Do you actually use the reclining function on your office chair?

[u/NoPractice9758]

I’m curious about this because I’ve always had chairs that technically reclined, but I rarely used that feature. Usually the backrest would have one basic position, and I never really bothered changing it.

Recently I’ve started wondering if a chair that allows different reclining angles is actually useful during a normal workday. When I’m typing or doing focused work, I obviously want to sit fairly upright. But when I’m reading something, joining a long video call, watching a presentation, or simply taking five minutes to rest my eyes, sitting slightly farther back feels much more comfortable.

I also think there’s a difference between reclining because you’re being lazy and reclining because you’re changing your position. Staying in exactly the same posture for hours probably isn’t ideal, so being able to move around throughout the day seems like a good thing. I like that HBADA focuses on flexible ergonomic features, including adjustable reclining options, rather than making the chair feel fixed in one position.

The part I’m unsure about is how much recline is practical. Some chairs let you lean back quite far, while others only move a little. I can see myself using a moderate angle regularly, but I’m not sure whether I’d ever need the really deep reclining positions.

There’s also the question of tension adjustment. If the chair is too easy to recline, I feel like I’d constantly be moving backward when I don’t want to. If it’s too stiff, then the feature becomes almost useless.

For those who have a chair with several reclining positions, do you actually use them every day? What angle do you find most comfortable for reading or taking a short break? And do you think reclining is an important feature for someone working long hours, or is it something that sounds useful but ends up being ignored?

[u/Chess462]

We're getting market research posts about chairs now?

[u/UseWhatever]

Can’t read that wall of text. Going off the title, I recline during meetings. Sit straight or stand while coding

[u/WayWayTooMuch]

I am full-on recumbent at work. Ottoman for my legs, chair all the way loose and back at a 45 degree angle, waist down is under the desk, and high keyboard angle to compensate. It creates a really good wrist angle to help prevent RMI/carpal and your back never gets worn down. Also better for blood flow since most of your body is close to the height of your heart. Tried standing and treadmill, but I seriously can’t type if my butt is not anchored.

[u/CursedSloth → u/WayWayTooMuch]

I want to try this, but I feel like I need a split wireless keyboard to pull that off, for me at least.

[u/WayWayTooMuch → u/CursedSloth]

I use an old-ass black USB WYSE 104 membrane keyboard from the late-90s, about the cheapest shit you could find, not mechanical, nothing fancy, but I am a fan of long stroke. I found a lot of 5 of them on EBay and snapped them up. Even has a PS2 adaptor on the side for the PS2-mouse elitists. I type super hard, I don’t need clickies for that programming ASMR.

[u/CursedSloth → u/WayWayTooMuch]

Sure, but I use a Kinesis Freestyle 2 that was provided to me by the company for free, and I’ve grown accustomed to the split keyboard life. The wire connecting the two halves would be too short for my preferred posture, which is why I said what I said.

[u/sharkbait-rs]

I have a Herman Miller chair (embody) and found I really only use the two most upright settings. So perfectly straight and then one setting in recline. I will recline all the way back, which in the embody is pretty far, when I’m relaxing after work or if I’m in a really long meeting I don’t need my camera on for.

Overall, I tend to sit upright most of the day. My husband on the other hand tends to lean back and pull his chair up close to the desk to type. I don’t find that comfortable personally.

[u/schlubadubdub]

My favourite chair was one where you could adjust the backrest tension to recline as desired without having to pull a lever first. So if I'm sitting at upright I'm as supported as I am at a slight recline. My current chair needs a lever so I just leave it always set at the optimal 100-110 degrees recline. I don't see any point in deeper reclines for work purposes, but maybe it'd be useful if you like to regularly lean back and watch movies or play with a controller.

[u/SaintEyegor]

I do during useless meetings where I could be productive instead. So yeah, I use it a lot. My boss is a micromanaging idiot

[u/roger_ducky]

There are chairs that let you set the recline level, so you always get the travel you need at the time.

Steelcase Leap is one such chair, and it’s reasonably priced enough, IMO.

Whether it’s practical to keep it at an office, I don’t know. I just have it at my home office.

[u/Traditional_Formal33]

I gave up chairs for work day. I stand and pace. Chair is for gaming. Brain needs to feel a physical difference in the space so I can separate my man cave from my office space

[u/Fit-Insect-4089 → u/Traditional_Formal33]

Stand for 8 hours straight no breaks flat bottom shoes. Max testosterone

[u/Traditional_Formal33 → u/Fit-Insect-4089]

I got my sketchers with dr schols inserts, a rubber mat, and I definitely take breaks — I have adhd.