Herman Miller office chair vs. Modway office chair
Herman Miller and Modway office chairs
You’ve probably heard the saying that you should never cheap out on the things that separate you from the ground, like shoes, tires and mattresses. If you’re an office worker or gamer, the same sentiment is true about your desk chair. It’s not just comfort that’s at stake, either: Quality furniture promotes good posture and helps prevent repetitive strain injuries.
Two popular brands that produce high-quality office chairs are Herman Miller and Modway.
There are plenty of differences between the two, but depending on your budget and needs, one of them will almost certainly have an office chair that’s right for you.
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Herman Miller office chairs
Herman Miller is widely known for its premium desk chairs. The well-designed furniture focuses on ergonomics and durability. To match the quality, the products have high price points. Herman Miller’s most affordable ergonomic office chairs start out at $500. If you want a top-of-the-line model, prepare to spend twice that, or even more if you want a less conventional color.
Herman Miller office chair pros
- Advanced ergonomic designs
- Extremely sturdy construction
- High-end materials, often nearly all metal
- Impressive 12-year parts and labor warranty
- Comfortable and long-lasting mesh and cushions
Herman Miller office chair cons
- Highly expensive
- Usually very heavy
- Some are also pretty bulky
Best Herman Miller office chairs
Often imitated but never duplicated, this popular model has remained almost unchanged for nearly three decades. It’s extremely durable and every part of it is made with precision and care. Most users need the size B model, but you can find the size A and C versions if you look carefully.
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Despite its excellent design, the Aeron isn’t right for everyone. Many people who don’t prefer the flagship model do like the Mirra 2 quite a bit. It has a similar curvy appearance to its slightly more expensive relative but is designed for relatively different body shapes. Keep in mind that there’s a decent number of optional features for this one, so make absolutely certain that you’ve selected the right ones before making your purchase.
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This somewhat unconventional design comes with a great posture fit. The tilt limiter lets you recline the chair to one of these three settings, namely, 91, 101 or 124 degrees. The chair has a seat depth of 16 inches.
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Modway office chairs
Of course, not everybody is willing to invest several hundred dollars in a chair. Luckily, there are plenty of budget-friendly furniture companies around, and Modway is one such up-and-comer. They have a pretty extensive line of chairs with a wide range of features and while they’re not the most high-end options, they’re great for budget-minded users.
Aside from ergonomic office chairs, some of Modway’s releases are great choices for outfitting entire conference and meeting rooms without spending a fortune. The majority of Modway’s task chairs fall in the $100-$200 range. There are some designer-style models that cost more, but they don’t offer much in terms of ergonomics.
Modway office chair pros
- Affordably priced
- Often available with a breathable mesh back
- Many have multi-directional adjustment
- Reasonably comfortable
Modway office chair cons
- Built with a lot of plastic
- Padding doesn’t always stay plush very long
- Somewhat inconsistent quality control
Best Modway office chairs
It’s hard to argue against the Articulate as the best ergonomic Modway desk chair. This is largely because it has the three-way adjustment needed to ensure you’re sitting at the right height and tilt angle and your arms are positioned properly for everything to line up safely. It even has a ventilated mesh back and adjustable spring tension.
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Some desk chairs take up a ton of space, but not the Edge. In fact, if you flip its armrests up, it’s easy to slide under a desk — a feature that even many high-end ergonomic chairs can’t offer. The tradeoff here is that the armrests are not adjustable and the chair isn’t fully articulating, either. But as long as you’re not sitting it for an absurd amount of time, it should be relatively comfortable for most people.
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This armless mid-back model is great for stocking a meeting room with good-looking and reasonably priced seating. It’s designed to mimic some of the most iconic conference room chairs of decades past and comes in a variety of colors to match your office’s decor.
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Should you get a Herman Miller or Modway office chair?
If you don’t want to spend more than a couple hundred dollars, a Modway chair isn’t a bad choice. Keep in mind, though, a Herman Miller can easily last for over a decade, while you might have to replace your Modway after just a year or two.
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Chris Thomas writes for Vanke. Vanke has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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