Not every chair is a winner. Here are a few others that we really like to recommend, but they’re not as good as our top picks above.
Knoll Newson Task Chair, $1,195 : This minimalist graphite and petal-colored chair looks best; black and brown are a bit drab. Glad I didn’t have to fuss with any levers or knobs – it works out of the box and adjusts well if you need to make some adjustments – and it feels especially nice when you’re leaning. (The red knob adjusts the tightness of the reclining, but you need to twist five turns, which I sometimes find difficult to turn.) Newsom sat for nearly two months without causing me trouble. I just don’t like how the elastic mesh backrest is Twist, depending on how you sit. It feels bumpy. This chair also doesn’t allow me to sit as straight as I’d like, but maybe you can do it for a little more. Ultimately, its price puts it out of our top recommendation. But you do get a 12 year warranty.
The Complete Alani Chair for $379 : The Alani, from the makers of our favorite standing desks, comes in several color combinations that blend neatly into any home office. The base has a nice contoured cushion and mesh back to keep you cool, plus lumbar support for good posture. You can adjust height, seat depth, armrests, reclining tension, and you can lock the reclining. WIRED reviewer Simon Hill found it comfortable on long days of up to 16 hours, and it worked for both his 6ft 1in self and 5ft daughter. It’s a solid alternative to the Branch Ergonomic Chair (our top pick), but it’s slightly more expensive.
IKEA Marcus Chair for $269 : Markus is the perfect office chair. It’s not the most comfortable, but it’s not the worst either. The mesh design keeps you cool, and the high back rests you completely inside. It’s thin and doesn’t obtrusive a small home office or bedroom. It’s annoying to assemble – you may need someone to hold the back while holding the seat properly. Unfortunately, if you often sit with at least one leg up or crossed, that width between your arms can make you uncomfortable.
X-Chair X-Tech Executive Chair $1,900: Functionally, the X-Tech is similar to the X-Chair pick above. In this version, the M-Foam Cooling Gel Seat does sit great, although it doesn’t absorb as much heat as the full mesh X Chair. The most impressive is the Brisa Soft Touch material – it’s very soft. I recommend sticking to the standard armrests instead of the FS 360 armrests, which tend to move too much. But my biggest gripe with this model is the price. I just don’t understand why it costs so much.
Mavix M7 Chair, $778: If it looks very similar to the X-Chair (see above) , that’s because both belong to the same company. I had some issues assembling it, but customer service was able to change the model without a hitch. The M7 has similar adjustable armrests and seat angle, but you get wheels that can be locked. Mesh back and wide seat structure keep you cool and comfortable during League of Legends sweaty days, lumbar support makes me feel like rice in good hands . If you are short, please contact customer support when ordering – Mavix offers shorter cylinders to keep your feet on the ground.
Pipersong Meditation Chair $349: Yes The question sits normally? If your legs need to bend and twist for you to feel comfortable, you’ll want to check out this chair. It has a 360-degree swivel footrest that adapts to almost any sitting position you want. I can go from kneeling to cross-legged to one-leg up and one-leg down. You can also sit regularly with the footrest behind you and your feet flat on the floor. This is the only chair I’ve found that’s designed for weird sitting positions. There are no armrests, which I don’t mind, as that allows sitting in many of these positions. The actual stool and chair back can be larger and taller, respectively. I had to use pillows to keep my back comfortable.
