Below, a variety of office chairs (and ergonomic chair attachments) that Agulnick, Perna, and six other doctors say will help you sit up straight and comfortably, while minimizing long-term damage to your body.īest overall | Best (less expensive) | Best budget-conscious | Best self-adjusting | Best foldable | Best colorful | Best vegan leather | Best balance-ball | Best kneeling | Best stoolĪdjustability: A good office chair will help you maintain a neutral posture, which means sitting with your feet flat on the floor, your knees slightly higher than your hips, and your hips, shoulders, and ears all lined up with each other. That said, certain types of office chairs will make it easier for you to maintain a healthy posture while you work, regardless of body type or personal preferences. “If you take a one-size-fits-all approach, there are a lot of people who are miserable with it, because what’s comfortable for one person is going to be miserable for another,” he explains, and being comfortable in your office chair is definitely a priority. Marc Agulnick, an orthopedic surgeon based on Long Island who’s affiliated with NYU Winthrop Hospital, agrees: “If you’re sitting for a long period of time in one position that’s not natural or a bad position from a postural standpoint, over time, that’s going to break down your spine.” Take it from someone who spent the first year and a half of the pandemic crouched over my computer on a kitchen bar stool or working from bed (and whose neck, shoulders, and wrists paid the price): Invest in a good office chair.įinding the right ergonomic office chair, though, can be tricky - there is no universally perfect model, because every body is different, according to Agulnick. “Makeshift setups can cause a laundry list of problems, including back, shoulder, and wrist pain,” explains Dr. If said strain has led you to wonder whether it’s worth investing in a better, more ergonomic office chair, the answer is almost certainly yes.
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You’re sure to stay cool while sitting on it for extended periods, plus the mesh makes it look pretty airy in your office.Whether you’re working from home at a DIY desk setup or commuting to an office, you may have begun to feel the strain that sitting for seven or more hours a day can put on a body. That same mesh means it feels pretty comfortable as it molds to your back too. The chair material is a mixture of polypropylene and nylon, with a mesh back to prevent body heat and moisture build up. Additionally, you can change the tilt tension via a corresponding lever, and enable three different vertical positions. It has an adjustable pneumatic seat height control, adjustable headrest support, as well as armrests. With a variety of different features, the VIVA Office High Back Mesh Executive Chair is perfect for those in need of a few extra options. Best for Multiple Features: VIVA Office High Back Mesh Executive Chair ($188) Here’s our pick of the bunch when it comes to office chairs priced under $200. We can’t promise you’ll look like you work an office job in a sci-fi thriller, but there’s plenty of mesh and curves to go around. In each case, we’ve looked at comfort levels, practical features such as armrests or lumbar support, any additional controls, and, of course, style. Not everyone has that kind of money spare, though, so we’ve focused on $200 or less as our target budget for affordable but comfortable office chairs. It’s possible to spend thousands of dollars on an office chair and, sure, they’re pretty special-there’s a lot to be said for a supremely adjustable chair with all the ergonomic bells and whistles. After all, if you’re not comfy, how can you work efficiently? Here’s our top picks for office chairs priced under $200. Having a comfortable and practical office setup is vital to your productivity levels.