An ergonomic chair provides many health benefits. For example, a proper work chair can prevent abnormal stress on the neuromuscular system, according to a 2012 study published by the National Institutes of Health. Better posture support, reduced back and neck pain, and improved blood circulation are some of the benefits, as the chair helps keep the spine, neck, and hips in line. Chairs with headrests also add support to the back and shoulders, according to the Open Access Government.
If you’re shopping for an office chair and don’t want to spend a ton of money on bigger brands like Herman Miller, there are plenty of affordable options on the market today. Before deciding on a larger investment, we reviewed some of the best replica designer office chair deals. While these models don’t necessarily have all the R&D that is used in more premium brands like Steelcase, our latest Dealmaster offerings are a great starting point for those new to ergonomic chairs.
Herman Miller Aeron cheats
The Aeron Chair by Herman Miller has been a favorite of our editorial staff and office workers for many years due to its comfortable design. No one wants a sweaty back after a long day at work, and the Aeron’s use of mesh construction for the back and seat helps prevent heat from escaping from long periods of sitting.
“[Aeron] helped accelerate the adoption of expensive work seats both at home and in the office, and became known as a great chair as well as a trendy desk accessory de rigueur during the dot-com bubble. – our editors noted in the Chairs Technica review.
The mesh is also very comfortable to sit on and wraps your body like a sturdy hammock. The downside is that the Aeron can be very expensive as it is designed for businesses with big budgets, but our editors have found many benefits in the adjustable armrests, lumbar support and a stellar mesh wear guarantee.
- Herman Miller Aeron for $1805 at Herman Miller
Luckily, there’s a good cheat if you want to test out the Herman Miller style without the high price tag. The Gabrylly Ergonomic Chair uses a mesh design similar to Herman Miller’s Aeron and adds a headrest for added comfort and neck and shoulder support. The chair is advertised to support your head, back, hips, and arms, and it comes with an adjustable seat height, headrest, backrest, and reclining armrest.
- Gabrylly Mesh Office Chair for $216 (was $330) on Amazon.
In today’s deal, the duplicate Aeron is available at a 35 percent discount off the regular retail price, bringing it down to $216, which is 12 percent off the Aeron’s price.
- $180 Flexispot OC3B office chair with $10 coupon (was $190) at Amazon.
Another chair with breathable mesh construction for both the back and seat is the Flexispot OC3B. The Flexispot office chair also features an adjustable headrest and multiple seat adjustments for greater comfort.
More Affordable Alternatives to Steelcase Gesture Design
The Steelcase Gesture chair is another favorite among fans of clean office furniture design, and the company’s desk chair has great back support and plenty of adjustment. In our take on Gesture, we appreciated all of the detailed customization and simple design of the chair. “You can change the reclining tension from near-fixed to freely reclining and anywhere in between, further enhancing the appeal of this chair,” our editors said of the chair. “There are four locking positions in this range, like most other chairs, but the tension adjustment provides the perfect amount of flexibility in between.”
- Steelcase Gesture $1107 to $2456 at Steelcase
Like the Herman Miller chairs, the Steelcase Gesture costs a lot of money, and a complete Gesture can cost upwards of $2,400.
- Vari executive office chair for $495 with 10% coupon (was $550) at Amazon.
- HON Ignition 2.0 office chair for $391 at Amazon
If you admire Gesture’s elegant design, Vari office chair by Vari and HON Ignition 2.0 office chair are good alternatives for a small price.
Although the Vari chair does not have the same detailed adjustments as its more expensive counterpart, the executive desk chair offers a variety of armrest settings, providing height, angle, forward and backward positions, as well as pneumatic seat height adjustment, adjustable backrest tension, tilt and lock controls, and seat depth adjustment.
Herman Miller Embody Not Quite Liars
Embody is one of Herman Miller’s latest releases in the office chair catalog, featuring a Pixelated Support system that conforms to your movements, as well as a host of seat and armrest adjustments. Herman Miller claims that Embody was developed with the participation of 30 doctors and scientists in the fields of biomechanics, vision, physical therapy and ergonomics. In addition to ergonomic comfort, Herman Miller claims that Embody will help improve circulation and lower your heart rate.
Herman Miller also created a gaming version of the Embody in collaboration with Logitech, which is identical to the office version, but with a fabric construction and some changes to the back padding. In our review of the Embody gaming chair, we found that the narrow back gives “the feeling that the Embody is designed for you to sit upright and upright while sitting”, which is arguably the right choice for a multi-hour office chair. “The design of the armrest made it difficult using the chair if you lean back to play with the controller.
- Herman Miller $1990 Embody Office Chair at Herman Miller
- Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair for $1695 at Herman Miller
And while we haven’t checked the company’s medical claims about Embody, we just love the clean design and comfort of the Pixelated Support on the back of the chair. Chances are you won’t find all the advertised designs and health benefits, but if you’re looking to replicate the Embody aesthetic, there are several alternatives. Although they do not replace the original, they provide comfort and support at more affordable prices.
- Sytas Ergonomic Mesh Back Office Chair $180 with $20 coupon (was $250) at Amazon.
- $130 Kerdom Ergonomic Office Chair with $20 (was $150) coupon on Amazon.
- $140 Ticova office chair with lumbar support with $50 coupon (was $300) at Amazon.
None of the three chairs listed above come with Herman Miller pixel support, but if you’re looking for extra back support, the Ticova is best with lumbar support.