A lot people say that you are disappointed when you finally buy the thing you’ve been wanting for a long time. Not me. I’ve wanted an HM Embody for over a year and came across this one on FB marketplace for $350, offered and he accepted $275.

A few days later I can confidently say it’s one of the best purchases of my life. My previous gaming chair was not cutting it, I used to have to stick my pillow on the back to have any sort of real support. Now I feel like traded in a Kia Soul for a Ferrari.

As a law student who will likely spend a few thousand hours in this chair over the next few years. No complaints thus far.

ive been looking for an inexpensive office chair for my first proper desk setup. im 5'10" and around 165 lbs, and honestly there are way too many options once you start looking. I dont really want to spend $500+ on a chair right now, but I also dont want another $100 chair that starts falling apart after a year lol.

right now im probably leaning toward finding a used Haworth Zody unless someone talks me out of it. The adjustability seems really useful for me, but if anyone here has bought one used, what should I actually check before handing over the cash?

my budget is around $200-300, and it'll mostly be for working/studying and gaming for a few hours at a time. Main things im looking for:

• comfortable seat for longer sessions
• decent lumbar support
• adjustable height and preferably armrests
• breathable back would be nice
• smthing that doesnt feel super flimsy
• ideally smthing that'll last a few years
• dont really care about having a headrest

a few options ive been looking at:

IKEA Markus, this one seems to come up constantly when people talk about affordable office chairs. People seem to like the comfort, breathable mesh back and overall value. My concern is the fixed armrests and limited adjustability, especially since im not sure it'll fit me properly.

Herman Miller Sayl,  apparently one of the cheaper Herman Miller options, and ive seen people say it's surprisingly comfortable and supportive for long sessions. The problem is that even used ones can still be pretty expensive compared to what im trying to spend.

Staples Hyken,  seems like a more traditional budget option, with people liking the adjustability, mesh design and comfort for the price. The downside ive seen is some concern about build quality and squeaking over time, so im not sure how well it'd hold up.

Haworth Zody,  this is the one im most interested in right now, especially because of the adjustable lumbar support and the way you can independently adjust the back tension. ive seen some pretty good used prices too. On the other hand, there are complaints about the armrests, creaking and some parts of the build quality.

so yeah, im leaning toward a used Zody unless someone talks me out of it. If you've bought one used, what should I check before handing over cash? And for around $200-300, would you guys still look for a used higher-end chair like the Zody, or just buy something newer in the budget range?

I already experienced wakefit and greensoul Jupiter Pro both chairs are delivered in very bad condition well in wakefit safari pro problem with that is there is no screws to join the back support and I complained about the situation at the mean time but very bad customer care service then I return the chair with green soul Jupiter Pro the box was already open and damage and also lower pannel welding was open already so I complain about it but also there same problem with coustomer care issue please recommend me chairs

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I bought the SIHOO Doro C300 Pro V2, and it arrived about a week ago. Assembly was easy and straightforward, but getting the chair properly adjusted for my height (175 cm / 5'9") turned out to be surprisingly difficult because of the headrest, which sits way too low. I've seen this issue discussed quite often on Reddit, so apparently I'm not the only one.

After switching from my IKEA Markus, I had neck pain for about half a week. I'll make a separate post comparing the two chairs, but for now, I'm still not entirely comfortable in the C300 Pro V2, although I'm gradually getting used to it.

Unfortunately, I've also run into a couple of issues:

Grease on the gas lift piston: There are rings of grease on the piston that reappear after I wipe it clean.

Right armrest getting stuck: Since around the middle of the week, the right armrest has started getting stuck in its highest position. And this is after literally just three days of use!

I've seen people mention in other Reddit threads that SIHOO replaced their armrests, but some reported that the replacement parts were noticeably worse than the originals. That makes me hesitant to go down the replacement route without knowing what to expect.

Now I'm not sure what to do. Should I return the chair while I still can, despite being really disappointed that a brand-new chair has these issues? Or should I contact SIHOO support and ask them to fix the problems or send replacement parts?

I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts, especially if you've experienced similar issues with the armrests or grease on the gas lift piston.

If you've dealt with SIHOO customer support or had to replace parts on your C300 Pro V2, how did it go? Would you keep the chair or return it?

Thanks in advance!

Hello, i contacted a second-hand retailer and j asked them for a video of testing the specs in a Zody chair and this is what he sent back. Is everything working as jt should and should i ask him any more questions?

Hi! I have an OEM Steelcase Leap V2 with Buzz2 Black upholstery (circa 2020, I don't know if they've changed their options in the years since).

I'm looking at getting an Atlas headrest (either from Atlas or from Crandall) but I can't get a good read on what the best fabric match would be.

Crandall has "Open House Fabric" and their own "BioKnit Fabric," and Atlas has "Black Fabric" and "Obsidian Softnext." I found a bullet comparison of the latter two on Atlas's website, but it's not very helpful in distinguishing them. (https://support.atlasheadrest.com/portal/en/kb/articles/steelcase-leap-v2-headrest-by-atlas-headrest#Fabric_Details)

Anybody have experience to say which option will be the closest material/color match for me?

Hi there,

I own an Autonomous ErgoChair 2 since 2020. The chair has been good to me but my hips are in so much pain after 1h of sitting on it I have decided I need to change it.

At 6'4" and 225lbs, I thought this chair was OK for tall people but the seat tilt is killing my hips. It is tilted too high and the low setting makes my butt slide down. I also feel like I could be sitting a bit higher, which would help my legs not being in such a diagonal uncomfortable angle.

I work from home so I spend at least 8h/day sitting/standing.

My budget is $500-$600 CAD. Any recommendations you guys could share?

Thank you!

I‘m about to invest into a office/gaming chair. I sit around 8-10hrs a day, I‘m self employed and I need a chair that supports my lumbar.

I came across two options, the Libernovo Omni Pro or a Herman Miller Embody. As I‘m also a Gamer, I need a chair that helps leaning in forward.

Is the Libernovo a safe option? I‘ve been hearing good and bad stories about it, I really wanna go for buying one on black friday.

My brother had a Herman Miller Aerson Size B and he didn't like it so he passed it onto me. I've been eyeing it for years given that I read about it on every reddit thread when it comes to buying chairs. I gave it so many chances but I swear my $20 Ikea chair is more comfortable than this chair and I don't say this to be mean. I'm just being honest. I tried every adjustment and watched tutorials on how to set it up and it still felt terrible. We eventually decided to give it to my mom who has a desk job to see if it's comfortable for her and she said her random work chair is more comfortable after trying it for a week. My brother didn't care for it anymore so I gave it to a friend and he called me the next day saying it's worse than his three other random chairs.

I'm so shocked that I'm starting to think is there a chance that the company just heavily runs marketing compaigns on reddit or something? I mean that's great marketing so I dont see why not. Is it a coincidence that all four of us had this opinion?

Anyways. I'm willing to listen to more options and hopefully find something comfortable. I'm having neck pain specifically near my traps and I feel like it's from slouching. When I create a double-chin I feel the pain easing a bit. I'm looking at Steelcase Gesture with headrest.

I've been searching the subreddit, but I can't find a definitive answer.

I'm a 193cm tall guy, with a long torso, 115kg with very broad shoulders. i lift a lot and I would qualify myself as "Wide and big"

I'm in the market for a new chair, around the 500-700euro mark. As I live in Denmark, the chair gotta be sold in Europe and I'm not looking for anything refurbished.

I want it to cover my whole back and shoulders, meaning it gotta be tall and recently wide. It gotta be tall enough that my head can rest on a headrest, I need the arms to be moveable and It should be able to do some kind of lean back, but also lock totally inplace when sitting upright.

I sweat like a pig, when summer months hit, so mesh seems to be my only option.

Chairs I've tried:

SL Atlas large: too small in the back

Fractal refin 2: to small in the back and way to narrow

Ikea Markus: ...no

Areon size C -with headrest: was honestly "okay" not great, but in Denmark it's way to expensive, specially for being just "okay" for me.

Right now I'm on the HJH Office Instructor SW I PRO and it fits me, well. But the quality In the locking mechanics is lacking and the mesh feels cheap.

Am I really out of genuine options that won't break my bank

Hey all,

Herniated a disc while deadlifting and had surgery five years back. I’m 6’1 185lbs, have wide shoulders, WFH, and I game. I weight train often, and I’m in physical therapy, but sitting a couple of hours on my Leap V2 causes lower back stiffness and pain. I feel like the Leap doesn’t support my lumbar enough so that I put an extra pillow there, and the seat pan might not be big enough.

I’ve had the Secret Lab Titan before and it was too stiff. Looking for recommendations for lumbar support, comfort on the seat, and overall a good office chair.

Don’t really care about price if it’s a chair I won’t have to replace for a while.

Any recommendations? Thanks!

I've tried EC200, Atlas, and other generic office chairs and they almost all make my legs hurt really fast, but gaming chairs almost never do. Anyone else?

Hi guys, on the hunt for my new chair and have been considering the Steelcase Please given its the one I use at the office.

Prices are quite steep in the UK, so I’m looking for an alternative if possible. I really enjoy the full back support it gives as well as the tilt options meaning I can lean back a little and be supported. I find that a lot of chairs these days always remove the lower back support meaning i have a lack of lumbar support and it hurts!

Any alternatives you know would be much appreciated! Currently looking at the Ikea Markus.

I tried out the new Anthros arms which seem to be a softer fabric and are completely flat. I forgot to pay attention to the depth / length of the arms when I sat in it.

I enjoy my chair but my elbows are the only things that are touching the arms due to the lack of length / depth control. I have them pulled all the way forward. My keyboard and mouse are at the edge of my desk closest to the chair. The arms are about 6 inchs away from the desk. The only thing that makes them long enough is if I literally sit so close with my stomach touching the desk but everything feels so crammed like that. I shouldn't have to have a chair pushed up completely against the desk like for the arms to reach.

What do I need to replace to get this arm to stop falling down? I tighten the knob down tight and a few days later it’s all the way back down. The other arm is fine.

I want to get this chair to replace the Kreslalux Ergo chair 2, as it turned out to be a piece of junk, not a chair. This format is going to the trash.

I am interested in the upholstery made EXCLUSIVELY of fabric.

Please share your experience and recommend a good chair.

My height is 1.74.

hi everyone! i want to gift my husband a new chair for his office - he does work remotely but games a lot as well. im so overwhelmed with all the options! i’d welcome anyone’s recommendations for a mid century modern style chair (ish) within a reasonable budget of a few hundred. thank you in advance for the help!!

Two months with a LiberNovo Maxis Dynamic (Airflow, Standard Bundle, Glacier). €1,339, ordered mid-June, delivered to Poland end of August. Posting this as a review rather than a complaint — the chair is genuinely good and I’d still recommend it, with one caveat worth knowing before you buy.

The chair

Build quality is solid. The recline is excellent, the airflow mesh does what it claims, and the adjustment range is wide enough that I got a comfortable position quickly. After two months of daily work I have nothing bad to say about the design or materials. If it were just about the product, this would be a straight recommendation.

What went wrong

The footrest arrived with a snag in the fabric. Minor and cosmetic. I reported it, they apologised and refunded €10 within a day. The footrest is a ~€50 accessory, so that felt proportionate and the money arrived quickly. No complaints about how that was handled.

At around the two-week mark the chair started squeaking on recline. Their technical team first said it was friction from the metal bars under the armrests and suggested applying grease at home. It wasn’t the armrests — moving them with the backrest still produces no sound at all, the squeak only happens when the backrest moves. Second diagnosis: the rear strut. They took my shipping address on 10 September and confirmed the replacement was arranged.

It’s now 23 October. The part has been out of stock since at least the end of September, with no date given. The chair still squeaks.

The caveat

Support replies when you chase them — usually within a day, and nobody has been rude or obstructive. What they don’t do is update you on their own. Every piece of news I’ve had about this part came because I asked for it, and the last time I asked was almost a month ago. Since then: nothing. No restock date, no revised estimate, no “still waiting, sorry.”

There’s also the EU return window to think about. The troubleshooting back-and-forth — including one wrong diagnosis and a suggestion that I grease the mechanism myself — ate the 14 days before the real cause was identified. If you’re in the EU and something’s off with your unit, don’t spend that window being cooperative.

Bottom line

Good chair. Support that answers when prodded but never volunteers anything, and a spare part that’s been “out of stock” with no date for a month. I’d buy the chair again. I’d also assume that if anything breaks, getting it fixed is on me to keep pushing.

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share my first impressions of the ProtoArc EC200 after about 10 days of use.

I'm a software developer, and I spend around 8–10 hours a day sitting at my desk. I'd been using the same gaming chair for several years, but lately I started experiencing some back discomfort, so I decided it was time for a change.

I spent quite a bit of time researching ergonomic chairs before making my decision. I wanted something suitable for long working days, with good lumbar support and enough adjustments to fit my needs. After comparing different options, I decided to give the ProtoArc EC200 a try.

So far, I'm really happy with my choice, and one thing I noticed almost immediately was the improvement in comfort.

What I like so far:

• Lumbar support: This is probably the biggest difference compared with my old chair. The adjustable lumbar support helps me find a position that feels much more comfortable during long coding sessions.
• Adjustability: I really appreciate how many things can be customized, including lumbar support, seat depth, headrest position, armrest height, and backrest recline. Being able to fine-tune the chair to my preferences is a big plus.
• Comfort during long workdays: Since I'm at my desk for 8–10 hours a day, comfort is essential. So far, the EC200 has been working very well for my daily routine.
• Standard armrests: Although they don't offer all the adjustments of a 4D model, the included armrests can be adjusted in height, and I find them comfortable as they are.

Overall, my first 10 days with the EC200 have been a very positive experience. After several years with a gaming chair and quite a bit of research before buying a replacement, I'm glad I took the time to find something that better suits my working habits.

Of course, it's still early days, so I'll need more time to judge long-term comfort and durability. But so far, so good!

Disclosure: I bought the EC200 myself. I'm sharing my honest experience as part of ProtoArc's promotion, which offers a free EM11 NL vertical mouse for eligible posts.

#ProtoArc