Herman Miller Mirra review

The Mirra is Herman Miller’s mid-range chair, which makes it more expensive than most, but a chunk less cash than the flagship Aeron. The price above is for the most basic version of the chair, and though it remains great value for money, it’s worth spending a little more to get the extras you need. Consider buying from www.officechairsuk.com for the full range of options.

The Mirra has a suspended mesh seat, like a hammock for your posterior, distributing your weight across its width; it’s wide too at 480mm and so should be big enough for the vast majority of users. The standard seat is 432mm deep, but an optional depth adjuster costs £32 and allows a 420-490mm range. A handle just under the seat front lets you easily adjust the leading edge.

The key money saving element of the Mirra is its plastic back. It’s got plenty of ventilation holes and stayed cool when in use, but it doesn’t have the luxurious feel of a mesh back, such as on the flagship Aeron. You can get an upholstered back for an additional £80, but you’d be better off buying the Aeron itself instead.

The sturdy plastic back does feel more supportive than that of the Aeron, so heavier users or those with back issues may well prefer it. There’s an optional lumbar support for £27, again well worth the extra. The back is big too, so even the tallest users will feel well supported when they lean back.

And leaning back is something you’ll want to do a lot. It’s easy to get the seat set up just right using the tension adjuster on the right. Once done you can simply lean back by easing your weight backwards, and vice-versa. The chair moves with you effortlessly and smoothly, with both the seat and base moving as one. An optional rear tilt limiter is available for £19, but you’re better off adding the forward-and-back tilt control for £46. This allows the seat to tilt forward a little, helping you get right over your keyboard without having to curve your spine at all.

With the forward tilt limiter installed, arms do feel genuinely optional, though they are nice to have when you swing back to relax. The fixed arms look overpriced at £63, especially when the adjustable ones (£106) are so good. They have comfy but firm padding, and can be set for height and width plus be angled inwards or outwards.

With all the extras the Mirra comes in at a fairly hefty £575 inc VAT, although not everyone will need them all of course. Having sat on the fully-fledged version, though, we’d be hard pushed to sacrifice any of them now. Still, with its 12-year warranty, you’ve got a lot of peace of mind that this chair will last. It’s a million miles away from your average foam-bottomed £100 office chair, and well worth the investment if you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk.