Herman Miller Aeron PostureFit Support Kit Add-On - Graphite - Size B

This supports the back from the base of the spine, and doesn't feel as extreme as the lumbar support. That said, it does provide all the support needed and it is a nice adjustable upgrade for the Aeron. The previous "old" lumbar support only has two support settings, and to select between a little support and a lot, it requires removing the support bar from the chair, flipping it over, and reinstalling it. For the PostureFit, the adjustment can be made using a knob for a little support, a lot of support, and everything in between. The pieces fit on the frame in a way where the original designers apparently planned for this type of addition. There's a hidden bump/tab that helps align the bracket for the knob. Initially the bracket was a little tricky to get aligned, but it's because the pieces fit so tightly together. Fits on the Aeron in a way that makes it feel like it came this way from the factory. Despite what the manual says, the PostureFit kit can be installed with a Philips head screwdriver and nothing else. There are YouTube videos for help installing if you get stuck, but I feel that the written instructions are reasonably written and the illustrations are sufficient. The bottom of the support is pulled toward the front of the chair by a cable. This cable is held in place by a bracket, but most importantly, the cable passes straight through the mesh back rest. I do not think it is possible to install it without widening a small hole in the mesh back rest. I was very careful during the install, but there is still a small widened area of mesh where the cable passes through. This means that once you install the kit, even if you remove the kit, there will always be a small hole in the base of the mesh back rest. I double checked the location for mine, and it is so low on the back rest that it is below the seat bottom. This means it is only visible from behind the chair. If this sort of irreversible change bothers you, this kit may not be for you as replacement back rests can be very expensive. If you already have a lumbar support on the chair, I am not sure that this kit is worth the money. In the absence of lumbar support on the chair, this kit is absolutely worth the money.

Your attitude toward this is going to be about how it feels to you; it feels very good to me. I'm quite tall, so in my case, the more sacral support that this provides works. Your experience will vary with your own body. Installation is really no big deal. I'll answer the questions I had that the installation videos that one can find online didn't answer for me; hope that'll be useful to someone. The kit will ship with two clips; the more substantial one is for pre-2014 chairs, while the smaller one is for chairs manufactured after 2014. It'll be obvious which one you need. I found it much easier to mount the clip before making the hole in the fabric; in this manner you know exactly where the hole needs to be. To make the hole, use a pencil -- what you're trying to do here is just enlarge an existing hole in the fabric, not cut it, so the increasing radius of a pencil point works well. You then remove the pencil, poke the cable through and the fabric will re-close around it. Finally, there's a mystery piece of plastic, vaguely U-shaped; this is called the 'applique'. It rolls around the back of the seat pan, from the top, straddling the cable, and clips into place. Overall, a very comfortable upgrade, and actually quite easy to install.

Okay, so first the pros. This thing is insanely easy to install and takes maybe 10 minutes of modification to be up an running. Kudos for being consumer friendly on that front. My chair is an '07 and it installed with no issue. (P.S. I installed solely with a Philips screwdriver fyi). Second pro is this lumbar support does provide a more even support than the standard Herman Millar lumbar pad and for what it's worth... is an upgrade. HOWEVER, what you should know before buying is that this lumbar support sits VERY low on the back. I'm a fairly short person (5'5") and I would argue this support is a hair too low for me. However, if I keep it on medium support then I don't notice after about 15 minutes of work. I was hesitant to give this 4 stars as I can easily see this being a bigger problem for taller individuals who use size B Herman Miller's. BUT, my lumbar does feel more supported with this than without. So it does do it's job with the caveat of putting up with the sensation of something touching your lower lumbar. Short version-- this sits very low for a lumbar support but Herman Miller Aeron's are better with this support than without? So it's a weird catch 22.

I bought my first Aeron chair three months ago. Since it was paid for by my employer, I splurged and chose the posturefit option. The chair was great-- so great that a few weeks later I decided to order one for my home office. Herman Miller was having a sale, and I selected a fully loaded Aeron--but this time without posturefit, as I'd read reviews here that said the lumbar pad offered even better back support. In hindsight, foregoing posturefit on my second Aeron was a stupid decision, because (a) posturefit had worked well for me in the past and (b) the lumbar pad was just a solid block of rubber that was bound to be uncomfortable. And it was. The lumbar pad rendered the chair almost useless to me. So, I sucked it up, ordered the posturefit unit, and installed it myself. The installation is not trivially easy, but requires no special skills (only patience). As others have noted, forcing a wire through the mesh in the seat back feels wrong, but it's no big deal. Still, I wish I had just ordered the thing with posturefit to begin with. I would have saved 70 bucks. In the meantime, anybody want to buy a mint condition lumbar pad? :-)

This works OK. It's not as high up as the regular lumbar support pad can go but high enough. I wish I could just keep using the original support pad but I already replaced it twice and it just keeps popping out. This will work for the time being but I probably just need a whole new chair (the remastered's lumbar which looks way higher and more reliable), then I'll keep this as a backup or for friends or whatever. Really disappointed I couldn't get what I wanted out of the classic but it is a 10 year old chair so I don't know what I was expecting "cheaping" out. If you can call $350 cheaping out (500 with all the lumbar pads I bought). I did find a little hack by placing the original lumbar pad onto the top of the Y bracket of the posturefit but I expect this will be too much support for many. I actually find it perfect for me. Using this method the posturefit works more as a holder for the original lumbar pad rather than a back support itself. I wish they had just designed the posturefit to go higher up for a full back support, seems like a fatal design flaw. I realize this is also meant to support the sacrial region but you can support the sacrial region and lower-mid area too. Kill two birds with one stone.

If you are seriously thinking about it just stop right now and BUY IT. I recently strained my lower back and decided to purchase the PostureFit. After using it for a week I can safely say that I wish I had purchased it when I originally bought the chair. It is not lumbar support. It actually works to strengthen your lumbar and straighten your spine by forcing the pelvis forward. Just Google "PostureFit Design Story" If your only worry is the installation, just stop right now and BUY IT. It's super easy to install. There is a little booklet with instructions a child could follow. There are also installation videos online. If you know what you're doing it takes about 5 minutes. Expect to spend 15 minutes or so if it is your first. The wire is blunt tipped and is never in danger of damaging the chair.

I agree with the other reviewers, this kit provides good support, but only if you need it in exactly the spot Herman Miller chose for you. It would have been much better if the pad could slide up or down so that it is possible to locate it more comfortably. Installation is relatively easy, but the need to punch a hole through the fabric as well as the installation of the control unit feel like an afterthought and not the level of design you'd expect from a company like Herman Miller or from an expensive chair like the Aeron. It is a shame that the choice is between a kludgy device and the foam pad which breaks about once every two years.

Adjustable support took a little time to install, but instructions were good (despite some poor choices in picture size and angle) and it went fine first try. The support is truly lumbar, and can't be adjusted for height, as opposed to the original foam crosspiece lumbar support. However, this support's single adjustment, which primarily affects how deep the support presses, affects where it hits the back vertically a little and so it's not hard to find a comfortable setting. With that said, it is much more comfortable than the old foam crosspiece and shouldn't break down like the foam does.