People Who've Owned Multiple Office Chairs - Durability

For those who’ve tried a few, what’s the best office chair? Every time office chairs come up, it turns into a debate. Some people swear you need a $1,000 ergonomic chair, others say mid-range is fine, and then a few claim cheap chairs have worked for years. For context, an office chair is something people sit in for long stretches—work, gaming, studying, whatever. It’s supposed to support posture, reduce strain, and stay comfortable over time. Most people start looking into them after dealing with back pain, discomfort, or just realizing how many hours they’re actually sitting each day. I’ve been looking into this pretty deeply to put together a guide that’s actually useful. I’ve gone through reviews, spec breakdowns, and a lot of “top 10” lists, but those tend to blur together after a while. What’s missing is how these chairs actually hold up after months or years of use, so I’m trying to get a clearer picture from people who’ve lived with them. A few things I’d really like to hear from people who’ve tried different chairs: What chair did you stick with long-term, and what made it worth keeping? Did any highly recommended chair end up being uncomfortable or disappointing? How have your chairs held up after a year or more (cushion, mesh, adjustments, etc.)? Are the high-end ergonomic chairs actually worth the price, or is there a point of diminishing returns? What features sounded important but didn’t matter much in daily use? Any chairs that are great for some people but clearly not for others? From what I’ve gathered so far, there are a few main categories: basic budget chairs, mid-range ergonomic options, high-end ergonomic chairs, and gaming-style chairs. It seems like adjustability and long-term comfort matter more than initial feel, especially lumbar support and seat depth. A lot of “premium” branding feels questionable, especially with gaming chairs that focus more on looks than ergonomics. One thing that keeps coming up is people choosing based on short-term comfort instead of how the chair supports them after 6–8 hours. There’s also a pattern where people either overspend expecting a miracle or underspend and end up replacing the chair quickly. Trying to put together something that actually helps people avoid wasting money or ending up with something that causes problems later. Would love to hear real experiences before I finalize anything—what actually held up for you?