Haworth is likely one of the main gamers on the earth of luxurious seating. It has just lately partnered with Xbox and its Halo franchise to ship compelling high-end choices to players. I’ve spent a great period of time with its Haworth Fern, trimmed in a novel gradient coloration, to see if it is value your funding. Spoiler alert, it is improbable.
Haworth Fern – Design and Features
Ergonomic chairs generally tend to mix collectively, however the Haworth Fern is at no danger of being confused with anything. It has a novel wave-like design and open lumbar channel revealing its fronds, lending it a really distinctive and trendy look. You can choose it up in mesh, leather-based, or knit material, with costs starting from $1,100 to simply beneath $1,900.
It’s a luxurious chair by way of and thru, however by way of a partnership with Microsoft, it has locked players squarely in its sights. It affords each Xbox and Halo themed variations of its flagship Fern chair, in addition to an Xbox model of its Very gaming chair. These themed variations lock down your decisions, however I’ve but to see one that does not look good. None are overstated, however are additionally clear matches for his or her supply materials. You need not fear about shedding options should you go for certainly one of these, nonetheless. They are the identical in options and luxury because the customized variations you possibly can craft your self.
If you determine to configure your personal, there’s an enormous array of customization choices. There are 4 materials to select from: mesh, digital knit, gradient knit, and leather-based. You can choose from six completely different colours of mesh and eight for the digital knit, a gentle material that textures the backrest with tasteful chevrons. Digital Knit takes the identical material however exchanges the chevron sample for a gradient that extends from the highest of the backrest to the waterfall fringe of the seat, and there are 5 to select from. Finally, there’s leather-based, which is out there in black, grey, tan, and “baggage” which is available in a camel-like desert brown.
There’s fairly an array of further configuration choices too. You can outfit the chair with a headrest and an extra lumbar assist, select between 4D armrests or restrict them to peak solely, add ahead tilt to accompany the default backward tilt, and determine whether or not you need a plastic or aluminum base, in addition to the end you prefer to. All instructed, it’s one of the crucial configurable chairs I’ve reviewed. There’s a handful of quick-ship choices however most are acknowledged to ship in round 5 enterprise days. Tan and baggage leather-based choices are made to order and take about three weeks.
No matter which materials you select, each Fern comes with a material, cushioned seat and affords the identical fundamental array of ergonomic changes. Whether you’re selecting an entry-level model or are choosing a top-of-the-line govt chair, it’s designed to be snug and supportive for lengthy hours at a desk, and is made to look each bit the luxurious that it’s.
It all begins with the backrest. The Fern makes use of what Haworth calls the Wave Suspension System. This encapsulates all the backrest, which is definitely a number of elements that come collectively right into a cohesive complete. The core of the system sits between the plastic rear body and the entrance face. Behind the material, supporting your again, is a versatile “cradle.” This is a skeletonized grid sculpted to match the contours of your backbone and supply structural assist. It mates with the “fern” from which the chair takes its title. This piece fairly actually appears to be like like a fern with a “stem” within the heart that’s surrounded by versatile “fronds.” The stem is a central channel for the elective adjustable lumbar assist. The fronds are assist leaves that work with the cradle to keep up focused assist as you sit and transfer all through the day.
The Fern is taken into account a “high-back” chair, so the backrest reaches to the higher again. At 5’8”, it comes as much as my shoulders. You can choose up an elective headset that mounts to the highest and might transfer up and down however isn’t angle- or depth-adjustable. It actually does appear to be a wave and the contours information you towards the middle, aligning with the chair’s lumbar assist.
Around the again, the “stem” space is open, supplying you with a peek on the chair’s internals. If you choose up the added lumbar, its polished aluminum deal with lives right here, so it’s a purposeful characteristic as a lot as it’s an aesthetic one. I like to recommend getting it in case your funds can stretch that far. The chair’s pure contouring is sweet however the lumbar offers agency, focused assist and is likely one of the largest methods you possibly can assure that it offers precisely what your distinctive anatomy requires.
The seat is effectively padded with fashioned foam. Its contours information you towards its heart, aligning with the chair’s lumbar assist. It’s not exceptionally thick however is padded sufficient to cover the body and stay snug with out worry of it turning into too gentle over time. On the best aspect, you may discover a lever to regulate its peak, in addition to a crank to boost or decrease the recline stress. Another paddle controls the lean lock, permitting you to regulate the recline from being locked upright to a deep recline. It’s not a full lay such as you’ll discover with a gaming chair. However, it is excellent for kicking again with a controller.
The armrests are available in clutch right here. They supply a large diploma of adjustability, way more than your common gaming chair regardless of sharing the identical 4 axis of adjustment. When it involves width, they are often tucked proper in to assist your elbows when holding a controller in your lap or set vast and out of the way in which. The cushions are gentle however resilient. You can lean into all of them day lengthy with out making your self sore. I additionally like that they connect to the body in thick aluminum channels, so should you do select to put your weight into them, you need not fear about damaging the plastic.
The headrest can be adjustable, however it’s fairly easy. It’s pretty skinny and simply strikes up and down. It’s greatest positioned between the neck and head and does a great job of providing assist there, however it lags behind some competing high-end activity chairs, just like the Steelcase Gesture, that can help you angle and depth along with peak. It will get the job performed, however it’s removed from a make or break characteristic.
Haworth Fern – Performance
The Haworth Fern is a superb chair that justifies its excessive asking value. I’ve been testing it for a while and have put it by way of its paces over lengthy work days and gaming classes. In each instances, it has carried out exceptionally effectively and my again has been pain-free all through. I used to be despatched a gradient knit model, and it’s beautiful: simply one of the crucial visually attention-grabbing chairs of its kind. There was a little bit of a wait time because it was made to order, however it’s now accessible with customary delivery. The craftsmanship, high quality, and last aesthetic had been a lot well worth the wait. The Fern lives as much as the hype.
As a rule, chairs like this are pretty easy. They do not take lengthy to wrap your head round, and the controls, whereas crucial to grasp and alter correctly, are easy when you perceive what they do. I nonetheless suggest taking the time to learn up every and check out barely completely different positions and tensions till it feels good in your physique.I used to be a little bit of a Goldilocks with this assessment, particularly when it got here to recline stress, however now that it’s set, I actually solely want to regulate the peak and armrests and am glad I took the time for that preliminary setup.
The controls for the chair are effectively laid out and straightforward to make use of. I like that the seat depth slider is on the alternative aspect from the opposite controls and is about again a bit so you need to be intentional about making that particular adjustment. I used to be much less more likely to unlock the seat accidentally, which is at all times a ache because the adjustment is so core to your consolation within the chair. I additionally favored that I didn’t should stand up to make depth changes. During preliminary setup, it positively made it straightforward to search out the best place and sped up the method.
The supplies and construct high quality are additionally wonderful. The Fern competes with the heaviest hitters on this business and stands tall: it lacks nothing subsequent to the Herman-Miller Embody, for instance, or the Steelcase Leap V2. I might rank it proper alongside these flagship choices with no second’s hesitation. Haworth additionally affords a superb 12-year guarantee on its chairs. So ought to something go improper or develop into broken from regular use, you will have an assurance that your funding is protected.
Over the course of this assessment, I sat within the chair for so long as 7 hours with minor standing breaks in between — with none time misplaced to meeting because it comes pre-assembled. I’ve used it reclined with a controller and sitting upright with a mouse and keyboard. I’ve typed tens of hundreds of phrases, edited pictures and movies, ready spreadsheets and PowerPoint displays, and have usually lived a great chunk of my work life within the chair. And I’ve performed all of that, gotten up, and moved on with my day with out feeling any discomfort. It’s a case the place the chair is a improbable match for my physique.
Just as importantly, it has left me feeling very happy with it as my each day driver. I stroll into my workplace and revel in seeing it at my desk. I respect the small particulars and the prime quality craftsmanship all through its design. And that gradient is only a chef’s kiss with regards to distinctive and fashionable styling, balancing aesthetic with professionalism in a method that’s as at house in knowledgeable workplace as it’s in a gaming den.
The solely criticism I actually have of it, other than its excessive value, is its headrest. It actually does really feel like an afterthought. And due to the way in which wherein it’s hooked up, by way of a slit within the material of the backrest, it’s not one thing you possibly can take away and change. I’m joyful it is there, however I want it supplied extra adjustability and assist.
Taken as a complete, it’s improbable, however there isn’t any method round its excessive value. With that in thoughts, it is value contemplating a chair like this as an funding within the high quality of your work and gaming life. Even although it prices a tidy sum, damaged up over the 12 years of its guarantee, the yearly price appears way more affordable. While it definitely is not for everybody, it is exhausting to argue that it is something lower than distinctive.
