Prior to receivingthe EP200 Office Chair from Bouliesfor review, I spent my workday sitting on a dining chair. So, basically one step better than sitting on the floor. The EP200 has changed that situation forever, though, and my back will thank me for it.
When the EP200 arrived, it washeavy, but I managed to lumber it up the stairs to my office on my own. Everything inside was safely secured and wrapped in bubble wrap. Even with my complete lack of DIY skills, I put the chair together in about 25 minutes. If you aren’t a complete idiot like me and don’t put the armrestsandmain mechanisms on backwards, you may probably shave off about half of that time. Given I was on my own, this experience was relatively painless.
The EP200 is on the lower end of Boulies’ price range (around $300, while most of its other chairs go for upwards of $350 and even $400) but it has the same hallmarks of quality. Once it was all put together, I could tell it was a sturdy bit of kit. No armrest wobble or any other kind of weakness.The back of the chair is also wide and supportive, with neck support at the top. I could immediately feel the benefit of the support on my neck, as I could lean my head against it and still be at a comfortable distance from my desk. As someone with a severe case of shrimp posture, this was greatly appreciated.
The seat cushion itself is comfy enough, though it’s not super plush. I received the chair with the mesh cushion, which may have been a factor, so if you like a softer seat, the foam would likely be the better option (it’s the same price, so it’s just a case of preference). Still, it’s comfortable; even after several hours of working while sitting in it, I wasn’t fidgeting around to get comfy again. The back of the chair also extends just below the seat cushion, creating a supportive area for your lower back. I have a terrible habit of leaning forward, so this was another welcome feature that helped to fix my posture.
One thing to note, though, is that when I adjusted the height of the chair, it did so with ajolt. I was sitting in it when I pulled the lever, which propelled me up off the chair with much more force than I expected. So if you’re going to adjust the height, make sure to do so when you’renotsitting in it.
You can also adjust the directions the armrests face, (forward, left, or right), though I didn’t really find much use for this other than as a pseudo-fidget toy (the way it clicks into place with each turn is particularly satisfying).
Overall, the EP200 is a great chair if you’re looking for quality and sturdiness, but aren’t willing to fork out for the higher-end options.I wouldn’t quite call it budget at $300, but considering the quality of the materials and support it offers, it’s worth that bit more, especially if you’ll be using it for hours at a time, on a daily basis, or both.
