Just about every ergonomic office chair I’ve tested so far has featured similar designs and materials. A mesh back panel with some sort of fabric on the seat, various adjustments, and optional headrests seem to be the central features of every ergonomic office Chair. Branch’s Ergonomic Chair Pro ticks those boxes too, but instead of mesh, I finally got to test a different material.
In this case, the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro features vegan leather throughout. You can get it in mesh for better breathability, or upgrade to true leather for a truly regal look. I opted for vegan leather because I liked the color option and wanted to get a sense of whether such materials offer clear benefits over mesh.
The answer is yes, but there are trade-offs. Overall, the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro has been a comfortable and supportive chair for long hours at the computer. It’s an excellent choice in this price range, but if I had to do it all over again, I’d still opt for the mesh construction despite the benefits the vegan leather presents. My Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro review will help you decide whether this is the best office chair for you or if another Branch chair might be a more suitable option.
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Specs
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| Price | $499 |
| Maximum height | 38-41.5 inches (41.5 to 45 inches height with tall cylinder) |
| Maximum load | 275 pounds |
| Maximum recline | 26° |
| Weight | 42 pounds |
| Material | Mesh, vegan leather or leather, foam |
| Adjustment points | 14 |
| Warranty | 7 years |
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Price and availability
The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro costs $499. That price does not include the headrest ($69) and it’s available to purchase now on Branch’s website.
Branch offers free shipping, as well as 30 day returns on the Ergonomic Chair Pro. There’s also a 7-year warranty. At checkout, you can also use Shop Pay to break the cost down into multiple payments.
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Assembly
The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro arrives in a fairly small box, and the parts are well-packed within. The entire build process took me about 15 minutes, most of which was spent unboxing/unwrapping the parts.
Once it’s all out of the box, you should save that cardboard box to help you assemble the chair. In fact, Branch includes this tip in the instructions, which are clear and easy to follow.
The screw packet included with the chair broke open during shipping, and the included Allen Key tool wasn’t super high quality. But otherwise, the build went quickly and smoothly, and the chair was at my desk no more than 20 minutes after the delivery driver dropped it on my doorstep.
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Adjustability
Branch says its Ergonomic Chair Pro offers 14 points of adjustment. Those include seat height, seat depth, back tilt, back tilt tension, and seat tilt, among others. The back tilt also features a tension adjustment. Tighten this adjuster and you’ll get more tension when you push your back against the back panel; loosen it, and you’ll find it super easy to recline.
There’s also a forward seat tilt adjustment, which is a neat inclusion at this price. Usually, this feature is only present on more expensive chairs.
The 5D armrests also feature tons of adjustment, aside from the basic arm height movement. The pads move in several directions so you can tailor the position to your liking.
There’s a padded lumbar support panel behind the back panel, and it adjusts easily to give you as much or as little lumbar support as you prefer.
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Design and comfort
You can choose between three materials when you order the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro. The standard material is a mesh back panel and fabric seat. There’s also a vegan leather option, which I chose. And at the high end of the spectrum, you can go with a full leather construction.
You can also choose a couple of add-ons before you purchase. The two most important ones are the optional headrest ($69) and the extended range cylinder ($29). I chose the headrest, but stuck with the standard range cylinder. You’ll want that extended range cylinder if you’re very tall (over 6 feet) and need more vertical adjustment to find your ideal position.
The seat is constructed with high-density foam to provide support and comfort for long hours at your desk. It all rides on an aluminum base that rolls on scratch-proof casters.
The Ergonomic Chair Pro also looks great. My test sample came with the vegan leather option, which fits in nicely with my home office decor. It was a nice change of pace to test a chair that wasn’t black or gray. The brown vegan leather option was a gamble for me, but I’m pretty pleased with it.
The downside to vegan leather, however, is that it isn’t breathable. Nor would the leather option be breathable. If you’re looking for lots of breathability, particularly in the back panel, you should opt for the mesh construction instead.
Of course, if that’s my biggest complaint, then Branch is surely onto something with this ergonomic chair. And indeed, it’s a comfy and super adjustable chair, and I’ve been quite happy with it.
The seat bottom errs toward the firmer end of the spectrum when it comes to cushioning. But on the bright side, you won’t find yourself sinking in, which can also put pressure on various parts of your bottom, which can cause discomfort. I found the seat bottom supportive and more comfortable than other ‘firm’ seat bottoms I’ve tested.
The seat back gets a lot of its support from the vegan leather. It cradles your back nicely. One of the downsides of airier, mesh backs is the lack of support, especially over time. Mesh tends to flex more, which leads to more movement and, ultimately, wear. The vegan leather will also likely stretch over time, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon. After almost a month of sitting in this chair, the back feels supportive and comfortable.
The padded lumbar support panel on the Ergonomic Chair Pro also works well and is well-positioned to support my lumbar spine. I would like to see a bit more movement in terms of adjustability, but I was able to find a good, comfortable position.
The headrest has been a bit trickier to dial in. While the up and down adjustment feels pretty spot-on, and the pivoting adjustment allows you to find a position to cradle your head, the headrest does not adjust forward at all. That means it’s only useful if you’re leaning back — and I mean way, way back. While sitting up, the headrest only works if I’m staring up at the ceiling.
The back tilt tension is a neat feature I’ve come to appreciate more than I thought I would. I generally lock out my seat back on any chair I test, largely because I want the most upright position for working. But with the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro, I’m able to add enough tension to the back tilt adjustment that it stays in place for the most part, until I actually want to recline. And if I want to make sure I’m sitting up straight without any creep at all, I can simply lock it out.
The arm pad adjustments are nice, and they snap into place once you’ve found your ideal position. Generally, I don’t like arm pads that adjust because they tend to flop out of place, and this really seems like a superfluous adjustment anyway. Branch’s system works better than almost all the chairs I’ve tested like the Haworth Breck where the arms were a bit wobbly, though I still did find myself accidentally changing the adjustments any time I got up out of the chair and used the arm rests to propel myself up.
The seat bottom tilt is another great feature I’ve come to enjoy. As I mentioned, I like to maintain a very upright sitting position while I’m working, so I don’t put undue pressure on my neck and shoulders. Putting the seat tilt all the way back makes sure my tailbones sit deeply into the seat, and consequently, I get a lot of lumbar support.
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Verdict
The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro has been a wonderful addition to my home office. I think if I had to do it again, I would get the mesh version for a bit more breathability, but the vegan leather looks great and offers back panel support I’ve come to rely on. While I don’t love the arm pad adjustments (on any office chairs, really), Branch’s execution works well here. I also wish the optional headrest came forward a bit more to support my head and neck while I’m working, rather than staring up at the ceiling (which, admittedly, happens more than I’d care to admit).
If you’re after tons of breathability, the vegan leather or leather options are not your best choice. Fortunately, Branch offers a mesh version of this chair and the original Branch Ergonomic Chair also has a mesh backrest. Likewise if you want a chair that looks gorgeous but isn’t as focused on ergonomics, check out the Branch Verve Chair. Overall though, the Branch Ergonomic Chair’s versatility, coupled with some nifty adjustment features like the seat tilt and back tilt tension, make it an excellent choice for an ergonomic office chair.
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