The IKEA Jarvfjallet can definitely be an upgrade in many of the markets where customers are commonly shopping. I also appreciate the fact that the company stands behind their product with a 10-year warranty. However, there are still some problems with the chair that we will explore in more detail.
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?
IKEA Jarvfjallet Links
1. Assembly
My experience assembling the chair was the same as with any IKEA product I have put together: frustrating. The holes didn’t always line up perfectly. The tools didn’t always operate correctly. I think the entire process would be easy if they switched the order of instructions and didn’t have you wait to attach the arms until the very end. However, this type of assembly is kind of what you can expect with IKEA and the trade-off you get for affordably priced products.
To keep the price low, some sacrifices had to be made. The all-plastic arms aren’t great, and the mesh is clearly of a lower quality than other mid-grade and higher-end chairs. However, with the help of a metal base and an almost all metal frame, the chair still feels solid. I was also impressed that the chair includes real leather, which is hard to find at this price and with the adjustments that come with the chair. In fact, this chair could be an upgrade to the highly popular Markus, which I have long considered to be one of the best options under $300.
Once I managed to get the chair together, the first thing I noticed is how uniform the color is throughout the chair. Every piece is exactly the same color and gave me “dipped in color” vibes, which is reminiscent of some Herman Miller chairs. When I went to order the chair, they were out of black, so I ended up with a white chair, which I think looks even better.
2. Comfort
When I first sat in the chair, I was a bit surprised because the seat let out a loud squeak. I am not sure if this happens with every product, or if it is particular to our chair. It seems like air builds up in the seat cushion and is released when you sit down. Although, I did find that the sound would also happen after I had been sitting for a while and shifted my weight. Ultimately, this is something that I would find pretty annoying if I was using the chair for an extended amount of time.
Outside of the squeaking issue, I did like the seat. It is fairly large and doesn’t have an excessive contour or hard edges. From a comfort standpoint, it is a little on the firmer side, but it kept me comfortable during the time I used it.
One feature I really liked was the seat slider function. It is something that is missing on the Markus and really ensures that the chair fits you properly. The tilt on the chair is smooth and I like that it comes with several locking positions. It is important to note that the chair doesn’t include a tension adjustment. Personally, the tension is a bit looser than I would prefer and it would be nice to have the option to tighten it. When it comes to the seat back, it is stiffer than I like and doesn’t offer great flexibility.
3. More Features
I do really like the chair lumbar support. The adjustable support is a big upgrade over the Markus, which can feel like it is poking you in the back. The pad is large and soft and provides the right amount of support without being a nuisance.
The high and narrow backrest is an advantage to this chair. It provides great support all the way through the back, shoulders, neck. The skinny back also provides more freedom of movement that you won’t find with other chairs. The headrest is large and soft and felt very comfortable while I was using it.
It was satisfying to see that this chair moved away from the fixed armrest that comes with the Markus. Instead, you get height and depth adjustments. The one big miss with the arms is that they don’t have any padding. They are constructed out of hard plastic, and I have never been a fan of this design.
4. Casters
An additional feature that I absolutely hate is the casters. They are tiny, which makes them look disproportionate to the rest of the chair. They are also safety casters. This means that they won’t roll unless there is enough weight in the chair to release them. Basically, you have to sit in the chair to be able to move it. I thought this was super inconvenient and I don’t see a need for these types of casters. I would rather be able to move my chair around than have it locked in place.
Although I hate these casters, they aren’t enough to discourage me from recommending the Jarvfjallet. You might not mind the casters and they can always be replaced with better ones. Overall, at $299, I think the chair is a good value. While I do need to spend some more time in the chair before making my final verdict, it would have made my “best chairs under $300” list if we had gotten it in time for the rankings.
