Task and operator chairs are made for people who sit at a desk from morning until evening. The mechanism, the back shape and the adjustments are all there to keep a long day in the same seat comfortable. This range suits offices across Ireland and home workers, with mesh and fabric models plus heavy duty options.
What makes a good task chair
Look for three things before anything else:
- A gas lift, so the seat height suits the person rather than just the desk
- A tilt mechanism so the backrest moves with you
- Lumbar support to keep the lower back in a good position
Extras such as adjustable seat depth, arms and backrest angle become more valuable the more people share the chair. A hot desk chair used by several people earns them, while a chair with one regular user can manage with less.
Mesh or fabric
Temperature is the real difference between the two. Air passes through the back of our mesh task chairs, including the Ariel and Baye, which helps in a warm office or one that catches the afternoon sun. With fabric task chairs such as the Barcelona deluxe, you get a padded back. Plenty of people find that more comfortable, and it looks gentler in a room that is not aiming for a corporate feel.
Getting the arms right
Badly positioned arms do more harm than having none at all: they hunch the shoulders and keep the chair from sliding under the desk. For shared chairs, adjustable arms are worth having. For a chair with one owner, fixed arms set at the right height work well.
Heavy use and back trouble
A standard task chair expects a single user for a normal working day. Seating in constant use, such as control rooms or security desks staffed around the clock, needs heavy duty chairs with stronger gas lifts and reinforced frames. If you are buying because of back pain, ergonomic and posture chairs offer more support, and a sit-stand desk may do more good than any chair.
