Herman Miller Vs Anda Gaming Chairs

gromit on 13/09/2024 - 11:25
Last edited 13/09/2024 - 11:26

Hey guys, looking to replace my Herman Miller Embody, it is nearly 20 years old now with gas lift failing, arms well worn and seating material starting to wear through. looked at reviving it with new gas lift and replacement arms which would run around $500, but even with that it is starting to look a bit tatty.

Price of new one runs over $3k now so debating whether I should look at something else like the Anda Kaiser 4. I am 6"4' and 110kg so regular chairs are not an option as I destroy them.

Kaiser 4 gets good reviews, Just wondering though if anyone has tried both (or the earlier versions of the Kaiser) as often people writing these reviews are comparing them to other cheap crap chairs rather than high end ones. Not expecting it to be as good as an Embody but at over $2k less wondering if it is good enough it can save me some cash. I spend a LOT of time using chair for work and gaming.

also happy to be pointed at somewhere to get the Embody chair at a better price.

Gaming Chair Herman Miller Office Chair

Comments

  • macklington on 13/09/2024 - 12:08
    +2

    Bless you sir, for asking this question, and bless OzBargain for its search alerts. I too want to know the answers to these questions.

    I am 6'4" and just over 100kg and have been looking at the Embody gaming chair (it seems superior to the original model in most respects), but I am also curious if there are similar options but without the >$3k price tag for a new chair. I also spend a long time in the chair for work, gaming, and just general nerdiness.

    The YouTube channels I have been looking at have suggested for bigger guys like us there are a couple of options, including the Haworth Fern, Haworth Zody, and the Steelcase Gesture (check the channel for a guy called Ahnestly). Depending on where you live, some OfficeWorks stores claim to have demo models of the Haworth Zody available in store to inspect. I have visited a couple of stores here in SA, and I haven't found the demo models on the shop floor yet 😠

    On the Embody price, Herman Miller seems to be one of those brands with strict pricing control for its distributors, I haven't found basically any options where it is available for less. Searches of OzB seem to suggest there is a price drop every year, normally towards the end of the year, so if you can wait you might save a few hundred bucks on a new model.

    A couple of my 'heftier' workmates have churned through the more generic gaming chairs that are available at a lower price point, and they simply do not last.

    Good luck, and I'll keep an eye on the thread and hopefully another OzB'er will have some good news for us 😀

    • jv on 13/09/2024 - 12:16
      +5

      Bless you for blessing the OP.

    • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 14:21

      bless you for the other options to research :-) Thanks

    • CaptainJack on 15/09/2024 - 17:58

      Where'd you see that the Zody is good for bigger guys? I've found somewhere doing quite a good price on it, but a lot of the review suggested it's not great for people over about 6'.

  • freefall101 on 13/09/2024 - 12:12
    +1

    Living Edge have sales every few months, last year was 20% off for black friday (which brings the embody gaming down to about $2600) if you can hold out a couple of months.

    • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 14:22
      +1

      I can certainly hold out. My current embody chair is workable for now. It is a chair that is without question head and shoulders above anything I have ever tried or had in the past so taking my time to research a replacement.

      • freefall101 on 13/09/2024 - 14:45

        I'm really curious to see what you come up with, I'll also reply if I buy something soon. My current Ikea chair simply isn't good enough, it's actively uncomfortable to sit on for more than an hour, so I need to replace soon. But trying to make the same decision as you, can I justify $2k+ on a chair or is there that magic chair out there for less than a grand that I can get 10 years out of.

        edit: Just to add, the other chair on my list is the Steelcase Leap. Supposedly good for tall people, but about $1500

        • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 14:50

          Thanks, will add the steelcase to my list of possibilities to research.

        • sumyungguy on 13/09/2024 - 14:51

          Steelcase Gesture & Leap are around $1K pre-owned. Oops, missed your edit

  • AustriaBargain on 13/09/2024 - 12:52
    +1

    I'm using an old leather executive chair a friend was going to throw into the dumpster. Makes my legs swell up if I have it fully raised, so I piled pillows under my desk as a sort of foot rest. If I were looking at $3,000 gaming chairs I'd definitely get one with a fold-away foot rest built in, that can also be positioned into a leg rest for leaning back and vegging out.

    I do like the thick leather though. Real leather must have been cheap in 20th century or something..

  • Nalar on 13/09/2024 - 13:19
    +6

    $3000 for 20 years confirmed.
    or
    $800 for maybe 2 years before the pleather degrades.

    • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 14:23
      +1

      yeah that is part of my thought process as well, wondering how durable the Kaiser 3's have been for people.

      probably should have added that to my post. I would rather pay more upfront than have to replace the chair again in 1, 2 or 3 years. I know an embody is built to last. I just don't know enough about other brands to know if they also last.

      • macklington on 13/09/2024 - 14:38
        +1

        These are the sort of comments convincing me to lean towards the embody regardless of the price. You've experienced almost 2 decades of enjoyment out of the chair; I am buying this chair for the office in my new house build, so I'm of the mind to invest in something that will last.

  • sumyungguy on 13/09/2024 - 14:00

    Have you tried an Aeron in size C? With your body dimensions you may get a better fit. Secretlab TITAN Evo is another chair with variable sizing.

    • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 14:24
      +1

      I use Aeron at work, while they are ok, they are a massive step down from an embody.

      • sumyungguy on 13/09/2024 - 14:41
        +1

        Time then for an update to Herman Miller x Logitech G

        • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 14:49

          yep that is just an embody with a logitech logo really. So basically been using that for 20 years, they are exceptional.

  • oscargamer on 13/09/2024 - 15:22
    +1

    At the same size and weight as you, I'm using a secretlab titan.

    • rumblytangara on 13/09/2024 - 17:31

      How many years?

      • oscargamer on 13/09/2024 - 22:12
        +1

        About 4. Still as new condition

  • jv on 13/09/2024 - 15:31
    +1

    this…

    • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 15:47

      LOL, I wonder how back would be after a few years of using that.

  • yaburi on 13/09/2024 - 16:26
    +1

    I would advise against gaming chairs in general.
    The amount you'd save initially on the purchase would be spent in the future for physio appointments and back surgeries.
    While I do agree that HM pricing has been astronomically ridiculous since Covid, I'd happily pay it knowing that the chair would last 10+ years.
    As others have mentioned, Steelcase is another option, particularly the Gesture and Leap V2.

    • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 16:36

      yep everything is telling me bite the bullet and pay for the embody. Just kinda surprised after this many years that other equally good options haven't stepped up to challenge them. Still planning on doing my due diligence though, thanks for the Steelcase recommendations.

      • eug on 13/09/2024 - 22:20

        FWIW I have a 28-year-old Aeron which is still fine, but thought I'd try a Gesture. After a week my butt couldn't get used to the cushion which I found too firm compared to the Aeron's mesh, so I returned it and went back to the Aeron.

        Plenty of people have no problems though, so YMMV. I love the airy nature of mesh too; no moist cavities in summer and no qualms about letting one rip as it'll just pass right through.

  • BillyStm on 13/09/2024 - 16:58

    Fractal have a decent one that hit the market as well - Fractal Refine if you're looking at other options in the market.
    Given that its new though there's not going to be as many longer term reviews about to use comparatively

    • gromit on 13/09/2024 - 20:10

      The specs of that chair tell me it is not really even a starter. lower max weight, narrow seat, lacks adjustability.

  • Davo1111 on 13/09/2024 - 20:35

    I don't think gaming chairs are comfortable for long term use. I returned mine

  • JPMelb on 14/09/2024 - 08:01

    I am 2m/115kg.
    I've had the Anda Kaiser for 5 years as my WFH chair and would swap it. A full day is not a problem.

    • gromit on 14/09/2024 - 08:44

      Is the material particularly worn after 5 years?

      • JPMelb on 14/09/2024 - 11:32

        I just gave it an inspection before posting. It looks almost as good as new. You wouldn't guess it was 5 years old and had a heavy bloke in it for the duration of covid. It sounds like we are similar broad builds and I found anything cheaper felt too narrow so sucked up the extra expense.
        From memory I found the cheaper chairs were too narrow and didn't go up high enough.
        The arms are also highly adjustable. I looked at a bunch before buying and it was this vs an online one. But since I could test this in store at CPL in Melbourne I went with it

        Absolutely zero regrets purchasing this - https://www.instagram.com/p/B10a21Bl_1o/

        It really feels similar to a BMW seat

  • JPMelb on 14/09/2024 - 08:12

    I also have a HP Citadel chair I use at my gaming desk. It is also worth considering. I bought it on staff discount. If you find it, almost identical to the Anda in comfort for taller people

  • reactor-au on 14/09/2024 - 08:50

    At 6'4", does the curved points of the back rest not roll your shoulders forward? I've read and seen a lot of complaints about it to the point where even chair reviewers don't recommend it to people over 6'1"

    • gromit on 14/09/2024 - 08:55

      for narrow chairs absolutely, it is one of the reasons I love the embody and one of the reasons I was looking at the Kaiser 4. Even for my height I have broad shoulders, air travel is a nightmare :-(. If you look at a lot of the chairs suggested here you will see they mostly don't have this issue,

  • buyer-123 on 14/09/2024 - 11:31

    There always seem to be pretty cheap Aerons available from Facebook Marketplace, if you're willing to go used..

    • gromit on 14/09/2024 - 11:33
      +1

      Aerons are not really a consideration. I use them at work, while they are not bad they definitely are a big step down, I would happily pay the embody price before downgrading to one at home.

    • sumyungguy on 14/09/2024 - 12:10

      New prices have risen 50% since 2001 so they're hard to find at pretty cheap prices. I got mine back in the good old days for $400; picked up a rare size A remastered for a friend back in 2022 for $1,100. Good things aren't cheap…

  • dimitryp on 14/09/2024 - 13:41

    i got a SecretLab chair (cloth one, not leather - cloth is nicer imho) for $700 4 years ago.
    Its still good as new, amazing for my back (i have some lower back issues), the tilt feel is excellent. Really cant complain.
    There was an extended free warranty deal at the time too, so i think ive got 10 years warranty?
    I did try a Herman Miller in-store at that time when looking for a chair, and for me the SecretLab is actually better.
    The SecretLab chairs come in dozens of diff colour/motif designs too, so can fit anyone's tastes.

    My 2c.

    • gromit on 14/09/2024 - 13:53

      my main concern with them is I look at the curved sides, most gaming chairs like that basically dig into my shoulders and or sides, even the XL is 56cm at the shoulders which may be a tight fit. anyone know if any stores stock them in Canberra where I could test one.

  • ozdog64 on 18/09/2024 - 18:55
    -1

    I would stay away from those racing chairs due to concave backrest geometry. And they just can't match the comfort and dynamic ergonomics of the Embody. If I were you, either refurbish, buy a new one or perhaps the Logitech Embody which is a side grade to the legacy model.

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