Are Ergonomic Chairs a Scam or Just Hype?

The price of ergonomic chairs is indeed quite shocking, ranging from a few hundred yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. Some call it a rip-off, while others haile them as a lifesaver for office workers struggling with back pain during long hours.

As a category that some of you may not be familiar with, let's address these questions one by one:

Who chooses an ergonomic chair?

Is "ergonomic" just a gimmick? Does it actually have any therapeutic effect?

With ergonomic chairs often costing thousands of yuan, what are the actual differences in functionality and user experience between different price points?

After a period of investigation and testing, we finally have some authority to speak on this category.

Let's first discuss the target audience for ergonomic chairs:

1. People who work at a desk for more than 8 hours a day;

2. People who enjoy playing games at a computer for extended periods;

3. People who have high requirements for chair comfort and functionality;

4. People experiencing neck and lower back pain;

5. People who need a stylish chair to reflect their ability/taste/status/…

If you meet at least one of these criteria, an ergonomic chair is for you.

A suitable ergonomic chair doesn't need overly complex functions or high-end materials; comfort is always the top priority.

This article starts with how to choose a chair, then combines the actual performance of products from different brands and price ranges to help you avoid pitfalls in choosing an ergonomic chair. Based on product features and actual experience, we provide product recommendations at different price points at the end of the article.

How to Choose a Suitable Ergonomic Chair (TL;DR version):

Don't overcomplicate features; prioritize adjustable lumbar support and seat cushions.

Pay attention to safety; authoritative certifications are essential.

The seat cushion material depends on your needs; comfortable foam is recommended in northern regions, while breathable mesh is recommended in southern regions.

The size is geared towards European and American styles; people between 165-180cm tall can basically choose without hesitation.

The aesthetics are generally poor, with limited options in black, white, and gray color schemes.

1. Function: Don't deliberately pursue "high-end features"

Many people might immediately think of IKEA when they think of ergonomic chairs. Frankly, they have decent office chairs, but their functions are hardly "ergonomic."

Some truly practical features on ergonomic chairs can help solve the "pain points" mentioned above.

If you experience lower back pain, after ruling out kidney strain, it's likely due to posture. Ordinary chairs usually require additional cushions, backrests, and so-called "lumbar supports" for comfort.

Ergonomic chairs address this issue with a special structure—a lumbar support.

To judge the quality of an ergonomic chair, the first thing to look at is its lumbar support. A well-supported, adjustable lumbar support is a "must-have" for any ergonomic chair.

To reiterate, it must be a lumbar support that actually provides support, not just a decorative feature.

Ergonomic chairs under 500 yuan, while some may include lumbar support, offer almost no real support.

Increasing your budget to around 1000 yuan allows you to choose an adjustable lumbar support. Among ergonomic chairs around 2000 yuan, some offer a split design, providing even more noticeable lumbar support.

Here's a cutting-edge technology regarding lumbar support – "seat-back linkage." Whether sitting upright or reclining, it locks onto your comfort zone, dynamically tracking the lumbar support point for a comfortable experience in various sitting positions.

The Hayward Zody, priced over 7000 yuan, features separate left and right lumbar support adjustments, making it even more user-friendly.

The Herman Miller Embody, priced at tens of thousands of yuan, achieves a more technologically advanced "dot-matrix support," adjusting to subtle body movements to evenly distribute the user's weight.

Next, it addresses the "pain point" of the cervical spine: a wide, adjustable headrest provides better protection and support for the spine.

Unlike the technologically advanced lumbar support, a wide, comfortable headrest with height and multi-angle adjustments can be purchased for around a thousand yuan in an ergonomic chair.

Besides these pain-point-addressing features, some functions are not essential, so careful consideration should be given based on actual usage to avoid overpaying for unnecessary features.

Firstly, an abundance of features means a more complex adjustment mechanism, increasing the learning curve.

The "4D armrests" advertised by some vendors, which add forward/backward and left/right adjustments in addition to height adjustment, seem very user-friendly, but their usage frequency is relatively low.

Furthermore, some vendors even use the wide adjustment range of the backrest as a special selling point.

If you don't have a habit of napping, or don't nap lying flat, this function is just for show. Generally speaking, the maximum reclining angle of an ergonomic chair should be around 135°.

Some ergonomic chairs, for a slightly higher budget, offer upgraded versions with footrests, making napping even more convenient.

However, if you prefer to nap face down, or if your office space is relatively cramped, please look elsewhere.

2. Material: Don't blindly follow trends, choose what suits you best.

Just like checking the processor before buying a phone, when choosing an ergonomic chair, the first thing to consider is the gas spring. After all, nobody wants to be the one getting "bursted."

At this point, check if the gas spring has safety certification markings. Common ones include professional certification from international third-party testing organizations like SGS, German TUV certification, and North American BIFMA certification.

Except for a very few inferior office chairs, brand-name ergonomic chairs use standard-compliant gas springs, so safety is generally not a concern.

If you're still concerned, you can inquire with the seller about the thickness of the steel plate in the chassis; a thicker plate naturally provides a higher safety factor.

The difference in materials is also reflected in the seat cushion and support legs. Understanding the characteristics of the materials is crucial for making an informed choice.

Ergonomic chair seat cushion materials currently fall into two main categories: those with foam filling and those made entirely of mesh fabric. There's no significant price difference between the two materials; you should choose based on your individual needs.

The most common type in offices is the foam seat cushion. Foam cushions are soft and comfortable for long periods, but their breathability is relatively poor, making them suitable for use in northern regions.

Pure mesh fabric seat cushions are elastic and breathable. Using the same material as the backrest creates a more seamless look. The downside is that the mesh fabric has higher friction, which can cause leg numbness after prolonged sitting.

Ergonomic chair support legs also differ significantly in material, broadly falling into two categories: nylon legs and steel alloy legs.

Nylon legs are essentially high-strength plastic. Their advantages include versatility in style, lighter weight, and reduced risk of damage to other furniture in home use. However, they have a strong plastic feel and don't look very high-end.

Steel alloy legs can be further divided into aluminum alloy legs and steel legs. Mid-to-high-end ergonomic chairs generally use aluminum alloy legs. This material is more difficult to manufacture and more expensive, resulting in a stronger metallic feel.

The disadvantage is that the metal material increases the weight of the chair and makes it more susceptible to bumps and knocks from people and furniture.

3. Size: Try before you buy.

Since ergonomic chairs first became popular in Europe and America, their design prioritizes the taller stature of Europeans and Americans.

Furthermore, some domestic ergonomic chair manufacturers initially focused on export, and their chair sizes are also based on European and American standards.

Therefore, the "legacy issue" is that most ergonomic chairs on the market are generally suitable for people who are 165-180cm tall and of normal weight.

Considering the need for comfort for people of different body types, it's best to check if the ergonomic chair has an adjustable seat cushion with a forward and backward range when purchasing.

This allows users of all heights and builds to find their most comfortable position by adjusting the seat. This is a standard feature of ergonomic chairs in the 2000 RMB price range, and some 1000 RMB models also offer this feature.

Currently, some mainstream brands have launched various models to cater to different body types.

4. Aesthetics: The "Straight Man" Aesthetic of Black, White, and Gray
After trying out numerous ergonomic chairs from various brands, we found that high-end ergonomic chairs often employ very simple designs. Therefore, it's difficult to choose a suitable ergonomic chair based solely on appearance.

In short, the colors are mainly black, white, and gray, resulting in significant homogenization and limited choices. Those with low emotional intelligence might say the chair is ugly, while those with high emotional intelligence might appreciate its understated yet sophisticated style.

There are also some unconventional products, such as Herman Miller's Embody, which looks very futuristic, but this kind of "straight male" aesthetic is unlikely to appeal to women.

There are also patterns that resemble some kind of legless land reptile (use your imagination).

Some brands require custom orders for colored versions, and they only accept orders for 20 units or more.

If you're someone who prioritizes aesthetics, I suggest looking at gaming chairs. Since this is a different category from ergonomic chairs, I won't go into detail here, but we can discuss it another time.

5. After-sales service – Choosing the wrong one and returning it is a huge hassle.

The above content provided some purchasing advice. Now, let me tell you a "story."

A capricious friend bought an ergonomic chair online, but wanted to return it because he didn't like the style. Since it wasn't a quality issue, the seller wouldn't cover the shipping costs.

He quietly checked the logistics; the nearly 30kg ergonomic chair would cost almost 200 yuan to return from Beijing to Zhejiang, and he would have to disassemble all parts of the chair and repack them into the original box. This process is both laborious and expensive, so you must do your homework before making a purchase.