I am very particular about my lumbar support, and I was curious if an additional lumbar pillow would help me feel more comfortable in my office chair. So, I bought five highly rated lumbar pads on Amazon and tried them out.
Full Disclaimer: We are an office furniture dealer and sell some of the products we review. To learn more about the products we sell, our review process and why you can trust us, please visit: Why we’re different. Who is BTOD.com and The Breakroom Blog?
Top Rated Lumbar Support Pad Links
1. Kingphenix
The Kingphenix was the first pad I tried and the only perforated mesh product on this list. Reading the description gave me a little laugh. It reads, “As the upgrade of product, we add a vertical strap in the middle. The picture on Amazon was not updated in time. Please understand that this extra middle vertical strap can be cut off if you need to reduce the curve. If you need to increase the curve, it doesn’t need to be cut off.”
The design includes two adjustable straps on the side and a permanent strap in the middle. The adjustable straps increase the curve, but you are limited in how flat you can make the pad unless you cut the middle strap off. Judging from the quality of the product, I am guessing that the middle strap was added to prevent the outer straps from breaking. One bonus is that you get two supports in the pack, so you have a backup if the straps do end up snapping.
From a comfort standpoint, this product has a lot of potential. I found it to be comfortable and it conforms to the chair more naturally than most pillows. The open mesh doesn’t get nearly as warm as other padded supports, which is important to me because I tend to run hot and I can get too warm in some chairs.
The mesh also has a little bit of give to it and the frame has some flexibility. The one major problem is that it doesn’t stay in position when you recline. It always slides down and sometimes it will slide down the entire length of the backrest. There is nothing to hold it in place. I think a second strap would be helpful, which is a feature that you will see on most other lumbar supports.
2. Everlasting Comfort
This is the most popular product we will be looking at. It has around 35,000 reviews on Amazon and a strong rating. The pillow is also backed by a solid Fakespot score. This is a much different product than the Kingphenix. This is a cushioned product with a two-strap system, which makes it a lot more stable than the Kingphenix. It holds its position better, but I am not a fan of this product for a few reasons.
First, is the foam quality. It advertises heat-responsive memory foam, but it doesn’t feel like memory foam to me. It bounces back more like cut or molded foam does. If it is actually memory foam, it is some of the lowest quality I have come across. I also have to question the “heat-responsive” aspect that is mentioned in the description. To me, the foam heated up pretty quickly. After about 30 minutes, my lower back was feeling warm.
The last thing I didn’t like about the chair was how far forward it pushed me in my seat. You’ll want to make sure that your chair has seat depth adjustment so that you will have enough room for your legs. It also makes the rest of the backrest useless because you have to awkwardly bend your back to even make contact with the backrest.
3. Qutool
The Qutool is the largest pad on our list. It is more of a full back pad than just a lumbar pad. I think it is also one of the better-quality products. The foam is better than the Everlasting Comfort pillow and it includes some little bumps that help to give it that massage feel.
Overall, I think the Qutool is pretty comfortable. I appreciate the full-back design because it feels more natural than just having the lumbar support. The two-strap system and grippy material on the back help it to hold its position. It is definitely the most solid option on the list. It never slid around or got out of place while I was using it.
However, there are some downsides to this product. If the Everlasting Comfort is a level 5 on our heat meter, the Qutool is a 9 or a 10. It has so much memory foam that does not breathe at all. I can’t use the product because I started overheating after about an hour and a half.
Another disadvantage is that it changes the entire dimensions of your chair, and your back is pushed forward quite a bit. Chairs without a seat slider placed arms will be a problem with this product.
4. Toothpad from Cushion Lab
This pad is actually shaped just like a tooth and is the most expensive on our list. It retails for about $66, which is double the price of most of the other products. The padding is the densest memory foam I have ever seen. I used it for a long time and I never felt like I was sinking into the pad and it never started to contour to my body. It is simply too firm to be that type of product.
The shape of the pad is also interesting because you really only feel the pad on the vertical back muscles that run along your spine. It also doesn’t have a noticeable curve to help with your lumbar area. Because the foam doesn’t give at all, you really get pushed forward in your chair, which prevents you from comfortably using the top of your backrest and you will definitely need a seat slider.
While the foam is good quality and the one-strap system is stable, I don’t think this product is practical for an office chair, especially considering the price. I think this would work better on something like a dining room chair where there is no padding at all.
5. Samsonite
This is one of the lowest-priced options at only $19.99, and I think it is a better version of the Everlasting Comfort pad. It is a popular product on Amazon with over 10,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating, but Fakespot does give it a “C,” so I am not sure that all of those reviews are legitimate.
The shape is identical to the Everlasting Comfort pad, but the foam is of better quality, and it conforms to you much better. I think the pad itself is comfortable, but it doesn’t take away from the overall back of the chair. From the midpoint of your back and up, you won’t even be using the backrest. It is also terrible when it comes to reclining, but if you sit upright most of the time, this can be a nice little lumbar pad option, especially for only $20.
The Samsonite has some of the same problems as the other pads on the list. It is definitely not as warm as the full back model but is warmer than the mesh option. In addition, it does push you forward in the seat, so a seat slider and adjustable arm pads are a must. The single strap system isn’t very stable, which means that the pad just flops around. This is one area where the Everlasting Comfort does have the edge, but I do prefer the Samsonite overall.
Bottom Line
Lastly, by utilizing a lumbar pillow for your office chair, it may help you get through your day more comfortably. For more product review and tips and tricks for perfecting your office setup, keep up with BTOD.
