Need help with big and tall chair...more so tall chair.

Alright, this is probably the most annoying thing to me. I am not tall at all. I am only 5'10 (really 5'9.5) and i can't find a single chair that has a head rest that actually supports your head and not your shoulders -_-. my wife doesn't even have head support in all of the big and tall chairs and she is 5'5 (i think)..well i think 2 actually were the right hight. The 3 best chairs i can find are these and I can't find the commodore II in any store. I found the other two and the Serta cantilever one was the only one that even touch the lower part of my head. They claim 31.5 (cantilever) and 34 (black one) inches high but the cantilever one was at best 28 inches and the other was like 26-27 inches which is a complete joke. If i had one that was 31 inches tall it would reach my entire head but nowhere is a real office chair with head support to be found....at least i can't find one. The commodore might be high enough but can't tell. Plus both serta chairs were not soft at all. I have been using this one chair for the last 10 years i think and it so completely broken and goes from side to side lol but it at least 27 inches tall -_-.


Serta Big & Tall Executive Chair, Black

Serta Big & Tall Cantilever Executive Chair, Dark Mahogany

Comfort Products Commodore II Big & Tall Executive Leather Chair, Black

Here is a picture of my chair...it tilts 45 degree in every directing because a piece finally broke and fell out so it is killing my back but I don't want to drop 300 bucks on a chair that can't even touch my head or have soft cushions. My current chair is super uber duper soft and comfy, which blows that no decent big and tall are soft or....well tall

sorry my office has terrible light and too lazy to get camera so cell phone pic will have to work. (love dropbox ^^) Also notice the AWESOME BACK REST that supports...well my shoulders -_-
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/5328/20130305002255.jpg

Well any help would be awesome. Anyone try the commodore out before?

I am almost to the point to take the chair to a machine shop so that can fix the chair for like 50 bucks. I'll screw in a board to the back to add a new leather head rest since this chair is so big and soft but not tall enough. Well and broken. I am 99% positive the chair can be fixed enough to not freely wobbles in every direction. I think it needs one piece to be welded but I can't do it or my father-in-law because he doesn't have a welder that is good for 1/4 or less metal.

 

Those Serta chairs don't have headrests. In my experience, most office chairs don't - just a backrest that, depending on the chair, is supposed to go up to somewhere in the shoulder blades to neck region. Maybe being 6'3" and living in China for the last six years has skewed my perception on this and I'm totally wrong, but the descriptions for the Serta chairs show no indication that the back is supposed to be a headrest.

If you think you can get the current chair (which you like) repaired for a fraction of the cost of replacing it, that seems like it's the best option. Less cash, less waste, and you're in a chair you know you like.

 

honestly it is a band aid to the problem lol and i would have one ugly chair with my carpentry skills with screwing in a piece of plywood and nailing or gluing in a new cushion lol Have you seen any office chairs with a head rest? I don't know why you need a should or upper back rest...seems odd. Also the commodore seems to have a head rest that might work but doesn't look too soft though.

EDIT: ack the lumbar support on the commodore is not adjustable....only god knows if that crap is over the top or not. sigh should i chance a $45 restocking fee on the commodore?

 

I've typically seen more headrests on mesh office chairs - which are often more about ergonomics - than the plush variety which are typically more comfort-oriented. I like the mesh kind more in general because they breathe better and they're usually better-designed. This, however, coming from someone who hasn't used a rolling office chair regularly in about three years (rolling chairs in China break pretty quickly under a person who weighs 100 kg., and I prefer a standing desk setup anyway).

Do you have experience using headrests on office chairs, or are you just imagining that it would be nice? It doesn't seem to me like it would be all that comfortable to have a headrest on an office chair, but maybe I just prefer a bit more freedom of backward motion with my head.

 

Before my chair broke i loved locking it when I work on the computer leaning back to reduce using my back and try to keep somewhat good posture. I have used mesh chairs before and they blow.....at least to me they suck big time. Feels like I am sitting against the wall. Anyways, I appreciate the help but it looks like i might have to chance 50 bucks or whatever on restocking feels on the commodore since no one knows of any other good chairs. While I do that i'll have to see if this chair is fixable.


Do you know if you can buy a new stand for a chair? That wouldn't be a bad idea if i bought a new stand and just bolted it on.

 

Looks to me like what you're doing costs MAJOR money!

And you are doing this why???

Because of a bad back problem???

If yes, try buying a new 24" wood stool (~$20 at Walmart) and cut it down to 20 or 21"

Even better find a beat up (but still sturdy) used one at Goodwill for $5.

That's what I do; plus of course some discount cushions at an outlet like TJMaxx. (not sure I got the spelling right of TJMaxx)

 

sarcasm is not needed....I sit in an office chair most of the day so a 300 dollars chair that is enjoyable to sit in is worth every penny especially when it last for years. It is like buying a 10 dollar pair of crap shoes that will cause you more trouble than they are worth...just spend another 40 bucks for a good pair of shows....really? A stool? Also not having a rolling chair would be enough of a pain alone to not even bother. You couldn't pay me 500 dollars every 3 years to use a chair that didn't have wheels. The annoyance would out way the 500 bucks by magnitudes!

 

$300 is major?

Srsly.

The Hag H09 has headrest models. Used to be my main 'I am the boss' office chair. Seating comfort was decent, but bits did come loose (though nowhere near the litany of Herman Miller issues I've had to date) - I just didn't bother to get it warranted. I never actually rested my head as far as I can recall - it was bought simply as a 'boss chair', cuz it was bigger than the rest of the H09's we had, along with the Aerons (which was the only thing I came away with from a dot-bomb).

The newer, more basic H05 also has an add-on headrest. HAG H05 chair


For the new office I moved to a regular Freedom Task, in fact I bought these for everyone after buying the Herman Miller Embody's for home and not liking them.
It does come in a headrested option as well Humanscale Freedom Chair

If you move away from the Apple-addled, Herman Miller-obsessed, oh-so-predictable-hipster-designer types then the Freedom is pretty popular for a good reason. It's a good chair. I've no experience of the H05 but it gets good reviews.

 

umm i am good with going up to 500 bucks but 1-2k...if i am seeing that right? Also those chairs look uncomfortable as a needle bed. I could be wrong but even if i could afford a 1 grand chair i wouldn't touch it unless i could try it first. Does it come with a free 1 week trial at that price?

Thanks for the response but i have a hard time believing those are comfy. I remember another brand like those ergo chairs people were recommending were going for 800-1200 bucks and they do not look comfortable. Again, I could be wrong but without trying it for a while I wouldn't get my hopes up. I have say in similar chairs and they bug me. Not sure why but main clothy no padded chairs erk me in a certain way. Though I have enver sat in a 1k chair that was cloth but i am skeptical.

 

It depends on whether you want a chair to do stuff in or to lounge in. Sumptuously padded chairs are OK for the after-dinner lounge, but rarely for sitting in in a task sense.

 

*Shrugs* this chair i have has been awesome minus it isn't tall enough. It could lock perfectly straight up with 0 movement in any direction, which i loved for getting actual work done and being comfortable. Like I said i have never used one of those 1k chairs before but chairs similar to them have annoyed the snot out of me. I would love to try one but i definitely can't just plunk that kind of money on a hit or miss... I'll keep it in mind for the future but yea...distant.

 

It wasn't sarcasm.

I told you what I now do.

What I didn't say was the thousands I've spent on chairs.

Maybe your back isn't bad enough yet???

 

You know, there are people who write one thing and then clearly contradict themselves in another. Just sayin'.

Yeah - it's entirely down to relative experience in the end. In my case we have interiors people who work with us for my clients so I just tend to rope them in to do decor and seating, which means pretty much always the mid-to-high-end in terms of seating. So that's where my experience lies, and every time I've sat in something cheaper I know why its cheaper.

Dunno, if you have some (used) office furniture outlets around your area - and even brand-specific ones like Humanscale, you should go and take a look (or sit).

 

I live 60 mins from the city so there &as to be one but not a clue what I should search for....used chair store???

 

Just google for used office supplies, or office supplies. There are authorised dealers for the usual suspects - including Humanscale (Freedom) and of course Herman Miller if that floats your boat - the Aeron is available pretty much anywhere and it can be retrofitted with a headrest - in practically any major city in developed countries.


(personally I'm not a fan)

 

I am suprised no one mentioned a modified drivers/passenger seat from a car? Might suit the bill since they should have a headrest, but someone has to modify the base I guess. Don't know if there are many suppliers over in the US.

 

hahahaha i rather rebuild my current chair but i guess that would work. If i had to choose a car seat it would most definitely he the Chrysler LHS. That car had the best leather seats ever! There were literally like lazy boy chairs ^^

 

Haha, might as well go down the local scrapyard find a LHS, get a nice leather seat and get someone to bolt in the base, otherwise maybe ebay might have some. But at least you know the seat should be comfy enough

Personally I find an office chair uncomfortable and they look a bit weird, might as well just have a full blown seat from a car haha.

 

if you sat in the chair i have now you would love how comfy it is minus it wobbles every direction -_- Do you know of a place I cna buy a new base? might just install a new base and head rest...it will be ugly but my wife can just deal with it ^^

 

IKEA maybe ? No idea sorry, some cheap furniture store would probably do tbh. Not from the US so I have no idea haha.

Saw your sig, might be interested in doing that folding@home stuff.

 

cool cool hope over the the NBR F@H thread (googling it is fastest way to find it) I just finished fixing my R4 after botching reinstall a couple months ago...was limping with screwed system. Yea i'll look into that maybe find a nice base off a cheap office chair and take it off.

 

MARKUS Swivel chair - blue - IKEA

I got one of those few months ago. Price was about double the usual cheap chair that would live one to two years* but still much, much less than some of the really good chairs for professional use. They claim 10 year warranty and I can see local IKEA signpost from my kitchen window, so it ain't that far if I got any complaints

*Last chair had it's backrest broken off while I was watching a movie. Talk about suprise...

 

I think a decent desk chair will be my next purchase (well that or a decent race cockpit). I've read through a number of different threads/reviews in various places and I'm still pretty confused. It seems like the general consensus on Aeron's is that they are decent but the hard seat lip can be annoying (?). The Humanscale Freedom seems like a very much love it or hate it affair (I've read people complain about it pushing you out of the seat). The Steelcase Leap looks pretty decent though, seems like there are quite a few positive reviews. I've seen new ones on eBay for around 600USD (used for 300 - 400USD) so I might just get one and try it out.

 

Every Herman Miller is not actually ergonomic. They look ergonomic. The Apple of chairs - a lot of talk, a lot of form, and ropey delivery. e.g. I keep the Embody's around so that I'm not tempted to sit around in the home office too often (and because I hate the idea of tossing out ~$4,000 in CTO chairs. And also because they do look cool ).

"(I've read people complain about it pushing you out of the seat)" - not if you're sitting on it as opposed to perching on it, as you shouldn't be.

 

I think I have made up my mind now on what I'll be getting in a couple of weeks, though its not really an office chair: Obutto R3volution

This is going to be my new battlestation at home along with some new Fanatec gear, probably not suitable for an office environment.

 

LOL. Good sitting!

 

well staples has a 50 dollar coupon on chairs so i am going to buy the commodore II and take my chances. worse cause that 50 dollars savings will help reduce my loss of a restocking fee if they charge me.

EDIT: my bad forgot coupon

http://reg.e.staples.com/c/s/tagfrm...n=4158&[email protected]&COUPON_1=81013

 

well went to staples and used the 50 dollar soupon to get the commodore II so i'll post pictures and my impressions of the chair when it arrives next week. Also staples doesn't have a restocking fee Sweet!

 

You can always take the base off of a different chair, such as the one you just purchased, and bolt it onto your old chair that you love so much. Probably wouldn't take more than an hour to do it.

 

The commodore II came in today and i am not feeling it. It is very hard and has a few weird designs I just don't like but i am going to use it for the next 2 days. I'll see how it works and than pawn it off on my dad to use. I'll see with my 20 or so days left to return it if he can break it in. My dad is a much larger man than i am and i wonder if it'll break in while he uses it.

When i bring it over thursday to his house i'll stop by staples again and take a look at $50 chairs and see which one has the nicest base and buy that to see if i can put it on my old chair.

It is not a bad chair just not what i want. It has way to much lumbar support that makes you sit in a slouching position. It doesn't hurt my lower back but doesn't allow me to sit straight up like i wanted. I really like to sit straight up while i work on the computer. That way i can actually type and use a headrest but this chair doesn't allow it. I personally give it 3/5 stairs for average....would be a nice chair is they made a few design changes....i honestly wonder who designs these things :/

 

Bodies come in different shapes and sizes, and years of posture habits also have a huge impact on what feels comfortable in a chair. What is poorly designed to you is likely perfect for someone else.

Now with a standing desk adjusted to the correct height, all you have to worry about are your shoes.

 

...and your knees / hip joints.

 

who would use a standing desk? that is a horrible idea

 

Haven't had a problem with either in the last couple years, and I'm 6'2", 220lb. To say a standing desk is bad for you is like saying going for a three-mile walk every morning breaks down your joints, so you'd be better off sitting on the couch and watching a rerun of All My Children.

It improves your posture, strengthens many of your muscles, burns more calories, increases your energy (big time), and prevents a lot of potential health problems. That's as opposed to sitting in a chair for the same amount of time.

 

maybe.....your comment about 3 miles....i don't know it bugs me. I have had to run 3-5 miles several times a week for several years if not more and that does a real number to your knees and other parts of your body. A good 15 min work out 2-5 times a week is great for your health and body and it doesn't add any extra wear but doing 3-5 miles close to daily does some nasty things to your body over the years. Obviously, it depends on the person....some people were just born with a body that has a better physical genetic make up but still it does a lot of wear and tear.

 

Yeah, that's why I said "a three-mile walk" - I'm just starting to add jogging into my exercise routine beyond just a five-minute treadmill warmup, and I'm not sure if I'll keep it up since it's really hard on my joints at 220 lbs (and BMI be danged that's a fairly healthy weight for my frame and build). Walking, on the other hand, is low-impact because you're putting only a fraction of that force on your joints with each step.

I've personally known people who have gone from spending mornings on the couch to a daily 3-5 mile walk at that time and they've all seen very positive results. Meanwhile, I'm the only person in my personal experience who has used a standing desk for more than a couple weeks at a time, and I have more energy, better posture, and a better outlook on life. My hips, knees, and (very) flat feet are less problematic now than before I started standing. I was an older man at 25 than I am now at 28, even though I spent more hours per week exercising when I was 25, and a big part of it is due to standing.

Note that I still sit plenty - I teach my kindergarteners from a sitting position, I sit when I handwrite, I sit in meetings, most of the time when I'm eating, and most of the (excessive) time I spend watching TV after work. It's just that I also stand four or more hours a day.

 

well besides this not having a lot of padding and being relatively hard and the posture is in a slouching position.....it is pretty nice for gaming. Played NS2 since it was a free weekend and it was very enjoyable for gaming since i like to lean back and sluch but for productive work not so much. My wife likes it so i might keep it and fix the other one and have two chairs

 

Check out Hon chairs. I picked one up on the cheap. Commercial grade and as much adjustable as a car seat. Good luck!

 

Standing desks at work and at home + first week of P90x + my self-imposed "March Challenge" (stairs up to the roof of my 12-story apartment building and back down to my 3rd floor apartment whenever I go home) = Ouch.

But standing desks are still awesome.