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D.E. Hull
November 22, 2025
Comfortable, versatile, sturdy, very kind to your back and body -- and worth every penny!
For the past 5 years, I've worked from home on a desktop computer. I used a high-end office chair at first but suffered back pain and leg numbness even though the chair was supposedly "ergonomic."After doing a lot of online research (and watching way too many YouTube videos), I decided to "go for the gusto" and buy the Varier Variable Kneeling Chair. I liked that it's a time-tested design, that it allows more side-to-side movement than the imitators that feature more bracing, and that the seat and leg pads, while thinner than on the imitators, were reported to be more comfortable.I've had it just over a year and it's been a tremendous improvement! It took a day or two to get used to but, after that, it's been very comfortable and the back pain and leg numbness have disappeared. I've had to tighten the leg pads once but, other than that, no adjustments have been necessary and the chair looks brand new. I just ordered a second one to use at the mixing desk in my music studio.Basically, the Varier Variable Kneeling Chair is everything the good reviews report: comfortable, versatile, sturdy, and very kind to your back and body. Is it costly? Yes, but your body's comfort and health are worth it. Very, very highly recommended!
✔ Verified Purchase
Expensive, but next-level quality and comfort
Expensive, but I've tried the top "knock off" brand sold on Amazon, and there's no comparison.This is a high quality chair, it's a 20+ layer laminate that's very strong yet flexible, which is intentional. The cushions are an order of magnitude better than the cheap chairs, half the thickness yet double the comfort. Plus you get a 3-year full warranty and 10-year limited warranty.Yes, the chair is expensive, but after breaking the other brand's chair after 6 months of use, I realize I should have just spent extra and went with the original design. If you have lower back stiffness and/or pain when sitting in office chairs, this will help.
✔ Verified Purchase
Superior Quality Product to other kneeling chairs
A direct comparison to:https://www.amazon.com/Luxton-Home-Ergonomic-Posture-Padding/dp/B089K5ZVVR/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=G0MO0PLC229H&keywords=kneeling+chair&qid=1665684855&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1Ljg0IiwicXNhIjoiNS42NSIsInFzcCI6IjUuMTMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=kneeling+chair%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExTVlOSU1CVUhKVVdKJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDI2MzcwNkc2OVgxQzhNWk9VJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyNzk4MjlUU0oxVFRVQjVZOFYmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVlExpensive chair (this chair - $350ish)Cheap chair ($140ish)I bought this and the $140 kneeling chair at the same time and made a direct comparison. Here are my findings.Wood:The expensive chair has thicker wood. The cheaper chair's wood is the same width, but about 2/3 the height thickness, suggesting it would support less weight or wear out more quickly.Padding:Expensive chair has thinner, but denser padding. Cheap chair has almost excessively thick padding that quickly flattens out as soon as you sit on it. My main concern is that the padding on the cheap chair will go completely flat after a year or so. Only time will tell.Fabric:Material on both chairs seems to be reasonable quality and not likely to rip or pop seams any time soon, but the fabric on the more expensive chair is rougher and a bit abrasive on bare skin after sitting for a while.Support bars:The expensive chair has a single support bar in the back but is surprisingly sturdy. I thought the knee supports would be very wobbly but are actually sturdier than the cheap chair with the additional cross bars. I am very disappointed in the placement of the cross bars on the cheap chair because I sometimes pinch my toes under them as I rock. It seems like a no-brainer to avoid them, but when you are sitting in it all day working from home, it happens more often than you'd think. Additionally, the cross bars create more contact points with the floor which could cause problems on hard wood.Assembly:I encountered the same issue on either chair which is easily resolved. Don't tighten all the screws before you put the main seat on. Leave some wobble so you can set it on the pegs and guide the screws in more easily, otherwise it will be difficult. I had no other assembly issues. Most complaints about assembly are probably written by mechanically incompetent people. You really don't even need instructions to put these chairs together.Rocking Motion:The more expensive chair seems to have a wider and smoother rocking range. The cheaper chair tends to lean you forward a bit more keeping your center of gravity forward with more pressure on the knee supports. I hate to say it, but this single factor is what wins for me on the cheap chair since it is better for my back. The only way for people to really know what will be best for them is to try them.Other features:The angle of the seat and knee supports on the more expensive chair feel about perfect, whereas the cheaper chair's seat feels angled forward a bit too much putting extra pressure on your tailbone area. I suppose the angle adjustment would feel different from person to person though.The more expensive chair comes with adhesive felt strips to put under it for use on wood floors, where the cheap chair comes with nothing. While using the cheap chair, I rolled over a small pebble (something hard) which pressed and lodged itself into the chair's wood. Every time I rocked on it until I discovered and removed the pebble, I scratched and damaged my wood floor.On either chair you should tighten the screws periodically as they tend to come loose with use, but the cheap chair's screws seemed to come loose more quickly with the same use.The more expensive chair has a place to add an optional backrest (for $150 more), but the cheap chair does not.Neither chair has height adjustability, but either are adequate height for use at a normal height work desk. Some of the non-rocking chairs I have had are too tall when using wheels.Overall impressions:The expensive chair is superior in material quality and overall function in every way to the cheaper chair. The only question is, is that quality worth the additional $200+?
✔ Verified Purchase
Low back pain gone
I have been using a high end office chair. I was continuing to have low back pain and muscle spasms, especially when standing up after sitting for an hour. My chiropractor told me to get a standing desk. I decided to try this kneeling chair. I have been using it daily for a week. My low back pain and the muscle spasm is gone. I have no back muscle tightness. And I have been surprised at the comfort of the chair.I adapted to the leg position quickly.What I did notice at the beginning was some muscle tightness and fatigue in my mid back, between my shoulder blades. I think this has been simply from a new position. That has significantly decreased over the week.I find the cushions/padding comfortable. Easy to sit and kneel on for hours.Easy assembly. It is sturdy. I'm 6 feet 2 inches and weigh 192 lbs.It is very lite to pick up and move.Sometimes I do rock on it. I like that feature.The height is perfect for me. Fits easy with my desk.I'm happy I bought it.
✔ Verified Purchase
