Herman Miller Mirra: Best Office Chair Ever!
"We define not only how a chair looks but how it performs, even down to the characteristics of the tilt. We're very involved with its physical behavior, because beauty is not only what you see, it's also what you feel."
-Studio 7.5, Designers of the Mirra Chair
In the past seven years I've had quite a number of unsatisfactory desk chairs. Now some time ago, I was consulting for a company that had an entire office full of the famous Herman Miller Aeron chairs, and I have to admit, they were wonderful to sit in...however, I just couldn't bring myself to spend $1,000 on a chair.
Yeah...I know what your saying...
"But Alan, you'll spend $1,000 on kitchen knives...isn't your back more important than slicing?"
Excellent point, smartass.
As we came to a close on 2006, I was looking at a large tax bill, so I decided...I could use some additional deductions...and the lady of the house suggested a proper desk chair (I had been using one of the dining room chairs).
So we went to Room and Board in San Francisco, and I tested a number of chairs including the Aeron. My problem with the Aeron was that it seemed a little too forgiving, and I wanted more firmness in the back area.
Then I came across this beauty...the Herman Miller Mirra...
After sitting in the chair for about 30 seconds, I knew that this was the right chair for me.
Here's why...I have three trouble spots.
1. My Legs and er....Ass
Because most chairs are simply too much padding or not quite enough, these two areas experience a lot of discomfort. Many chairs don't bring the seat out far enough, so that it ends shorter than the length of my thighs. Also, I get quite a bit of stress in my tailbone.
The Mirra has a few innovative tricks for handling this. One, the front edge of the chair is adjustable. You can actually make it longer or shorter. This gives me plenty of leg support and makes keeping my feet on the floor comfortable. Second, the seat is made from a woven mesh that gives a fair amount when you sit in it...but not too much. There is a padded area under the seat that keeps the mesh from going too far down.
2. Back and Lumbar
Most chairs just don't have enough lumbar support and the angle of the back is all wrong so I end up hunching over my seat because...even though it isn't good for your posture...it is more comfortable. The Mirra has changed that for me. It allows you to adjust not only the firmness and depth of the lumbar, but also position it's location on your back.
If you look in the photo above, my back conforms to the chair without any effort and makes it easy to sit upright.
3. I've had quite a few armrests that weren't adjustable or if they were, didn't have many options. The armrests of the Mirra adjust high enough that I can rest my elbows and keep my wrists and arms off of the edge of my desk, so I'm not cutting off the circulation to my hands. Not only do they adjust up and down, they also rotate left and right. They are soft and forgiving while also being somewhat firm.
So far I've been using this chair daily for the past three months, and it has been outstanding. My ass never felt better.
Here's some additional info from their website along with some additional images I took:
Easy motion. The Harmonic tilt creates pivot points at the hip, knee, and ankle to allow easy and natural movement.
Advanced spring technology. Users of all sizes feel equal resistance while moving anywhere in the wide tilt range; the sitter is always in control.
Sustainable design. Mirra is made of a minimal number of parts and is easily disassembled for recycling; the recycled content is high, and it's 96 percent recyclable.
As for price, the Mirra retails for about $799, about $150 less than the Aeron.
