Herman Miller Embody or Haworth Fern; short guy working from home

Submitted by ewrjontan t3_zmbj9d in BuyItForLife

Hey all, so I actually just placed an order for both of these chairs since I need more time to shop and wanted to get in on the holiday discounts :/ I am replacing my Autonomous Ergo Chair which is used (and new to me) but it hurts my butt. I really like the looks of it as well as the features but I don't like the seat pad in the slightest. I work from home 3 days a week and spend a couple of hours a day sitting there editing videos and surfing the web. Don't do much PC gaming nowadays but I can assure you I will most likely start wheeling over to my TV/Xbox for some console gaming.

Unfortunately, I have no where local to try these chairs and both chairs will be a minimum of a month from shipping out. I figured I'd finish my research and just cancel the order of the one I decide not to get. Ended up ordering a nice Haworth Fern (aluminum base, no lumbar, no head rest, 4D arms, seat tilt and the colors I wanted) and then the black and blue gaming edition Embody for less than a couple of hundred dollars more; its a nice looking chair but I am a big fan of white and would have preferred to get a white frame but the gaming edition colors are all that are available so I had no choice.

I am 5'3 and about 155 lbs. I am curious to see if anyone else here is a similar height and weight and can shed some light on their experience with these chairs. I am leaning towards the Fern since it is slightly cheaper and aesthetically more appealing but it seems like the Herman Miller is a better chair for relaxing in and I relax quite a bit :D

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Thanks

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OutsideTradition3463 t1_j0ehr9r wrote

Fwiw I bought a steelcase Gesture from Madison seating and I absolutely love it. Granted I’ve never tried some of the other big name ergo chairs but the gesture checked off a lot of boxes for me.

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ewrjontan OP t1_j0eprd3 wrote

It’s definitely up there with these two. I would have snagged one if I was able to get it on sale a few weeks ago for $900.

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OutsideTradition3463 t1_j0itr0q wrote

I almost bought a new one, but just took the chance on Madison for like $550 and couldn’t believe the condition. Looked brand spanking new.

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ewrjontan OP t1_j0jpw4f wrote

I found them a few days ago, heard nothing but bad things so I don't think I could ever risk that. Props to you though, definitely got it for a steal :D

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Worth the money?

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ffffffffffggggg21 t1_j0a658t wrote

I am a smaller woman and I’m in LOVE with my embody chair. I tried out loads and this was the one for me. I’m a bit taller and a bit heavier but it’s so adjustable, I feel very “tucked in” and can sit cross legged in it if I want.

I don’t have a gaming version, just the regular.

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ewrjontan OP t1_j0a6b1i wrote

Awesome. Yeah I like the idea of just having the feeling of sitting on a throne and The embody looks like it would do that better compared to the fern.

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ffffffffffggggg21 t1_j0a7aaf wrote

I had an aeron prior to the pandemic which I liked but I wanted something I could game in as well, so I gave that to my husband and picked out the embody. It’s more loungy and feels like a big hug. Could not be happier and I have had zero back issues despite now WFH in it full time.

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ewrjontan OP t1_j0ac0pg wrote

Hmmmmm. Definitely making me want to keep the embody.

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cherlin t1_j0a7fz8 wrote

I've had an embody for a few years and love it, built like a tank!

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dahween t1_j0a8wvz wrote

I can't speak for the Hawthorne, but I love my Embody!

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StartingOver226 t1_j0aa1z1 wrote

I'm a 5'4" woman and love the Embody chair. If you have concerns about the seat height you can request a shorter cylinder.

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ewrjontan OP t1_j0abtkc wrote

Did you go with a shorter cylinder? My current chair has a minimum seat height of 18 inches and my feet can just barely felt flat on the floor so I think I should be ok.

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StartingOver226 t1_j0ac5hi wrote

I've ordered short cylinders for other task chairs for my company in the past.

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GlowGuard t1_j0cwjw4 wrote

Have you tried the Aeron? I always wonder why they are so expensive lol

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ewrjontan OP t1_j0d4t7l wrote

I have not but it’s hideous to me haha. I know looks aren’t everything but if I am paying a ridiculously overpriced chair it better look decent.

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CatWings64 t1_j0dnxpk wrote

Have a Fern. I hate it. I wish I kept my Aeron. The arms are the worst. Unlike the Aeron, where I could slide the arms up and down and lock them in place anywhere along the way, the Fern arms have predefined settings that are either a bit too high or a bit too low for me. It's enough to cause shoulder pain. The chair also squeaks a lot. And the seat is very firm but I loved the Aeron mesh seat. FWIW, I'm 5'7.

ETA: Check the return policy before you buy the Fern. I bought mine in December, 2020 and had to buy it from one of Hayworth's resellers because the config I wanted wasn't available directly from Hayworth. Resellers at that time, at least, had a no return policy.

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gingerlymugged t1_j0omsyt wrote

I’m a 6’0 man, about 150 lbs, and love my Embody. I’ve owned it since 4 years ago. Easy to find a good seating position, well-made, good-looking. I had a Aeron before that and didn’t like it at all - it forced your back in a certain shape and was very uncomfortable. Tip: my Embody in light colour got stained very quickly; stainless steel base got all scratched.

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ewrjontan OP t1_j0pypw7 wrote

I ordered the Logitech gaming one (since it was on sale) so it’s black and blue. Though considering changing my order to all black. I would have preferred white but definitely don’t want to deal with cleaning it

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Muncie4 t1_j0bcpdm wrote

Zero people can help you with this question as its personal. Will you like the movie Dune? Will you like REO Speedwagon's 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin'? Will you enjoy the American presentation of the Greek dish Saganaki to the European version?

No one knows.

And even if your stunt double were to appear, guess what? Their advice would likely be the Bizarro Superman advice as 5'3", 155lb Tim from Sweetwater, KS tells you the Fern is an chair shaped iron maiden. Tim fails to mention he has spinal lordosis though. Thanks Tim!

You did exactly what you should do, you ordered both...you will fit test both....you will send one or both back. You are adulting right, quit second guessing yourself.

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