When it comes to essential tools for computer workers, very few things outrank the importance of a good chair. We spend a lot of time talking about monitors and ergonomic keyboards, but when it comes to overall health and comfort, the right seating can make a tremendous difference. If you haven’t done your research you might think that a $50 faux-leather chair from Staples is what you are looking for, but if you are spending 40+ hours a week sitting in front of your computer then it is well worth it to invest in a high performance model.
Awhile back we had a chance to check out the Knoll Life Chair and now we are going to follow that up with this look at the Haworth Zody. The Zody is a performance task chair, along the lines of the Life or Herman Miller’s Aeron. It has some important differences from these other, better known, chairs, but it is designed to be competitive with the best from more recognizable companies.
A casual glance at the Zody makes it clear that this is a serious task chair with a full assortment of adjustment settings. It can look quite cool if you go with a custom spec or it could easily fit in any office atmosphere, as is befitting our model’s aesthetics. As far as overall visual appeal goes the Zody can scale anywhere from quite impressive, with the mirror-polished parts and custom fabric to better-than-average, with plain black materials and gray hardware.
As far as comfort goes, the Zody is highly customizable. This is thanks to adjusts in the arms (height, side-to-side angle, forward/backward and left/right positioning), seatpan (front and back), seat height, lumbar, and recline tension. It is also possible to set the recline starting point at a more aggressive posture or a more relaxed one, as well as stopping any reclining (from either point). The lumbar support warrants extra attention as this is one of the chair’s key points and it is a standard feature. The lumbar support is a series of concentric plastic ribs that are just firm enough to help out your lower back. Its tension is adjustable (by moving them forward or backward) and their height is customizable. This feature works well, though it is different from the lumbar pads offered by most of the competition. It is a well thought out piece, but it does take some getting used to, especially if you are moving from a chair with little or no lumbar support features.
Aa far as build quality goes, the Zody is very good. In this respect it is comparable to other chairs in its price range, which is to say that it’s not perfect–there is a wiggle here and there and a few parts of plastic that could be metal–but for the most part it is top notch. The Zody is absolutely squeak-free from day one, which earns it high marks and it stood up to continuous 10+ hour days with no problems. The arm pads are too easy to adjust so they are always being accidentally moved out of position (side-to-side and their angle, not height) but they don’t wiggle, which is one of my bigger complaints with the Knoll Life Chair. The seatpan has some play on its adjustable rails, but that is the only noticeable problem in this respect. The fabrics are quite sturdy and nicely textured, so the biggest flaw here was the lack of the incredible colors that we have seen on some test models.
One side point that is worth mentioning is that Haworth is all about sustainability. The Zody is Cradle to Cradle Gold certified and is made of up to 50% recycled materials. It is even put together with energy purchased with Green-e certified wind energy certificates. This might mean absolutely nothing to you at all, but it’s nice to know that someone is looking out for the environment. It is definitely important for businesses who are buying dozens of these chairs and placing them in green offices.
After a few weeks in the Zody it is clear that this is a well designed task chair. All the cool features combine to make for a product that is stable, comfortable, and offers very good support. The asymmetrical lumbar support takes some time to get used to but once it’s dialed in most people will really like it. The arms are highly adjustable, but are too easy to knock out of position so the Zody only breaks even here. The same happens with the casters which are nearly frictionless and cause the chair to roll around a lot if placed on a hard surface–a softer rubber would have probably prevented this. The seat pad is on the thick side, and while it does not breath as well as some of the competition, it is comfortable and will keep your fidgeting to a minimum.
Overall, Haworth did a great job. I’ve weathered a number of 10+ hour days in the Zody and while I don’t always feel like my setup is perfectly tweaked, the chair has done its job nicely. The lumbar support is present without being overwhelming and the urge to lean forward is not as strong as it was with some other chairs. The extra recline (about 120 degrees or so) is great for the occasional stretch, but at the same time I have found that I almost always keep the chair in the more aggressive posture setting.
As for aesthetics our test model is a bit boring, but that is the case with most task chairs, unless you opt for custom fabrics and chromed parts. Given the chair’s $699 price tag it is in the ballpark of something competitive from Steelcase, Knoll, or Herman Miller though the chance that you will find a sale on one of those (or a slightly used model from a failed business) is much higher. As with any chair, a major part of choosing the right one comes down to preference, but the Zody is well designed and built right so it is definitely worth considering.
Thinnest, smallest, fastest. The modern gadget market continues the Olympic ideals of Citius, Altius, Fortius (look it up).
