| FIRST IMPRESSIONS |
The arms of the chair are adjustable and modern, and they might be the most attractive design feature on the Reply Chair. They have total range of movement, meaning they can be adjusted in and out, side to side, up and back and up and down.
In terms of style and looks, the Reply comes off well in comparison to the average office chair. It's not flashy but it comes in a wide range of colors that you can choose for yourself, and it doesn’t waste material or take up a lot of space. It’s a nice looking chair worthy of display in any office or cubicle. |
| THE 'X' FACTOR |
| The pure mesh back might work much better for other folks who sit in it - for this reviewer it was nothing special. |
| SECOND OPINION |
| As impressed as I was by the adjustable armrests, I must admit I spent more time playing with them than seriously using them to improve productivity and comfort. |
| THE BOTTOM LINE |
| This is an above average chair in every sense, but not exceptional in any. It's low-priced, comes from a good design company that takes care of its customers, and it's easy to personalize and make your own. If you're looking for the greatest office chair money can buy this isn’t it, but if you’re looking for a very solid chair, you’ve come to the right place. |
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PRODUCT RATINGS
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| COMFORT / ERGONOMICS: 6 of 10 |
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The seat of the Reply Chair is pretty standard. It’s not especially soft or giving, but it gets the job done. Upholstered in one of several colors and lightly padded it happens to get it done with fewer materials and at a lower cost than a lot of other chairs. The seat can be adjusted in and out, giving you a deeper “shelf” if you need it. The recline feature is effective. The pure mesh back is pulled tight and can lead to some discomfort over a long day sitting in front of the computer.
The armrests are fully adjustable and comfortable, a big plus for the chair. There is no waterfall edge on the seat, which means if you sit for a long time you’re probably going to start losing a bit of circulation or getting numb after a while. |
| DESIGN: 6 of 10 |
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| This is a slight little chair meant for offices and workers on a budget, and under those constraints Steelcase has produced something they can be proud of. The back of the chair, which is entirely mesh (there is a version with a more sturdy back) has some elegant curves at the top and bottom that give it a modern look. The recline feature is clever but dependent on manual adjustment. The armrests are incredibly adjustable, which is very welcome but makes the low-end adjust-ability of the backrest a little odd. |
| STYLE: 7 of 10 |
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| It's a budget chair, but that doesn't mean you get budget style. The range of colors makes the Reply Chair personal, and the understated lines make it attractive and contemporary. The modern Steelcase house style is definitely in evidence with this chair. |
| QUALITY / CRAFTSMANSHIP / PEDIGREE: 8 of 10 |
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| Steelcase enjoys an excellent reputation within the American modern design industry, and their products speak for themselves. While this is one of their budget friendly (read: not flagship) products, it still comes with the quality guarantees of Steelcase. |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: 6 of 10 |
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| Steelcase has a great reputation for creating, packaging and shipping their products using environmentally responsible materials and practices. When you buy a chair as light on materials as the Reply Chair is, you’re making a good, sustainable choice. |
| PERFORMANCE: 6 of 10 |
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| This chair is about as basic as it gets, so aside from the super-adjustable armrests there isn’t much thrown in for the sake of performance. |
