As I write this, I am sitting in the Hinomi X1 ergonomic chair and I have never felt more comfortable working in the office. I bought this chair three weeks ago and have spent many hours testing it. In this review, I will share my experience.
The best investment I made last year was buying a height-adjustable desk. Since then, I’ve spent about 50% of my office hours standing. Having a desk like this has been a game changer for me. I’m a software developer and spend eight hours a day in the office. My photography requires additional office time because I edit photos.
But I can’t stand it all day. The other 50% of the time, I’m sitting in front of my laptop. And a well-built chair that supports your posture can make a big difference.
Hinomi X1 Ergonomic Chair
The X1 is a premium chair with a futuristic look that’s built to last – it comes with a 12-year warranty. It weighs just under 60 pounds when fully assembled. There are no creaks or other noises when you sit on it, and despite its weight and sturdy construction, it feels light against your back. It comes in three different sizes: the small is for users 5’1″ to 5’6″, while the medium is for users 5’6″ to 6’1″, and the large is for users 5’9″ to 6’6″. I’m 6’1″ and chose the medium – it fits perfectly.
Choosing between different sizes ensures you get a chair that is perfectly designed for your body, whereas with one-size-fits-all chairs there is often some compromise. But make sure you get the right size if you buy this chair.
The chair has multiple support points to keep your spine in check, all of which are individually adjustable to fit your body. You have a headrest, an upper backrest, a lumbar support, and armrests on each side. You can also move the chair firmly forward and backward to improve your posture. With all those adjustable parts, you might think it would be difficult to assemble. But it wasn’t. It arrived in four main parts, which I put together in less than 10 minutes using the included tools.
The first time you sit down, you’ll need to spend an extra minute or two finding the perfect setting. You’ll want to adjust the height and angle of the headrest, move the upper and lower backrests up or down to fit your back, and use the 6-D adjustments of the armrests. Finally, you’ll move the chair into place and adjust the seat height. Once you’re done, sitting and working on the Hinomi X1 is incredibly comfortable.
In the photo above, you can also notice that the chair has a retractable footrest, making it a multi-purpose chair. This is a great feature for leisure time. You can put your feet up, lean back, and enjoy a book. But it can get in the way while working if you want to put your feet under the chair. Even when retracted, it still gets in the way of my legs because it extends a little below the chair. So I removed the footrest – for me, it’s a work chair.
What I like
My favorite feature of this chair is the lumbar support. It prevents me from slouching in an unhealthy posture and keeps my back straight without feeling uncomfortable. Since it is made of two parts with a small gap in the middle, the spine can lie perfectly in the middle and the TPU material keeps me cool even on hot days. The same can be said for the seat, upper back and headrest. The mesh material will keep you from sweating. With my old chair, this was always an issue in the summer.
I also have to mention the build quality. Everything about this chair feels premium and the adjustments work really well. I was able to customize it to fit my body perfectly. It’s also easy to remove the parts you don’t need. If you want, you can remove the armrests, footrest, and headrest with just two or three screws, making it a minimalist office chair.
What could be improved
The armrests, while comfortable, often get in the way when working at a desk. They prevent me from getting close to my desk because their lowest position still obstructs the desk surface. I removed them, which was easy. My hands usually rest on the desk when I work. Hinomi’s idea is to place the armrests at roughly the same height as the desk and rest your hands on them. It may work for some people, but it would be nice if Hinomi allowed them to retract further and be tucked away when not needed.
I also think the upper backrest doesn’t need to be that wide. It makes the chair look bulkier than it actually is. But maybe some users will need it.
Lastly, I like the all black chair. The shiny aluminum surface had fingerprints all over it after the first day I used it.
Conclusion
The The Hinomi X1 is a great chair for $699. For the build quality, materials, and features, this is a great value. Think about how much time you spend sitting in an office and the comfort you can get from a proper chair. If I knew what I was missing with my old chair, I would have switched to an ergonomic chair years ago. Just like investing in a height-adjustable desk, buying the Hinomi X1 has been a game-changer for me. You can read more This.
