What to Look For in a Task Chair
Buying from the right brand is an easy way to ensure that you are getting a good chair, but it is not always enough. You have to make sure that a chair, even if it is a good one, has all the features you require because there are enough chairs on the market that every one is not going to be the right one for any specific buyer. Performance office seating is about buying a Knoll or Steelcase or Herman Miller, you have to know what you want and go out and find the model that has it all, or at least as much of it as you can afford.
1. Basic Adjustments - Everyone is different, so even though there are a finite amount of chairs on the market the adjustments are how we make sure that there is a chair out there for everyone. In addition to seat height adjustment, you should make sure that you can stop it from reclining, adjust how much force is required to recline, and you should be able to adjust the height of the arm rests.
2. Advanced Adjustments - If you opt for a higher end task chair then you should expect more adjustments than you would find on a entry level model. In addition to the basics, you should not be looking out for seat pan adjustment (this moves the part you sit on forward or backward), the ability to adjust lumbar support, and also to move arm rests side to side, in addition to up and down.
3. Casters - Unless you specifically do not want them, you should make sure that your chair has wheels on the bottom. These enable the user to put the chair exactly where it needs to be as well as to change direction without getting up. It also means that you can move small distances without having to stand up.
4. Backrest - You should not underestimate how important good backrest is. This piece will ensure that if you keep your shoulders square and your behind up against the backrest you will stay in a safe and comfortable position. Because posture is so important, the backrest is crucial to the performance of a chair.
5. Material - This may seem like an afterthought, but it is important. The proper material should be durable, comfortable, and breathable. Anything that does not match that description will either wear out before its time, not be something you want to sit on, or it will keep you too warm in the summer (or winter, depending on your office's temperature fluctuations). Leather is an option on most chairs, but it is generally something that should be avoided- it breaks in nicely, but does not breath as well as a light mesh fabric.