The Ray is a new leather conference room chair by Allseating. With a release date of September, we thought we’d take some time to offer a pre-emptive review of the Ray - given that it’s unique and stylish and should come in at a great price point.

The Ray offers a different look for use as a leather managerial chair, leather conference chair, or just a nice home office leather office chair. The arms are modern but retro, and fit with the design of the back nicely. They remind us a little bit of Legos with the indented area under the armrest.

The backrest is a mid-back, and should provide the user with ample back support for any application, except for executive seating, for which users it would not be good. What’s really nice about the Ray is the implementation of a new counter weight mechanism, which as the user leans back the seat slides forward slightly and promotes proper seating postures all the way around.

The seat and back are slightly on the firm side, leading to a comfortable, but not overly cushy seating feeling. Overall, the Ray looks to be a good chair. We tested the demo sample at NEOCON, and the production model looks to be the same - available in black or white leather, the Ray should provide leather office chair buyers a great alternative looking solution for their office space!

The Generation Chair by Knoll - Tested and tried at NeoCon 2009

This is a very unique chair - The first of its kind in terms of backrest motion and malleability.  Not to mention a very good looking little task chair.  But is it a once in a generation chair?  We sat and tested this chair at NeoCon Chicago 2009.  It is one in a new movement towards creating more unique tasking solutions.  The idea in concept is very sound, and the design team hit a home run on the backrest, but there are certain detraction’s that left us a bit disappointed, considering the hype.

To start, let’s put this chair in perspective to what it is, as it cannot be compared to leather office chairs, for example. More reasonable comparisons are the Humanscale Diffrient Task chair and the Herman Miller Setu Chair.  (We’ll be reviewing the Diffrient Task Chair shortly  - the Setu was also tried out, and we’ll have a basic review of that as well…) It is a task chair, meant for, and creating for, working environments.  With that said…

According to Knoll, it is a task chair meant for “collaborations” and fluid work environments.  However, if you sit in your desk typing all day, I hardly think this chair will do you any good.  Why?  The philosophy behind the chair is that we actually spend more time moving in our chair than sitting in it - this should be true, we should be moving, but do we? I mean, how many of us can type effectively in any of the positions shown below?  These people demonstrating the chair are in the act of talking, hanging out, possibly working.  The world will know.  But the basic fact remains that a workplace envornment where 95% of the time these are the ideal sitting positions doesn’t exist.  And you certainly cannot type in any of these positions.  Have you tried typing with your leg over the armrest?  More errors than you can imagine!  Which brings us to the next point regarding the use of the chair in respect to what it capacity the chair could be beneficial in…

As I mentioned before, it is a very good chair to collaborate in.  In spaces where people meet informally, talk a lot together, brainstorm, etc, it is an ideal chair.  You can relax well in the chair.  But I’m not sold on it as a cubicle chair for a variety of reasons…Let’s go into detail about the good, bad, and my lasting thoughts on the chair…

What’s Good about the chair?

There’s plenty to like.  It’s a nice looking chair - modern, sleek lines, and a nice selection of colors for the back and the seat.  It is VERY green, recycled and recyclable.  It is not an eyesore, and only complements modern work environments. The backrest is the real success story regarding the chair.  It is a mid back, meaning, for 99% of the population, the backrest is not going to provide support above the shoulders, and for most won’t reach the should height.  But with this chair, that’s ok.  The flexing back material (seemingly made of a rubber composite) has no frame on the back, which allows for flexing in a wide range of motion, particularly nice for stretching or turning around, (albeit you could just swivel around) and talking to co-workers rather easily.  The backrest is also comfortable, not a hard plastic, and molds well to your back shape.

Add in the optional lumbar support and you get sufficient lower back support. Won’t relieve back pain, but won’t cause it either.  Essentially, the motion the backrest allows is good - I’m just a little skeptical about how much we would use it, and the price vs. functionality that an innovative feature like this commands.

And the Bad?

Unfortunately, there is one area where the Generation Chair takes a step back to the previous generation.  It was bad enough to spoil the uniqueness and comfort of the back - the Seat.  It seems in designing and implementing the back, Knoll forgot that the seat is where our all day pressure is.  It really is not comfortable at all.  The seat has a thin foam cushion which is upholstered on what seemed to be a plastic seat pan - not solid plastic, but plastic strips.  I could feel those within 5 minutes of sitting on it. Not ideal.

The foam itself is not soft, rather firm, but even so, the thinness of it was quite suprising.  The seat does have a seat slider, but in using it, I encountered another issue.  I adjusted the seat pan a bit forward (I am 5′7″, 145 lbs.) but not much.  After re-sitting on the adjusted seat, I felt towards the back of the seat two hard pressure points.   It felt like two little blocks of wood on my buttocks.  Not comfortable at all.  I sat in another Generation (the showroom at Neocon must’ve had over 50 Generations) and felt the same issue.  So I asked my brother to give it a whirl.  He is 5′11″, 195 lbs, and he immediately remarked, “What is that?!”.  It was dissapointing, to say the least, to have experienced this.  We sit on the seat of the chair on average 8 hours a day, and are not always leaning against the back.  This is why the seat is THE most critical part of the chair, and the easiest to make comfortable.  Knoll simply forgot how to on this chair, and the chair lost all long term comfort value for us.  From being a nice innovative task chair, the way the seat felt immediatly moved it into the “1-2 hour meeting chair mode”.

What’s the price?

We don’t know the price - the chair doesn’t release until July 15th, but were told at NeoCon by Knoll representatives that the chair will be retailing from $750 to upwards of $1000.00 USD, depending on the options selected, such as arms, leathers, lumbar support, etc.

Grade:

For a task chair, to sit in 8 hours a day and hash out emails, etc, it is not the ideal chair.  The seat will kill you and really be painful after 4 hours, especially if you are heavier.  Combine that with the estimated price, and the chair becomes, in our opinion, overrated.  As a conference, meeting room chair for informal settings, for a modern workspace where employees don’t have to sit 8 hours a day, it could be a nice chair.  It would look nice anywhere, but unfortunately, it doesn’t feel nice everywhere.  And you need that in a chair, we think. Thus the 3 - a pricey, sub-par chair with a great and unique backrest.

Three Sweet Features:

1. Stylish Mesh colors to go with Fabrics.

2. Thick, plush padded seat.

3. Many additional options available!

The Thorough Review:

The Inertia is a great line of chairs. Within the family of Inertia Mesh Office Chairs, you will find the reviewed high back, the mid back, the executive, and side chairs. Really, the Inertia has a mesh chair for any need, allowing to any user to completely customize their office space to look contemporary and matching with one product line. As a bonus, the Inertia can be upholstered in various different mesh finishes, which greatly enhances the options one can have with the chair, as opposed to the more conventional and not as fun black mesh.

The Inertia Mesh High Back Chair looks simple. It is clean and elegant and modern, but that doesn’t mean it limits itself in comfort or ergonomic capability. The chair features a built in passive lumbar support, meaning the back (which is highly durable polyester mesh wrapped around a steel tubular frame) is contoured at the lumbar region to provide a built in support structure for the lumbar.

The chair also features various add-ons/upgrades that provide for a more ergonomic sit. The chair can be outfitted with a seat slider, and the seat can be created with Memory Foam for extra soft comfort. As well, with 3 different arm options, you can choose the arms that suit your needs best, whether it be standard arms, or fully rotating arms!

Overall, this is a very modern and stylish chair that does not leave comfort behind. It combines all these features in a very nice package as a high quality, mid priced ergonomic office chair!

The Ratings:

Durability:
A very durable chair from a very durable company. Rated for 325 lbs, and with a lifetime warranty.

Adjust-ability:
Nothing flashy. Up, down, seat slider, infinite tilt lock. Just enough for anyone to adjust and everyone to be comfortable.

Style:
One of the nicest looking chairs we’ve seen…Very stylish and modern and the optional mesh colors make the chair customizable to any color scheme!

Overall Rating (Not an average):
Kinda wish it had an adjustable lumbar support, but as far as modern chairs go, it is one of a kind. Perfect for management applications where a common style is necessary - a chair that will have everyone sitting in comfort and style.

Want to know more about how we rate chairs? Check out our Ratings Guide!

Ok here it is…. I am coming out of the closet… the geek-closet. This is not necessarily about games, though I love them too, but about the techie in me. That’s right, here I am looking for a monitor arm. Wooo hey look there’s a monitor arm, oh wait there is a dual monitor arm… Oh no there is one for three..no four…OMG there is one for SIX. I mind you, I only have one monitor. I just like to plan for the future.

And then frigg’n Humanscale will be coming out with this in fall 2009!!!! How could they do this to me!!  Deceivers! Look! Its a four screen monitor arm…nope nope nope. That’s what they WANT you to think! How can they possibly add to this beautiful ingeniousness! How could they torment me even more! This is how they do it.

It unfolds!  Thats right. It expands.

The Paramount Parabolic Multi-Monitor Display by the Humanscale Design Studio offers a flexible and ergonomically sound solution for mounting two to eight monitors on a single support. Effortless adjustment mechanisms, tool-free reconfiguration options, and a curved parabolic shape are among the many details that make the Paramount a unique solution for multi-monitor environments. It doesn’t get any better than this. If you are asking yourself “What do I need with 8 monitors?” This is not about NEED, this is about the future! You started out with one monitor, then two…and on and on, why not buy a monitor arm that can support all those monitors you have acquired over the years.  Besides until they come out with a  paper thin 6 foot by 3 foot monitor  that can be rolled out and taped to the wall (can’t wait) , this is the next best thing.  Next thing you know Humanscale will come out with a uber chair… Oh wait they already did. This is all making me feel fuzzy inside…I have to go now..ENJOY

Three Sweet Features:

1. Very customizable.

2. Small seat to fit any petite user.

3. High quality, very durable.

The Thorough Review:

Ergocentric Saffron I Dt- Petite Ergonomic Task Chair EGC-Saffron-I-DT is an absolute value when you combine it’s ergonomics, customization, and price. First off, the manufacturer produces a high quality product, so aside from everything, the chair is a great product. On all their chairs, the quality is evident - the parts are strong, the chairs recline smoothly, and adjust easily. This chair is no exception to that, despite its petite size.

A great feature about this chair is the customization of the seat. Many petite users have a hard time finding a small chair that fits them the right way - thus they are uncomfortable and experience pain while sitting. With the Petite Saffron Chair, the options nullify that. There are 3 different seat sizes available that can fit any user, and varying cylinder heights so that a petite user’s feet can actually touch the ground - a critical ergonomic principle. The chair is also available with or without arms, to suit the needs of any user.

All in all, this chair really measures up to the standards of any petite office chair needs. Finding the right chair for smaller people no longer has to be an arduous task!

The Ratings:

Durability:
Ergocentric warrants their chairs for 10 years. And, each chair has a serial number tag on them, ensuring that you can get the right parts for your chair if there ever is any issue. Not that many arise with them…

Ergonomics:
For a petite office chair, the ergonomic components on this chair are outstanding. This particular model has a smaller backrest, but others in this line offer a tad more ergonomics. Still, getting a petite office chair with ergonomics like this one is a rarity.

Customization:
Choose from 3 different seat sizes, a bunch of cylinder choices and multiple seat cushions. Not to mention over 40 fabrics. This is a VERY customizable petite office chair.

Overall Rating (Not an average):
Nothing more we can say other than this is a great petite office chair. The customization alone is worth the price - a price that is, at that, a very good value!

Want to know more about how we rate chairs? Check out our Ratings Guide!

Loaded with features and benefits, the Commander CHW-9064DH is the big daddy of big and tall chairs for today’s office executives. This reliable, affordable office chair with its twenty-three inch seat width, which allows for greater movability, accommodates for the sturdier of persons up to three-hundred and fifty pounds. The Sealy brand, waterfall seat cushion was designed to help reduce leg fatigue while simultaneously offering absolute ergonomic comfort.

ChairWorks, one of the world’s oldest and largest furniture specialists, assures the highest quality in workmanship and materials. Their Commander CHW-9064DH is no exception. From its comfortable leather arm pads and five-star nylon base, to its adjustable lock torsion knee tilt mechanism, this chair will make any executive the commander of the ship.

What more can be said about the name of this chair? It is the BOSS of genuine black Italian leather office chairs for the conference room.  With rich mahogany finishes on top of hardwood arms and leg caps, this BOS-B8906 rules the roost, making an impression sure to captivate, allure, and inspire business deals.

This sturdy leather office chair offers a distinguished look by featuring tailored leather padding on the armrest, built-in lumbar supports, a comfortable wide base for stability, and a locking upright mechanism with tilt tension control that will surely make anyone feel like the chairman of the board.

With two warehouse offices; one in Commerce CA, one in Atlanta, GA, Boss Office Products continues to be a reliable manufacturer with low prices, and great quality office chairs.

Pacific Seatings PM-45

What more can be said about affordable, versatile and reliable leather office chairs that can seamlessly adapt to any office? From multi-office work spaces to vast cubicle arrays, the Pacific Seating (PM-45) will spruce up all business because they are each built with ergonomic adjustments for long work hours. Their durable, long lasting, and oh-so comfortable mesh seating areas, leather accents, and sturdy aluminum framing will impress Executives and clients alike.

The locking swivel tilt control, fixed polished aluminum arms and base, and breathable mesh are exactly the features and benefits any fiscally conscience, pragmatic Executive or Facilities Manager are looking for to invoke cost-benefit analyses and maintaining departmental budgets while simultaneously appealing to the more aesthetic side of their nature.

Based out of Cerritos, California, the PM-45 is manufactured by Pacific Seating, a company well-known to specialize in high quality products at value prices.

Three Sweet Features:

1. Modern Shadow Air Grid color.

2. Sturdy over-sized base and components.

3. Cool mesh back and mesh covered foam seat.

The Thorough Review:

With technical specs boasting pneumatic seat height adjustments, a three hundred and sixty degree swivel, a mid-pivot knee tilt, and a weight rating to reach up to four hundred pounds, it’s no wonder the Office Mesh Chair is one of the most extremely popular big and tall office chairs on the market today.

The search for thickly padded mesh seats, double Air Grid backs with adjustable tilt tensions have been three of the top standard requirements met by the Office Star Products manufacturing company. But, they don’t stop there, this chair rocks with its modern mesh back look, rugged appearance, and the one touch seat height adjustment this big and tall office chair couldn’t be more welcomed by the big and tall community.

Covering this chair from top to bottom with terrific amenities was clearly the goal for the design team on this great piece of art. In order to support up to four hundred pounds, the manufacturer added a sturdy gunmetal finish aluminum base and oversized dual wheel carpet casters.

The only thing more amazing than the chair and its benefits is the price! Check it out!

The Ratings:

Durability:
Oversize base, thick, high density seat, lager reinforced mechanism. Holds up to 450 lbs.

Style:
It looks good. Unique mesh stands out from drab black color.

Plushness:
It’s a firm sit. The foam is high density and the mesh is not too bouncy. Good for long term durability though.

Overall Rating (Not an average):
We’re talking about a great value chair for what it is and what it needs to be. Modern, stylish and durable - made to last.

Want to know more about how we rate chairs? Check out our Ratings Guide!

La-Z-Boy Sintas

Three Sweet Features:

1. European Beech wood base and arms, capped with leather.

2. Zip-Ship means it ships in 10-14 business days…That’s fast for a custom built chair.

3. Thick seat and back. Very comfortable.

The Thorough Review:

Here it is, the grand daddy of executive leather office chairs.  Just the name alone tells you a lot about the chair.  But is it really comfortable?  Does it live up to the expectations?

Yes, and yes.  Let’s start with the style of this leather office chair.  It looks comfortable, bug, plush and very executive.  The wood arm and base are both high quality European Beech wood, stained with maple, dark cherry, or golden cherry. The arms are caped in leather with  foam pad, so you can rest on them nicely.

The back of the chair itself, aside from being big and wide, features a foam protrusion in the middle.  This has a dual purpose of providing pseudo-lumbar support and maintaining your back in an ideal S shape, even while you lean back or sink into the soft cushioned backrest.  The middle protrusion also means you get a nice cushy place to rest your head and think about ideas for your business.

The seat is soft and thick, you sink into it and it eventually molds to you - which means comfort now and more comfort in the future.  This chair is really comfortable - it’s a safe bet even the super soft Stay-Puft Marshallow man would be comfortable in this chair!

The Ratings:

Plushness:

Oh, it’s plush. The foam is EXTRA thick, and you literally sink into the chair. Very nice.

Softness:

The leather is top grain, top of the line leather. Very soft and non abrasive. It is all leather on all parts you touch, vinyl on the rest - a little money saving technique.

Style:

It looks imposingly comfortable. A very executive style that exudes class and comfort.

Overall Rating (Not an average):

A great chair for comfort, class. A wonderful seating solution to last years in your office.

Want to know more about how we rate chairs? Check out our Ratings Guide!