Finding the Perfect Office Chair: Aeron vs. Swiss Ball vs. the FBI’s Pick… 245 Comments

Written by Tim Ferriss Topics: Gadgets, Remote Offices

The wrong chair = real health problems. (Photo: watz)

(Total read time: 8 minutes)

In this post I’ll cover how I identified the best high-end chairs in the world, which I ultimately chose, and the tangible results that followed.

In January of 2005, I found myself on a veranda in Panama after the usual afternoon rain, dreaming of the upcoming year and reflecting on lessons learned since leaving the US. Maria Elena, the matriarch of the Panamanian family that had adopted me, sipped her iced tea and pointed at my bruised feet:

“Tim, let me share some advice I was once given. Buy the most comfortable bed and pair of shoes you can afford. If you’re not in one, you’ll be in the other.”

I followed her advice upon returning to CA and the results were sudden: Plantar Fasciitis disappeared, as did shoulder impingement after switching from coil-spring to foam-layered mattresses.

But what about chairs? On January 4th, 2009, I tweeted out the following:

“Is the Aeron chair worth it? http://tr.im/2uxd Do you have any fave chairs for extended sitting and writing?”

…

Even though I’m financially comfortable now, I didn’t grow up spending a lot of money, which I’m thankful for. To this day, I’ve never paid for first-class airfare for myself. Not that it isn’t worth it — I just can’t do it. Similarly, I had trouble believing a chair could possibly be worth $850-$1,200, but my back pain led me to pose the question to the omniscient Interweb.

How did others feel?

More than 95% of Aeron users replied with “yes, absolutely”, but it wasn’t the only chair with a cult-like following.

Four of the five are manufactured by Herman Miller (HM) and Humanscale (HS). Prices are from Amazon, as are the star reviews, but discounts of $200-400 can be negotiated with dealers. Both eBay and Craiglist offer similar discounts.

In descending order of popularity:

1. Aeron (Fully loaded) (HM) – $879 (1 review; average review: 5 stars)
Used at NASA mission control and tech start-ups worldwide.

2. Mirra (fully loaded) (HM) – $829 (14 reviews; average review: 4.5 stars) Note: the Herman Miller sales representatives I spoke with preferred the Mirra seat feel for shorter legs vs. the Aeron. Easier to adjust: Mirra is about 9 revolutions from loosest to tightest settings; Aeron is 40+.

3. SwingChair – $495 Recommended by a strong contingent of writers, including one of my favorite visual storytellers, Kathy Sierra.

I like the design concept, but I would suggest other forms of “core exercise”.

4. Liberty (HS) – $899 (6 reviews; average review: 3.5 stars)

5. Freedom Task Chair with Headrest (HS) – $999.99 (1 review, average: 4 stars) Used at the FBI and by other governmental agencies with three-letter acronyms.

6. Embody – $1,800 list price (negotiated with dealer: $1,200-1,300): Basis of chair design – sitting is bad; movement is good. Even in locked position, it still has some backward flex at the top position. No forward tilt option.

For personal testing, I also added a Swiss-ball chair (Isokinetics Balance Ball Chair – $75) to the mix, as seen below:

3 Key Findings

Surprisingly, the Isokinetics chair is more comfortable than most fixed chairs I tested, though there is some minor… ahem… testicular compression that isn’t nearly as pleasant as it sounds. If you don’t have jewels to worry about, this chair could well be an ideal cost-effective choice.

The chair I most wanted to test was the Mirra, which seems to have the best combination of price point (bought used or via eBay) and multiple 5-star reviews. Not to mention it’s also the name of one of the best BMXers of all time. But I digress.

In the end, I bought a used C-size (technically a bit too large for me) Aeron for $450 on Craigslist. I’m impatient and didn’t want to wait over the weekend to schedule sittings for other Herman Miller chairs with a certified dealer. Once I have some conclusive comparable data, I want closure.

Aeron sizing chart. I’m 5′ 8″ and 170 lbs., but the C works with no problem.

3 Personal Lessons:

1) The lumbar support is — by far — the primary determinant of comfort or pain. I’ve lowered this adjustment and found that maintaining the natural S-curve through pressure on the lower back is what prevents pain most consistently. Comfortable sitting time is now 7-8 hours vs. less than 2 hours, with no ill after-effects.

Sliding lumbar support on the Aeron.

2) Seat height (and secondarily, depth) will determine the rest.

If the flats of your feet don’t make complete contact with the floor, you will move your hips forward and slouch, eliminating the S-curve in the lower lumbar. If your seat is too low and your knees are above your hips, you will shorten the habitual range your hip flexors (negative neural adaptation) and end up with severe lower-back pain.

Aim to keep your hamstrings parallel to the floor, and if the seat is too long for your femur (thigh bone) — as is mildly the case with my C-size Aeron — just separate your knees a bit. If you’re not wearing a tight skirt, I’ve found a basketball of space between the knees to provide the best lateral stabilization, which reduces torso fatigue. Take off heels when sitting at a desk, lest you end up with hot calves and Quasimodo-like posture. Not good for mating. If you are wearing a tight skirt, I suggest taking up the Japanese tea ceremony and sitting on tatami side saddle. It’ll be more comfortable than crossing your legs all day.

Parallel hamstrings?! True, I’ve thought more about chairs in the last few weeks than anyone should, but I do it to save you the trouble. Benefit from my OCD so you can obsess on other things.

3) Using a 3′ long and 6″ diameter foam roller three times per day for 5 minutes can eliminate persistent middle-back pain from mediocre chair use; conversely, it can extend your comfortable sitting time by 30-40%.

A Visual Before and After

Knowledge workers often log more ass-in-seat time than sleep. Coders, in particular, are often subjected to a steady diet of Mountain Dew and hunching for 12+-hour marathons. I don’t put in these hours, but I found myself with severe mid-upper back pain from using a non-adjustable chair and craning over a desk that was too low, even for 30-60 minutes per day.

Two doctors suggested various therapies, but a quick experiment (placing a laptop on top of a dresser and writing while standing for two days) proved that posture was the problem.

In less than a week following my switch to the Aeron, all upper middle-back (lower trapezius, rhomboid major) pain disappeared completely. The results: better output during work and writing, faster and deeper sleep, and a huge smack on the forehead. Why the hell didn’t I do this earlier?

In my case, was it worth it at $450? Most definitely. Particularly looking at the value of time per hour and the lost income due to doctor visits, massage, etc., this is $450 I should have invested years ago.

Before:

After:

###

Odds and Ends: Twitter Giveaway Winners

Coming soon! Patience, young Jedi. The travel bag and Fujitsu color travel scanner are gone. More giveaways coming here this week…

Posted on January 27th, 2009

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245 Comments

Scott Fox, Author of Internet Riches — January 27th, 2009, 2:13 am

Tim – Congrats on upgrading your office infrastructure.

WIth your focus on efficiency and optimization, I’m suprised that you didn’t invest in a good chair sooner. This is a must for knowledge workers.

As a fellow author I can’t allow back pain to distract me from the keyboard. So I personally rotate between an Aeron, a yoga ball, and a kneeling chair throughout the day.

Next I’d recommend upgrading from a lap top track pad to a stationary trackball mouse. Does wonders for reducing forearm (and therefore neck) stress during long keyboard sessions.
Reply
alsanan.info — January 27th, 2009, 2:15 am

[...] Un buen consejo: No escatimes al comprar una cama, unos zapatos de uso cotidiano o una silla en la que vayas a pasar muchas horas. Este post fue escrito por alsanan y publicado en Tue 27 Jan 09 at 11:16 and filed under Uncategorized. Bookmark the enlace permanente. Sigue los comentarios introducidos aquí con el feed RSS de este post. Trackbacks are closed, but you can introducir un comentario. « CRM: Citizen Relationship Management [...]
David Turnbull — January 27th, 2009, 2:34 am

Hmmm, well I guess an Aeron Chair is the next big purchase.
Reply
- Nicole Bonaventure — October 23rd, 2012, 2:13 pm
  
  It doesn’t have to be a big burden on your wallet though! I found this awesome website called Beverly Hills Chairs and they sell refurbished Aeron Chairs at a fraction of the price which is great if you are someone like me who is strapped on cash.
  Reply
Simona Rich — January 27th, 2009, 2:36 am

That chair looks like from a sci-fi movie…

I use a comfortable chair but I never thought of buying something that specific. I spend quite a lot of time writing content for my website, but I have never had back pains.

Congrats with your new purchase!
Reply
Sarah — January 27th, 2009, 2:40 am

Bless you! The research I always meant to do, all done. with pictures. Thanks a million for this. Desk’s very tidy too – did you clear it up just for the pictures?!
Reply
Alan Speed — January 27th, 2009, 2:42 am

Thanks Tim for another great indepth article. If you could start work on how to select a decent bed next, that would be most helpful!

I work for a Swedish company and they recently bought the entire staff these chairs – http://www.kinnarpscomfortcontrol.com/en/movie.htm No idea how much they cost, I think they’re are quite expensive, but they are the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in. After 8 hours of sitting I still feel great, wish I could afford one for my home office…
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Pete — January 27th, 2009, 3:04 am

What is written on that sheet of paper on your desk?
Reply
back pain relief — January 27th, 2009, 3:10 am

Hi Tim!

Great post!

Proper seated posture creates an even load and balance for the body, placing less strain on the muscles and joints. However, even when you practice correct posture, you should not sit for prolonged periods of time. Take regular breaks to walk, stretch and move your muscles.

To recap, proper seated posture would look like:
• The head is above the shoulder joints.
• The shoulder joints are above the hip joints.
• The knees are at a ninety degree angle with feet flat on the floor.

With gratitude,
Charlie
Reply
ShaolinTiger — January 27th, 2009, 3:20 am

Interesting article, I’m using a Raynor ErgoHuman chair – which is very similar to the Aeron but a lot cheaper!

Comes in both leather and mesh, I’m not sure if you can get in the US though as it seems a lot more popular in Asia.
Reply
Mohammed — January 27th, 2009, 3:25 am

I care about ergonomics a lot, but since having applied the advice in 4HWW, I’m enjoying my time traveling around the world and I don’t have a permanent place that I can equip with such chair.

What do you do when you are traveling and want to sit for prolonged hours in front of the computer?
Reply
David Turnbull — January 27th, 2009, 3:28 am

Tim, just a question.

Have you ever considered getting something to raise the height of your Macbook Pro? I can’t imagine that looking down at the screen for a few hours would be good for your neck.

Something like the iLevel (http://www.raindesigninc.com/ilevel.html) might be good for you.
Reply
Greg — January 27th, 2009, 3:33 am

Hi Tim,

Great post … thanks for sharing your research!

Just a quick one, which might help other people with similar problems.
About 8 years ago I seriously suffered from lower back pains. I got out of bed every morning like a little old man (bent forward). After X-Rays, I was told I suffered from a discal hernia (L5-S1), that “radiated” outwards towards my lower legs, making the outside of my calves feel like numb quite often. I asked my karate teacher, Richard Prospero 7th Dan, for some advice because not only is he an expert in martial arts but he also knows quite a bit about health, bio-mechanics, etc. He forwarded me to an osteopath and a “chaîniste” (specialist in muscular chains). For a few months I had to do some daily exercises, use a special “wooden seat” to place on top of the seat in my car for lumbar support, and mainly use a “Yoga/Swiss ball” at the office. The “Yoga/Swiss ball” actually was hard work at first because this forces a dynamic seating position on you, instead of just slouching. The first few days it was hard to actually sit on that ball all day, but after a while my body got used to it. I continued using this ball for several months, but once my back improved I started to be fed up with the fact that sitting on this ball didn’t allow me to easily “swivel” around in order to pick up the phone etc.
So, I returned to my previous office seat but noticed that I had created a completely different seating position at my desk in the meantime.
I didn’t slouch back on my office chair but sat up straight like you mention: feet flat on the floor, hamstrings parallel to the floor, …

Since then, I have been using whatever office chair I have been given and I am almost never using the back of the chair, except to hang my coat on.
I’m still doing karate now, as if I was half my age, and only very rarely will suffer from lower back pains.

No surgery was needed, nor medication, just some time, exercise and new habits.

Kind regards,

Greg
Reply
JCaza — January 27th, 2009, 3:50 am

Tim,

Hola from Madrid! Took your advice for a break from the regular monotonous delayed enjoyment pace of life and now I’m studying abroad for the first time ever!

I’m a 6’2″ student and for nearly 2 decades I’ve been too tall for chairs at schools and universities. I’ve suffered back pain that no one my age should have to suffer. I never thought that there would ever be chairs made for someone like me, tall and lanky. Though I don’t have tons of cash, making the switch is so important, like you said, not only for health but output as well.

Thanks for your post.
Reply
Ross — January 27th, 2009, 4:07 am

Tim,

I ditched the chair altogether, with a standup desk. I had one made for me by the good folks at http://www.standupdesk.com. While most people who have standup desks have back problems, I like the added space in my study and the additional energy I get from being on my feet.

The next step in my office evolution was the addition of a small treadmill underneath the standup desk. I chose a relatively inexpensive one from http://www.treaddesk.com. The treadmill desk idea originated with Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic.

As a result, I have lost over 40 lbs. since last July.
Reply
Nanok Bie — January 27th, 2009, 4:31 am

Great research. Don’t forget the thickness of the actual table. A thick table forces your legs down, I prefer a thin table so I can sit close to the table and rest my elbows on the table, sliding the laptop back a bit. A thick table prevents that, as it prevents your upper legs from sliding in under the table.

Best regards, Nanok – also obsessive about working ergonomics (but I actually like lying down working in the bed or the sofa too)
Reply
Robert Jet Set Life — January 27th, 2009, 4:33 am

Hey Tim,

Fantastic micro testing. With the amount of time I’m spending editing our travel shoots around the world this sounds like a well worth it investment. Just ordered the chair. I’ll let you know what I think.

Best,
Rob
Reply
Adam Steer - Better Is Better — January 27th, 2009, 4:37 am

Great post!

When putting on the final push to get an e-book out just before Christmas, my “ass-in-seat” time was way higher than normal and I could feel the creep of tension and over-compensation. I ended up switching to a physioball temporarily, but would love to get a good chair eventually.

Thanks for doing the legwork Tim!

Cheers,
Adam
Reply
David Golden — January 27th, 2009, 4:47 am

After years of using the Aeron, I switched to the Steelcase Leap and found it much more comfortable over the long haul.

I second the other comments about your laptop ergonomics. You’re probably raising your shoulders to get to arms your keyboard instead of keeping elbows down and muscles relaxed. And depending on how tall you are, you’re probably unconsciously ducking your head to see the screen, creating neck stress. When I’m not travelling, I dock my laptop and work with a real monitor raised to eye level. A Goldtouch split keyboard (once I got used to it) and Logitech Marble Mouse were the other keys to eliminating pain for me.
Reply
Jan — January 27th, 2009, 4:57 am

Oh man! Can’t wait to invest in an Aeron! I never realized how important chairs were until I switched from using my childhood desk chair to a more grown up, executive chair but I never thought there were chairs out there that were ergonomically correct. I simply thought they were to just sit on and be somewhat comfy on while doing work. And being able to sit at a desk for more than 2 hours is a HUGE deal to me since I do QA testing where I have to be at the computer constantly during my shifts. Only upside to it is that I work from home!
Reply
Jan — January 27th, 2009, 5:05 am

Do you own any massage chairs? Any recommendations?
Reply
My Name In Arabic — January 27th, 2009, 5:05 am

The Panamanian lady said it really well. We have many pieces of advice like that in the Arabic culture that most people tend to neglect.

How about the perfect sitting position if one can’t afford investing in a super duper chair?
I say sitting -and sometimes sleeping- on the floor is not bad at all. Well, until your, errrr… Until you get flat, that is.
Reply
Jacob Share — January 27th, 2009, 5:09 am

If I had the chance to buy an Aeron for as low as $450, I would run, not walk, to buy it.

My philosophy is to always buy the best quality you can afford at the time. I’m not someone who likes to buy new things just for the sake of change; rather, I prefer to buy something I’ll love and then keep it as long as I can.

Example: I bought a pair of brand-new Oakley Romeo sunglasses on eBay for $150 (think Tom Cruise in Mi:2) in 2000, while they cost $400 in stores. I’m *still* using them and loving them. There are less than 5 scratches on both lenses combined and none of them interfere with my vision (they’re around the edges). Now, who wouldn’t have paid $20 a year to wear these top-notch sunglasses that let me look *at* the sun?
Reply
Dag Inge Ebbesvik — January 27th, 2009, 5:35 am

This is my dreamchair: http://www.varier.dk/default.aspx?menu=686
Lean forward and support your weight on your knees* to work and, the best part, lean back to relax in a near lying position.
Quite pricey though, at about $1200, will not be able to afford that for a while. The chair also requires a bit of extra space behind the workstation to be able to lean back to the lying position.

*Or put your feet on the floor like on a regular chair.
Reply
Ken Okel — January 27th, 2009, 6:10 am

With computers we spend an enormous amount of time sitting and possibly hunched over while looking at a monitor. As Tim suggests, having a good chair is very important to your long term health. It’s also good to take periodic stretch breaks. Roll your shoulders, touch your toes, and walk around a bit. Also scan yourself to see if you’re tensing up and not knowing it.
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Allen — January 27th, 2009, 6:21 am

Another huge improvement in posture can be made by simply buying a monitor to accompany your laptop. Put it on a couple of phone books to elevated it so you’re not looking down all the time. Straitening out the neck will help with upper back/shoulder pain. It also removes the tenancy to hunch forward on the desk negating a lot of benefits of fancy chairs.
Reply
Raf — January 27th, 2009, 6:36 am

hey tim, just curious if you’ve ever taken classes in the Alexander Technique for your back/posture. seems right up your alley so i thought i’d share.

peace

P.S. does anyone ever disagree with your posts? haha
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — January 27th, 2009, 11:44 am
  
  @Raf,
  
  Oh, yes, there is a small army of folks who disagree with pretty much all of my posts on certain topics! Check out anything I write related to weight training or language learning and you’ll see what I mean. LOL…
  
  All the best,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Pizzamancer — January 27th, 2009, 6:40 am

I dumped my cheapo chair 5 years ago and haven’t looked back. My process was not as in depth as yours Tim, but I did try the aeron, and must have had the wrong size, as I didn’t like it.

I might just go have a look again, as it is starting to feel like 5 years is the lifespan of my chair. I get the feeling it might just be on its last legs.
Reply
Evan Levine — January 27th, 2009, 6:50 am

Nice Blog: True Chairs are important – but so are breaks from the Chair. A walk outside every couple hours – also breaks for your eyes! If doing computer work : eyes of the screen for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes! Thanks for the information…
Reply
Chad — January 27th, 2009, 6:52 am

Congrats on the purchase of the Aeron. As a Herman Miller employee, I appreciate the amount of thought and research you put into making your decision. If you find that the lumbar support on your Aeron is not sufficient, you may want to look into the PostureFit add-on kit for the Aeron. I believe it comes as the standard lumbar option on all new Aeron chairs. The lumbar support shown on your chair is the from the first generation Aeron. I work in IT, not sales, so I’m not sure exactly what a PostureFit kit would run, but it’s worth looking into. (Google “Posturefit”, all one word)

The Aeron is truly an enduring design. It’s easy to forget that the chair has been around since 95. It’s still the preferred chair by everyone on my team, and we have access to the entire Herman Miller offering.

Happy sitting.

(Also, mattress recommendations?)
Reply
John — January 27th, 2009, 6:55 am

Tim:

Strongly agree with David T’s comment.

I use something called the Aviator. I got the idea from a business magazine after reading the rave reviews from business travelers. (The device was made with them in mind, but I use it at my work desk at both of my work desks.)

It’s a simple device that can be quickly disassembled and slipped into a laptop back for easy travel. I think paid about 20 bucks for it, and it’s turned to be one the best computer accessories I’ve ever purchased.

A fews years ago, I’d had some mild carpal tunnel symptoms. When I placed my Mac on the Aviator, which tilts the machine up and closer to you (it is designed to fit against the edge of the work surface), my symptoms disappeared and have not returned.

If interested: http://www.keynamics.com

Great post.
Reply
Levi — January 27th, 2009, 7:01 am

The college I attended had an entire lab full of these Aeron chairs. I couldn’t comprehend how a chair could cost so much, but once I used them, I was sold!
Reply
Daniel Richard — January 27th, 2009, 7:03 am

Woah. That’s quite a lot of research done prior to getting the right chair. Haha. But heck, the benefits you’ve mentioned here definitely is worth the value against the old one that caused you years of problems. Thumbs up for the purchase Tim.
Reply
Carlos — January 27th, 2009, 7:05 am

Nice list of chairs. Do you know where to find an actual comparison? Your final decision is fine, but pretty much as helpful as that found in hundreds of sites (great for Hermann Miller no doubt), it would seem you didn’t really evaluate any other than the Aeron and the Swiss-ball chair.

Finally, what about the lady’s advice? what shoes/boots/sandals would you recommend?
Reply
Mohac — January 27th, 2009, 7:11 am

That is a one heck of a chair.

The material selection for the chair is the only downside. If you are sitting on the chair long enough be sure to put an extra cloth on the seat to eliminate the friction between your pants and the chair.

Unless you want some shiny bottom pants. In addition, if you use it enough after getting shiny you might even tear up your pants.

Just from experience of daily use.
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Victor — January 27th, 2009, 7:36 am

Not to rain on your parade, but the foam mattresses are loaded with harmful chemicals that you take in for hours at a time. Go for natural rubber for a good and clean night’s sleep!

More info in this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Bedrooms-Guide-Nights-Sleep/dp/1893910431/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233067070&sr=1-2
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Jason Wisdom — January 27th, 2009, 8:02 am

What about kneeling chairs? I am considering which good-for-the-back chair to get, and I’m surprised you didn’t include something like this in your research:

http://www.healthyback.com/products/jobri/jobri-kneeling-chair-with-tempur-material/153
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Hugh Hancock — January 27th, 2009, 8:15 am

Nicely done! For what it’s worth, I have a Mirra, and I’ve found it well worth the investment (although the lower back curve can be a bit extreme).

Posture-wise, I’d second the recommendations that you get some kind of monitor. You’re still going to be staring pretty steeply down at the screen on your laptop, and that’s not ideal for your posture. Either a laptop stand that raises the height of the screen or a big monitor sounds like the way to go. I take it you’ve seen the studies on monitor size versus productivity? (summary – bigger monitor = 10%+ quicker working)

I’d suggest aquiring a copy of “It’s Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” if you’re interested in improving your posture further. It’s a pretty quick read, it’s written by two experts who have solved their own postural problems, and it’s got lots of useful case studies.
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Lance Calderwood — January 27th, 2009, 8:22 am

Hi Tim,
Great article on the chair! Like most stuff you write about, I had no idea about it until your post, thank you.

Hey – what does the sign say on your desk?
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — January 27th, 2009, 11:41 am
  
  @Lance and all,
  
  Thanks for the fantastic comments! Looks like I might have more goodies to buy, including a lordosis-maintaining foam piece for traveling and a motorized adjustable desk!
  
  The sign on my desk, which is just a quote in a plastic frame, is from chef Bobby Flay:
  
  “Take risks and you’ll get the payoffs. Learn from your mistakes until you succeed. It’s that simple.”
  
  I’ve had this on my desk, wherever I am, since 2001 or 2002.
  
  Pura vida,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Jack — January 27th, 2009, 8:25 am

Tim,
The Mirra is by far the best choice, I just bought a preowned one on officedesignsoutlet.com and its fantastic. I think it was a sample model so it had never been sat in. Ergonomic is the way to go and even though I got a huge deal, it’s totally worth the money.
Reply
Mike Tieden — January 27th, 2009, 8:33 am

I should show this to my mom. She has incredible back pain, some of which is probably contributed by her chair.

Thanks Tim!
Reply
Cordelya — January 27th, 2009, 8:38 am

I found out through experience that Aeron chairs Eat Pants for Breakfast. I sat in those chairs for 4 years and the pants in question were military dress uniform pants. Nearing the end of those 4 years, several pairs of my dress pants had worn through in the seat, rendering them Unwearable. Replacement was Not Cheap.
Reply
Davele1 — January 27th, 2009, 8:54 am

Hi Tim

Fantastic blog. Could you please expand upon the following quote?

“as did shoulder impingement after switching from coil-spring to foam-layered mattresses”

I would love to know about your experiences with foam layered mattresses. Plus since you written about ergonomic chairs, could you also write about ergonomic tables (or table heights) to go with your shiny new chair? Thanks
Reply
Brad Stewart — January 27th, 2009, 8:55 am

Hey Tim,

Nice breakdown on the chairs! How about doing the same thing with beds? I bought a new bed due to back pain, and after 6 months my back was worse and I moved it into my guest room and went back to an old futon I had, which isn’t great, but better than the $2000 bed. Been meaning to find the “right” bed that will do what the chairs are supposed to, but haven’t had time to do so. How about you give it a go…

Thanks,
Brad
Reply
Bman — January 27th, 2009, 9:03 am

What about transitioning to a “standing” desk. At least some of your time. The body was not made to sit for that long and I feel that I think better standing. Although a good chair will really help when you are tired of standing…
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Lukas — January 27th, 2009, 9:14 am

My wife works at an office where they not only have swanky aeron chairs, but also adjustable tables. As she tells it, she spends half her day standing despite the aeron chair. My dream used to be the chair… now it’s the desk.
Reply
Gennaro @ Enduring Wanderlust — January 27th, 2009, 9:14 am

I love the idea of a “fully loaded” chair. The chair you use most of the work day does make quite difference. Comfort equals productivity.
Reply
Jay — January 27th, 2009, 9:23 am

Tim: Add a adjustable desk to this chair and your back will for sure never hurt again. (at least while at your desk)

I have had a manual crank adjustable desk for about 8 years and I swear by it…80% of the time I stand, but when I tired of that, I just crank the desk down and sit.

Once you start using a stand up desk, you will not want anything else. I wish I had got the motorized version though. It’s truly the best of both worlds…why compromise?

There are many manufactures of these type of desks, here’s one I like:

http://www.workriteergo.com/products/workcenters/premium.asp

http://www.workriteergo.com/

Cheers, Jay
Reply
Constantin — January 27th, 2009, 9:26 am

What about the inherent posture issues using laptops?
Reply
Ryan | LifeGawker — January 27th, 2009, 9:30 am

As a person that works on my computer all day sitting on a hard wood chair at the kitchen table, I can appreciate the need for something a bit better. When I first started doing this I had a noticeable tightness in in my neck and shoulders from hunching over the laptop all day. I have focused on improving my posture, which has helped. But, I can certainly see where a good quality chair can offer much more support and posture help.

Thanks Tim, for being OCD and researching all viable options. It really does save me lots of time as I also develop OCD as well when it comes to making a sizeable purchase. I think the research is the thrill of the hunt, prior to the kill, aka purchase.

Ryan
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John — January 27th, 2009, 9:46 am

How do you use the foam roller?
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Mark Kennedy — January 27th, 2009, 10:02 am

Timely post! Today, every employee at my place of employment (we sit at computers for the majority of our day) was just asked a few questions about their workstation and whether or not they had any comments / concerns. Practically everyone stated their chair as being their number one complaint. The seats were too deep; they didn’t provide enough lumbar support; the seats pinched behind the backs of legs…..etc. It seems to me that most workplaces neglect performing adequate ergonomic assessments upon hiring individuals and wait until someone starts to complain and possibly, require time off work! Not very efficient in the long run. I am going to recommend that my employer takes a look at the Aeron.
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Sarah @ White Collar Marketing — January 27th, 2009, 10:17 am

Thanks for doing the research, Tim, and the analysis. I’ll know where to start for trying one out for my husband. Physicians stand all day and then sit for hours dictating charts. A good chair should make this less fatiguing.
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Brian — January 27th, 2009, 10:17 am

Sorry Tim, I normally enjoy your posts, but you got this one wrong. The ergonomic chair industry has somewhat duped people in to what I call “the chair back fallacy.” The standard 90 degree chair simply is not ergonomic, no matter how you build it. Lumbar supports and fancy backs are only cover ups for the fact that a regular 90 degree chair forces your body into an unnatural and uncomfortable “C” shaped position with a flat lower back. Lumbar supports attempt to fix this by putting the curve back in your lower back, but they just force the problem to another area–you get tight hips.

The human body’s natural preferred hip angle is 130 degrees. Interestingly enough this is the position astronauts float into in zero gravity. In this position the spine maintains its natural curves effortlessly. Anyone who’s ever sat in a kneeling chair can tell you that you don’t need a lumbar support to comfortably sit erect with an S curve to your spine all day–in fact with the right chair you really don’t need a chair back at all. The key numero uno factor you should look for in a good chair is one that allows you to open your hip angle as close to the natural 130 degrees as possible, which unfortunately precious few actually do. Varier chairs designed by Peter Opsvik are the best known in this category. HAG, which originally produced Peter Opsvik’s line, also has a fine line of chairs meeting this criteria.

The Aeron chair has gained a wide following and is more comfortable than most, but still largely fails as it participates in the chair back fallacy and does not meet the #1 criteria.

It’s a bit pedantic, but for more detailed info on proper ergonomic chair design check out “The Chair: Rethinking culture, body & design” by Galen Cranz.
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Kathryn — January 27th, 2009, 10:24 am

Freedom chairs are not designed for women – I learned this the hard way. Too deep in the seat.
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- Alex H. — January 11th, 2012, 8:25 pm
  
  I’m not sure they are really meant for anyone. I really liked the look and the *ideal* of being able to use the headrest to look up at the ceiling and think deep thoughts. But I knew as soon as I sat at one that they were meant for someone not like me. (Me being a large–i.e., fat–person with a long torso.) I looked at a similar list to the one above, and ended up with the Aeron.
  
  Now I’ve restructured to a walking desk, and the hardest part of that was parting with the Aeron. It’s definitely the comfiest seat in the house, and not just for “task” sitting. Someday, I want to convince the spouse that we need a “war room” styled dining set, replete with a slate table and Aeron chairs all round.
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Joe — January 27th, 2009, 10:34 am

http://www.thehumansolution.com/swopper.html

here is the adjustable, non- testicular crushing, office version of the swiss ball chair. Plenty of spring and micro-muscle movement all day long.

Resting backwards in a chair causes a fair amount of degeneration of the lumbar region. The lumbar is supported in most chairs, but the fact that the legs aren’t engaged relaxes the hip flexors which are the vital counter to lumbar, you end up in a cycle of weakness.

The “crushing” effect of the swiss ball has more to do with the small radius of the curve on the fitball and the rubber’s ability to stretch itself up between your legs, a rubber ball can distend way beyond conventional upholstery. I wish you could have demo’d the Swopper.

I design ergonomic office chairs for a living,( I didn’t design the chair I linked to), and if you want the budget hack for good ergonomic computer work- it’s work at different heights (including standing) and change distances. A phonebook under your monitor will reset your neck and shoulders just bit, adjust your chair, you get the idea. Unfortunately it’s hard in a conventional cubicle but every little bit helps.

The Aeron is a fine chair, but the chair is not the cure for 8 hours of sitting.

Consistency of environment and extreme habituation is something bodies (and minds) just aren’t designed for. Wait, didn’t Tim write a book about that?
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- maruti — March 16th, 2012, 11:42 pm
  
  cannot disagree with your thoughts. I have tried aeron and it is not the 8hr chair, there are better ones out there from germany…Klober, Hag etc….Aeron has become a fad with IT folks….and the Germans are too geeky to reach out to US and ROA….
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kit — January 27th, 2009, 10:39 am

It’s important to maintain lordosis – the curve at the bottom of your spine. Do that and you won’t suffer postural back problems. You can achieve this by strapping a lumbar roll to your chair, any chair. It increases the curve of your spine, something that 90% of office chairs fail to do. It also saves you buying ugly Aaron chairs. You should put one in your car as well. It is extraordinary that office chair companies make such bad products.
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Wendy — January 27th, 2009, 10:44 am

Tim,

Looking forward to your Shoe Buying Tips next~~seriously!

Thanks for rockin’ our worlds once again with your insights and research.
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Darin Steen — January 27th, 2009, 10:51 am

Hey Tim;

thanks for the great info; as I am now putting together my home office as we speak; What a great feeling it is to be your own boss; to call the shots.

Especially for me after being a blue collar (mentallity) truck driver for 18 years. Not blowing smoke at you; your info put me over the edge. I was close to falling back to the old mindest; and your info saved my business, and my career.

Now this year I am going to increase my income 1000% working from home;
thanks so much.

As far as my present office in my “fitness labratory” I do not use a chair at all;

I have about 5 positions that I stand / squat / kneel, etc

It is great cause I can stretch certain ligamints and joints while I put tension on certain muscle groups like my glutes, hams, quads, and core.

Keep rocking Tim!

darin steen (aka The Chicago Kid”
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James — January 27th, 2009, 10:58 am

Great chair, now on to the ultimate solution: stand up or adjustable desk. I stand 80% of the time when I work, then just crank the desk down when my feet/legs get tired. I’ve had this solution for 8 years and this has eliminated 90% of my back pain. It’s the best of both worlds.

When I travel, I put my suitcase on the hotel desk and use it as my makeshift stand up desk…wow, really keeps the back out of pain.

My favorite desks are at Workrite Ergonomics, they seem to be the best solution at a fair price, but I actually have a desk I created myself with a
SIS base, then added a generic desktop at the office furniture store. There are many companies offering stand up desk solutions at different prices, so check around….
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Dan — January 27th, 2009, 11:08 am

Ok, I agree with Brian.
The aeron might be good for your lower back but it’s awful for circulation, hips, nerve issues and a host of other things. Aside from the Herman Miller hype, that chair has never been ‘ergonomic’ as that term has to take into account the whole body, not just a portion. If it works for your lower back, great, but it’s certainly not an ergonomic chair!

Of course, just about ANYTHING would be more ergonomic than what you were sitting in!

Long-term, get your workstation set up properly. A laptop on top of a table is awful, both for the eyes, wrists, shoulders and upperback. keyboard tray with a keyboard, monitor with a monitor arm, a footrest does wonders for the lower back, etc etc.

Don’t trade off one issue (the lower back) for a number of other issues.
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Terra Andersen — January 27th, 2009, 11:20 am

I’ve been “testing” chairs since I started working primarily online (about 12 years ago). I must say that I still have yet to find one that’s “perfect”. I find that most are just “okay” or tolerable. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a Mirra, perhaps now I’ll find more people who have tried it as well.

Thanks for the chair rundown!
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DanSweeney — January 27th, 2009, 11:31 am

Loving the posts.. I definitely plan to pick up a nicer chair.. I just recently got a second monitor after your post.

As you can imagine.. I’m very excited to set it up.

P.S. I thought it was funny you mention a foam roller.. I sent you a twitter about that when you were asking about stretching for athletes.. which you have to let us know the results of. (I’m using your new Russian workout)

Loyal Fan,
Dan Sweeney
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ergest — January 27th, 2009, 11:34 am

I have the Aeron chair at work and it is by far the most comfortable chair I have every tried. Here’s why:

1. I can sit on it for hours on end and not feel tired
2. On a hot summer day there’s plenty of breathing so no sweat covered underside

I love that chair!!
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Brian Walker — January 27th, 2009, 11:36 am

Hi Tim,

I seem to remember a post you made some time ago mentioning an Aeron Chair with a link to website that sells them…so I am surprised to see you having this revelation only recently…anyway thanks for this post. I have been struggling with the same problem for some time and I am now inspired to resolve it.

I am curious what your view is on using Nootropics??? I know Brain Quicken is full of them…but was wondering if you actually use any Nootropic substances yourself and if so which ones???

Also what type of Core Conditioning do you do?

Ciao,

Brian
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Jeff Kraase — January 27th, 2009, 12:16 pm

Tim,

I switched over to the Aeron a couple of years ago as a bonus for achieving a goal and I have not regretted it. I agree with your assessment at I’ve also locked the back of my chair so I do not rock back when working.

Anyway, you mentioned Plantar Fasciitis, and it been a real problem for me over the last couple of years. Can you share your research on it and what shoes you’ve selected to help minimize it? I’ve used Barefoot Science products with some success.

Thanks,
Jeff
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William — January 27th, 2009, 12:18 pm

I’ve tried a variety of office chairs, including an Aeron. After taking some Alexander Technique lessons and learning to sit balanced on my sit bones, I happily use an ikea Stefan.
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Brian — January 27th, 2009, 12:26 pm

Shoes!

Some people asked about shoes. Long story short is that barefoot is ideal. Despite what the shoe industry will tell you, your feet were in fact made for walking and running–go figure. However, no one likes scrapes and scratches and dirty feet from walking around all day, so the most body correct solution is generally what puts the least material between your foot and the ground while still protecting it.

Fancy cushioning makes for great marketing, but is often the cause of injuries rather than the solution to them. Cushioning masks the pain of poor habits such as heel striking that damage your joints over time. Once again.. unfortunately very few manufacturers actually build their shoes around this concept. Fancy cushioning sells better and for higher prices. Puma makes a few pretty good shoes though. For purists who want as close to the all natural experience as possible, there is always the Vibram Five Fingers.
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Brandon — January 27th, 2009, 12:33 pm

Forget expensive chairs – you can have terrible posture in any chair, so why waste the money?

You said you liked the Isokinetics Balance Ball Chair – but that is a total ripoff. Do some research – the base that keeps the ball still completely defeats the purpose of the ball, which is that it lets you “actively” sit, forcing your back to make minor adjustments to keep balance, so you are not sitting still for too long. Plus you have more freedom of movement without the silly base.

After about two weeks of acclimation, I’m quite happy with a $20 TKO 75cm fitness ball. I also have improved lower back strength and balance. Ditch the chair and try just the ball – I’d look forward to a follow-up post after doing that.
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Clay Nichols — January 27th, 2009, 12:40 pm

Tim,

Have you had a consultation from a good Physical Therapist (or similar professional)?

It would be interesting to see what they had to say.

+1 for good shoes. My feet were pronated after 10 years f working barefooted at home. Someone suggested the right shoes with good support and the problem went away in 2 months.

+1 for using a trackball instead of a touchpad or mouse. Easier to use than a touchpad and less shoulder/arm pain than a mouse because you’re not tempted to use your *arm* or hand. A trackball forces you to use only your *fingers*.

My latest problem is pain in my arm from using the mouse. Then I switched to a trackball. Then I switched to my left arm. I’m planning to consult PT to look for body mechanics suggestions. (I’m guessing I need to have the trackball lower)
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Josh Whitford — January 27th, 2009, 12:42 pm

I have two identical Mirra chairs one for the office (came with the position and one for the home office. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. You’d have to pry them out of my hands before I would give them up. I have noticed a huge burst of productivity not bogged down by lower back pain or discomfort. Nice post.
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Jason DeFillippo — January 27th, 2009, 1:08 pm

The biggest problem with the Aerons is the mesh seat and how little fart filtering it provides. When you cut the cheese as you are invariably to do there’s no cushion to absorb it and gradually filter it back into the air. The effect is like dutch ovening yourself every time you pass the gas. I call that a major design flaw. Especially if you had Mexican for lunch
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Jerome Paradis — January 27th, 2009, 1:26 pm

I’ve had a fully loaded Aeron for more than 10 years. It’s still in perfect shape and I really miss it when not working at the office.
A great investment!
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Michael — January 27th, 2009, 1:28 pm

Oh, that’s great to find feaks like me !

When i talk about desk optimisation, people always look at me like “it’s just a desk”.

I’m adding this chair on my wish list right now.

My last improvments where focused on keyboard (natural keyboard 4000 ) and mouse (mx518) which are important : you use it all day long !
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Robert Edwards — January 27th, 2009, 1:43 pm

Im college my chair was two stacked milkcrates and a folded towel on top.
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Bill — January 27th, 2009, 1:45 pm

giving Consumer Reports a run for their money?
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andree — January 27th, 2009, 1:48 pm

tim, the crucial thing is: no one except you does have your body. hence everyone has test whether a chair is worth to buy.
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Esoos Bobnar — January 27th, 2009, 2:18 pm

Steelcase Leap has been good to my butt for about two years now. I recommend it
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Murph — January 27th, 2009, 2:24 pm

I like the idea of ditching the chair all together and found some interesting information concerning the harm we inflict upon ourselves by sitting too much at http://www.trekdesk.com. They make a work station that attaches to existing treadmills and encourage constant movement throughout the day. Just my two cents but I like that idea more than balancing on a ball, turns out they offer that too!
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Sarah Cleveland — January 27th, 2009, 2:44 pm

You have done the research on the chair, can you do the bed as well to eliminate more back problems for all your readers? You could even throw in pillows as well…
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Geoff — January 27th, 2009, 2:55 pm

Regardless of what size Aeron chair you choose, and often it’s too large, it’s terribly fiddly and frankly overrated. Its never worked for me. Consider also Steelcase and Haworth.
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Finding the Perfect Office Chair « Peter Parkes — January 27th, 2009, 4:03 pm

[...] Finding the Perfect Office Chair · I should buy a better chair, really. [...]
Charles — January 27th, 2009, 4:35 pm

I’ve been using one of these for years, and it makes the chair pretty much irrelevant:

http://www.nadachair.com/

$70, and I found it to be better than any of the fancy office chairs I’ve sat in over the years. I just find one with the correct height, and don’t worry about the back at all (either the back of the chair or my back!) And I’m 6-3, 200 lbs., and have had back issues in the past. No more…
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Dan Morelle — January 27th, 2009, 4:36 pm

Bed, chair, shoes – these things deserve attention and research like this, comfort beats style. I sit in an IKEA POÄNG arm chair and foot rest, practising the way of no-desk. Space gets filled – Parkinson’s Law – so I just do away with the space, either that or exercise discipline for minimalist use spaces. I can use the dining table if I need a large expanse to have a look at or paint the bigger picture.

btw the blog loads so much faster in the UK since you switched hosts, thanks.
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Roland Clark — January 27th, 2009, 5:04 pm

As I read your article I realized I’m sitting on a Herman Miller knock-off, the Teknion Contessa. Which I’ve never really liked but adjusting the seating to your suggestions made a world of difference! Great work on the history channel show by the way. Cheers from Guam, where America’s day begins…!
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Kate Martin — January 27th, 2009, 5:56 pm

Thanks for some great research Tim!
I noticed in your final desk set up that you are using a laptop.. have you also tried raising the laptop (eg using books to get it to eye level) and typing on a detachable keyboard..?
Thus allowing your eyes to be at screen height and getting rid of the need for you to be looking down and droping your head forward – which ends up giving you head forward posture, contributing to thoracic and neck pain and decreasing the lumbar curvature..

Not to mention you know its terrible for your back to be sitting anyway (causing large amounts of compression in the lower spine)?

Have you tried kneeling?
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Kate Martin — January 27th, 2009, 6:00 pm

I forgot to mention to take regular breaks! even if you stay in the chair. Pain can be caused by not moving enough!
eg. pretend to perfrom a few strokes of backstroke every 10 minutes. – set an alarm on the computer to remind you…
sorry don’t get me started..
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Joseph — January 27th, 2009, 8:37 pm

Hey there Tim,

In reading this post, I realized that my shoulder impingement could be related to my boxspring mattress (which hadn’t occured to me before). What type of foam mattress do you use? Is it that ‘swedish memory foam’ thing?
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Sheila Lina — January 27th, 2009, 9:50 pm

Hi Tim,

One thing to watch out for with the Aeron chair is that eventually, the mesh fabric will wear out and show signs of scuffiness. I had to call to have both the seat and the back pieces replaced. The brilliant thing is that the Aeron has a 12 year warranty, so you’re covered for that long.

With regards to comfortable shoes, try swedish clogs! http://www.clogmaster.com. Chefs and nurses swear by them. I’ve been wearing them and they feel fantastic. In comparison, all my other shoes-sneakers and flipflops-make my feet hurt after such a short time.
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Matt — January 27th, 2009, 11:50 pm

I used to have upper back pain from computer and electronics work. The solution for me was Pilates 2-3 times a week. I find the more rigorous “classical” approach to be the most beneficial. Joseph Pilates is your type of guy: he developed an exercise program that would provide maximum benefit in the minimum time by rethinking what you really need from exercise for your daily life and then just focusing on that.

I am really surprised that you didn’t decide to get a fancy standing desk after trying it for two days. I just recently switched to a standing desk for my computer work, and it does seem to help me stay more engaged and effective in my work. I also have an Aeron for times when I need to do something sitting down.
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Tim — January 28th, 2009, 12:46 am

Tim,
I will be direct because I am very experienced in the Bed, Shoes, and Ergonomic Chairs that people have had great success with. (I’ve sold and used everything I will speak about except the Dux) I will start with the Chair. I used to sell the Aeron chair and many of the best chairs this world has to offer. Although you selected some good chairs, unfortunately you missed the best one on the market. For a functional “task” chair (no headrest needed unless you are planning on sleeping in it) is the J757 Ergogenisis formally known as Bodybilt. I would put the well padded Doctor swivel arms on it. The support, comfort , and ergonomics surpasses the Aeron chair by leaps and bounds. (also better for durability, beware of the HM aeron locking mech. breaking). The HM’s brick lumbar support will be nagging you pretty soon (flip it over if it is too much for your back, one side is flatter). This Herman Miller that everone raves about is over promoted due to its great marketing, If great marketing solved problems, then McDonalds would be considered health food. I have used many of the chairs you blog about for extended lengths of time. I am 5’9 165 Lbs. close to your size. I have been a professional athlete and a Safety and Ergonomic trainer for a few years. My body is my temple I keep healthy, wealthy, and wise. As for beds, you should look at Tempur-pedic or if you want to go off the “deep end” then buy a Duxiana. For Mens dress shoes, “Allen Edmonds”, made in the USA, are the most comfortable and durable bar none. Right out of the box you will feel their comfort. Nordstrom Rack or Ebay will get you the $300 shoes for a great price (if you know your size, their “last” for each pair is very consistant) I have worn them for 8 to 11 hours a day and have had to stand constantly in a retail shop for that long. I am of the same philosophy that you are. Shoes, Bed and Chair…get the best. Oh, and remember to exercise and eat green veggys. My name is also Tim, so you got that going for ya. Later
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J.D. Meier — January 28th, 2009, 1:06 am

Shoes, bed, and chair, sweet.

If you spend a bunch of time driving, adjust your mirrors while sitting upright with your stomach pulled in tight … it saves your back in the long run.
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Christophe Keller — January 28th, 2009, 1:08 am

Hi Tim,

Did you consult a physiotherapist? Working as a computer programmer, I had chronical lower back pain about 15 years ago. I consulted a physiotherapist, and she showed me abdominal and lower back exercises and proper form for them that I do nearly every morning (crunch, reverse crunch, bicycle crunch, sitting on the floor legs extended and touching toes to stretch the lower back, plus some other streches). 1 Set of 30 reps for each exercise and 30 seconds for each stretches, takes me 5 minutes in the morning.

I found out that when I do these exercises daily my back stays mostly pain-free, and that they are more effective than an expensive ergonomic chair, given that one’s workplace is set up with a minimum of ergonomics in mind.

Good luck
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David — January 28th, 2009, 2:16 am

Tried sunbathing?

“Vitamin D A Surprising Champion Of Back Pain Relief, Report Says”

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112633.php
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Jeffrey — January 28th, 2009, 3:19 am

Hi Tim!
Awesome post, perfect for my Workshop, I hope you don’t mind me taking snips! I can send you the powerpoint if you’d like.
On another note… You’ve talked about how to optimize life, and you showed how to ‘hack’ learning languages. I’d be interested to see you deconstruct self-hypnotism. I have a feeling you do meditation or prayer of some sort, and I wanted to get your opinion on improving one’s mental health.
Happy Chinese New Year Tim!
Dr J
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Yavor Marichkov — January 28th, 2009, 5:13 am

I have had lower back/leg problems from the wrong chair. Watch your posture folks, it’s better not to break it than to try and fix it later.
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Andrew Barbour — January 28th, 2009, 5:19 am

With all this talk about chairs– Herman Miller ones, at that– I’m surprised no one has brought up the topic of lounge chairs, especially the greatest piece of furniture design ever, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller.

Even if you don’t recognize it by name, you’ll probably recognize it when you see it:

http://www.amazon.com/Eames-Lounge-Chair-Ottoman-Leather/dp/B000NTDQOU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1233145014&sr=8-3

THAT is indeed number one on my material wants.

Tim, I can’t help but think your stamp of approval on particular products is approaching the power of Oprah’s Favorite Things (or whatever she calls them), if for a different audience. You’ve listed a few products that you’ve found to be worth recommending…I think your readers would be interested to hear what remains on your wish list.
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Jeff — January 28th, 2009, 6:42 am

An Aeron chair is a good choice. They are a very comfortable chair and I doubt you will be unhappy with it for several years. Just make sure you have it adjusted correctly!

I highly recommend using an external monitor with a keyboard and mouse for your laptop at your main office, but if not a sloped stand will help a lot, and keep you from slumping your shoulders, or feeling uncomfortable sitting straight but looking down at your monitor. Viewing at eye level is key for comfortable computing!
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Talia — January 28th, 2009, 7:01 am

There are a lot of Aeron chairs on ebay right now. Was it maybe the standard chair at Lehman Brothers? Check it out.

Unfortunately, European banks have been rescued by their governments…
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Scott — January 28th, 2009, 7:49 am

First six months at a job in a bad chair and lots of stress had me literally on my office floor one day with back spasms. The workmate next to me, who hobbled with a cane from Lupus asked, “can I get you some help?” I was 36 at the time. I said, “no, I’ll go to the chiropractor.” Another workmate, a husband and father of doctors, gave me a book on back pain and said, “You will probably need back surgery.” I said I was going to the chiropractor. I ordered the Aeron Chair that night, went 10 times to a chiro over 3 months, no surgery, no exercise, pilates, karate or nothing- no exercise since; just sitting in the chair every day for 8-12 hours. Feel great. Have not had back pain since. No change in the mattress either. It’s a great chair. Cannot sit in anything else. Don’t yell at me about no exercise either- I know it’s bad.
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Duane — January 28th, 2009, 9:19 am

Kudos to Tim for NOT flying first class. Good topic for us work-at-home types.
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David — January 28th, 2009, 10:11 am

flexible chairs , increases my work timings, as well as rough chairs make me bore , so whats to choose ,just sit on and feel that if you are comfortable
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ExplodingRotatorCuff — January 28th, 2009, 11:16 am

Reducing shoulder impingement. As my post name may imply, I’d love to know more. Any links to more on that?
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cris — January 28th, 2009, 11:41 am

I use Bodybilts. They are more expensive, but again, very comfortable for a long haul. It’s the NASA thing — the angle of how a person curls up in zero-g. As you get more experienced, it’s a semi-reclined, but then pushed up so you’re semi-standing.

But you’d probably need a full ergonomic workstation to take advantage of that, fully adjustable keyboard tray, trackball, nice keyboard (check out Maltrons) and so on. It’s expensive, but it works out to pennies a day over time. I suppose if you’re only at it 4 hours a week, though, it doesn’t really matter a whole lot.
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Matt — January 28th, 2009, 12:17 pm

Hi ExplodingRotatorCuff, here are exercises some of which are listed for rotator cuff. I have done some of those exercises myself, but I don’t have rotator cuff issues. http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/h_Free_Pilates_Exercises.htm
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Stephen — January 28th, 2009, 2:00 pm

Tim,

Thanks for your research on the chair. I recently hurt my back and have been considering what to do at the office since I am at a desk and at work for more than 4 hours per week.

I’m leaving for an event called Toughguy http://www.toughguy.co.uk/ and remembered a tweet you left on Shoreditch House a while back. Do you need to know a hedge fund manager to get in? Do you have any other London hacks that you can recommend?

Thanks,
Stephen
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Richard Brian Penn — January 28th, 2009, 2:03 pm

Tim:

I really enjoyed the article and it will be helpful in finding the perfect chair for my office. I noticed that you have a greenhouse next to your office. I’d be super interested in hearing about the benefits of this in your life, productivity, recreationally, etc.

Thanks,

Rich
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ExplodingRotatorCuff — January 28th, 2009, 2:44 pm

I notice you still use an unaided laptop. You might be more comfortable connecting your laptop to a large monitor on a high stand. It can be done cleanly: see my website, I’m not selling anything.
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Ken Silver — January 28th, 2009, 5:22 pm

Tim, I’ve had the Aeron for several years now and I know you’ll enjoy it long term too.

But looking at your new setup I can tell you are going to have more issues. Your laptop is too low. Your head will be bowed down to view the screen and it will be impossible to avoid a crouching dog position – no matter how good your chair is.

There are stands available that raise the laptop screen, but I wouldn’t use them. Get a docking station and use a large desktop screen. Position it so that your eyes are looking at the middle of the screen. That way you’ll spend hours in blissful comfort.

There’s some alternate thought that a comfortable chair is not as useful as we think. A British research team discovered that a change of position every few minutes is best for optimum posture, and a chair that causes you to slouch is even better. I agree. I spend a lot of time in different positions on the Aeron, from slump to upright, and always exit for a walk every half hour. Variety of posture seems to work best.

And if you upgrade to multiple screens, then make sure the majority of your work is done on the center one. I have a 5-screen setup, and learnt the lesson the hard way when my neck ached from working on the side screens for even a few minutes.
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Brent — January 28th, 2009, 5:35 pm

So we have the chair, have the bed, what shoes did you choose to change your life?
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Misha — January 28th, 2009, 5:47 pm

Tim,

To the left of your MacBook, what does the quote say?

Thanks!
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Denise — January 29th, 2009, 1:19 am

If we don’t have our health what can we do? Hardly anything (efficiently anyway). It’s not OCD to find the best deal and the best fit in order to be pain free and take care of yourself in the long run. It’s absolutely necessary and smart. I was rear-ended at 17 and am so glad that I learned that lesson early on.

Having narrow feet and high arches means I have an absolute disdain for buying shoes (the clogs mentioned earlier wouldn’t stay on if I tried). I rarely wear high heels (aww damn, I know they’re sexy!) but it also means avoiding nerve, tendon and joint damage in the long run.

If you do a write up on mattresses, you should also include sleeping positions and pillows! That would be a long article, given your attention to detail! Let’s face it, injuries are caused by simple mistakes: sitting incorrectly, sleeping incorrectly, lifting incorrectly, standing incorrectly (shoes) etc. and they are especially aggravated when we are out of shape.
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David J. Andrews — January 29th, 2009, 5:13 am

Hi, Tim…

I’ve been using the Herman Miller Eames desk chair for over 30 years. It’s a classic design…very comfortable and it completely eliminated my back pain. Expensive but worth it.
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Justin — January 29th, 2009, 8:57 am

The Alexander Technique came to mind when I read this article. The whole idea behind it is that correct posture allows the bone structure to properly support itself. If the posture is not correct, the muscles must perform extra work which causes much discomfort.
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Penny — January 29th, 2009, 2:09 pm

Some real head turning designs there!
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John Murch — January 29th, 2009, 2:43 pm

Tim,

When I took my mini retirement in Arizona, I purchased an Aeron and I absolutely love it. It’s the best work chair I have ever sat in. Well worth the $950 I spent on the upgraded model.

I really believe that you need to have the right tools to get the job done. You can save so much time and pain just by focusing on the right tool for the job. For me, buying a chair that costs almost the same amount as my laptop was a simple decision, I sit in it everyday! If you are a person still working on a folding chair or something less, spend the money, just think if you can be 5 minutes more productive a day that’s over 30 hours a year (you just added a day worth of productivity!) and remember its a 12-Year Warranty!
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Evan — January 29th, 2009, 6:57 pm

Tim, Congrats on the chair purchase. Sort of a modern day coming of age when you can afford an $500 office chair. I’ve used one for over a year and have to say I was disappointed. I didn’t feel like the actual cushioning on the butt was very good, in fact mildly uncomfortable. I ended up buying a gel butt cushion (I fly with an inflatable butt cushion from REI that does wonders). The set up seems ridiculous and I get ridiculed by friends for it, especially when I pack one to fly. But it really makes a difference.

Anyway, I’ve never tried one, but the Freedom task chair looks like it improves some the butt ergonomics. Hope that wasn’t TMI, I’m just trying to recruit travelers to fly with a butt cushion so I’m not that only one looking ridiculous. Cheers.
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Anne — January 29th, 2009, 9:35 pm

I couldn’t fit this on twitter. I can’t believe I didn’t hear about this first from Tim Ferris – it’s crazy Norwegians flying through the air in batsuits, after jumping off cliffs over fjords (skis in the wintertime). I’m sure Tim will be in Norway in NO TIME! Check this OUT! This is what I do when I’m dreaming…

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
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Dynasty — January 30th, 2009, 1:11 am

Hi Tim,

I had an unbelievable afternoon at The Getty Villa (Pacific Palisades). I marveled at the scenery and enjoyed my tour of Roman inspired architecture and arts pieces of ancient Greece. My tour guide was especially fanatical about her facts and storytelling. I heard Robert Graves is an awesome writer of Greek myths. I hope you get a chance to visit the Getty Villa.

http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/art.html
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Tomek — January 30th, 2009, 5:48 am

I ahd lower back problems for a long time. Now I am using kneeling IKEA device. After getting my shins used to it, it’s great! I can seat for hours with a good posture and no pain.
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Josh — January 30th, 2009, 10:40 am

Tim, time to get a 22″ monitor! I traveled to Shanghai without my monitors. Once I was there, I realized how much better working on the 22″ is for productivity and for my eyes. So I bought one while i was there.

Now when I travel, I bring my laptop and 22″, which happens to fit nicely in my suitcase.
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Carl — January 30th, 2009, 11:21 am

Want to be comfortable for hours at a time at a computer? Break the rules!

1. Get an executive style chair which can support the head when you lean back. I got a Sampsonite leather chair at Office Depot for around $250 some years back.

2. The chair must have comfortable elbow rests.

3. Put your computer on a HIGHER than normal desk. Throw away any stupid “ergonomic” work stations with low keyboard rests. They are a prescription for carpal tunnel.

4. Rest elbows on elbow rests and have forearms approximately 30 degrees above horizontal. By having the forearms above horizontal, the wrists don’t get bent backwards causing strain.

5. Lean back and type away. (This works better for desktops than laptops. If I used a laptop, I’d plug in a detachable keyboard and put the laptop up on top of a platform back from the keyboard.)
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Linda Grace — January 30th, 2009, 12:46 pm

Hi! Totally off-topic. You claimed in “How to Feel Like the Incredible Hulk” presentation that you would “love” to talk to innovative educators. I am an innovative educator, and I would love to talk to YOU. Please let me know how to contact you directly.
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Justin Wright — January 30th, 2009, 12:58 pm

That swiss ball chair looks amazing. I would have pictured that as being an office chair but it probably beats a regular leather computer chair. And I agree with Josh, bigger monitors not only make my eyes hurt less but they make it so much easier to be productive. Especially when you have 13 laptop.
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Adrian Scott — January 30th, 2009, 3:42 pm

It’s often a good idea to take the arms off of the chairs, that can help posture and prevent injury…. (ref various rsi books)
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papasi — January 30th, 2009, 8:02 pm

your blog has ridiculous amount of comments.

you should contact your VA over India to upgrade your blog to let viewer vote the comments like digg

there are many gems but I think most people don’t have time to go through hundreds of comments.
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Gary — January 30th, 2009, 9:05 pm

I have recently created the ultimate office chair/hospital bed/gurney/lazy boy. It consists of 2 outdoor foldable travel chairs that are face to face. Once you have that set up you place a Yogi Poof in the middle of both chairs. A Yogi Poof is a tube like bean bag chair. In order to get in this contraption you place a step stool to the side and place one foot at a time at the bottom of the Yogi Poof and then grab your Walmart TV tray with your keyboard on it and just fall back into it. I guarantee you it is the most comfortable chair you have will ever sit in and that includes all the ones that have been shown here. I’ve worked, napped, ate, watched tv and if I add wheels I can be wheeled to an ambulance in it and if the legs folded up it could be used as a stretcher. If you want to see a pic of it you can email me at mangoseasoning@gmail.com and if you are ever in Chico California you can stop by and try it out for yourself. It has been difficult to get in lately because my cats have taken it over and they not only are in it when I’m not in it but they take it over when I am in it. A heating pad is optional along with one of those massage mats that can lay on top of the yogi poof.
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Coach Kip — January 31st, 2009, 4:18 am

I had Plantar Fasciitis also and it is not fun. I found that drinking lots of water and Kung-Fu helped me clear that up.

I have not had back problems in particular but I do get stiff and sore sitting at my computer for long periods of time. Now that I have reduced my workspace to a small laptop for portability I was wondering of you have any recommendations on what to do for your back while traveling. It seems that I am either stuck with a wooden chair, or a terrible plastic chair at most places that I work now (coffee shops, temporary studio apartments, hostels, parks, etc.) Is there a good blowup lumbar support, or just a seat cushion that will align your back the proper way?

Thanks for the help
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chris — January 31st, 2009, 4:26 am

TIM, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS

You still need an office chair?? You are working toooo much.

(enjoyed your book in the christmas holidays in thailand…..)

keep on the good work, but with this post you disappointed me
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kathy — January 31st, 2009, 7:57 am

Like Ross who commented earlier, I ditched the chair altogether years ago and work standing up.
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Lawson Plummer — January 31st, 2009, 9:33 am

I have been using the HAG Capisco chair for several years now and would never use anything else. It’s kind of like the Swiss Ball chair, but much more “guy friendly”. It has a saddle design so your knees can be below your hips which is crucial for long term comfort and a healthy back.

You can get them for around $ 329 US over at CSNChiairs.com and other places.

Keep up the great “work”!!!
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bocalogic — January 31st, 2009, 12:53 pm

Tim,

I am actually surprised by your delayed revelation on the importance of proper ergonomics. The chair is critical, then the desk followed by proper monitor, keyboard and mouse placement.

Everyone should take note on how they lean and position themselves. I switch mice regularly. I go from a trackball to a regular mouse and that has removed a lot of overuse injuries. I also stopped using a laptop in bed or on the couch. I found when I “laptop’d” I would be in a funny position for long periods of time. Now I just laptop on a desk and chair only.

Its also really important to get outside and do cardio. We are all spending way too much time behind keyboards and flat panels for work or play. Nothing like a good bike ride or run to snap you back in the healthy groove.
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Connie — January 31st, 2009, 5:33 pm

Tim Ferris!
I’ve tried the ball balance chair and it’s actually more comfortable (i’m a girl) than it looks. Don’t know how long I can sit on it, but it’s just a fun chair! I need to get the right chair though for my annoying back..

Anyway, your blog is always fun and interesting to read.
You’re pretty talented and I believe you’re close to being a genius. I’m jealous of how you accomplish much in little time and it seems like you’re always on an adventure! Keep it up!!

???? ??? ??? ? ???..?! hmm.
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Doc M. — February 1st, 2009, 9:13 am

Dear Tim, back on topic with a great affordable chair. Designed by Henrik Preutz, the MARKUS chair is available at Ikea for ~$200. Fully adjustable base, great lumbar support, high back that you can lean your head against. It may challenge your leading choices successfully, and is much more broadly available / affordable (though I agree that an incremental $700 is worthwhile if amortized over many years). The website link above should take you directly to the chair.

Off topic, I agree with other commenters that you could consider elevating your laptop and using a wired mac keyboard/mouse, or getting a larger display and connecting your keyboard/mouse to that. Much better to have the display at / above eye level.

Doc M.
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Alessandro — February 1st, 2009, 10:21 am

Hi Tim,

I know you are really busy, but this is about my personal challange (just like the one you give to your students).

I met this guy, his name is Timothy Seitz. He will give me a job if I convince you either to post on your blog or to mail him a message about his personal response to the “What do you do question” (He said you are gonna like it).

WDYD (What Do You Do) Answer from Tim Seitz is:

When I’m having fun, relaxing, don’t feel like talking about “work”
Tim: Hi, I’m Tim
Person: Hi, Tim, What do you do?
Tim: As little as I have to and as much as I want to (usually gets a laugh and I can change the conversation)

(when I’m looking for new clients)
Person: What do you do?
Tim: I get paid to mind other people’s business
Person: ??? (they always want to know more)

Please just post it in your blog!
Or email to timothyjseitz@aol.com

I hope you make me win my challange, so I will get the job! Thanks!

PS. Fammi sapere quando vieni in Italia
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — February 1st, 2009, 10:08 pm
  
  @Alessandro,
  
  My answer to “what do you do?” is simple these days: I’m a writer. If I’m feeling the urge to be vague, “I’m an entrepreneur” also works well.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Tim
  Reply
Brad — February 1st, 2009, 10:21 am

Tim,

Quick question, at the beginning of this post you mention “the best shoes and mattress you can afford”. Just curious, what shoes did you go with?

Thanks,
Brad
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jeff covey — February 1st, 2009, 11:49 am

from my perspective, i’m afraid you’re looking for an answer to the wrong question, tim. i had back trouble many years ago, and the solution for me was to stop sitting in a chair. if you work in an office, you may not be able to help it, but if you work at home, there’s no reason to do that.

i use a laptop (or work on paper) and alternate between two positions: sitting on the floor on a meditation cushion (about $40) in full or half lotus with the work on a coffee table (which i already had, or $20 on craigslist) and standing in front of a dresser (or an elevated table, if you need a lot of space) with the work on top. in both positions, the back works naturally to support itself, and doesn’t grow weak and sore from artificial support. after making this change and getting more exercise, i never had pain again.

thanks as always for all your work!

sincerely,
jeff
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Andrew Ford — February 1st, 2009, 5:21 pm

I would kill to be in the financial situation to get a $1,000 chair. In the meantime I will hunch a bunch.
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Claudia — February 2nd, 2009, 6:17 am

How very, very apt and timely! I have been arching my back for hours now to alleviate the pain in my lower back. I want a chair that feels like heaven but is fiery red! Same goes for my shoes. haha.

Tim, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us.

Claudia
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FreddyG — February 2nd, 2009, 9:39 am

Aeron = ventilated SEAT = cool (and nearly unique).

Tim, next is a keyboard. This site lists a bunch.

http://rsitreatment.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/a-comprehensive-list-of-alternative-ergonomic-keyboards/

But I think I will buy this one:
Freestyle — splits, splays, tilts, awesome.

from http://kinesis-ergo.com/
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Ryan — February 3rd, 2009, 9:13 am

Tim, I totally agree with the value of having high quality shoes, bed and yes an office chair. I didn’t quite have the budget to buy any of the expensive ergonomic chairs you listed (with the exception of the isokinetics chair), but I conducted an experiment of my own. It basically involved sitting in every office chair in all my local stores. What did I end up with? A $100 task chair from OfficeMax. It’s the most comfortable chair I’ve ever had (although I’ve yet to have a sit in those expensive chairs). Price to comfort ratio, this chair has it! And I’m a computer guy, so I’m in front of a computer for 40+ hours a week. So here it is:
http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuId=21491315&category_Id=31

A good hold over until I can afford something a bit nicer! Not to mention a great alternative to anyone looking for a good chair for $100.
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Herman Miller Mirra — February 3rd, 2009, 9:57 am

When compared to the Aeron, I believe this chair is much better value. I found the chair to be more comfortable, a little “softer”, and had a better recline mechanism. My biggest complaint is the lack of a headrest for reclining.
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Simon MacDonald — February 3rd, 2009, 6:17 pm

The only thing I miss about my last job is my Aeron chair. I wish I could have taken it with me. Instead I did the next best thing and gave it to a co-worker 3 days before I left for good to make sure the vultures didn’t get it.
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Alex H. — February 3rd, 2009, 9:57 pm

Tried most of those. Really liked the design of the Liberty, but was awful for me (too short, hit in all the wrong places). Also did six months at a standing desk.

Ended up with the Aeron and it has been outstanding for the last year & a half or so. Yes, it’s more expensive than a cheapo from the office supply store, but will end up being the same cost if your cheapo (like mine) ends up having to be replaced every couple years. There is a pretty swamped market of used Aerons, if you keep your eyes open, and they tend to hold up pretty well used, too.
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Andrew — February 3rd, 2009, 11:54 pm

Anyways, 6 hours isn’t enough to make much of a judgement.

Something very important I figured out this year was that having the wrong chair may play a very big role in carpel tunnel.

I had an old ergonomic chair at my home office. I had various problems over the past few years, ended up spending several thousand dollars just trying all kinds of keyboards (including the iconic datahand.) After spending several months away from home, my problems vanished.

During this time I was using either a normal keyboard or laptop keyboard — and sitting in an Aeron chair. The last time I had used a normal keyboard I had reached the point I thought I would have to stop using computers completely.

So yeah, office chair matters big time. More than just your back will thank you.
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stacycolorado — February 4th, 2009, 8:57 pm

Like some of the others, I am also curious which mattress you chose? Please elaborate!
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Siebre — February 5th, 2009, 4:52 pm

Tim,

May I suggest moving away from a laptop if posture is of utmost importance?

A desktop is much better for your posture. The menu bar in OS X should be at the same height as your eyes. With a laptop, this is not possible.

Perhaps something to elevate your laptop and an external keyboard may be ideal.

Regards,
Siebre
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Avery T. Horton, Jr. — February 5th, 2009, 6:37 pm

Back in the 1980s, I went to a call center in Maryland that had the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in. I have an Aeron now but would prefer one of those liquid filled chairs. After sitting in the chair for about 10 – 20 minutes, ALL STRESS would be gone from your back. I wish I would have noted the make/model of those chairs.
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Abbott, Keeven, Fisher &#038 Fortuna Partners — February 5th, 2009, 6:51 pm

[...] got us thinking more about the proper ergonomics. Here are some interesting articles about the best chair for the money, the best keyboard, guides to workstation ergonomics, more guides to workstations, and some basic [...]
RacerX — February 6th, 2009, 5:44 am

I second the Steelcase Leap chair. I’ve used the Aeron for years at my jobs and to me, they weren’t comfortable for a few long-hauls I had at the office (I’m an IT worker). The Steelcase is much more comfortable and solid for my tastes.
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Gonzalo Paternoster — February 6th, 2009, 8:51 am

Can you post how to pick a great pair of shoes?
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JM — February 8th, 2009, 9:38 am

Hi Tim,

I’m a big fan of your book. I have recommended to everyone I met and personally offered to at least 25 people. I am presently reading a second time. Thanks for the inspiration.

As for posture and back pain, you have to visit the Postura Clinic on Montreal’s South Shore (www.postura.ca – their current Website isn’t great but they are presently working on a new version). Their work on proprioception blew me away and I’m sure they’ll impress you too. If you happen to visit Montreal, give me a buzz, I’ll be glad to give a hand. Take care.
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Serafine — February 9th, 2009, 12:32 am

Now that you have a chair that is adjustable and providing you lumbar support, maybe I can get you to get an external keyboard and mouse and raise your monitor up to your eye height. That can also allow for better posture, help you sit more upright and help improve the neck and shoulder area, which in turn, since everything is connected help the whole spine.
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Greg K, London — February 11th, 2009, 12:21 pm

Tim

To get thebest out of the Aeron chair you need to replace the lumbar support with the adjustable pelvic support, the new chairs have this feature. This is available from HM (not cheap at £75 / $105 per chair).

The effect of removing the lumar support is to take the shear stress off the lower back and revieve the strain on the lower back muscles= no pain.
I have one at work and one at home fitted to two chairs bought on Ebay for 1/4 the HM price. Used this setup for 4 years withiut problems -try it; lumbar support is one of the dumbest ideas ever to come out of orthopedics, it messes up the biomechanics and adds stress to the lower back just where you do not want it.
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Ryan — February 11th, 2009, 1:21 pm

Saw some mentions of computer keyboards on this thread. Don’t get me started on Dvorak vs QWERTY now… I’ve been on Dvorak for about 6 years and haven’t had any of the repetitive stress/carpal tunnel you get from QWERTY. It may not be your keyboard, simply your layout. For an entertaining read, and possibly a nudge to convert you to Dvorak, read this comic about the topic:
http://dvzine.org/zine/index.html
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Andy — February 12th, 2009, 12:15 pm

Re the shoes, although I’m rather loathe to admit it, I picked up some crocs at Costco and they are fantastic. I do have to run the gauntlet of snarky comments though.
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Fai — February 13th, 2009, 8:36 pm

If you are traveling a lot, you might want to consider this portable Laptop Laidback v3.

http://www.laptop-laidback.com/

It can raise the laptop much higher than other laptop risers and all you have to do is attach a keyboard and mouse to it.
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Winkyboy — February 16th, 2009, 8:08 am

I’m surprised you went with the Aeron, and I’m SHOCKED that your findings said 90% of people interviewed about it gave it a good deal. Our office bought about 30 or so of these kinds of chairs (OMG, spendy.) and almost every single one broke within 6 months of owning them. The backs no longer stay upright and the height of most of the chairs is no longer adjustable. They are absolute junk.
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Ben fury — February 23rd, 2009, 9:50 am

Hi Tim!

We reassessed office seating a few years back and chose the Neutral Posture 8700 with the deep contour seat. Got a two fer deal from Office Organix, so we got two $1300 chairs for $650 a piece. Best office decor money we ever spent!

I’ve worked deadline pressure in this chair for 13 hours a day and never had more than mild discomfort. No matter how perfect the chair, eventually you just need to get up and move around more, more often!

I checked out the Aeron’s and they’re fine chairs. But after 8 years of ownership, I’m glad I bought the Neutral Posture.

Be well,
Ben Fury
Bettercise
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Brockdin Barr — February 28th, 2009, 9:33 pm

Hi Tim,

I’ve always loved the look of the Aeron, but how will your back be in a few months? I’d like to have a part 2 to this post in the near future, I’m curious because… I have a friend who is a dancer and yoga expert. I asked him about sitting for long periods of time and what a good position was a his response was quite surprising. The thinking that there is a “perfect” position is the problem. Our bodies get sore when any position is held for a long period. Also, I once spoke to a office chair salesperson, who sold the Aeron, but told me to buy a $200 standard office chair with the 3 adjustment levers, so you can change your position up every few days. Stretching also helps. Thanks for this post.
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Serafine — March 1st, 2009, 1:52 pm

Hey Tim,

I am a local ergonomist and would be happy to come by sometime to assess your workstation — no cost to you. This way you can figure out what products you might actually need to help you to work in a neutral position. Check out my website and contact me if you are interested.
Reply
Corporate Sales Guy » Blog Archive » The Perfect Work Environment — March 8th, 2009, 5:52 pm

[...] on the fancy home office with the 3 piece desk complete with credenza and spend good money on a chair etc? I remember reading an article about stand up desks, read about it here. Hard to say, check out [...]
Lupita Michel — March 11th, 2009, 8:54 pm

Hola Tim… Fijate que te vi en puerto vallarta having fun en el ZOO around the 16th de enero, I wanted to talk to you so Bad, soy fanatica de tu libro y todavia no puedo creer que no tuve el valor para acercarme. I didn’t want to bother you, you were having fun with your friend and some chicas mexicanas… especialmente la del vestidito morado…. you are a very good dancer too….Pero me dio gusto que te sepas divertir!!! y todo esto te lo digo en buena onda!!!! Espero que me contestes este mail… se que es casi imposible, pero please, please dime como puedo encontrar un trabajo online that is legit…. I really, really need your help… me imagino que todos los dias recibes miles de correos como este… pero yo te vi en persona y fui una cobarde, por eso meresco tu atencion….
Cuidate mucho y te deseo lo mejor del mundo
Reply
- Tim Ferriss — March 12th, 2009, 10:11 am
  
  Hola Lupita,
  
  Gracias por tu comment! Lo del trabajo online es un tema muy individual, pero con tiempo y practica lo puedes lograr sin problema. I apologize if my Spanish is a bit rusty, but that’s is hysterical that you saw me at ZOO! Next time, we’ll need to grab a drink and catch up. I loved PV and hope to be back soon.
  
  All the best y un abrazo gordo,
  
  Tim
  Reply
Lupita Michel — March 14th, 2009, 7:33 pm

Muchas gracias por contestar Tim…. and I will keep looking for a job online, cause I refuse to work for the man 8 or 10 hours a day and be tied up to a place…. and let me tell you that your spanish is very sofisticado…. I don’t live in PV, I’m in vancouver Ca now, but I love it there too…. Bueno gotta go now, where are you by the way????

Cuidate and have lots of fun
Ciao bello
Reply
Allen Hollywood — March 19th, 2009, 8:12 pm

Tim
I find it interesting you are writing on a laptop. I think you would find it much faster to be using two monitors and a regular keyboard and mouse. Time yourself typing on a regular keyboard and then on your laptop. It is not just about being handy to travel if you spend much time in your chair I think you would be more effective with better tools.
Allen
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David — March 25th, 2009, 6:30 am

My back problems also disappeared after a few weeks with an Aeron. But a few years with the Aeron gave me pelvic floor neuralgia with possible pudendal nerve entrapment. Herman Miller, I want my $1000 back!
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Edin — April 7th, 2009, 11:55 am

I am a 20 year trained interior architect living very happy, mostly in part to my Aeron chair and stool. For many years I suffered agonizing backpain and frustration because I could not see myself spendind this kind of money; except my clients’, then one day, I added (totalled) all my medical bills and realized that I could have had 10 aeron chairs if I had made my mind long time ago. But It is never too late…I am still very happy.
I don’t understand this dud who want his 1,000.00 back…I think his problems is deeper than his argument.

Peace to all!
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Alec — April 9th, 2009, 5:01 pm

Great post! I have never seen such a comprehensive comparison between office chairs. Reading through these wonderful comments should be a blog post in itself. How has the Aeron worked out for you? Great setup, and I agree that Lumbar support is key. Thanks for sharing!
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Lower spine always wants to slump — April 13th, 2009, 11:03 am

[...] True! Even big-money "boss style" office chairs suck. Try Finding the Perfect Office Chair: Aeron vs. Swiss Ball vs. the FBI’s Pick… by Tim Ferriss, he discusses a few good chairs. They’re not all cheap, though. But keep in mind: if [...]
edin — April 15th, 2009, 11:42 am

I have recently purchased the new polished aluminum/black seat Aeron stool for a new hire in my office, unfortunately, he is on a medical leave. I would like to trade my Aeron stool for a B/size Aeron with the same finishes. please respond if you or someone is interested.

Thanks!
ed
Reply
Designer — May 18th, 2009, 8:11 pm

Tim,

I’m as late in reading this post as you are to realizing that good chairs and good shoes make a difference! I have to shake my head a bit when a guy as smart and savvy as you seem to be only gets around to investigating such things.

I’ve been avoiding shoes with raised heels for 30 years. I’ll even admit to having owned negative heel shoes back in the day. They were a bad idea ultimately, but I loved ‘em at the time. My current favorite shoe brands are Ecco and Keen. I recommend Eccos with reservations, as they seem to be inconsistent aesthetically and in comfort. I have a pair of (“Euro-looking”) cork-soled Ecco sandals which are well-worn because I can have them on all day and not be dying to take them off as soon as I get home.

The Keens are awesome, sandals are tough, protect your toes even in lava fields, are machine washable and look far less dorky than most of my other shoes. Same goes for their slip-on leather shoes, though they probably would rather forego a trip through the washing machine.

Sheesh, I’m starting to sound like Tim here. Maybe I should start my own product review blog! Tim, will you help me get samples?
Reply
Designer — May 18th, 2009, 8:23 pm

Ah, forgot the other comment:

I’m writing from my Aeron size B chair, I’ve tested most of the high end ones, and despite its drawbacks, (wobble, difficult armrest adjustment, too hard lumbar support), it’s still the best. Kudos to designers Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick!

I first used an Aeron back in my dot-commer days. It was intense work, daily, deadlines, and during the peak of activity in my dept. Luckily, the honchos did not skimp on the furniture. It was the first time I ever had a work chair that wasn’t in the way, and it made me covet my own for years after that. I finally had the cash, and got mine used on Craigslist.

Tip- How to tell what size an Aeron chair is:

Put your fingers under the the “handle” at the top of the backrest; on the surface facing the back side of the fabric, you will find 1 (A), 2 (B)or 3 (C-size) raised dots.

Most in my family believe in spending “a little extra” for quality. It saves money in the long run, because you don’t have to replace broken second-rate stuff over and over again. Yep, that includes a lot of the crap you see in Wal-Mart, et al.
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Josh — May 25th, 2009, 6:06 am

love your book, it changed my life….

As for the chairs I think a swiss ball without the the chair mount would be a great choice as well.
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Matthew — July 2nd, 2009, 9:59 am

I second your choice in chairs. My previous job had those and I’ve never been more comfortable. I also use a roller at home and stretch at work. However, have you tried assisted stretching? It will rock your world but requires an assistant to perform the stretches on you
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Ramiro — July 3rd, 2009, 12:24 pm

Tim, the links to the aeron chairs are broken. Seems like they moved those sites. Thanks
Ramiro
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Hermann — July 24th, 2009, 5:29 am

Hi Tim,

I’ve done a little research after reading your post and all the comments and I think the following is the perfect “chair” if you can still call it a chair:

http://www.varier.dk/default.aspx?menu=686

It can be used as a kneeling chair, office chair and zero gravity recliner by just changing your body position (see product sheet for pictures) to maintain the natural 130 degrees hips-to-back position at all times. Not only that, but it looks very cool. The Aeron and other fancy office chairs pale in comparison in terms of ergonomic design, style and simplicity. But all that comes with a hefty price tag.
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Hermann — July 24th, 2009, 10:15 am

Hi Tim,

regarding the Varier Gravity chair, I just went to a store in London to try it out myself but I was personally a little dissappointed. I am 5″ 8 and weigh 155 pounds and the chair seemed a big too large for me and I had the feeling that I was too light for it. I also found it quite uncomfortable because the cushion seemed very hard especially for the neck (it just didn’t feel right even after adjusting it to every possible position). Everyone has to try it out themselves though. It might be just perfect for a larger and heavier person that likes it hard.
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edin — August 16th, 2009, 9:26 am

i can’t live without my aeron. I had it mde with polished aluminum base and carbon mesh…ah, and leather harmrests. Totally awesome. It took me some time to save for it but it was worth it.

edin
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Anja — September 18th, 2009, 5:51 am

If you are in Europe or Germany and looking for a good chair try these:
http://www.schwipp.de/
They are manufactured by a physicist from my old institute. Might be that I’m a bit baised here but matter of fact is that we had them in the institute during my PhD time and there were little wars fought about who could get one next (10 chairs, approx. 28 people).
After I left the university I had to use a normal office chair and developted severe problems with my lower back in the first two weeks. They disappeared three days after I bought a schwipp chair for myself. Prices are between 400-500 Euros, they are worth it.

Anja
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Hermann — September 18th, 2009, 1:26 pm

I decided to buy Swopper Muvman Plus Extra High after going to a store and actually trying out every possible sitting solution mentioned here. Swopper (formerly Aires) Muvman is based on the same principle of movement as schwipp.de, but in my opinion better implemented since it leans forward to get you in the best sitting position and the height can also be easily adjusted. The cheapest site with free shipping I’ve found is http://swopperwelt.de/ which is also based in Germanyth. It’s 400€ there. But I think it’s also available in a lot of other countries.
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TerryM — October 22nd, 2009, 2:04 pm

Tim,
Can you specify the manufacturer, model, and retail location for your FOAM MATTRESS purchase?
Thanks!
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Chelsea — November 10th, 2009, 10:42 am

Looks like you definitely put a lot of time and effort into picking your perfect chair out. I personally really like the Humanscale Freedom and Humanscale Liberty that you mentioned in the article. Another good way to reduce back pain is to take breaks every hour or so to walk around and stretch. Also if you rotate between sitting in different ergonomic chair options such as an exercise ball or a kneeling chair can dramatically reduce back pain.
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Maren — January 30th, 2010, 6:27 am

@Herrmann, who wrote:
“Swopper (formerly Aires) Muvman is based on the same principle of movement as schwipp.de, but in …….”
No, this two chairs can not be compared, as the Schwipp office chair A3S has got a back rest with an “active” lordose support, which is more or less unique. There is no back rest at the Swopper Muvman. The swopper muvman could thus only be compared to the Schwipp Runner, also without back rest.
Look at this link: http://www.lehrerforen.de/thread.php?threadid=17757&hilight=schwipp , and here you will find, that the back pain of a teacher got worse!!!! sitting on a swopper – whereas the Schwipp office chair with back rest is the only chair she can sit on when she suffers from her back pain – because of it perfect back rest system (two seperate joints, tandem arrangemant).
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Hermann — February 15th, 2010, 9:32 am

@Maren: No, you got it wrong. The teacher does not have back problems, but problems with her muscles tightening up. No surprise, she has weak back muscles, which comes from using chairs with back rests. Back rests are unnecessary.
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Sean Anthony — March 2nd, 2010, 10:12 am

Tim – the University of Queensland did an interesting study looking at a variety of health-related parameters and found that sitting, as a whole, contributed quite negatively to health. I was fascinated by their findings and, as a result, have tried to incorporate standing into my office/work routine.

A quote from this article: “[c]hair time is an insidious hazard because people haven’t been told it’s a hazard.” Hamilton has studied the fat-absorbing mechanism of lipase and said that, “if you can perform a behavior while sitting or standing, I would choose standing.”

Check out the article here: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Link-Between-Sitting-and-Poor-Health&id=3603437
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Maren — March 16th, 2010, 2:11 pm

@Herrmann: The situation is more complex.
Sitting o a chair without backrest is not advisable. The „Institut für Hygiene und Arbeitsphysiologie“ of the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Swizzerland, gives lots of precise recommendations in its article “Was ist ein ergonomischer Stuhl? / What is an ergonomical chair?” for healthy seating.
http://web.archive.org/web/20011130210249/www.iha.bepr.ethz.ch/pages/ergo/sitzen.htm
I am citing (german / translated) e.g.:
Die Rückenlehne als Entspannungshilfe! / The backrest as an aid for relaxing.
„….. Ein ergonomisch durchdachter Stuhl sollte Entspannungsmöglichkeiten nicht einschränken. Die entspannteste Sitzhaltung bietet die Möglichkeit, in einer aufrechten Haltung an eine Rückenlehne anzulehnen. Man soll deswegen nie auf eine Rückenlehne verzichten!”
Translation:
“… An ergonomical well designed chair should not restrict the possibilities to relax while sitting. The most relaxed sitting position is given if there is the possibility to be supported at a back rest in an upright sitting position. Therefore you should NEVER abstain from a backrest!”

The cited ETH Zürich article starts with:
“An chair should not restrict the wish of the body to move”, which means e.g., that you need a backrest which follows the movements of your body as good as possible. Therefore I think Anja wrote above that she was FIGHTING for one of the Schwipp office-chairs in her institute and lost pain sitting on it within a few days and Meike wrote in the teachers-forum, that she can only sit on a Schwipp when she has PAIN in her back caused by tensions of her muscles.
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Maren — March 16th, 2010, 2:23 pm

note added later:
in the cited German teachers forum there are TWO teachers comments whose back-pain worsened when sitting on a swopper …
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Amy Jones — April 19th, 2010, 10:05 pm

I like the Before & After pictures of the chair, the best part of ergonomic chairs is they look so inviting.
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Ruth Beretta — April 27th, 2010, 3:23 pm

Amsterdam is nice, the chairs may be nice too.
But if you would visit Antwerp (in Belgium) we would host you and it ‘ll be better !! If you need a guide or help of any kind, please let me know. Amsterdam is lucky to have you!
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Izick — May 13th, 2010, 5:23 pm

Swiss Ball – Downfall
Hours of use on a Swiss Ball is similar to riding a road bike for extended perionds of time. There’s to much pressure to the under-carriage, which can make sitting for extended amounts of time on any surface hurt.
Eliminating the Swiss Ball and standing at my desk has cured all before mentioned problems.
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Suwanee Chiropractor — May 17th, 2010, 11:22 pm

Thanks for this chair,i hope it will really helpful in preventing back problem.I like your idea,i took too much time to read the comments on your blog and i won’t think it’s waste.
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Steve — May 26th, 2010, 7:30 am

Just reviewed your chair article and have a follow-up question regarding your suggestion of the use of a 3′ long and 6? diameter foam roller: how do you use/incorporate this?

Thanks, Steve
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Gianco — June 17th, 2010, 2:03 pm

I had an Aeron, and loved it. It was a great leap forward when it came to market (mid 90′s).

Now I’m in the furniture business and get to think about chairs more than most people care for… While I believe there are better value for money propositions out there, I am convinced there are no better office chairs on the planet than those manufactured by Interstuhl, a German company.

Their Silver line is a design milestone and can be seen on many hollywood movies.

I personally work on the Mitos office chair, and have yet to try anything that comes close in comfort. Its 2005 design is beautiful and ergonomically orgasmic.
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Wilson — July 1st, 2010, 10:24 am

That is a beautiful Asian Yokeback Rosewood Dining Table Set you have, it appears to be vintage? Did you get handed that down to you from a relative? I use a rosewood dining table for my work desk as well. Except a 47″ is sitting on top =) Anyways, that’s lifetime furniture you have there, and although I personally chose a Mirra chair, the previous and great chair used was an Aeron in size C (I sold it due to it being too wide, a B size would be better).
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Andre — August 17th, 2010, 9:03 pm

I have used chairs like the Aeron before, and found that I needed additional lower back support. I ended up buying a lumbar support pillow, that really helped me a lot! It is an easy add-on for just about any office chair.
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Bobby — August 22nd, 2010, 7:00 am

Hi Tim,

I thought you might find this chair interesting,as well.

http://technology.todaysbigthing.com/2009/06/18

Thanks for all the great tips!.

-Bobby
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Elizabeth Polis — September 11th, 2010, 8:41 am

As a physical therapist, my focus is to encourage people to make sitting an activity. Not simply to improve postural awareness, endurance and conditioning but because most Americans are sitting too much as is. By focusing on these things aches and pains fade as the body resumes a more biomechanically sound orientation.
The theraball (sans frame) or simply a stool that allows for increased recruitment of deep spinal muscles is the optimal choice. These chairs you present are great but most folks dont have the money for them. And you will be hard pressed to find a company that is willing to make such a significant investment in wellness and prevention of progressive injuries resulting from prolonged sitting.

Cheers to your health, everybody!!

E
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Arthur — September 15th, 2010, 2:25 pm

Hello,

I am using the Aero for a while, but the pain in my back has only become much worse!!! Specialist have adjusted the settings, but this is the worst chair I have ever used!! Terrible!
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shaun — September 21st, 2010, 4:19 am

My new Flexible chair has helped me increase my work flow and work longer and not feel numb.
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Travis — November 11th, 2010, 11:52 pm

I prevenatively maintain and repair over six thousand office chairs (no joke) a year and this chair out of the bunch definately stands up above the rest. I saw one the other day six years old and it still looks like the guy just took it out of the box. Definately a quality chair. You could replace a 2 to 300 dollar chair every three to five years and pay the same over the long term and you will because the foam in the chairs of that price range bag out so quickly but it doesn’t compare to the longevity that this chair has. Dont mess around. If you want an office chair to last you have to spend a little bit more. Buy Comfort and Quality. The old style chairs that lasted 20 years are not being made anymore. However, I can say this chair may be the resurgence of that old school mentality.
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- michelle moore — November 26th, 2010, 4:43 pm
  
  cool is cool…!
  googled about back ache using a dining chair as a computer chair and found you…good writing style good content good information has helped me a lot… just one problem I live on a tiny tiny island and apart from trips to the local supermarket and such all other items shopping home decor etc done via the laptop, the post and couriers have sent their kids to private school thanks to me, so the “try before you buy thing” is impossible for me that’s why googling and researching … even found a chair and emailed could somebody go and sit in it and email me back turned out not comfortable… your list just made me more confused and btw new widow on pension so price is a BIG part of it sadly and love ebay!
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michelle moore — November 26th, 2010, 4:49 pm

read “TRAVIS” what chair is he recommending?
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craig mclaughlan — December 10th, 2010, 8:37 am

the aeron hermann miller chair is worth every cent and you can get decent 2nd hand ones off ebay.

then…
buy a really good monitor for your laptop and get it at the right height. a laptop screen is an annoying toy once you get used to a really good resolution (of course your laptop needs a decent graphics card first).

buy a ergonomic keyboard and mouse and plug that into your laptop too.

i don’t understand why people use laptops in ways they weren’t designed for.
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Greg Lins — December 31st, 2010, 4:00 pm

I’m with Ross. Ditch the chair altogether. I have 2x more energy standing when working. To break it up a bit, I have a high swivel chair that I’ll plunk my butt on from to time. I pace when I make phone calls. I have a white board to mix up the media and thinking process too, so when in creative mode I use the white board, a journal, and the PC interchangeably.

I also believe more monitors are better. Internet one side, client apps other side. I also have a screaming PC, which I don’t really need, but I decided that waiting for a PC is one cost I don’t need to incur anymore. To hell with optimizing it for what your doing – get the fastest you can afford and let it run 5 years. If you maximize speed vs. budget, go for a tower, not a laptop. Spend the money you save for a tower on more monitors. 35% productivity increase for me because I switch between apps all the time.

My “other” desk is a treadmill with a home-made customization, which is a platform to set the keyboard at the right level, and another platform to place the laptop screen at optimal height. While I can’t use it when making phone calls (the treadmill is too loud) I can motor along at 1.5 mph and type just fine. If surfing, one can go much faster.

I use SugarSync to sync files between the workstation and the laptop continuously, so if I need to head out for a meeting or trip I can just grab the laptop and everything is there.

Just started trying out Evernote – like the concept of it so thanks for turning me on to that one, Tim. Just started 4-hour body last week too. So far so good!
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Julia — January 30th, 2011, 6:01 pm

I’ll always admire Tim for his work and thinking. This is such an awesome post
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Fashionality — February 21st, 2011, 7:22 pm

Great reviews of those chairs.
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Ken Silver — March 20th, 2011, 11:59 am

Herman Miller makes some amazing seating tools. If you do a lot of work online as the case with the NR, spending a little bit more on a comfortable chair is worht every penny. It will save your back thus boosting your energy to do other productive things.
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Eddy — March 30th, 2011, 4:54 am

Where did you get that funky lamp?
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minka kelly — April 30th, 2011, 8:44 pm

Many people hesitate to sit on an ergonomic chair ball. They worry about falling because the circular seating. But after some time sitting there, you’ll get used to. Do not be afraid.
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S B — July 18th, 2011, 12:31 pm

This is an important subject — and lots of good ideas here.

When you have been computing as long as me, even tiny things can develop repeated stress problems. Like armrests — my elbows finally are very sensitive to pressure. So I think super padded armrests are very important. I notice some people like sitting on “balls” without armrests, but several times I got painful shoulder soreness from the weight of my arms hanging. I’m sure it is also from the unnatural position using keyboard and mouse, because the condition doesn’t arise when on my feet all day, such as on vacation. Which leads me to agree with those who recommend switching postures regularly to keep stress from accumulating.

Ironically I found that a super soft seat, while initially more comfortable than a harder seat, seems to numb my legs more — maybe when the pressure is focused on my “sit bones” (not so comfortable) with a hard seat, it allows better blood flow to the surrounding tissue.

This is stuff that didn’t matter much for the first few decades of computer work — but now is becoming critical due to back/neck/wrist problems.

Forest ranger job sounding more and more attractive…
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Jeffrey R. Worley — July 18th, 2011, 7:34 pm

This is related to your search for chairs. Try a dentist’s chair if you can get your hands on one. My wife’s dad is a retired orthodontist, and he gave me his chair. I have a protruding disc, and broken tail bone (sacrum?), but am a competitive track runner. My disc problems cause me to squirm in my chair all day. The chair rocks back and forth, and raises and lowers, but doesn’t lock into a reclined position.
It’s not a pretty chair, it’s industrial strength, but, it’s kind of cool in a retro way. Looks aside, it’s the best chair for my back I’ve ever had, and it’s practically indestructible.
I’m sure they’re expensive new, but maybe you could find one used. It’s not chic, but, I bet it will outlive me by 100 years.
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Korey Thomas — August 24th, 2011, 9:56 am

I really enjoyed this article. I have found through experience that the SwingChair has been the best chair for my back. With it’s natural body of motion counter balancing every motion my body wants to make, I have never been more comfortable. My back pain has also dramatically decreased in the past months of usage.
Thanks for this article, as it is what lead me to this awesome chair. Go SwingChair!
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Chris Porter — August 27th, 2011, 9:05 am

My chiro recently introduced me to the idea of “microbreaks”. Every 20 min, a timer goes off and you stand up and stretch for 4 seconds (thoratic extension and reaching for the ceiling). The idea is that after 20 min, your elastic tissue reaches a critical point of no return, after which it won’t snap back to its normal shape.
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- Stan Mrak — October 24th, 2011, 2:15 pm
  
  If you use a exercise ball instead of a chair, you can “work out” your back without getting up.
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John Waite — September 8th, 2011, 6:29 am

People underestimate how important your office chair can be for your body and posture because, after all, you spend most of your day sitting on it. The chair you used to be working on looks very uncomfortable, but what I would like to know is if you have fully adapted to the new one? I know that some people, after a few months, find a few niggles with their backs after changing posture.
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Markus Jevring — September 18th, 2011, 11:50 pm

I have some back problems as well, and having having a crummy (albeit adjustable) IKEA chair for some years, I decided it was time for a switch. I settled on the Kinnarps Plus[8] series, fully loaded, and sitting has been like a continual orgasm ever since. Most tech companies don’t realize that buying proper chairs for their employees is something that HAS to be done. Also, one size doesn’t fit all. Don’t be too strict. It’s great if you can buy Aerons for everybody, but someone might want something else, so try to be accommodating. At my new company I found a swiss ball sitting around, which I’m going to try this week. Not a day goes by where I don’t think “I should bring my own chair to the office”. This happens at every school, every employer, everywhere where I have to sit for any extended period of time. I bought the chair around 8 years ago for the equivalent of 500 EUR. The same chair today costs around 1500. Still, it’s worth it. You might not realize this immediately, but in the long run, it’s heaven.
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Stan Mrak — September 22nd, 2011, 11:43 am

Aeron chairs are wildly popular in my field (computer graphics). However, I dumped mine after trying the exercise ball for just 2 weeks. After 15 years of various back and hip pain, it all cleared up like magic! Never will I use a chair again, no matter how advanced. YOU’RE STILL SITTING – that’s the problem.

ALSO, don’t get the exercise-ball-on-wheels model! It won’t have the same effect. Just a simple ball, one size larger than it recommends on the box.
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Courtney B. — October 11th, 2011, 12:35 pm

It’s important a chair addresses factors such as sitting duration, task, and workstation placement so the end result can help users stay productive and alert throughout the day. Great post!
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Ben — October 11th, 2011, 4:23 pm

Being regularly sat in an Aeron chair for the past 6 months with work I can safely say it’s the best chair I’ve had the pleasure of sitting on.

I even went to the trouble of buying one for home use because it was that comfortable. As I’m from the UK, I’ll let others know that you can find a used one on gumtree for a very respectable £250 – £300.
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Tyler — October 11th, 2011, 7:40 pm

The Swiss-ball chair is amazing. I own one of these and my back feel so much better. Before it I was in pain.
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Edwin — October 12th, 2011, 10:51 am

This is super insightful. I was doing a bit of research between the Aeron and the Leap chair actually. It’s a shame that the posture fit costs so much more for the Aeron. I think I will lean more towards the Leap chair by Steelcase, as it seems to be a one size fits all, with no extra add-ons necessary.
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Back Products — October 22nd, 2011, 5:30 am

The Swiss-ball design of chair and the way to sit in one is a superb way to solve back pain problems. I would want to make sure anyone with back problems buys one of these.
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Goran Aleksic — November 2nd, 2011, 6:02 pm

Hi,

I suffer from what is called hyperlordosis, or forward hyperextension of lower ( lumbar ) spine. I find most chair with lumbar support to excasarbate the condition. In other words, I find lumbar support pushing my lumbar spine forward even further. Chairs without lumbar support are equally bad for my back.
Over the course of last few years I set in several Herman Miller chairs: Aeron, Mirra and currently own Embody
My overall impression is that HM chairs are more about style than ergonomics.
Lumbar and back support is in my opinion one of the worst in the industry, and Embody particularly fails in this area. Pixelated support in lower back on Embody is too hard and inflexible causing actually my mid back to overly flex and arch, instead of providing support.
Aeron was terrible due to sharp and uncomfortable edge on the forward sloping part of the seat. While it did provide some support in the lower back, it tottaly failed to provide any in the upper back.
Also, I’m not sure why, but neither Embody nor Aeron have option for being equipped with arm rests that can be adjusted forward and backward.
Arm rests on these stick too far out, and it’s impossible ( for me at lest ) to keep arm rest at the desk level and bring chair close enough so I can type on the keyboard without bending my upper back forward.
I have a feeling these chairs are not properly tested for work in front of the computer when they are designed.

Anyways, my negative experiences with HM chairs can be attributed due to my lumbar hyperlordotic condition, so please take above statements with caution.

Finally, can anyone recommend good chair or solution for people suffering from lumbar hyperlordosis? I have seen several physicians, chiros and physical therapists, but no treatment gave any positive results, nor were they able to offer any practical or usefull advice on dealing with this condition while at work ( FYI I’m full-timve software engineer ). Even if there are any benefits from the treatment, they are easily undone by even few hours of work in front of the computer.
The condition is causing me lots of grief and it is seriously impacting both my overall well being and work performance. Any advice and tips will be hugely appreciated!
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- srini — January 8th, 2013, 10:38 am
  
  yes, most popular chairs seem to be built for design/aesthetics – than ergonomics.
  But there are some which are specifically certified back-friendly..
  http://www.agr-ev.de/index.php/en/certified-and-recommended/tested-products/64-buerostuehle
  
  based on your condition you may want to evaluate – office chairs with mesh back – without extra lumbar support
  Klober Veo
  
  Sedus netwin, blackdot
  
  also standup chair / stool like – Swopper, Muvman
  
  please feel free to ping me for more info….
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Gary Local — December 7th, 2011, 5:34 pm

Hi Tim, I came across this article while looking for a more comfortable lounge chair, I was surprised to see it was by you as I have read one of your books.

I am sitting on a brand new leather sofa that is part of a suite that was pretty expensive and my wife loves the design and I cannot get comfortable in it at all.
I have mild scoliosis but it seemed ok for the 15 to 20 minutes we tried it in the showroom. I wonder if they could apply the same principles to domestic seating ?
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ladylenalee — January 11th, 2012, 1:24 am

Really nice chairs. But no matter how nice but you are not comfortable then its useless.
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how to ease back pain — January 16th, 2012, 10:31 am

Lower back pain is one of the most common physical problemstoday that occur in modern times. Due to our Because of ourway of life that has changed enormously since the last 200 years many of us suffer from lower back ache. The reason for this pain may vary but there are five steps you can take to minimize your pain or even may take away the back ache completely. Here are 5 steps you can and should take:
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Vince — February 15th, 2012, 1:25 am

Nice Chair! This is also recommended for persons with back pain since during sitting when most of us working in the office or home for hours, the cause of back pain came from poor sitting posture.
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Sam K — March 2nd, 2012, 4:25 am

Would definately recomend the Aeron chair, 5’9″ tall and 160 pounds prefer & most comfortable with the B sized chair, a totally worth while investment in your personal well being. 6 years of daily use for over 8 hours per day it still looks like new!
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timber decking — March 15th, 2012, 8:24 pm

It is always good to see the wooden chair in person and ensure it is constructed well.
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Jake — March 20th, 2012, 2:11 pm

Yup, aerons are definitely worth the investment. I’ve suffered from lower back pains from bad chairs in the past and got the aeron with the lumbar support. 2 weeks later and I feel an incredible difference.
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JP — June 14th, 2012, 7:08 am

With all of the research I am surprised that you succumbed to impulse in buying an ill fitted chair without trying on others that were highly recommended. Your conclusions have to be somewhat discounted as you did not follow through on your research. It was a good start at least to give a list of candidates for others to research. I guess the compulsive side of your OCD got the better of you.
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Callum Greene — July 4th, 2012, 6:38 am

Well the first chair looks very great and has nice colours !
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Jenna — August 7th, 2012, 1:19 pm

Having a good chair for your desk is crucial – especially if you work long hours. I know people rave about the exercise ball chair, but it just looks so uncomfortable to me. Back support is key!
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Leather Lounges — November 18th, 2012, 4:56 am

This is a great post about. I appreciate the fact that the article includes examples of office chairs that are beyond the standard chairs that we are used to seeing such as leather lounges . You also mentioned a lot of great tips too.
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Jeff — January 7th, 2013, 5:13 pm

Finding a comfortable office chair can be really tricky! I know it took me a few months to finally find the perfect chair. But I love it because it’s not only stylish but beyond comfy too, it’s the perfect relief for this old mans back
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Jona — January 18th, 2013, 10:22 am

Tim, using a dictation software choice compatible with your choice of operating system can greatly speed up your work as well as eliminate muscular soreness that comes from the unnatural positioning of arms and hands during typing on the keyboard. Also, using a standup desk can virtually eliminate all posture based problems and ensure better body alignment.

Having a good chair is important but more importantly its important not to use that chair more than 1 to 2 hours a day. Sitting is a disease, and it’s costing us our health.
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Andy Kuiper — March 1st, 2013, 9:44 am

I hade the top of the line Aeron, and found it seemed to be built for bodies larger than mine (5’6″ 135 lbs.), the seat area was just too big and I ended up having to sell it. Still looking for something that works
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Jainey — April 8th, 2013, 1:53 pm

I’ve been looking into lots of office chair sites recently in a spurt of interest towards healthier office living. I’ve found that the highly recommended chairs that are sturdy, long-lived and provide good lumbar support seem to be the higher priced chairs and have been trying to find one that is both cost-friendly AND health-friendly!

I think my solution so far has been to look into the refurbished desk chairs of some of the models you listed, and I really do love them!

Thanks for the list!
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