Hey there,
I returned to playing computer after years of playstation. When I stopped playing, I was much younger than I am now.
Age: 33
Weight: 124kg
Height: 176cm
So I have that cheap office chair but on long sessions I can feel some stress in my back. Don’t have that in the office at work - but those chairs are probably much better.
So right now I’m struggling to find a decent chair that actually is good for my back and not just a chair that can bend back if you know what I mean.
So as I already struggled finding the right keyboard and mouse, I am struggling with finding the right chair. I don’t want to pay a fortune but also know that a good chair will not come off cheap.
A friend suggested Secretlab and also spoke about Back force one or something like that.
What should I pay attention to, next to weight and stuff, and what can you actually recommend?
Lots of thanks in advance!
Do not buy a “gaming chair”. They’re a scam meant to take money from suckers. Whatever your budget is, you can find an ergonomic actual office chair meant for sitting that will vastly outperform a “gaming chair” in every conceivable metric that’s important to a chair
I know you said that you weren’t looking to spend a lot of money. I was going through the cycle of replacing my chair every year or so (because frankly, they all suck). I put some cash aside for a couple years and finally picked up a real office chair (steelcase gesture). Sure, it may have cost the same as 6 chairs, but I get a 10 year full replacement warranty which will save both my wallet and my back in the long run. Maybe you aren’t in position to make this purchase now, but you owe it to yourself to save for a good chair.
I also got a Steelcase Gesture after having some back issues. I’ve had it for a couple of years now and it is great. It’s well worth it if you can afford it. I see it as an investment to prevent long-term back issues.
I second the Steelcase recommendation. They initially cost more than the cheap plastic ones but it’s worth it both for how much longer it will last you and just how much more comfortable they are.
You also can customize it to your preferences. Things like flexible arm rests, lumbar support, head support, type of cushion and backing you want (extra soft, breathable micromesh, etc.).
I went with the Series 2 Air as another model to consider but honestly they’ve got quite a few good options. If the prices are too much right now, watching for sales could help. I bought mine for $490 on sale last year and it’s $636 for my config right now at full price. Maybe signing up for their email newsletter would get you notice on sales?
Have you ever tried the leap v2? I am currently using a leap v2 that I got from the office and I find it semi uncomfortable after awhile when gaming, but it doesn’t bother me too much when I working
Last year I also bought, and returned, a Herman Miller X Logitech Embody because it was too uncomfortable.
The gesture looks nice, but after reading reviews people claim it’s basically the same comfort level as a leap v2
Replying to you. Thanks for all comments below yours!
Is the brand “Steelcase Gesture”?
The brand is just “Steelcase”. The Gesture is a specific model of chair. And I agree with everyone else here: after switching from el cheapo chair to my Gesture, my back pain (from sitting) completely went away.
I checked them out already. They’re listed like around $1000 in my country. Oof…
The unfortunate reality of ergonomic office equipment is that a good chair will run you about 600-900 USD new (or more with options). There’s a reason huge corporations buy from Herman Miller (the Aeron) or Steelcase. Those are the manufacturers that make the stuff reliably that will last for decades. The parts are heavy and made of a lot of metal.
If you spend less you’re getting a lot of plastic that’ll last maybe 5 years before the finishes start to wear off and you can’t repair it.
So, decide what matters: saving a few hundred short term or risking hurting your back.
But the biggest thing to consider is that bodies are so unique that it’s possible that a cheaper chair will work for you, but you’ll only know until you sit in it. So go sit in a bunch and see what works. Note that the stuff Office Max et al sell tends to be cheap and kinda garbage. If you want the professional tier of chair, that will require a trip and possibly an appointment with a specialized retailer. Also check furniture stores; sometimes they have larger executive chairs that are quite comfy if not as ergonomically sound.
I’d recommend looking for a used Herman Miller Aeron. They are super comfortable, offer fantastic back support and many businesses buy a bunch of them up and eventually sell them so you can find some pretty sweet deals instead of the $1400+ USD they are to get them new.
I think I paid $500 for a used one that was in excellent shape. It’s a chair that’s been around for a long time so aftermarket parts are easy to come buy if you ever need them. I swapped out the wheels on mine for roller blade wheels and couldn’t be happier.
I know you asked for a gaming chair but I will advise you to reconsider. Most gaming chairs are not really that good and are quite expensive for what you get.
I bought one and it wasn’t really all that great and it only lasted a few years before becoming entirely unusable. I paid similar a normal office chair after that and it is infinitely better and has outperformed the gaming chair in all regards. It don’t look as slick though
David Zhang on youtube does a lot of reviews of office chairs, maybe this can help out
https://youtu.be/zpIPhAGHSV4