Desk Chair recommendations?
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Hey guys, I'm on the lookout for a better chair because my back is aching a lot these days.
(I know there are other contributing factors, like my blatant lack of regular exercise or getting out of the house, but I can't help sitting at my desk a LOT!)
I'm sure many of you are in a similar position, given what we do, so I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good desk chair that keeps your posture decent and is adjustable enough. My budget is probably at max $400.
Thanks!
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I see that you are in the UK, so you would probably appreciate an international provider. I too have been on the lookout for a desk chair, and I have been looking at IKEA. They have some very adjustable chairs for good prices, but since they don't seem to be delivering in my city at the moment and I don't want to go to the store due to COVID, I haven't been able to try one out yet!
Just putting that out there for others who might have recommendations.
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@Nathalie-Kranich The best chair I've ever had, I got about 6 months ago. It's a Secret Labs Titan chair. My back loves it. My arms love it and I can even sit crossed legged on it. It's boss.
https://secretlab.co.uk/ - UK
https://secretlab.co/ - USA -
@Nathalie-Kranich my balance ball chair has been a lifesaver for me — no more aching in my stubby legs or lower back pain. However, my sister (who also works from home & has scoliosis) tried it out and found that it made her back pain worse, so it doesn’t work out for everyone. (Got mine for less than $100 on Amazon.)
Another non-chair option might be to try a standing desk. A few artists I watch on YouTube highly recommend them & report having less fatigue, strain, and back pain. I’m saving up for a standing desk so can’t share any personal experience ... yet.
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@sigross said in Desk Chair recommendations?:
@Nathalie-Kranich The best chair I've ever had, I got about 6 months ago. It's a Secret Labs Titan chair. My back loves it. My arms love it and I can even sit crossed legged on it. It's boss.
https://secretlab.co.uk/ - UK
https://secretlab.co/ - USA@Nathalie-Kranich I will 100% second Sigross. I am 40 and have had major back problems for a good portion of my life. After many months of paying for chiropractor adjustments I decided to get something that would support my back and is comfortable. Although pricey, it is fully worth the price and I offset my cost. I had paid $300 for 2 months of adjustments, now with my new chair (I'm a bigger dude so it was ~$500) I have only gone in 1 time for an adjustment in the last 3 months.
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@sigross ohh boss chair, now I want it
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Thanks for all the recommendations!
The Titan chairs do look like the kind of thing I'm after and are luckily in my price range, just about. My lower back is actually fine, I tend to be able to keep that in check with what exercise I *do *do, so just out of curiosity, can I ask if @BradAYoo and @sigross found the chair helpful for upper back / general posture at all?
My biggest issue is currently tense traps and forward neck posture, my back lets me lean back a bit far so I'm sitting in a bit 'curved' a lot of the time when I'm not paying attention.
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@Nathalie-Kranich Hi, completely unqualified response, but... I did find myself with pain in my upper back and figured out it is from leaning over to draw at desk level. I have a mid-range chair which is really quite comfortable. But, I was leaning forwards and down to my desk. Without a standing desk, I would suggest raising the working area on your desk so you don't crane forward as much. A box might be a really cheap way to test if that is causing the problem
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@Emma-Echter Oh no, that will do it too! Hope that's fixed for you now. I think in my case my desk is actually a little too high, and i have to raise my shoulders very slightly to settle my arms on the surface! My chair sadly doesn't adjust any further up.
You have reminded me to put another book under my monitor though, which should be a good change XD thanks for that!
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Hi. First I recommend you to watch a Ted Talk called "Find your primal posture and sit without back pain", here you have the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1luKAS_XcgAnd second this is the chair I use (I send you the same amazon link I used to buy it), It takes some time to get use to it if you have bad posture. I had good posture because I used to dance a lot and in dance classes they correct your posture, so I'm very comfortable in it.
https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B07ZJ7L4GT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1And last, a recommendation. Nothing beats good exercise, healthy diet and good sleeping. For the exercise, if you don't like to do it, look for some way of making it fun. Climbing centers or dance classes, for example.
Lindy Hop is a social dance with a great big community that gives you a lot of benefits and you make exercise without even notice it because you are having fun. There's schools all over the world and festivals, etc. Check it out if you are interested in your health(after covid era pass, soon :D).Have an amazing day!!!!!!
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@Nathalie-Kranich Yes it's good for upper back and neck too (plus the lovely memory foam pillow that comes with it is chilled and so soft). There's multiple settings you can adjust in the Titan chair. Like in a car chair where you can lean it back for resting or have it straight up and tight to the curve of your back. Also the arms stop you from hunching because you can adjust them to the height of your desk so the arms extend better from the table. Plus the arm rests can go side to side and back and forth.
This is a review I watched before I bought it because it was an 8 months later review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eyQGn5Df4k -
@sigross thank you, that's super helpful! You're doing a good job selling me on it
Adjustability for sure is a big selling point and they do look high quality. Bit of future proofing I feel. -
@Nathalie-Kranich I thought in lockdown what am I going to be doing most... sitting and drawing! Got to take care of my back, hands, arms and fingers
My previous chair was like the racing bucket seat and I did feel a bit held in place so this one was great for that extra leg space.
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Look for companies that are going out of business. Sometimes they'll just let you have something because no one there cares enough to try and make a couple bucks off of it, and usually they buy decent stuff in bulk
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@sigross yes, im a cheap-skate all the time, but things like back health we use for up to 12 hours a day are super important. I'd prefer the titan but I'm only 173. heard that isn't too big an issue though. I'll probably bite the bullet and get one ordered!
haha @jdubz that's probably good advise for budget shopping. I hope the good ones that sell office chairs won't be going out of business in this economy though!
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@Nathalie-Kranich my mate bought the Omega and after sitting in it there's not much difference in size. Titan is just wider. It depends whether you want a snug racing seat or a spacious flatter seat. Plus the titan has built in adjustable lumbar support and the Omega they give you a hard cushion for support. I like being able to sit cross legged or one leg just tucked under the other - I can't do that in a racing chair.
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@Nathalie-Kranich Oh, don't look for someone that SELLS office chairs. Look for businesses that just HAVE office chairs. Every company has to have them, so when they go out they gotta get rid of them somehow
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@sigross Yes!
This chair is amazing. Both my husband (musician / composer) and I each have our own. For far too long I felt like Goldilocks -- I could NOT find a comfortable place to sit and work on art. Now, I've been recommending this chair to everyone. Worth every penny.@artofjulie
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@artofjulie Yes they're brilliant. Defo worth spending on a decent chair.
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@Nathalie-Kranich
Wow, I’m enjoying all the insights here! I honestly can’t stand sitting, it drives me nuts. So I take tons of breaks (mostly required as part of taking care of kids and such
). But my husband, a programmer who spends most of his day at a desk, has been on a quest for the perfect chair for a little while. He has a standing desk, but likes to be able to sit down too, so he has a bar height chair. He also built himself an ‘uncomfortable chair’ —- apparently it’s called a button chair, that forces you to move to keep upright, engaging muscles and not over straining any one. He recently borrowed, and then purchased, a kneeling chair, which has no back but elevates you in a supported kneeling position. At the moment, his solution is to just switch up between all the options (sitting, kneeling, standing), along with some ring fit for exercise;). I’m going to have to share this thread with him!
