Sleekform East Austin Ergonomic Kneeling Chair with Back Support - Winter Linen and Wood Ergo Stool for Desk - Best Ergonomic Kneeling Office Chair for Posture and Leg Circulation

I normally opt for the most expensive product in a given category with the assumption that it is made from different materials and ultimately will have better quality. When shopping for this chair, I found a much more expensive brand, nearly three times the [rice of this, that I considered. I could not help but think it was way over-priced for what it was. I decided to step down a bit in price and I am so grateful that I did.The chair was extremely well packaged and each part was labeled, making it easy to assemble. The only complaint I would have is that it was somewhat unclear which direction the cross supports should be facing and the diagram was wrong. That said, it's pretty obvious when you look at the cross pieces that they are longer toward the kneeling end than the seat end. For that to work, the cross members are angled slightly. By looking at them, or holding them upright on a flat surface, you can see that they lean one direction or the other (depending upon which way you have it facing. Obviously, given what I mentioned earlier about the kneeling pad end being further apart than the seat end, the angle should point downward toward the seat to make that happen.In the manual that came with it and in other things I have read or seen online, they suggest starting out in shorter periods of time,m then working up to a full day. They also mention to shift your position from time to time. I had no problem using it the entire day immediately. I do shift my position often, but generally find this to be as comfortable as a seating chair.As as bonus, I have learned that I can use the natural curves of the chair to stretch my Achilles while sitting on it. I have plantar fasciitis, which as a runner is quite painful and hard to get rid of. I have found that I can gently stretch my achiles, one of the main exercises for controlling the pain.Used properly, you can really focus on your core and exercise your abs while working. If you happen to be ADHD, like me, this chair may help you to focus.With regards to quality, I suppose time will tell. The padding is thicker than some of the competitors, but I do not necessarily think that is better. At the end of the day, it will become about how long it lasts and how the material it's made from compresses.All in all, I highly recommend this chair over the more expensive Balens product. The Balens product does offer an interesting option to add a back rest, but I feel like that is unnecessary and contrary to the intention of a kneeling chair as it takes you out of your core when you push your lower back toward the support, which is the natural tendency. You would have to be pretty disciplined to not do that. As long as this product holds up fairly well, I will never know if it's equal in quality to the Balens product.8/7/19 Update. Still love the chair, but do have one feature request. This is especially true in the summer months, though I wear shorts year round. Be aware that the kneeling can feel somewhat scratchy on your knees after a few hours when wearing shorts, and I assume a skirt. So, I would prefer if the kneeling pads were not this kind of fabric. I would prefer leather, or some material like that I think. Also, it would be good if it wasn't absorbent for those times when you are warm and potentially sweating.

Quality materials, easily assembled. Only grievance is the rocking element, which I was aware of at purchase - the forward rock places a little too much weight on the knees. As a result is ideal as a sitting or reading chair, but the rocking motion renders it a difficult adjustment for balanced typing at a desk. Still, use daily and having less low back pain on longer days. Recommend the version with a back rest if not used to this type of sitting.

I bought a nice looking but non-ergonomic office chair at the beginning of the pandemic. After two years of sitting in it for 8-12 hours a day, my back and posture were in poor shape. After seeing an ad on Instagram for this chair, I bought it on a whim, fully expecting to return it. I am now trying to figure out how to get rid of my old office chair.Ease of Assembly: I’m really not sure what other reviewers are talking about when they say it’s difficult to put together. It took me about 20 minutes and I didn’t need any tools other than the Allen wrench it comes with. It’s easier than putting most Ikea furniture together. There’s a YouTube video about assembly if you’re confused. Also, I am only 5’1, so I took the creator’s advice and put the seat cushion on backwards so my legs can reach the knee pads. The space is perfect for me. 5 stars.Pain Relief: My back was cramping during assembly because I had just worked 10 hours in my old chair. The second I sat on this chair, the pressure in my lower back was relieved. It’s so comfortable that I had to look at pictures and videos of people sitting on it because I thought I was using it incorrectly. Turns out it’s just a great chair! 5 stars.Ergonomics: Its a little higher than I normally sit, so I thought it might not work with my desk. I have an Ikea MALM desk and my hips sit just below the desktop. If I scoot in closer, my tummy pouch would be against the desk. However, I would recommend a fairly high monitor riser since your eye level may be much higher than it was before. Because I’m so high, I thought typing would be uncomfortable, but this angle actually relieves the pressure I was putting on my forearms/wrists.I was tempted to get the Tokyo chair because I thought I would need the backrest. I’m glad I went with the Austin because it looks much nicer in the home and I don’t feel the need for a backrest at all! Another 5 stars!TL;DR: 5 stars. Easy to assemble, relieves back pain almost immediately, relieves pressure on forearms/hands when typing. Generally cute and awesome. When I return to the office, I’ll bring my chair along with me.