Aeron chairs worth the money?

[holden j caufield]

I've got one at work it's very comfy especially since I paid $0 for it. It's held up decently but I'm under 165 lbs. Is it worth the money for a refurbished one because to me it's not worth 900 of my own money. Maybe 350 or less. Are there any things I should be on the look out for. A office in our tower is closing and they are selling some for $300.

 

[Brovane]

I've got one at work it's very comfy especially since I paid $0 for it. It's held up decently but I'm under 165 lbs. Is it worth the money for a refurbished one because to me it's not worth 900 of my own money. Maybe 350 or less. Are there any things I should be on the look out for. A office in our tower is closing and they are selling some for $300.

I use a Aeron chair at work and I feel they are worth the money. I weigh 250 lbs so I stress out a chair. I bought a used one for home use about 4+ years ago, and has held up really well. Usually the $50-100 chairs at staples I would go through every couple of years. Realistically there isn't much that can go wrong with the chair so you can pickup decent ones used. Make sure to get the same size you are currently using at work if you are comfortable with it.

 

[rsbennett00]

Yes, they are awesome but there are some alternative brands (I hesitate to say knock-off because they are also quality) with the same design.

 

[purbeast0]

i used to have one at work (as well as a "knockoff" as rsbennet00 said, which was still of great quality) and the one thing i loved about the seats is how cool (temperature wise) they always were.

 

[rsbennett00]

I've sat in these steelcase before, not long term, but they seemed comfy.

 

[Eug]

I have an Aeron. Paid around $1000 for it. My answer is no, not really worth the money. I don't like the mesh because I find it uncomfortable if I ever have skin on it, and I don't find the chair great for my back.

I also had a high end Steelcase.

My favourite chair is some no-name office chair I had at my office. I prefer it to both of the above. I was sad when the piston started to go, but my co-worker was discarding another one and I took it and am happy again. I'll get the piston in the old one replaced and get it re-upholstered, for my home office. Dunno what I'll do with my Aeron though.

BTW, that no-name chair probably goes for around $250-300 I'm guessing. I'd buy it new, but I can't find it new.

If you do buy an Aeron, note that they have different sizes.

 

[Tiamat]

For 300$ and if it is your size, do a once over and if it checks out, buy it. Can't go wrong and it will give you many years of service.

 

[rsbennett00]

I have an Aeron. Paid around $1000 for it. My answer is no, not really worth the money. I don't like the mesh because I find it uncomfortable if I ever have skin on it, and I don't find the chair great for my back.

I also had a high end Steelcase.

My favourite chair is some no-name office chair I had at my office. My co-worker was discarding it and I took it and prefer it to both of the above. I found a second one with a dead piston so I'll get that replaced and get it re-upholstered, for my home office. Dunno what I'll do with my Aeron though.

BTW, that no-name chair probably goes for around $200-300. I'd buy it new, but I can't find it new.

If you do buy an Aeron, note that they have different sizes.

I could definitely see an aeron being uncomfortable if sitting in it naked.

 

[zokudu]

I have a Herman Miller Mirra at work. I love it, blows away my office depot chair I have at home. I'm definitely considering purchasing a chair of this kind when I can justify the cost.

 

[holden j caufield]

ok thx for the advice, my current home chairs are all the foam cushion ones and after a year it's hard on my back. As the cushion loses some utility. I like the mesh because for some reason my back is always comfy.

For someone who has the chair at work I know squat about them. I readjusted my chair on day one and haven't touched the adjustments since so I'm wondering if there are any known issues I should look at. Surprisingly my gf yoga ball which was $15 makes a wonderful chair (at least in terms of not having my back hurt.

 

[nickbits]

I think they are overpriced, but I like mine and paid full price for it. I couldn't find a cheaper chair I liked.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I know someone who had one that was pleased with it. It's a waste of money if you ask me though. If you have back or neck problems, lose weight and get up out of your chair. You'll feel better than a comfy chair can make you feel. After I work hard outdoors or work out, I'm comfortable laying on the floor or sitting in ANY chair.

 

[Eug]

ok thx for the advice, my current home chairs are all the foam cushion ones and after a year it's hard on my back. As the cushion loses some utility. I like the mesh because for some reason my back is always comfy.

For someone who has the chair at work I know squat about them. I readjusted my chair on day one and haven't touched the adjustments since so I'm wondering if there are any known issues I should look at. Surprisingly my gf yoga ball which was $15 makes a wonderful chair (at least in terms of not having my back hurt.

My favourite chair has minimal foam and minimal adjustability. However, the shape and angle of the chair is perfect for me.

My Aeron is much more adjustable, and the mesh has more give, but it just doesn't suit me as much as the other chair, regardless of how much I adjust the Aeron. However, if anything I wish the angles of the Aeron were more adjustable. In locked mode, I'm not satisfied with the angle, but you can't adjust it much from that.

I could definitely see an aeron being uncomfortable if sitting in it naked.

Or in shorts, or in underwear, or you occasionally sit with your foot under your butt. So lately I just have a small blanket I put on the chair.

I know someone who had one that was pleased with it. It's a waste of money if you ask me though. If you have back or neck problems, lose weight and get up out of your chair. You'll feel better than a comfy chair can make you feel. After I work hard outdoors or work out, I'm comfortable laying on the floor or sitting in ANY chair.

Interestingly, if I do yard work, my back feels fine. The two worst things for me for my back are sitting at a desk in an uncomfortable chair or with an unergonomic computer setup (iMac 27", I'm looking at you), or else sleeping in too hard or too soft a bed.

 

[Sattern]

If I was spending that much money on a chair I would probably end up getting a Donald Trump chair instead, those are expensive but make you feel like a king .

 

[inachu]

Never make it about the money.

If it makes you feel better or makes such and such pain go away then get it.

If you buy it and still have the pain and do not feel better then its not worth it.

 

[smackababy]

I sat in one of these for around 4 years. Now that I work someplace with cheap, shitty chairs, I don't notice a difference. Definitely not worth it, IMO.

If you were able to get one for like $25-50, I'd do it. Otherwise, no thanks.

 

[destrekor]

I know someone who had one that was pleased with it. It's a waste of money if you ask me though. If you have back or neck problems, lose weight and get up out of your chair. You'll feel better than a comfy chair can make you feel. After I work hard outdoors or work out, I'm comfortable laying on the floor or sitting in ANY chair.

Some people cannot help but to be in a chair for long stretches of time.

If someone is asking for advice on chairs, it's rather pointless to point them toward a lifestyle where a chair doesn't matter. :\

 

[smackababy]

Some people cannot help but to be in a chair for long stretches of time.

If someone is asking for advice on chairs, it's rather pointless to point them toward a lifestyle where a chair doesn't matter. :\

Standing desks.

 

[destrekor]

I sat in one of these for around 4 years. Now that I work someplace with cheap, shitty chairs, I don't notice a difference. Definitely not worth it, IMO.

If you were able to get one for like $25-50, I'd do it. Otherwise, no thanks.

I'd look for alternatives over paying $1000 for an Aeron, but I'd gladly pay $400 for such a chair. [note: I do believe at least some sizes or versions of the Aeron are available at that price point - I haven't investigated heavily but a quick search suggests that is the case.]

I've had a couple different chairs at the $100-200 level, and they suck in the long run. They all bother my back with long-term use, and they also all fall apart. Do note that this is not related to my physical shape: I'm an average height, 160lb man, on the thin side. I USE my chairs, perhaps too much, yet that is the reason for this thread.

I received a Steelcase chair, not of the Aeron design or remotely similar, for free from a previous job. I love it. I would have paid a couple hundred for it, however, not in lieu of an Aeron.

I sat long-term in a Knoll chair model that was intended to compete with the Aeron, but it was not the same, and critically not received as a challenger to the Aeron thrown of comfort.

Perhaps some people, even with long-term use, can handle just about any chair. I am forever jealous of such adaptable human bodies. You must not feel much neck or back aches and pains throughout your daily life. I may be under 30 and never once approached out of shape or fat, but I've never had an upper body that refrained from constantly reminding me of its presence in the most awful ways.

For people like me, who are familiar with discomfort, I reckon cheap office chairs will only do more damage in the long-run, be it to the body or wallet.
Something that is of quality construction and fits the shape of the individual body is, for a lack of better phrase, worth its weight in gold. That said, different bodies have different shapes, which may be better served with different chair designs.

 

[destrekor]

Standing desks.

That won't work for everyone.

I have no idea if I could truly get away with it, but I sure as hell hate being on my feet all day. If I have to be at a desk all day, I fear the idea of standing at it all day. Granted, standing is generally better than sitting, but the body is not physically "designed" in a way that either task is good. My back hates me standing for long periods of time.

Personally, it may be related to postural issues that I need to work out. That said, no solution is necessarily the best solution for everyone.

 

[KeithP]

FWIW, here is an article about rebuilding one:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how...-task-chair-apartment-therapy-tutorial-188487

-KeithP

 

[AdamK47]

I bought a new Steelcase Leap chair a couple months ago for around $500. They usually retail for $800 to $900. Very comfortable even after hours of sitting.

 

[Sheep]

I sat in one of these for around 4 years. Now that I work someplace with cheap, shitty chairs, I don't notice a difference. Definitely not worth it, IMO.

I had the exact opposite experience. Had an office job for 8 years with Aeron chairs and switched to a different office with el cheapo chairs and instantly noticed the difference (leading me to liberate a better chair from an empty office).

Whether that difference is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars is up to each individual, though.

 

[mvbighead]

I was fortunate enough to have my previous office over buy on them so I purchased 2 for $250 total. Money well spent.

I may have a tougher time with $300, but i can assure you that I've had these chairs for several years and nothing has changed about them. Still comfy and supportive.

My current office chair is ok, but nothing like my home office chairs.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Is it a good chair, yes. Is it worth a grand... NO. Did that stop me from having work buy me one? NO