Folks:
Herman Miller says that they’ve improved the design of their Aeron chair so that it now looks exactly the same but works better (presumably there is at least a higher price that works better for Herman Miller shareholders?).
Has anyone tried the “Aeron Remastered” for an extended period of time? (e.g., a whole day of typing)
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Chair comfort is extremely idiosyncratic; after any feedback you get here go sit in it yourself. I’ve been happy with the MVP chair I bought at http://www.championseating.com about ten years ago (it is past ready for replacement though).
As a programmer, I sat in an old Aeron for quite some time. Then sat on an Embody for probably 15,000 hours. (Never did that math before!) Now sitting on a month-old Embody (no change from a 10-year-old Embody) and would recommend either. I have a slight preference for the Embody.
The Aerons died out in 2001. All the startups are using standing desks, now.
We got Aerons when we moved to fancy new offices in the late ’90s. Around the same time, I got persistent back spasms that made it difficult to sleep. After drugs and physical therapy didn’t help, I tried switching from the $1K Aeron chair to a cheap chair from a conference room. Back problem cleared up within a week.
The “remastered” chair looks like it’s still the same stretchy fabric sling. No thanks.
I sat on a Steelcase Leap chair for 10 years before we moved into this new office and got new furniture. I had a choice between than and an Aeron at the time, and I chose the Leap due to initial comfort. I now sit on an Allsteel Acuity, and have for the last year. The Leap was so much better for comfort as well as preventing fatigue.
If you start doing squats and deadlifts three times a week, you’ll be able to sit comfortably on anything.
I bought a used Aeron. Extreme sacroiliac pain began after about day 3. After a couple,of weeks it was obvious that the chair was causing the problem so I sold the chair for a profit and went back to my 20 yr. old standard issue secretary-style chair. Back pain began clearing up immediately and I was back to normal after a few days.
Nice-looking piece of industrial design, but not suitable for me. Maybe it was the wrong size.
At home I have a Kimball Wish which has served very adequately.
@Brian Gulino: If you start doing squats and deadlifts three times a week you won’t be able to sit comfortably on anything and it will hurt like hell to walk up and down stairs! (But if you persist at it for long enough you might get some benefit)
Want a genuine bargain? Try the La-Z-Boy Bradley Bonded Leather Executive Chair (Fixed Padded Arm, Black). I have one. You have to assemble it. Not hard. Well built/designed. For the price, I love it! (current sale $199)
http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=1677790&&cid=EM:ORDCONFRM::SKU
I’ve had the old Aeron at home and at work for at least ten years and found it acceptable but not amazing. I tried the new Aeron at Design Within Reach in Cambridge and was disappointed. The main problem was that the seat pan did not shift forward or back so I could not find a tailored position. I felt like I was always falling forward or too rigidly upright.
Try Relax the Back (Burlington, Newton) for a variety of alternative work chairs. They may even lend you a chair to try at home for a few weeks,
Another vote for the generic, cheap office chair. I’ve used one for over 15 years – I have no idea what brand it is, or if it ever had a brand, and I hope it never wears out. Perfectly comfortable. In my own experience, back comfort is always inversely proportional to the cost of the chair.
IKEA Marcus chair. I’ve had it for about 4 years and it is great. Enough adjustments that I don’t complain much. The only thing it can use is adjustable arms. But it was only $200.
Never did sit in an Aeron.
I “test drove” a Leap vs an Aeron and I liked the Leap better. However, I use a 10 year old Aeron at home and still love it.
Re mastered or old Aeron nothing compares to Steelcase leap chair. The actiive back design and the way the chair reclines is far superior to any modern day office chair. Sit in them both side by side at a worksurface and the range of motion the Leap provides is clearly the the winner by allowing you to stay closer engaged to the worksurface.