Higher end chairs - for gaming / working from home

[cvaldes]

One note about fabric choices.

Once I spent a summer sitting in a mesh task chair, I never ever wanted to shell out money for an upholstered task chair. This means both the back and the seat cushion.

 

[sLowEnd]

One note about fabric choices.

Once I spent a summer sitting in a mesh task chair, I never ever wanted to shell out money for an upholstered task chair. This means both the back and the seat cushion.

Both fabric and mesh have their pros and cons IMO. Fabric can be more comfortable to sit on for some people if they prefer a warmer feel, and fabric tends to have less friction than mesh.

A material I would definitely avoid is bonded leather/plastic leather though. That stuff in my experience doesn't hold up very well over time and ends up just peeling and flaking everywhere.

 

[bobbybluz]

Back when I still had three cats they loved destroying chairs. Because of that I began buying used ones off Craigslist dirt cheap and got some incredible deals. I saved a really nice Serta fake leather "Executive" chair they peeled the outer covering off of and am going to take it apart then have the local custom boat & auto upholstery shop redo it in either real leather or whatever they use for doing boats. They do great work, 30 years ago they did a factory-looking white leather interior for the 1962 Buick Electra 225 I used to own. Since we're down to one cat now the destruction of the past shouldn't be an issue. The price should be reasonable since it's just 4 pieces; the arms, back and bottom. I have to take the pieces in removed from the frame.

 

[P4-630]

bonded leather/plastic leather though. That stuff in my experience doesn't hold up very well over time and ends up just peeling and flaking everywhere.

The typical "Gaming" chair....

 

[LabRat 891]

I've always wondered how an Automotive seat, kitbashed onto the piston and base of another 'desk chair' would work out?

Almost tried it when I put Grand Cherokee seats in my Jeep XJ but, the old seats and salvaged desk chair bits got binned in moving.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Both fabric and mesh have their pros and cons IMO. Fabric can be more comfortable to sit on for some people if they prefer a warmer feel, and fabric tends to have less friction than mesh.

A material I would definitely avoid is bonded leather/plastic leather though. That stuff in my experience doesn't hold up very well over time and ends up just peeling and flaking everywhere.

I have one of those gaming chairs and note 3yr old's definitely end up increasing the peeling and flaking of them by like 200%-300% faster than normal.
( disclaimer: this is not a scientifically accurate statement )

ok, so I got a new gig and now I am remote like 90%. I currently have a chair I picked up at staples for a couple hundred, but its seen better days ... it has a lean to one side and the cushion isnt the best anymore. So I am looking into the higher end chair market to see whats out there and what I should be considering ...

I have seen tons of recommendations for the Herman Miller Embody gaming chair and the secret labs chairs.

So, with that though, I have also see a lot of people complaining about the QC of secret labs and just the downright crap support they offer. Now I know only angry people go online and post, but still it needs to be considered.

Other than those 2, what else should I be looking into? Yes I know even the chairs above are quite expensive and have a huge price gap between them. I am older in my days, so I would rather be comfy for years to come with quality than settling for less and wanting/needing to change every 6 months or year.

I got this one on a clearance fire sale for $150. https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/7972977/RS-Gaming-Davanti-Faux-Leather-High/#Specs
But definitely DO NOT pay $500 for this chair.

The pros
- You don't have to attach the chair arms. (this is my favorite feature because I need to get in and out of the chair fast while working from home)
- The rotations and backward tilt is good for those times you need those humm how to I solve that software development problem thinking moments
- The supporting cushions are decent
- It's not squeaking yet after 3 years

The cons
- The faux leather is flaking off on year 3 of having this chair - mostly because 3yr old boy is constantly climbing and jumping off it for thrills in the past few months when I'm not looking.
- If the wifey wants to test the tilt mode with you, when your not expecting it, the chair might fall over ( I'm not going to elaborate on the details of that maneuver )

 

[Bill_Bright]

I still contend potential buyers need to visit a furniture store and try out any chair they might be considering first. Everyone's body is different.

However my personal preference when it comes to materials is a nice fabric.

I like leather, as long as it is top quality (properly tanned, died, etc.) genuine leather (as in dead animal, not plastic or Naugahyde). But not for a chair I might be sitting in, in the same position, potentially for hours. Same with mesh, regardless the material used - except in the winter months when I am wearing long pants.

In warmer weather, like now, I wear shorts and I hate having to "peel" my thighs off plastic and mesh seats after sitting in my chair for long periods of time.

So for my computer chair, I go for a nice fabric.

HOWEVER - if you get fabric, make sure you have it properly treated with Scotchgard first - and every couple years thereafter.

Also, consider a "task chair". These typically "look" more practical and utility than fancy and comfortable - but then they are. And IMO, that's a good thing. They tend to be designed to promote better posture when sitting for long periods. Thus, they produce less fatigue and therefore tend to be more comfortable when sitting for hours on end compared to traditional "office" chairs. They may not be as "aesthetically pleasing" as a fancy gaming or office chair, but is that really that important to you? Its not to me - at least not in my computer room.

 

[rockit00]

This mesh chair replaced the old pleather chair. I'm loving it!

 

[OldJonK]

A bit late to the party here, but here's my take. I agree with those who say the best idea is to go to a furniture store or, if you can find one, a specialized store like Relax the Back which deals with ergonomic chairs and such to try them out.

Several years ago, I was having back problems and managed to get my then employer to pay for an upscale chair for my cubicle. This is what I got - a Raynor Ergohuman:

ergohuman

The right chair should support you and your work style, fit your body, and provide you with the necessary adjustment features to stay productive and comfortable. We have selected these seats to showcase for good reason; as our most popular ergonomic office chairs, these chairs are tried-and-true erg

ergohuman.com

Specificially, the ME7ERG. https://ergohuman.com/ergohuman-chair-me7erg-high-back-with-headrest-and-mesh/

I loved the chair. The spring-loaded lumbar looks weird, but it worked for the curve of my back. Now they've cut back to just mesh or leather-over-foam, but then they offered an Ultrasuede option that I liked better.

A previous employer had Herman Miller Aeron chairs. They're nice, too, but I liked the Ergohuman better.