In a Nutshell:
Not the prettiest activity stool on the market, but it gets the job done and is attractively priced, to boot! AmazonBasics Adjustable Activity Office Tilt Stool is recommended for anyone under 220 pounds on a budget, who’s looking for a low-cost way to experiment with alternative office seating.
Value for the Money
Comfort
Brand Reliability*
Aesthetic Flexibility**
Overall Rating
3.9/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Anyone under 220 pounds on a budget, who’s looking for a low-cost way to experiment with alternative office seating
Are you dissatisfied with your current office chair? Has that dissatisfaction led you down the path of exploring alternative office seating options?
If so, you may have been surprised to find so many options in this corner of the market, which may, in turn, have led to a bit of analysis paralysis.
If you know you want something in terms of alternative office seating but you’re not sure where to start, your best bet is to buy a value-priced option that gives you the opportunity to test the waters and make sure it’s right for you before you invest in a pricey, high-end seat of one type or another.
The AmazonBasics Adjustable Activity Office Tilt Stool is a great option for this. It’s not the prettiest stool on the market, nor is it the most comfortable, but it is attractively priced and capable, and it’s a superb way to explore the world of unconventional office seating.
In the sections that follow, we’ll tell you everything this little stool gets right, and we’ll be quick to point out the shortcomings of the model so you can decide for yourself if it’s the model you’ve been looking for. If that sounds good to you, let’s take a closer look, starting now!
An Overview of the AmazonBasics Activity Office Tilt Stool
This little stool is definitely a case study in function over form. The AmazonBasics Adjustable Activity Office Tilt Stool is certainly not an ugly product, but it’s clear that the designers placed more emphasis on its core functionality and paid relatively little attention to matters of aesthetics.
The good news on that front is that it has an unobtrusive look to it, so it essentially fades into the background of whatever room you put it in unless you order a color that stands out in contrast to your prevailing décor scheme.
Speaking of colors, you do have some flexibility on that front, being able to order your activity stool upholstered in either black, grey, or orange.
The orange is a bit of a surprise. It’s not exactly a mainstream color and all but guarantees that the stool will stand out in the room you place it in. We’re not completely sold on it, but the option is there if you decide you’ve just got to have an orange-capped stool.
Chair Specifications
Before we go any further, let’s pause for a moment to review the basic stats that define this model. Here they are:
- Overall Product Dimensions: 13.6” x 13.6” x 21.9”
- Stool Weight: 19.84 pounds
- Maximum Supported Weight: 220 pounds
- Seat Height Adjustment Range: 18.5” to 28”
A few things jump out at us on reviewing these numbers. First, it’s small and light enough that it’s a simple matter to pick this stool up and tote it where you want it, so if you have a job that sees you moving from one place to another over the course of a given day, it’s easy enough to pick this little guy up and bring it with you.
Second, and this is a bit of a disappointment, is the maximum supported user weight. Most of the alternative seating options sold today have a 250-pound weight limit, which we feel is too modest, to begin with. This stool doesn’t even quite rise to that level, which limits its market appeal. Still, if you weigh less than 220 pounds and are on a budget, it’s a decent option to consider.
Third, the height adjustment range is good, and surprisingly generous, spanning nearly ten inches. That makes it a fairly versatile piece of furniture, capable of being used in conjunction with every standard-sized desk on the market, and rising high enough to be useful when paired with a drafting table and even most standing desks.
While we were underwhelmed by the maximum supported weight, this aspect of the chair’s design is genuinely impressive. Kudos to Amazon for delivering such a versatile product on that front!
The other thing that deserves a brief mention here, albeit something that’s not captured by the stats outlined above, is the base. It’s beveled, which gives you a broader range of motion when shifting about while sitting on the stool.
That’s something of a two-edged sword, though, because the shape of the base means that until you’ve fully acclimated to owning one of these, you’re quite likely to knock it over when you stand up to move around. It’s a small thing, and on balance, we like the design of the base, but it does take a bit of getting used to.
Features of the AmazonBasics Tilt Stool
Adjustability and Comfort
There’s only one adjustable feature on offer, and we’ve already mentioned it. It’s got an impressive height adjustment range. The user manual/instruction booklet is short for this very reason. Nobody will ever buy one of these for its massive adjustability; it’s just not there.
Nobody is going to gravitate to this stool on the grounds of comfort, either. While it does sport a modest amount of conventional block foam padding with PU upholstery covering it, there’s not enough padding to make it a comfortable seating option if you plan to spend 8+ hours a day sitting on the stool and working on your computer. It’s not designed and optimized for that.
We can’t say we love the fact that it’s upholstered in PU either. PU has two problems, but only one of the two problems matters where this stool is concerned.
The first problem (and the one that doesn’t bother us much in this case) is the fact that PU isn’t breathable. The longer you sit on it, the hotter you’re apt to get. Since this chair wasn’t designed for extended periods of sitting anyway, that’s not really an issue.
The second issue is that PU just isn’t all that durable as upholstery options go. Even if you’re incredibly careful with it, you can expect it to start peeling and cracking after about a year to a year and a half of light to moderate daily use. If you have pets, you can expect it to last about five minutes after your pet discovers the new piece of furniture.
That’s not the end of the world, especially given the shockingly low price of the stool, but it is something to be mindful of.
So, if it’s not very adjustable and it’s not blessed with an abundance of comfort, why buy it? For two reasons: It’s ergonomically excellent, and sitting on the stool gives you an excellent low-intensity workout.
Since the AmazonBasics Activity Office Tilt stool moves as you move while you’re sitting on it, it has the effect of keeping your spine properly aligned at all times. If you suffer from chronic back pain, if that pain is caused primarily by spinal compression, this stool will help to alleviate that pain.
It’s also great for improving the circulation in your legs, and as we mentioned, sitting on one of these gives you a steady low-intensity core workout that will help you burn more calories and tone your muscles.
If one of your goals is better health and fitness, but you don’t have the time to go to a gym, then this handy stool can play an important role in your in-office fitness routine, which makes it of tremendous value.
The other thing to remember is this: This type of stool wasn’t designed to accommodate or properly support power users who spend endless hours a day sitting in one spot. It’s optimized for people with active jobs who sit for short periods and then get up and move around.
If that describes your typical workday, or if you can restructure your day to do that, then you’ll get a lot of use out of this stool. If not, then you’re going to be disappointed in your purchase.
Assembly is Super Simple
Most of the office furniture being sold today comes unassembled, and the AmazonBasics Activity Office Tilt Stool is no exception. The good news is that the assembly process is extremely simple and will take you all of five minutes.
Given this, it’s no great surprise that the stool doesn’t come with an expert assembly option, and honestly, even if it did, we couldn’t recommend it in good conscience. Given how expensive those options generally are, the assembly option would cost more than the stool itself. It just wouldn’t be worth it for something that takes no more than a few minutes to put together.
Color Variations of AmazonBasics Adjustable Office Stool
AmazonBasics Office Stool Pros and Cons
Since this is a very basic stool, there’s not a lot to talk about here, but in no particular order, here’s what we like best about the AmazonBasics Activity Stool:
On the other hand:
AmazonBasics Adjustable Activity Office Tilt Stool Review Conclusion
Overall, we feel that the pros definitely outweigh the cons here, but we’ll be quick to point out that even if you fall in love with this little stool, it’s not the last one you’ll ever own. The AmazonBasics Adjustable Activity Office Tilt Stool is a ‘starter stool.’ A great option for anyone on a budget and anyone who’s not 100% sold on the idea of unconventional office seating who’s looking for a cheap way to experiment with it.
On that basis, we provisionally recommend it.
Recommended Reading
Kore Wobble Office Chair Review
Our review centers on the Kore Wobble Office Chair, a fun and versatile seating for modern offices or homes.
Hon Perch Stool Reviews
Our assessment focuses on the Hon Perch Stool, a budget-friendly alternative to the Muvman stool.
Official Manufacturer Support
References & Resources
- AmazonBasics, Official Manufacturer Website
- AmazonBasics Adjustable Activity Office Tilt Stool User Manual
- Design Ideas: Style Your Space with Accent Seating Alternatives, A Glass of Bovino
- Usefulness of a Stool to Stabilize Dental Chairs for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), NCBI
- Does Your Operator Stool Trigger Low Back Pain?, DE.