This is an honest review of the Herman Miller Sayl Chair. The price tag is hefty with one of these chairs ranging from $550-$1100 USD, but considering you only get one back in your lifetime having a proper ergonomic set up is priceless. Herman Miller chairs are the current ergonomic chair of choice for office use but has also earned a name for it self in the gaming world. If you get a base model and manage to keep one of these chairs for at least 3 years you’re looking at a cost of ~$0.50 per day which isn’t bad for back insurance.
I ordered my chair from smartfurniture.com and paid $923.30 for my chair. I managed to find a 10% off code for the site which saved me almost a $100. Every little bit helps! I could have gotten a base model but seafoam green is one of my weaknesses and I opted to get a few additional customizations which I’ll get in to in a bit.
If you’re not particular about the color or style be sure to check craigslist or facebook marketplace. Because so many businesses have transitioned their workers over to remote for good, there are a lot of office sales to get rid of all the office furniture which include barely used ergonomic chairs. I saw a few chairs listed for as little as $200-450
Herman Miller Chair Customizations
For those who don’t know me IRL (in real life) I’m on the shorter side at 5’1 (155cm) on a good day. At my last job the ergonomic safety worker had to saw off the legs of my desk to get me to the right fit so my feet would touch the ground. So for the Herman Miller chair I opted for a few customizations. You might not need some of these if your height and proportions are closer to the middle of the bell curve but for me I didn’t want to take any chances with an ill fitting chair.
Aesthetics
The first set of customizations are purely aesthetic. Since I had cancelled my vacations abroad I didn’t feel the need to skimp in this area. But if you’re buying new, you’re still going to spend $600+ even with a base model so make sure you’re happy with the color. You don’t want any regrets after you’ve made the purchase.
For the seat color I went with “Crepe Beach Glass” It’s in the seafoam/ light green color family. I didn’t see much variation between what I ordered online and what I actually recieved so the color is pretty true to life.
For the base I opted for the “Y Tower |Alumnium”. And I’m really glad I did. The other option is more of a matte plastic. The aluminum has a shiny chrome like finish. I like the aluminum. It just makes the chair more luxe in my opinion. Functionally ,I don’t think the aluminium is much of a difference. I’ve used the plastic Herman Miller base before but I wouldn’t say the weight or sturdiness would be vastly different for an average user between the options. If you don’t really care one way or the other and want to save a few bucks, the matte plastic will serve you fine.
Ergonomic Options
Adjustable arms +$115
These are a must have. Go ahead and add these to your cart. If your arms repeatedly end up at an awkward angle it can cause all sorts of tendon and muscle issues. Carpal tunnel is not fun and you don’t want to be stuck in an arm brace. It’s not good for productivity.
The mechanism isn’t anything fancy. Pulling the tab up allows the arm to slide up and down. Each arm has to be adjusted separately
Lumbar support +$70
I got this option, but to be honest I don’t know how much of a difference this made. I turned the knob but didn’t really notice anything?? . It may be something to do with my proportions not lining up with the mechanism. For me personally, I would probably skip this if I were to order the chair again.
Seat Adjustment +$0
This option comes standard with no additional cost. The mechanism works great and the chair goes down far enough for my feet to touch the ground flat ( +1 for the shorties) which is a must for proper hip and lower back alignment.
Carpet or Hard Floor Casters +$40
I’m a renter and I often move. In my current apartment I have hardwood flooring but it could be in the future my apartment will have carpet. I opted to get the casters that work on both flooring types. I’ve had my chair over a year and the casters roll just as smooth as the day I got them. They have very little scuffing and has maintained a very smooth glide.
Ordering and Delivery
I ordered my office chair from smartfurniture.com on January 29 and it was delivered February 25. It’s not super fast Amazon Prime timing, but considering all of the customizations I thought it was pretty decent. After I placed my order, I got details that the factory had received my order and I was notified when it shipped. It came fully assembled. It was a great because I live in a high rise which means I could just remove the box and roll my chair onto the elevator and down the hall to my apartment. If assembly instructions stress you out there’s nothing to worry about with ordering this chair.
Final Thoughts
After having the chair for almost a year I say I am still very happy with the purchase. Prior to getting the chair I had started noticing how stiff I would be after sitting at my kitchen table but but the adjustable nature of this chair makes it really comfortable and customizable. No back, neck, or arm stiffness using this chair.
In my picture above you can see that I’ve added a lamb skin to up the cozy factor. I don’t think it’s necessary, the chair is perfectly comfortable without it. I chose the lamb skin mainly for styling and to add a contrast to the architectural nature of the chair.
Would I purchase the Herman Miller Sayl chair again? It’s very pricey and there are dupes abound, but yes I would still purchase it. It’s a beautifully designed chair and looks absolutely lux and even more importantly it’s comfortable and won’t leave you slouching in pain.
