Like many people, I work full-time from home. Most of my workday is spent immersed in a technological web of online communication and 3d simulation. Which means I’m mostly sitting in front of my computer.
When assembling a home office, I think it’s critical to have a great chair. Not “okay.” Not “good enough.” If you consider the fact that your health literally depends on the ergonomic quality of your chair, you’ll realize you need a GREAT one.
When I moved to Montreal and was setting up my new home office, I needed to buy a new chair. I wanted something with simple yet very effective embedded ergonomics. After a lot of research I eventually found the Herman Miller Setu Multipurpose Chair. Herman Miller furniture is a little pricey, but the Setu (about $500) costs less than many generic office chairs. And in my experience, Herman Miller products last forever.
In the past I’ve tried dozens of different office chairs with varying levels of success, but my Setu chair is definitely my all time favorite. It’s been 9 months since I started using it and it is still the chair of my dreams.
What’s your Dream Chair?
John’s Setu chair in its natural home-office habitat
-John “Pathfinder” Lester
Chief Learning Officer
ReactionGrid Inc.
P.S. This isn’t a sales pitch or marketing attempt, and I have no commercial or vested interest in Herman Miller. I simply sat down at work today and for some reason immediately thought “Boy, I love my chair!”
Be Cunning and Full of Tricks 
One of my greatest regrets upon retiring from Rocketdyne nearly two years ago was having to leave my Herman Miller Aeron chair behind. The company purchased it for me in 2000 subsequent to my experiencing a major, and nearly crippling, Sciatica attack. It actually helped in my rehabilitation. I’m sure someone is enjoying it right now.
John, I do a lot of non-keyboard writing, but I’ve a similar Herman Miller chair for my keyboarding.
When I write commentary–and I do a lot of it on PAPER–I move between two antique banker’s chairs to the Herman Miller for typing end commentary. Those wooden chairs are, for reading or writing by hand, the best I’ve every encountered. I will take them with me when I retired (having saved them from campus “surplus.”).
Nice! I too have some old chairs around the house that are perfect for reading. You can see one of them in my office pic above, to the right. If I want to read a book, I get up and move to that chair.
Hi Pathfinder… oooh… LOVE those Herman Miller chairs! 🙂
Actually though… my “dream chair” is a treadmill!
http://vaneeesa.com/2011/07/02/treadmill-desk/
That’s very interesting! I love to walk, so I wonder…
Yes, as you see from the post I set mine up about a year ago… I have 2 monitors, one at a normal desk… so I rotate from Sit to Stand to Walk… I like all 3… in some ways I like stand the best… but standing is more fatiguing that walking for me! 😛 So I always turn the treadmill on after a while.
Anyway, it’s working really well. and at a slow speed it’s easy to type, mouse, talk, and you’re not breathing hard or sweating at all.
Peeps are starting to say that “sitting is the new smoking” so it might be worth thinking about…
Wow, that’s very cool. Thanks for all the great info. Going from sit to stand to walk sounds like a great idea.
You are correct! It is expensive! http://www.amazon.com/Setu-Office-Chair-Herman-Miller/dp/B002YSMY3W If I come to visit you in Montreal, may I experience a few moments siting in your chair?
Absolutely. It’s got wheels so you can also zip around the house while sitting in it.
Although that tends to make the cats flee in terror.
Funny, I’ve just began searching for a new chair, in desperate need! I’ve recently acquired the basyx by HON VL103 (see: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ETZIMM/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details) mainly because it had a comfort factor. However, I’ve been eyeing the Zuo brand chairs (http://www.amazon.com/Lider-Armrest-Office-Chair-Black/dp/B003BVJ6DW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC?ie=UTF8&coliid=I9PBL9X9AADVD&colid=D105WSKZPW0D & http://www.amazon.com/ZUO-Ranger-Office-Chair-Black/dp/B004QB4UP0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC?ie=UTF8&coliid=IY4RAJH1SC69I&colid=D105WSKZPW0D) for style, and mainly because I’m getting rid of my obsession for arm rests, but comfort for long hours of sitting is the most important!
It is so true. I have the same chair as i did 15 years ago. I want to buy a new one but i cant find a chair that works.
Wow, great comments! I’ll definitely check out all the various chairs everyone is mentioning. Thank you for posting!
I’ve just been chair searching myself, since I brought home a “good enough” chair when I closed my bricks-and-mortar office. It’s NOT “good enough” and I sure appreciate the info about the Setu. Thanks very much.
You’re welcome!
I have a nice HON http://www.homfurniture.com/Online/Home/Store/Product_699613_Monte-Carlo-black-office-chair at home, and at work I use a modern reproduction of my Dad’s really old tilt rocker chair that I am refinishing. A great chair is a must!
Oh, that Monte Carlo looks comfy. Thanks for the link!
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