Christopher Coke Updated: Mar 20, 2023 8:08 PM Posted: Mar 20, 2023 8:00 PM Category: Hardware Reviews 0
Herman MIller is legendary in the furniture business, and it partnered with Logitech G to offer its very first dedicated gaming chair: the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody . Based on the classic Embody, a chair that has stood the test of time since 2009, it’s been enhanced with additional foam and styles to match the needs of gamers’ setups. At $1,695, it’s an investment, but blends the best in intricate ergonomic support with stylish looks, top-tier construction, and a class-leading 12 year warranty. It’s expensive, but one of the few purchases in this space that you can say is an investment that’s both proven to last and be worthwhile.
The Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody is the Lamborghini of gaming chairs. Take one look at it, with its almost sci-fi-like backrest, and you can tell right away that it’s something special, completely unlike anything else on the market today. Except, that is, the original Embody, which debuted in 2009.
The Embody Gaming Chair first debuted in 2020 but the Embody itself has been around for ages. It’s one of Herman Miller’s most popular chairs, and it’s easy to see why. The chair was developed by Bill Stumpf, in collaboration with over twenty physicians and PhDs that specialize in vision, physical therapy, and biomechanics. The final product is not just unique, it’s the hands-down most supportive chair I’ve ever sat in.
The Embody Gaming Chair is a mid-back chair, which means it stops just below your shoulders, and uses a pixelated support system. The backrest is lined with small I-shaped arms that provide dozens of points of support (don’t worry, you can’t feel them individually). This matrix, as Herman MIller calls it, shifts with every tiny movement you make so that support remains consistent no matter how you might move. It evenly distributes your weight across its entire surface.
The chair also offers adjustable thoracic (mid-back) support (called BackFit Adjustment) rather than a movable lumbar like we’ve seen on other chairs. Instead, lumbar uses a set curve to support your spine at its base, the sacrum, to prevent slouching and fatigue. Using a knob on the right, this thoracic section of the backrest can be shifted in and out, pulling your head into balance above your shoulders. By keeping your head balanced, you’re able to prevent back and neck pain, and even, according to some users, the need for a headrest.
Viewed from the front, the chair has a wide seat base, trimmed in breathable Sync fabric. The seat is 29.5 inches wide and accommodates everything from an upright posture to fully crossing your legs. The backrest drops any of the racing chair pretense taking over the rest of the market and instead uses a simple, rectangular design that tucks in toward the middle.
Like any good ergonomic chair, the Embody is replete with adjustments to tailor it to your specific needs. It can recline into a deep rock when fully unlocked but a level on the back left allows you to limit its movement to a handful of angles, finishing at being locked upright. The seat is depth adjustable, but unlike other chairs I’ve seen with this feature, the whole seat doesn’t slide in or out. Instead, a pair of handles at its front can unfold an extra three inches of space. The backrest uses a locked height, a knob on the right shifts the thoracic in and out to bring your neck and head into alignment. It’s also height adjustable using a unique lever that’s built into the rock tensioner.
I’ve never seen anything quite like the armrest. The arms are built into a contoured track. The higher they go, the closer they are. But that track is also width adjustable, so you can pop them in or out to fit your needs. The range of height adjustment is also exceptionally long, so they can be moved completely down and out of the way or even higher than desk level. Paired with the soft cushions on top, and they’re easily some of the best armrests I’ve ever used.
All of these customization exist in the pursuit of ergonomics. This is a chair that’s designed to be sat in and used all day, every day, for upwards of a decade. All of these supports are intended to position your body for comfort, alertness, and proper posture to avoid repetitive stress injuries.
With that in mind, you might be wondering what exactly makes this a ga ming chair. We’ve long believed here that it’s less important to get a chair with pure gaming features and instead one that offers the support your body needs. We love gaming chairs, but being able to play games comfortably and with alertness-encouraging support is far more important than simply looking cool on stream. The Embody Gaming Chair lets you do both.
But what’s different from the original Embody? The biggest change is with the seat. Herman Miller has added additional cooling foam to the seat. This new padding has also been infused with copper particles to help prevent heat build-up. The Gaming Chair version also comes in a suite of original colors (pictured above) that include black and white, black and cyan, amethyst and white, and galaxy and white. The color range has been substantially expanded since launch, which was black and cyan.
The Embody Gaming Chair arrives fully assembled. The box is huge, but by opening it according to the instructions printed on the outside, you can literally wheel it out of the package. All that needs to be done from there is remove a bit of the protective cardboard, styrofoam, and plastic sheathing and it’s ready to use.
The ease of setup is one of the chair’s larger selling points, but it also highlights just how much care went into the packaging process. After reviewing dozens of gaming chairs, it’s not only the most streamlined but also the most eco-friendly. There are very few non-recyclable materials used throughout. The bare minimum of styrofoam also made cleanup much faster and easier.
The Embody Gaming Chair certainly looks different, but you can rest assured that it’s one of the most comfortable gaming chairs available today. The pixelated support system is simply magnificent and allows the backrest to connect fully with your back and provide pinpoint support no matter how you might flex or move. Even twisting in the chair, the backrest flexes to follow you as much as possible. It’s really something to see.
The chair isn’t overly padded and it doesn’t need to be. In fact, it’s the lack of thick padding that allows the backrest to work so well. The separation between the pixels and the fabric is quite thin, so the panels that they push against provide direct support even with minor movements. Extra padding might seem nice on the surface, but I didn’t miss it at all and wouldn’t go back to it now if I could. As I write this, I’m at the office in a traditional gaming chair wishing I had some way to bring my Embody to and from work with me. It really is that much better.
I also suspect that Herman Miller may have made some silent improvements from the launch model. Those early models were known to creak quite a bit while you were sitting. My recent sample doesn’t creak at all. Even when intentionally flexing the backrest, it’s dead quiet.
One thing I didn’t understand when getting started with the chair is how important it is to dial it in. The thoracic support system is designed to hold your head perfectly balanced above your shoulders. To do that, the backrest needs to push forward just enough to straighten your posture. Too much or too little and your head will be too far forward to too far back, leading to a sore neck. The trick is to dial it all the way forward, sit back, and then ease off until your gaze matches the appropriate location on your screen.
When it is dialed in, however, it’s exceptionally good. I had been using Herman Miller’s Vantum , which is also great, but the Embody offers leagues better support than even that.
I am also in love with the armrests. I wasn’t sure I would like their contoured arms at first but nothing could be further from the truth. Between the height and depth adjustment, I’m able to position them perfectly whether I’m typing out an essay, playing Diablo on mouse and keyboard, or kicking back with a controller. When I need to, I can put them up and line up directly with the surface of the desk. When I’m done, I can put them all the way down and tuck the chair all the way in without adjusting the height of my desk.
The only thing I miss is a headrest. I understand that there may not be a need for one, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to lean back and rest your head, especially after working or gaming several hours at a time.
The Embody Gaming Chair isn’t for everyone. You don’t need to spend $1,700 or even $1,000 to get a great gaming chair (the Vantum is only $795 and there are others cheaper than that). But with the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody gaming chair, you’re making an investment in your health, comfort, and alertness while gaming. It’s the difference between a Porsche and a Hyundai: both of them will get you where you need to go. You don’t need to buy a Porsche. But if you want something extra fine, it stands ready to deliver and is backed by a 12-year warranty.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
Chris cut his teeth on MMOs in the late 90s with text-based MUDs. He’s written about video games for many different sites but has made MMORPG his home since 2013. Today, he acts as Hardware and Technology Editor, lead tech reviewer, and continues to love and write about games every chance he gets. Follow him on Twitter: @GameByNight
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