Give your Back a Break!
Working longer hours comes with the hazard of developing back pain. As such there is a need for a more ergonomic chair that can help alleviate it if not avoid it. And more than just the adjustable features, these chairs have to have above average back support, whether it’s manually adjusted, adaptive or intuitive.
We have compiled the best that can help keep back pain at bay. And if you’re living in the UK, you should check this list out.
Standingdesktopper's pick
Steelcase Gesture
Everyone recommend Steelcase chairs, that’s nothing new
This Steelcase chair can be used by more people and can adjust itself to varying postures and movements. It has an adjustable lumbar support and arms that can be moved in multiple directions. This helps you find not only the perfect spot for your back but also the ideal angle for the arms vs the desk. Having all these measurements in check helps keep you in optimum position, and this can prevent a sore back.
As for the back support, it has a 3D LiveBack technology that can conform to the natural curve of the spine, providing support and reducing pressure on the back.
But keep in mind that the Gesture’s backrest is a bit narrower than the Leap. So those with wider shoulders and back might find that they are not fully supported.
Humanscale Freedom
The version of this chair with the headrest is a great upgrade if you’re tired of sitting on cheap chairs that break your back. This Humanscale Freedom has impressive lower back support, blending comfort at the same time
The chair has a wide range of adjustments so a lot of users can find it comfy. So more will be able to find the best and most comfortable position for their back. However, it can be a bit overwhelming at first to tinker through multiple adjustable options. But it’s sure to reward you with a very sublime comfort for the lumbar, the neck, and the entire body at the same time. The backrest is also made of a flexible material that allows the char to follow your every movement. So even if you tilt or move back, you’ll have your back fully supported. So this chair is amenable to adding micro movements throughout the day and you still feel that the chair has your entire back. You don’t need to be confined in an upright position just to be sure you have your back supported. The backrest even moves with you as you recline the chair.
The only caveats are the arms, this is also the least adjustable part. You can only change the height of it and it is a bit flimsy. The chair does have more plastic parts but it does feel substantially solid, except for the arms.
Flexispot BS
This office chair does not feel sublime outright, and it takes a while to get used to the type of comfort that it can offer, especially if you’re used to cushioning plush seats. But once you get acquainted with it, it can give an impressive back support that can relieve that sore back.
The chair, though highly ergonomic, has few levers and knobs. However, it can adjust itself to varying users since it is more adaptive than adjustable. You will not be able to adjust the lumbar support, it has a dynamic back support instead. Also, the overall shape of the chair and the material used can adjust to the needs of the users
The mesh material of the chair is pretty flexible and the backrest is sufficiently large for a wider scope of users, those who are very tall might find it short.
The chair primarily has a more upright position, so it can lend serious back support if you are doing tasking jobs or if you want to stay focused on what you need to do. It lets you sink in and lock in the chair but feel supported enough. Though the chair can also be tiled to -60 degrees or recline, it also gives you the luxury to sit back and relax.
SIHOO M90D
It also has plenty of adjustability for its price. And like the Flexisot BS PRO, you need not adjust the back support, it can adjust itself to the varying needs of the user. And mesh material is also decently flexible. You will be able to find it rather comforting for your back sans the lack of height-adjustable lumbar support. So it can offer a more customized type of comfort depending on who will sit on it.
The headrest also amps up the comfort level. An adjustable headrest can also add comfort to your entire back and lessen the numbing or incurring pain.
The seat is cushioned and it is rather thick and feels very nice and soft but still has a decent amount of firmness. So you will not feel like you are sinking too deep into the middle of the chair.
Runner-up: SIHOO V1
HAG SoFi
If you’re looking for a breathable chair that can help you attain an upright posture, this is one quaint find. It’s not the best looking in the lot and almost mimics the look of a standard office chair, but it can give decent comfy and support for a bad back.
It has an adjustable lumbar, seat height and depth. The way the chair was designed works around the concept of keeping you subconsciously alert to be able to maintain an upright posture. So if slouching is an issue, you will be trained in this chair to sit more upright.
You also have an option to have ‘swing-back’ arms. This can be pushed back behind the chair if you need a bit more room and luxury. You can also opt to get it with the headrest should you need a bit more support for the neck and to add more height to the chair.
RH Logic 220
If you have a more pronounced need and severe back problems, you have to consider this steeply-priced office chair. It costs more than what most are looking for, but if you have lingering pain, then this is worth considering.
It is also a workhorse, a heavy-duty chair that can stand the test of time. Keep in mind though that the chair was designed with the principle of upright and active posture. This, in the long run, will be able to help strengthen the back muscles that can help prevent sore and stiff backs.
It doesn’t have an adjustable lumbar, but the way it was designed and the materials used can lend that impressive lower back support, especially if you need to do tasking jobs. This is more of an anti-slouching chair as we see it.
The backrest is also extra high, it can lend an additional haven for your tired backs and very tall people will also find this a sufficient ergonomic chair. The high backrest is also curved, following the natural shape of the back
Slouch Task One
This is a very minimalist chair that you may still find very conducive for longer hours of work. It’s more of a task chair rather than an ergo one. But it has the same number of adjustable points as a mid-priced ergonomic chair, or it may even have more to offer than the standard one.
You will be able to adjust the seat depth and the lumbar support. It also allows for micro-movements and can break the redundancy most task chairs are notorious for. It also has a recline function with auto-adjusting synchronised tilt tension. It also has 4 options for the lock tilt.
The build of the chair is also quite impressive. The comfort level is also sublime, way beyond what you can expect from a task chair. Your back and budget will thank you.
Admiral Office Chair by Realm of Thrones
One of the chair features is the recline function. It has 3 lockable positions so you can find the best laid-back spot if you need to take a rest for a while. It is also a highly ergonomic chair, and one of the few, if not the only one that gives you 5D arms. These highly adjustable arms can also play a huge part in keeping the back pain at bay or even preventing it. This helps you find the perfect angle for your arms to the desk, your back also benefits from this.
It also has an adaptive lumbar support with 3 dynamic settings and the backrest has 10 height level settings which adjust through a maximum range of 6cm. You can also tell just by looking at it that this is one exceptional and expensive unit. It’s so robust and feels very strong and sturdy, it almost feels like a designer chair, setting itself higher than Steelcase or Herman Miller.
Chairs we have tested
- Herman Mirra 2 Butterfly
This does not seem like your ordinary office chair. And if you are experiencing stiffness and back pain, you should check this out. The backrest and seat of the Mirra 2 have this distinct curve that can lend comfort to an aching back.
The chair is also made of an ingenious material that gives you the feeling of being suspended aka floating rather than being pushed into the chair. The excess pressure can aggravate back pain, and the feeling of being suspended can relieve that pressure.
But like our other two options above, it might take a while to get used to the type of comfort that it can give. The peculiar shape of the backrest and seat may come off as uncomfortable but soon you will find it indulgent. But give it time and learn how to adjust the ergo points and you’ll see that this is one of the more comfortable chairs for your back pain.
The adjustable seat depth adds more comfort to your back and legs, it enables you to create more distance between your knees and the front of the seat, thus preventing that pressure behind the knee. That build-up pressure there can aggravate back pain.
- Elite Team Plus
You will be able to adjust the backrest height of this simple and basic-looking chair. And if you are on a budget, this comes in quite affordable. You don’t need to skimp on comfort, especially if you are nursing a bad back.
It’s pretty basic looking compared to our other options in this list, but it’s very supportive for the back. You still have a handful of adjustable features to play with, the seat angle, backrest tilt, and seat height. Though not aplenty, it can still help you find the sweetest spot for work or play. And for the price and the level of comfort, you will not be able to complain.
This is one of ‘em basic-looking chairs that can still provide a decent haven for your stiff and painful back. Not as fancy as the others, but can fit in a tight budget and still make you comfy at the same time.
Your back will benefit from these
Sitting in the proper posture can be challenging especially if you’re burning the midnight oil. And with this comes the agony of lingering back pain. You don’t have to bear with just so-so back support.
You need an office chair that can give you a more pronounced and more customised back support. And we’ve just the list whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge a bit more.
