Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After I finally finished putting together my desk (built from scratch) it was time to look at chairs. My problem is that I spend 7+ hours a day working on the computer, but 99% of it being pro bono, I don't have the budget for the chair that would do my back and my butt justice. So, I settled on this mid-price chair on the positive reviews here alone, and figured that I could always send it back if it wasn't a good fit. *Edited at the bottom of the review - see why I downgraded to four stars!* PUTTING IT TOGETHER Building the chair was a relatively simple process. The wheels and base simply clicked into place, and once I figured out that I had put one arm on the wrong side, it was a relatively simple process to put the chair and arms together. The chair comes with all the hardware you will need, and also includes an Alan key for tightening bolts - for some people this will be important, as there's nothing worse than not having the right tool for your new toy! CONSTRUCTION/QUALITY I have only owned older or cheaper chairs, but I do have friends with high-end chairs, and I'm pleased to say that this one in particular is just about right for the price-point. The overall build seems just fine - it's not rickety by any means and if you tighten the bolts properly there shouldn't be any give. The wheels move well, although I'm on hardwood so I'm not sure how they fair on carpet. Despite the arms and base being made of plastic/nylon, they are a very strong grade and should hold up just fine (I will update the review with any change in this). ERGONOMICS/COMFORT I find this chair to be very comfortable overall. There is some (set) lumbar support, and I find it quite easy to sit up straight without having to lean to far back to type comfortably. The chair comes to a nice height at the back (I'm 5'9"), and you can lean it back and set it or allow free leaning with the use of the side lever. The chair has a decent range in terms of height, although if you're taller or have a tall desk, you might find that it doesn't go as high as you might want. The seat is reasonably comfortable - it's definitely not the best I have experienced but so far has helped alleviate any serious fatigue - a legitimate concern when you spend many hours a day at your desk. The arms are unpadded, but not uncomfortable. I rarely use the arms, unless I'm watching a video or taking some time to think, so I didn't really weigh them in to my rating. OVERALL For the price I paid, I am very pleased and at this price point I believe the chair merits the full five stars. I now have a comfortable, decently-made chair for less than a hundred dollars (at the time of this writing), and it has definitely improved my ability to work for longer stretches, allowing me to finish up a day's work more quickly! Overall, I can definitely recommend this chair as an excellent contender in this price range! *EDIT* Well, I decided to downgrade this review to four stars. After having the chair for several months, the seat padding has greatly decreased in effectiveness. Now granted, I use this chair for several hours every day so this may not apply to some people considering the chair, but nevertheless it is worth mentioning. It was only when we purchased a second chair for my wife that it became clear just how compressed the cushioning had become - you could actually feel the difference in height! I will be buying a chair cushion to alleviate this, so I still can recommend this chair, but perhaps with a little less enthusiasm.