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How much time do you spend working on your show and sitting down in your podcasting chair? Recording a podcast is a labor of love. It requires you to spend hours on creating an engaging script, a consistent schedule for releasing new episodes, and lots of practice for honing your voice recording skills. If you are an independent podcaster, you also need to take care of the editing, broadcasting, and promotions.
To a listener, a podcaster might be just a passionate individual sharing his knowledge over the internet. In reality, a podcaster is a lot more – a writer, a researcher, an editor, and a voice artist! I assume sticking to your podcasting schedule requires a lot of hard work, so kudos to you, dear podcaster!
But I am sure, like many of your brethren, you have not paid much attention to an important fixture that is a vital part of your podcasting journey.
Wondering what it is? It’s the podcasting chair!
All podcasters and voice-over artists always consider if they should be recording standing or sitting.
Recording while sitting is the preferred posture for podcasters who want to stress on the subtle nuances of their spoken words, or discuss a long and intellectual topic.
There might be other reasons too, to prefer the sitting position. For instance, a podcaster with a guitar would be happy to sit and strum for his audience.
Even if you stand and record, you would need to take breaks, sit down and relax. A major portion of your podcasting efforts will be made while you are seated on a chair:
- researching your content,
- writing a script,
- connecting with people over phone or mail,
- editing the recording voice, etc.
And since you are going to spend so much time in a chair, its effect on your health and your work productivity cannot be ignored!
The negative effect of sitting for too long in a bad chair
Long hours of sitting can have a detrimental impact on your health. Especially when you are slightly bent forward to speak into a microphone or work on a laptop, it affects your neck, shoulders, and spinal cord. You need to understand what kind of support your chair should give to your body. Otherwise, you might have to face long term health consequences.
My message to all the podcasters is – you don’t just need a good chair, you need the best podcasting chair!!
Ergonomics of a good podcasting chair
Now the question arises – how to choose the best podcasting chair? What makes a chair suitable for long hours of recording? Let us talk what the specific features you should look for in a podcasting chair are:
- Height – If your chair is too high or too low, shoulder pain is inevitable. Hence, a good podcasting chair should have an adjustable height. The seat height should match your desk height, and your feet should rest flat on the floor.
- Seat width and depth – To know the right seat width, measure the distance between you’re the two ends of your hips. Your seat should be a few inches wider on both sides. The seat depth is the distance between the back cushion and the front end of the seat-17 to 20 inches works fine for more people.
- Backrest/ lumbar support – Your spine is not vertical, it has natural curves. So if you are searching for the best podcasting chair, find one that is suited to the curves of your back. A chair with an S-shaped backrest is way better than a chair with a straight back.
- Tilt and recline – Your chair should let you recline back and take mini-breaks as it is good for your spinal health and help you clear your mind.
- Swivel – A chair that swivels lets you move around without getting up much.
- Armrests – It is even better if the arm height of the seat is adjustable too. Musicians can go for a chair that has no arms or removable arms.
- Headrest – If you want to bring home the best podcasting chair, opt for one with a headrest. It will help you relax in between your work and prevent neck aches.
- Materials – Your chair material can add to your comfort or make you really uncomfortable! Choose a material in which you can sit for long hours – for example, if you stay in a tropical country or your recording room has an inadequate cooling system, avoid leather chairs as they would drench your bottom in sweat!
- Wheels – Wheels add to the utility of a chair, you can shuffle between your mic and other equipment easily if your chair has wheels. Make sure they don’t make loud noises that can be picked up by your microphone while recording.
Factors to consider when buying a podcasting chair?
Before you head out to buy a chair (or place an order online), ponder a bit about your own needs.
Think along the following lines:
Where do you record your podcast?
Is it a professional studio or a home-based setup? The chair ergonomics might be a little different based on the setup.
How do you record your podcast?
Do you just read out from a podcast script into a microphone? Or do you need to access other gadgets or equipment? If yes, then the mobility of the chair becomes more important.
Do you use any musical instruments for recording a podcast?
If yes, then your chair should allow you to play it freely! Buy a quality stool or a chair without armrests.
Are you the only person recording, or there are two of you – a co-host or a guest?
If you have to use more than one chair, then the chair size and layout might be different. Also, when buying more than one chair, the budget becomes more important.
Will this just be a podcasting chair? Or do you need to use it while researching or writing?
Based on the kind of podcast and your recording set up, you can decide whether you need an all-purpose chair or get more than one chair for different purposes.
Finally, you need to factor in your physique for buying the best podcasting chair.
The chair that is suitable for a tall, skinny guy might cause discomfort to a short and stout person. If you are not actually visiting a store and buying a chair online, this becomes more important to evaluate different parameters.
Types of Chairs for Podcasting and Voice Recording
Buying a chair can be a bit confusing, and that’s because there are multiple categories and models of chairs. To break it down for you, let me tell you about three main types of chairs, and which one can be suitable for your work.
Office chairs
Office chairs are designed, keeping in mind that the person needs to be seated for long hours. So the chairs have proper padding, adequate lumbar support, adjustable height, and tilt – everything that’s desirable for extra comfort.
There is a wide range of office chairs available, so you should read all the features and choose a model accordingly. If you are recording a long podcast, or you need to move around a lot while recording for accessing other devices – an office chair will be the best podcasting chair for you.
Backless chairs/ Stools
Bar stools or backless chairs may not be made for sitting for hours. But for musical podcasters, they can be the best podcasting chair! There is freedom of movement for the upper body, so you can sway as you sing. There are no armrests that would come in your way of playing a musical instrument. And bar stools are noiseless, so you can swivel without unwanted sounds making their way into the recordings.
Comfort chair
Bean bags and Comfort chairs are not a great choice for recording a podcast. But if you want an additional chair for your guests to relax or you too take breaks, you can get one of these in addition to a podcasting chair.
What is the Best Podcasting Chair?
The Best Podcasting Chair is Herman Miller Aeron. It supports a max person height of 6’ 7’’ (200 cm) and a max weight of 350 lbs (159 kg). It is made of quality Graphite, and it has adjustable Seat Height, Arm Height, Tilt, Arm Angle, Lumbar Height, and Lumbar Depth. It provides high comfort of work when podcasting.
| Best Podcasting Chairs Comparison | Herman Miller Aeron | Argomax Mesh Ergonomic | Nouhaus Ergo 3d | Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable | K&M Performance Stool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max User Height | 6’ 7’’ (200 cm) | 6’ 4’’ (193 cm) | 6’ 2’’ (188 cm) | n/a | n/a |
| Max Weight | 350 lbs (159 kg) | 275 lbs (125 kg) | 275 lbs (125 kg) | 300 lbs (136 kg) | n/a |
| Chair Weight | 39 lbs (17.7 kg) | 49.5 lbs (22.kg) | 46.29 lbs (21 kg) | 44.6 lbs (20.2 kg) | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Arm Height | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Adjustable Tilt | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Arm Angle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Adjustable Lumbar Height | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Adjustable Lumbar Depth | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Main Materials | Graphite, Graphite Mesh | Nylon and glass fiber frame and mesh | Iron alloy | n/a | imitation leather |
| Wheels | yes, for soft floor | yes | yes | yes | No |
| check price | check price | check price | check price | check price |
TOP 5 Best Chairs for Podcasting
A comfortable chair lets you work without distractions or strain. If you are wondering where can you find a suitable chair that could be a part of your podcasting setup, I have some recommendations for you:
1. Herman Miller Aeron
This is the first name that would pop-up if you ask anyone about the best podcasting chair! And that’s because these chairs are super-comfortable and they can be adjusted to accommodate anyone. Herman Miller Aeron has been in the business since 1994, and their chairs are used in professional studios all over the world.
When their designers first conceptualized the chair, their idea was to create a health-positive chair that supports the human body and has minimum impact on the environment. They did it without the standard use of foam, fabric, or leather. Their chair became a pioneer of ergonomic furniture.
In fact, Aeron was the brand that made ergonomics chair a reality. The chairs have stood the test of time and continue to be popular in the professional sphere. Over the years, Aeron has improved its design to make the chairs comfier and adapt to modern aesthetics.
| Herman Miller Aeron Dimensions | Size A | Size B | Size C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended User Height | 4’9’’ – 5’10’’(144 – 178 cm) | 5’2’’ – 6’7’’(157 – 200 cm) | 5’3’’ – 6’7’’(160 – 200 cm) |
| Recommended User Weight | 90 – 150 lbs (41 – 68 kg) | 130 – 325 lbs (59 – 147 kg) | 180 – 350 lbs (81 – 159 kg) |
| Chair Max Height | 41 inches (104 cm) | 42 inches (107 cm) | 45 inches (114 cm) |
| Chair Width | 25.75 inches (65 cm) | 27 inches (68 cm) | 28.25 inches (72 cm) |
| Sit Depth | 15.75 inches (40 cm) | 17 inches (43 cm) | 18.5 inches (47 cm) |
2. Argomax Mesh Ergonomic Office Chair
This is another fantastic option for a podcasting chair. The mesh office chair designed by Argomax allows you to make necessary adjustments so that the chair suits your body and posture.
While most office chairs allow you to adjust the seat height and the tilt, this one goes a step further and lets you adjust the arm heights too. This feature makes the chair suitable for any desk height. With its easy-to-glide wheels, you do not have to worry about your microphone picking up the sound if you move your chair in between the recording.
- There were issues recently with the availability of an Argomax Chair – as an alternative, I can recommend you a XUER Ergonomic Office Chair (check current price)
The chair can support a weight of up to 330 lbs. It has a breathable mesh back that will keep your shirt sweat-free during those long hours of recording. If you feel drained after a long recording, just recline on the chair and rest your head on its headrest, and relax for a while!
3. Nouhaus Ergo 3d Ergonomic Office Chair
Podcasters and seekers of comforts here is another fantastic choice of podcasting chair for you! If you want to bring home (or studio) the best podcasting chair, you can consider the Nouhaus Ergo chair. Its 3D lumbar support provides your back a superior comfort, while the adjustable headrest provides the extra support your weary head might demand.
You would like to pay extra attention to its 3d adjustable armrests – they can glide forward and backward and rotate around as you shift your position while recording. So for those who think that a heavy-duty, ergonomic chair will come in the way of their body language, here is an exception.
The chair has a breathable elastomesh, so no matter how high the mercury soars, you will be cool and comfortable while recording your podcast. And yes, it will not leave any grill marks on your body. The chair can easily support up to 270 lbs of body weight.
4. Duramont Ergonomic Adjustable Office Chair
The importance of an ergonomic chair is paramount for people who need to spend a lot of time sitting. Hence, I would go ahead and suggest a fourth option, as well. This ergonomic chair from Duramont keeps you restful and energetic as you record your podcast.
It comes with multiple adjustable features, so the chair can adapt to your body measurements as well as your recording setup. The chair boasts soft cushions, and the headrest, armrest, seat height, tilt, etc. can be modified – the chair is designed to give your body the support it needs during long hours of sound recording.
The rollerblade caster wheels will let you move around without leaving scratches on the floor or making that irritating noise (which your listener should not hear in your podcast!). The chair can support 330 lbs of body weight.
5. K&M Performance Stool
I have this recommendation, especially for the musicians of the gang! There are many great podcasts that are about music or have some kind of music on them. Podcasters who are musicians and need to play for their podcasts would find the performance tool from Konig & Meyer highly useful.
The seat is designed ergonomically to give your back ample support, and the seat height is adjustable. You can comfortably strum your guitar or play your keyboard while you sit on this stool.
Conclusion
Sitting for long hours has detrimental effects on our health. Buying the best podcasting chair that suits your requirements and budgets is something that you should no longer put off.
Make sure that your podcasting chairs meet the criteria that you require and can be adjusted to your physique:
- Height
- Seat width and depth
- Backrest/ lumbar support
- Tilt and recline
- Swivel
Do you need these?
- Armrests
- Headrest
- Wheels
Finally, review what kind of materials are used for your podcasting chair. Make sure you are buying a quality product.
Review which type is most suitable to your preferences:
- Office chairs
- Backless chairs/ Stools
- Comfort chair
If backache or stiffness is troubling you, better have a look at your existing chair and desk. If the chair doesn’t give proper body support, I would strongly suggest investing in a good one right away.
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