I have had the opportunity to use Haworth Fern extensively over the past year. This is a chair you wanted to love from the moment it walked out of the box. The look and design can only be matched by the highest end chairs from the best brands. It also has a lot going for it when it comes to comfort and adjustability. While I wanted to love this chair, there were a couple things about our Fern that I found uncomfortable to use. Fortunately, we just received a new Fern chair with a slightly different configuration and I can’t wait to tell you what I think.
Two of the main changes they made were things that I thought would make a better chair for me. The third change came as a surprise because they actually changed a feature that first put Fern on the map, dethroned Steelcase Leap, and made Fern my new number one chair pick. Here are some more details:
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Haworth’s Improved Fern Links
🎥 The Enhanced Haworth Fern Video
Haworth’s Fern Enhanced Video
build quality
From a build quality standpoint, the Fern has held up pretty well. Even though it has been used a lot over the past year, it shows no signs of wear. The chair still works great and I only notice a little creaking when I lean all the way back. Other than that, the chair has not developed any other annoying or uncomfortable noises that make it difficult to use while working.
seat comfort
Possibly the biggest change I’ve noticed over the past year is how much softer the seat has gotten. When I first started using the chair, I was surprised at how firm the seat was. The thick look of the cushion gives the impression that the seat would be softer, but the foam takes a few months to settle. There is definitely a noticeable difference in comfort after the seat has been used regularly.
The rest of the seat is well designed. It’s roomy and has a good amount of flex in the front, making it easier to stretch and move than many other chairs.
Arms
The Fern’s arms are solid. Perhaps my only complaint is that they have a little more gameplay than I’d like. Of course, I’m being very picky here because I’m comparing the Fern to the Leap. The arm pads are soft and the amount of adjustability is insane. In addition to four-way adjustments, you get a tremendous amount of range, which means this chair can be adjusted to fit just about anyone.
Back
My favorite part of the Fern is the backing. It is tremendously flexible. In fact, it’s the most flexible chair I’ve ever sat on. The narrow design helps make it even easier to move while you work. The backrest also uses a unique four-layer design that makes it feel like you’re floating on top of the backrest.
The only thing I didn’t like about our original Fern was the lumbar support. He was too aggressive for me to feel comfortable with. The new version of the Fern has removed the lumbar support, which has changed the backrest from useless to one of my favorites.
Headrest
The second change on the Fern is the headrest. Our original version had a height-adjustable headrest. From a design standpoint, it’s a solid headrest, but it’s not really that comfortable. The padding is too hard and I feel like it takes away flexibility from your back because it’s a stiff addition to something that’s designed to move.
The new Fern came without a headrest, which I think is a huge improvement. You can move more freely and you really don’t lose anything by not having the headrest.
Recline
From the beginning, I have been a fan of the recline motion on the Fern. It is one of the best synchronized rocker mechanisms you can find on the market. You’ll enjoy a smooth recline along with a wide range, which I think is great for when you want to kick back and watch a video or take a phone call. The chair also comes with five different tilt limiter positions and a sensitive tension control. I hate tension controls that you have to turn forty times before you can tell a difference. The Fern’s controls start to make a difference after just a couple of turns.
Upholstery
The third big change on the Fern is the upholstery. Our first chair had a mesh back and the new chair has a digitally woven back. The mesh has held up well over the past year, but I think the fabric is a big upgrade. It’s not as abrasive and provides a bit of a cushiony feel like a thin pillow you can sink into. In fact, the digital fabric was the final factor that convinced me to make the Fern my daily driver.
Bottom line
All in all, the new version of the Haworth Fern office chair is a great and comfortable upgrade over the first. I would recommend it to anyone. This chair could be the one for you.
