3 Things You Should Know Before Getting an Active Chair

Getting active in the office seems to be all the rage these days, and you want in. It's clear that it's a healthy way to engage in movement while still letting you get your work done, so it's a win-win all around.

So now you just go out and buy one in the color of your choice, right?

Woah, slow your horses. Getting an active chair is about a lot more than just how nice it looks. you'll want to do your research to make sure you have the chair that works best for your needs.

Thankfully, we've already done a bit of snooping around ourselves to find out what key things you should be looking into before you buy.

Keep reading to learn what you should know about active sitting chairs so you can be prepared before you pay!

Leaning Stool or a Balanced Active Chair?

The very first thing you need to consider before you even start to shop is whether you want to have a leaning stool or an active sitting chair.

Sure, they both do good things for your health, but it comes down to much more than that.

Many people don't know there are two types of active sitting options to choose from. On the surface, it's exactly how it sounds: one is a stool, while the other is a chair.

Seems pretty simple, right?

But that's not all. There are some major differences in the way they work as well, which will break down here.

Balancing Act

The way that stools balance (or rather, keep you off balance) is completely different from how the chairs do it.

First off, stools keep their balance at the base, and they swivel off of that point. Meanwhile, active chairs keep their balance in the seat of the chair itself.

This makes a huge difference between how they affect the user as well. Since the balance of the stool is at the base, you have more control over how much or how little you want to move around on the stool.

That means you can keep yourself in a stable position so you can concentrate on your work, and at any time you can move around to activate your legs and your core.

On the other hand, active sitting chairs keep you moving around by being unstable right in your seat. This keeps you from ever really having full control over your balance.

Active chairs are great for the person who always wants to engage their core and get in a constant office workout while engaging in their office work.

It's also important to know that because of the way they balance, it's easier to get out of a stool than an active sitting chair due to the greater amount of control that you have.

If going from sitting to standing is a challenge for you, then you may want to opt for a stool, but if you really want to get active, the chair is your best option.

Spacing

There's no fun in using an active stool or chair if you don't have the room you need for it.

You'll want to determine how much space you have to work with before you invest in a chair, as active chairs will take up more space than a stool will.

Stools were made for the office worker with little space. You simply plop them down in front of our computer, and - voila! - you have yourself a place to sit! When you're done, you simply place it in the corner until the next use.

Keep in mind, however, that stools can be more annoying to move from one area in the office to another. You have to physically pick up the whole stool just to take it to another area, which after the first few times can get really annoying.

Active chairs are essentially the opposite. Yes, they take up more space than the stool (though it's really about as much as the average computer chair), but boy, can they move!

Thanks to the wheels on most active chairs, you can swivel your way around the office like a boss, allowing you to get the files you need from one end and moving back to your computer - all without having to get up.

As a side note, if you're someone who's constantly on the go, the stool is your best choice. It's more compact than a chair, and you can just chuck it into the back of your car and take it with you wherever you go.

Compatibility & Ease of Use

This doesn't necessarily just mean compatibility with you, but with your workspace as well.

It's no secret that ergonomic chairs work best with ergonomic offices spaces. Things like extending keyboard trays and standing desks (or a lack of these things) will affect your active sitting experience.

Having an adjustable stool or chair will take care of most of your problems, and most active stools and chairs come with this option. Check to make sure before you buy.

Regardless of whether it adjusts or not, most office desks don't, so you need to think about how your new seating will work with the desk.

Ease of use is another factor to consider, specifically when it comes to assembly.

Some active seating comes ready to use right out of the box. Others require a bit of assembly, while some come to you completely in parts.

Of course, if you can buy it pre-assembled you should definitely go for it. That way, you can get right to using your active chair on day one.

If you do have to assemble it, though, it's no big deal - most active seating can be made user-ready within the hour.

No matter which choice you make, you can be sure that getting an active stool or chair will be one of the greatest office decisions you've ever made.

We'll Keep You Moving in the Office

Now that you know what to expect from your active chair, you need to know the best place to go to buy one that suits your needs. Luckily for you, you won't have to look any further.

At Uncaged Ergonomics, we make sure that we give our customers the best ergonomic work materials for the price. Check out our selection of active sitting chairs and stools, keyboard trays, laptop stands, and so much more.

Have a question that you'd like for us to know about? We love to hear it! Just reach out to us and we'll be sure to answer any questions you'd like to ask.