Sihoo M56C Ergonomic Chair Review
really large Lumbar support
Retail Price: $219.99
Disclaimer: Sihoo sent us a unit free of charge to review, but all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are our own and were not discussed with the company prior to publishing.Shape and Size
The chair's dimensions are 17.1"D x 20"W x 40"H and is a split back style.Getting Set Up
The Sihoo M56C Ergonomic Office Chair offers incredible value, packed with features typically found in higher-priced office chairs. That makes this chair quite impressive for what it can provide to buyers who may not be expecting more than the price tag would suggest it should perform as.
The chair was simple to assemble and can be done under an hour
Notable features include an adjustable headrest, dynamic lumbar support, adjustable armrests, reclining function, and a memory foam cushion. Basically all of the essential points of an office chair that you would want to control is adjustable, and that’s a terrific thing. Like most chairs, assembly is required, but there’s no need to worry as all the tools and hardware are included. Everything is also neatly packaged, and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. I was able to assemble the chair in under an hour without another helping hand. During my review period of three weeks with the chair, its build quality seems to be good and there aren't any squeaks that I've noticed. There wasn’t any fraying on the seat due to wear so I hope it continues to hold up over time. I particularly appreciated the metal 5-star base. It really elevates the look of the chair compared to the chairs using a plastic molded base.
Core Features
Aside from the memory foam seat cushion, the rest of the chair is constructed from breathable mesh material which is supposed to promote better airflow and helps keep users cool and comfortable during extended use. I found the memory foam cushion to be more comfortable than the other mesh-bottomed chairs I've sat in, and I’ve never experienced any fatigue while sitting in the M56C. With a W-shaped seat cushion, the chair begins its ergonomic support from the base of the body. Guiding the position in which the user should be seated in, I actually did prefer having the shaped cushion formatting my gluteal muscles into position over a simple flat seat. The two zones of the W-shaped cushions help reduce pressure on the sitting bones and also offers extra thigh support to prop up the core of the body. I think a reason I didn’t feel any fatigue after long sessions with the chair is thanks to this seat shape.
The wide, height, and angle adjustable headrest is a particularly nice feature, especially when reclining. It can be customized to provide optimal head and neck support for a wide range of different users. A lot of higher priced options from big OEM’s make you purchase a headrest separately. Even if this is technically a throw in with the rest of the chair, I did like just how wide the headrest actually is. It curves to avoid ear contact and stretches to a 14.56” length with a 4.3” lift and a 45 degree axis rotation. I definitely liked resting my head on it.
The M56C's dynamic lumbar support is another standout feature that enhances comfort over long periods. As users shift positions throughout their time in the chair, the lumbar support is always adjusting in real time to maintain proper lower back support. When my body is seated, the lumbar on this chair covers the entirety of that area on my body and more. It’s not a small cushion that has limited range. This is literally an elastic piece that stretches from end to end on the chair. The lumbar on the M56C doesn’t really need to be adjusted much because it’s dual-back design just flexes with the user’s body pressed into it. Like with the seat cushion, I didn’t find myself feeling any sort of lower back soreness after prolonged sitting here.
The adjustable armrests offer several height settings to accommodate different desk heights and additional support. However, they only move up and down; they do not adjust forward/backward or inward/outward. As a 2D armrest, the additional adjustment points seem to be a premium feature that just couldn’t be accommodated into the design of the Sihoo. The armrest is made of almost a hard plastic material that I personally didn’t like too much. It could of been more comfortable to use if a soft-padded material was used instead.
The recline feature of the chair offers 110°–125° of recline range. The recline is also lockable, but only works while the chair is in its fully reclined position. The amount of tolerance the chair allows you to lean definitely adds to the comfort as I found myself naturally sitting in a slightly angled position whenever I was sitting in it.
Rough Casters
One minor downside, the casters don’t rotate as smoothly as I’d like them to even on hard surfaces. I’m hoping this may improve with use over time but plastic doesn’t really loosen up like that. Ideally I would like my casters to swivel to the direction I move my body weight to without much additional force needed.
final thoughts
All in all, the Sihoo M56C Ergonomic Chair offers excellent comfort and value for its price point. Don't expect this to be a fully adjustable chair as there are some parts of the chair that are fixed, but its high build quality along with some adjustable features make it a standout in the world of office chairs, especially for the retail price.
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