After 7 long years, my office chair has finally called it quits. The arm-rests don't stay up anymore, the leather is cracking, and the height adjustment thing on the bottom doesn't even work anymore. Worst of all, it feels like my butt and back are on fire after sitting in it for about 15 minutes. There is no air circulation at all. I decided that I would buy a chair with my next pay check because it makes absolutely no sense to suffer away while I'm working.

There were a couple of specific things I was looking for: I had to have a chair with ventilation, so leather chairs were out; ergonomic and comfortable to sit in for 8 plus hours a day; lightweight and modern looking. So, I took to the internet and began doing some research. Most of the leather and fabric chairs we're immediately thrown out, so I was pretty much left with mesh office chairs. I hadn't even considered them, but after looking at the selection, it seemed like they made these chairs just for me. Stylish, great ventilation on the seat and back, ergonomic and all at very affordable prices. So, I continued doing my research on the chairs to get a better understanding of its history. I know, I'm a nerd like that, but like learning about the things I buy.

Mesh office chairs are a subcategory of ergonomic chairs. Ergonomic chairs were basically developed to alleviate the chronic back and neck pain many people felt while sitting. Scientists were able to identify the connection between the back and neck pain with the numerous hours people spent sitting in chairs that did not properly support their bodies. The problem only increased as more people work even longer hours and sit in seats that do not support their natural body alignment for up to 10 plus hours a day.

Like most scientists, they began coming up with various solutions to remedy this growing problem. Eventually, they developed a chair that supported the spine, neck, and lumbar region. The early ergonomic chairs weren't the most beautiful chairs you would have ever seen, but they were incredibly effective. As the technology and design improved and the chairs became more affordable, companies began to purchase them for their entire staff. Mesh chairs are one of the many different ergonomic furniture pieces. I'm a little biased as my mesh chair has really improved my ability to be productive at work, but mesh chairs are incredibly comfortable from a user's point of view.

Mesh chairs are little different due to their construction and support mechanisms. A mesh chair has the ability to "mold itself" to your body and shape. This molding supports proper posture, which leads to better spine support, and eliminates a lot of the strain of sitting for long periods of time. The part that I really like about the chair is the ventilation. With a lot of chairs, your back and butt get really hot after you've been sitting in them for awhile, but the mesh sections of the chair allow air to flow. Your body temperature doesn't rise, which results in higher productivity and less discomfort while you're working.

Depending on the mesh chair model, the seat, the back, or both will be made of a mesh air grid. There are even some models with an air-grid back and leather seat. If you are an animal lover and refuse to purchase leather, there are also chairs with air-grid backs and imitation leather seats.

All the ergonomic and mesh chairs on the market each have their own characteristics and special features. However, any chair you select should have the following features: 2-to-1 synchronized tilt, an adjustable lumbar cushion, adjustable arms ("T" arms preferably), as well as swivel functionality.

As far as design and styling is concerned, you can find any type of mesh office chair to fit your design needs. There are mesh chairs with platinum finish accents, chrome frame, and traditional and modern styles. They also come in a wide range of colors including brown, gray, black, blue, red, and green. I picked up a basic black chair, with air mesh back and seat, and cool adjustable arm rests, and a wide range of seating adjustments. Suffice it to say, it's entertainment for hours when I get bored.

when I checked out chairs at my local ergonomic furniture retailer (want to give a shout-out to Mike's Chairs), I realized there is a wide range of materials to choose from. You can get a chair with woven mesh, leather seats, fabric seats, layered leather seats, nylon fiver completely seats, sled base, and so on. I personally went for a woven mesh chair.

Another important feature is the height of the back of the chair. There are various chairs with high-backs and mid-backs, and it's really important that you try each one out to find the one that will be most comfortable for you. If you're having a hard time making up your mind, ask your retailer (if you're in a store) what would they suggest and they'll usually ask you some questions in order to find the perfect chair for you.