The Ergochair 2 and Kinn chair are two of the more popular office chairs from Autonomous. Let’s compare them and see if these chairs can be a good fit for your home office.
Construction and build
Autonomous office chairs are known for their all-plastic construction. And most, if not all of the parts are sourced from China. So that does not spark enough confidence, since China-made products can be flimsy and not the most durable. But that accounts for the affordable price tag too.
Both chairs are mostly plastic, but there is some difference in the materials used in some parts. For instance, the Kinn chair is made of TPE. It’s a special type of material that combines plastic and rubber.
And the seat is also made from the same type of material, with the addition of the coils underneath. The only metal part of the Kinn chair is the screws. So even the caster wheel is made of plastic.
The Ergochair 2, is also made of an all-plastic material. The backseat is made of an all-mesh material while the seat has a cushion. Like the Kinn, the wheels are also entirely plastic, with just the screws as the metal part.
So overall, even if both cars are made of plastic the Ergochair seems to have a bit more heft to it. The Kinn feels lighter and seems looser than the Ergochair. Both chairs have the same carrying capacity which can accommodate a person that weighs above average. But due to the construction of both chairs, I doubt if it would be able to hold up well if someone a bit heavier and taller will sit on the chair.
And though the Ergochair feels more stable than the Kinn, the cushion can be a problem for those who are heavier. I’ll be elaborating on that in the next section.
The Kinn, on the other hand, feels loose and too light. it would not spark confidence for heavier users. So both chairs are not the best when it comes to building and construction. And with small and all plastic caster wheels, it would never be able to support heavy users. Unless you have the wheels changed to a bigger one or reinforced with metal, it can make the chair more durable.
And also, the two Autonomous chairs can be really noisy and squeaky. And the Kinn is a notch higher on the noise level. But pretty much, both chairs squeak more overtime.
Comfort
The lumbar and back support
When it comes to the lumbar and back support, both chairs can provide decent support.
The Kinn does not have adjustable lumbar support. Instead, the entire back seat has an S-shaped curve that mimics the shape of the spine. The combination of the rubber and plastic material made the chair a bit flexible. So it kind of moves with your back. I did feel good support albeit the lack of an adjustable lumbar.
And I think the Kinn chair somehow got its inspiration from the spine-like backseat of the Embody and it did well for the Kinn. This is perhaps the most positive feature that you can find with the Kinn chair. And I felt that I can sit longer on the Kinn without my back feeling tired compared to the Ergochair 2.
The Ergochair, on the other hand, has an all-mesh material that’s quite flexible too. And the lumbar support is adjustable. And yes, as I’ve mentioned above, you’ll also find that it has nice lumbar support. But as I sat on it for longer hours, I could feel the backseat pushing me a bit forward. Though this might help keep you in an upright position, it can be helpful for the first few shoes. But this type of support can feel too tiring on the back if you’re going to sit on the chair for 8 hours.
And I have a few more gripes on the Ergochair 2. And it has something to do with the frame of the chair. It can be too pronounced. So if you happen to be wider than the chair, you might feel your shoulder rubbing against the frame. And it can be comfortable.
Secondly, the lumbar support cannot be locked. It’s either you slide it up and down. But once you stand up or lean forward, it can slowly go out of place. So you need to readjust it again. It’s just a minor complaint. But it can be annoying if you have to do it often.
I did not encounter this type of problem with the Kinn since it’s frameless.
Seat
The Ergochair 2 has a cushioned seat. But that’s all to it. The seat is not comfortable nor is it durable. The foam is soft at first but it tends to flatten out easily. That’s why I have mentioned above that even though it has a higher weight capacity, I still find it a light duty.
The cushion is a bit soft and It measures 2 inches thick. Apart from flattening out easily, you’d also feel the frame of the chair poking your butt. Also, your tailbone will start to hurt if you’ve been sitting for several hours. You can feel the hard parts of the seat rubbing against your butt and tailbone, so it can really be uncomfortable.
The seat of the Kinn is not comfortable either. Since this is also made of the same TPE material as the backseat, it’s very rigid. I can feel the TPE material rubbing against the back of my thighs and it can feel too hard if you are going to use the chair for more than 6 hours.
Overall, the state of both chairs is not comfortable.
Armrests
Both chairs have adjustable armrests. Though the armrests of the Ergochair 2 seems to be more adjustable.
And you have an option to have the Kinn’s armrests covered with a mesh material. But it still did not do any good for the chair. I also find the armrest of the Kinn chair too loose. Sometimes I feel like it would just give away. So the armrest of the Ergochair 2 seems to be more put together.
The armrests of the two Autonomous chairs feel a bit hard and rub on the elbows.
Shipping and customer service
There isn’t anything positive about the customer service of the brand. You’ll get annoyed and frustrated with the lack of after-sales. And even if you have queries about a purchase or soon-to-be purchase, you’ll have to wait for days before you’d even get a response.
And if you wanted a return, you have to wait for 1- 2 months before that could happen. This is perhaps, one of the most common irks and complaints of customers and clients.
Who is it for
- The back support of both Autonomous chairs is quite firm. So it’s best for those who want this type of support. But the Kinn is more comfortable if you’re going to work for more than 8 hours.
- The seats of both chairs are made from different types of material. But both seats are too firm and are not comfortable at all.
- If you are on a budget and need a chair with firm support, you’ll find the Kinn more comfortable. The Ergochair 2 can be a bit pushing for your back. But if you are going to use it for a few hours, you’d be fine.
- Both chairs are light-duty and recommended for those who are of average height and weight.
Summary
Why the Kinn is a better choice:
- It is more comfortable on the back when used for prolonged hours than the Ergochair 2. You won’t feel back pain at the end of the day.
- It is more aesthetically pleasing. And it’s more stylish too.
- It has a 5-year warranty while the Ergochair has a 2-year warranty only.
Why the Ergochair 2 is a better choice:
- It has more adjustable features than the Kinn. You can adjust the seat height, armrests, tension, and back tilt. Everything else is the same except that the Kinn lacks a seat tilt adjustment and a lumbar adjustment.
- It has an adjustable neck or headrest while the Kinn lacks this one.
- It feels more stable than the Kinn chair, it also has more heft to it.
Final thought
In a nutshell, the construction of both chairs would not spark confidence. It might not stay with you for the long haul. But it has a lot of adjustable features and decent back support for its affordable pierce.
So lighter users with a strict budget will find both chairs most useful. You just have to be aware of the common gripes so that you know what you’re in for should you decide to push through with the purchase.
