Branch Furniture Daily Chair vs Ergonomic Chair – is the more ergonomic unit better?

The Branch task chair is becoming a crowd favorite, especially if you’re looking for a comfortable yet affordable option that you can use for several hours. It is also the more popular work-from-home pick. 

So in this article, let’s take a look and compare the other two Branch models, the Ergo and the Daily chair.

When an ergonomic chair isn’t the better choice

The Branch Ergo chair has more adjustable features. And this may make you think that you will be able to get the best sitting experience since you will be able to fine-tune the unit according to your preference. 

But in this specific scenario, it seems that the word ergo doesn’t really make a chair better than a task chair or one with fewer adjustable features.

The Daily chair may have more fixed features such as the lumbar support being stationary and the arms being less amenable to changes. 

But surprisingly, it was able to provide a better sitting experience compared to the more ergonomic model.

Let’s break down the things that went wrong with the Branch Ergo chair.

The Ergo chair just feels very uncomfortable

Aesthetic-wise, the ergo chair would seem like an upgraded version of the Daily. It looks edgy and posh. 

But when it comes to overall comfort, it’s a very different story. Even with the Daily being more of a task chair, it can suffice for desktop work if you don’t really need to sit on it for 8 hours straight.

It’s actually quite confusing why a seeming task chair would feel comfier than a more ego one. 

Both models have a mesh backrest and a cushioned seat. The ergo chair does have a thick cushion, but it feels very firm. It needs a break-in period for it to become a bit more comfortable, say you have to sit on it for a few weeks so that you can somehow sit decently without your butt being too sore.

But even after the break-in period, many may find the cushioned seat still too firm and too uncomfortable.  Though this may also mean that the cushion has a longer lifespan since it will not deflate easily. But the cushion feels like the majority of the cheap chairs we have tried, just darn uncomfortable. Even if you’re just going to sit for 2-3 hours, your butt and maybe even your back will complain.

The material is also quite rough and we see this being too sweaty in the hotter months. So breathability is also nay.

That of the Daily chair, though not that sublime, feels substantially comfortable. The cushion has more of a medium firm support. So it will still give your butt that cradling sensation, while at the same time, it can give your butt enough support so that you will not sink deep into the center of the seat. Thus we find it amenable for 5-6 hours. Some can even sit on it longer. 

The Ergo chair has lots of plastic parts

The Daily chair is not an all-steel chair, yes, but you will be able to feel the more flimsy sensation with the ergo chair since it has more parts.  Most of the adjustable features of the more ergonomic chair such as the seat pan are just made of a thin plastic layer. That adds up to the plastic parts. It also doesn’t feel that strong.

Let’s talk more  about the arms

The arms of both chairs are not desirable. But the Ergo chair has more uncomfortable armrests.   

You can feel that it is cheaply made and the arm caps are very hard. So it can be painful on your elbows after sitting for only a couple of hours. 

Also, the arms are positioned more outwards. Thus skinny people will find them too wide apart. Perhaps, if it had a bit of padding, it can render the arms a little better or at least forgivable.  

That of the Daily chair, as we have mentioned above, is not the cream of the crop either.  We also felt that a little padding could have made the unit feel better. There were times when our elbows felt a little uncomfortable against the smooth polymer frame. The arms are also loose and wiggly. So we have to beg off from the tow if we are asked to choose based on the armrests.  

How about the support for the back

The backrest of the Ergi unit is just too stiff and firm, like the rest of the parts of the chair. . It can break your back if you’re going to sit on it for more than 4 hours. It’s just very hard and very firm. There is no decent amount of giving or flexibility in the mesh. 

That for the Daily chair surprisingly feels nice on the back. Even with only fixed lumbar support, it feels comfortable, you also have the subtle rocking motion as a bonus.

 Though the Ergo unit has an adjustable lumbar, it did not make a significant impact on the unit.  

It did not make the chair more comfortable or less desirable.  It’s just bland. 

The lack of an adjustable lumbar did not make the Daily chair inferior. Perhaps it was due to the more flexible mesh material and the way the backrest was designed. 

Recommendations for both Branch Furniture chairs

The Ergo chair is ideal for those who stand up to 6’2 feet but are not taller. We also see it for those of average weight since if you are heavier, you’ll be able to feel the hard plastic material underneath the seat. The edge of the frame is also quite hard. 

The Daily chair is ideal for those who stand until 5’11. It’s also a great option if you are looking for one with a non-obtrusive design and you’ll be able to use it for more than 4 hours. 

When Ergo isn’t always better

So here is an example where more ergo features do not necessarily make a chair better. The Branch Ergo chair is stiff from all angles and the adjustable features are not enough to make a good impact on the user. 

Maybe if it was made with the same mesh and cushion as that of the Daily chair, then it could be a bit comfier. 

Price-wise, both units have almost the same tag. So we are guessing the better mesh and cushion material were replaced with more ergonomic features.