The Best Comfortable Office Seating
You might be reading this because you spend more time than you'd like to admit sitting on your bum (as do most of us). If you tend to fidget in your chair, your body is telling you that it's just not comfortable in the seat it's in. One way to address this is to improve your posture so your muscles can support a more upright position. Another easy solution: comfortable office seating. Read on to discover the best office chairs on the market.
What to Look For
To curate this list of the comfiest office seating, we looked at the following aspects: What is it made of? How does it make life at the office more comfortable? And does it supplement a seat or act as its own? To improve your posture, we highly recommend the Gaiam balance ball seat. This forces you to sit upright properly, which can reduce back strain if you’re disciplined about using it. To supplement your existing chair, you might want to try the ComfiLife enhanced orthopedic cushion. It’s incredibly supportive and makes long hours at your desk more bearable. Below we’ll go into more detail on the best comfortable office seating you can buy.
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Orthopedic
A trip down memory foam lane
ComfiLife’s ultra-popular cushion combines the temperature-regulating benefits of its gel layer with a classic memory foam base to create a cushion made to support your tush for long periods. Whether you’re gaming, working, or taking out your old hooptie for that long-awaited interstate road trip, toss this one under your seat and feel the relief it provides. Its rubber bottom makes it stay in place, and its velour cover can be unzipped and chucked into the washing machine when you feel it needs cleaning. Finally, though we’re certainly not medical experts, it’s worth mentioning that the company claims it can help those recovering from back and spine injuries, as it helps relieve pressure on those areas.
Pros:
- Transport handle for convenient carrying
- High-quality build
- Helpful for hip pain
Cons:
- May be too tall for some people
Milliard Memory Foam
Supportive savings
With Milliard’s memory foam cushion, it’s simple: it offers the same specs as other memory foam cushions, a high-density foam build, ventilated airflow, and weight-stabilizing properties — but what sets it apart is the cost. And sure, you’d probably be able to find a memory foam cushion cheaper than this, but the other distinguishing factor for this one is its quality. Its high-caliber construction almost seems to be at odds with its more-than-affordable price tag, to the point where some of its loyal proponents wonder, why doesn’t it cost more? It’s a great question, but we’re not complaining.
Pros:
- Breathable mesh fabric
- Machine-washable cover
- Fits on almost any type of office chair
Cons:
- May flatten after a few months
GSeat Classic Gel and Foam Seat Cushion
Let the games begin
The GSeat Classic was conceived by Cathleen Woodall, the company’s CEO, after years of working from home. These days, it’s used by folks of all stripes, including truck drivers, airplane travelers, office workers, and of course, gamers. Thanks to the ergonomic cushion’s center cutout, your tailbone is suspended, placing your spine in a more natural, healthy state. Combined with the soft gel construction, this cushion provides the kind of comfort that’ll let you game for longer without feeling that dreaded lower back pain set in. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but it’s worth the investment if it means protecting your body’s structural integrity. As Mrs. Woodall puts it, if you’re looking for support while you’re sitting, GSeat has your back.
Pros:
- Available in black or grey
- Five-degree wedge elevates the hips
- Air vents help regulate temperature
Cons:
- Too firm for some tastes
Gaiam Classic Balance Ball
Old problem, new solution
So, we know we said that we weren’t going to lecture you about health or fitness or anything like that, but we lied. We choose Gaiam’s balance ball seat for a few reasons. Unlike most of the traditional cushions out there, Gaiam’s ball chair helps you build healthy sitting habits. For some people, back pain and discomfort while sitting are a result of poor posture or lacking musculature in places like the back. Many argue that gel cushions just exacerbate those structural weaknesses by making them feel comfortable. The Gaiam does no such thing — rather, it promotes healthy spinal alignment and forces you to actively engage your muscles to help you sit up properly. If this sounds difficult, that’s because it is — but only at first. As your body gets used to it and responds to muscular stress by becoming stronger, the upright sitting position becomes more natural and requires less effort. By all accounts — including our own — such a posture helps cultivate feelings of energy and focus.
Pros:
- Great at reducing back pain
- An excellent choice for active folks or those wanting to improve posture
- Great for yoga poses and other types of stretches
Cons:
- It’s a bit on the pricey side
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I feel back pain after sitting for hours on end?
Essentially, it’s a result of bad posture, which often results from a lack of strength in your core and lower back. We all know we’re supposed to sit up straight and all that jazz, but who’s going to sit up straight for hours on end while working? Ideally, we all would, because when we slouch while seated, it strains the spinal discs that separate each vertebra, providing cushion and protection. Without a supported posture, this strain builds up, potentially leading to long-term damage if we don’t do something to mitigate it.
Instead of spending money on a cushion to put on top of my uncomfortable chair, why not just buy a better chair?
Simple answer: you can, and if you have the money to afford it, you should. The problem is that a good chair is often pretty expensive. A seat cushion can augment the setup you already have until you can afford a better chair.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.