It’s day 24 of my working from home experience and I realize I’ve made a strategic error in the quality of my office chair. As a frequent business traveler who’s normally on the road more weeks than I am not, I don’t spend a lot of time in my home office. In fact, when not traveling I usually go into my company’s local office so I can see my staff face to face. But now, having sat in the same frigging chair for 24 days, my ass has said, “enough already!”
A few jobs ago I worked out of my house and had invested in a better quality chair – but even then since my job was about 50% travel – I wasn’t sitting in it for a sustained period of time. In my current role, as noted earlier, I am rarely in need of home office. I still keep a home office setup so I can have a quiet space to write this blog, or grade papers in my side hustle as an adjunct faculty member at a local university. Being a bit of a cheapskate on many things I did not put serious money into a desk chair.
That was a mistake.
The model I bought was a OFM Essentials Collection Executive Office Chair that cost me less than $75.00. That stat alone should tell you all you need to know about the quality of my investment.
See the incredibly affordable price of the chair I purchased
Now, as I sit in this chair for extended periods of time, virtually leading my 225 employees, my rear end has staged a revolt. To make matters worse, my wife has invested in a good quality chair and I can see her sitting across the room in peaceful, luxurious booty-bliss enjoying the comforts of a well made office chair. Occasionally I will stretch my legs and attempt to commandeer her chair only to be rebuffed by a stern look, or a “oh, hell no!”
At this point I am either going to have to drop some coin on a new model, or get a seat cushion like the one pictured below:
This seat cushion is pretty affordable (I may just do it)
I’ve been researching some new office chairs and there’s several ways to go here. I could go a more traditional route like this fella:
It’s still pretty reasonably priced
Or, I could amp it up with something crazy like a gaming chair, or drop north of a grand on a chair. Here’s a few options:
- Badass Gaming Chair (it’s purple!)
- Way overpriced chair that, for this price, better come with a personal masseuse
- I could go with a retro chair…but that would be stupid
What do you think I should do!? Any recommendations for a reasonably priced home office chair that the north end of my south bound body will approved of??
Be sure to check out my Best Tips for Working from Home post as well as my 7 Top Accessories you need to get your Home Office Sorted out.
Thanks, Be Safe, Wear Pants, and For the Love of God…get up and walk around!
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10 comments
Seems like you have learned nothing from the mistake of buying a ridiculously priced chair. You CANNOT but a quality chair for $75 or for $160. A quality office chair will not only be very comfortable, but will last a decade. I speak from experience of making the same mistakes as you a couple of times before investing into Steelcase Leap chair. One would cost you between $300 and $700.
Lesson learned!
I had the same issue and ironically bought the BIFMA chair a week ago and its was such a upgrade to the kitchen table chairs I was sitting in to do work. Do recommend the chair once it was broken in after a day or two of sitting and working in it it has been really comfortable and reasonably priced too.
Thanks for the tip!
It depends on how you sit. Do you perch on the end of your chair? If so I recommend the cushion. I sit on the edge of my chair and don’t lean back as much, and ended up purchasing a memory foam cushion for use at work. But if you are the type to lean back and need lumbar support, arm support, etc, then those cannot be fixed with just a cushion.
For my home chair, I purchased a mid range thick bottom cushioned chair that’s served me well for almost a decade. When I shopped I looked at Office Depot first mainly because they had a sorting for “recommended daily use”. The ‘office chair’ category highest rating is 8-10 hrs. It’s not a universal third party approved rating but it helps narrow down choices.
Great feedback and thanks for the tip. I will check out Office Depot
Steelcase leap v2. 300$ at local consignment stores dealing with surplus office equipment . They usually list on Craigslist. Such stores might also carry Herman Miller Aeron, albeit older models. These usually run to 400$.
Either works very well for several hours.
Thanks for the advice!
There are plenty of ergonomic options out there. From split saddle chairs, to perch stools, rotation ergochair…. it comes down to movement you’re right, but also blood circulation/ergonomics. Ideally you should be able to alternate sitting and standing with movements is your best option. Either investing in a standing desk or DiY one. Keep movin’! Cheers
I’ve been eyeballing a standing desk (well, the one that sits on top of your desk, anyway). Thanks for the comment, take care!