Adjustability

Everybody has a different shaped body, which means that we can all benefit when we have a chair that fits us perfectly. The problem is that a chair is made on an assembly line which means that they are generally all made the same. This is why it’s so important that you find a chair that is adjustable in a few different places so that you can configure the chair to your body. You will find that it’s much more comfortable to sit in a chair that is best fitted to your unique needs rather than one that has a one size fits all approach.

The ability to adjust the height of the seat should be non-negotiable. This is because everyone has a different height so you need to be able to change the seat height accordingly. Otherwise, you may be in a position where you are too low or too high at your desk. Another thing that you will most likely want to be able to adjust is the height of the armrests if they are present. Once again, the armrests can be too high or too low for your desk so if you can change the height, the chair is more likely to be able to fit under your desk. Some people also like to be able to adjust the lumbar or the reclining tension as well. If this is important to you, then you should look for these features. The more ways you can adjust your chair, the more likely you are going to be able to sit on it in a comfortable fashion which will make you more satisfied with it.

Comfort and Support

You are going to need to make sure that the chair is comfortable and offers you the proper amount of support in key areas. It’s hard to be productive when you are working in a chair that you find to be uncomfortable. Support is also part of comfort because a chair that doesn’t offer you the proper amount of back support will eventually start to feel uncomfortable as well. You are going to need to make sure that both of these concerns are addressed in any chair that you end up picking.

When it comes to back support, you will need to make sure that the chair at least has lumbar and lower back support. This will give you the minimum amount of back support. However, some people prefer to own chairs that support the upper back and the neck which will give you the maximum amount of back support. Another thing that you are going to need to decide on is if you want to have a mesh back or a padded back. A mesh back tends to be highly breathable which makes it an ideal choice for when you don’t want your back to get sweaty. On the other hand, a padded back offers more cushion which can make you feel more comfortable as well.

The seat is the other important thing that you will need to look at. It’s best to find a seat that has the waterfall design as this will help promote blood circulation to your legs. Another thing that is helpful is to get a seat that has plenty of padding. You will need to make sure that you like how the cushion feels and that there is enough of it.

Wheels or Glides

The floor underneath the chair should also be a factor in your decision. This is because there are a number of different choices for wheels and some of them are better for certain floor surfaces over others. You should always go for wheels or gliders that will work with your floor in order to prevent any damage to your chair or the floor underneath it. When it comes to picking what contacts the floor, your two main categories are glides and casters.

Glides are not wheels but instead, they are little discs that touch the floor instead. The idea is to help keep the chair from moving so as you would expect, they aren’t going to slide smoothly over the floor while you are sitting in the chair. The gliders will normally make it easy to move the chair with a little bit of effort while you are on the carpet. If you plan on moving the chair a lot, then you should not get gliders and go for casters instead.

Casters are wheels and they come in three different flavors. One is a plastic caster that is great for carpets since it’s unlikely to get caught on carpets. Plastic casters can scratch tile or hardwood floors. If this is your flooring surface, then you may want to go for rubber casters which are unlikely to leave marks or scratches on hard surfaces. Both kinds of casters can come in a braking variety which will lock the chair in place when you stand up. This will help keep the chair from rolling away on you when you get up from your desk which can be used on uneven floors.

Tilting and Reclining

Some people prefer chairs that do not tilt at all while other people like to have chairs that pivot or even recline. You are going to want to decide which is best for you when it comes to purchasing a chair for your office. The most basic kind is a chair that has a fixed back. You may want to purchase this kind of chair in a situation where you need additional back support and do not want to lean. However, most people will want to relax at some point in time in which case you are going to need a chair that tilts or pivots.

A chair that pivots will let the back tilt backward while the chair slides out. There is also even back chair where the back and the seat move together so that you are always at the same height. The final version is on that reclines. A reclining chair lets the back tilt backward while the seat goes up and raises your legs. You are going to want to try each style so that you get one that is perfect for your comfort.

When it comes to tilting, you are going to want to make sure that there is a tilt lock so that the chair is locked into place when you do not wish to tilt. Some chairs also have a feature that lets you set a limit on the amount of tilt as well. You may also find a chair that lets you set the amount of tension on the tilt so that it’s easier or harder to tilt the chair. Once again, it’s important that you try out all three features in order to figure which is the best for your needs.

Quality & Value

The quality of the chair is going to be one of the deciding factors in determining if you are happy with the chair. Most people tend to be satisfied with chairs that are long-lasting and comfortable. On the other hand, people tend to get dissatisfied with chairs that are uncomfortable and falling apart. You are going to want to take a look at the chair in order to determine how well its made in order to make sure that you are going to be happy with your purchase.

There are a few problem areas that you can take a look at in order to make sure that your chair is well made. One common problem that people tend to have with their chairs is that the screws start to come loose after a while. For this reason, you should check if the hardware has some sort of thread locking on it. Thread locking (such as Lock-Tite (TM)) is basically a red or blue glue that is put on the threads in order to make sure that they don’t back out on their own. If your chair doesn’t have a thread locker, then you should purchase some from the hardware store and put it on each thread first. This will help keep the hardware from getting loose.

You should also take a look at the upholstery as this tends to be the other problem area. Higher quality chairs tend to have thicker upholstery on the padding so that the seat and padding don’t wear out. A low-quality chair will have thin upholstery that is sewn together poorly. You should take the time to make sure that all of the upholstery is well made and is sewn together well so that the chair lasts.