Help me find a good office chair!

[GH85Carrera]

I have a home office that I do spend a lot of time in. Much of the time is relaxing and watching TV. My wife is in the living room watching her shows and I am in the office watching my shows or actually working on the computer.

I am a typical American. 6 foot tall and for sure a bit overweight, but I am working on that! ;

Anyway the last two office chairs I bought just fell apart because they are designed for a 130 pound person I presume. I have a chair at my real office that is 12 years old and still solid. It does not have a brand name.

I DO NOT want a leather chair. I wear shorts and a t-shirt most of the year and cloth is more comfortable. I want a chair that has a footrest and reclines and is tall enough to nap in. And no, a standard recliner will not work. I want the wheels and the ability to swivel and move the chair to pull up to the computer desk or rotate 180 and recline back and watch TV.

I would prefer an American made chair. I suspect the last two were made in China typical crap.

So the specs: I want a chair that can handle a 220 pound man, has a foot rest, and a high back so I can tilt back and take a nap. And I don't want leather.

I have searched on-line but I can't find anything that fits my specs. Any ideas of a good brand or a source?

[blucille]

I bought a corbeau racing seat and their kit for turning it into an office chair. Very pleased.

[widebody911]

I need one too; I have an Aeron, but the seat frame broke, which is apparently a common problem. Shops want upwards of $200 just for a new seat! I even see broken ones on eBay, which makes no sense - why would you buy a broken part?

[Por_sha911]

My company has hundreds of employees with their cans in black mesh Tempur-Pedic chairs. For support, and durability they are awesome. There are two kinds. The T9000 and then there is another one with more back support and a head rest. The second is the way to go but I don't know what model it is.
Not fancy but great office chairs.

[Noah930]

Sounds like you're looking for one of those hover chairs from Wall-E.

[Jim Richards]

Glen, I've had my Aeron chair for 13 years and only replaced the adjustable lumbar support piece. You know what size of a person I am, so YMMV.

Edit: My wife has one, too. She's had it about 10 years. We both love the Aeron chairs.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Sounds like you're looking for one of those hover chairs from Wall-E.

As long as the anti gravity engine does not make and exhaust. It is always operated inside.

I don't need to move around the house, just rotate from east to west. The computer is on one side of the room, the TV is on the other. I don't move more than 10 or 12 inches after rotating.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Sounds like you're looking for one of those hover chairs from Wall-E.

I want one of those chairs.

[Rodsrsr]

Plus 1 on the Herman Miller Aeron. They are pricey but for a reason, and come in small, med and large. Most office chairs should be rated at around 250 lb weight capacity...I used to sell Office furniture.

[VincentVega]

I buy a chair from costco every 2-3 yrs and every time look at teh Aerons. I'm sure I could have 1-2 by now. My current chair is broken and yet I still balk at the Aeron price.

[911boost]

I have a Herman Miller in my office too, the posture one in large.

No leg rest though.....

[vash]

i got a bug up my ass about this being my office chair. (and my office)

[Jim Richards]

You're on the right track, Cliff!

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I buy a chair from costco every 2-3 yrs and every time look at teh Aerons. I'm sure I could have 1-2 by now. My current chair is broken and yet I still balk at the Aeron price.

After visiting a few office products businesses to get an idea of what felt right with my body (my education), I looked at Costco and bought a full leather, and padded, chair with an alloy frame that lasted me 25 years. Sold it with my desk when I sold the business.
It was just shy of $300, as I recall.

Go to a used office furniture store and find what fits you. I lease, build and furnish offices for a living and it's never a one size fits all. Because I have a rotten back, I searched for a while - ended up buying an Allsteel #19. It's over $1K but worth every penny. Find what fits you and talk the store into letting you try it for a few days.

[Robert Adams]

Happen to be in the business and have probably sold close to 5000 -10000 Aerons over the last 20 years.
The Aeron is probably one of the best if not the best around. I sit in one I bought new manufactured in 1998; almost 20 years ago and have never had to fix anything. Some folks don't like the mesh seat because it can be a bit hard on the pants. If your giving your computer a good work out more than watching TV this chair might be the way to go. The reason the mesh is so popular is because it doesn't cause friction like normal upholstery fabrics do. The mesh creates circulation by letting air filter through and actually lowers your body temp almost 5 to 6 degrees thereby reducing body aches, pains and the associated fatigue. Look for one on CL. Just check the date of the manufacturing sticker on the seat bottom. Anything over 8-10 years old I wouldn't buy; there are lots of newer ones out there for the same money and they come with a warranty. Aerons sell for around $400 to $500 for used fully optioned models. Fully optioned models have two adjustment levers on the left (sitting in the chair) and one on the right. It should also come with an adjustable lumbar cushion on the back side of the seat back. New, I think they are around $800-$900 optioned. I don't feel a stripped version is worth the money. I don't sell Aerons anymore because I'm no longer affiliated with Herman Miller as a dealer.
Another chair to consider if you have a bad back is Allseating's Therapod Chair (made in Canada).
Therapod Therapist Extra Highback | Allseating
It has hidden belts that tighten and loosen back lumbar tension as you need or don't need back support. Watch their video. Its a manual process to adjust, but once set you will rarely change them. I recommend the value plus mechanism, and the grade 3 Moguls fabric; its quilted and further softens the sitting and support to the back. I do sell Therapod chairs and if you want more info shoot me a PM.

[yazhound]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Glen, I've had my Aeron chair for 13 years and only replaced the adjustable lumbar support piece. You know what size of a person I am, so YMMV.

Edit: My wife has one, too. She's had it about 10 years. We both love the Aeron chairs.

I have had an Aeron for about ten years. Best office chair I have had. Got it because bad back. Now 3 yrs out of 3 level fusion and the chair has been a boon.

[porsche4life]

We have a the Herman Miller Celle chairs in my office and I love them. Adjust in about every day possible so I always hate when something happens and chairs get rearranged. Takes a few minutes to get one adjusted like I want it! Only thing they don't have you are asking for is a foot rest though.

[GH85Carrera]

My current home office chair has the footrest and the extra tall back. If I happen to get a little sleepy I can just lean back and take a nap.

[matthewb0051]

+1

Herman Miller Aeron. I got mine free and broken (seat) which I replaced for around $150 and its great. So for a little $$ I have a $800 chair. You an even mix and match colors