Office Chairs

In this entertaining (but old) review, Seth Stevenson and seven fellow Slate.com editors test six office chairs for several weeks. Stevenson asserts that the Herman Miller Aeron chair, though revolutionary… at its debut, has overstayed its welcome. While still a good chair, the Aeron doesn't recline that well and is too inflexible -- not adapting well to different sitting styles. The Steelcase Leap is comfortable, but makes an embarrassing "whoopee cushion" sound when you sit too fast. The Steelcase Cachet and Herman Miller Celle are both deemed "unsittable." The Turnstone Let's B is a good choice for those who like a stiff-backed chair. Best overall is the Humanscale Liberty, which is called "the Aeron's logical successor."

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The Herman Miller Aeron office chair is generally widely liked by owners here, although some note the importance of buying the correct size Aeron. The Herman Miller Mirra is a popular alternative and… receives high praise for the fact that it does not come in different sizes but instead adapts to its owner. The Raynor Ergohuman Mesh gets generally positive feedback. Users cite the chair's more moderate price and its adaptability as key features, though some suggest that the chair height may be a negative for shorter users. The Office Star Screen Back Task Chair is inexpensive and highly rated, though some complain of durability issues. The Office Star Deluxe Ergonomic Chair is considered more dependable and more durable.

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This article lists general buying tips for office chairs. It recommends four models, but with just a short description of each and no indication that these chairs were tested. Chairs don't appear to be… rated in any particular order. The Allsteel Sum is similar to the Humanscale Freedom, with automatic positioning in response to the sitter's body movements. Other models mentioned include the Neutral Posture 8000 Series and the Steelcase Think, which is up to 99 percent recyclable and made of 44 percent recycled materials.

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This German-based publication is said to stage one of the largest design competitions in the world. Products winning the Red Dot have earned the title because of exemplary design but don't appear to be… tested for other considerations such as durability, performance or comfort. Award winners in past years include the Steelcase Think, Klober Ciello (German and through select distributors), Klober Cato (German and through select distributors) and Herman Miller Mirra office chairs. The winners are often made by international companies and difficult to find in the U.S.

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This article recommends several office chairs, some with unusual names that we didn't find discussed elsewhere, including the Maui and Allsteel #19. The Herman Miller Mirra and Steelcase Leap WorkLounge are… also mentioned. Just a short description is given of each model, with no information about any product testing, and chairs do not receive ratings. Several other chairs are also described, but they have been discontinued.

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This article discusses the Keilhauer Sguig, a chair inspired by the creator's experience with a Pilates ball. The chair, according to the article, is more responsive to the needs of the spine and therefore… less likely to induce back pain. The piece also goes on to say that this chair with the quirky name was selected by NeoCon -- the group that holds annual conventions to show the latest and greatest in office furniture, who awarded the Sguig its 2006 Innovation and Editors' Choice Award. No testing or comparison is done by the author of this article. The piece is helpful, however, in discussing many considerations those using office chairs for long periods of time might want to ponder, such as their own personal posture or position while they sit.

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Six men and women of various builds tested an unknown number of chairs for comfort, adjustability and appearance. The results for four chairs are given, and the office chairs are rated on a scale of one to… five. The Steelcase Think is the number-one pick, with a rating of four. The reviewers say it gives excellent support, although it looks a bit "homely." The Humanscale Liberty, Steelcase Leap and Herman Miller Mirra are also reviewed. A July 2000 article by Bruce Sterling compares the Aeron, the Steelcase Leap and the Humanscale Freedom.

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A reader asks, "What's the best reasonably expensive (up to $1000) office chair?" and receives a couple dozen comments. Many responders like the Herman Miller Aeron, but a handful also comment on their… experiences with the Steelcase Leap and other chairs, Several note that the Aeron comes in three sizes: A, B and C, and they caution that it's important to find the correct size for your height and body type.

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OfficeChairAdvice.com is a website devoted to quality office seating founded by Duncan McIntyre, a 25-year veteran of the office chair business. The site is neatly organized and there are ratings and… detailed reviews of a number of popular chairs, including the new Herman Miller Embody. There's also a blog about seating of all kinds, and McIntyre certainly finds a lot to say about this area. No testing or comparison with other models appears to have been done, however, and a lot of chairs receive five-star ratings. McIntyre does supply tons of good office chair background information, and this site is a good prep for shopping for office chairs.

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