Haworth Fern office chair review

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The Haworth Fern has two main design styles. One model has a headrest and a unique, adjustable lumbar support that moves up and down to help make it more comfortable for users. However, even though, on paper, this was great for some, it was not as popular as expected.

So, Haworth released a new variant with no headrest and no middle lumbar support, offering only the comfort built into the chair’s backrest. I’m very glad that Haworth released the newer version. I was part of the group that wasn’t a huge fan of the first model, but when I met the second model, I became a much bigger fan.

I have a love-hate relationship with headrests on ergonomic chairs, but for this one, it just wasn’t working with me. I also really appreciate the change-up for the lumbar support. The first one was good; some of my team even preferred the first version, but I am a bigger fan of the second.

official US website, as well as other online retailers.

It’s also available starting from £1190 from Haworth’s UK website.

Compared to some in our guide to the best office chairs – think the Herman Miller Aeron (~$1,695), Embody (~$1,995), and Steelcase Gesture (~$1,200) – the Fern is competitively priced in the premium ergonomic market.

Haworth | Fern

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Haworth Fern: Unboxing and First Impressions

I’ve become really good at building chairs over the years of testing, but this one was by far the easiest I have ever built. All I had to do was cut open the box with my Grovemade Box opener, and then we were good to go.

The chair arrived completely assembled, with cardboard and padding protecting the base, and a bag wrapped around the chair itself.

Since I saved time on assembly, I was able to hop over and start testing the chair itself much faster. Right off the bat, I was thrilled with the design and the cool colorway, and even the material choice was great.

Haworth Fern: Design & Build Quality

This chair stands out. I’ve had a lot of chairs, and this one will stand out as unique. It’s impressive. It’s clean and sleek, yet has a cool pattern that makes it feel special. But at the same time, it looks like it could fit into either a home office or a traditional office setup. It has a traditional style and quality lumbar support, though the model I am focusing on has less lumbar support than the other variant of the same Fern chair. I chose no headrest and no lumbar addition for this one, as I, along with several others, prefer this model.

Haworth has a spectacular 3-part Wave Suspension System hidden within the otherwise simple backrest design. They use what they refer to as fronds, connected to a central spine, or central stem, to create a level of anchored support to then pair with the third layer of the Wave Suspension System, the cradle, adding a layer of supported comfort on top of everything, altogether creating an intentionally designed chair, not just a panel to lean against.

Even with all that said, the Fern has it all built into an otherwise unassuming design, blending in beautifully and offering refined comfort in a chair that isn’t obnoxious. The one thing Haworth was willing to be a bit standout-ish in was their choice of woven knit material. It’s noticeable when you get up close to the chair, and it’s great. It’s breathable, it’s comfortable, it’s soft and doesn’t scratch, yet it doesn’t feel like I’m sitting in my grandma’s sweater either. It’s a great material, and it works for all-day use.

Haworth Fern: In use

I don’t know about you, but it feels like work keeps getting busier and busier. Perhaps I’m doing it wrong, but gone are the days of wondering what I’ll work on next. I feel like I have a never-ending to-do list across the businesses I work with, my own business, and others. I sat down a few days in a row attempting to really focus on testing out this chair, and next thing I know it was hours later of getting things done, and I barely even remember anything about the chair.

Day two came around, and the same thing happened. Then, a third. At first, I felt bad that I wasn’t focusing on the chair, but then I realized that perhaps that’s the best possible note for review. I forgot I was using a chair. I stopped thinking about it. I just focused up and got work done. I wasn’t focused on gadgets or cool tricks, I didn’t have to adjust the chair over and over again, I didn’t have to keep playing with the lumbar support, nor adjust the headrest, I was able to sit back, get the tension set once, and then get to work.

Some chairs take a long time to get used to, to dial in, or to get “just right,” or maybe they’re great in some positions for some tasks but not for everything, so you feel like you need to frequently adjust or re-position, or maybe you desire a different chair for part of your day, depending on your working scenario. Thankfully, with the Haworth Fern, I haven’t experienced needing to change my seat around at all.

I can use this chair all day long, without needing or wanting to swap it out, even with the abundance of chairs around me. I was able to get my full testing in without any problems, and my team loves this chair too. I always test chairs and gear myself, and then have others test as well to ensure I’m not just an odd bird with what I like. My team loves the Fern. Some of my team members prefer the extra-lumbar version and the headrest version I got first, but most prefer the second model with standard lumbar and no headrest.

I like my chairs pretty tight. I like still being able to push back, but I want resistance, and quite a bit of it. This one gives me exactly that, which is great. For the times I wanted to stop, Haworth planned for that too and allowed the chair to be locked in a limited-range setting.

I also chose to get the tilt option. At first, I didn’t think I’d need it, but as a tester, I decided to give it a shot. It turns out that if you’re the kind of person who sits forward, leaning on your forearms on the desk while typing or writing, or if you simply find yourself already leaned forward, the tilt alleviates pressure and makes for a more comfortable experience. And, since it’s as easy as flipping a lever, you can switch in and out of this tilt mode super easily.

Haworth Fern: Final verdict

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The Haworth Fern delivers on its promise of adaptive, all-day comfort through genuinely innovative engineering. Its patented Wave Suspension System and edgeless back design create natural support that moves with you rather than against you.

After extended testing, the Fern proved itself to be a chair you can forget about — in the best way — allowing you to focus on work instead of constant adjustments. While the premium price point and lack of a full mesh option may deter some buyers, the Fern’s combination of ergonomic excellence, sustainability credentials, 12-year warranty, and 30-day trial makes it a worthy investment for remote workers and office professionals who spend long hours seated.