Customer Reviews

Aeron Chair by Herman Miller - Official Retailer - Highly Adjustable - Graphite Frame - Lumbar Pad - Carbon Classic (Medium)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After hearing about these chairs from my dotcom days I have to admit I have always had an interest in these chairs. I did not consider buying one until my aging back demanded one while in grad school. Three years later and I have no regrets. This chair was the single best investment I have made in my adult life. I would recommend the lumbar with all the adjustable options as this gives me the best lumbar and joint support possible. I find the pellicle mesh to be excellent in maintaining circulation and the overall durability of the chair to be excellent.

I believe that a lot of the negative reviews here and on other sites are from people who do not understand basic human ergonomics. When sitting in a chair, your thighs should be parallel to the ground and your feet should be completely flat/relaxed. A lot of the time, people raise their chair too high to accomodate a desk/computer station that is simply too high, therefore suspending their legs and cutting off leg circulation. If your desk is too high, then you should either consider trading in for a lower desk or a keyboard tray that is height adjustable. Another option is to use a foot stool that allows for the aforementioned leg position. Your arms should be relaxed at your side with the elbows bent at 90 degrees. Your forearms should be parallel or your hands slightly lower than your elbows to the ground. The center of your computer monitor should be level with your eyes or slightly lower. With this seated position, I can almost guarantee for the majority of people out there, this Aeron chair will serve them well.

I absolutely love this chair. I got to work in one while working at a dotcom. As soon as I started working from home, I found I was having back problems (while programming for days)in my chair at home. Eventually I had to give in to the power of Herman Miller and buy one. Since it's arrival, I have had zero back pain and can't part with it. Highly recommend it.

I finally bit the bullet and got one of the Herman Miller Aeron chairs a couple months ago. I'm very happy I did.

I had been in and out of a few standard office chairs, from the cheap to the expensive ($200'ish). None really met my needs fully, and I spend a lot of time at my computer working on imaging, video editing, gaming, etc. My basic office chairs ranged from wobbly to solid but unadjustable. My latest chair was an expensive leather executive type chair I bought from a local office supply store. It felt great in the store, but the lack of practically any adjustment took its toll over time. I could not adjust the back, and the seat had a bucket depth to it. When I gamed or worked on image editing, I would sit on the very edge of the chair. This would make me end up slouching, which then made me not breathe properly. My shoulders and back would get sharp pains in them after a bit of time. Baiscally if I sat back and watched a movie, I was fine and it was comfortable. However, when I played or did work, it was a nightmare.

So how would a $800-900 chair work for me, and could it be so much better than the $200 leather executive chair I was using? Was it worth the money? In a word, yes. I had purchased the Aeron size B with the lumbar cushion.

The Aeron was solid as a rock. It had the perfect weight, the perfect mix of materials, and was fully adjustable. I could sit perfectly upright without slouching, due to the lumbar support. Most importantly, the forward tilt of the chair, which is rare even among ergo chairs, was ultimately what sealed the deal. With the forward tilt combined with the lumbar cushion, I could be leaning slightly forward WITHOUT having to sit on the edge of the chair. I could be very engaged with my editing or gaming, and not have to always think about or remind myself to sit with proper posture, since the chair did it for me. I went from aching shoulders and back, to a very comfortable computing experience, without any fatigue to my back, shoulders, or syatic nerves.

Now about myself specifically, and a warning to others looking at the Aeron. I got the size B chair, which is the middle size between the small A (which few but the most petite would fit) and the large C (which is great for larger folk). I also went with the Lumbar over the Posturefit. I would make sure that anyone who gets one of these takes the time to get properly fitted for it. I'm told that many people who might be best in a size B get the size C due to the fact that it is a bit more roomy. However, for me the larger C chair's bench pushed right up to the back of my knees when I sat properly in the chair. I knew that this would, over time, cause problems with my legs. Don't buy the chair you think you will "grow" into. Buy the chair that properly fits you now.

I also looked at the Posturefit chairs, but quickly discounted them. With the way I sat in the chair, the Posturefit supported my butt, not my back. The Posturefit is not adjustable up or down, so the Lumbar chair was the only option for me. If the Posturefit supports you properly, all the more power to you. However, I preferred the adjustability of the Lumbar. Plus, the larger side of the lumbar cushion gives VERY strong support for people who like that forward tilt, engaged type posture that I like. Best of all, I can easily set the forward tilt limiter back a bit, and easily sit back and watch movies in full comfort.

This chair is the best of all worlds for me. When I get home, I find myself still using the computer for a good amount of time. I figured since I'm in a computer chair so darn much, $850 was really a bargain for the comfort it provided me over cheaper chairs.

One final thought, I also compared this chair directly with the Herman Miller Mirra before purchasing the Aeron B. I had actually walked into the store intent on buying a Mirra, after reading many reviews. Yet, I knew the smart thing was to try both, sit in each for a good amount of time, and make my own decision. I'm glad I did, because I found the Mirra a bit too light, without the very solid feel of the Aeron. I also didn't like the bench length adjustment of the Mirra, and the Mirra doesn't have the forward tilt option that the Aeron has.

Again, though, that's not to say that a Mirra won't work for you. My advice, try the chairs directly. Sit in one for 15 min or 30 min at a store... then give that store your business unless the price is just grossly different than what you can find online. I actually got my Aeron at the 2nd store I demo'd it in... because the first store didn't actually sell them on-site, and I would not only have had to pay local tax, but also a fairly steep shipping fee. Made no sense to me, who spends my time going to thier showroom to try the chair... etc. But I digress.

Try the chair. If you like the Aeron, make sure you get the size (A, B, C) that properly fits your frame. If you do, you will certainly feel the difference, and you will be hooked.

I have been using my new Herman Miller Aeron Chair Medium Lumbar support chair, for one week. I have only two criticisms. The first is the price, but of course I knew about this before I purchased it. I got it because I needed a comfortable chair for my bad back. In this respect it was probably worth the price. My major problem is that the center post only gives about 1/8 inch clearance from the floor with the standard casters. These casters are suppose to be good for commercial carpeting. However, I found that they do rub against my home carpet. This carpet is not a deep pile carpet. Take a look at the photos shown on the web and you will see what I mean. I'm told I would have to order 3 inch casters to raise the chair so the center post gives a 1/2 clearance. In the meantime I am now using a chair mat to protect my rug but even this gives a very small clearance from the mat. You would think they would have designed a higher level center post.

I had the same problem mentioned by other reviewers--my Aeron cut off circulation to my legs. The pinch was severe enough to create a good imitation of Restless Legs Syndrome. I have achieved some relief by lowering the chair so my feet rest flat on the floor, and by adjusting the forward tilt so the seat doesn't press so hard against the back of my thighs. The manufacturer's adjustment instructions only touch on what the user initially finds comfortable; advice on troubleshooting problems that arise after hours in the chair would be welcome.

I got the PostureFit Aeron chair C size for my office from Amazon, wrote a review on that one too and one can see my verified purchase. I soon got a second one.

The difference between this one, the adjustable frame and the PostureFit is that the PostureFit is adjustable in-and-out, giving you more or less total lumbar support. And it costs a little more and the assembly of that mechanism is only a little more difficult. This one adjusts up and down, giving the same amount of lumbar support only you get to decide where it hits your back. PostureFit doesn't adjust up and down. There's a tradeoff but PostureFit costs a little more.

At first it was difficult to conceive spending this much on an office chair but after searching for the best price, considering also shipping and taxes, I made the mental adjustment. The more time goes by, the better I feel about the purchase. If you spend a lot of time sitting, you've got to think about long term back health, and this chair has a very decent 12-year warranty (let's hope the company stays in business).

The first thing you should do if you are prepared to buy this chair is go to a store and sit on the different sizes to be sure of your size. The B and C sizes cost the same right now both on Amazon and at most stores. I got the C because the B cuts off much shorter at the legs, the thighs, and B was too short for me by a good margin although I'm not especially tall. The B size cuts off shorter than those standard cheap office chairs you normally see, just to put it into perspective. At the same time, the C is quite wide - surprisingly so. I didn't need the wideness of the C but I needed the length of the seat so as not to cut off short for the legs. One can adjust the arms inward, among other arm adjustments, to compensate against the wideness of the C. If you are relatively short, the B size should work well. If you get a quote at the store and include taxes, I'm pretty confident it won't be competitive with this price even if you use a floor model price.

Assembly for this chair is pretty easy. It might take 25 minutes, more or less if it's your first time and you're using the instructions.

The warranty is an important part of this purchase. I've talked with people that vouched for the fact that a service technician will come to your home or office to repair this chair as you go for a whole 12 years. Things happen that may cause you to get service. The mesh may tear and need replacement. A common thing, the guy in the store told me, is that the up-down mechanism may need to be fixed, and that is supposed to be an easy thing for the technician to fix. These chairs are designed to handle the weight of up to a 250 pound person. If you're heavier than that, you may need to get the above-mentioned part fixed but the warranty will cover it.

Finally, after covering decision points and information points, the chair feels good to sit on. It's the best I've ever experienced. I believe my productivity will go up as a result, and it's just a shame more employers don't pay for them considering that it is really a good investment in getting more out of an employee. I unfortunately had to pay for my Aeron myself. I love the chair and used my own money to get it for work as those cheap chairs we have aren't good for the back.

Herman Miller, maker of this chair, also sells accessories such as different types of castors for different types of floor surfaces. I've had a lot of compliments on my chair, especially from others that have been sitting on it.

These chairs set the standard by which all others are judged. They combine outstanding build quality and comfort with a timeless design that is sure to impress clients or guests. They are also extremely comfortable. Like a mattress, a good chair is extremely important to your comfort and health. Buy the best chair you can afford, you will not regret it...especially if you're behind your computer 8 hours a day.

The previous reviewer noted that the chair seat does not slide in and out. While this is true, it hardy detracts from the comfort of the chair...and I haven't seen another office chair with this feature. Just make sure you buy the right size. I'm 6'4" and have been working on my "C" chair for two years. Buy with confidence.

I bought this chair just when it came out, and it wasn't easy. I selected it because it was adjustable at all the critical points, and more, and incorporated many of the best features of other chairs. More unique for an office chair was the mesh support, rather than cotton or leather. It allows your skin to breathe, sitting on chairs for long durations. It was sold through a tiny number of dealers, it had no reputation yet, and it was one of the most expensive chairs in the market. It was not sold to consumers but only to businesses, and only via a purchase order through company accounts, no credit cards.

Over 15 years later, does it live up to its hype?

Yes, I have no joint, back or wrist issues sitting on this chair over 15 years of use. I use this chair at home, and use ordinary chairs at work [justifying a $900 chair would be impossible], and I cannot sit for as long without shifting my weight, standing up, stretching, rotating my wrist, etc., whereas on the Aeron, I can sit for many hours. The longest I sat was over 8 hours, coordinating e-messages during a serious accident.

The mesh backing keeps my back and bottom cool; a standard leather or cotton filled insulator picks up and retains body heat, and it gets most annoying during the summer. In the winter, the seat does not become cold either.

I don't think it can be proven that this chair will save your back or other injuries, but it is established poor posture are key contributors to RSD and other ailments. Any device that can be adjusted to exact positions for height and support will eliminate posture related ailments, and this chair indirectly proves it can reduce injury, QED.

The synthetic material used makes it very easy to clean, and 15 year later, the chair looks as new as the day I bought it. The controls, springs, and mechanical parts are in like-new working order, compared to the knobs, rust, or fatigue I get in the $200 or under type chairs. Spilling liquids on this chair is a snap to clean, just wipe, not so easy on a cotton chair or a leather chair that hasn't been waxed.

I would buy this chair again in a heart beat. A doctors bill to treat pain or RSD, not counting the suffering until healed, will easily cost more than this chair. A word of caution, if the chair isn't adjusted optimally or sized properly, the potential of this chair will not be realized: its easy to prove, take a chair that you know works for you, and change adjustments down or up by 1": elbow rests, height, and lumbar support and see what happens. I notice this years ago when friends used my chair to work, and I had to reset all their adjustments, motivated by pain the chair was causing that wasn't there before.

The new chairs comes various sized caster options for different types of floors, if you choose incorrectly, it will not glide as easily as others. I think that choice is convenient but immaterial, as casters do not impact sitting posture.

At my last job I had an Aeron chair. After leaving that job after 6 years and setting up a home office, the first thing I did was buy an Aeron chair. It's insanely comfortable, adjustable, and sturdy. There is hardly any plastic on the chair (except for the edging, netting and arm rests). I am really hard on my chairs: I slouch and move around a lot. This chair will last a long time. Buy it.

I just bought this chair from a retailer. My concern was that I would not be able to choose the right size. I did know that I wanted the one with the adjustable lower back support. I walked in to the store and all the sales reps put me in a B. I sat in both the A and the B but had adjusted the lumbar support while sitting in them so we choose the B. I took it home and it made no improvements in my back or leg pain. I have degenerative disc disease L5 S1. I'm 5 3 1/2 and weight 123 pounds. I realized that I was using the lower back support to scoot myself forward in the seat. I called the store and the manager of the store stated that when choosing the size you should be able to sit in it without the extra lumbar support to decide which one is best for you. We agreed that I should be in an A so that when I use the lower back support it will be actually supporting my back not helping me scoot forward in the chair to adjust for it being too big. So... do not insert or adjust the lower back support when attempting to decide on the size. I will be returning my B for an A this weekend. If you look at the chart on line you will notice that I'm in between sizes but let me tell you that the sit part is really long for me now that I'm not using the lumbar support which I will use to support my lower back. Aeron Chair - Posture Fit - Medium Size (B)