Desk Chair

I'll just add my own recent experience. I decided that a chair I may spend the next decade in deserved proper research, so I made a half hour journey to my nearest Staples, expecting to buy a Kashmir. But I was rather disappointed by the display model. The padding felt unsupportive, and there was no immediate "ah factor", or even the "reassuringly supportive factor" you get from sitting in a proper workstation chair.

The 'Glide' was my favourite pure work chair, but as I wanted a general purpose chair, with a bit more potential for relaxation, I ended up with the Giuseppe, which is very similar to the Kashmir, but in leather rather than fabric. This may be an issue for those who like to slob around in their pants, but I found it a much more satisfying chair to sit in than the Kashmir I tried.

Having said that, when I was able to compare it side by side with my old chair, I discovered that my memory foam cushion, and customised pillow back support may look scruffy, but they already offered me a pretty comfortable seat. The cushion is now being used on the new chair, and the back support has been retired (at least until this chair's paddign starts to fade).

So the moral of the tale is that if you can get hold of some decent memory foam cushioning, you can revive an aging seat very well indeed. Mine were cheap wheelchair type cushions aimed at long term use, so ideal for an office chair.

The main problem with Staples though is that the only time to buy a seat is when it's half price. They all seem to rotate through very big price changes, which is rather frustrating if the one you prefer is price highly at the time. I think the Giuseppe, for example, is over 200 at the moment, and I paid £95 for a first time website order.

Mind you, since then they've bombarded me with junk mail! There's no such thing as a free lunch. :-)
 
Well I stumbled across this thread earlier while being hungover and bored on a Sunday.

Just come back from Staples with a new Kashmir chair! Great so far, arm rests are a little low and I am sat a little differently so might take a bit of time to adjust to but it is perfectly comfortable.
 
soundb0y said:
I'm also going off my Markus and will be looking for a replacement. After a few hours without fail I get a dead arse. Think the padding is starting to wear out and sag.
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The padding on my Markus has also deteriorated, after several years of very heavy use.

I've fixed it by putting a cushion on the chair. Quite a lot cheaper than a new chair.

If I was buying a new chair right now I'd probably get something else, but I'm content with mine and consider it to have been a good buy.
 
Caged said:
Any chair where the back and seat are connected via the armrest so it can't tilt is pure garbage. You don't want a computer chair to be like a sofa that you sink into, it needs to be supportive. I've never understood the amount of fans that crap from Staples has.

At a minimum a chair needs to have:

  • Seat height adjustment
  • Back tilt adjustment
  • Armrest height adjustment
  • Movable lumbar support
  • Back tilt tension adjust
  • Seat depth adjustment

I have a Steelcase Think. Fantastic chair, worth every penny.
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That crap from staples is at least £400 cheaper than the chair you suggested so obviously it's not exactly goint to have the same features, I didn't even know it was possible to be a chair snob.
 
Anything is possible on these forums deko. :rolleyes:

Hopefully somebody with a chair twice of the price of the one Caged bought will post and call his chair garbage ! :D
 
deko said:
That crap from staples is at least £400 cheaper than the chair you suggested so obviously it's not exactly goint to have the same features, I didn't even know it was possible to be a chair snob.
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steelcase...plies_Office_Furniture_ET&hash=item27d64b5fa1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steelcase...vingRoom_RockingChairs_SR&hash=item4d0f06abaf

Both under £200 including delivery.

I can't speak for Caged, but I've responded similarly in some of the many past threads on this topic. It's not snobbery, it's trying to help the OP get better value and a quality chair.

I've bought several Steelcases this way, and each one has been a robust, long-lasting bargain :)
 
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It's your spine you idiots, and yes, eBay is where to get them from. If you care so little about your back that you want to buy something awful and replace it every 18 months then that's up to you. But it costs a lot more in the long run than buying a good one.

It's not being a snob, I haven't set a minimum price someone should spend on a chair, just listed features that it should have. Something with the back and seat linked together and no adjustment other than height is going to do terrible things to your body.
 
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deko said:
That crap from staples is at least £400 cheaper than the chair you suggested so obviously it's not exactly goint to have the same features, I didn't even know it was possible to be a chair snob.
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I see your snobbery and raise you buyer justification....

There is often a very good reason expensive chairs are more expensive. They are better for your body, comfier in the long term and longer lasting. If you spend your working life sitting as I do, I suggest spending more on chairs, as money spent on good quality beds, is money well spent. Ive made the mistake of cutting corners on office chairs more than once and each and every time it has bitten me on the bum. I have no idea how old you are, when I was in my teens and twenties I never ever had a problem with any office chair, they were all fine. As you get older, quality seats show themselves a hell of a lot more as more often than not do cheap ones, such as the crappy Markus.
 
Housey said:
Exactly, they are totally crap and really style over any form of substance.
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No issues with mine after 3+ years in use, no build quality issues and still feels good.

Also, have a healthy spine/ back, if you are in that much pain from using nay other chair, you need to see a consultant.
 
Guys could anyone recommend me a good chair for around £50-£60 please? Ideally it would have the up/down adjustment, back tilt (optional) and arm rests.

I've been looking at the following:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-Tinsl...&qid=1376870537&sr=8-13&keywords=office+chair

71qDj0UD-LL._SL1500_.jpg
 
Sliver said:
Yeah, it's 'my' spine and 'my' money and I'll do with both as I please, regardless of your infantile ad hominem rant. :rolleyes:
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My infantile rant where I wrote out a list of what to look for in a chair and then gave an example of one that ticks the boxes? OK…

Do what you like, after all like you said, it's your back. I'm not sure why the whole subject seems to anger you so much though :confused:
 
cu3ed said:
No issues with mine after 3+ years in use, no build quality issues and still feels good.

Also, have a healthy spine/ back, if you are in that much pain from using nay other chair, you need to see a consultant.
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I'm guessing he has done.

I like my Ikea Markus, had it 4 years now and its never let me down, no back pain to report either and that was with a hyper extended back injury in my lower spine I gave myself training. I've sat at it for long periods of time, some times far too long, and never had a problem.

But there is no denying its a cheap ikea chair. Ok it's no £30 Asda job but its not a £500 chair.
 
MrMarvelous said:
Guys could anyone recommend me a good chair for around £50-£60 please? Ideally it would have the up/down adjustment, back tilt (optional) and arm rests.

I've been looking at the following:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-Tinsl...&qid=1376870537&sr=8-13&keywords=office+chair

71qDj0UD-LL._SL1500_.jpg
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Honestly that looks no better than the ones that pop up on Viking for £35 every now and again. I'd look for a local office furniture place and go and sit on a few. They will sell you decent stuff that's been used for a few years at a fraction of the new price. You'll probably get something with back and arm rest adjustment for your budget.
 
deko said:
That crap from staples is at least £400 cheaper than the chair you suggested so obviously it's not exactly goint to have the same features, I didn't even know it was possible to be a chair snob.
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It is possible, but it's not necessarily snobbery to suggest expensive chairs. Sometimes prices do reflect a significant difference and sometimes it's cheaper in the long run to pay more up front. A £500 chair that lasts 10 years is a better deal than 5 £100 chairs that last 2 years each and are less comfortable, adjustable and supportive. Which is all very well if you can afford a £500 chair. Sam Vimes' boots, as usual.

Paying £500 for a chair because it cost £500 and had a fashionable name on it would be chair snobbery.

I used to buy £10-£20 shoes. Now I buy £80-£100 shoes...and they last 10 times as long and are far more comfortable. The scale is different, but the principle is the same.
 
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cu3ed said:
No issues with mine after 3+ years in use, no build quality issues and still feels good.

Also, have a healthy spine/ back, if you are in that much pain from using nay other chair, you need to see a consultant.
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I do see a consultant as I have an old injury causing my pelvis to be prone to moving out of line needing adjustment. One of the route causes is a crap seating posture...
 
GT 700 "bucket seat" office chair. Again, not cheap (£110 on a popular auction site) but my lady bought one and they are rather comfy. Well padded and look like they'll last :)
 
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