try gtracing.com personally I prefer the recliners

I have some extreme issues with my back and recently purchased this chair. It’s been a really great change for me. It’s definitely not a fancy shmancy specifically made chair for back pain, but the price point was good for me and it’s comfy. I wind up getting up and down a lot anyway so…anyway, just a suggestion. https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/907932/Realspace-Modern-Comfort-Winsley-Bonded-Leather/

I have the “Nest” chair by Pago; it was about $250-300AUD, but it’s comfy for extended periods and has held up for a few years now

Steelecase Gesture in black leather. Hands down better than Hermann Miller.

Obviously expensive but from everything I’ve heard Herman Miller is just unbeatable.

An ergonomic chair supports the body’s natural posture with adjustable features. Key elements include lumbar support, seat height/depth adjustment, and movable armrests. It promotes comfort, reduces strain, and encourages healthy sitting over long periods.

I got a fully adjustable mesh office chair from Staples last spring that has been great. I spent $350 and it was worth every penny. I no longer have to stop working because my body can't take it anymore.

I don't see it on the website anymore, but it looked kind of like this one: https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/ebern-designs-friona-ergonomic-mesh-task-chair-w002798255.html

Good chairs cost more than that. Think how much time you spend sitting in that chair. Spend more than that.

Really hope you get some good suggestions as I’m needing a new chair too

I bought a used leap for about 250 from a place that sold used office furniture.

I dont know if you have office works where you are but they had a few good chairs. I'm not sure if they're the most ergonomic but I find the low boss looking chairs with the high backs to be the best when my back is bad.

They are like this one https://www.dshop.com.au/buy/apex-executive-reclining-office-chair-black/0075-B?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI94fW8fOs7AIVg8EWBR3CUQfpEAQYCiABEgKt0_D_BwE

Go with high end office chairs, stay away from "gaming" chair. If you have back problems, it's very important to have a chair with a bit more adjustments. Don't you have Steelcase or Herman Miller place to try some good chairs before buyig? Also, what's your budget?

All I will say is you get what you paid for.

There isn't a best chair: even if someone your exact height and weight says "I love chair X" their body may have different proportions (legs vs. torso), they may have different sitting preferences like wanting a chair that lets them rock a little when upright or lets them bring a leg up onto the seat, their back may need a different amount of support.

- your height / weight / budget will help people give you specific recommendations

- length of warranty is a pretty reliable indication of quality. Read the fine print: there's one company that touts a "Limited 15 Year Warranty" but when you read the warranty the 15 years only applies to the chair frame, everything else is 5 years.

- are you anywhere near a Design Within Reach store where you could sit in Herman Miller chairs? Also, Humanscale sells through a number of retail chains, check their locator for stores near you. Sitting in a few top tier chairs will at least give you a sense of what you like better, mesh yeah or nay for example.

None.

I switched to a Steelcase Leap a couple years ago when my lower back felt like it was grinding into bone after long workdays.

I swapped to the Steelcase Gesture a few months back and my lower back hasn’t complained since.

I switched to the Herman Miller Mirra 2 after my lower back started barking at me during ten-hour workdays and it’s been a night-and-day difference.

I had constant lower-back ache until I swapped to a Steelcase Leap V2 and dialed in the lumbar tension with its little knob.

I switched to a Herman Miller Embody after my lower back started barking at me mid-afternoon, and it’s been a lifesaver.

I recently got a Herman Miller Aeron. It's solved a lot of back issues I was having with my $200 Staples chair. Just make sure you try before you buy, this is not a cheap chair. I got mine used but it was still ~700 CAD. I would also suggest in addition to this that you work on a better ergonomic setup if you don't have one already. Possibly looking into a stand/sit desk, foot rest, monitor stands. I've been working from home since March 2020 because of COVID. I have a Steelcase Leap v2 at work but the Aeron is much more comfortable for me.

I also dropped $500 on a secretlab chair specifically for back pain and it has made a difference

Study in Denmark - whole office was fitted out ergonomically for each individual - chairs desks, keyboard. Led to an increase in back and neck complaints. removed everything and gave everyone dumbbells , every hour an alarm would go off and everyone stood up waved dumb bells about for 5 minutes. Reduced issues enormously!

Its not the chair its taking breaks and moving/exercising that will help. Obviously a bad chair will not help but exercising will.

Also i have a bad back for 30+ years (double herniated disc, whiplash etc) and best thing I did was specific exercises for my back following a bad whiplash accident and things have been okay or 100% better than before, i.e. no slipped discs, no sciatica.

Aight, I have researched the ever loving crap out of this and the conclusion I came to is that the big names are as follows:

1. Herman Miller
2. Steelcase
3. Humanscale

These guys make serious business chairs you can sit in for hours and hours. Hyper adjustable, very ergonomically correct.

Unfortunately they'll run you $700+ new. And of course ... chairs are so personal that you might find your specific back doesn't like them anyway. So you have to try stuff out. But all the big corporates with deep pockets buy these for a reason. They're also kind of hard to buy because you won't find them at an office supply store. You might have to buy direct from an office furniture supplier.

You might also want to look into how ergo your actual workstation is. Monitor and desk at the correct height? Posture neutral while seated? All of that stuff feeds into the possibility for repetitive stress injuries that'll make your bad back worse if you don't get it sorted.

My work hired someone to do an ergonomic assessment for me and then they ordered a custom made chair

Herman Miller Mirra is amazing for how well it adjusts to your back / arms / tilt / etc. I picked up a used one for $100. But if your company is paying go for a loaded Mirra v2 direct from the company. The Aeron does not have the same precise adjustments to fit your body and pains exactly. I have used both the Aeron (4 years) and the Mirra (13 years) and the Mirra is by far the best in my opinion. Everyone seems to love the ancient Aeron design but the newer Mirra is a better build in my opinion for long hours sitting.

I’ve got a steel case an it works well for me

Herman mIller(Aeron) -I have even started eating my dinner sitting in it lol.

Pricey chairs like Steelcase Gesture, Haworth Fern, Embody, etc. But it must fit your body

From my experience... (also have back issues)

Firstly, "gaming chairs" are out. Just out. Throw in a trash bin and burn it. It does what it's intended for - "fix you in the position", so you don't fall off during gameplay (as silly as it would sound).

Then rises the question of ergonomic chairs. About a month ago, bought the "Autonomous Ergochair 2". It's better. But either my back reached a point where a mere change of sitting isn't enough, and it will take time to recover, or it just isn't as good as people speak about it.

But still - I see it as a better alternative for gaming chairs (mine was DxRacer King something something).

Would really want to try the Herman Miller, but it's a bit pricey for me, and there's no actual store in my town to actually come down and sit in one (there is in my country... but unless I'm forced to, I won't do a whole trip to a different town just to look at one).

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Would advise one thing though - swimming (and/or gym). Have severe back problems, and apart from throwing out an old couch, thinking about my work place etc., a huge dealbreaker was starting swimming.

don't buy any cheap gaming chairs, buy an ergonomic one.

Consider something novel for your bad back, like a ball chair or a kneeling chair.

I have a Steelcase office chair which is probably 40 years old that I probably stole from an old workplace, and Sleekform kneeling chair, and I switch back and forth as my body feels inclined.

As an older gamer with young adult children gamers, I highly recommend a place like Staples if you have one. Tons of chairs you can actually sit in to really make a better decision on buying. All the best chairs we've bought were done this way and not a single one was a marketed gaming chair. Good luck.

What's your budget?

They're awfully expensive. But, Herman Miller Aeron's with the lumbar or posturefit support add-on offer incredible back support. I went all-in on one two years ago and I don't regret it.