Office chairs at Stiftung Warentest: Why only one is good and which one you should buy

All in the test with problems
Office chairs at Warentest: Why only one is so good – and which one you should buy instead

With the triumph of the home office during the pandemic, the need for good office chairs at home also increased. Apparently they aren’t that easy to find – this is what the current test by Stiftung Warentest shows.

Anyone who works sitting for long periods of time appreciates a good chair. But the choice is not that easy. In a recent test Stiftung Warentest brought eight chairs into the laboratory – with sobering results. Only one of the chairs managed a good grade and that too just. Luckily, Warentest has alternatives ready.

Office chairs at Warentest: Only one good one in the test

There is a simple reason for the mixed test results: each of the chairs has one or more problems, albeit in very different areas. Some models did not hold up in the long-term test, for example because at some point the armrests could not be adjusted or were difficult to adjust. Others are simply dangerous: the Pro-Tec 300 from the manufacturer HjH Office and the 2228 AV3D_SYM++ from Mayer Sitz Möbel are so precarious that they could fall over. The HjH chair backwards, Mayyer’s can also tip over to the side. This has consequences: Although the chairs otherwise performed well, both were downgraded to “poor” because of the danger to those sitting.

Also the test winner Home Worx Office 95 from Höffner, is unfortunately not without problems. It does perform well in many areas such as ergonomics, durability and safety. But of all things, it fails when it comes to the upholstery. According to the product test, it is far too thin. “If you sit on it, you can feel the substructure,” says the test. However, because of the other partial grades, the test result is still just “good” (2.5). The chair costs 420 euros.

These office chairs are really good

The poor result also surprised the testers – because there were five “good” ratings in the last test from August 2021. Accordingly, the experts also recommend buying one of these chairs.

That one cut best there Dauphin Trendoffice to-Strike SK9248 Pro away. It offers good seating comfort, is extremely durable and is stable. Warentest rated “Good” (2.0) accordingly. The chair is occasionally available from 260 euros, otherwise costs around 320 euros. The follows in second place Nowy Style Navigo. It performs similarly well, but is rated slightly less safe. But you can’t go wrong with its “good” (2.2) overall rating. Thanks to its price starting at 260 euros, Warentest continues to name it as a price tip in the current test.

This is what you should pay attention to when buying an office chair

In general, one thing is important when it comes to an office chair: Can you sit on it comfortably and for a long time? Stiftung Warentest therefore advises candidates to test sit in the store if possible. If this is not possible, you should measure the seat height and depth for yourself. For the former you have to measure the lower legs from the back of the knee to the sole of the foot, for the latter the thighs from the back of the knee to the base of the back. If the values ​​measured in this way do not fall within the size range specified by the manufacturer for the chair, the chair cannot be adjusted so that you can sit comfortably on it.

Other points to consider include the cover and the correct castors. If you sweat a lot, you should avoid artificial leather, advises Warentest. Fabric or even mesh covers are more breathable. When it comes to rollers, it all depends on the surface. According to the experts, hard rollers are recommended for carpets. If you roll on stone or wood, it is better to choose soft ones to protect the floor.

You can find the complete test for a fee at test.de.

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