If there’s one thing we can thank 2020 for, only in hindsight of course, it’d be how the year made working from home (WFH) the norm. Fast forward two years later, and we’re seeing how the practice has become an actual viable option in the workforce. With that, there’s now a ‘new norm’ necessity we’re considering more seriously than ever: the need for a more ergonomic home office set-up, the kind that advocates for good posture and less back-breaking typing, which is where the ErgoTune Supreme comes in.
The brand launched V2 of the chair in late 2020 to immense success, propelled by the work-from-home culture and the intuitive customisations that the model offered. This year, they’re introducing a new and improved version — the ErgoTune Supreme V3, which boasts a more adjustable headrest and better lumbar support, while catering to a wider height range.
Here’s a look at the new model, available in Charcoal Black, as well as two fun colours that stand out without taking over the room, Aqua Blue and Coral Red. And while they look very similar to the original ErgoTune design, several key changes make the V3 chair more accessible and even more adjustable than before.
These improvements were made after carefully reviewing customer feedback, and aim to make the seating experience more comfortable. Here are three ways it differs from the previous model:
- Caters to people of various sizes and heights — an enhanced Gas Lift where there will be three options for petite, standard and tall users
- An improved headrest — an adjustable head rest depth allows for a better fit on the neck; the headrest height also caters better to petite users
- More customisable lumbar support — you’re now able to adjust its tension level according to your comfort or activity, up to 3 settings of light, medium or firm
On top of these, we’re also getting the already-lauded adjustable features that ErgoTune is known for. These include the ability to adjust everything from the headrest, backrest, and rotatable armrests, across 11 different points that also includes the seat’s height, depth, and level of recline, which makes for an ergonomic chair that feels very much like it’s tailor-made for the individual.
Read on for our review of the new ErgoTune Supreme V3.
REVIEW
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Like most people would, I opted for the safest colour of the trio: Charcoal Black. The pastel Aqua Blue was a close second for me, but we wanted a chair that didn’t draw attention to itself, and the ErgoTune felt just like that. It wasn’t a designer piece; it was a functional, and functional-looking piece that was sleek but also sturdy — and yes, comes with a 12-year warranty for good measure.
There are some design elements that were pleasing to the eye though, for both my husband and I (we’re sharing the chair, for now). For instance, the seamless matte finish of the aluminium base and casters, and how the slightly see-through mesh material made the look of the chair less bulky than a typical office model.
The first sit-down test was also a thoroughly comfortable experience, though some time was spent adjusting every point of customisation to our exact preferences. I appreciated the lumbar support, in particular, how it seemed moulded to support my back and keep it in an upright position, primed for peak concentration, without causing discomfort — a feature which I did try for long hours. The rolling of the wheels across parquet was also quiet, while the chair and all of its parts felt sturdy and premium.
My husband also commented that the chair’s sturdy material and construction seemed like it can take a beating — not that we were going to subject it to one anyway. The point is, you didn’t have to be gentle around it since even the joints and swivels were of a quality that was built to last, and while adjusting, snapped responsively into place with satisfying, intuitive clicks.
PUTTING IT TO THE TEST
the material — DuraWeave™ hybrid-mesh
ErgoTune’s proprietary material, the DuraWeave™, is a hybrid-mesh upholstery that blends fabric and polyester, offering the breathability of mesh and the comfort of fabric; it’s also made to withstand long hours on the chair. So how does this feel? Surprisingly comfortable. The thing about WFH chairs is that you’d want something that feels good against your skin too, because, um, how many of us might just be wearing PJ shorts instead of work pants? While strong, the upholstery was still flexible, and only slightly prickly against the skin (we’d still recommend clothes).
What we most enjoyed though was the high breathability factor of the fabric. You see, some bulkier fabric or leather chairs come with a high back that blocks off any airflow coming from the back; the ErgoTune design allows for better airflow, and a more cooling experience in our hot and humid climate.
back support — an enhanced Auto-Tuning Lumbar Area Support
I never knew how important lumbar support was until I sat on the ErgoTune. As mentioned, it straightened my back right up without any awkwardness or discomfort, with an adjustable back rest that properly supports the spinal curve.
The brand calls their adjustable technology the ATLAS™, or Auto-Tuning Lumbar Area Support, where the lumbar support is attached right to the backrest. This already means that the chair is better than an average office chair, where one would often have to place a cushion near your lower back to prop it up; cushions often shift, and get deflated or dirty, so the lumbar support here, done in the same DuraWeave material is already superior.
For the Supreme V3, this lumbar support is now customisable. A knob at the back of the chair can be adjusted to three different tension levels, whether you like it light, medium or firm. Our chair was adjusted to the light setting most of the time, which I felt was sufficient for good support, while still allowing a more relaxed mode should I choose to lean back. To be honest, while most appreciated, I felt like we didn’t really make full use of this adjustable feature, so it didn’t feel like a necessary change, say, if you’re thinking about upgrading from a V2. However, lumbar support is, for me and now, absolutely necessary, since I noticed less strain on my lower back compared to a normal chair.
for your head — a more adjustable TriTune™ 3D Headrest
The difference here is that while V2 already had an adjustable headrest height and angled tilt lock of up to 60°, V3 now caters to a wider height range, which directly benefits me, a user who’s on the shorter end of their standard height range of 150 – 180cm. The headrest can now be adjusted to go lower than the top of the backrest, so I won’t have to hold my neck awkwardly while working.
Another new feature is the adjustable head rest depth, said to give a better fit on the neck to provide support to the upper spinal column, while preventing neck and upper body aches. I generally didn’t adjust the depth of the headrest after the first round of adjustments, but did experience how an optimal depth better supports the posture.
more customisations — rotatable armrests, TrueTilt™ reclining and more
More on comfort, the Supreme V3 also comes with TrueTilt™, which allows users to adjust the recline angle of the backrest across 136°; its recline tension can further be fine-tuned across 4 levels, depending on the resistance you’d want when leaning back. As with most ergonomic chairs, the standard resistance is set rather high, since they’re meant to support posture; that said, I still appreciated how they’ve catered to people’s different preferences for this one.
Another feature I’ve been seeing across social media would be the customisable GyroBrace™ 5D armrests, which are freely rotatable up to 270° and height-adjustable. These were fun to play with, and as mentioned, locked into place while adjusting them. They were, admittedly, a little hard to figure out due to the full adjustability, especially if you want them up front, but after some trial and error of swivelling them around, we got it.
We mostly kept the armrests in their standard position along the sides of the chair, though I liked that I could move these to the front, a position that proved most useful when working off my desk and on my phone or iPad, say, when on social media or while editing Instagram reels.
VERDICT
As with its predecessor, the Ergotune Supreme V3 is most successful when it comes to how customisable you want an ergonomic chair to be. ErgoTune has managed to improve on that, with new features that cater to all sorts of heights, body shapes, and preferences, everything from the headrest to lumbar support. These are welcome upgrades that make the chair more versatile and customisable for everyone, and certainly smart choices too since “highly-customisable” seems to be their main selling point.
That’s also the main draw of the ErgoTune Supreme, V2 or V3 — everything from how your feet touches the floor, the seat depth that caters to your height, the amount of support you want for your lower back and neck, to how you’d like to position your arms on a chair, is adjustable. Even if you don’t normally switch up some of the chair’s adjustable functions on a day-to-day basis, that they’re catered to you right from the beginning makes it versatile across situations, work or play, and also makes the long hours on it both comfortable and well-supported.
If you have an existing ErgoTune model, I’d say that the improvements may not be major enough for an upgrade, unless you happen to be shorter or taller than the average user; the new features of an enhanced gas lift and headrest cater most to those at the ends of their standard size spectrum, while the adjustable lumbar tension is preferred but can feel negligible. For those looking to switch up their normal chairs to a more ergonomic design however, the ErgoTune Supreme V3 makes a strong case for its superior lumbar support, built right into the chair, which was a game-changer for me.
Some other underrated plus points are the breathability of the chair’s DuraWeave™ material, especially welcome given our climate, and the sturdy construction of the design. One potential downside, though, might be the limited colour options and design customisations for the chair. Currently, we’re getting three colours, with the colours Aqua Blue and Coral Red limited to the upholstery design. That said, it really depends on your idea of a work desk chair. If it’s something that’s practical and functional, and still stylish sans embellishment, then the ErgoTune is a reliable, ergonomic option.
The ErgoTune Supreme V3, in 3 colours: Aqua Blue, Coral Red, and Charcoal Black. Priced at $599, available at ergotune.com.
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