It’s been about three years since we received the Herman Miller Embody. After all that time, I am going to walk you through some of the features of the chair and let you know exactly how it has held up over the past 1000+ days.
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Herman Miller Embody Quick Links
1. Build Quality
To start, the build quality on the Embody is top-notch. It features some of the most advanced technology in office chairs and it is made with high-end components throughout. This chair has gotten a ton of use in our office over the past three years and only the fabric shows any sign of wear. The frame, functions, and even the arm pads are all in pristine condition.
Some people complain that the Embody can be noisy and while I do agree that the plastic can be creaky due to the plastic in the pixelated system, I don’t think it is all that much noisier than other high-end chairs, like the Leap and the Fern.
I thought the Embody was one of the nicest chairs I had seen from the moment we took it out of the box and I feel the same way three years later.
2. Seat
The seat is one area where I did change my mind a little after putting a ton of time into the Embody. I think the design of the chair is great. There isn’t a lot of padding, but the pixelated system does give it a softer feel than I expected out of a chair without a pad. The seat is also big and flexible, which gives you the ability to move around, stretch, and even sit cross-legged.
Secondly, the seat depth adjustment is a bit clunky, especially for a chair that costs almost $2,000. I would much prefer something more like what is found on the Gesture, but the adjustment does get the job done and ensures that the chair will fit you correctly.
I began to notice after an extended use, was pressure on my tailbone area. This is why I put this chair in rotation rather than using it full-time and why I was able to give it after extensive use.
3. Arms
Furthermore, I really like the chair arms, which tend to get a lot of criticism and make me feel like I really have to go to bat for them. I think that a lot of the hate directed toward the arms is unwarranted. The biggest complaint is that they are clunky and not adjustable enough. I do agree that the arms are clunkier than a lot of other options in this class, but I do think this can be minimized if you know how to adjust them properly.
The arms are big, but this is on purpose and prevents the arms from moving around once they are in position. If you pull up on them a little before moving them in and out, they are much easier and this takes away much of the clunky feel.
The pads do lack adjustability. Honestly, I wish the pads came with depth adjustment so that I could move them back, but I can easily make them work because the height and width ranges are massive. I also like that the pads are massive and comfortable. They have a little bit of give to them and a nice, flat design.
4. Recline
The recline on the Embody is top of its class and still functions the same as it did three years ago. This is one of the main reasons why people choose Herman Miller chairs. The recline is literally the one thing that keeps me coming back to the Embody and why I always try to use the Aeron in our conference room. I love the recline on these chairs. It has a very nice motion and it is easy to use the entire range.
You can sit straight up or you can effortlessly lean all the way back. It is so smooth and easy to use that there is nothing else quite like it. This is the best recline you will find in an office setting because it provides deep motion for relaxing along with an upright position for tasking or gaming.
5. Back
For most people, the back on the Embody is the thing that makes or breaks the chair. Personally, there are things that I both love and hate about the backrest. Love the narrow design along with the pixelated system that gives you arguably the biggest range out of any office chair. You can really move your arms, bend, and stretch because you aren’t restricted by a hard chair frame. This is accentuated by super flexible materials and it is pretty incredible how much you can move around in the chair.
However, I am not a fan of the lumbar adjustment. The back has a pronounced natural curve backed with hard plastic. The lumbar is a bit more than I would like, but it is still tolerable. However, after using the chair for an extended period of time, the combination of the hard plastic, lack of adjustability, and the pronounced lumbar do start to make my back sore.
The curve on the back also tends to make me uncomfortable. The chair has a large inward curve at the top, which can push your shoulders forward. This makes me feel like my chest muscles are being contracted.
Bottom Line on the Embody Chair
Overall, these were big factors that made me open to trying new chairs. The Leap and Fern are now chairs I appreciate. Hopefully, my experience with the Embody can help you decide whether it is the right chair for you.
Additional Office Chair Resources
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This doesn’t tell us your actual opinion—what did you change your mind from, and what is your opinion now? Is it a good chair you would recommend??