Review: Herman Miller Aeron Chair

Herman Miller Aeron

Website

Price: $1277 (list) $750 (street)

Pros: Sturdy construction, good looks, super adjustable, 3 different sizes match to different builds, 12 year warranty

Cons: Only colors choices are shades of gray, hard lip on the sides of the seat, cable driven controls can be unreliable, basic lumbar did not work well

Notes: This is the one that started it all. It's still very popular and seen in TV shows and offices everywhere. I fit best in a size C, which is a big chair. Adjustments are nice and I was able to dial in just what I liked. The basic lumbar adjustment was pretty easy, but the foam block you move up and down or flip tended to move throughout the day as I moved, and almost fell out. The demo chair I had seemed to have much more wear on the lumbar foam then the rest of the chair. The PosterFit support might be the best option although I only tried it for 5 minutes in the store. The recline tension adjustment is too fine and literally took me 100 turns to tighten it enough. The deal breaker however was the hard lip in the sides of the seat. I found I sat to the side or with my legs spread enough that after a day of use my thighs had bruises. I really noticed it the next day when I sat down and my thighs hit the edge again. A coworker who sits with his leg pulled up under himself cracked his ankle on the lip. I really like this chair and would have excused all issues except the hard raised lip on the seat.

Review: Herman Miller Mirra Chair

Herman Miller Mirra

Website

Price: $1020 (list) $510 (street)

Pros: No hard edges, many color options, good price, easier adjustments than the Areon, nice lumbar support adjustments.

Cons: Only suitable for average to lighter weight people

Notes: Seat mesh sagged far enough that I could feel the hard frame underneath. A lighter weight person would not have that problem. If the seat had not bottomed out I may have bought this chair. The optional fabric cover is a nice addition as it adds a minimal padding and softness to the plastic back.

Review: Kimball Skye Chair

Kimball Skye

Website
Price: $850 (street)

Pros: Headrest option

Cons: Looks like a dentist chair, plastic headrest feels cheap, price is a little high

Notes: The gas piston leaked due to lever not quite returning to position which made it hard to judge properly. Tilt mechanism was unique but not quite right for me. One person preferred this chair over the others

Review: Allsteel Acuity Chair

Allsteel Acuity

Website

Price: $1250 (list) $750 (street)

Pros: Great design, simple controls, solid construction, many fabrics and finish options, a favorite among those of small to average build

Cons: Back is a little narrow for bigger than average builds, not quite enough resistance on back tilt even set at maximum, price of leather is outrageous, but beautiful.

Notes: This chair has a super design. The controls are very easy to use and are located on the sides of the seat. It gives a very clean look and is the easiest to use that I have ever seen. No need to twist a tension knob 400 times to tighten the back, just slide a simple lever. Allsteel is very proud of their fully loaded white leather model and it is a stunning chair. They feature pictures of it from every angle on their website and the paper brochure opens up like a centerfold to reveal an extra large image. However the white leather and polished aluminum adds $2300 to the price, for a total over $3000. The ironic thing is the leather defeats several ergonomic features of the chair, namely back and seat ventilation and the slippery leather does not hold you in place as you recline.

Review: Allsteel #19 Chair

AllSteel #19

Website

Price: $1800 (list) $900 (street)

Pros: Great looks, solid construction, great casters, simple design, lifetime warranty on everything

Cons: Weight controlled tilt resistance was not enough for me, not quite as comfortable as some others

Notes: Weight controlled tilt resistance works by lifting the seat as the back reclines, effectively goosing you each time you lean back.
I really like the looks of this chair. Aesthetically it is my favorite. The exoskeleton looks and feels great. The metal frame and controls are all silky smooth and work flawlessly. I really wanted to buy this chair but in the end it was not as comfortable for me partly due to the back tilting too easily. I assume the chair was designed for someone shorter or lighter. However, the chair was rock solid and could probably support a 400lb person.

Review: Steelcase Think Chair

Steelcase Think

Website
Price: $1038 (list) $600 (street)

Pros: Solid chair - more metal, simple controls, 100+ fabric choices will blend into any decor, good warranty

Cons: Not as comfortable as others, not enough adjust-ability

Notes: My foot went to sleep in a 90 minute meeting. Preferred by smaller people. Warranty is 5 years on fabric, 10 years on gas cylinder, lifetime on the rest.

Review: Steelcase Leap Chair

Steelcase Leap

Website
Price: $1315 (list) $750 (street)

Pros: No hard edges, arms - solid and very adjustable, 100+ fabric choices will blend into any decor, good warranty, most comfortable - moves with you

Cons: Too much plastic for the price, does not look like an $800 chair

Notes: Comfortable cushioning with a flexible plastic seat and back to give even more comfort. Adjustable tilt resistance.
A couple bad comments on amazon.com for v2 of the Leap gave me pause.
First day on the chair my back felt significantly better. The second day, the following week, I did not notice the same improvement, but it was no worse. Warranty is 5 years on fabric, 10 years on gas cylinder, lifetime on the rest.