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kes posted:Just bought my Embody with the fabric upgrade for $1050 after tax. That's a crazy good price, right? It's a normal non-gouging price. I got my upgraded Embody with chromed base and stuff for $950 in Canada from a local business supplier.
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Jun 25, 2013 17:04
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Wired did a review round up of (also offers some fit tips):
http://www.wired.com/reviews/2013/06/office-chair-gallery/
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Jun 28, 2013 15:16
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Maneki Neko posted:Wired did a review round up of (also offers some fit tips): Wow, this is the first worthwhile chair review I've seen. Most are either too uncritical or don't know anything about ergonomics. I wish there were more of these. Most of it is pretty spot on from my experience, although I feel like there was too much of an emphasis on expensive "executive" versions rather than the more common task chairs. Glad to see the Steelcase Gesture taken to task, I tried it at a trade show last month and it is an AWFUL chair. He really should have reviewed the Leap instead. That said, if you notice, he mentions that the Freedom encourages you to recline. That's true, its a fine chair if you're using it to watch TV. But the angle it reclines at is horrible for working at a desk. It throws you wayyyyy back, much too far from your screen. And unless you have a medical reason to have a headrest, you shouldn't have one on a task chair.
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Jul 1, 2013 00:05
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Rotten Red Rod posted:And unless you have a medical reason to have a headrest, you shouldn't have one on a task chair. Why not?
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Jul 1, 2013 16:00
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Coredump posted:Why not? Normally, when you ask 20 ergonomists for an opinion on something, you get 20 wildly different opinions. But pretty much all of them agree that headrests aren't a great idea without a specific medical need.
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Jul 1, 2013 16:53
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Rotten Red Rod posted:The general consensus of ergonomists is that it reduces the amount of muscle activity in your neck. Which is BAD - you want to build up those muscles with good posture. To use a headrest, you have to actively use bad posture. poo poo I didn't know that. You made my brain bigger. I assume though if you're doing the 120 degree reclined position that that one study said was easier on your spine then use a headrest there right?
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Jul 1, 2013 17:15
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Coredump posted:poo poo I didn't know that. You made my brain bigger. I assume though if you're doing the 120 degree reclined position that that one study said was easier on your spine then use a headrest there right?
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Jul 1, 2013 17:26
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I'm looking for an inexpensive yet decent chair for my new place, and found a Steelcase Topaz (model TB117) for $125 from the local university's surplus store. Would that be a good buy? My wife and I don't really have the money to spend on an actual Good Chair (plus she thinks it's a waste to get anything over $100, but would settle for this), but I sit at my computer enough that I think it would be better to have a proper office/task chair than a dining room chair.
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Jul 10, 2013 16:41
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hooah posted:I'm looking for an inexpensive yet decent chair for my new place, and found a Steelcase Topaz (model TB117) for $125 from the local university's surplus store. Would that be a good buy? My wife and I don't really have the money to spend on an actual Good Chair (plus she thinks it's a waste to get anything over $100, but would settle for this), but I sit at my computer enough that I think it would be better to have a proper office/task chair than a dining room chair. That basically IS a dining room chair, are you sure you have the model name right? Edit: On an unrelated note, I was at a furniture trade show in Chicago last month, and I saw the most hideous office chair in existence. I took a photo, but unfortunately it looks like I accidentally deleted it. It was this same chair, but with white leather:  It looks a lot more heinous in person than it does in an image. It's like 5 feet tall and nearly as wide. It's like something that the owner in a sweat shop sits in to lord over his employees how much better he is than them. I have no idea what the target market for this chair is other than that. In general a lot of the Asian product booths were kind of sketchy. They were either staffed by booth babes who know nothing about product (which is really awkward at a very product-focused trade show) or stone-faced guys who don't even acknowledge you. Whereas most of the other booths were full of salespeople trying to get your attention. Rotten Red Rod fucked around with this message at 17:23 on Jul 10, 2013 |
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Jul 10, 2013 17:05
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Do you hang it from that ceiling fan on the bottom or something? Or is it a hover chair?
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Jul 10, 2013 17:29
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Rotten Red Rod posted:You mean this? http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/seating/multi-use-guest/topaz/pages/overview.aspx Apparently the surplus store didn't get something right. Here's the link: http://www.msusurplusstore.com/servlet/Detail?no=8158
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Jul 10, 2013 17:38
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hooah posted:Apparently the surplus store didn't get something right. Here's the link: http://www.msusurplusstore.com/servlet/Detail?no=8158 That looks like a leap to me, but I could be crazy. If that's really the chair and it's $125 and an actual steelcase, that's a steal.
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Jul 10, 2013 17:59
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hooah posted:Apparently the surplus store didn't get something right. Here's the link: http://www.msusurplusstore.com/servlet/Detail?no=8158 What I find funny is how they highlight "TB117" as some kind of selling point. TB117 is a fire retardant requirement that ALL furniture has to have (in California at least, not sure of the requirements in Michigan). I'm guessing whoever listed that chair for sale doesn't know much about furniture.
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Jul 10, 2013 18:04
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Rotten Red Rod posted:Edit: On an unrelated note, I was at a furniture trade show in Chicago last month, and I saw the most hideous office chair in existence. I took a photo, but unfortunately it looks like I accidentally deleted it. It was this same chair, but with white leather: Good labeling on the photo: that is a boss chair.
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Jul 10, 2013 18:08
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I know it's been hammered before, but here's why you shouldn't buy a crappy generic chair from Office Depot, Staples, or Office Max: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130711-707700.htmlquote:Staples Recalls 3,350 Chairs on Fall Hazard
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Jul 12, 2013 20:11
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It's true. Every single Office Max/Staples $100 chair I've ever owned the legs have broken off.
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Jul 12, 2013 20:35
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Went to get my Leap today. They didn't have the one on the website, but they had one of a different year in a different color. My wife thought it stank (I couldn't smell anything with my nose in the fabric), and she didn't like how one of the arms was fairly scratched up. A guy working at the surplus store heard her deriding the chair, and said they might have one more in the back. He checked, and they did! It even has the school's logo on it, which, being a loyal fan, is a nice touch. 
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Jul 13, 2013 01:43
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Wow nice find, that's an absolutely killer deal if you only payed $125 for it. Looks like it's in great shape from the picture.
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Jul 13, 2013 02:37
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I just got a leap in nominally new condition for $300, everything is shiny and still has all of the regulatory tags and sales tags on it, still happy as hell
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Jul 13, 2013 20:08
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Can anyone with a newly purchased Leap tell me the manufacturing country of origin? It should be on the tag underneath the seat. I have a 2007 Leap (version 2) that was manufactured in the US. I read that many of the new Steelcase chairs are now made in Mexico.
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Jul 15, 2013 23:25
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converge posted:Can anyone with a newly purchased Leap tell me the manufacturing country of origin? It should be on the tag underneath the seat.
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Jul 16, 2013 04:34
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Mine is from 2009, proudly made in Wisconsin
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Jul 16, 2013 04:58
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Less than 30 days old and Made in Mexico  Edit: Actually decided to return the chair and dug out my old leather officedepot deluxe. Wow what a difference, my rear end has been papered now!
poxin fucked around with this message at 12:40 on Jul 16, 2013 |
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Jul 16, 2013 12:29
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How do you tell how old a Leap is? Is it on one of the tags on the bottom? Granted, I didn't take the time to thoroughly inspect the bottom of my new chair, and now it's two hours away.
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Jul 16, 2013 12:34
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hooah posted:How do you tell how old a Leap is? Is it on one of the tags on the bottom? Granted, I didn't take the time to thoroughly inspect the bottom of my new chair, and now it's two hours away. Typically the ship date tab will help you out and tell you how old it is.
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Jul 16, 2013 12:43
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This thread has made me doubt the love I have for my Markus from Ikea I've had for the past 5 years.
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Jul 16, 2013 17:24
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I'm in a conundrum. I need a chair after my 200 dollar chair has seemingly broken so that it tilts side to side now. I have a Herman Miller Aeron chair at work which is really great, having sat in it for 8 hours a day for 5 years. I can get any Herman Miller chair for 52% off through work so I am considering the Embody chair. Anyone have any extended experience with it? I sat in it for a minute or two a couple of years ago but haven't tried it for any extended period of time.
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Jul 16, 2013 18:15
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Hamelekim posted:I'm in a conundrum. I need a chair after my 200 dollar chair has seemingly broken so that it tilts side to side now. I have a Herman Miller Aeron chair at work which is really great, having sat in it for 8 hours a day for 5 years. I can get any Herman Miller chair for 52% off through work so I am considering the Embody chair. Anyone have any extended experience with it? I sat in it for a minute or two a couple of years ago but haven't tried it for any extended period of time. That wired review I posted farther up the page talks about the embody: http://www.wired.com/reviews/2013/06/office-chair-gallery/?pid=3399
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Jul 16, 2013 18:30
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Maneki Neko posted:That wired review I posted farther up the page talks about the embody: These reviews never go into detail on these chairs. This Gizmodo article seems better, but still doesn't really say how it feels to sit for 8 hours in one. http://gizmodo.com/5071571/undefined
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Jul 16, 2013 20:15
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Hamelekim posted:I'm in a conundrum. I need a chair after my 200 dollar chair has seemingly broken so that it tilts side to side now. I have a Herman Miller Aeron chair at work which is really great, having sat in it for 8 hours a day for 5 years. I can get any Herman Miller chair for 52% off through work so I am considering the Embody chair. Anyone have any extended experience with it? I sat in it for a minute or two a couple of years ago but haven't tried it for any extended period of time. From what I HAVE experienced, the Embody is a very nice chair with a lot of adjustments. The only real drawback is that those adjustments are very confusing if you aren't used to them. What is your actual final price of the Embody? 52% may actually not mean a lot - if it's 52% off the manufacturer list price, you're technically just getting NORMAL retail price for the chair that any dealer would charge you. Stangg posted:This thread has made me doubt the love I have for my Markus from Ikea I've had for the past 5 years. Rotten Red Rod fucked around with this message at 20:28 on Jul 16, 2013 |
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Jul 16, 2013 20:23
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Rotten Red Rod posted:Ikea chairs are about on par with Office Depot/OfficeMax/Staples office chairs (cheap crap). I'm always a bit confused as to why people assume they're a better product. Well with the Markus chair, I would be tempted to make a workstation setup where I'm leaned back 135 degrees like the latest research says is easiest on your back. The Markus is nice and high back and you could bend the frame to suit your taste if your a DIY type.
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Jul 16, 2013 20:39
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Coredump posted:Well with the Markus chair, I would be tempted to make a workstation setup where I'm leaned back 135 degrees like the latest research says is easiest on your back. The Markus is nice and high back and you could bend the frame to suit your taste if your a DIY type. Specifically on a 135 degree tilt, while it might be better for your back, that could cause eye and arm strain. When you lean far that back in most chairs, you're thrown wayyyyy back from the monitor and keyboard. You have to stretch to read the keyboard/mouse, and your eyes move from the ideal viewing position on your monitor (level with the upper 3rd of the monitor). Even if it's better for your back than the other positions, you really don't want to be locked into that.
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Jul 16, 2013 20:58
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With all those drawbacks you listed, just adjust the things you're working with to fit your new position.
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Jul 16, 2013 21:21
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Rotten Red Rod posted:Ikea chairs are about on par with Office Depot/OfficeMax/Staples office chairs (cheap crap). I'm always a bit confused as to why people assume they're a better product. I bought the chair when I bought my desk because it was comfortable and reasonably priced, to be honest I never expected it to last 5 years and no matter how long I sit in it I never get uncomfortable. The lumbar support is there but not intrusive and I love the mesh on the back, and the super far lay back it has is great for watching movies.
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Jul 16, 2013 22:09
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Picked up a steelcase leap today for 300 bucks. It is so much better than my previous chair it's unbelievable. Thanks chair thread for pointing me towards a better chair experience.
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Jul 17, 2013 23:59
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Hamelekim posted:I'm in a conundrum. I need a chair after my 200 dollar chair has seemingly broken so that it tilts side to side now. I have a Herman Miller Aeron chair at work which is really great, having sat in it for 8 hours a day for 5 years. I can get any Herman Miller chair for 52% off through work so I am considering the Embody chair. Anyone have any extended experience with it? I sat in it for a minute or two a couple of years ago but haven't tried it for any extended period of time. I've been sitting in my Embody for about a week now. My neck hurt, and I mean hurt for the first two days (my old chair had a headrest; the Embody does not and encourages you to lean back). There's no padding per se on the seat, so depending on how you sit your leg may or may not rest on what amounts to hard plastic covered by a thin layer of rubber. There's no seat angle adjustment so if you noticed that the Aeron dug into your legs at all, the Embody will too. There's an annoying sort of ch-thunk noise and mechanical motion of some kind that I associate with aging mattresses (springs, I guess?) if you sit heavily on the seat. The back is very nice but I found I had to loosen it a great deal or it dug into my lower back in a very uncomfortable way. The upgraded fabric does not feel nice. It rolls on carpet extremely well. The armrests are great but move aside too easily and jerkily, so that it's hard to get them exactly symmetric if you happen to knock one out of the way. My biggest issue is the seat. I tend to splay my legs out a bit and so my leg is resting on the hard plastic grip where you can roll the seat to the length you want. Even when it's not, I sink down a bit into the back of the seat (it has quite a bit of give) so my legs press semi-uncomfortably against the edge. I'm thinking I'll probably have to get a footrest. That said my posture is atrocious so that might have a lot to do with my issues.
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Jul 18, 2013 04:49
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kes posted:I've been sitting in my Embody for about a week now. I have no problems with the Aeron at work. I sit in that for 8 hours a day and have for the last 5 years. I can't see the front digging into my legs as if you lower the seat to the right height then you won't experience that sort of thing, or shouldn't. That is one thing I have learned from sitting in an Aeron chair, I prefer chairs without foam as over time it compresses and you lose the support. I'm probably going to bite the bullet and buy one. I figure it will pay for itself in savings from the Chiropractor visits I would need. Not to mention the multiple chairs I will likely go through that would have paid for an Embody to begin with. I'll update this thread with my opinion on the chair if and when I get it.
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Jul 18, 2013 04:59
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kes posted:I've been sitting in my Embody for about a week now. I wish there were better resources for people to try out more chairs before buying. You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive - why do we all buy chairs, which we generally sit in for LONGER than our cars, sight unseen? The good thing is that the Embody has a crazy high used resale value. Hell, even the Aeron still does. Hamelekim posted:I have no problems with the Aeron at work. I sit in that for 8 hours a day and have for the last 5 years. I can't see the front digging into my legs as if you lower the seat to the right height then you won't experience that sort of thing, or shouldn't. That is one thing I have learned from sitting in an Aeron chair, I prefer chairs without foam as over time it compresses and you lose the support. Consider a Mirra. It's basically an updated version of the Aeron (the Aeron is incredibly outdated, ergonomically). See if anyone else at your work has one that you can try out. More Fun Industry Facts about Herman Miller! The Embody has, sadly, been a bit of a flop, commercially. They were pushing it hard when it first came out, but everyone was scared off by the high price. But they spent SO much on development and it's such a complex chair that they can't charge any less and make money. The one they're pushing hard now is the Mirra (and to a lesser extent, the glorfied side chair that is the Sayl) - but despite literally NO advertising, the Aeron is still their #1 seller. I was at a trade show last month. At Herman Miller's main booth, they entirely filled it up with Mirras and a few Sayls. There were no Aerons in sight, and a SINGLE Embody hidden away in their secondary healthcare-focused booth. Rotten Red Rod fucked around with this message at 05:53 on Jul 18, 2013 |
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Jul 18, 2013 05:43
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I just recently switched to working from home 3-4 days a week in my IT job, and the terrible patio chair I was using has gone from "already a REALLY bad idea" to "you're gonna cripple yourself" territory. Is the page 1 advice to seek out a used name-brand chair (Steelcase, Herman Miller) still the only decent option? Family budget dictates keeping a chair to around $300. Craigslist turned up squat but granted I've only been looking a couple days. Googleing for my city plus "office furniture" turns up a couple local companies that carry neither of those brands and a bunch of what appears to be scam websites based on the other side of the country 
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Jul 18, 2013 06:03
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Docjowles posted:I just recently switched to working from home 3-4 days a week in my IT job, and the terrible patio chair I was using has gone from "already a REALLY bad idea" to "you're gonna cripple yourself" territory. Is the page 1 advice to seek out a used name-brand chair (Steelcase, Herman Miller) still the only decent option? Family budget dictates keeping a chair to around $300. And if you're in the USA, I could recommend you a chair from the line I work for that would come in around $300, depending on your height/weight/bodytype, and show you where to buy it online. It's not ideal, since you wouldn't be able to try before buying, but it'd be better than used poo poo.
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Jul 18, 2013 06:13
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