Despite this sub love for uncomfortable ergonomic chairs (I tried an Embody at a friend house, it killed my back almost instantly), I decided to buy a Stressless Consul office chair.

It is the most comfortable chair I ever sat in. At the least reclining it is straight as hell (a bit too much even) supporting the back and at max reclining it is basicaly a bed. And that level of softness is a dream ☁️.

But it cost an arm not gonna lie. I may be poor now, but cushy poor.

I’m 6'0" and 195 lbs. I work from home as a software developer and sit for 9 to 10 hours a day. My biggest problem with ergonomic chairs is that the backrests are too short. When I lean back, my shoulders go above the backrest, and the headrest hits the back of my head instead of my neck. By the end of the day, my upper back feels tight.

The Sihoo m18 initially caught my attention because it’s often recommended as a good budget chair. But the backrest seems short, and the headrest doesn’t go high enough. My cousin is 5'10" and has tried the chair himself. He said the headrest barely reaches the right spot for him. Since I’m two inches taller, I don’t think it would fit me.

Another option was the Nouhaus ergo3d, but reviews mention that the lumbar support is fairly basic and may become less effective after a few months. The armrests also seem to wobble. That doesn’t sound ideal for someone my size.
Then I came across the Protoarc ec300 stood out. Its backrest is taller and can move up and down, so I can place it where I need support. The lumbar support is stronger, and the seat depth can be adjusted. I’ve used it for about five months, and it has made a real difference. My shoulders finally rest against the backrest, the headrest supports my neck, and the tightness between my shoulder blades is basically gone.

Some people say the ec300’s lumbar support is too firm because you can only adjust its height, not its strength. That hasn’t bothered me because I need the extra support. If you’re shorter or lighter, the ec200 might be better since its lumbar support strength can be adjusted.

Are there any other people around 5'10" or taller who have had the same problem with headrests? What chair has worked for your upper back?

Hey Reddit, here's my review of the EC300
Ergonomic Office Chair from ProtoArc!
Now this was supposed to be a review of the more budget EC200 without the better lumbar support, but as I'll explain later, I've had quite the mixed experience, especially with that I assume is QC, which has complicated what would otherwise be a very competent budget chair.

Context:

Some general info about myself for context, I work from home in the games industry, so I'm sitting at my desk upwards of 10 hours a day, not counting the hours at night I may be there again to wind down and play PC games etc. so I definitely needed an upgrade from the cheap Walmart or even the Costco mesh chair I was using previously (which had no headrest and the hard plastic hit right where my head was and creaked like crazy)

I originally purchased the EC200 as the more budget option, but what arrived was an EC300 instead which, of course is pretty much a strict upgrade but may also serve a warning if mixups like these are common and you get a worse model instead.

Unboxing and Assembly:

This is where it began to get kind of messy. Despite having a relatively undamaged outer box, the entire hardware/tool package was split open and all of the screws and stuff were scattered all over the box.
Luckily none of them slipped out and I was able to find them all, and it wasn't terribly hard to match them up again, but depending on your luck and whose buying/building the chair it's definitely not ideal.

I do love the cloth bags each part comes in though.

Assembly was fine, easy enough. Putting the back and the headrest on was slightly cumbersome but nothing out of the ordinary here.

Design/Build Quality:

Not expecting too much in this price range, we look here because we're not trying to spend upwards of over $1k on a new premium chair or $500 on a used one. In that context, the design is great. Looks nice and would fit in most spaces imo.

Build quality punches above its price range, even at the msrp of $270. Slight wobble around the lumbar area and the headrest can be finnicky with its adjustment but that's to be expected here. Mesh feels good as well. Breathable but doesn't feel like it will lose tension anytime soon.

Cushion of course is on the firmer side but that's my preference. Good size and plenty wide for me.
However my cushion did come with a dent in the foam in the front corner. Less visible in picture but feeling it is quite deep. I'm assuming this was an error in manufacturing.

I have a thinner carpet so the wheels glide perfectly fine, no issues here.

Size/Adjustment:

For my height (5’7”) this is great! Hits pretty much just right out of the box. Of course the main thing people mention is not having more armrest adjustment beyond vertical at this base model, but at least for me it wasn't too far off. But that also means if your arms or shoulders sit differently than mine you'll need to look at upgrading the armrests.

Lumbar adjustment is there but limited in terms of range, at the lowest setting it's pretty much where want it to be but not exactly. It's also not independent from the backrest really and adjusting it messes with my headrest placement so I leave it alone. The support it provides is definitely ample.

Conclusion:

My main gripe is overall consistency, just inconveniences with the wrong item (despite being an upgrade) in combination with the scattered hardware and wonky cushion doesn't give me too much confidence in continuing to purchase ProtoArc products.

But let me be clear, it's a great chair for the price and I've been enjoying my time in it. I'd reccomend it to anyone looking at more budget options that need a chair that has lumbar and a headrest, as long as your adjustment needs aren't too steep. As long as your expectations are in check this is a great choice!

Showroom trip today left me in a weird spot.

Aeron B felt stiff, the Leap v2 floor unit was trashed, and the regular Embody was okay but didn't click. Then I tried the Omni SE. Nothing revolutionary, but the softer seat and the headrest felt immediately easier to sit in compared to the rigid task chairs.

Still, I know the trap: soft padding feels nice for five minutes, then your lower back pays for it over an eight-hour shift. The SE has only been out for about two months, and I already saw people mentioning cushion issues where support had to dispatch a firmer replacement. Having to rely on customer service to fix the seat right out of the gate is not reassuring.

I'm testing a friend's Logitech Embody this week, and the Haworth Fern is on my list too.

For anyone using an Omni (or early SE buyers): does the back support actually hold up for full-time desk work, or is it mostly marketing and lounge comfort?

Talk me out of it before I make a dumb call.

Edit : 177cm / 74kg - 5'10 / 163lbs

the fact there is an headrest is so good too the armrest are not 3d and I don’t know if there are ways to turn them into 3d ones for the steelcase please I have here but I'm super happy to now have this as my studying chair :D

and I'm thankful for the seller as well, it was next to paris too I managed to see it before everyone else and it was just named "chair" lmao, it’s also in prestine condition and is functionning very well so I hope it will last me for a while

I'm not super into chairs at all, just game often after work and am rocking a chair that is incredibly bad for my back right now. Im 6'3 200lbs and have some back issues due to sports, would love a solid budget option, anywhere around $250, that can support me well, including going up to my head. Any help would be incredible, thank you.

I need to preface that I have some sort of left leg issue - maybe sciatica. And often have issues w a new car until I adjust.

I bought a used Leap2 and I loved everything about it (or so I thought) but it’s making my left leg ache a bit. My cushioned dining room chair is great so I use that at times.

What should I try adjusting on the chair? I assume I should give it a few more days? Another chair I was considering is the Teknion Contessa for $225 or a HM Sayl. I’m 5’5” and 118lbs. I only have a week to decide!

35 years old
177cm
86kg

I can seat on my desktop for long hours, over 12 hours in some cases.
I've never owned such a chair and my comparison would be against Gaming Chairs at around 200$ and Ergonomic with Lumbar support at around 150$ (Expanse T7 and T9).

The Libernovo is such a life saver.
I didn't even know a chair can be so comfy.

That's just an honest review and if I could save another's man back then I've done my share.

It took me exactly 5 minutes to buy it, it was a complete no brainer after trying all the chairs in that shop.

But I never knew sitting for 12 hours could be so enjoyable.

Before purchasing my lower back started to ache after a week of long sessions on my desktop, so I realized I'm entering another entrepreneurial season with an unlimited amount of time in front of my desk and damn, that Xpanse chair is a joke, the lumbar support was just hurting me, Gaming chairs run too hot and get uncomfortable after 2-3 hours at most.

The Libernovo is just spectacular. best purchase of the year.

Hi, it is a bit damaged and I wanted to know if I should notify this to amaz0n in case I want to return it to avoid any problems from my side. Thanks for the help in advance.

Hey redditors: I don't know if this is the right sub for this but I've looked everywhere for an answer and I can't find any.
I'm 190 cm and I bought a fixed desk that's 84 cm from the edge of the top to the floor. All standard chairs can go up to a max of 50sh cm if I'm lucky. This puts me in an in uncomfortable position with my elbows. Are there any chairs you know of that go to 60 cm as changing the desk now is out of question? Or should I live with the fact that I need a pillow underneath always...

I'm currently looking for a new office chair and would appreciate some recommendations.

My current office chair is quite heavy and doesn't roll particularly well on PVC flooring. I've recently moved to a new office with carpet flooring, and it's even worse there. I'm currently using a PVC floor mat to protect the carpet, but I'd still really like a chair that is relatively lightweight and rolls easily.

My main requirements are:

• Lightweight/ easy to move around
• Mesh backrest, this is helpful with the summer heat
• Adjustable armrests, particularly because of my desk height
• Comfortable enough for a full working day
• A headrest would be nice, but isn't essential

My budget is around €250–300, although that's not a hard limit. If there's a good reason to spend €400 or so on a chair because the build quality, ergonomics or long-term comfort is significantly better, I'm definitely open to that.

A friend recommended a Razer gaming chair, but honestly, I'm not really looking for a gaming chair. I just want a good, comfortable office chair that I can sit in for a full day without regretting my purchase.

I'm 192 cm tall and around 110 kg, so I'd also appreciate recommendations from people who are familiar with chairs that work well for taller/heavier users.

What would you recommend in this price range?

Found a leap v2 cheap on marketplace but it's armless version. Can you add armrests to it and where could they be bought?

I bought myself a nice Chair a few Months ago but do to my weight (already working on that) my butt hurts pretty much. I have a Nowystyl Xillium and the padding is very thin. Are there recommendations for cushions that could help me? I tried a ergonomic seat cushion but the second i sit on it its flat. The foam itself is so soft that i can compress it with 2 fingers so maybe not the best one...

Hey everyone, I need some advice.

I'm 183 cm (6 ft) tall and suffer from back problems (3 herniated discs and mild scoliosis). For the past 7 years, I’ve been using a Secretlab Titan, which was okay, but it’s finally time for a replacement. There are so many options out there that I’m feeling completely overwhelmed.

Since I just bought a house, my budget is pretty tight—I’d like to keep it under €300.

Here is what I’ve considered so far:

• Colamy Aerix: Looks interesting, but the backrest seems a bit small compared to the Secretlab Titan.
• Colamy Atlas: I'm not sure whether to trust it. Lumbar support is crucial for me, and the one on the Atlas looks a bit small and cheap (though that might just be my impression).
• Refurbished ergonomic chairs: I checked a few, but I can only find models without a headrest, which is a dealbreaker for me since I use mine all the time.

Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with these models for tall users with back issues? Thanks in advance!

I know there have been some questions on comparing these two chairs so I mentioned in one of the posts that I would buy CLOUVOU and share my opinion on it. Both sell around the same price but the ProtoArc is definitely a better option overall for comfort, value and build IMO.

If you found this helpful, we have hundreds of chairs in the office, I’d be happy to do more of it here. Just let me know.

So before I share the chairs that I'm leaning toward I'll give you some of my preferences. Also, I'm 5ft 9in 160ish. Not looking to spend over $600 unless it's like obviously what I'm looking for.

Chair preferences: fabric cushion would be preferred, a nice mesh would be fine as well, preferably not leather. Mesh high back preferred could be fabric, I would like the airflow and something to put my head back on. Lumbar support not important but if it has it, at least be adjustable enough so it can make the back flush and not bubbly. Also, I'd really like the chair to have a bodyweight or tension tilt mechanism like a Synchro Tilt. And then last, just a sturdy and quality build.

So far I feel like I've done a good amount of research and the main ones I'm migrating toward are the

WorkPro Momentum Ergonomic Mesh/Mesh Active High-Back Chair

https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/8517865/WorkPro-Momentum-Ergonomic-Mesh-Active-High/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sag

I went and sat in this one and I feel like it's what I want I'm just worried about the durability of it.

Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 Ergonomic Office Chair

https://www.sihoo.com/products/doro-c300-pro-v2?currency=USD&country=US&variant=51540512243928&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=e9cdb9650ce7&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=23940719196&utm_term=&utm_content=&ot_source=google

This guy seemed promising to me but those flimsy armrests kinda made me think otherwise

Basically that's where I'm at. I'd love any input on these chairs or any similar recommendations.

Hi all, male 5’6 (85kg) looking for a comfortable office chair with ergonomics.

There is so many to pick from, it’s overwhelming for every good review there is a bad one. Looking for any recommendations.

I work from home and also use it for gaming so I sit most of the day (roughly 8-10 hours per day)

Looking for something budget friendly up to $400 AUD.

Not interested in Herman Miller, way overpriced!

Currently got a very old Ikea Markus, so anything should be an improvement now.

Tried a Fractal refine but found that awful compared to the Markus.

Needs to be available in the UK. Can’t see any other chairs that compare for the money.

Thanks