Crowdsourcing recommendations: office chairs that don't break the bank and are *actually comfortable* (and by this I mean very well padded and "soft" feeling - if I could work from a car seat, I would, to frame this whole discussion).

Absolute #1 priority above literally anything else is that the seat, where my butt goes, is non-mesh, well-cushioned, feels comfy, and is durable. If it flattens out in a month and I'm back to sitting on the plywood under the foam, it's useless! (most non-mesh office chairs I've used sadly turn out like this in about a month, but I also dislike mesh's feel on the skin soooooo). Second priority, related to this, is no hard plastic (or wood, or metal, or whatever) digging into me in high-touch places (which, itself, rules out most mesh chairs anyway, I find, they all go ham on hard plastic).

Definitely prefer high-back chairs with no mesh anywhere (I believe this is called "executive chair"?), head/neck rests are generally speaking preferred but not strictly required. Rolling ability optional but useful. Rocking ability optional but nice?

in reply to tired blip

my dude I have just the place: Crandall.

at the start of the pandemic, when I realized I'd be Working At Home a lot, I bought a refurb Steelcase Leap V2 from them. I think you'd be happier with the Gesture, but they have lots of options.

I got mine with the heavy-duty gas strut and the rollerblade wheels.

Did I mention the twelve-year warranty?

I wish I had got the headrest option, but that's not their fault. Super happy with this purchase.

They even do custom printing.