Flexispot BS11 PRO review: Comfort at a cost

If your job requires any amount of sitting down during your work day, then you’ll know just how important it is to have an ergonomic chair that properly supports your posture. That’s where the BS11 PRO from Flexispot comes in, an office chair advertised as a premium ergonomic solution for all your perching needs.

However, just how well does it support your posture during a full week of work days? We gave the Flexispot BS11 PRO a full week of rigorous testing to find out. Here are our full thoughts on whether it's worth your money. 

Build it, break it

As far as office chairs go, the BS11 PRO is remarkably simple to put together. It all arrives extremely well packaged in a moderate-sized box that you might struggle manoeuvring by yourself. Weighing in at around 20 kg, it’s about what you’d expect from a chair in this price bracket.

Once everything is out of the box, putting all of the pieces together is a simple enough process, although bolting the arms to the seat may require a second person to hold them steady. Thankfully, a decent screwdriver and Allen key are included in the box to make the process easier.

We managed to assemble the BS11 PRO in just under half an hour, which was relatively speedy compared to other chairs that we’ve put together in the past.

However, it was during the assembly process that we discovered some of the materials on the chair could have been a bit more premium. In particular, a glossy plastic plate that covers the screws of the headrest ended up snapping off one of its push pegs during assembly.

A replacement component was offered free of charge from Flexispot when the issue was raised. However, since the push peg snapped off inside the chair itself, it would be impossible to install a replacement part anyway. Although small, cosmetic damage like this is disappointing for a chair in this price range.

The back of the chair is also made of a relatively cheap-feeling plastic, as are the arms which wobble a little when resting your arms upon them. After prolonged use, the armrests tend to wobble a large amount when adjust your arms while typing, which makes an irritating knocking noise due to how loose they are.

The headrest also doesn’t feel totally secure, resulting in a small knocking sound each time you rest your head upon it.  It’s a shame, as the base of the seat, legs, and wheels all feel incredibly well designed, and result in a sturdy base upon which to sit.

Comfort at a cost

Despite some gripes with the quality of the BS11 PRO’s materials, this mostly falls by the wayside once you actually sit in the chair for a prolonged period of time. With a default sitting position that’s remarkably upright, I instantly felt compelled to sit in a more ergonomic position. Combine this with one of Flexispot’s excellent sit-stand desks, and it wasn’t long before I could feel the relief of tension, especially between my shoulder blades.

Taking a tour around the chair, there are plenty of adjustments you can make to ensure this chair fits you properly. A gas lift lets you lift the chair up and down to your desired height, and the same lever can be pressed to recline the chair back to a remarkable degree. Especially with the adjustable headrest installed, this is a fantastic chair to kick back with while gaming into the small hours.

The customisation doesn’t stop there, as it’s also possible to adjust the depth of the seat to allow for a small amount of slouching. While it might not do your posture any good, this can be more comfortable for longer periods of sitting and is extremely easy to adjust on the fly.

Another fantastic addition is the adjustable armrests, which can be moved both backwards and forwards, as well as tilted in or out depending on your desk peripheral arrangement. However, as already mentioned, they do wobble a fair amount, which makes them feel a little weak and brittle. There’s also little to no padding on them, and the hard plastic can result in sore elbows if you’re using a laptop stand for a while.

One glaring adjustment omission is the lack of an adjustable lumbar support. Instead, the BS11 PRO has a fixed curvature in its back, which may or may not fit the way your own spine curves. This is disappointing to see from a chair of this price point that advertises itself as an ‘ergonomic’ office chair. While I didn’t find the default lumbar support to be uncomfortable, that might not be the case for all users.

The highlight of the BS11 PRO, though, is the mesh that covers the entire back and seat of the chair. This is by far the most premium feeling part of the unit, providing an extremely comfy place to perch, and ensuring your body is perfectly ventilated at the same time. Especially in these summer months when leather office chairs can be unbearable, the mesh seating on this product was a lifesaver.

The Verdict

There are certainly positives to be found in the Flexispot BS11 PRO. The chair is without a doubt comfortable to sit in for long periods of time, especially when using it to recline back while gaming. The mesh covering is also the most breathable chair material I’ve ever sat on, as strange an accolade as that may sound.

However, the lack of adjustable lumbar support is very disappointing for a chair that costs £429.99, especially as it’s marketed as something for the ergonomic market. What’s more, some of the materials used in the construction feel cheaper than others, with some components breaking during construction.

If you choose the Flexispot BS11 PRO as your daily driver chair, you’ll most likely be comfortable - but you might not be able to escape the feeling that there are better chairs out there for the same money.

3/5

Review unit provided by the manufacturer.