Gamers demand strong postural support for long sitting sessions. Workaholics prioritize ergonomics and adjustability for personalized comfort. Many Shioo chairs – and I cannot stress this enough – have earned respectable marks in these areas. However, the Sihoo M18 differs on account of its price. It is a budget chair with the comfort of a top-tier chair!
Yes, some aspects of the chair may feel slightly jittery due to its plasticky frame, but despite that, the M18 is an ergonomic office chair with breathable mesh throughout. With adjustable armrests, a headrest, and unmatched lumbar support for its price, it is Sihoo’s way of rewarding your hard work with affordable comfort.
Ergonomics First
The Sihoo M18 arrives disassembled, which, like most chairs, can seem daunting to put together. Surprisingly, assembly was straightforward, thanks to clear instructions. A single person was able to put it together in about thirty minutes, rolling smoothly on its castors soon after. When it was ready, it just seemed perfect to contour the body of the sitter. We tested it with users of different body shapes and heights, and the chair adapted well, allowing each person to sit comfortably and adjust the lumbar support to their posture.
From this experience, we can say that the M18 strikes a fine balance between comfort, ergonomics, and style, all at a reasonable $160 price, which is its biggest delight. (The chair is currently selling at a discount, the actual retail price is $299.99). Of course, choosing a chair is a highly personal decision, so generalizing the statement could read unfavorable, but the M18’s design prioritizes support and adjustability to accommodate individual needs, regardless of usage frequency or duration. So, the surprisingly comfortable M18 may be the right fit for you if you are looking for a broad seat, high backrest, breathable comfort, adjustable armrest, headrest, lumbar support, and a comforting reclining angle from your chair.
Breathable Mesh is Next
The chair starts with a W-shaped soft cushion. The cozy seat with mesh upper is uniformly aligned with the similar breathable mesh backrest, which we found to be just ideal during long sitting. The well-structured mesh promotes airflow along the length of the back, preventing the usual discomfort of a sweaty lower back. Frankly, the chair is for now used in temperatures below 25 degrees centigrade (for an average of 6 hours a day). While results may vary with higher temperatures and different body heat levels, the overall build quality suggests that any variation in comfort should be minimal.
Lovable Lumbar Support and Adjustability
The Sihoo M18 is built with dual adjustable lumbar support so that the lower back is not only free of sweat but in continuous comfort as well. The lumbar support – with an adjusting knob at the back – can be toggled in four ways: forward, backward, up or down. Most of the time, we were able to achieve ideal support for our spinal curvature. While the support is customizable to individual preferences, the tension knob is somewhat stiff and requires effort to fine-tune the perfect fit.
If you’re looking for a chair for personal use, the M18 is a solid choice. However, if it’s going to be shared among colleagues, friends, or family, frequent readjustments to the lumbar support may become a hassle. If that’s not a dealbreaker, you can sit back and relax by reclining the chair to approximately 126 degrees. The backrest is soft and does not snap back abruptly to its upright position.
Beyond spinal support, the M18 also offers adjustability in its armrests and headrest. The height-adjustable armrests are operated via buttons on their side – simply press, then raise or lower as needed. However, the armrests only move vertically and lack swivel or horizontal adjustments. Once you find your ideal back support and armrest height, you can further tweak the headrest, which moves up to 4 inches vertically and tilts forward or downward to support the neck.
Verdict
In our testing, the Sihoo M18 proved to be a great option for those who demand ergonomic comfort and back support over aesthetics within an affordable budget. It’s comfortable for extended sitting sessions, though adjusting the headrest, armrests, or lumbar support can feel a bit stiff and clunky. That said, for its price, the M18 offers a compelling mix of comfort and features that make it well worth considering. Buy: $160 ($300).
Follow Homecrux on Google News!
