Boulies EP460 Mid-priced Ergonomic Office Chair

Looking for all the world like a tribute act to the iconic Aeron chair, the equally sober-looking Boulies EP460 similarly features swathes of ventilation-enhancing, mesh fabric; the only foam present is in the bolster, underneath the front lip of the seat base.

Build and material quality tick all the right boxes for a chair at this price, with a lightweight, cast-aluminium wheelbase underpinning a tough, reinforced plastic frame. From an ergonomic point of view, the headline features are that separate mesh-covered neck pillow and the lumbar support. The former swivels and can be moved vertically to one of seven notches, while the latter can be adjusted to one of three levels by grasping and rotating the lever that protrudes either side of it. Move the backrest to the highest point and it drops down like a stone.

The detachable armrests offer a thin but adequate amount of cushioning, as well as a decent range of adjustability. Unusually, there’s also a footrest – mounted on a couple of chromed rails – that can be slid in and out for when you want to recline in the chair, say when you’re reading. The swivelling lumbar support is a godsend for anybody who finds more conventional chairs lacking in lower back support.

The mesh fabric does a great job in keeping you cool, allowing air to freely circulate. Even after several hours sat in the chair – with regular breaks, of course – I didn’t feel remotely sweaty. The only caveats I’d apply are that heavier than average users do ‘sink’ more deeply into the chair, inevitably given the mesh-backed design; over time, that could lead to some deformation. And I found the neck cushion slid up and down of its own volition a bit too readily, particularly when taller users were in the seat.

But those minor failings have to be seen in context; the aforementioned Aeron chair costs four times as much. In my book, that makes the Boulies EP460 the go-to option for budget-conscious back-pain sufferers.