A trip to college—or even staying up late at home during high school—may come with an unexpected expense: a good office chair. Dorm chairs are notoriously hard, awful and not exactly ergonomic.
Thankfully, some decent back-to-school office chair deals are available right now among chairs that have been tested by WIRED for over seven years. The ProtoArc Flexer Pro ($176) is currently the best deal at a reduced price. Staples’ Dexley ($169) is also a top choice, offering terrific airflow and easy assembly.
For those on a tighter budget, the Staples Essentials ergonomic chair, although slightly more expensive than some Amazon brands, still offers a five-year warranty. However, it lacks the adjustability of its pricier counterparts.
WIRED’s testing shows that ergonomic chairs can indeed make a difference in preventing back pain during long study sessions. But with so many options, choosing the right one might be as difficult as picking your next Netflix binge!







