My favorite chair is an all-mesh office chair. However, they are not for everyone. Before you make the leap into the land of mesh office chairs, there are important insights you need to know. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and potential drawbacks of mesh chairs.
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10 Mesh Office Chair Problem Links
- Too Loose
- Firmness
- Abrasive
- Cleaning Difficulties
- Hard Frame
- Front Edge Challenge
- Restricts Seating Positions
- Cool Feeling
- Not Cozy
- Limited Options
1. Too Loose
To start, some mesh chair problems you can live with, others will make you want to punch a hole through the chair. One problem that is not exclusive to either cheap OR expensive mesh chairs, is loose or weak mesh. The makeup of mesh chairs requires a hard frame to hold the mesh in place.
The real issue comes in when the mesh is too loose making you sink through and hit the hard frame. Any chair where you can feel the frame will be uncomfortable immediately. Check reviews and make sure the chair you choose to purchase has a good return policy, because this is a problem that you can NOT live with.
2. Firmness
Next, the mesh may be too tight or firm. The firm experience you get on the Aeron is one of the main reasons it is such a polarizing chair. Personally, I’d prefer a mesh chair that sides on being too firm than too loose.
Sinking through a chair and getting no support makes a chair un-sittable, but a seat or back that is too firm is going to still work for most people if they take some breaks during the day. If I had to pick a chair that hits the perfect balance of mesh tightness it would be the Herman Miller Cosm – just be ready to pay for it.
3. Abrasive
To follow, mesh upholstery is typically going to be more coarse than leather or fabric upholstery. So, if you wear a lot of shorts and short sleeves, consider the fact that some kinds of mesh can be pretty abrasive to your skin.
Certain mesh headrests will not feel great against your neck, and possibly will catch and pull on your hair. The abrasion can also act as a cheese grater on your soft clothing. I found this out firsthand a while back, discovering a layer of jeans under the seat of my Aeron. This is another problem that you can find in both cheap and expensive mesh chairs.
4. Cleaning Difficulties
No matter what type of mesh material a chair has, they’re ALL difficult to clean. Padded mesh is where crumbs go to die. They fall through the top layer of mesh and get caught in the padding making them very difficult to vacuum out. It’s also not easy getting something like chocolate out of a more abrasive mesh like you see here.
With all the tiny crevices there’s too many places for food or dirt to hide. You definitely want to stay away from using paper products to clean because they will only leave a worse mess. Alternating between a soft, wet cloth and a vacuum will be the best solution. Keeping your area clean, and not eating in your chair, is the only real solution.
5. Hard Frame
Mesh chairs require a hard frame to support the mesh. Certain mesh chairs make it almost impossible to NOT hit this frame. Take the Haworth Very, for instance – unless one positions themselves perfectly centered, they may find themselves bumping into the hard backrest frame.
Similarly, the Aeron poses a similar issue which may result in the seat frame uncomfortably making contact with the body. Often the solution to this problem is simply making sure you are in a chair that fits you properly. With a chair like the Very there aren’t many options other than testing it to see if you fit. With the Aeron, the answer is purchasing the correct size chair for your body.
6. Front Edge Challenge
Addressing the challenge of the seat’s front edge is a common problem for mesh chair designs. Ideally, in the perfect ergonomic posture, minimal weight should rest on this part of the chair. Let’s face it – how often are we sitting in that ideal position throughout the day?
The Aeron and Karman tackle this by using a waterfall-edged frame that slopes down and away from your legs, maintaining the mesh’s tightness to prevent your legs from pressing into the frame. The X-Chair and Hyken place a pad between the mesh and the frame – these pads never seem to work. When contemplating a mesh chair, look carefully at this area of the seat and evaluate how well it supports your legs… if at all.
7. Restricts Seating Positions
My primary concern with mesh chairs – they limit the amount of different seating positions. I’ve already discussed the reasons why they limit your options, mainly the hard frame mesh chairs inherently have. Take the beloved Aeron, for instance – despite loving the chair, I’m forced to sit very properly.
There are times when I’d prefer a more relaxed position, perhaps propping a leg up on the seat. Even the more flexible framed Karman still limits moving around on the seat. In contrast, chairs like the Leap, featuring an upholstered seat, offer a broader range of movement and flexibility in seating positions. It’s worth noting that even chairs with only a mesh back can affect different sitting styles. Moving too far from the center can result in uncomfortable contact with a rigid frame.
8. Cool Feeling
The following “problem” is also one of the best features of mesh chairs: They offer a cooler seating experience. Body heat can easily escape through the mesh leaving you cooler compared to sitting in a padded upholstered chair.
While this makes mesh chairs an excellent choice for individuals who tend to feel overheated, it may not be the best option for those who are consistently chilly, even in a temperature-controlled office. This becomes a feature for those who are hot even while wearing shorts in a Wisconsin winter. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle and have the ability to regulate my temperature with the appropriate clothing.
9. Not Cozy
Arguably, the most subjective topic on my list is the idea of how cozy a chair is. Mesh chairs, especially with a mesh seat AND backrest, are typically not going to give you that cradled feeling like a padded chair will. They feel more open because of the coolness factor, and they can feel less snug.
The reason this is subjective is because not everyone desires that cradled feeling. The Gesture serves as a prime example of a chair with pads that truly cradles your back, allowing you to sink into the chair for a cozy experience. The closest thing I’ve found to a cozy mesh chair is the Steelcase Karman.
10. Limited Options
Lastly, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but getting a really comfortable mesh office chair often comes at a hefty price. In my tier list for mesh chairs, only those well above the $1000 mark secured spots in the S and A tiers.
Comfortable chairs with a mesh seat are difficult to come by as most of the problems on my list are focused on the seat. So if you want to get started with a mesh chair and your budget is under $1000, I recommend looking into chairs with a mesh back only.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, mesh chairs present a blend of advantages and challenges that fit different individual’s needs. Consider your priorities and budget when choosing an office chair for your home office or workplace.
Emma Jasmine
Hours spent in an uncomfortable chair can have a negative impact on productivity and lead to damage to the spine as well as physical health problems like wrist, shoulder, and neck pain. Your back pain can be lessened by using an adjustable office chair with enough timber. All of the seats you suggest in your site are quite cosy and lessen back pain. With the best office chairs, you can make sure you’re sitting correctly and giving your back the best chance of wellness. A fantastic office chair selection from Fast Office Furniture will provide exceptional advantages including lowering back and neck ache, boosting productivity, and improving user well-being.
mike butler
Realspace MFTC 200 Multifunction Ergonomic Super Task Chair, Black Item # 493876
Mesh came out of back upper right shoulder (likely from mouse movement arm) area
Would glue back in place but not sure what glue to use. Thinking urethane based like Gorilla Glue Original or Clear “Micro Precise” version.
Your thoughts?
Autymn D. C.
Your post was plagiarized and edited to gibberish by Flexispot.
BTOD.com
Yes, they have done that with a lot of our content. I guess that tells you all that you need to know about Flexispot as a brand.
Andrea
Is it normal for a new Aeron Remastered chair to hurt your bottom? I recently upgraded from a classic Aeron which was really comfortable to sit on to a new Remastered. However, I am finding that the chair seat mesh is hurting my bottom after sitting on the chair for an hour or so. I am wondering if this is normal because the chair is new?
Herc
I have the same issue Andrea. The bouncy mesh on the classic Aeron never hurt my bottom, but the mesh on the remastered Aeron starts to make my bottom ache after an hour or 2 of sitting. I can’t believe no one has ever mentioned this before on any of the sites that I have visited.
Ronald Jones
I bought a mesh office chair from Ebay. After 5 days the arm rest assembly broke on the underneath of the left hand side. Just thin plastic holds the weight of an adult who may need to lean back. It’s not high impact plastic, just a thick molded assembly that was about one and a half inches at that point. I am in dispute with ebay now as it will cost me dearly to return the item.