Have a little but persistent twitch in your back from sitting in that old office chair for hours on end in the office or at home? Research has found that back pain accounts for nearly 265 million lost work days in one year in the United States. An office chair is more than just a place to sit—it provides all of the foundational support you need to get through your entire day. While there are lots of office chairs to choose from, an ergonomic chair, or one that’s designed for efficiency, support, and comfort in the workplace, is important—especially if you’re sitting for long periods of time. We tested out the Office Star Pro-Line II ProGrid High Back Managers Chair to see if it could hold up to long office hours. Read on for our verdict.
Setup Process: A little frustrating
Putting the chair together was a one-person job that only took about 30 minutes, but it was a little frustrating. Although there was a large diagram, the instructions were all written without accompanying pictures for each step, so we had to read through some of the steps a few times to figure out which parts went where. After putting the chair together, we also noticed some stains were left behind from the grease the manufacturer uses to oil up the mechanisms. Luckily, we weren’t wearing our favorite pants or a white top, so we weren’t too upset, but keep that in mind when you tackle the chair’s setup.
Design: Basic, but functional
If you close your eyes and picture your standard office chair, the image you conjure up will probably look just like Office Star ProGrid High Back Managers Chair. With an all-black body and black cushion, there’s nothing that stands out about it. While that might be a point against the chair for some people, if you’re looking for something that blends in, the ProGrid will do just that. The back is made from a breathable mesh that offers comfort, while also providing back and lumbar support to help you maintain good posture while you work. Speaking of backs, the chair is available in two options: high back (which we chose) and mid back. The Office Star ProGrid is also GREENGUARD certified, which means that it emits low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are indoor air pollutants that can cause health problems. This isn’t even something we knew we needed when choosing an office chair, but now that we know, it’s definitely an added bonus that gives the ProGrid a leg up over its competition.
Comfort: Your back will thank you
When we first sat in the chair after putting it together, it didn’t blow us away, but after adjusting the back and seat tilt, it felt like the chair was made for us. The seat, which has plenty of cushion, also has a sliding adjustment that you can use to move it to exactly the right spot. While the chair felt comfortable right away, the major payoff came later. After a few days of use, we noticed that some minor back pain and tension we had been experiencing significantly improved. Before switching our chair, we didn’t connect the back pain to our previous office chair, but this improvement also greatly improved our quality of life. That alone is worth the price.
Adjustability: Make it your own
As far as adjustability goes, the ProGrid is pretty advanced. It has pressurized control levels underneath the seat that allow you to fine-tune the seat height, seat depth, and seat tilt. You can also adjust both the height and the width of the armrests to find your perfect fit, which can help relieve any shoulder strain. You can easily adjust the height of the armrests by pressing a button that sits right underneath each armrest while adjusting the width is a little more complicated. Each armrest is held in place by a knob that you can loosen to slide the armrests in and out until you find your perfect fit. The knobs are located where the armrests connect to chair, under the seat, so it’s not While we were impressed with all of the chair’s features, we weren’t impressed with the fact that there weren’t any instructions for what each lever was for or how to use it. We even extensively searched the internet and the manufacturer doesn’t even offer a user manual, so we were left to figure it out on our own.
Price: More than fair
Office Star Pro-Line II ProGrid High Back Managers Chair vs. TOPSKY Mesh Computer Office Chair Ergonomic Design Chair
The Office Star ProGrid High Back Managers Chair combines support and comfort at just the right price. Plus, thanks to its classic design, it’ll have no trouble blending in well with any office scheme.
