I have always been interested in high-end chairs, but recently I have shifted my thinking to focus more on chairs that provide the best value. This has brought me to the Branch brand of chairs. The Daily has a nice modern look and the Task offers good functionality. In fact, the most expensive model, the ergonomic chair, is actually my least favorite. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of these chairs and why they provide value.
Full Disclaimer: We are an office furniture dealer and sell some of the heavy duty office chairs 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?
Branch Office Chair Links
1. Branch Daily Chair
To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised when the Daily arrived. It retails for $249 and prioritizes form over functionality. It comes with a basic center-tilt recline function, seat height adjustment, an upright tilt lock, and height-adjustable arms. This is a very basic adjustment package, but for the price, you won’t find a better-looking chair. It features a chrome base, white frame, and various upholstery color options that give the chair a more upscale look than you would expect based on the price.
I also found the Daily to be quite comfortable. The seat is well padded and soft and the mesh seat back is supportive. One downside is that the arms are hard plastic. Another thing to consider is that the chair won’t fit tall people. According to Branch, it can fit people between 5’ and 5’11”, but I didn’t find that range to be totally accurate. People under 5’4” are going to want a footrest. I’m 5’9” and the chair fits me just right. The Daily is a good option for anyone looking for an attractive chair that will only be used for a few hours at a time.
2. Branch Task Chair
The Task chair retails for $279 and shifts the focus to function. It is only available in all black, so you don’t get that same sense of style as the Daily. However, I think it is totally worth the extra $30 and it is the best office chair for under $300. It comes with a synchro-tilt mechanism, which is a considerable upgrade. You will also enjoy four different locking positions and height-adjustable lumbar support. With the Daily, you really can’t notice any lumbar support, but it is a great feature with the Task.
One area that is lacking is the armrest adjustments. You can only adjust the height. However, these armrests are much more comfortable and provide some nice padding that is soft to the touch. I also appreciate the added height on the seat back. This provides support all the way through my back and makes the chair a viable option for taller people.
I also wasn’t too impressed with the seat height. The product specs claim that the seat height can fit people up to 6’3”, but at 5′ 9”, I already had the seat at the maximum height.
3. Branch Ergonomic Chair
This is the most expensive model at $349 and while it is Branch’s most popular model, it is actually my least favorite. The chair combines the modern look of the Daily and the functionality of Task, but I think they missed the mark in a few areas, which makes me lean more towards the other chairs.
Theoretically, the arms should be an upgrade over the Task, but they are placed too far forward,
which makes them awkward to use. They do come with height and depth adjustment, but the arm caps are actually harder than on the Task.
I also found that the seat back was less comfortable than both the Daily and the Task. The mesh doesn’t offer any elasticity, which makes it easy to really sink in and feel the hard edges of the frame. The additional adjustments, including seat and seat depth, combined with the chrome base and upholstery color options are great, but the chair simply isn’t as comfortable as its cheaper counterparts.
Bottom Line on Branch Office Chairs
Personally, I would recommend going with one of the cheaper chairs. If appearance is your main priority, invest in the Daily. If you want more functionality, upgrade to the Task.
Additional Branch Chair Resources
