Lorell 86000 Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair with Black Mesh Back & Fabric Seat - Comfortable Desk Chair for Home & Office Workspaces

I used to work at home 1 day/week. New job change allows me to work at home full time. By the 3rd day, I had a backache and a butt ache from sitting on my old kitchen chair at my home office desk. I realized I would have to invest in a decent chair if I was going to sit in it 8 hours a day. Now as an office worker the past 10 years, I sit in a chair that LOOKS similar to this, and I can say I've never gotten a back ache sitting in the chair at my business and I know what a comfortable chair feels like. So I went to popular office supply stores looking first. I was shocked and in for a lesson! Now MAYBE it's just me, but I think I have stumbled upon something important that all should know: In the office supply stores, they had a great selection - Chairs from $79 to $400. At first glance, the chairs that you THINK would be very comfortable ("Prestige Look", or "Heavy Duty full Leather with 6 inch padded seat and backing") turned out to be fairly cheap ($200 or under) and looked amazing, but sitting in them with my experience of sitting in the office chair at my business for 10 years x 8+ hours/day, I could tell that many of the chairs were generally uncomfortable, conformed more to the EYE (looked good) than to the BODY (ergonomic). I then found a lot of chairs from around $200 to $300, that LOOKED like nothing special - seat cusions only 2 inches thick, seat BACK that was cloth or even see-through, but found these to be BAR FAR superior in comfort, and the ONLY ones that would allow 8 hour shiftee's to be sitting in them comfortably. I decided that if I was to buy any at the office supply store, I would have to pay $300 minimum. The next time I was worked at my business in the office, I checked the model and make of the chair I've been sitting in for the past 10 years and said "I'll just buy one of these - can't be more than $300 since EVERY employee has one". Turns out that the chair at my office is a SteelCase high end and with the movable arm options costs almost $800 dollars! I was blown away. So at this point I've learned - if you need to sit all day in a chair, don't go for looks - go for the best rated ergonomic ones. So I then did a bunch of online research hours looking for the best brands and best models with best reviews. It was a toss up between THIS Lorell 86200 at $170, or one or two similar looking Lorell chairs at $250 - $300. I had a theory, and it paid off: You, like me, have come to know that buying online with some research is pretty much a certainty of getting a better product/price/value than a retail store. So I figured this chair, with very good reviews (save a couple from TALL people which I am NOT) I figured might be as good as the $300 retail office supply store chairs I was testing. And sure enough I was right on. This chair took only minutes to put together. I weight 200 pounds, and I can tell this seat can easily accomodate comfortably up to 250-275 pound folks just from the look and feel of it - although I did not look for the official specifications. The hydraulic lift adjusts up and down, and there are separate arm adjustments for the angle of both the seat and the back - allows you to set each forward, level, or back and lock. The armrests have a button to raise or lower them a little bit, and underneath the chair you can fix the width of the armrests from nice and tight to the body pretty far out for bigger people or if you like the armrests farther apart. The angle adjustment is different than SOME chairs, which you can adjust the tension and preference, but the seat or back gives to allow some more movement after you lock the setting. I found however that setting and locking (which is the way THIS chair works) was just as good as the one in the office where you set it but it still moves a little. I tend to sit slouched almost always - butt forward on the seat, 4-5 inch space in back of me on the seat cushion - and my back pushed back almost as if I am sliding off the chair a little bit. Oddly I find I can sit this way for hours on end the most comfortably, and this chair accomodates that nicely. I read a couple reviews of taller folks not liking this chair, but me being shorter (5 ft 7) and sit slouched, I had no idea of guessing which chair would be good for me. But I lucked out - this chair was around $170 and in my opinion is as good as the office supply store's $250-$300 for sure, and I am very happy with it.***Update 2/7/13: This chair is model LLR 86200. Someone turned me on to a possibly nicer version out now, LLR 86205. It seem to be the same chair but with more adjustment options and about $40 more. I've never seen a 86205 yet, but want to let you guys out there know it exists. Also, both of my 86200 chairs are still going strong and I still love them. ***End Update***I've owned this chair for more than a year and work in it 12hrs per day... Things to know:1) Price: $168. Can't beat it, I've looked. (Update 6/26/12: Seems there's been a price drop down to $140 w/shipping recently here and elsewhere.)2) Like, but can't afford, an Aeron? Then this is the best sit you're going to get. There are a few good $250+ chairs out there that match this chair in comfort and fit, but none beat it. Only spend the extra money if you just have to have a prettier chair (yeah it looks like some kind of cheap asian knockoff because face it - it is.)3) Quality: Lasts. I wear out chairs fast, especially the seat. Anything not rated for continuous use tends to fall apart in about 3-9 months. This thing is still standing after 14 months and I haven't even had to tighten the screws. The cloth seat has resisted the occasional drink/snack stains too.4) Little quirks: Armrests, they are what they are. They work, but are a bit wobbly per design as is common on such chairs. Chair back - it's rather large and when you get up quick, you'll spin the chair around and the back will almost always bang the desk. (Think of it like carrying a long ladder and suddenly turning around... you're going to whack stuff by accident on occasion knocking keyboards, drinks, etc around.5) Fit. First chair I've bought without sitting in it first either in a store or at a client's office. I don't know if you're 5'2" 90lbs or 6'5" and 350lbs. All I can say is if you're somewhere in the middle it has enough adjustment range to fit you. It's designed to be fitted into your body like an Aeron, but not so extremely specific that you need to worry about a certain chair frame size like Aeron. Again, as long as you aren't in the extremes of body size/type, I would say feel comfortable ordering without sitting in it first. It will comform to your needs.Being a well-traveled consultant, my butt has known pretty much every chair out there. If you need a chair that you can sit in continuously for long hours every day this is it. I was frankly surprised at how well it has served, and find myself back here buying another for my wife.If "pretty" is important to you this isn't it. There are also more comfortable chairs for sitting in 1 hr per day, but as said above... once you get into serious use like I do your choices get narrowed down quickly. It used to be Aeron or backache. Now that this chair is out, as long as you can deal with it being a bit ugly, you have the option of comfort on a budget.Another thing to know: This chair does come in 4 configurations like a leather seat covering with headrest, etc. I just don't see it on amazon. However, you don't really want the leather for extended use (heat + wears out quickly). I personally recommend the configuration here as ideal.One last bit of advice from the trenches: If you haven't educated yourself in proper seat positioning, it's worth the time. I'm not some chair snob, but little things do turn out to make a big difference. Proper seat height can save knee aches and have a big impact on neck ache (looking up vs. straight ahead vs. down at your monitor). Tilting the chair ever so slightly back takes a load off your spine. I used to just go with what felt good when I sat down, but time has taught me better.I'm giving it 4 stars, but not out of any real fault. There's nothing I hate about his chair. Aeron is simply the 5-star gold standard and this falls short because it's 1/4 the price and couldn't hope to compete on subtle pricey touches Aeron has. Just like a Cadillac will never be a Rolls Royce, it's a darn good chair but simply not the absolute best.I saw this chair in a doctors office recently and thought it was better than what I had been wasting money on. Found the company it came from on a tag and began an internet search. You can pay over $600 for it at office supply companies so this was a much better buy! I also sprang for the head rest.For starters it's made in Taiwan instead of - that OTHER place. The quality is obvious. The back comes apart so one could conceivably replace the mesh if that time comes. The adjustments are useful and it works for me, a 6 footer at 200 LBS.I've suffered with lower back pain for several months and my last mesh chair added to my discomfort. This chair was an immediate improvement! It has a padded fabric seat and the mesh has some give to it.I use it at my computer and ham radio desk. Usually not more than 2-3 hours at a time and generally far less.The ladies in the doctor's office said they were very comfortable! I noted theirs were pretty wobbly and found it impossible to properly tighten the screws with the included tool. You'll need a 5MM hex and a 3/8 inch ratchet, etc.Love to give it 5 stars but the base is plastic and in all honesty the seat could use a little more padding for my taste.The part that connects the seats to pole has started to become loose after a week of use. With all leavers locked the seat goes another inch back after you sit in it. If you do move up it moves up by an inch then when you lean back it leans an inch backwards. Very annoying and not way to tighten it.The seat can tilt a lot but only in the forward direction. So it goes from 45 slope forward to just 5 slope backwards . When in forward position my 2 yaer old uses it as a slide.It was very hard to screw all the screws.The plastic net for the back support is gripping with the shirt or anything you wear and when you move it's almost pulling your clothes in all directions. I fixed that adding a cover on it but it's not quite okay.I am 50 kg and it was extremely difficult with my weight to adjust the sit tilt. I had to jump on it...Not easy to adjust if you are not over 60 kg or so...It has a funky smell coming from the plastic of the net I guess...It really needs lumbar support. I fixed that with a small pillow but again, for this money I expected to be more comfortable.All the adjustments that you see in the advertisemnt are not as easy to make.Overall it's the best chair that I ever had at home but for this money I expected to show more care at the details level.I am very happy with this purchase as I bought it in the ''used'' section. It only said that the box was opened and that it was in very good condition. The chair was actually new inside. Sealed plastic around every item. I paid 100$ less for it.Pros - Comfortable, mesh fabric back chair (breathable) and ergonomic: Seat and back adjustment (height), reclining back, high back, seat tilt (upward downward), adjustable arms (height and width), 360-degree swivel.Cons - Wish that the arm pad could rotate inwards and that the width of the seat could be reduce even more. Instructions were easy and the assemble too, but the screws were hard to put in (in the back part). Had to ask my boyfriend who is quite strong and he even had a hard time (hurt is hand).Tho, except for the hard screws and the arm pads, I give 5/5... Mostly because of the price I paid and because it is quite comfy and sturdy. Note that I am 5'9''(near 5'10'') and weight around 140 pounds.Decent chair, the seat and back support feels better than my previous Amazon basics executive office chair. I like that the arm rests are supported from the middle instead of the front and back (better for crossing legs). The arm rests are the textured plastic and look cheap. I realize this is a budget chair, just make sure you expect the same. Others have mentioned a wobble and after a couple days, I have experienced the same. It is just front to back though, so it doesn't bother me much. Next time I think I am going to bite the bullet and go with a more expensive option.Good solid chair for my 225 body. Can't beat the price!Really liked the many controls, too.Everything seems very study.Thick metal to support the arm rests.Issues.I'm 6' tall - the seat is slightly too short nor does it move back/forward so i don't feel supported all the way down the leg at the end.the recline does not go back far enough but will tilt forward to a useless angle.the arm rests don't go down far enough, nor come out wide enough. i ended up taking one off because it interfered with my keyboard tray when i swiveled.I can live with these issues because the high back can't be found on any other chair in this price range with multiple controls.if you are taller than 6' or need a far-back recline, you should keep searching.