There's more to the Herman Miller Aeron than good looks — it's one of the most ergonomic office chairs out there. You'd be hard-pressed to find a review of the best desk chairs that didn't include the Herman Miller Aeron. The chair is so iconic, it's in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Originally released in 1994, this sleekly designed ergonomic masterpiece has no straight lines, no foam, no padding, and no leather. Instead, it's mostly mesh, woven to provide intuitive support just where you need it. Made in large part from recycled materials, and 94% recyclable itself, the Aeron is eco-friendly as well as body-friendly.
Wirecutter recommends this chair for anyone who finds foam padding too hot. When Lifehacker asked its readers to vote for the best office chair, more than 40 percent of the nearly 5,000 votes went to the Aeron, which Lifehacker describes as, "Probably one of the most famous office chairs in the world, the Aeron chair set a new standard for ergonomics and comfort when it was released."
The Aeron has all sorts of ergonomic features: Kinemat tilt, which lets your body flex naturally; Pellicle suspension to dissipate body heat; a PostureFit mechanism to properly align your pelvis and spine; and a contoured back to reduce pressure on your spine.
One complaint that does occasionally crop up, however, is that the Aeron has a plastic "lip" around the seat of the chair that can make fidgeting or shifting sideways uncomfortable. The other obvious downside to this chair is its high price tag.
Pros: Classic ergonomic design, very breathable, intuitively and individually adjustable
Cons: Expensive, and the plastic lip around the seat can bother some sitters