Anthros boldly promises that their office chair will not only alleviate back pain and enhance posture but also increase productivity – or they’ll refund your money. When the final prototype first arrived in July 2023, I didn’t love it. After over 8 months and some changes to the chair, I’ve had the chance to sit in it again for 30 days and my thoughts this time were different.
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Anthros Office Chair Links
- Anthros Brief History
- Base Options Revealed
- Build Quality Insights
- Adjustment Wonders
- Armrest Comfort
- Backrest Satisfaction
- Seat Comfort Experience
1. Anthros Brief History
Starting in March 2023, I saw a video on Garyvee’s channel featuring an office chair that caught my attention. Garyvee praised the Anthros team and their chair, sparking my interest. I reached out through their website’s partnership link and got a quick response. They knew about BTOD and highlighted the value of our content in their early exploration of the office seating landscape.
In May 2023, during a scheduled call with Anthros, we discussed their goal of competing with industry giants like Herman Miller and Steelcase. I encouraged them to extend their warranty and create a more consumer-friendly return policy.
By July 2023, Anthros visited our office with a functional prototype of the Anthros Chair. However, I wasn’t impressed with the chair, and our team’s feedback faced push back.
About six months later, Anthros would revisit us with an updated chair.
2. Base Options Revealed
After a long first meeting with the owner of Anthros, we were finally able to get a chance to sit in the Anthros chair for the first time. I’ll be honest, Steve had really built up the suspense and I was chomping at the bit to sit in his chair.
The chair he brought had a unique four-star base design, which is uncommon nowadays. He chose this design because traditional five-star bases could get in the way of foot movement when sitting and pushing back from the chair.
Furthermore, it introduced a new problem for me– the chair lacked a basic function: swiveling. The swivel is beneficial for two reasons. One it allows for more movement in the chair, letting you rotate slightly back and forth unconsciously. Secondly, the chair’s non-swivel design made backing up and turning to get out challenging, as pivoting on the casters was harder than expected.
Thankfully, the second chair they brought had a five-star base, which I preferred because it eliminated the locked in feeling. I really liked this base version as it offers a flat space for your feet, which is great for those like me who change posture during the day. This is my preferred option.
3. Build Quality Insights
To compete with industry leaders like Herman Miller or Steelcase, your product must match or exceed their quality. Unlike chairs using generic parts from China, Anthros is entirely custom, from top to bottom. Even the casters might be specially made for this chair.
There was a ton of time that went into designing all of the different components of the chair and things like the base, seat pad and back design were all done to keep you properly supported throughout the day.
Check out the base structure—it seems virtually unbreakable. The armrests, which offer width adjustment under the seat, are impressively sturdy. Once locked down, they stay rock solid and don’t wobble like many other chairs we’ve tested.
The Anthros design might be hit or miss, depending on your preference, but the molds of this chair are top notch throughout and that shines through as you inspect it, even if you’re one to bring out the fine-tooth comb.
4. Adjustment Wonders
Following the build quality are the unique adjustments. While some expected adjustments are missing, they took a different approach to achieve comparable goals. Features like seat height and armrest adjustments, including height, depth, width, and pivot, are present.
The width adjustment, achieved through a locking lever beneath the seat, provides flexibility based on body size. Personally, I prefer a slightly narrower width, possibly influenced more by the pad shape than the adjustment, which will be discussed in the next section.
Seat depth is lacking in this chair, which I’d usually miss. Instead, they shift the backrest using a knee tilt function to achieve similar goals. Depending on your tilt preference, this may or may not suit you. For me, I’m okay with it. The tilt function aligns with the chair’s excellent build quality. Unlike chairs with a tension knob requiring many turns, this chair allows for easy tilting.
The Anthros is different; turn it just one full turn, and you’ve reached the ideal tension. Paired with the knee tilt, I set the tilt tension and rarely use the tilt lock unless I’m upright. I prefer the floating mid-recline but switch positions for various tasks. Note: if you’re under 5′ and light, tilting may be challenging. A fix is in progress but not yet released.
The first prototype resembled the chair I’m reviewing, but the upper backrest lacked movement during the “Russian twist” test, feeling confining. Luckily, the final model has more left-to-right movement, offering freedom during extended sitting. It combats bad posture by preventing shoulder rolling and allowing chest stretching to relieve discomfort over time.
Now, pelvic support, not lumbar support – a bit different and takes a few days to adapt, but it’s genuinely beneficial. Reviews on Anthros’ site show its effectiveness for serious neck and back issues. If this concerns you, Anthros might be the solution, but always consult your doctor if needed.
5. Armrest Comfort
Exploring the armrests on the Anthros chair might be hit or miss for you, depending on the fit and your pad shape preference. The final product pads have a good squish factor, allowing you to lean into them without hard edges. The rounded shape isn’t my favorite as I slip off, and a larger surface area would improve it for me.
One of the coolest things about the team at Anthros is their openness to our suggestions. Despite initial resistance, they are committed to creating an excellent product and are actively working on improvements. Currently, they’ve identified a new US source to create sample pads, aiming to address the pad shape issue for those seeking an overall better fit.
6. Backrest Satisfaction
Anthros prioritized backrest and seat comfort, with significant attention given to the backrest. The seat is equally impressive. Once you adjust the lower and upper backrest to your liking, you’ll notice the difference of the pelvic support. If your back feels tired initially, don’t worry – it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
The backrest is soft, but watch the upholstery choice; fabric is softer but warmer. Vegan leather is cooler, solving heat issues. If you feel cold, you know what to pick. While I love the upper back pad’s movement, I wish the entire backrest had more flexibility. I like moving around, and it can feel a bit restrictive. Ryan suggests adding height adjustment to the upper back for a better fit.
7. Seat Comfort Experience
Finally, the Anthros seat comfort. If you’re seeking one of the most comfortable seats, this could be it. The Anthros seat is intriguing and stands out for its comfort. Most chair complaints originate from the seat pad, especially the sit bone region.
Anthros created something really cool with comfort cutouts in the cushion, reducing pressure from traditional seat pad bottoming out. I’ve never felt like I’m bottoming out or experiencing pressure on my sit bones. They offer proof of minimal pressure and improved weight distribution across the seat.
While the back ⅔ of the seat is extremely comfortable, the front edge shape is a different story. They extended it to accommodate a wide body size without seat depth adjustment. Seated upright is fine, but in a mid-tilted position, pressure builds and becomes uncomfortable.
Again, much like other aspects of the Anthros chair, they were willing to adapt and change. Ashley from Anthros shared a clip of Steve, the owner, building multiple samples to create a waterfall front experience, reducing pressure. Early pressure mapping results with the new design show a significant improvement in the right leg area.
Bottom Line
While there are a couple of areas for improvement on the Anthros chair, it’s a great option for those with severe back issues, as shared in Anthros reviews. Though not cheap, you can use the code BTOD at checkout for a $200 discount if you decide to purchase one.
