They are a great tool to help incorporate movement while you are working. They also put you in a different sitting position, which can be beneficial for a lot of people. Their small footprint and good mobility are more features that make standing chairs an attractive product. I made a list where I ranked the best standing chairs from best to worst. In order to make the list, I put in a lot of time with many different standing chair models. I learned a lot through the process and unfortunately, not all of it was good. This absolute information provide the chairbug.com
Uncomfortable Seat Designs
One thing that I have found to be consistent with almost all of the standing chairs that I have tested is that they feature unconventional seats. Being unconventional can often be a good thing but unfortunately, almost all of the standing chairs that I have tested have seats that are less comfortable than the seats found on normal office chairs. The size, shape and stiffness are going to be pretty different on standing chairs when compared to normal office chairs.
Solution
The most comfortable seats that I have tested are found on the Swopper and Sitmatic Pogo. They both offer larger seats than almost all other standing chairs. The Swopper features a convex seat shape but since it is larger than other chairs with a convex seat, it does not feel as pronounced. It also has a decent amount of padding.
Not Suited for Prolonged Hours
Even after spending several months using numerous standing chairs, I have not gotten to a point that I can use any of them for prolonged periods of two hours or more. The seat comfort is a big reason for this. On almost every model I’ve tested, I’ve found the seat to be uncomfortable after an hour or two. They almost all make my bottom go numb. Some after a couple hours and others after as short as 20 minutes.
Solution
To extend the amount of time you can sit in your standing chair, I would recommend using an anti-fatigue mat and/or footrest. I have found that my anti-fatigue mat makes a huge difference with my standing desk so I placed it under several standing chair models so that I could have my feet on a softer surface. This really helps a lot to keep your feet and lower legs from getting sore.
Some People May Feel Unstable
Standing chairs are designed to get you moving. Some chairs have more movement than others and there are many ways that manufacturers have gone about designing chairs that can move. Some models will feel less stable than others. This usually applies to wobble chairs that are designed with rounded bases. These types of standing chairs are not firmly planted on the floor. They rock back and forth and there isn’t always a limit to how far they can tilt.
Solution
If you are concerned with getting a standing chair that is stable and feels solid at all times, then I would look into products that have a flat base design that remains in place on the floor at all times. Products like the Mobis II, Muvman, and Pogo will all offer good stability at all heights. I would also stay away from models with casters if you want the most stable product
Long Adjustment Period
The first problem to be aware of with standing chairs is that there will be an adjustment period while you get used to the new style of sitting and working. You will be putting more pressure on areas that you are not used to and you will be using muscles that normally aren’t used while you are sitting. Some things that I noticed when I started using standing chairs were soreness in my feet, legs, upper back and shoulders. My feet were sore from the added time being on them. A standing chair helps to reduce the pressure but it does not remove it.
Solution
While the solution to this problem is to simply put in time with the chair so that your body can adjust, there are a few tips I can give to make the process a bit easier. My first tip would be to ease into using the standing chair. Don’t just jump right in and start using the chair for several hours at a time or even several hours in a day. Using it for 20-30 minutes the first few times and increasing the time period from there is a good place to start.
Lack of Wheels
Wheels, often referred to as “casters”, are not common on standing chairs. Almost all standing chairs feature a base design that stays in the same position while you are using the chair. This is a big change from normal office chairs since they almost always feature wheels. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, until you’re put in a chair that doesn’t roll.
The biggest thing that I miss about not having wheels is that wheels make it very easy to get your chair into the exact position you want it in for typing and tasking. Without wheels, you need to pick up the chair, move it slightly, set it back down and then see if the position is to your liking. Often times this can take me several tries before I find the optimal spot for the chair to be sitting in.
Solution
Out of all the standing chairs that I have tested, there are only a few models that have wheels the option to them. Two of them are the Swopper and the Back App 2.0. Adding casters will come at a substantial upcharge on both products though.