sub 1k, headrest, mesh with lumbar support. Don't think you can test it though…

    • jjsu on 20/06/2024 - 10:37

      Thanks a bunch for your suggestions, I'm planning to go to both Living Edge and Steelcase's showroom sometime next week. Both the Aeron and Embody are currently out of my price range, but as I was saying above, I'm still willing to give them a go and see if I can stretch my budget for them if I really do like them.

      The Ergotune Supreme kinda looks like one I tried at Officeworks a while ago (probably a cheaper copy), and I really did not like the way the lumbar support jutted into my back. Not sure if it's the same with Ergotune. It looks like they offer returns, but you need to pay $90 for their courier pick-up service to return it back to them. I think I'll keep it as a backup option for the moment and see how I like Steelcase and Herman Miller.

      • ReaperX22 on 20/06/2024 - 11:07
        +1

        I had a gaming chair (older King series from DX Racer) before my Embody.

        I will say that if you're looking for a 'omg this is the best thing ever' experience, I don't think you'll get it. I was surprised how long it took to adjust to my chair, (some pains to start, or aches, etc).

        My decision was a 'well, I WFH mostly, I game a few times a week at my desk, a couple grand on a chair that will help me not destroy my back/neck might help' and I still hold to this decision, but the Embody certainly isn't perfect. It's main weakness is the inability to move the arm rests back/forth, it's only in/out and up down, makes it hard to use them + get very close to the desk at the same time.

        If you WFH, game a lot, and plan to keep it for 10+ years (assuming no issues with the chair), it's worth the investment of a couple hundred bucks a year for comfort/ergonomics. I'd say if you find something you like, just buy it!

        • jjsu on 20/06/2024 - 17:55

          I'll definitely try it for as long as I can get in their showroom and see how I like it for an extended period of time. They probably wont let me sit in one for hours though lol

          I dont actually like armrests as I end up tucking myself quite close to the desk, so I probably won't even install them.

          Thats very true. Some things are worth investing in. I'm sitting at my desk for hours each time, so may aswell get the best I can.

          Just out of curiosity, did you get the gaming or work version of the Embody?

          • ReaperX22 on 20/06/2024 - 23:30

            @jjsu: The rhythm fabric in black. The gaming version wasn't available at the time in Australia. Supposedly the seat is more plush and better heat dissipation but I'm sure the differences are fairly mild.

            • jjsu on 23/06/2024 - 17:16

              @ReaperX22: Had to make an appointment with the Steelcase showroon for next week, but I went to the Herman Miller Alexandria showroom and tried out both the Aeron and Embody.

              I must say that out of those two models, i do prefer the Embody. Youre definitely right when you say that there isnt "wow this is the best thing ever" experience, but it was miles better than ones I've tried at Officeworks recently.

              The Logitech version of the Embody seems to be more comfortable, maybe because of the added foam. There is definitely better heat dissipation, but it wont keep your butt cool or anything. I will definitely look into the Atlas headrest you mentioned, because that is what I think the Embody lacks for me. I do like how the back of the Embody conforms to pretty much however you move, but the amount of moving parts in the back of the chair kind of worries me. So many points of possible failure.

              Going to visit Steelcase next week and make up my mind before the EOFY sales are over.

              • ReaperX22 on 23/06/2024 - 23:43

                @jjsu: Yeah the Embody makes a lotttta noise. Lol. It's very creaky. Long warranty but there's certainly valid concerns over some small plastic joint having issues… I'm two years in and no actual issues though so far!

  • arislan on 20/06/2024 - 19:28
    +1

    Whatever you try - for the best prolonged comfort, check the "hour" rating on the chair. Good, expensive, ones should have a 8+ hour rating. 24 hour chairs are best - they're called 24 hour chairs for a reason - and they all would have the features you listed, i.e. head rest, lumbar, etc.

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