Posted on 8th Jul 2011 @ 2:15 PM

For some products, there is a direct relationship between their price and their quality, such as houses, diamonds, and tickets to a concert (Can you say “nosebleed seats”?). On the other hand, there are also numerous types of items where price doesn't seem to correlate with quality at all (like rice, beer, and coffee at a chain restaurant).

So which category do ergonomic chairs fall under? Can you just purchase any old ergonomic chair and get the same benefits as the higher-priced models? Or do you get exactly what you pay for?

Let's find out.

We compared two different ergonomic chairs. The first one can be purchased at Wal-Mart for the very reasonable price of $55. It has a relatively straightforward name: the Black Leather Ergonomic Task Chair with Arms & Adjustable Seat. The second one is over 1100% more expensive (a whopping $679), and that's when buying it online at Amazon. Its product name is a bit more flashy: the Herman Miller Aeron Desk Chair Basic Classic Carbon Ergonomic Task Chair with a Size B Graphite Frame.

We'll check out the Wal-Mart offering first. It is constructed with black leather upholstery, and the arms are described as "textured nylon loop." The plastic base has five "legs," each of which sits on dual wheel casters. It features exactly two controls: a pneumatic seat height adjustment and a back tension control mechanism.

            
 The reviews for the product are generally positive. Users describe the Wal-Mart chair as comfortable, easy to assemble, and a good value. But one buyer called the chair "cheap" and another lamented that the back was uncomfortably "stiff and upright."

Now, let's look at the expensive chair. It is constructed with a high-quality carbon material, and its armrests are sloped, wide, and soft. The base is very much like that seen on the Wal-Mart chair except that it is constructed of graphite. The seat features a "waterfall edge" on the front which claims to relieve pressure on your thighs. The chair back is high and wide, and its contouring is designed to take weight off of your lower back. The description says that the expensive chair will fit people of all postures and sizes; and all parts of the chair are warrantied for 12 years.

  Unfortunately, we were only able to find one online review for this chair, which was positive. It said that the buyer (who had back problems) felt relief almost immediately after sitting in it.

After comparing these two chairs, here's our conclusion: the expensive chair is certainly better than the Wal-Mart chair. But 12 times better? Probably not, even though it’s 12 times more expensive.

So it probably boils down to why you need an ergonomic chair. If you're looking for a basic, adjustable ergonomic chair for your office, then the Wal-Mart chair may very well suit your needs. But if you battle back pain issues, you may want to consider getting the more expensive chair (or another model whose price falls in between the two) with more features that can give you increased levels of comfort while sitting at your desk all day.