Haworth Fern and Embody are both highly ergonomic office chairs. And both brands have intricately designed and exclusive back designs that set them apart from the other ergonomic chairs.
So we will be talking more about these features. And let’s see which of the two brads are the most suited for you.
Backrest design and seat
The Fern office chair was designed with nature in mind. If you will be able to see the back design of this chair, it mimics a fern leaf. Though it’s not noticeable because this is covered with a mesh material and only has the backbone protruding to the outside, so allow us to describe it to you instead. And the brand refers to this as the wave suspension support.
The webbing or what is referred to as the fronds of the back gets thicker as you descend. And when we sat on the chair, the thicker fronds coupled with the moderately firm seat felt rather comfortable on the butt. It hugged or cradled the butt in the right manner.
The combination of the thick webbing at the lumbar and the unique technology of the seat and backrest relieve pressure points. It was able to spread the weight of the sitter evenly on the chair.
The seat isn’t too cushiony and it isn’t too firm either. It had the right amount of softness and firmness. It also has a mesh covering that makes it breathable. So we felt that you can sit on this chair for the entire day and your butt will not go numb.
We also noticed that the seat has a feature that most gaming chairs have. These are the bolsters that you can see at the side of the chair. It helped support a wider range of movement. So we didn’t feel boxed up in the chair. It feels that you can move freely.
As for the Embody, one of the things that it shares with the Fern is the unique back design. The Embody, on the other hand, has a pixel system for both its backrest and the seat. The backrest mimics the shape of the spine. Also, the backrest of the Embody is taller and skinnier than other office chairs. And the brand said that this is supposed to make the chair more flexible. And boy it sure did feel like freedom for the back. And it can support a wide range of movements.
The skinny backrest did allow for more flexibility. And like the Fern chair, the seat also relieved pressure points and it can distribute the weight evenly on the chair. You will not feel all boxed up with both brands.
Verdict
Both office chairs provide great support for the back and the butt. The advantage of the Embody is the adjustable lumbar support. Though you will not be able to adjust the height, you can adjust the curvature of the lumbar support. And out of all the chairs in the market, Herman miller office chairs have one of the best lumbar support.
Though the Fern offers lumbar support as an add-on, it feels clunky and it’s not doing much for the chair. We felt like the Fern performed better without it.
In terms of flexibility, both chairs can support a wide range of movement. They may use different technologies for the backrest. But each one worked great for the chair. One downside of the Embody though is that it’s not easy to figure out the back settings. Some users also complained how they had had a hard time figuring out how to adjust the backrest to find the most suitable position for them.
Another con of the Embody however is that if you set it to an upright position, it tends to tilt a little bit forward instead of just being flat. This may be good for the hip flexors as they open up the angles. But this can compromise your knees, especially if you already have knee issues, to begin with. The sacral part of the chair can also be too tough for some users.
That’s why we have to give this round to Fern. Although it may lack workable lumbar support, it feels more comfortable for most users than the Embody.
Synchro-tilt vs forward tilt
One of our favorite features of the Embody is the Synchro-tilt function. It is more of the de facto choice when choosing an ergonomic chair. When you tilt the chair, your feet remain on the floor. This type of tilt mechanism also stretches the chest without putting too much pressure on your thighs.
So even if you tilt the chair to its max tilt position, your feet will still be touching the floor and this prevents any undue pressure behind your knees. And when coupled with a tilt limiter, this gives you more options on how you want your backrest to tilt. It also helps relieve tension on the back.
And your back still feels very much supported even with a full recline. And it even has an adjustable seat depth. So you can find the most comfortable angle, especially if you have long legs.
The limitation, however, if you are going to use the tilt limiter, you will not be able to rock the chair back and forth. So you can’t enjoy the best of both worlds, you need to choose just one.
One disadvantage is the lever to tilt limiter is located under the seat pan, which is farther to the back. So it’s not that convenient to access.
The Fern, on the other hand, uses a forward tilt mechanism. This allows you to dip below up to 5 degrees as you lean forward. This type of tilt mechanism increases blood flow to the lower extremities and relieves lower back pressure. The Aeron also offers this feature along with other types of the tilt mechanism.The seat depth of the Fern is also adjustable. So if you have longer legs or you are taller, you’d still find this chair comfortable. You will not feel any pressure on the back of the knees as well. Also, like the Embody, you have the tilt tension too. And you can subtly rock the chair back and forth.
Verdict
This is another category that’s hard to decide on. But we have to give it to Embody. The forward til is not really used alone in most ergonomic chairs. It will relieve pressure points but the synchro-tilt mechanism offers more benefits.
The forward tilt, however, will be most beneficial for console gamers.
Armrests
Fern offers a 4-way adjustable armrest. You can also pivot the arms inward or outward. So even if it does not have any cushion, it’s still quite comfortable. The Embody, on the other hand, offers only a 2-way armrest, you can adjust only the height and width.
So no doubt, the Fern wins this category.
Adjustability
In terms of adjustability, you will not be disappointed with both chairs. The Embody has a set height adjustment range from 16 -20.5 inches. And the fern can go from 15.5 to 18.5 inches. So the Embody can cater more to taller individuals, and of course, given the high back design, taller people will also find it more comfortable.
The downside, however, is that the Embody’s seat height adjustment knob is a bit finicky to use. The other levers, such as the tilt mechanism, are also challenging to access. So it’s not friendly for beginners.
Verdict
Both chairs are highly adjustable. But because the Embody has a bit of a learning curve, the Fern chair takes the cake home. It’s easier to use.
Warranty and price
Herman Miller chairs over one of the best warranties that you can find in the market. It offers a 12 years warranty for all its ergonomic chairs and desks. But of course, the price of the Embody is something that will really make you think twice before buying it. It’s a rather expensive chair.
The Fern, on the other hand, costs half of the Embody’s tag. And for the warranty, it offers the same sweet deal as Herman Miller chairs.
So for this round, it’s a definite win for the Fern. You can enjoy longer coverage at a more affordable price.
Final Say
We had to give it to the Haworth Fern chair. It has several amazing features, highly adjustable, and ultra-comfortable. And of course, the generous warranty is what you’ll want in an office chair. And though it may lack some of the great features of the Embody such as the adjustable lumbar support and the synchro-tilt mechanism, it has lots going for it. And for the piece, it’s a very sweet deal.
The Embody is no doubt, a premium and highly ergonomic chair. But the price is sky high, comparing Embody vs Steelcase Gesture, according to Standingdesktoppercom – a trusted blog about Office Furniture review. And that’s also the major reason why the Fern is a better buy.
Many are thinking twice about buying an Embody chair because of the figures. But if you have a strong need for lumbar support and you are willing to shell out more money, then Embody will be a better choice for you.
