(Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Comparable to the assembly process, the design of the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro follows a fairly standard ergonomic chair design. This iteration of the chair follows that of its predecessor, the EroChair 2, in design and construction. The chair frame is composed primarily of dense plastic. This, along with a German-engineered mesh material that wraps the back, seat and headrest, helps reduce the overall weight immensely. As such, the overall chair weight comes in at a mere 48.50 pounds(22.00 kg).
As someone who shuffles a lot of chairs, often moving them between floors without an elevator, I appreciate this design feature of the ErgoChair Pro. Likewise, it also glides quite nicely along both hard floors and carpets, with the double-walled wheels rolling effortlessly across multiple surfaces. The combination of the chair's lighter weight and smooth wheel roll is ideal for spaces where people move from desks regularly, such as a call support centre or shift work-oriented office spaces.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Once assembled, the chair measures 29 inches (73.66cm) wide by 29 inches (73.66cm) deep, and is 46 – 50 inches (116.84 – 127cm) tall. I appreciate the slightly narrow overall profile, as it does work well in smaller spaces. Despite dense plastic being used for much of the framing, the ErgoChair Pro does feel quite sturdy to sit on. I haven't noticed any unintended chair rocking in my testing. Additionally, the chair arms feel sturdy and handle leaning weight quite well. Rated for 300 pounds (136.08kg), the ErgoChair Pro is much more accommodating than its entry-level counterpart.
The seat-to-base ratio is another well-thought-through aspect of the ErgoChair Pro. Like the ErgoChair Core, the seat-to-base ratio is well implemented. As such, it is possible to sit on the very edge of the seat without fear of it tilting forward and resulting in you sitting on the ground, wondering what happened. While this might seem like a small detail, I’ve tested plenty of chairs that don’t consider this feature, and it can actually become a safety issue if not well-designed. Thankful Autonomous has done an excellent job with this aspect of the ErgoChair Pro’s design.
The ErgoChair Pro comes with a host of control handles and buttons to manage its various adjustable points. While the armrest vertical lock release is easily accessible, and the headrest height adjustment leverages an easy-to-use click step system, I find the seat tilt, height and slide levers more difficult to access than those of the ErgoChair Core. While the ErgoChair Core positioned the chair arms for easy access to the levers, the ErgoChair Pro’s arm positioning actually hinders access a bit. This forces the user to reach much further than needed on the other model.
Cleaning the chair is fairly easy as well, thanks to the aforementioned plastic framing and mesh materials. Thus far, wiping any dirt and grime off the chairs has been as simple as a quick swipe with a Lysol wipe. The ErgoChair Pro also handles bumps well, with no notable scratches present despite having to navigate the tight space here at the office. The hard plastic holds up well.
While I like the overall look of the chair, I’m surprised to see that it lacks the Polyurethane(PU) Leather accents of the ErgoChair Core. This was a standout feature on the entry-level model that adds a premium calibre to the chair, and it's missed here. Despite the missing PU Leather accents, the ErgoChair Pro offers a clean and sleek aesthetic with the two-tone Cool Grey color offering a nice departure from standard black.
Like the ErgoChair Core, the Pro version is designed to accommodate people of small to medium build. If you find yourself in the 5-foot-5-inch to 6-foot-5-inch range, the length and width of the backrest work well. The height-adjustable headrest accommodates this wider height range well, a missing element that restricted the Core. The addition of tilt control on the headrest offers further customization here, also.
On the note of tilt control, the ErgoChair Pro offers the same step lock tilt control present in the Core and provides 22° of tilt control. One notable feature of this system, which is only present in the Pro version, is the inclusion of a tension thread that adjusts the tilt resistance. A handle located under the chair allows for increasing and decreasing tilt resistance. It's a welcome feature that allows users to dial in the experience.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The ErgoChair Pro also offers lumbar support with a tension adjustment lever located on the right side of the back of the chair. While it essentially acts as an on/off switch for the lumbar support, though in testing, I’ve not found it to add or subtract that much from the overall support system.
This, as it was with the ErgoChair Core, is a bit of a problem area for the ErgoChair Pro. While I appreciate a good lumbar system in an ergonomic chair, the one present here is extremely limited in its adjustability. This translates to the system being limited in its usability for taller people. It's not uncomfortable by any means; it simply is very restrictive in its effective use cases if you happen to find yourself outside of a specific height.
Shifting to the seat portion of the user experience, as a mesh chair seat design, it's a mixed bag of results. On the one hand, seat depth and height adjustments are present and, like the tilt resistance handle, are located under the right side of the seat. Both work well and offer a good range of adjustment, with the former providing a two-inch depth adjustment and the latter offering three-inch height adjustment.
With this being said, there are two areas of concern. First, despite being comfortable for a few hours of use, mesh chair seats are simply not as comfortable as padded seats over long-term testing. I’ve been using this seat exclusively for the past two weeks and find myself needing to get up and move around more frequently than with padded chairs here in the office. With this being said, the ErgoChair Pro does come in a foam pad seat variant and is the version I would recommend.
It is worth noting that I primarily sit in an office chair, either with my legs stretched out in front of me, with my legs crossed or with one leg tucked under me while I sit. With mesh chair bottoms, as is the case here, there is extra pressure that is applied under the back side of the thigh that, over time, becomes uncomfortable due to the seat frame and lack of padding. As for sitting with one leg tucked under, the same pressure issue is applied now to the side of the ankle and along the calf. It's by no means unbearable, but it’s not as comfortable as it would be on a padded chair.
The other potential concern is that the seat dimensions (referring to sittable surface area) are 19 inches (48.26cm), which will work for small to mid build people. However, if you have a larger body frame, the ErgoChair Pro isn’t going to be a good fit. At 5-foot-9-inches (175.26cm) and 210 pounds (95.25kg), the ErgoChair Pro fits my body type well. However, I’m close to the maximum frame size that would comfortably fit in this chair, in part due to the aforementioned seat dimensions, as well as the chair arm distance, which also measures 19 inches (48.26cm).
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) On the note of armrests, I do appreciate the hard height lock system that is part of the ErgoChair Pro’s design. A single button located on the front underside of the armrest allows for quick and secure adjustments of the armrest height. As for horizontal tilt and slide, while I appreciated the soft step locking on the Core version of the chair, the ErgoChair Pro variant lacks this system and thus has no real lock feature. While both slide and horizontal tilt were fairly stiff when first testing the chair, as time and use have progressed, they have both loosened up. While they will stay in place once set it's easier to accidentally move them than on the ErgoChair Core.
Essentially, your mileage will vary. If you are someone who likes to sit with both feet firmly planted on the floor and is in the above height range, the ErgoChair Pro should work well for everyday office use. Small and medium-framed people should find this to be a fairly comfortable chair. While not as comfortable as a few other chairs here in the office, I’ve used it for the past two weeks for 6-7 hours a day and on weekends without any major issues.
The Autonomous ErgoChair Pro is a solid mid-tier office and gaming chair that offers a reasonable set of features and adjustable elements. While it won’t accommodate everyone, it should work well for a fairly wide range of people. It's well built, feels sturdy to use and is comfortable enough to get you through a work day. The lumber support is a bit lackluster, and the mesh seat has the potential to be a pain point for people who don’t naturally sit with two feet planted on the ground at all times.
Priced at $449.00 (£386.39), the ErgoChair Pro is in line with many other chairs in its price range, offering similar features. This might be the biggest challenge for Autonomous, though. It's good, but it's average, lacking any feature that helps it stand out from other chairs in its range. It's still a solid option for its price point, and if you are looking for a lightweight, adjustable office chair, the ErgoChair Pro fits the bill, though I do recommend picking up the foam bottom version. For those looking for a bit more ergonomic comfort, I suggest checking out the Libernovo Omni .
JeffreyP55 Admin said: The Autonomous ErgoChair Pro is a solid entry in the ErgoChair line, offering good back support and adjustability. However, it lacks any standout features that separate it from the wide range of office chairs available. Autonomous ErgoChair Pro Review: Comfortable, but that's it : Read more $500.00? LoL! Reply
ThatMouse Looks exactly like my $150 chair. Cons: mesh seat could be more comfortable. That's pretty much all mesh seats. I have to use two cushions on mine. At least it doesn't peel like all the pleather options. Reply
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- https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/gaming-chairs/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
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