Gas spring: does your seat height remain stable?
A good gas spring is hardly noticeable: you set the height and then it just stays there. This saves minor hassle during your work, as your posture does not change unnoticed.
Quick check in 60 seconds
Set the chair to your height and sit for a moment. If it slowly sinks, you usually notice that within 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat it once more; if it happens again, there is a good chance that the gas spring is worn out.
Also test it at the highest setting. You will quickly feel whether adjusting is smooth and whether the chair stays at the right height afterwards. Smooth is good, a small noise may occur, but clear creaking or metal-on-metal usually feels unreliable. This often indicates a mechanism that no longer runs tightly.
Good to know: a gas spring can sometimes be replaced, but that is not always simple. You need the right size and connection, and you are dealing with disassembling and assembling. If you spend many hours sitting, a chair that already remains stable is often the most relaxed choice: you can trust it right away, without having to tinker later.
Wheels: do they roll smoothly and do they match your floor?
Wheels determine whether your chair moves with you. If you constantly have to push or pull to slide in, that unnoticed costs energy and you will start "wobble sitting" faster.
Do a simple test: roll a few meters and see if the chair goes straight ahead. That is often a sign that the wheels roll evenly and do not steer against each other. Let one wheel spin for a moment: if it goes smoothly, the resistance is usually low. If it feels jerky or rough, there is often something in the way, such as dirt or wear. Hair and dust tend to accumulate around the axle, making rolling heavier.
Also look at your floor. On carpet, it is nice if the chair rolls easily through the fibers. On a hard floor, you want to be able to move quietly and calmly. If the chair is otherwise sturdy and stable, changing wheels can be a logical and often relatively simple solution.
Only then: seating comfort and adjustability (practically nice)
If the gas spring and wheels are good, you will check if you can sit well without effort. A suitable seat depth provides support under your thighs without pressure in your knee pits. The backrest should support your lower back so that you do not sink and your back does not have to absorb everything. Armrests are especially nice if you can adjust them so that your shoulders remain low and your arms can truly rest.
More adjustment options can be handy, but also mean more moving parts. Therefore, check if levers and functions work tightly: settings should stay in place and a tilt function should move evenly. At Multiratio, we keep it practical: first stability and rolling, only then fine-tuning.
When is it better to choose something else?
If the chair remains stable at height and rolls smoothly, you usually have a good base. If the height sinks or adjusting feels uncertain, another model often provides quicker peace in your workday. If the wheels are particularly the issue, but the rest feels sturdy, then switching is often a good route. And if you spend many hours, a chair that is well adjustable often yields the most, even if you see signs of use: you mainly notice it at the end of the day because you have to correct less.
