Herman Miller’s Embody chair delivers objectively better back support than other chairs. Embody office chairs sell for $1830-$2305 — depending on the frame and upholstery. Gaming editions sell for a flat $1695 ($135-$610 cheaper). Both have the same ergonomic features. Gaming editions have extra cooling tech in the seat. They also come in four light and dark-framed styles. These factors make the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair a much better option. This review lays out its advantages over the office editions.
After a few years of great results using Secretlab Titan chairs, I started shopping around for an upgrade. However, most elite $1000+ ergonomic chairs served up a similar lumbar-supported concept. On the back support front, only the Embody truly stood out.
Instead of supporting the lower back, it supports the upper spine via a Backfit system. Tuck your hips deep into the seat, plant your feet, and sit super-straight. Then, toggle the Backfit clockwise until it cups your upper back curve.
Versus other elite chairs, the effect is spectacular. Once your upper back is cupped, the Backfit holds your entire spine up against gravity. That makes sitting in near-perfect postures effortless over long periods.
Luckily for gamers, Herman Miller wants market penetration. Thus, Embody x Logitech G versions serve up cheaper prices, cooler seats, and four light and dark styles to choose from.
Embody Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Embody Classic Office Editions are also available from Herman Miller for $1830-$2305.
Embody Gaming Chair Review
The original Embody Gaming Chair came with a graphite base, black fabric, and stunning cyan color accents. It’s a spacious chair with a flat, wide seat and massive armrest width adjustable range.
Herman Miller marketers tend to hype up the spacious aspect to gamers. Indeed, compared to the Aeron, it offers a much more flexible sitting style that encourages movement.
Big-picture, the pretty looks and funky armrests are nice luxury extras. However, what truly justifies the Embody’s high price is its back support.
This chair provides mid-back support designed to keep the head balanced atop the shoulders through all ranges of motion. Unlike other chairs, it does so by prioritizing support to the thoracic — not lumbar — part of the spine.
Backfit Support For the Upper Spine
To combat text neck syndrome, the Steelcase Gesture’s mobile armrests adjust 11.5″ above the seat. Even though the Embody’s armrests are lower, it supports better mobile neck postures! The secret is its Backfit (upper back) support system.
The Embody’s Pixelated backrest is designed to stick to your spine like glue. But getting it right is tricky. While most ergonomic chairs provide lumbar support, the Embody prioritizes thoracic support.
As a result, there’s no adjustable lumbar support. Instead, a molded backrest curve is supposed to do the job.
Embody Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Embody Classic Office Edition is also available from Herman Miller for $1795.
Highlight Functionality
The Embody classic and Gaming editions share the same functionality. For instance, both have a sliding seat depth feature.
Taller users should extend it to its max 18″ depth. Shorter users can reduce the depth to a tiny 15″. Other highlights:
The Embody gaming editions add an extra foam player to support longer sitting sessions. It also contains copper-fused cooling technology that helps maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature.
With a proper Backfit adjustment, this unit sticks to the spine. Then, the user enjoys consistent support through all possible ranges of motion.
The point is to keep the thighs horizontal while the user shifts back into a recline. That keeps the pelvis stabilized, with consistent support in the thoracic region(1).
However, the height (4-8.75″ above the seat) and width (11.5-21″) adjustment ranges are solid. While not perfect for mobile computing, they support all desktop working needs just fine.
Summary of Embody specifications
- Synchro-tilt: seat pan angle 3° to 15°; backrest 94° to 120°
- Pixelated back support: ultra-adaptive mid-back support with pixelated ‘ribs’.
- BackFit angle adjustment: lets you angle the backrest to fit the curvature of your spine.
- Seat adjustments: adjust the seat’s height and depth.
- Armrests: 2D-adjustable
- Backrest: adjust recline tension; 3-position tilt-lock; synchro-tilt
The Embody chair is one-size-fits-all, designed to fit Herman Miller designed to fit 95% of adults. It offers ample adjustment ranges in seat height, arm width, and seat depth.
- Seat: 21.25″ (W) x 15″-18″ (D)
- Backrest: 14″ (W) x 23.5″ (H)
- Armrests: 11.5-21″ width range; 4-8.75″ height range.
- Seat height: 16-20.5″
- Seat depth: 15-18″
- Size Rating: 5’4″ to 6’2″; 300-pound weight capacity
Embody Chair Styles
The Embody x Logitech G Gaming Edition comes in four styles. The original model has a graphite frame with stunning blue accents. A second graphite version adds white color accents and an all-black backrest.
Herman Miller just added two white editions: Amethyst (purple) and Galaxy (green). Each comes upholstered in a premium Sync fabric. This 3-layer knit stretches without creases. That ensures clean, curve-hugging lines.
All four gaming editions cost a flat $1695. In contrast, Embody office editions come in four different frame variants; the white models are the most expensive.
If you’re after a white-framed style, buying a gaming edition will save you several hundred over an office variant.
Embody Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Embody Classic Office Editions are also available from Herman Miller for $1830-$2305.
Embody Chair Pros and Cons
There are solid reasons for and against buying this chair.
Cons: Flawed Lumbar; Tricky Usability
Summary of key Embody downsides:
Non-Adjustable Lumbar Is Too Low
Once locked in place, the Backfit will hold your upper spine in place. That makes sitting upright very easy. But the backrest isn’t height-adjustable. To fit your lower back, you can only adjust its angles.
For my 5’9″ (177 cm) size, the lumbar curve is too low to be usable. Luckily, it’s possible to angle it away from the spine if needed.
However, that leaves the upper Backfit curve providing all of the support. It admittedly does a great job. But when paying a $1695 premium, having an ill-fitting lumbar might sour the experience for some people.
Getting the Settings Right Is Complex
Getting the best out of this chair demands proper usage. You first need to set the right seat height. Then you need to nail the correct seat depth. After that, you’ve got to tuck your hips deep into the seat while sitting with a straight back and open chest.
After all of those steps, you also have to configure the Backfit support system. Failure to get this right could produce very poor results.
First, turn the knob clockwise. That will angle the top of the backrest to your spine. Once it cups your upper spine, lean your full body weight back. Then, turn the knob counter-clockwise.
That will angle the lower part of the backrest to meet your lumbar curve. See this Team Logitech clip for a demo:
Pros: Best Back Support In The Industry
In 2023, most elite ergonomic chairs all utilize similar lumbar-supported styles. These work well enough. However, many cheaper models priced under $350 provide similar support.
Among the elite chairs, the Embody is the only one that justifies its high price with better back support than others. Instead of supporting the lower spine, it prioritizes support to the upper (thoracic) portion.
To deploy, tuck your hips deep into the seat, plant your feet, and sit straight. Then, adjust the Backfit system until it cups your upper back curve. That will hold your spine up against gravity, making near-perfect postures feel effortless.
Versus classic Embody office chairs, Embody gaming versions also have advantages. First, they have more advanced seats with cooling technology. Second, they’re significantly cheaper.
Review: Embody Vs Other Elite Chairs
Embody Gaming Chairs: $1695 from Herman Miller | Office Versions: $1830 to $2305Embody gaming chair alternatives
Our gaming chair vs ergonomic office chair article clarifies the differences between the two styles. In brief, both support good posture. However, full-back versions add the option to kick back and relax.
Based on my own tests, two chairs stand out as viable Embody alternatives. The Herman Miller Aeron provides foolproof back support and next-level mesh. Meanwhile, Secretlab’s Titan Evo 2022 provides comparable posture support for the back and neck — for around a third of the price.
Herman Miller Aeron
Like the Embody, the Aeron provides mid-back support designed to balance the head above the shoulders. To help enforce that, its mesh seat comes lined with a hard-bladed plastic edge. These force users to sit with planted feet at all times.
In my experience, the mesh is the star feature. Its ultra-adaptivity keeps you feeling balanced with perfect tautness, even as you shift positions.
In tandem with the other support features, this delivers a superb sitting experience. The mesh looks, feels, and performs at a super-high-end level. Every time you sit down, it will make you feel inspired.
Downsides include the bladed seat edges and a tiny recline range of 93-104°. The bladed edges prevent you from putting your feet up. The limited recline forces you to stay upright at all times.
Both limitations can be annoying if you have flexible gaming chair expectations. On the flipside, the support features and mesh combo is dazzling enough to keep most happy — despite the limitations.
Over an 8-hour office shift, that works fine. When sitting all day at home, the limited range can feel stifling!
Aeron Features
- Sync-tilt: seat pan angle from -1° to 16°; backrest 93° to 104°
- Upholstery: Pellicle 8Z mesh provides eight tension zones.
- Adjustable lumbar: choose a height or depth-adjustable unit.
- Seat: adjust the height; tilt up or down; sync-tilt with the backrest.
- Armrests: 3D adjustable.
- Warranty: 12 years.
Aeron Remastered from Herman Miller $275-$2340
Learn more: Aeron Remastered Office Chair Review
Secretlab Titan 2022 Series
I’ve been using a Titan Evo 2022 chair for the past 1.5 years. Several months ago, three esports doctors helped me master good back and neck posture while sitting in one.
The trick with the Titan is to set the backrest recline angle to a steep 100°. Then, tuck your hips, plant your feet, and sit straight. The lumbar support will align your lower back curve; the headrest will actively support your neck.
Then, sharp neutral postures in Titan and Embody chairs look nearly identical!
Titan Evo 2022 Features
- Functionality: 4D armrests; multifunction tilt-lock; recline from 85-165°.
- New 2022 Series Features: integrated 4-way adjustable lumbar support; magnetic headrest pillow; pebble seat base with waterfall edge.
- Sizing: small 4’11” to 5’6″; medium 5’7″ to 6’2″; XL 5’11” to 6’9″.
- Warranty: five years.
Titan 2022 from Secretlab $549-$674
Learn more: Titan Evo 2022 Gaming Chair Review
Conclusion
The Herman Miller Embody gaming chair is a high-powered beast for hard-core users. It’s the official chair of top esports teams like Team SoloMid (TSM) and Complexity Gaming. It’s also used by elite streamers like Tfue, Shroud, Ninja, and Titmthetatman.
It has the looks, build quality, and features to appease hedge fund barons, CEOs, and other power using pros. For the average home gamer, it’s the height of ergonomic luxury — for those who can afford it.
Embody Gaming Chair from Herman Miller $1695
The Embody Classic Office Editions are also available from Herman Miller for $1830-$2305.
Footnotes
- ‘Promoting Healthy Movement and Natural Alignment’, Research and Design Behind the Embody Tilt. https://www.hermanmiller.com/research/categories/white-papers/promoting-healthy-movement-and-natural-alignment/, (accessed 10 April. 2022).
