The Herman Miller Aeron made its debut in 1994. In 2017, the Aeron Remastered emerged with adaptive mesh and elaborate tilt features. The Aeron Gaming Chair is the third iteration of this iconic ride. For an easier buying experience, it has fewer custom build options. Luckily, there’s an off-menu route for connoisseurs wanting full customization! This Aeron Gaming Chair review reveals all.
Since 2017, the Aeron Remastered has reigned as one of the world’s best office chairs. In mid-2020, the Aeron Gaming Chair arrived. It caters to serious video game players in three ways.
First, its rich black color scheme will add serious pop to any gaming station. Second, it’s easy to buy. The Aeron Remastered comes with seven complicated configuration options. In contrast, you need only choose a medium or XL size when buying a gaming edition.
Third, all versions of the Aeron do one thing better than any other chair: support good posture. With good posture comes more energy and sharper focus while computing.
This support feels incredible — while doing intensive deskwork. On the downside, when it’s time to relax, the Aeron Gaming Chair keeps you locked in upright battle mode!
Aeron Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Aeron Remastered (office edition) is also available from Herman Miller for $1195-$2195.
Aeron Gaming Vs Remastered Chair
Every Aeron Remastered in the Herman Miller Store is a custom build with seven options. In contrast, Aeron Gaming Chairs come almost pre-configured.
| Gaming Edition | Remastered | |
| Buy Online | Only from the Herman Miller Store | Amazon; third-party retailers; Herman Miller Store |
| Sizing | Medium, XL | Small, medium, XL |
| Styling | One all-black design | Six light and dark styles |
| Build options | 2 options: size (medium or XL); gas lift length | 7 options: size (S,M,XL), style, lumbar support, tilt type, etc. |
| 2022 Price | $1695 from Herman Miller | $1195-$2195 from Herman Miller |
If you want more control over your Aeron build, a Remastered version makes more sense:
Aeron Gaming Chair Review
Poor posture while gaming causes lethargy, bloating, stiffness, and brain fog. The Aeron Gaming chair provides an extreme solution to these problems.
For competitive gamers, it’s a sound investment. For non-competitive gamers, there’s a usability limitation to be aware of. Both groups should also be aware of a back support limitation that has a simple (off-menu) workaround.
Ergonomic Features
This is one of the world’s premier posture-correction chairs. Bolstered seat edges force users to sit with planted feet. That primes ultra-adaptive mesh to keep the body balanced. Meanwhile, next-level tilt functions stimulate blood flow over long gaming hours.
Planted feet provide power and balance to hold the torso upright. Then, the Aeron’s other features kick in to keep you feeling cool, comfortable, and relaxed.
The seat has four different tension zones. These adapt to micro-movements. That keeps body weight distributed as the user moves in the chair.
You can adjust the depth of support, but not the height. With a good fit, it provides superb lower back support. Without a good fit, the pads might feel like bricks!
Then, consider an Aeron Remastered instead. Unlike gaming editions, Remasterchairs have a height-adjustable lumbar option:
Learn more: Herman Miller Aeron Posturefit Vs Lumbar Pad
You can also combine the seat and backrest into a synchronous tilt. As the backrest reclines, the seat tilts up (max 16°). When leaning forward, it tilts down (max -1°). This keeps the thighs parallel to the floor through all recline modes.
Summary of Features
- Synchro-tilt: seat pan angle from -1° to 16°; backrest 93° to 104°
- Upholstery: Pellicle 8Z mesh provides eight zones of varying tension for ultra-responsive support.
- PostureFit Lumbar: depth–adjustable support for the lumbar and sacral spine.
- Seat: adjust the height; limit the tilt range; adjust the tilt tension; sync-tilt with the backrest.
- Backrest: forward tilt option; height and depth adjustable PostureFit lumbar support.
- Armrests: 3D adjustable.
- Warranty: 12 years.
Aeron Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Aeron Remastered (office edition) is also available from Herman Miller for $1195-$2195.
Gaming Chair Sizes
Gaming editions are only available in medium (size B) and XL (size C). Herman Miller rates both for sizes 5’2″ to 6’6″. If you can’t decide between the two, the Gaming Chair product page suggests going with Size B.
Warning: the lack of Posturefit height-adjustability can be a problem. For instance, my 5’9″ size finds the Size B Posturefit too high. A half-inch lower would make a big difference! Those shorter than 5’9″ may find the misfit even worse!
| Remastered Size A | Gaming Size B | Gaming Size C | |
| Seat | 15.75″ (W) x 16.75″ (D) | 17″ (W) x 16.75″ (D) | 18.25″ (W) x 18.5″ (D) |
| Backrest | 20.25″(W) x 21″ (H) | 21.5″ (W) x 22″ (H) | 22.75″(W) x 23″ (H) |
| Seat Height | 14.75″ to 19″ | 16″ to 20.4″ | 16″ to 20.5″ |
| Size Rating | 4’10” to 5’9″; 300 pounds | 5’2″ to 6’6″; up to 350 pounds | 5’2″ to 6’6″; up to 350 pounds |
Gaming editions also give you the option of having a higher seat height. The stock maximum height on both editions is 20.4″. You can choose a ‘High Seat’ option during checkout for a max height of 22.87″ (no extra charge).
Things To Like
Three shining aspects stand out about the Aeron Gaming chair.
Good Posture Support
The Aeron Gaming edition does one thing very well. It helps you to (almost effortlessly) sit with good posture for long periods. The point is to align your spine as if it were in a healthy standing position.
Hard-bladed seat edges encourage you to sit with planted feet. Doing so with your butt tucked deep into the seat lets the chair take care of the rest. The 8Z Pellicle mesh keeps you cool and balanced with a soft, luxurious feel.
Intuitive Tilt Controls
The tilt controls are intuitive. Most people will only need a few minutes to get the hang of them. Then, it becomes easy to toggle settings on the fly.
- Forward seat tilt: press your back against the backrest; rotate the knob under the left side of the seat forward; lean forward in the chair and the seat will tilt down by -1°.
- Reclined seat tilt: press your back against the backrest; rotate the knob under the left side of the seat backward; lean forward in the chair and the seat will tilt up by max 16°.
- Tilt lock and limit: rotate the inner knob under the left side of the seat. Turn backward to limit the recline to 93, 100, or 104°. Turn forward to lock.
- Tilt tension: rotate the knob under the right side of the seat. To loosen the rocking tension, turn backward. To tighten or lock, turn forward.
- Seat height: open the latch on the right side of the seat. Once you find your ideal height, pop the latch back in place.
Inspiring Build Quality
The Aeron Gaming Chair has an elite look and feel. You can feel the quality in both the frame and plush 8Z Pellicle mesh. As well, everything works with crisp precision guaranteed for twelve years.
Even world-class gamers will feel inspired by this chair. That makes it a great centerpiece for the most advanced gaming or computing stations.
- 5-star posture support
- Sleek, sexy design
- Gold standard adaptive mesh upholstery
- Robust synchro-tilt functionality
- 12-year warranty
-
Expensive - Forces good posture at all times
- Limited configuration options
Priced at $1695, the Aeron Gaming chair is only expensive up-front. Spread over its 12-year warranty, this beauty costs only $141 per year!
Aeron Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Aeron Remastered (office edition) is also available from Herman Miller for $1195-$2195.
Dislikes (Plus Workarounds)
There are three things wrong with the Aeron — but all can be overcome!
Forced Good Posture At All Times
The Aeron helps you to sit straight but leaves no other option. It forces you to sit with feet planted in a limited recline range (93, 100, 104°) at all times. This makes it an excellent office chair.
Staff using one have no choice but to sit with crisp, attentive posture. It’s also a good option for competitive gamers: crisp posture helps boost energy and focus. But when gaming from home, sitting upright all the time can get annoying.
The simple solution is to add a second chair for relaxing. In fact, dual chair setups to cover both relaxation and good posture angles are common. Check out some examples:
No Height-Adjustable Lumbar Support
Aeron Gaming chairs come pre-configured with a Posturefit dual-pad system. Posturefit works great — but only when it fits. If the pads hit your lumbar and sacral spines too high or low, they’ll feel painful rather than supportive.
Then, you’ll have spent big money on a fancy chair that hurts your back! Aeron Remastered chairs offer an easy workaround. Instead of adding a Posturefit system ($95), you can add a height-adjustable lumbar pad ($75). But what if you want a Gaming edition with a sliding lumbar pad?
Aeron Gaming Chair Configuration Hack
Aeron Gaming chairs only come in two sizes, both pre-configured with Posturefit. These are for gamers uninterested in complicated ergonomic details. Luckily, informed gamers have the option to fully customize their Aeron Gaming Chair.
Herman Miller released the Aeron Gaming chair in September 2020. Its product page notes that they “updated the gaming chair with an Onyx colorway, our darkest and most eco-friendly shade yet.” A year later, the company released a new Onyx Ultra Matte Aeron Remastered(1).
The big difference between Gaming and Onyx chairs is the options. Onyx chairs give you full control over your build. You can build your own gaming chair in small, medium, or XL sizes.
As well, you can replace Posturefit with a sliding lumbar pad. Here’s a pre-configured Gaming edition vs a custom Onyx with a sliding lumbar pad. Both also come with 3D arms, Tilt Limiter, and Seat Angle functions.
| Aeron Gaming | Onyx Remastered | |
| Sizes | B and C (medium, XL) | A, B, C (small, medium, XL) |
| Lumbar support | Depth-adjustable Posturefit | Height-adjustable lumbar pad |
| Price | $1695 | $1775 |
Bottom line: if you find the Aeron Gaming chair options too limiting, buy an Aeron Onyx Remastered instead. With a sliding lumbar pad instead of Posturefit, the Onyx version costs $80 more.
Aeron Gaming Chair Alternatives
If not sold on the Aeron, here are the most viable alternatives:
Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair
The Embody Gaming Chair’s wide, flat seat provides plenty of room to sit as you like. As well, the armrests have a massive width-adjustable range of 11.5-21″. But the star of the show is the backrest.
A central flexible spine holds the unit in place. Human-like ‘ribs’ flex or contract as the user moves. Like the Aeron’s mesh, this helps the users remain balanced as they shift positions. However, it’s not as easy to use.
The Embody backrest has fixed curves with no adjustable lumbar support. You can only adjust the angle of the backrest, not the height. If not experienced with ergonomic chairs, getting the back support right can be tricky!
Notably, many of the world’s top streamers use Embody Gaming Chairs. All are hard-core gamers with years of experience using ergonomic chairs.
If you’re at a Timthetatman level, the Embody might be for you. If not, stick with a beginner-friendly Aeron Gaming Chair.
Learn more: Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair Review
Embody Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1795
You can also buy the Embody Classic from Herman Miller for $1845-$2195
Cheaper Aeron Clones
Two popular Aeron clones deliver a similar sitting experience for less money. The third alternative is one of the original office chairs designed for gamers.
| Chair | Features | Drawbacks | Terms |
| NeueChair | 2D arms, 85° to 130° recline, height-adjustable lumbar | No seat tilt | $609 from Secretlab with a 5-year warranty |
| Duorest Alpha | 3D arms, 85° to 130° recline, adjustable dual-back support | Very Short warranty | $649.00 on Amazon with a 1-year warranty |
| Sidiz T80 | 3D arms, 3:1 back to seat tilt; 90-135° recline, height-adjustable lumbar, seat slider | Short warranty | $799.00 on Amazon with a 3-year warranty |
Flat Seat Comfort Companions
These aren’t Aeron competitors — they’re companions to stack with your Aeron chair to relax with.
Secretlab Titan 2022 Series
The Secretlab Titan is the polar ergonomic opposite of the Aeron chair. Instead of enforcing good posture, the Titan enables it without restrictions. In fact, Secretlab endorses putting your feet up as a way to move while you sit.
This formula fills the Aeron’s gaps better than any other gaming chair. The Titan Evo 2022 Series comes in small, medium, and XL sizes with stacked features.
These include 4-way integrated lumbar support, a magnetic headrest (11″ range), 4D arms, and a 5-year warranty. What’s more, there are over forty stunning styles to choose from.
On the downside, high-end luxury comes at a price. After splashing out so much on an Aeron chair, stacking it with a Titan will hit your wallet hard.
Titan 2022 Series $549-$674 from Secretlab
Learn More: Hands-on Titan Evo 2022 Usability Review
Staples Hyken
The Staples Hyken does (almost) everything you need. It has 1D armrests, height-adjustable lumbar support, 4 recline modes, and full mesh upholstery. As a complement to the Aeron, its flat, wide seat fills the relaxation gap.
Popular Youtuber Techlead pairs his Aeron with a cheap Staples Hyken chair. This is what he told ChairsFX about stacking an Aeron with a looser companion chair:
- Dual-chair benefits: “I love having two chairs; the different seating positions help me move my body around to avoid stagnating. I think everyone could benefit from having multiple chairs.”
- Morning: “I usually start the day with the Aeron, which has an upright ergonomic seating position. It looks and feels premium, which mentally prepares me to put in my best work for the day.”
- Evening: “By evening, I switch to the Staples Hyken chair, which is also ergonomic but also allows me to lean back comfortably or sit cross-legged. That gives a more relaxed position for gaming, movies, or light web surfing.”
Bottom line: the Hyken solves the Aeron’s relaxation limit. It stacks a flat, wide seat with ergonomic basics for comfortable after-hours relaxation. As a bonus, if used sparingly as a ‘side piece’, you can expect a Hyken to last for years.
Staples Hyken from Amazon $222.65
Learn More: Staples Hyken Review
Conclusion
The Herman Miller Aeron helps users sit with almost perfect posture. The Aeron Gaming edition does the same thing. Either model is the ultimate office chair — for managers. Sitting staff in Aeron chairs guarantees crisp, productive postures all day long.
In an office, that’s perfect. But while gaming from home, it can feel limiting. When it’s time to relax, the Aeron will keep your body locked in battle mode.
The easy solution is to stack your Aeron with a second chair. Use the Aeron for focused work. When it’s time to let loose, swap chairs. That will deliver a complete sitting experience covering the entire neutral posture spectrum.
The Aeron Gaming chair’s configuration limits are also easy to solve. If you prefer a sliding lumbar pad or a small-sized version, go off-menu with a custom Aeron Onyx.
This means all complaints are easy to solve. Given the facts, that makes the Aeron Gaming chair almost perfect. When it’s time to perform at your best, simply plant your feet, lean into the backrest, and get down to business.
Aeron Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Aeron Remastered (office edition) is also available from Herman Miller for $1195-$2195.
