The first step in reclining comfortably in your office chair is to understand the different recline options and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of them. Keep reading to find the perfect office chair that will keep you comfortable all day long.
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How To Lean Back In Your Office Chair Comfortably Links
1. Swivel Tilt/Center Tilt Option
This is basically the entry point to understanding how to comfortably recline in an office chair. You can find this adjustment on almost every chair, including gaming chairs and those available at lower price points. The tilt and swivel is a basic functionality, but there are two things to consider:
1. First, take a look at the angle formed by the back and the seat. For example, when I recline, in the Office Essentials chair from Target, the angle remains the same even when I recline.
2. Consider where the actual pivot point is located. In the Essentials chair, the pivot point is directly under the seat, which can cause a couple of problems. Since there isn’t any weight located behind you, it can make it a little more difficult to recline. In addition, you may find that you have to lift most of your foot off the ground to push back and recline, which is just not good for ergonomics.
2. Knee Tilt
The next recline we are going to talk about is going to represent the next step up along the spectrum of quality office chairs. The knee tilt is similar to the swivel tilt in that the seat and back still retain that constant angle. The major difference, which can be seen in the Titan from Secretlab is where the pivot point is located. With this chair, the pivot point is moved further towards the front of the seat. Placing more weight behind the pivot point makes it easier to recline and creates more of a sinking feeling as you push back. This also works to put your legs in a better ergonomic position as compared to the swivel tilt. For these reasons, we do see these chairs in a lot of board rooms, conference rooms, executive offices, and similar applications.
3. Synchro Tilt
This is a popular mechanism that we see on most ergonomic office chairs that range in price from around $200 all the way up to $1,000+ models. The reason this tilt option is the go to choice for most ergonomic office chairs is because it provides a good recline option while also keeping you in the most ergonomic position.
The biggest difference between the synchro tilt and other recline options is that the back and the seat do not remain at the same angle as you recline. Usually, these types of chairs operate according to the 2 to 1 ratio, which means that for every two inches you recline, the seat will adjust one inch up. This makes it easy to recline and relax at your desk and work in multiple different positions without elevating your feet and knees too much and allowing your arms to rest in a comfortable position.
4. Multi-Function
Multi-function options are another popular way to give your office chair the right recline. The first thing to note with the multi-function mechanism is that the recline function itself will be identical to the swivel and center tilt options. This means that the pivot point will be located directly under you, which does make it more difficult to recline. If you are one of those people who like to be in constant motion in your chair, this type of mechanism is not the best option.
However, this type of chair is amazing for those of you who like to sit in awkward positions, perhaps with heavy tasking applications, because this mechanism allows you to adjust the seat and the back independently of each other and it has a forward seat tilt. Users can unlock the back, adjust the angle, and lock it back in any position. There is a full range of seat back positioning. In addition, you can adjust the seat and angle it downward, which is really good for intensive tasking applications.
5. Weight Sensitive
These chairs function without the help of knobs, levers, locking mechanism, and tension controls. The goal of these chairs is that anyone can sit down in the chair and simply begin to use it comfortably. You can recline however you want and the chair will adapt to your height, weight, and how you use the chair and give you the right support throughout the full range of recline options.
On the other hand, not having any knobs and levers means that you can’t really dial into the different settings and make specific adjustments. We have found that this is a problem for some people, so be sure to take this into consideration as you try to find the perfect office chair for you.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, it is possible to always recline comfortably in your office chair. The trick is to find the right recline mechanism and other functionalities that meet your needs.
