It is always shocking to see the sticker price on a good-quality office chair. It’s just a chair! Why is it so expensive? Then your back starts to ache after years of sitting in a crappy seat, and you start to wonder. Do what I did and invest in a supportive, comfortable, and ergonomic office chair. While the market is more competitive than ever, Herman Miller still makes some of the best in the business, and it just so happens that there’s a sale on two of my favorites: the Aeron and Embody.
The Aeron is enjoying a 30 percent off flash sale from now through November 26; everything else at Herman Miller is 25 percent off for Black Friday. If you need a new chair for your home office, now’s one of the best times of the year to snag it. For more deals, check out our Best Early Black Friday Deals roundup.
Herman Miller Sale
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Courtesy of Herman Miller
The Aeron is the most iconic office chair in the world, found in offices across the world, for good reason. This all-mesh design is excellent for airflow, and you’ll find every adjustment imaginable to make this chair support your body. (Read more about my experience here.) You’ll be faced with several options when purchasing, all of which influence the price, so let’s run through them:
- Frame: This is where you can choose the color for your Aeron’s frame and base. Graphite is the cheapest, but you can upgrade to a polished aluminum base, for example.
- Size: The Aeron comes in three sizes: A, B, and C. I recommend using Herman Miller’s size guide (tap the ? icon on the product page) to buy the appropriate version for your body. For example, the company recommends people between 5’2″ and 6′ to go with Size B.
- Back Support: Lumbar support can go a long way in keeping your back pain-free after long hours in a chair. I suggest you go with the Adjustable Lumbar Support or Adjustable Posture Fit SL; the latter is more supportive, targeting the sacral region of the spine as well.
- Tilt: Upgrade to the Tilt Limiter! It lets you limit the recline range between three angles (upright, mid-recline, and full-recline). It can also tilt the seat forward for a more active and engaged sitting position. If you go for the Basic Tilt option, you’ll need to twist the tension knob to adjust the effort needed to recline in the chair.
- Arms: You have three options: stationary, height-adjustable, and fully adjustable. Stationary means the arms are set at a fixed height, whereas height-adjustable lets you raise or lower them. Fully adjustable arms let you slide the arms backward and forward, and tilt them inward and outward.
- Armpad: Your choice if you want polyurethane foam pads or leather.
- Caster: This depends on whether you have carpet or not at your desk.
Herman Miller says there’s free shipping on all orders over $1,500. Just remember that the 30 percent off sale price exclusive to the Aeron expires on November 26.
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Courtesy of Herman Miller
While the Aeron may be more familiar to many, my personal favorite is the Herman Miller Embody. It may take a week or two to get used to its flat and thin seat, but to me, it feels like a palate cleanser after I’m done testing other office chairs. It just feels right, with an excellent back support system and adjustable seat depth that surprisingly works for my 6’4″ frame. There are far fewer selections you have to make for the Embody, but the toughest choice is whether to go with Sync or Medley upholstery. Sync is softer and thicker, whereas the Medley feels a bit more textured, rougher, and taut.
These are just two of Herman Miller’s office chairs, but there are tons of other options—including the gaming versions of the Embody and Aeron—not to mention desks, lighting, and other furniture. Perhaps it’s time to finally consider springing for the classic Eames?
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