When it comes down to deciding on an office chair it is best to think about how it is going to affect your health and wallet long term. A buy once, cry once deal may be the wiser decision but you are unable to afford it at the time. On the other hand buying a cheaper office chair may lead to you buying multiple chairs or replacement parts for part broken ones. There are various types of chairs such as saddle, kneeling, ergonomic, exercise ball chair and reclining office chair with footrest. So let us take a look at how to pick the right one for you.
Support & Adjustability:
Probably the most important set of features a good office chair should have is the ability to be able to support your back and improve your posture. If you are going to be sitting in a chair for long hours over multiple days you are going to need a chair that is able to sit you upright so that there is minimal risk of suffering from neck, spinal and low back pain.
Kneeling chairs are good for posture but after long use can put pressure onto the spine. The same applies to saddle chairs with the added fact they are already high and would need an adjustable desk to compliment them fully. Exercise balls can increase posture but are not adjustable and can lead to slouching after a short amount of time.
Category Recommendation: Ergonomic Chair
Comfort:
Sitting in one spot can become uncomfortable very quickly if you’re not providing yourself with the right type of seat. The materials of a chair and the features that it has to offer can all play a part in how long you are going to keep focus on your work for, leading to how productive your day is going to be and how happy you (and your boss) are with the outcome of your work.
The novelty and comfort of an exercise ball may diminish after around an hour of use and kneeling chairs can instantly exclude anyone who suffers from knee problems due to the pressure put on the knees.
Category Recommendation: Ergonomic Chair or Saddle Chair
Price Range:
If good health and regular intervals of standing are not a worry for you when choosing an office chair, attention would turn to the price tag attached to it. Whether it’s cheap and cheerful, finding a balance of value and quality or saving up and spending big, the prices for office chairs can widely vary.
The adjustability and versatility that a saddle chair possesses means that the price is more likely to be above average for an office chair, and while an ergonomic chair is probably seen as one of the best options in the long run, it may not fit into your financial plans in the short term.
Category Recommendation: Exercise Ball or Kneeling Chair
Should you buy ergonomic chair? Well, this depends on your budget. Each person looking to buy a new office chair will have a rough picture in their head of what it will look like. If you can afford a top of the range chair that covers all bases then why not? But if your wallet can’t quite stretch that far yet or you are just not that fussy, there are plenty of alternatives out there that will tick at least most of the boxes you are looking for. We would recommend that you look into it.
