As I’ve gotten older, I have found that I am actively looking for products that are designed for efficiency and comfort. I’ve changed my mouse, keyboard, and brought in additional accessories to make my working environment feel more comfortable.
So when I was allowed to try out the Boulies EP460, I simply jumped at the chance.
Assembly
Similar to the Boulies Master Max, I was able to put together the chair quite quickly – getting everything unpacked and built within an hour, with a second pair of hands, mainly due to the large size of the box and the weight of the chair and its parts.
While the instructions are clear enough with provided imagery to help guide me, I had confused the armrests of the chairs during the build (which I also did while building the Boulies Master Max), and had to disassemble them both at the very end when my mistake was realised. I feel like the instruction manual or the parts could benefit from being labelled to avoid confusion for future use, even a sticker to say what the left and right sides are could be helpful!
Some plastic coverings were already broken when I unpacked everything, which must’ve happened during transit (same situation as the Boulies Master Max). But this didn’t change the functionality of the chair or the comfort, and was just a cosmetic piece to cover up exposed screws.
Design
The Boulies EP460 comes in one design, being a hybrid mesh grey. The neutral colour means it’s able to blend into office spaces (professional or personal) quite well.
The mesh also makes for more breathable fabric, which is especially helpful coming up to the warmer weather, and can also benefit people who may run quite hot. Although the mesh isn’t the softest and feels quite stiff, so it’s not the most comfortable for long periods. But it does encourage me to get up and move every so often.
Functionality
I can appreciate all the different features the chair has to ensure that it is ergonomic; including the adjustable height of the chair (3 different levels depending on your height), adjustable armrests (moving up and down as well as on different angles), the convertible neck support and seat depth, and of course the ability to tailor the lumbar to the curve of your back. All features of the chair make it really easy to suit the way that you like to sit and how you would work best.
But the best feature of the chair is the added leg rest that you can pull out from under the seat. You do have to be mindful that a lot of space is needed to recline with the leg rest out fully, but once fully reclined, it’s quite comfortable.
Although it is a little bit awkward to get in and out of, as you need to pull and flip the leg rest from under you if you want to use it, or fully get off the chair and pull out the leg rest. And at times, I felt like if I leaned too much of my weight into the leg rest, I’d break it. So while it is a useful feature, it can be a bit of a drawback depending on how you would use it.
Comfortability
I’ve been using the chair consistently over the last 2 weeks as I’ve been able to work from home and utilise the chair in my office space, and while it can be comfortable at first, after a while, it can feel a little rigid.
The Boulies EP460 is recommended for people with a height range of 165cm to 190cm, so some aspects don’t completely fit my stature (I’m 157.5cm). The neck rest sits a little too tall for me, even if I were to adjust it to its lowest setting, and I do have to keep the seat to the lowest height to be able to have my feet reach the ground. However, the seat itself is spacious enough to sit cross-legged or have one leg up, which is a definite plus for people like me who struggle to maintain a single position for extended periods.
But I did find that I would feel a little bit uncomfortable after sitting in the chair for a few hours, more than likely because this is just a mesh fabric chair rather than a cushioned chair.
Verdict & Value
All in all, for the price, I think that it’s a pretty good ergonomic chair. The few shortcomings it does have can be overlooked because of the really great ergonomic features that it includes for its price.
THREE AND A HALF (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Budget-friendly office chair, with great ergonomic features.
Lowlights: The leg rest is a great addition, but it is a little bit awkward to get into and out of, and in turn feels a little bit flimsy. Not amazing for shorter people, and can get a little uncomfortable due to the stiff fabric, which I can only assume will be more pliable over time.
Manufacturer: Boulies
Price: A$539
Available: Now on the Boulies website HERE.
Review based on unit provided by Boulies.
Featured header image provided by Boulies.
