Image | Product | Price |
  | Varier Variable Balans Best Rocking Kneeling Chair | Check Price |
  | Boss Office Products Best Budget Pick | Check Price |
  | Defy Desk Best Ergonomic Kneeling Chair | Check Price |
  | Flash Furniture Best Wooden Kneeling Chair | Check Price |
  | BetterPosture Jazzy Best Kneeling Chair With Backrest | Check Price |
What To Look For When Buying A Kneeling Chair
A buyer’s guide is always a good idea. The market is full of kneeling chairs, which makes it hard to make a choice.
Based on our research, there are three major factors to focus on when trying to find the best kneeling chairs in the market.
1. Assembly
Among the main concerns of a buyer purchasing a chair online, is the assembly. The question that we all ask is: How easy or how hard it will be?
Don’t worry. You can rest assured that kneeling chairs are easier to put together than a traditional office chair, with fewer parts involved. The assembly will take you less than 30 minutes, and you’ll have your chair ready to be used.
In fact, all the kneeling chairs we’ve picked for you are easy to put together. They require a few tools and little technical know-how.
2. Design
To find a basic good kneeling chair, follow these instructions:
- Look for a seat with at least 20 degrees of incline: In order to align your spine properly, your pelvis has to be tipped forward. With this position, you’re less likely to lean back or slouch.
- Check the weight and height limitations: Especially if you are large, short, or tall, a standard kneeling chair might not be suitable for you.
- Choose a strong frame: Whether it’s a metal or wooden frame, you have to pick one that will support your body weight over an extended period of time.
- Pick a dense foam pad: Look for models with pads that are at least 2 inches thick. You don’t want your legs to be jammed into a hard and unrelenting surface. Most customers’ complaints are centered on this point.
The following instructions aren’t mandatory but they provide extra comfort:
- Choose an adjustable kneeling chair: It’s not necessary but it’s a good option especially if you are not going to be the only person using the chair.
- Use one with a backrest: Some of the kneeling chairs have a backrest and some don’t. Use one if you will be sitting on it for a prolonged period of time.
- Kneeling Rocking Chair: Kneeling rocking chairs don’t allow you to move around the office, but they stimulate your core muscles while taking pressure off your bottom, and they help in staying seated. Some users utilize them to meditate.
3. Mobility
If your job requires mobility throughout the day, then this is an important factor for you.
These small wheels sit at the bottom of your seat’s foundation, enabling you to wheel across the floor with ease.
- Wheel locks, or brakes are an important feature for when you need to stop.
- Universal caster fittings enable you to install new wheels without having to replace your entire chair.
Do You Need a Backrest?
The goal of kneeling chairs is to force you to sit correctly and not slouch back (if you are using a regular chair, please don’t slouch), and that by pushing your body to tilt forward and open your hips angle, aligning the back, shoulders and neck to relieve strain on the lumbar muscles.
Therefore, having a backrest isn’t necessary to fully benefit from the chair.
Nevertheless, if you are planning to sit on it the whole day during work, then a backrest must be an important addition to consider for your kneeling chair.
The Adjustment Period
The best way to know if you can endure a kneeling chair is to try it for some time. Some companies offer the possibility to let you return the kneeling chair after a certain period. Yes, it’s possible! Just make sure to look for companies with good return policies and excellent customer service.
Ergonomic kneeling chairs are very good alternatives for people suffering from back pain. Nevertheless, they aren’t for everybody. We explain more in this article “Is Kneeling Better Than Sitting at A Desk?”.
TOP 5 Best Kneeling Chairs
We consider Varier Variable Balans one of the BEST kneeling chairs in the market, for several reasons.
The first is that this unit has a very good build quality. Manufactured in Europe, it’s made of high-quality foam and fabric. Sustainable and durable, unlike other similar less-riced products made in china.
Its minimalist simple design makes it look very stylish and easy to clean.
The second reason why we love Varier Variable Balans, and we consider it the most important one, is the range of motion it provides to the user. Not only you can rock back and forth with ease, but the chair flexibility allows you to move back and forth, and move as your seat fits. The frame gives great flexibility.
Another attractive feature in this chair is that it’s lightweight. This means, if you want to change your work area or move from an office to another one, you can, as the chair is easy to carry around.
It’s easy to see why this rocking chair has earned so many positive customer reviews and ranked number 1 as “Best Kneeling Chair 2019” by Beyond the Office Door and many others. Nevertheless, nothing on earth is perfect.
The downside of this unit is that it doesn’t have wheels. Therefore, it provides limited sitting mobility, you can’t wheel your way around and move in small distances.
Another downside is that it’s not adjustable. It cannot be adapted to different body types and different desk heights.
Here are some of the technical details:
- Dimensions: 28.7 x 21.5 x 7.2 inches
- Item weight: 14 pounds
- Warranty: 7-year warranty on the frame and 5-year warranty on the foam and fabric
- Available in: Black, Light Grey Revive Fabric with Black Ash Base
PROS:
- Simple minimalist design
- Light weight
- Strong frame – Sustainable
- Easy to clean
- Wide range of motion
- High build quality
- Rocking base
- Manufactured in Europe
CONS:
- It doesn’t have wheels
- Not adjustable
- Pricey
For those of you who need a kneeling chair that will keep the aches and pains of all-day office sitting far away without breaking their budget, you should take a look at the Boss Office Products Ergonomic Kneeling Stool.
The following three factors will make the B248 an attractive option for you. The first is that this unit has a pneumatic seat height adjustment. There is a handle under the seat. When you pull it, the gas cylinder will move up or down. A very simple method to adjust the height.
Another attractive feature is the wheels. They will give you the ability to move around your desk and easily get to the typing position. Not all kneeling chairs have wheels, so this is an advantage to recognize in the B248.
The final attractive feature about this kneeling chair is that it’s lightweight and easy to move around. You can easily store it in your closet, move it from room to room, for those of you who need a portable product.
No product on earth is perfect, there have to be some downsides. And the main downside of the B248 is the low built quality. This product is manufactured in China; therefore, you might not be totally satisfied with the construction.
The final downside is that it does not have a range of motion like Varier Variable Balans. Once you sit on the chair, you are going to be locked into that position, you are not going to be able to rock, or wiggle, or move to stay active.
Here are some of the product technical Features:
- Dimensions: 26 x 19.5 x 25 inches
- Item weight: 15 pounds
- Warranty: 6 Years limited manufacturer warranty and 2-year warranty on all the other parts
- Available in: Black color
PROS:
- Height adjustability
- Affordable price
- Mobility – it has wheels
- Lightweight
- Easy to store
CONS:
- Limited range of motion
- Low quality material
Defy Desk is one the best kneeling chairs we have found in the market. The most attractive feature of this unit is the cushions. Defy Desk has 3 inches foam cushion to save you from soreness and knee pain and make you feel comfortable even if you sit on it for long hours.
It also has 4 castor rolling wheels with brakes allowing you to move with freedom and flexibility.
Another factor that makes Defy Desk one of the best kneeling desk chairs is the height adjustability. Whether it’s for you alone or you and your family, Defy Desk height can be adjusted from 21 to 28 inches, providing enough adjustments to accommodate everyone.
Based on customers’ reviews, the casters are the main downside of this unit. The kneeling chair foundation is composed of four wheels; two of them are meant to lock into place, however, the other two that aren’t supposed to lock, seem fixed and not mobile. They don’t swivel well and make the chair hard to maneuver.
Here are some of the product features:
- Dimensions: 27 x 19 x 8 inches
- Item weight: 19 pounds
- Available in: Black color
PROS:
- 3-inch cushions – more padding
- Lockable casters
- Height adjustable – 21 to 28 inches
- Modern design
- Affordable price
CONS:
- Casters don’t run smoothly
The Flash Furniture kneeling chair features a stylish attractive aesthetic design. The natural wooden base and the grey woven fabric pads give this unit a very modern furniture look.
In fact, the base and the legs of the unit are made of naturally finished oak rods, and the seat is 2-inch thick, breathable, and stiff. This means that the chair has a strong frame that can hold up well to repeated usage.
One of the things we like the most about the Flash Furniture kneeling chair is that, if not in use, it easily folds down flat for compact storage.
Another attractive feature is the unique height adjustment process. It can be easily modified by moving the wooden bar, under the seat, into a slot depending on your likings, until finding the right height that works for you.
The only complaint about this chair is that the pad isn’t thick enough. Over time, the knee pad gets compressed which may lead to feeling pain or soreness for long periods of use.
Here are some of the features:
- Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 26 inches
- Item weight: 16 Pounds
- Warranty: 2-year warranty for parts
- Available in: Gray
- Weight Capacity: 250 lbs
PROS:
- Modern design
- Strong wooden base with natural tones
- Height adjustable
- Easy to fold
- Dual-wheel casters
CONS:
- Knee pad get compressed over time
For those of you who are looking for a kneeling chair to use for hours and hours during one day, BetterPosture Jazzy Kneeling Chair is a good pick. With its backrest that can be fully removed and its thick cushions, it’s easy to bear prolonged sessions of sitting.
Unlike the previous kneeling chairs listed on this page, this one is suitable for users weighing up to 275 pounds, and it can be adjusted from 21 to 28 inches, using a gas lift.
It has five wheels in the base, they allow for easy rolling in all directions.
You can choose among five color variations: Black, beige, blue, gray, and red. However, some customers prefer the black model. The texture of the light-colored ones includes some black dots, which makes it look ugly and kind of dirty.
What customers are saying
- The pedestal is heavy and not cheap metal.
- It spins beautifully, and is perfect for office work at a standard desk. The hydraulic lift works awesome.
- The foam is sturdy and strong.
- The chair was easy to put together.
Some of the technical features:
- Dimensions: 27 x 16.5 x 27 inches
- Item weight: 28 Pounds
- Warranty: 3 years limited
- Available in: Black, Beige, Blue, Gray, Red color
- Weight Capacity: 275 lbs
PROS:
- Sturdy
- Height adjustable
- Features a backrest
- Thick cushions
- Max of weight limit
CONS:
- The fabric can be better
What Is The Proper Way To Use A Kneeling Chair?
Congratulations on your new kneeling chair!
This is an important question that the majority of users don’t ask. As a result, they start feeling pain and soreness in their knees, their brains associate the kneeling chair with negative feelings, and they end up never using it again.
Here is the right way to use a kneeling chair.
First, sit on your kneeling seat, then move your knees to get into the kneeling position by placing your knees on the kneeling pads.
During the first week, you might feel stiff or awkward, which is perfectly normal by the way. All you have to do is to change your position frequently. For example, you can place both feet on the floor with both legs outstretched in front of you, or leave your right knee on the knee pad but place your left foot on the floor with your leg extended in front of you, and do the same but reverse the role of your legs.
Keep in mind to not get rid of your regular office chair, as you might need to alternate between the two.
Please, do not put all your body weight on your knees and shins as this will only lead to soreness and pain. We talk about this topic more in-depth in this article.
Best Kneeling Chairs - Our Recommendation
After doing our research, we have concluded that the overall best kneeling chair is “Varier Variable Balans”.
Its modern design, quality material, and construction make it a very special kneeling chair. People who bought it expressed their satisfaction and said that they do not regret their decision.
Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive than the other kneeling chairs, but we stand by our belief that you always get what you pay for. On top of that, Varier Variable Balans kneeling chair is the ONLY original kneeling chair designed by Peter Opsvik in 1979, a Norwegian design, manufactured in Europe.
Final Thoughts - Best Kneeling Chairs
While kneeling chairs take some getting used to, the transition is well worth it.
They are a great alternative to regular office chairs. Not only they reduce back pain, but they also improve posture and provide support.
It positions you with an open hip angle with your bottom and thighs supported by one pad, and your knees and shins supported by another. This ‘kneeling’ position eases your hips forward to encourage a more upright posture to better align your back, shoulders, and neck.
We would love to know which alternative do you prefer: kneeling chairs or standing desks? Let us know in the comment section below.