Is it just me or is finding a comfy chair impossible?

[Tephnos]

Over the past few years I've tried a number of chairs, including some so called championed ergonomic chairs, and I just never truly get on with any of them!

I'm not the tallest guy at 165cm, but that usually means I have no issues fitting into the most common types of chairs, so that's not really the issue, it's just that chairs which attempt to shove my lumbar too much where it is noticeable end up agitating my lower back after some time. I lift heavy weights a few times a week, so it's not like it is an issue with my muscles or posture either - maybe I just have a weirdly straight lumbar which is easily bothered by these kinds of chairs?

For the past couple of years I was using a Steelcase Gesture, but I noticed over time I wouldn't really ever sit properly on it because whenever I did lean back into it (or recline for long periods of time), the lumbar support just killed my lower back and I never did get used to that, and I certainly gave it enough time. I also really missed having some way of properly reclining while resting my head, and Steelcase's headrests are all complete crap.

Before that, I spent 3 years on a DXRacer. Was it comfortable? Sure, but after 3 years I started getting lower back pain because, as it turns out, these chairs with flat backs don't properly support your lower back (creating gaps) that lumbar cushions just do not properly fix (and again, would dig into my back if I raised it up too much).

The chairs I've actually never had any issues with comfort on even for extended periods of seating are... the cheap crappy executive style ones, ironically enough. They don't last too long, but they never caused me issues either (granted, I was younger then and late teens, but I'm still young at 27!). My favourite one was some microfibre chair that I had no idea of the name any more, I just remember stealing it from @mrk when I saw it in some of his old pictures . It didn't have the highest back, but was good enough for resting my head on with my height regardless.

Currently, I'm a few days into an IKEA MARKUS, and once again, while it seems I'm perfectly built for everything else the chair offers (seat is good, armrests are a perfect height, I am in love with having a high backed chair I can lean fully into again and just recline far back without feeling like my head wants to fall off eventually), that damn lumbar foam is causing me discomfort because it's just too intense... and it's just a bit of god-damned foam.

So... am I the only one finding out that apparently what I actually like is a nice plush chair with good padding for support and I just drank the ergo chair kool-aid?

 

[Tephnos]

Get a kneeling chair off eBay for £80 or get a Herman miller from John Lewis for £1200.

Choice is yours

Sounds like you didn't really read the OP, because I mentioned the overly ergonomic chairs like HM still cause me discomfort, even when adjusted. It's obviously a very subjective thing.

 

[Tephnos]

Well the Markus is causing you issues and it's a standard chair. You will need the right ergonomic chair with a proper assessment by a professional.

Try a kneeling chair it's where you have zero back. Or try a yoga ball.

Will take 3-4 weeks to adjust to it but after that plain sailing.

Causing my issues mainly because of the lumbar area. Rest of the chair is fine. Since IKEA has a generous return policy I may try just removing the foam insert for that before giving up if I can't adjust to it. The mesh should still give some support I hope.

Best chair I've ever owned is a cloth (I don't like leather chairs) AK racing one I've had for about 6 years now, which I bought for around £150. No wear on it either.

Good lumbar support is hard to find on a desk chair though. When you look at actual racing seats they are a more supportive shape.

Well, racing seats are designed in a way to stop you flying off the thing with high g forces when doing quick turns and the like, not really something you'd care about in an office chair! Can't imagine they're rated for more than a few hours usage either.

Actually, it could be.
I used to lift weights around your age and had similar discomforts from 'standard' chairs. Turns out part of the problem was indeed poor form when lifting, but being young I never noticed it or suffered any issues.... fast forward a couple of decades and the problems have now come to light.

Worth getting checked out by a specialist, and I mean a proper musculo-skeletal type doctor not just 'Todd down the gym' who spots for you or something.

That's fair, although I did pay proper attention to form when starting out and using next to no weight before I started adding it on once I was happy with my lifting form, I just didn't clarify that in the OP.

I'm going full executive chesterfield for my next office chair. If that's what company CEOs sit on, then they must be comfortable.

Did a quick google and they seem fairly cheap? Seems like it'd suffer from the standard PU leather problem of just disintegrating after a year or two.

 

[Tephnos]

Have you tried a standing desk? Great for back pain and you'll live longer too according to the research.

Another option is to consider your posture and fix any imbalances that you may have.

Haven't tried a standing desk, although I have an area suitable that I do use with a laptop sometimes, I also often get up and walk around instead of staying seated for long periods of time.

 

[Tephnos]

Like most things, there seem to be cheap imitations which I'm sure aren't as good.

The decent ones seem to be £600+.

Now that I'm permanently working from home, I can justify that kind of expense for a comfy seat a lot easier.

Fair. Personally I'm after something with a nice high back/headrest that is supportive when leaning back and lounging in. This seems particularly difficult to find in office chairs. Far easier in gimmicky gamer chairs which don't have ergonomic support, lol...

 

[Tephnos]

As I mentioned in the OP, I spent 2 years trying to get used to one. It just wasn't working out.

 

[Tephnos]

I love comfy soft office chairs, but tricky to find one that fits unless you live near a seat superstore.

10 years ago i had the most comfy chair, it was a herman miller, but it was super soft and comfy, had really thick cushions. I chucked it when I moved thinking I would find another. Now they just sell the wire ones and I miss that chair. I sometimes browse ebay looking for it. it's gone forever.

I kinda feel that way when I see all the past raving of the Kashmir chair. I would've probably loved it, but it's gone now too.

 

[Tephnos]

its not just you OP. I have tried dozens of chairs in showrooms and have yet to find one which I'd say was perfect! Of all the ones I tried I found Himola to be the best. But they ain't cheap and still weren't perfect...

I just want a comfy chair that I can recline in and play games with too man, why is it so hard?

 

[Tephnos]

Loving my Noblechairs Hero Black Edition

I'm nowhere near tall enough for that chair, and Noblechairs don't want to add in the built in lumbar support to their ICON so there's no point in me even giving gamer chairs a second thought again.

Which is annoying because they seem to be the only kind that gets a proper recline.

 

[Tephnos]

I partly blame the caster wheels, i reckon the holy grail lies elsewhere.

I reckon the holy grail for me is probably just a well padded executive chair that uses good foam that won't flatten instantly and leather that won't crack in a year, while also having a nice recline that's lockable.

What I find interesting is all the actual 24/7 rated chairs are padded to hell and back compared to the 8 hour rated ergo chairs.

 

[Tephnos]

You want this then:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/noblechairs-very-short-gas-lift-replacement-50mm-gc-00s-nc.html

So unfortunately, Noblechairs say that those shorter lifts are meant for the EPIC and ICON, not the HERO, which is designed for people who are way above average size!

I had a kneeling chair years ago. One of the marketing claims was that it made it "impossible to slouch". Which turned out to be nonsense, I spent most of my time in that "chair" slouched to all hell

I currently use a 2nd hand HM Aero and... it's not all that comfortable. And I get back pain, still.

I think a good chair is probably impossible to find for some of us awkward buggers.


Part of it is that we sit down waaaaaaay too much, depending on job. I'm sat down all bleddy day

I think a part of is it that office chairs are just that - task chairs. At least, the expensive ones everyone and their mom raves about. They're meant for upright working in a regular 8-hour office day so that a business can avoid health liabilities. They're not designed at all for the lounging and reclining that we want to do at home. Some chairs, like the Steelcase lot, do let you do that, but since their headrests are all crap and no decent aftermarket kind exist we're buggered there.

 

[Tephnos]

It's definitely hard when it comes to finding a comfy chair, What is a shame is there's just a lack of places to actually be able to try them out before you buy,But i find this pretty much with everything in the UK now you literally can't try stuff out in a store 9/10 before you buy (well not around my area anyway)

Even worse way up in the sticks. If only disassembly wasn't such a pain in the arse and requiring a hammer.

 

[Tephnos]

I feel your pain I'm in the same situation at the moment, it's so bad I'm considering getting a comfy armchair and strapping a pair of wheels to it.

I would do that too, but too bad they're so big for desk usage. And you don't get the infamous Lazyboy chairs in the UK either.

I did remember what my old fibre chair was called though, was the Staples Conrad. Seems the chairs Staples carry now are all crap, nothing like the Kashmir and Conrad seems to exist anymore.

Comfy is dead. My ass is sad.

 

[Tephnos]

Can you link me to that exact chair, please? Seems to be a few versions called Freedom. Would be much appreciated, cheers!

https://www.humanscale.com/products/seating/freedom-headrest-executive-chair