That one layer is far sturdier than the covering on a traditional office chair, at least if it's a budget model and not actual leather. You can also replace the mesh, but if you aren't using a super expensive model, I think it's easier to just replace the chair at that point. Anecdotally, I sit on my feet all the time and haven't had any problems with the mesh tearing.
I used to have this problem, but switched to mesh chairs a few years ago and it's completely solved it. (Doesn't need to be a super expensive one.)
That one layer is far sturdier than the covering on a traditional office chair, at least if it's a budget model and not actual leather. You can also replace the mesh, but if you aren't using a super expensive model, I think it's easier to just replace the chair at that point. Anecdotally, I sit on my feet all the time and haven't had any problems with the mesh tearing.
What's convenient is that we find it obscene to patch the assrest, which would mark the posterior-stressed spot unless executed unusually well.
So we just replace the whole fucking chair, piston, wheels, back, bolts and all.
Makes the chair business go round and round like a kid who just discovered the only remnant of joy mankind allowed to exist in the office.