| When you go to buy a new office chair it's | | | | make you slide about very easily. Also, they can |
| important that you don't fall into some common | | | | shine your clothing like well polished shoes, so |
| traps and end up picking the wrong product, | | | | expect to replace you outfits more frequently. |
| chairs aren't cheap and you may have to suffer | | | | And you definitely want to avoid cheap leather, |
| your error for some time. | | | | only go for top quality like hide leather. |
| In this article I want to consider the ten most | | | | 6. The specification says it's ergonomic so it must |
| frequent mistakes I see people make in office | | | | be a quality chair. |
| seat selection and how you can avoid them. They | | | | By and of itself the term ergonomic when |
| aren't in any particular order, each one matters so | | | | describing a chair really means nothing at all. If you |
| judge each on its merits and how it may apply to | | | | asked five people to define the term ergonomic |
| you. | | | | chair you'd likely get widely differing answers. |
| 1. Big chairs are cool. | | | | Guess what, chair manufacturers will exploit this |
| Actually big chairs are only cool if they fit you and | | | | for all it's worth, so buy your chair on its features |
| your shape. Yes it's nice to look important and | | | | and functions not what it says on the label. |
| what better way than a big chair? If the chair isn't | | | | 7. Big lumbar supports are great. |
| a good fit for you, you will come to regret buying | | | | I'm afraid that large exaggerated lumbar supports |
| it. Lesson one then - don't buy a big chair unless it | | | | are rarely a good thing on an office seat and |
| fits you. | | | | frequently a bad thing. Some manufacturers like |
| 2. One piece shell chairs are great. | | | | to include deeply molded foams to try and |
| One piece shell what's that? These are chairs | | | | convince unwitting buyers that they are |
| where the seat and back are made in a single | | | | important, when all that is needed is light shaping |
| piece. They might look great but they just aren't | | | | or molding on the chair's back. |
| that great for your posture. So avoid those great | | | | 8. A high back chair is really important. |
| armchairs on wheels that you might be tempted | | | | Well no, actually a high back on a chair is relatively |
| to buy, they just aren't flexible enough. | | | | unimportant, what really matters is that the back |
| 3. A cheap chair is all you need, why waste | | | | supports your lower back area properly. You will |
| money I'll just buy a $50 chair from an online | | | | find that if it does then it somehow set your |
| auction it'll be fine. | | | | back posture up pretty effectively. So, |
| If you are only going to sit in it ten minutes a day | | | | concentrate on how the chair back supports your |
| I might agree. But if you spend any length of time | | | | lower back rather than its overall size. |
| in your office seat, you must look further than | | | | 9. An adjustable back doesn't matter that much. |
| the cheapest chair you can find. Really cheap | | | | If you want to be properly and comfortably |
| chairs lack the adjustments you need for true | | | | supported by your office chair then you'll definitely |
| comfort and may well harm you in the longer | | | | want to choose a chair where the back can be |
| term. | | | | adjusted for both height and angle, otherwise you |
| 4. Why should I waste money on adjustable | | | | won't be comfortable for any length of time |
| arms, fixed arms are fine. | | | | sitting in it. |
| You might just strike lucky and find that fixed | | | | 10. Inflatable lumbar supports must be essential. |
| armed arms are set correctly for your needs, but | | | | Well, if you don't have any limit on your budget |
| it's not very likely. So, go for a chair where you | | | | you may be able to justify buying a chair with |
| can set the arms up to your personal needs. | | | | inflatable lumbar adjustment. But, in reality this |
| However, if you prefer no arms, that's OK as | | | | feature just isn't necessary a properly designed |
| long as your support your arms on your desk | | | | chair back will be just as effective if you adjust it |
| top. | | | | correctly. |
| 5. Leather chairs are the business. | | | | So, there you have my list of the ten most easily |
| Leather chairs are frequently seen as the ultimate | | | | made mistakes you can make when buying a |
| choice of office chair and there's no denying that | | | | new office chair. Use this checklist as a double |
| they can look really good. However, they do have | | | | check when buying a new chair and you won't go |
| some key disadvantages. For a start they can be | | | | far wrong. |
| difficult to sit in as the smooth surface tends to | | | | |