I’m a standing desk evangelist. I consider in standing desks a lot that when you and I had been to fulfill and get speaking and I had been to seek out out you’re employed at a desk, I’d attempt to persuade you to stand at it as a substitute.
I stand nearly all day, swaying and rocking on my two toes like a foolish particular person to maintain my posture upright and to maintain my deep veins from thrombosing. You’d by no means discover me in an workplace chair, not to mention a type of premium workplace chairs that price upwards of a grand.
So, when Sihoo requested me to take a look at their Doro C300 Pro office chair with a $700 MSRP, I instructed the beautiful PR rep to not trouble. I wouldn’t use it, I instructed them. But they insisted, so I acquiesced… and now right here I’m.
I’m sitting in Sihoo’s Doro C300 Pro as I write this. A chair I stated I’d by no means use, one which I by no means even would’ve thought-about paying up for. And but, now that I’ve truly tried it, I believe I in all probability would. And it’s all due to one standout function that I didn’t understand was lacking from each different low cost workplace chair I’ve tried.
A historical past of ineffective workplace chairs
Like I stated, I’ve largely eschewed workplace chairs. Not sofas, thoughts you, and I like a great chaise lounge after I’m off the clock. But for workplace work? They at all times appeared extra bother than they’re value.
I’m a brief man — measuring up at a diminutive 5’4″ — and so most chairs are a tough match for me, not to mention workplace chairs. They’re sometimes too tall, each by way of distance from the ground and within the size of the higher again portion. So even after I sit in an workplace chair with lumbar help, it’s usefully fastened and woefully out of attain of my precise backbone. Meanwhile, my toes are left dangling and scrabbling for a footrest.
I’ve tried a number of of these “gaming” chairs through the years with their foolish lumbar pillows, however they’ve by no means supplied sufficient precise help and people continuously shifting pillows worsened my ADHD-driven fidgeting.
Worst of all, workplace chairs have at all times led to me sitting with poor posture, which led to again ache, which made my hours in entrance of my pc insufferable with aches, pains, and basic fatigue.
I’ve tried firmer chairs, too, with extra inflexible elements and utilitarian designs that drive me to sit down correctly. But these chairs typically left me with stress aches and different pains. Without getting an excessive amount of into the weeds right here, I’m certain you understand the soreness that may come from sitting too lengthy on a floor that’s far too laborious.
All of which simply drives me again into the open arms of my standing desk. If nothing else, it no less than encourages me to maintain my higher again straight and my arms away from slouch-inspiring armrests. It’s one of many principal accessories that have helped alleviate my back pain.
After years of success with standing desks, I had resigned myself to staying vertical whereas I work. These days, I even use a stability board (amongst different essential work-from-home accessories) whereas I work to get some additional core train in. I stand whereas I work, I stand whereas I sport, and typically I even stand to eat. It’s simply simpler and higher for me.
I at all times thought workplace chairs weren’t value their bother or worth tags. How a lot better may a $700 chair truly be over a $200 chair, anyway? Turns out, that extra cash is value it.
A begrudging workplace chair overview
The Sihoo Doro C300 Pro arrived in a very gigantic field and with a few of the most strong cardboard packaging I’ve ever seen. It was heavy. My children made forts out of it for days afterwards, and it withstood their constant battering higher than most toys and video games I’ve gotten them.
That sturdy packaging protects this surprisingly heavy chair. The base of the Doro C300 Pro is made from mesh, however the inner development makes up the vast majority of its general weight, so placing it collectively on my own proved to be fairly the problem. (Be certain to have some assist when you aren’t keen to grunt and sweat your manner by it solo.)
Sihoo
The hefty weight finally results in an impressively sturdy chair. Sure, the plastic arms and headrest are much less premium and so they have a little bit of flex to them, however they’re snug and have simply sufficient give.
That positional flexibility doesn’t lengthen to the seat itself, although, which is extraordinarily strong and load-bearing however edged with laborious plastic throughout. This instantly put me out as a result of I couldn’t tuck my leg below myself as I’m wish to do in workplace chairs.
But it did drive me to sit up and correctly. Huh… Maybe an workplace chair can encourage higher posture with out being stiffly uncomfortable?
Jon Martindale / IDG
But what about my again? That’s the place all my points have at all times lain. I’ve had workplace chairs with fastened lumbar help earlier than, and so they’re at all times out of attain. Surely this could be the identical?
Actually, no. This one has a built-in lumbar help that may shift up and down a few inches as you lean into it, and you’ll manually alter the again of the seat, too. Doing so strikes the lumbar help with it, giving it higher flexibility. I additionally discovered the power to regulate the depth of the seat helps quite a bit in lining up every thing simply as I would like it.
Jon Martindale / IDG
And my goodness! What a distinction that makes. Is this what I’ve been lacking all these years? The capacity to sit down in a chair with out it hurting my again? Who’d have identified.
The backup I didn’t know I needed
Until I examined this chair, I figured I’d be standing for the remainder of my days throughout PC-based actions, no less than till my knees gave out after I reached geriatric standing. But now, I’m not so certain.
Standing at my desk remains to be higher for my posture and power ranges than sitting. But with the Sihoo Doro C300 Pro, I’ve an alternative choice for after I get drained or when my toes begin to harm. This chair provides me the help my ailing again wants whereas serving to me keep good posture.
It isn’t good, in fact. I eliminated the headrest as a result of I felt it inspired me to lean my head ahead greater than was snug. And the armrests can’t fold away totally, which will get irritating at occasions. For its stable design, the laborious plastic in all places doesn’t have the premium really feel that its price ticket would recommend.
There’s additionally the specter of Herman Miller and Steelcase chairs that my cash-rich colleagues sit on like thrones. Those promise even-more premium chair experiences — at even-more premium costs — that maybe now I’m extra tempted by than I used to be earlier than.
All that apart, the Doro C300 Pro is proving a wonderful companion. I now have one thing I’d gladly fall again on after I don’t wish to stand anymore however received’t additionally destroy my again and counter all that arduous work I do flamingo-legging all through the day.
I wouldn’t have purchased it. But now? I’d possible pay to interchange it if somebody stole it away. So, please don’t. It’s nonetheless very costly.