Koplus Tonique: 30-second review
It’s hard to make a mesh chair look original. In as much, the Tonique office chair from Koplus isn’t rewriting any books on design, but underneath the hood is a commendable, comfortable office chair with a relatively friendly price tag and some great features.
From its breathable materials and comfortable cushioning to its excellent recline and versatile adjustment options, Tonique has a lot to offer. Its minimalist yet chic form will pair well with many office environments, and judging by our fairly rough testing process, this chair is built to last and ranks among some of the best office chairs.
In particular, I loved its automatic balancing mechanism, which offers a level of flexibility and comfort for even the most fidgety of office workers; a category I firmly sit among. It’s incredibly comfortable to use for long periods, though it’s not perfect; its weight can be a little problematic when on loose carpeted floors, and the adjustable lumbar support left me wanting. In as much, it’s a fantastic pick if you want a flexible and dynamic chair that will suit most environments, but if your biggest priority is lumbar or neck support, you’d be better off elsewhere.
Koplus Tonique: Price & availability
Netherlands-based Koplus has been creating office furnishings since 2009, offering a range of chairs; including the Tonique office chair. At £539.94, it’s relatively affordable compared to more expensive seats like the Steelcase Harman, but perhaps a little overpriced given it comes up short a little in the design department.
Unfortunately, it’s a little hard to find consistent pricing or availability for Koplus’ modern mesh chair. You can buy Tonique directly from Koplus, which affords a variety of customization options, but you’ll have to request a quote to find out how much those choices will set you back. These include three different base models (Task, cantilever and drafting), four-seat fabric and back mesh color options (black, green, blue, orange) and two back frame color options (black and white).
A variety of trusted third-party sites like Yo-Yo desk also stock Tonique, but other less-known sites also seem to offer it at a lower price; I’d advise shopping with caution, then. Third-party retailers exclusively stock the seat in all-black with an aluminium base or with a white frame and black nylon base.
Koplus Tonique: Design
- Classic, simple task chair design
- Flexible frame, but heavy
- Requires quick assembly
Understated, but not yet underwhelming, Tonique opts for a simple yet effective aesthetic that will blend in well to most office environments. It’s no show-stopper, but it’s far from unattractive with its squared-off, curved back and well-spaced arms. You’ll need to build the Tonique yourself, but it’s a very quick and easy process that took me just 17 minutes; simply snap the wheels into the base, affix the gas canister and seat and you’re good to go.
The back is made from TPEE Mesh, making it breathable and well-suited for long days at your desk thanks to the support offered by its weaved mesh pattern, and the adjustable plastic lumbar support. This support is not as luxurious as higher caliber office chairs, and is a little stiff to move, but allows for a few inches of adjustment; this means it’s best suited for small- to average-height users rather than taller people.
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My favorite aspect of Tonique’s design is by far its recline, which comfortably allows up to 126 degrees of freedom to lean. Thanks to the auto-balancing mechanism and the chair’s overall robustness, this recline feels comfortable and secure, which is fantastic for people who like some freedom of movement while working. You’re also afforded a lot of flexibility thanks to the build materials, meaning it won’t bend out of shape.
Each of the plastic armrests is adjustable on two axes; back and forth and up and down, offering a decent range of customizability and comfort. Given that the arms are fairly widely spaced, it would have been preferable to have side-to-side adjustability, too. The main seat offers firm yet well-cushioned and comfortable support and is breathable enough to keep fairly cool even during periods of extended use; something I made liberal use of, as my desk becomes a gaming station as soon as my work day ends. Beneath the seat are the recline lock, gas lift, and seat depth paddles, as well as the aluminum metal base and plastic wheels.
At 17kg, the model I tested is hefty on its own, and especially with someone in situ can be hard to move across carpet. Our office space has fairly loose, low-pile carpet, which the chair repeatedly bunched up during use; not entirely Tonique’s fault, but it’s worth noting if you’ve got a carpeted office.
Koplus Tonique: Comfort
- Comfortable for most users
- Very breathable
- Lumbar support could be improved
As a mid-range upgrade to my very affordable office chair, Koplus’ Tonique office chair was an absolute treat. From its swooping recline to its ability to keep me cool under pressure, it’s been fantastic for not only the comfort it provides but also the freedom to move.
I mentioned above that I’m a fidget, and that becomes particularly relevant when it comes to reviewing the comfort of this chair. Thanks to its impressively flexible frame, forgiving recline and auto-adjustment features, I was able to rock, lean and wiggle my way through the working day without once worrying about the integrity of my chair. It’s a real marvel, though slightly nerve-wracking when you’re an onlooker, how effortlessly and naturally this chair reclines.
The chair automatically adjusts itself to the weight of its user, meaning there’s no need to adjust the tension (although an Allen key is provided to allow for this, should it be needed), and the recline lock, gas lift (offering a maximum variation of 130mm) and seat depth controls handle the rest.
Having used Tonique for several days straight, I’d say its lumbar support is adequate, but leaves some room for improvement. The plastic bar can be adjusted by a few inches, but doesn’t offer the real structured support or comfort found in more premium chairs. However, it does the job well enough.
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Much like the breathable 3D mesh back, the integrated cushion seat is both comfortable and cool, making it excellent for full days sat at your desk. I’d say it could do with being ever so slightly firmer, however, that’s down to personal preference; it’s very thick and well-padded, ultimately. Both the back and the seat are fantastic at allowing airflow, meaning I rarely overheated at my desk.
The armrests could also do with offering a little more comfort by my standards. It’s fairly commonplace to see office chairs with plastic arms, so I won’t mark down Tonique for that, but I wish Koplus had offered a little more customization options, such as side-to-side or tilting axes, as thinner-framed users might find the arms are a bit of a reach, given they’re set fairly widely apart.
All-in-all, there are a few trade-offs you make with Koplus’ Tonique chair; sure, the recline is excellent, and the materials for the back and chair will be to many users’ liking, but its lack of lumbar support makes it unsuitable for users with a bad back, and its few missing features make it ill-suited for smaller-framed or shorter users.
Should I buy the Koplus Tonique?
For more workspace accessories and office furniture, we reviewed the best standing desks.
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josephine.watson@futurenet.com (Josephine Watson)
