This $269 office chair has made me more productive at work - here's why I recommend it

• A high-quality office chair is comfortable to sit in through long workdays, can be adjusted in several ways to fit your body, and is durable enough to handle years of abuse.
• I like the Eureka Ergonomic High-Back Mesh Office Chair because its sturdy frame can support up to 275 pounds, the seat tilts 120 degrees, and I don't start to get antsy or sore during marathon writing sessions.
• Though it's in the middle of the pack price-wise ($269 on Newegg), the Eureka Ergonomic Office Chair is built to last and is backed by a three-year limited warranty.

A good office chair can have a major impact on your productivity. If the chair isn't right for your body, it can distract you from your work and force you to get up often. Plus, your body may feel sore and spent after a long workday.

When you're spending eight or more hours per day in a chair, you want it to be comfortable and supportive above all else. In my experience, the Eureka Ergonomic High-Back Mesh Office Chair gets the job done.

Based in Texas, Eureka Ergonomic specializes in gaming desks, standing desks, and sit-to-stand converters. I had the opportunity to try out the company's High-Back Mesh Office Chair recently and was impressed by its balance of comfort and durable construction. Below are the specifics of my experience with this chair.

Specs

There are several ways to adjust the Eureka Ergonomic High-Back Mesh Office Chair to fit your body. The U-shaped headrest is height adjustable, the seat back tilts, and you can adjust the height of the seat. Since the precise dimensions of a chair will determine if it's a good fit for you, here are some key measurements:

• The arm height is approximately 10 inches above the seat.
• The seat height adjusts from 16 inches to 20 inches above the floor.
• The seat depth is about 19 inches.
• From arm to arm, the seat width is 21 inches.
• The seat back extends approximately 22 inches above the seat.
• The top of the headrest adjusts from 5 inches to 7 inches above the seat back.
• The overall dimensions of the chair are 27.5 inches wide and deep by 45.7 inches high.
• The chair is heavy-duty, weighing in at a little more than 50 pounds.

The seat, seat back, and headrest are made of a flexible, ventilated nylon mesh attached to a plastic frame. The mesh is coated in a 3M substance designed to resist flames and protect the materials from stains and dust.

The Eureka Ergonomic Office Chair is backed by a three-year limited warranty.

Setup process

Unboxing the pieces took about 10 minutes since there was a lot of packaging to ensure the chair wasn't damaged in transport. I also had a little trouble locating the assembly directions. They're all printed on one page. Fortunately, they were straightforward and easy to follow. The directions are Ikea-like, featuring diagrams and no words.

I didn't run into any hiccups putting the chair together. It comes with an Allen wrench, which is all you need. With my 5-year-old's help tightening the screws, assembly took about 20 minutes.

What makes the chair stand out

I'm not a small guy. I weigh about 245 pounds. Consequently, I have to be careful about what chairs I sit on and how I sit on them. Fortunately, the Eureka Ergonomic High-Back Mesh Office Chair is heavy-duty enough to support my frame. As I assembled the chair, I noticed the pieces had some heft to them and felt strong and durable. The chair has a 275-pound weight capacity, and at no point did I feel like the chair was straining under my burden.

I like how far the seat back tilts. It has an adjustable angle of 90 to 120 degrees. I occasionally adjust it to 120 degrees when meditating or if I just feel like taking a break and lounging a bit. I also like that it takes minimal effort to tilt the seat back. I turn the lever under the left side of the seat and adjust the seat back to where I want it, then I lock it in place.

I appreciate that the chair is mesh because it breathes better than other materials. After a long run, I like to sit down and get some work done before I shower. Consequently, I get a lot of sweat on the chair as I cool down. Fortunately, the open construction dissipates the moisture and keeps the chair from absorbing any associated foul odors.

As a writer, I need to be able to sit at my desk for countless hours, especially when I'm approaching a deadline. With the Eureka Ergonomic Office Chair, this isn't a problem. I don't feel fidgety. And even after marathon writing sessions, I remain comfortable and don't feel any arm or shoulder soreness, which has been a problem with other chairs I've tried.

Cons to consider

As mentioned above, all of the instructions come on one sheet. One side lists the safety precautions. The other side has assembly diagrams. There aren't any details on what each lever does. To figure that out, I referred to the product page on Amazon. Even then, it was a bit of trial and error.

I wish the chair was more adjustable. For instance, arm-height adjustments would be useful. Seat depth and lumbar support are also non-negotiable. Fortunately, the geometry of the chair fit my body well, and I never experienced pain during long sitting sessions.

The swivel casters are approximately 2.5 inches in diameter, which isn't large enough to easily handle low-pile carpeting. I recommend purchasing a good carpet chair mat to correct for this. On hardwood, the casters worked pretty well, though I noticed that the base would sometimes rotate continuously rather than remain stationary as I moved from one spot to another. This translates into uneven movement. Luckily, I don't need to move much while working at my desk, and the chair swivels smoothly for the effortless grabbing of nearby items.

The bottom line

Thanks to its heavy-duty construction and comfortable mesh fabric, I plan on using the Eureka Ergonomic High-Back Mesh Office Chair for years to come. It provides the support I need for long sitting sessions, and I like that I can tilt it back 120 degrees for relaxed lounging.

Should you buy it?

I've gone through a long list of sub-$100 office chairs that are rated highly but don't last. In my experience, you need to spend at least $200 to get an office chair that will last you and has enough adjustments to ensure you can customize it to your body. I think the Eureka Ergonomic Office Chair hits the right balance of affordability and adjustability. Plus, it's heavy-duty enough to support heavier individuals. For these reasons, I'd recommend buying it if you're in the market for an office chair, especially if you're a bigger person like me (6 feet tall, 245 pounds).

What are your alternatives?

Recently, I tried a couple of different chairs. My most recent chair was the Essentials Racing Style Leather Gaming Chair (currently $114.99). Assembly was easy, you can put the arms up for an armless experience, and it's comfortable enough. However, after using it for only a couple of months, I started to notice significant wear. It isn't designed to last - at least not with a big guy sitting on it.

My favorite chair is the Uplift Vert Ergonomic Office Chair. You can adjust the armrest height, seat depth, and lumbar support. However, it currently costs $90 more than the Eureka Ergonomic Chair, doesn't have a mesh seat (just mesh seat back and headrest), the weight capacity is just 250 pounds, and the nonadjustable angle of the seat seemed to be tilted forward slightly.

For even more alternatives, check out our guide to the best office chairs you can buy.

Overall, I'm a fan of the Eureka Ergonomic High-Back Mesh Office Chair. It keeps me comfortable throughout the day so I can get my work done and feel spry enough afterward to play with my sons or go for a run.

Pros: 275-pound weight capacity, mesh seat and seat back, seat back adjusts from 90 to 120 degrees, easy to assemble, adjustable headrest, durable construction

Cons: The arms are stationary, the casters don't move easily on low-pile carpeting

Buy the Eureka Ergonomic High-Back Mesh Office Chair on Newegg for $269 (originally $299)

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