Real reviews & real data for premium chairs

Brief mention of Humanscale Freedom Chair as one of the world's top 3 office chairs, noted as the chair used by Apple CEO Tim Cook. States it has lower recognition compared to other top chairs despite being a premium product with growing interest in Korea.

The commenter states that the Embody is sturdy and nice, even though it's a mesh chair. However, they note there is no headrest available for the Embody (they should have gotten one), and they needed to adjust their desk and monitor height to accommodate the chair since they're a shortish person. Despite these adjustments, the chair remains comfortable and they haven't felt the need to add a footrest. They mention the lack of lumbar support is a minor issue for them, though they note this is partially because they already have good posture. Overall, they seem satisfied but acknowledge it may not work perfectly for everyone without some setup adjustments.

The reviewer purchased a used Steelcase Leap V2 about six years ago, added a dodgy aftermarket headrest, and used it for many years with great satisfaction. However, their wife has now commandeered the chair while working from home. Recently they bought a new Gesture (2.5k+ AUD with headrest) for a test run, and also tried out a friend's Secretlab Titan Evo which they found super comfy and loved. Despite negative posts about Secretlab's ergo, they decided to give the Secretlab a proper 4-week trial at about 40% less cost than the Steelcase. They praise the Titan Evo's rigid frame, ease of adjustment, excellent arm rests, and magnetic cushion headrest. Now, however, they're experiencing severe butt pain after sitting 11-12 hours daily for work and play. They even tried an egg sitter (a cheap knockoff) and a genuine 100 AUD Secretlab plush cushion with no relief. They're questioning whether Secretlab deliberately makes chairs firm for ergonomics or if they should abandon the chair entirely. They're 178cm, 80kg, regular build.

The commenter discusses the importance of proper chair setup for avoiding back pain. They mention that at 2x the price of some other options, you need proper sit-bone support, stress relief, and mesh/sling design that flows correctly down from the back. Without proper flow, your entire body can be at risk of injury, and the chair wouldn't redistribute pressure as the theory intends. They believe a Gesture-style seat pan (which is generic for most chairs) might be more suitable for someone who wants to relax more, though they note the Embody seems like a massage chair with great back support. They emphasize that testing chairs personally is essential before making such a significant investment.

The commenter shares their experience dealing with two different problems: chair firmness and cushion placement. They explain that a cushion being too thick or poorly positioned can be problematic. A thin dense cushion with rounded/tapered edges works best to avoid pushing the hips forward or changing the lumbar contact in ways the chair wasn't designed for. If the cushion is too thick, it can defeat the function of the chair by altering the intended ergonomic positioning. They emphasize that cushion thickness and shape matter significantly for maintaining proper support.

The commenter describes their experience sitting on the pro version of the Haworth Fern. While they find it to have a pretty good lumbar support with soft foam that helps a lot during long sitting sessions, they note that the cushion itself is quite thin. This thinness is particularly problematic because only the cushion portion is thin compared to the overall construction. Despite the good lumbar support, the thin cushion may not provide adequate comfort for extended periods, especially for users seeking substantial padding. The chair has potential but falls short due to the cushion thickness issue.