It might sound unbelievable, but the office chair that I once considered the ultimate comfort turned out to be the source of nearly a decade of back pain. Surprisingly, it’s the thick seat pad on the chair that’s to blame.
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Thick Seat Pad Links
- Thick Seat Pads: A Deceptive Comfort
- My Experience with the CXO Nightingale
- Unforeseen Consequences
- Painful Transition
- The Importance of Thin Seat Pads
1. Thick Seat Pads: A Deceptive Comfort
The chair is the Nightingale CXO, and I recall it for the very first time at NeoCon, a major trade show held in Chicago. Being relatively new to the office chair industry, I had realized that the comfort of high-end office chairs could be deceiving.

I had initially thought that sitting in chairs like the Aeron or Leap would be an incredible and comfortable experience. However, my actual experience was quite different. These chairs are not crafted with much cushion. Studies indicate that slim and firm seat cushions are better for long periods of sitting in office chairs.

Alan Hedge is a person who knows a lot about sitting comfortably in offices. He has done a lot of research and found out that the ideal seat cushion thickness for prolonged sitting comfort ranges from one and a half to two inches. This cushion should be firmer in the back and a bit softer in the front. Hedge says that even though a soft cushion might feel nice at first, it can lead to issues as the body sinks into the cushion, making your blood not flow well and squishing you down.
2. My Experience with the CXO Nightingale
At the time, I was following these rules and using a leather Ergohuman chair. It was a really good chair and I felt fine sitting in it. But then I tried the CXO chair at NeoCon, and it was different. Here was a high-end chair that felt like a tank from a reputable brand with a good warranty. It reclined nicely, had adjustable arms for different weights, and a comfortable headrest. But what really stood out was the seat. It had a thick, plush, memory foam-like seat that allowed you to sink into it. It was the most comfortable seat I had ever sat in and the first high-end chair I had found with a soft, thick seat pad. I was in love with this thing.

3. Unforeseen Consequences
We became an authorized dealer for Nightingale and they sent us a CXO chair. I used it for almost the next decade. Even though I thought it was the comfiest chair for sitting, I didn’t know it was destroying my back. Despite the comfort, I started experiencing back problems over the next few years. I was constantly getting massages, throwing out my back, and undergoing physical therapy. I never thought the chair could be the issue because it felt so good to sit in.

In 2019, we chose to learn a lot about the best office chairs by ordering all the high-end options available. This meant I had to say goodbye to my favorite CXO chair and try new ones like the Leap, Gesture, Amia, Aeron, Embody, and Mira. It wasn’t easy for me to switch, and I kept wanting to go back to the CXO because its seat was so comfortable. But finally, I chose to use only one chair for a whole month, the Steelcase Leap.
4. Painful Transition
During the first two weeks of using the Leap chair, it was really uncomfortable. My back and butt were sore, and I dreaded going to work to sit in that chair. However, by the third week, the pain started to fade away, and by the fourth week, I began to appreciate the chair. The slim seat design and the improved back movement made it comfortable. It just took a while for my body to adjust to a proper ergonomic sitting position and a properly designed seat.

5. The Importance of Thin Seat Pads
After that, we continued bringing in high-end chairs from big brands like Herman Miller, Knoll, Haworth, and Steelcase. These huge companies spend a lot on research and development. They follow the research that says thick seat pads are a poor choice for long-term sitting. Our own info at BTOD agrees. We sell refurbished Leap and Amia chairs with free returns, and only around 5 to 6% of chairs get returned. Most returns are due to fit issues, not because people don’t like the seats.

Bottom Line
After years of testing various office chairs with thin, firm seat pads, I can confidently say that I will never go back to a thick cushion like the CXO. The back problems I had for years were due to the chair’s comfort. Choosing an ergonomic chair based on research is crucial. Thin seat pads provide the necessary support and comfort for long hours of sitting. So, when you pick a new office chair, remember that comfort doesn’t always mean thick padding. Your back will appreciate it.