I was recently talking to my father-in-law about reviewing chairs. He was quite baffled. 'Surely you just sit in them, and if they're comfy: job's a good'un?!' Well, he has a point – some chairs inspire no more than that kind of response, with little thought going into their design. The market is riddled with boring chairs being pumped out indiscriminately. You sit in them, and if they're half-comfy, job's a good'un!
Branch's Pro edition of its popular Ergonomic Chair is not one of those chairs. It effortlessly hits all the notes that the best office chairs for back pain should, while looking great doing it. Of course, I'm not conscious of any of this when I'm sitting in it. The feeling of being perfectly supported in all the right places goes on in the background. And when you consider that the retail price of the Ergonomic Chair Pro is $499, it's a shoo-in for one of the best budget chairs out there too.
Design & aesthetics
Branch has form creating stunning office chairs. The Branch Verve chair is still one of the prettiest chairs I've seen, though that design flair came at the expense of armrest adjustability. Not so with the Ergonomic Chair Pro. It's chic and functional, from its base to its headrest.
I reviewed the Mineral colour model, but all options look great on Branch's website (which, it has to be said, is one of the classier chair websites out there). I love how the colour of the upholstery is echoed in the armrests. There's Mineral (my photos), then a lighter Shore colour, Boulder (dark grey) and Black. That's all the mesh options, but then there's vegan leather and real leather options, that cover light grey, brown and black.
There are subtle curves to the chair that are pleasing to look at, juxtaposed with the more angular back frame. Looking at the Ergonomic Chair Pro from different angles, it feels well-thought-through and balanced. I fully understand that this may not be a concern for many potential buyers, but it definitely is for me. I've reviewed cheap budget chairs that look thrown together, and the best that Herman Miller has to offer, and it really makes a difference over time. An office chair – especially in a home office – can dominate a fair amount of space, and having something ugly around can just bring the whole vibe down. This chair looks beautiful and adds a real design flourish to my home office.
Ergonomics
The Ergonomic Chair Pro, as the name suggests, is all about ergonomic support. What does that mean? In short, loads of adjustability and loads of options to cater to as many different sitters as possible (if you're a tall person, and the chair is designed for a shorter body, it doesn't matter how many ways you can move the armrests!)
Ergonomic design in a chair helps you to sit healthily by supporting the right body parts, and allows little movements for better blood circulation. When I spoke to Secretlab Ergonomic Advisor Dr Lindsey Migliore, she put it this way: "Instead of pushing our bodies into one position, chairs that allow for a more dynamic seated position can promote better health."
The Ergonomic Chair Pro really outdoes itself as far as adjustment options are concerned. One way to see this is to pull the comparison chart of the old Ergonomic Chair and Ergonomic Chair Pro, side by side. There are 14 ergonomic adjustments, 5-way adjustable armrests, and a padded, two-way adjustable lumbar support, for a start. Specs are all good and well, but I've used this chair for around five months now, and can confirm that it's by far one of the most adjustable chairs I've reviewed, without ever being overwhelming. The adjustments are there if you want them, but don't get in the way of everyday use.
The Ergonomic Chair Pro is ideal for the 5-foot-something sitter as standard. At the max elevation, it's actually perfect for me, and I'm 5'10. That height cap was actually going to cost this chair a star, as there are many people taller than that who would no doubt need it to elevate higher. However, Branch offer a taller cylinder to achieve a higher elevation for a reasonable $30, so crisis averted.
Delivery & assembly
Branch's Ergonomic Chair Pro comes in a medium-sized box, with eight main parts to construct. As assembly goes, that's about halfway between the Sihoo approach of giving you a million pieces and Herman Miller giving you the fully assembled chair. I found putting the chair together really straightforward, and there were no niggles. All the screws were provided in a clearly marked see-through plastic case, and no single part of the chair was too heavy for the average person to pick up. The chair itself ended up being fairly heavy, so if you're constructing it on another floor to where it will live, I suggest having another person help you pick it up.
Price
Branch is really cornering the budget-to-mid-range price market. The Ergonomic Chair retails at $339, this Ergonomic Chair Pro goes for $499 and the Verve sells for $549. However, although the Ergonomic Chair Pro sits in the middle of Branch's range, I'd say it's the best value for money of the main three chairs. The Verve doesn't have the adjustability of this chair, and the Ergonomic Chair is outdone in all categories by the Pro (though it is $160 cheaper).
Looking further afield, the Pro compares very favourably to other mid-priced chairs on the market. Herman Miller has cornered the premium end of chairs, and Sihoo is currently the king of the budget chair. But right now, if you've got a $500 budget, and you want both ergonomics and style, I really don't know of any chair that can compete with the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro.
