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Humanscale Freedom

*Est. $850

Reviewed May 2009
Humanscale Freedom

pros
  • Automatically adjusts as the body moves
  • Available in fabric or leather upholstery
cons
  • High price
  • Automatic adjustment doesn't work as well for reclining
  • Armrests aren't independently adjustable
 
 
Where to Buy
 
 
 

Some reviews like the Humanscale Freedom office chair even better than the iconic Herman Miller Aeron (*Est. $950 and up). While they are both ergonomic office chairs, they also have some fundamental differences. The Humanscale Freedom has minimal control knobs and adjusts automatically as the body moves. While one reviewer says it's "like having a second spine," others say the contraption works a lot better for sitting upright than for reclining, and some complain that the armrests aren't comfortable. The Humanscale Freedom is available in leather and various fabrics; regardless, some users complain that the chair doesn't breathe as well as the Herman Miller Aeron. There is a five-year warranty on fabric and cushions and a lifetime warranty on all other parts, compared with the Herman Miller Aeron's 12 years for everything. And unlike the Herman Miller Aeron, there's only one size. If you're torn between the Herman Miller Aeron and the Humanscale Freedom, it's probably best to try each one -- users seem divided on which is more comfortable. If you want to spend significantly less money, the Ergo Mesh Medium Back Task Chair (*Est. $200) gets good recommendations from users.

We found the best review of the Humanscale Freedom in The Wall Street Journal, which tests five office chairs and offers significant detail on each. Reports from Popular Mechanics and Business 2.0 magazines don't indicate an especially large frame of reference. OfficeChairAdvice.com has a great breadth of knowledge on office chairs and offers plenty of insight, but just about every chair gets very high ratings, so it's hard to tell which are really superior.

Where To Buy
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
eBayeBay rated 4.00 (1176 reviews)1176 store reviewsIn Stock. $999.00
Sit BetterSit Better has not yet been reviewed0 store reviewsIn Stock. $315.00
The Human SolutionThe Human Solution rated 4.50 (4 reviews)4 store reviewsIn Stock. $375.00
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal tests five office chairs, including the Humanscale Freedom. The review says the Humanscale Freedom looks good and balances weight evenly, but has uncomfortable armrests. The review notes that testers got grease all over their hands from the casters, too.

Review: Sitting Pretty Smartly, Troy McMullen, Jan. 7, 2005

2. PopularMechanics.com

This article gives recommendations for ergonomic office equipment of all types, including chairs. In this review, Allbritton says that the Humanscale Freedom's automatic adjustment is "like having a second spine."

Review: Ergonomics with Flair, Christopher Allbritton, Jan. 14, 2003

3. CNNMoney.com

Andrew Tilin reviews three high-end office chairs, but doesn't rank them. The Humanscale Freedom is very comfortable if you are sitting upright, he says, but reclining "is an acquired skill."

Review: Our Picks For … Office Chairs, Andrew Tilin, Sept. 14, 2007

4. OfficeChairAdvice.com

The Humanscale Freedom gets a perfect five stars, but there are so many five-star ratings at this site that it's hard to determine which office chairs really stand out. Still, there is a lot of helpful information here.

Review: Executive Chair Reviews, Editors of OfficeChairAdvice.com

5. Amazon.com

We found about a dozen owner reviews of the Humanscale Freedom office chair, and users either loved it or hated it. Those who don't like it say it's uncomfortable, and one said it caused sweating.

Review: Humanscale Freedom Chair Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

Office Chairs Runners Up:

Steelcase Think *Est. $600 and up

3 picks by top review sites.

Humanscale Freedom *Est. $850

2 picks including: Amazon.com, The Wall Street Journal…

Raynor Ergohuman Mesh *Est. $600 to $650

2 picks by top review sites.

Herman Miller Celle *Est. $450 to $650

1 pick by top review sites.

     
 
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