I tested the ProtoArc Flexer Pro - a comfortable office chair with lumbar support that's going to be divisive

ProtoArc has been around for a while now, and they have a handful of items I have reviewed over the years, like their EC100 chair and a few keyboard / mice solutions. They have been impressive through and through with putting out quality gear for a shockingly low price every time.

This chair, the Flexer Pro, is no different. It had a quick and easy assembly that only took about 5 to 8 minutes to assemble, it has surpassingly breathable mesh on the backrest, featuring FlexWeave tech to cool you off on hot days or if you simply run warm like I do, and it has a great set or armrests. Right there, if those things are done well, the chair is already going to win people over. But, beyond that, this chair has some things I have never seen, such as the dual lumbar support. That’s something that even some of of my premium chairs don’t have.

Flexer Pro also excels in not being “too much” as a chair. Given it's only available in the US, and the dual lumbar support can take some time to adjust to, it's unlikely to make our round-up of the best office chairs. But it's simple and elegant in design, while still offering maximum comfort for up to 10 hours according to ProtoArc, and, in my testing, I can say that this chair surely lives up to the hype.

ProtoArc Flexer Pro: Price and availability

At the time of review, the Flexer Pro is currently on sale for $312.55 (was $399.99) on ProtoArc’s website. It's also available on Amazon.com in both black or white variants, with the former being $299 and the latter priced at $315.86.

From what I can see, the chair's only available in the US right now.

One thing that I always pay attention to for chairs like this is the warranty. After all, an office chair is an investment, even at the low- to mid-range models like this one. So, I was pleased to see ProtoArc offering a 10-year limited warranty.

ProtoArc Flexer Pro: Unboxing and First Impressions

The packaging was minimal and simple, yet enough to keep everything well-packaged, safe, and secure. As I mentioned above, this chair took a mere 5 minutes to assemble by myself. It was incredibly easy, no special tools necessary outside of what was sent with the chair, and no points of frustration.

After getting everything set up, I like how simple this chair is. A lot of chairs have a lot of things going on. The Flexer Pro keeps it simple. It’s a cushioned seat, a mesh back, good armrests. That’s the core. It’s clean, straightforward, and great for most.

ProtoArc Flexer Pro: Design & Build Quality

The dual lumbar supports are the stand-out feature of this chair for me, it seems like such a small thing, but in practice and in use, it’s super helpful to be able to add that support in two slightly different, or one larger spot on some days. I do find that some days I will adjust this and have it be slightly different, but perhaps I’m alone in that. Regardless, having that functionality in a chair at this cost is still wild to me.

Further, the cushion and backrest make for a very breathable sitting experience. As someone who runs fairly warm, I really appreciate having a chair that can breathe with me and help keep me cool even on hot days or during long working sessions.

Another thing that I really appreciate is the lack of over-the-top branding on this chair. I have some chairs that will remain unnamed, but they blast their branding everywhere, loud and proud. That ruins the professional feel of a chair immediately, so having this chair minimally branded and that is all is fantastic.

The armrests, crank tilt-tension control, seat depth slider, and 130-degree recline are all fantastic features. Again, these are features I’d love seeing on chairs worth three times as much, so seeing this in a quality chair at a budget price is a spectacular surprise.

ProtoArc Flexer Pro: In use

My team and I have rotated using this chair for the last 88 days at the time of writing. In that time, we have used it in my studio space, in some home offices and in both scenarios this chair has performed wonderfully. The chair is comfortable for even extended desk working sessions, it’s easy to kick back when we want to stand at our standing desks and if we maybe don’t get to stand that day and rather need to lay back, the 130-degree tilt makes it super comfortable and easy to grab a quick rest.

While most of our testing has been done during the harsh Midwest winter in the States, sometimes that means that with the heat on, your house is warmer than normal (depending on the person). For those days, or the harsh summer afternoons, having the mesh backrest is a wonderful two-thumbs-up for this chair. It means that I won’t stand up to find my back stuck to my shirt.

Another thing that is really nice is that since this chair doesn’t have a headrest and has a fairly compact frame, I can push this chair under my desk rather than just kicking it behind me if I am short on space or don’t want to get my chair too far away from my desk.

After three months' use, the felt still looks brand new, the mesh backrest has held up wonderfully, and the armrests still work well. No issues so far, and none in sight.

ProtoArc Flexer Pro: Final verdict

Not everyone who is looking for a chair is looking to spend thousands, or even close to a thousand. Some want a simple chair that gets the job done. The ProtoArc Flexer Pro is an easy recommendation for those people, as it’s budget-priced yet adds features you usually only see in high-end flagship chairs.

The quick assembly time is a real bonus - ProtoArc estimated it's a 10-minute job, but I did it half that time. Airflow, comfortability, and support are all good. And I'm pleased how well the chair has held up after using it for three months.

That dual lumbar support, though, may not be to everyone's tastes. I can understand that. I would've also liked to see greater availability beyond North America.

But the chair's nicely designed overall, with all the adjustability mechanisms I'd expect to find one priced this low. A solid choice for working from home or in the office.

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