Sleekform Austin Kneeling Chair - Ergonomic Desk Stool, Home

I normally opt for the most expensive product in a given category with the assumption that it is made from different materials and ultimately will have better quality. When shopping for this chair, I found a much more expensive brand, nearly three times the [rice of this, that I considered. I could not help but think it was way over-priced for what it was. I decided to step down a bit in price and I am so grateful that I did. The chair was extremely well packaged and each part was labeled, making it easy to assemble. The only complaint I would have is that it was somewhat unclear which direction the cross supports should be facing and the diagram was wrong. That said, it's pretty obvious when you look at the cross pieces that they are longer toward the kneeling end than the seat end. For that to work, the cross members are angled slightly. By looking at them, or holding them upright on a flat surface, you can see that they lean one direction or the other (depending upon which way you have it facing. Obviously, given what I mentioned earlier about the kneeling pad end being further apart than the seat end, the angle should point downward toward the seat to make that happen. In the manual that came with it and in other things I have read or seen online, they suggest starting out in shorter periods of time,m then working up to a full day. They also mention to shift your position from time to time. I had no problem using it the entire day immediately. I do shift my position often, but generally find this to be as comfortable as a seating chair. As as bonus, I have learned that I can use the natural curves of the chair to stretch my Achilles while sitting on it. I have plantar fasciitis, which as a runner is quite painful and hard to get rid of. I have found that I can gently stretch my achiles, one of the main exercises for controlling the pain. Used properly, you can really focus on your core and exercise your abs while working. If you happen to be ADHD, like me, this chair may help you to focus. With regards to quality, I suppose time will tell. The padding is thicker than some of the competitors, but I do not necessarily think that is better. At the end of the day, it will become about how long it lasts and how the material it's made from compresses. All in all, I highly recommend this chair over the more expensive Balens product. The Balens product does offer an interesting option to add a back rest, but I feel like that is unnecessary and contrary to the intention of a kneeling chair as it takes you out of your core when you push your lower back toward the support, which is the natural tendency. You would have to be pretty disciplined to not do that. As long as this product holds up fairly well, I will never know if it's equal in quality to the Balens product. 8/7/19 Update. Still love the chair, but do have one feature request. This is especially true in the summer months, though I wear shorts year round. Be aware that the kneeling can feel somewhat scratchy on your knees after a few hours when wearing shorts, and I assume a skirt. So, I would prefer if the kneeling pads were not this kind of fabric. I would prefer leather, or some material like that I think. Also, it would be good if it wasn't absorbent for those times when you are warm and potentially sweating.

I knew I wanted a kneeling chair, and I spent about a week doing my research into the different brands and models before I landed on this one. My priorities were comfort, affordability, durability, and aesthetic design. There are a slew of terrible reviews here on Amazon about the set-up of this chair, so that had me biting my nails as I hit "add to cart". Fortunately, I had a much easier time than others seem to have had! My package arrived 54 minutes ago, and I just finished putting it together and am sitting on the chair as I type. Here's the breakdown: Set-up: 3/5. I would recommend to Sleekform that they re-write their set-up sheet, as it was often unclear which direction to place objects. (I'm still not sure if the knee pads are supposed to splay in or out, but they're comfortable splaying out for now, so I'm going to leave them.) However, all my assembly items did arrive in the correct number and quality and with the correct holes drilled, which seems to be something others did not experience. It did take me a while to put together the chair, but that's not an insurmountable obstacle for me. Quality: 4/5. Others have commented on the "wobbliness" of the chair; I'll concur with them there. I screwed each screw in securely, but the lack of front bar (near the knees) makes this seem a little unstable if put my weight on one knee pad to get up out of the chair. I do hope it'll be fine in the long run though; it's nice to have a little "give" in the wood. I do wish the wood was available in other stains but birch - I'm going to have to figure out if I can stain it to match the acorn-colored wood of the rest of my office. Similarly, I don't like the black fabric - it's quite scratchy. After watching a few youtube videos about reupholstering chair cushions, I think I'm going to try doing that with a durable velvet that's easier on the knees and thighs. Comfort: 5/5. Yep, I think this chair and I are going to get along fine. I hate sitting - I'm a teacher who spends all day on her feet - and when I have to do so for more than a couple hours at a time my lower back HATES me. Quarantine has necessitated a lot more sitting than my job usually entails, so I'm extremely glad to have this chair. I'm effortlessly sitting with my spine comfortably aligned, and can feel the tension releasing in my lower back and shoulders. It's great. I'm glad I got this chair.

I had been thinking of getting a kneeling chair for some time, and I was a bit overwhelmed in my research. There seemed to be so many available, some rocking like this one, some with backrests, some with wheels. I went with this one because of its rating, the aesthetic, for its thick pads, and its rocking. I’m putting it in my yoga studio so I was looking for something to fit that vibe, it it helps. Chair was relatively simple to put together. Could be useful to have a second set of hands but it’s not essential. Also some people have noted not having all pieces, mine had everything but I did reach out before getting the chair to ensure they would help if needed. They were super responsive and helpful! As for the chair, it is very sturdy and rocks well. I appreciate the thicker pads, the other rocking kneeling chair on the market is so much thinner. I am new to this kneeling chair business, so I am still getting used to the feel but I can tell you right away that I feel the difference in my back the second I sit down. My hips are pushed forward my spine goes into a natural S curve which is so refreshing for my back vs the traditional chair. Oh and removing one or both legs to rock and fidget is awesome. Bought this for my yoga studio and it’s fits great in the little nook, looks great, and gives me the perfect spot to check everyone in! It’s such a fun topic of convo and I can truly feel my spine being put into the correct positioning when I sit down. Love it!

Only had the chair for 3 weeks now, but it's effects were noticeable pretty much immediately. I don’t know that it does anything to improve the condition of your back, but it certainly stops any damage you are doing by sitting too much and in an unhealthy position. A few observations: 1. It's almost impossible to slouch while sitting in this chair. It forces you to be aware of your posture. 2. It took a little practice to get used to the sitting position, but after the first couple of hours, it was easy to get in/out of the chair. 3. It feels good to sit in it. This was noticeable right away. You are instantly aware that you have improved your posture. 4. The biggest adjustment was learning to balance the distribution of my weight between the seat and the knee cushions. There was a little discomfort on my lower legs until I figured this out. 5. Assembly was not difficult especially after watching the video on their website. 6. Overall a well designed, strongly made and comfortable ergonomic chair. UPDATE 6-5-19: I one of the leg support pads was loose and when I tightened it I checked all the other screws and found that more than half of them were loose, and not just a little loose - way loose!! The design of the chair causes the wooden members to flex quite a bit and over time this causes the screws to back out. Good idea to re-tighten all the screws a couple of times a year. Still like the chair.

It came packaged nicely..assembly looked straight forward..piece of cake right? The concept and engineering ideas are great but ...look , the hole drilling fixtures and the labor are the worst. I am a skilled contractor and had the tools to drill and try to align the off angled holes that intercept the pin nuts..some of the holes are so far off the bolts wont reach to thread in. I continued and thought, oh well I can fix that ..then another similar problem arose..I have been a customer of Amazon for many years and spend thousands of dollars a year on products..when good I praise but when it;s is bad like this I return the item..it could be a good chair if only they thought of taking one off the line now and then and tried assembling it...so disappointed that I wasted part of Christmas eve trying to put this chair together for my wife...I dislike negative thought and words but..I value reviews by the folks that buy things and they should know this company has a real problem here with the manufacturing line quality control..i dont know how a company could allow this..

This is a decent chair and I recommend it, it puts you in a more sustainable posture. It is not perfect though. The screw together construction still leaves the structure still pretty flexy. I have used an original Varier Balans chair that is also screwed together I believe, but with better stronger woodworking joints and it does not flex much at all. This is not a huge problem though and this chair has held up fairly well. The knee pad screws tend to loosen up. Keep an eye on all the screws in fact. The other thing is, the padding is quite thick and compresses more than on a Balans, and is not quite as nice. Somehow the Balans has denser pads that really are just about perfect density. However this is still fairly comfortable for extended periods. I would really love a Balans chair but they are just so expensive. This was for my 12 yo son and not sure if he would really like this style chair. He likes it though. So I would recommend it especially to try out a kneeling style chair to see if you like it. The rocker style is far better than the ones on wheels that don't rock. I had one and it just didn't work for me. But if you have a chance to use the Balans and can afford it and it fits you, it is quite amazing.

I have an original Balans chair, but I wanted a cheap one for my office and didn't want to pay for an original. This one is SO CLOSE, but misses the mark. It is actually sturdier than the original Balans - this is due to the additional cross bracing between the rockers, which I like. I gives you something to put your feet on, and makes the chair much more sturdy. HOWEVER, the amount of padding on this chair is EXCESSIVE, and is not comfortable for low desks like the original BALANS is. Perhaps this chair is for higher desks, or smaller people, but I find that due to the added padding and different seat location relative to the knee pads, more of my bodyweight was distributed to my knees, which made me feel like I was constantly slipping forward. The original BALANS chair has almost no padding and is still very comfortable. I am considering removing most of the foam from the seat and seeing where that gets me. In conclusion, this may be just due to the very low desk I have to use. YMMV. I will update this review if anything changes.

I've had this kneeling chair for quite some time now. I decided to wait until I had actually used the chair (for some time), before leaving a review. This is my first kneeling chair and prior to getting this chair, I had lower back pain EVERY SINGLE DAY. I could barely sit in my office chair for longer than an hour or so, before I would start getting pain down the one (back) side of my lower back, into my leg (sciatic). When I first got the chair, it did take a week or two to get used to it, but I have had zero knee pain or other ailments directly related to using the chair. The only "adjustment" my body suffered, was that it was more tired the first couple of days -- because you are using more muscles than you are accustomed to (always a good thing!) I did not "east into" the chair... I went full-boat from the first day, since I was having so many issues with my other chair. I have not had back pain AT ALL (due to sitting) since getting this chair! I use it every day and would be super upset if I broke it and had to wait for a replacement! I'd love to have a travel one, to bring with me when I go places... because I seriously cannot survive a work day without it. It was much easier to put together than I anticipated (considering the other reviews) and it is sturdy, comfortable and I love the rocking. I HAVE fallen off of it once or twice (lol), when leaning back too far, to grab something off the floor. My fault totally... but be aware! Now I always hold onto the desk... ;) I seriously don't know how I made it through my work days before getting this chair. Even when I DO have lower back pain (generated from improper form during exercise), I feel confident that using the chair helps to alleviate the issue faster than it would resolve on it's own. I'd still like to get a "leaning standing chair", just to mix things up a bit... but have been completely content only using the kneeling chair for the last 6 or so months. I highly recommend this product if you suffer lower back pain from sitting or just want to align your spine more properly doing the work day.

TLDR: Amazing quality chair, super comfortable/functional/looks great! Incredible company, so helpful/friendly/informative/accommodating/passionate (plus it's a women-led! Support a girl boss!). Out of all the ergonomic chair options I can't recommend this one enough!!! I could go on forever about all the things I love about this chair & my experience buying it! I knew I wanted a more ergonomic chair and did a LOT of research before deciding this was the best option so save yourself the time & take my word for it. The things that set it apart for me were: 1. Price - it's a perfect middle ground, anything cheaper & you'll sacrifice quality, anything more expensive & you're probably getting something way overpriced. 2. Quality - if you compare it's specs to others like it, it is just built better. Thicker cushions & a sturdier frame that I know will last. Incredibly comfortable. 3. Looks - not the most important factor of course but I would definitely prefer my furniture to look nice! The chair looks great! I love the high quality fabric & wood, plus it can easily be tucked away under my desk when not in use giving me some extra space. 4. Company - I really care where I buy from. I want to support companies that I admire & this is a cool, transparent company that obviously really cares about their customers & the quality of their products. Other things I like about the chair & the company: -I have a desk with a top drawer which is a problem for my regular desk chair, I can't tuck in when I work because the arms of the chair hit the drawer. With this chair though, I can sit as close to my desk as I want with plenty of room for my legs! -I fidget a lot when I sit & love that there is a bunch of ways to sit comfortably in this. Plus you can rock in it & being able to move a bit while I'm working is sooooo great. -The company is female owned & operated which is something I love to support! -I also exchanged quite a few emails with their customer support & they always responded so quickly. They were so so friendly & helpful with all of my questions, even before I bought anything! Throughout the entire process the amount of passion & care they pour into this company & their products was evident. -Assembly was fast & easy! They send you a complete assembly guide plus you can find the guides on their website along with video walk-throughs. My only drawback: Realistically this is a problem with my set up & not the chair, but if you work mainly off a laptop it is something to consider. I usually work on a laptop & now that I'm not completely slouching over the screen is a little low. I would recommend either setting your laptop up on something (a laptop stand or even just a box) or using a monitor that is at a proper eye level. I'm sure almost no one will make it this far but all I have to say is I love this chair & everyone should get one!!!

Normal desk chairs cause my hips to ache really bad, so this has been a great alternative and they don't hurt nearly as much. However, the cushioning on the knees doesn't last long. I've had this chair since Christmas 2019 and i use it 5 days a week for 6-8hrs a day, so only 9 months now. The cushioning on the knees has flattened and i only weigh 145lbs. I've noticed lately that my knees have been hurting and going numb, and i have to switch positions. I couldn't understand why until i noticed the foam is quite compressed. Wish they used a more long lasting dense foam....especially for the price. Going to have to use pillows now.

Definitely taking some getting used to on my back for longer periods of time but I do find it very comfortable and adaptable to moving my legs around to different angles or positions as needed. The rocking is the best feature right up there with the thickness of the cushions. I find the rocking alleviates back strain for me incredibly well. I'm also a little fidgety by nature and the rocking manages that great. I took my time shopping around before deciding to buy this sleekform model and some of the reviewers complaints about assembly worried me and delayed my choice but I'm glad I took the chance. I did not have any major issues with assembly. One of the leg holes had a bit of excess and loose wood chip that I had to break free with a screwdriver but it took little effort and if you've put together enough pre-fab furniture you know this is not that big a deal. Maybe I got lucky? Took less than 30 min to assemble. No hesitation recommending this brand and model.

I've tried 3 other kneeling chairs, and this rocking one is the best by far. Keep in mind you'll sit a bit higher than the average chair. The metal Sleekform Amsterdam seems better suited for taller people. https://www.amazon.ca/Sleekform-Kneeling-Relieving-Comfortable-Circulation/dp/B0731N3NTR/ Not sure why other reviewers had trouble assembling this, but it's no more difficult than your average Ikea piece. The screws do tend to loosen, so maybe I'll try thread lock as others have suggested.

Love it! Just what I was looking for for Work from Home. The Sleekform Austin is all-day comfortable, looks great and great value overall. Keep up the good work. PS - Please ship to Canada soon!