Office Chairs

[Tesla]

Hi all

 

I had a bit of a sore back/neck before summer, eased off during the Summer Hols, now that i'm back (no pun intended) it's playing up again, so I am looking to buy a new chair

 

Got about £150 ish to spend on one, any suggestions?

Edited September 5, 2014 by Tesla

[Edu-IT]

Something like this? https://www.officefurnitureonline.co.uk/office-chairs/mesh-chairs/mesh-chairs-100-150/ergo-tek-mesh-manager-chair.html

[Tesla]

That looks weirdly alien to me, but looks like it'll deffo do the job, will bare that in mind (except i'd get the blue one )

[Tesla]

bumpity bump

[elsiegee40]

Having had a couple of operations on my back, this is something I have to take care with. I use a Staples " Deluxe Operator Chair" at home and school bought me the same model when I assured them that this chair supported me in all the right places ... the cost was around the £130 mark. I suggest that you visit your nearest branch of staples, etc and sit in them and try them out to see which actually supports your back best; what suits one person may not suit you.

 

However, the chair isn't everything. You can waste a lot of money on a chair when what is actually needed is a reorganisation of your desk space: clear surfaces and the floor so that you can sit straight at the desk, ensure that your monitor is at the right height (I have a box file under mine) and that it is directly in front of you, use a wrist support if you need one. A tidy desk space has actually made a world of difference to me!

Edited September 8, 2014 by elsiegee40

[Tesla]

Unfortunately, there isnt a lot of my work environment i can tinker with, my eyes are currently level with the top of the monitor (which is the correct way i believe?) i have a work bench that my stuff is on rather than an actual desk (I share the staff work room)...

 

on a side note, i just browsed the staples website and came across this... Staples Ocean Operator Chair, Black | Staples.co.uk 6.66 for an office chair...

[elsiegee40]

If your computer is not on a proper desk that you can sit straight at and you are having back problems, then you need to get that sorted. A chair will make no difference. You need to be able to get your legs comfortably under the desk and not leaning round or over things before your posture will be correct. I saw our H&S manager to get mine sorted out.

[Tesla]

i do have leg room underneath, so that's not the issue (last year it wasn't clear under there, but it's clear now and the pain i had came back. I've been trying for my own office for 4 years now, but we have very limited space and are running over capacity at the moment, so i'm not set to move for a while

[elsiegee40]

If it is affecting your health, you ned to start making noises and getting them to take you seriously. Too many people are laid low by back probkems and employers are required to ensure that your work space is fit for purpose. Just buying a chair won't fix the problem. Giving you your own office won't necessarily fix it either. What will fix it is ensuring that the work space you are using is furnished properly.

[Tesla]

The first suggestion i imagine anyway would be to try a new chair, as it involves the least work on their part. So, i'll probably try to pop into staples at some point this week , see what's there, etc, but again, any other suggestions are more than welcome. Anyone got/tried mesh chairs?

[teejay]

Make sure you take breaks away from your desk, I set a timer on my phone so every hour I take a little break from the desk for 5 minutes, go for a wonder round or just do a few stretches etc or just stand up for a bit. Also, make sure you take your lunch break, ideally again go for a walk.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Something like this? https://www.officefurnitureonline.co.uk/office-chairs/mesh-chairs/mesh-chairs-100-150/ergo-tek-mesh-manager-chair.html

 

There's one of these in our office. John swears by it, but he's the only person. It's been tried and rejected by everyone else (including myself) over the last 12 months or so!

[Tesla]

all thr reviews of that model seem to be very good, it's tempting, but again, it's always difficult if you cant physically sit in it first

[localzuk]

I have one of these at work - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-Tinsley-Managers-Adjustable-6200ATGFBK/dp/B004OEIICK/ref=sr_1_47?ie=UTF8&qid=1410165943&sr=8-47&keywords=office+chairs

 

We didn't pay anything near that price though, closer to £60. It has a slight recline to it, which suits my coccydinia perfectly.

[Pyroman]

As has been said above, you need to go any try chairs out, i have mine reclined at a really steep angle but it's great for my back. If you mention it to H&S at work they might get an occupational therapist in. They did with me and work spent a reasonable ammount of money making changes for me, new chair, trolleys to carry things. It's definitely worth mentioning.

[spacebar]

I have found that chairs which have a bend in them tend to make my back worse. Maybe I am not using them right.

 

You could ditch the chair and just stand. Your desk would need to be adjusted to get the screen higher etc.

[Tesla]

standing isnt an option for me, as i have a slight discrepancy in the length of my legs, so standing for a prolonged time isn't good for me

[SiliconAlley_Sam]

+1 for everyone suggesting you go sit in some!

 

Half the people here love our chairs and half have had to get additional back support thingies (technical term) so levels of comfort and support do seem to differ wildly between individuals.

[Soulfish]

I work from home a lot now so recently treated myself to a new chair. Ended up getting a Steelcase Leap (Leap | Task Chairs | Seating | Category | Products | Steelcase) after doing a lot of research. Absolutely wonderful chair - so many adjustments and it just "glides" to suit your body . I ended up getting mine from Ebay as a refurbed v2 model with new leather, and there's normally v1 and v2 models available for £150-200. They're over £800 new!

[john]

We have swapped all our chairs in our office for these - Office furniture and comprehensive interior solutions | TECHO | Introduction (without the extra headrest) and they have done wonder for my back and I believe that my colleagues, once they got them adjusted, have found them good hey @Ric_ and @Domino ?

[Tesla]

What price were they, can't seem to find it? (only had a quick glance, mind)

[Joanne]

.......

[Tesla]

Comfier than what i have at the moment....

[WebWhiteboard_Richard]

Half the people here love our chairs and half have had to get additional back support thingies (technical term) so levels of comfort and support do seem to differ wildly between individuals.

 

I'm an additional back support thingy user (I believe 'lumbar support' is the more official term, but I like yours better!) and couldn't imagine sitting for long periods in a chair without one. The one I currently use has a mesh back built in, but the retrofitted ones can be just as good.

 

As has been said, go to somewhere like IKEA and sit in various different types to see which you prefer.

[bmdixon]

Just to make everyone jealous... We have Herman Miller Aerons here (I'm a developer for a software company). They're not cheap but they apparently hold their value well so can be sold on for quite a lot as well. It's very comfy and i hate sitting on any other office chair now!