Are you in the market for a new, reasonably priced office chair? Do you consider yourself to be a bit of a do-it-yourselfer?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you will be intrigued by our in-depth review of the Viva Office brand.
About Viva Office
This young Swedish company was only established in 2008, so it hasn’t been in the game long at this point, and as such, it doesn’t have a lot of brand heft. Nonetheless, it makes some surprisingly good furniture; even better, it’s one of only a few companies that sells replacement parts for its chairs.
If you’re a DIYer, it’s easy to swap out a failed component and keep right on using your chair! That kind of thing isn’t for everyone, but we think it’s cool that you can if you don’t mind applying a bit of good old-fashioned elbow grease. Indeed, the fact that the company offers replacement parts gave them a slight nudge in the “Brand Reliability” department than they otherwise would have had.
We consider them about a half step below Flash Furniture, a smaller brand we love.
It should be said that no matter how good a brand is, it occasionally misses the mark on some models. Viva Office is no different in that regard. While most of their products are quite good, they have swung and missed a few times.
Not to worry, in the sections that follow, we’ll break down the various chairs they currently offer for sale and tell you each one’s strongest and weakest points, so you can not only get a feel for the brand but also, we hope, find your next office chair!
Viva Office Chairs Overview
Now that we’ve provided a broad overview of Viva Office’s products, let’s discuss what the company’s office chairs have in common before looking at individual models.
Modularity
One of the things we like about the Viva Office brand is that in addition to selling office furniture, they also sell the parts that are most likely to break down individually over time.
This strengthens the brand and makes it a perfect choice for Do-It-Yourselfers who like maintaining their own furniture and equipment. Because they do so, we rated their brand reliability slightly higher than we otherwise would have.
Granted, not everyone will appreciate this approach, but we like it very much.
Here are some of the components you can buy individually:
Casters (Sets of Five)
You can order these in either black or grey.
Casters tend to be pretty durable and long-lasting, but especially in chairs with a nylon base, if and when the base cracks and breaks, it can bend the spokes that slide into the base, securing the caster.
That’s the most common reason you’ll eventually need a replacement set. However, if your casters have become damaged, they may scuff the surface of your hardwood or linoleum floor, or they may not roll as smoothly on the carpet as they once did. In either case, replacement is quick, inexpensive and easy.
Tilt Control Mechanism
In most cases, this will be the last thing to break down among the various components of your chair. Sooner or later, though, it will happen, and when it does, it’s nice to know you can get a replacement that’s guaranteed to fit the chair you’ve got.
Gas Lift Replacement
This is one of the first things to go in most chairs. The first thing you’ll notice is that every time you sit in the chair, it won’t maintain the height adjustment you’ve set it at and will slowly sink to its lowest position.
In the short run, you can keep raising the seat back up, but it will happen again, and sooner or later, it will stop working altogether. Fortunately, it’s super easy to swap out.
Chair Base
If you order a chair with a nylon base, it will probably not last more than a year or two if you use it for several hours daily. Over time, even aluminum or steel bases may suffer damage.
Lightly constructed metal bases take longer to break down, but if you’re near the top end of your chair’s maximum supported weight and use it heavily daily, sooner or later, it will happen. Again, it’s nice to know that when it does, you can simply swap it out for a new one.
Our one quibble here is that we wish Viva Office sold a heavy-duty replacement base; even if they don’t offer them on the chairs they sell, we can certainly live with it.
You can order a chrome base or a nylon replacement base.
Note that the nylon replacement base is ruggedized and claims to support up to five hundred pounds of weight, so it is, at least in theory, more durable than the one that came with your chair in most cases. Still, we hoped to see a heavy-duty steel replacement base, but the company does not currently offer one.
Assembly is Required
No matter which chair model you buy from Viva Office, it will arrive in a big box in several pieces. You’ll have to unpack it, sort the pieces, and spend some time putting it together.
The production quality of Viva Office furniture is decent but not outstanding. Although the company uses low-end materials to construct the chairs they sell, they’re at the upper end of that spectrum, and you won’t have a problem aligning the pre-drilled holes as you put your chair together.
The build time varies from one model to the next, but expect to spend 30-45 minutes if you’re putting it together by yourself. You can save about ten minutes if you enlist the aid of a trusty assistant, and you’ll save yourself headaches at various points along the way.
If you’ve put office furniture together in the past, you already know that the hardest part is attaching the seat to the seat back – that’s where you’ll get the most benefit from having a second pair of hands.
One-Year Warranty
Unless otherwise noted, all Viva Office chairs come with a one-year warranty. That’s above average for the value segment of the market, but some office chair manufacturers offer a longer warranty.
Again, though, given the fact that Viva isn’t known for their customer service excellence, combined with the fact that it sells spare parts, the reality is that most people just order what they need to fix their chairs themselves rather than try to jump through the customer service hoops.
Upholstery Options
Most of the products sold by Viva Office are upholstered in mesh or bonded leather. They have a fabric-upholstered task chair for sale, but seeing fabric on Viva Office products is the exception, not the rule.
We won’t spend much time on this, but we’ll give you a quick and dirty summary of the implications of the three main upholstery options to guide you in your search for the “right” office chair.
Leather
Leather upholstery tends to look the best, lending an air of elegance to most chairs that are so upholstered. Unfortunately, leather chairs have two serious drawbacks. One is they’re not pet-friendly at all. If you have pets (especially cats), you do NOT want to invest in leather furniture unless you like burning money. They’ll rip it apart in no time flat.
Second, leather makes you sweat because it isn’t breathable. If you plan to spend serious amounts of time every day in your chair, you should probably think twice about getting a leather one.
Finally, not all leather is created equally. If you have a chair covered in grain leather, that’s significantly better than a chair covered in bonded leather. Bonded leather is real leather but is created by fusing leather scraps. As such, it’s not as supple or as strong as genuine leather and will start to show its age relatively quickly.
A good rule of thumb is that if you plan on heavy daily usage, you can expect bonded leather to start peeling and cracking after about a year. Moderate daily usage will probably extend its life to two years, and light daily usage will extend it to two and a half and maybe three years, but that’s about all you can expect to get out of bonded leather.
In short, leather tends to be prettier than the other options, but cheaper (bonded) leather doesn’t stand up well to heavy use.
All of Viva Office’s leather-clad chairs use bonded leather. (Note: This is hardly unique to Viva Office; almost all value-priced, leather upholstered furniture relies on bonded leather for an elegant finish – unfortunately, it makes the furniture a bit of a glass cannon. Use it, and you’re apt to break it).
Color-wise, whatever the type, leather is most often offered in black, fairly commonly offered in brown, sometimes offered in beiges or whites, and rarely offered in any other color.
Mesh
This is about as close to leather’s polar opposite as you’ll likely find. It’s incredibly durable and rugged (not to mention pet-friendly), but it won’t win any beauty contests.
In theory, mesh furniture can be livened up by being offered in virtually unlimited colors, but most office furniture vendors stick to basic black or grey.
A minority of vendors offer a range of colors, however, so it is possible to find some variation if you’re willing to look. The best thing about mesh is that it’s incredibly breathable. As such, it’s ideally suited to heavy daily usage.
Unfortunately, mesh is often paired with low-end construction materials that don’t stand up as well to the rigors of heavy daily use.
This is done as a cost-saving measure because mesh is relatively less expensive. It’s entirely possible, though, to find great, high-end mesh chairs.
Fabric
Fabric occupies the middle ground, the territory between leather and mesh. It’s more breathable than the former but less breathable than the latter. It’s also offered in a staggering array of colors and patterns and, in that regard, is the most aesthetically flexible of the three upholstery options.
It also occupies the middle ground when it comes to pets, being more durable than leather but less durable than mesh.
Okay! With those details out of the way, let’s turn our attention to the individual models and see what each of Viva Office’s chairs offers!
Viva Office Chair Types & Categories
Because Viva Office makes several different chairs, some of its individual models tend to be short-lived. Rather than doing a series of individual reviews for models that may be here today and gone tomorrow, we’ve opted to take a snapshot of the brand as it exists today and give you an overview of the models currently on offer.
Of course, we’ll provide links to the individual models, but we’re also including the link to the brand’s page. That way, if a model you’re interested in is no longer offered for sale, you’ll be able to quickly zero in on whatever new Viva Office chair model has arisen to take its place.
The chairs that Viva Office sells can be broken into the following categories:
The task chairs category is a bit of a catchall, and you’ll find some leather-upholstered, one fabric-upholstered, and some pure mesh chairs here. In our view, this is probably the weakest segment of the company’s product line, but we wanted to include it for the sake of completeness.
Before we discuss the particulars of each individual model the company sells, we’ll first examine the brand’s lineup from a high altitude to give you an overview.
We’ll do that just below here in our Viva Office Chair review. We’ve broken the company’s products down into the basic groupings outlined above. Where needed, we’ve broken larger product sections out by various price points so you can more quickly zero in on exactly what you’re looking for.
Viva Office Reclining Executive Office Chairs
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Primary Rating:
3.2
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Primary Rating:
3.8
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Value:
3.0
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Value:
4.3
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Comfort:
3.8
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Comfort:
4.5
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.7
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.0
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Summary:
A slightly above average reclining executive office chair with limited ergonomic support
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Summary:
As best we can tell, this is a slightly older variant of the high back bonded leather recliner, mentioned just to the left. Aside from a slight reduction in price, its main difference is that it doesn’t recline as far back.
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Recommended for:
Not recommended, unless you’re desperate for a reclining executive office chair.
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Recommended for:
Provisionally recommended for anyone who wants a reclining office chair and doesn’t care if it doesn’t lay quite flat. (the provisional recommendation is because this appears to be an older model and may not be available in the longer term).
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Overall Dimensions:
37” x 27” x 42.9” x 45.3”
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Overall Dimensions:
36” x 28” x 44.9” to 47.1”
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Chair Weight:
77.2 pounds
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Chair Weight:
77.3 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Recline Range:
90 to 160 degrees
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Recline Range:
90 to 160 degrees
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Seat Width:
22.4”
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Seat Width:
21.7”
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Seat Height:
21.1” to 23.4”
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Seat Height:
19.3” to 21.7”
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Seat Depth:
17.7”
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Seat Depth:
18.1”
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*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva1102 Leather Reclining Office Chair
Not recommended, unless you’re desperate for a reclining executive office chair.
We’re tackling these individual products in the same order as we listed them in the tables above, which is unfortunate in this case because the company’s most expensive chair is a miss and does not meet our standards.
On paper, it’s a pretty good chair, but it suffers from a collection of flaws that, when taken together, we regard as fatal.
Scoring-wise, it winds up being a shade above average, but let’s have a closer look:
First, check out the seat height adjustment range. Most office chairs offer a range of about 4″, which allows them to be adjusted for use by a relatively wide range of body shapes and sizes.
Some chairs even offer a seat height adjustment range of up to 12”. This Viva Reclining Office Chair offers about two and a quarter inches (21.1” to 23.4”). Further, the height adjustment range is wholly inappropriate for petite or shorter people, who will not be able to use the chair effectively or sit in it comfortably.
The thing is, though, it only has a 250-pound weight limit, so although the seat height adjustment range is geared toward bigger folks, the weight allowance isn’t. Mind you, a 250-pound weight limit isn’t bad for a standard-sized chair, but based on the seat height range, we’d have expected the weight limit to be more than it is.
Then there’s the fact that almost nothing about the chair is ergonomic. Yes, it’s reasonably comfortable and well-padded, but the only ergonomic feature in this model is decent lumbar support.
The company tries to make this the focus of its marketing by calling it an “Ergonomic Wave” backrest. Still, honestly, there’s not much that we can see (beyond the lumbar support) that’s ergonomic about the design.
There’s no waterfall-style seat, no ergonomic armrests, and the headrest tilts too far forward to be comfortable.
Worse, one of the most persistent complaints about the chair is that it tends to tip forward, making it even harder for shorter people to use because they’ll be inclined to sit forward anyway so that their feet will touch the floor.
On the plus side, it does lay nearly flat, and if you wanted, you could probably take a decent nap in the chair. But even there, the leather upholstery works against you, as you’ll likely wake up sweating.
It’s a reasonably attractive chair, but it’s only offered in one color (brown), which somewhat limits its ability to blend seamlessly with your home’s existing décor scheme.
Also, note that the base is nylon with a chrome-like coating sprayed atop it. Not only is the nylon not capable of supporting a ton of weight unless it’s reinforced (it isn’t in this case, ref: the modest maximum supported weight), but the first time your shoes come in contact with the base, you’re likely to start chipping the chrome coating off.
So why do we rate this chair slightly above average, given all those failings?
Well, as we said, it’s a decent-looking piece of furniture, and it’s comfortable to sit and recline in, provided you use it only lightly to moderately every day.
The weaknesses we mentioned above, combined with the bonded leather upholstery, make this Viva Office Reclining Office chair a poor choice for heavy daily usage. However, occasional users will find this chair to be a smidge above average IF they fit properly in the chair and don’t exceed the weight limit.
This is to say that we regard this as a niche product and cannot recommend it in good conscience. Fortunately, many of Viva Office’s other models are much better designed.
Viva08501A High Back Bonded Leather Office Recliner
This chair is not only cheaper than the company’s most expensive executive office recliner, but it’s also a significant step up in terms of usability and quality. That said, there are still some issues (some of them serious) to be aware of.
First and foremost, this chair suffers the same small height range adjustment that the chair we just discussed is saddled with. Here, the range spans 18.5” to 20.9.” Again, most office furniture offers at least a four-inch height adjustment range, which left us wanting.
Although the weight limit is the same as the previous chair (250 pounds), given the seat height adjustment range, that’s much more appropriate here, so we don’t have an issue with it.
Also, this model has more ergonomic features, which increase its score. Those include a waterfall-style seat, improved lumbar support, and decent ergonomic head and neck support. Even better, with 4” of block foam padding underneath the leather, it’s surprisingly comfortable. It’s offered in both brown and black, which increases its aesthetic flexibility.
The armrests on this Viva Office Deluxe Reclining Chair are pretty cool, too, in that they’re designed to move as you recline in the chair, providing a changing, ever-comfortable position. We love it. This is the finishing feature that makes a great chair.
Unfortunately, the model suffers a bit score-wise because it’s not designed to withstand the rigors of heavy daily usage. The base is chrome-covered aluminum, which can take that kind of punishment, but the bonded leather upholstery simply can’t.
Still, if you want a reclining office chair and you only plan to use it lightly or moderately every day, this is a surprisingly good choice, even if it’s a bit more expensive than we’d like to see.
The one thing we’d love to see added is a waterfall-style seat, but even without that, we must admit that we like this chair more than its final score would indicate. We would recommend buying it if you feel like you have to have a reclining office chair and meet the size and weight requirements, of course.
Viva08501 High Back Bonded Leather Recliner with Footrest
Provisionally recommended for anyone who wants a reclining office chair and doesn’t care if it doesn’t lay quite flat. (the provisional recommendation is because this appears to be an older model and may not be available in the longer term).
We’re not sure what to make of this chair. At first glance, we thought it was just the brown version of the model we discussed, but the chair’s dimensions are different, so as far as we can tell, this is the older model that gave rise to the chair we mentioned.
With that in mind, don’t be surprised if this particular model vanishes at some point, but while it’s here, we’ll briefly mention it.
It’s functionally similar to the previous chair but slightly less costly, which makes it a better overall value. However, it’s only offered in brown, so it loses a bit of ground in terms of aesthetic flexibility and winds up in the same place as its younger cousin.
The one big difference is that this chair doesn’t recline as far back, so if that’s something you place a premium on, then it’s worth spending a little more to get the updated version.
Viva Office Executive Office Chairs Under $130
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Primary Rating:
3.8
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Primary Rating:
3.8
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Primary Rating:
3.3
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Primary Rating:
3.9
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Value:
4.8
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Value:
4.5
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Value:
3.3
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Value:
5.0
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Comfort:
4.3
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Comfort:
4.3
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Comfort:
4.0
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Comfort:
4.3
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.0
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.0
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.8
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.0
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Summary:
This is a really good chair, and a tremendous value for the money.
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Summary:
A decent chair for the money, with some basic ergonomic features on offer.
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Summary:
A slightly above average office chair with limited ergonomic supports.
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Summary:
A surprisingly full-featured chair for the money. Very versatile design.
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Recommended for:
Recommended for anyone.
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Recommended for:
Provisionally recommended for those who can’t afford the high back bonded leather office chair.
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Recommended for:
Not recommended unless you just love the aesthetic. There are better options for the money.
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Recommended for:
Recommended for anyone on a budget.
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Overall Dimensions:
31.3” x 27.2” x 42.1” to 45.3”
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Overall Dimensions:
25.9” x 23.5” x 44.9” to 48.1”
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Overall Dimensions:
26.8” x 26” x 39.8” to 42.9”
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Overall Dimensions:
25.6” x 26” x 42” to 46”
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Chair Weight:
43 pounds
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Chair Weight:
31 pounds
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Chair Weight:
45.3 pounds
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Chair Weight:
41 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
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Recline Range:
None, but the chair does rock back and forth slightly.
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Recline Range:
None, but the chair does rock back and forth slightly.
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Recline Range:
None, but the chair does rock back and forth slightly.
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Recline Range:
None, but the chair does rock back and forth slightly.
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Seat Width:
20.1”
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Seat Width:
19”
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Seat Width:
21.3”
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Seat Width:
23.9”
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Seat Height:
17.7” to 20.9”
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Seat Height:
23.8” to 26.8”
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Seat Height:
19.2” to 22.8”
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Seat Height:
18.25” to 22”
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Seat Depth:
18.5”
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Seat Depth:
18.5”
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Seat Depth:
18.5”
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Seat Depth:
18.1`”
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*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva1272 High Back Bonded Leather Office Chair
Recommended For: Anyone. A tremendous value for the money
The high-back bonded leather office chair is a tremendous value for the money. It’s comfortable and surprisingly full-featured. The height adjustment range of 17.1” to 20.9” is well paired with the chair’s 250-pound weight limit, although again, we see something that will be a persistent issue with Viva’s current designs.
The height adjustment range is smaller than the industry average of 4”. We don’t understand it, and it’d be easy to fix, and it did dent the chair’s overall score. Still, it’s not a deal breaker, and this model gets a lot right.
Ergonomically, you’ll find a waterfall-style seat, well-implemented lumbar support, good head and neck support, and ergonomic armrests. Sadly, none of the ergonomic features are adjustable, but that’s no surprise at this price point.
The main thing to be aware of is that, as with most furniture upholstered with bonded leather, it’s not going to stand up to the rigors of heavy daily use. If you’re looking for a chair designed for light to moderate daily use, though, this one belongs on your shortlist.
Also, note that the base is nylon, covered in a chrome finish. As such, if you’re in the habit of resting your feet on the base, you can expect it to start flaking off sooner, rather than later. Again, this does not lend itself well to heavy daily use, which underscores the point above.
Viva 20182 Ergonomic Bonded Leather Swivel Chair
Provisionally recommended for those who can’t afford the high back bonded leather office chair.
This chair is functionally similar to the high back bonded leather chair we just reviewed, but it doesn’t have padded, ergonomically sculpted armrests and we’re not as impressed with the seat height adjustment range and weight limit.
The weight limit is the standard 250-pound limit on most of Viva Office’s chairs, but the height adjustment range spans 23.6” to 26.6”, which again is a smaller range than the industry standard. This is owing to the company’s insistence on using what is, in our view, a poor choice for their gas lift.
That’s a high range, which targets this chair at bigger/taller users, but there’s no corresponding increase to the maximum supported weight range.
That’s a weakness in our book. We’d have expected to see at least a slight bump up in that department. It wouldn’t have to have been much. Even fifty pounds would have been acceptable. Unfortunately, it was just not meant to be.
Again, given the presence of bonded leather upholstery, this chair is a decent choice for light to moderate daily use, but you’ll want to take careful measurements to be sure that the height adjustment range is right for you.
This chair does not recline but rocks back and forth slightly. If you’re specifically looking for a chair with a recline function, this isn’t the model you want.
We provisionally recommend this model but would urge you to consider spending an extra twenty bucks on the high-back bonded leather chair, assuming it fits you as well. It’s a better product.
If your heart is set on this one, you’ll find good lumbar and head and neck support, a waterfall-style seat, and generous 4” block foam padding. All that to say it’s a good value for the money; it’s just not as good a value as the high-back bonded leather chair above.
Note: One minor advantage this model has over the one above is that although both bases are nylon, this one isn’t covered with a chrome finish, so there’s no need to worry about it flaking off if you kick it or rest your feet on the base.
Viva 0973 Diamond Pattern Bonded Office Chair
Not recommended unless you just love the aesthetic. There are better options for the money.
We’re not fans of this model for a few reasons, although we readily admit that part of it is subjective and your mileage may vary.
First, we don’t like the chair’s aesthetic. The company describes it as a “stylish diamond bonded leather pattern,” but we don’t find much stylish about it. The design looks dated to us, and not in a good way.
Further, the tri-color approach doesn’t do the chair any favors. The leather is a deep, rich brown, which is nice, but it’s paired with stubby black nylon armrests (not padded and not ergonomic, but oddly enough, slightly height adjustable), with a sturdy aluminum base.
We like the aluminum base and would have preferred unpatterned leather with upholstered armrests that matched the chair. Given the presence of a more rugged base, we’re also not clear on why this model doesn’t have a higher maximum supported weight limit.
Unfortunately, the only ergonomic features you’ll find here are decent lumbar support and something that almost resembles a waterfall-style seat. In our book, it doesn’t quite qualify for the title, but it’s probably close enough that it will benefit your legs when it comes to helping with circulation.
We can’t recommend this model. Better options are available that cost less.
Viva1139L1 Swivel Office Chair
This is an incredibly strong low-end model with a lot going for it: generous padding, well-implemented lumbar, head, and neck support, and ergonomic, padded armrests paired with a waterfall-style seat. Of course, none of the ergonomic features are adjustable in any way, but for the price, that’s hardly a surprise.
It’s not a flashy, showy chair, and it’s only offered in basic black, but those things work to its advantage, making it blend seamlessly with almost any home décor scheme.
Although the product description says the base is steel, it appears to be the same aluminum base they used for the diamond pattern chair above, which makes sense, given that the weight limit didn’t increase.
The height adjustment range and 250-pound weight limit are relatively well paired, although again, we’d love to have seen even a modest increase here, given that the maximum seat height is just north of 22,” which is in tall user territory.
Even so, for the money, this is an awesome find and a very strong model by Viva Office. We recommend it to anyone on a budget.
Viva Office Executive Office Chairs $130 – $160
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Primary Rating:
3.6
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Primary Rating:
3.5
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Primary Rating:
3.8
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Primary Rating:
3.9
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Value:
4.0
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Value:
4.0
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Value:
4.5
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Value:
5.0
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Comfort:
4.3
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Comfort:
3.8
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Comfort:
4.3
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Comfort:
4.3
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.8
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.0
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.0
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Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Brand Reliability:
2.3
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Summary:
A decent chair with a full suite of non-adjustable ergonomic features.
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Summary:
A well-designed chair with well-implemented ergonomic features and extra pillows for lumbar support and your head.
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Summary:
An unobtrusive workhorse. Comfortable and with a full boat of ergonomic features.
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Summary:
A handsome, modestly priced chair that has all the features and comfort you’d expect.
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Recommended for:
Provisionally recommended if you like the aesthetic more than we did.
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Recommended for:
Provisionally recommended if you’re patient enough to break the headrest padding in. There’s not enough padding without the extra pillow and too much with it.
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Recommended for:
Recommended, especially if you don’t like the Fashionable Executive Chair and want a different aesthetic.
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Recommended for:
Recommended for anyone.
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Overall Dimensions:
29.9” x 25.6” x 43.3” to 46.9”
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Overall Dimensions:
29.8” x 23” x 42.1” to 45.3”
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Overall Dimensions:
29.9” x 26.4” x 42.5” to 45.3”
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Overall Dimensions:
29.1” x 26” x 46.1” to 48.4”
|
|
Chair Weight:
31.5 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
51.6 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
47 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
56 pounds
|
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
|
Recline Range:
90 to 120 degrees
|
Recline Range:
90 to 135 degrees
|
Recline Range:
90 to 120 degrees
|
Recline Range:
90 to 120 degrees
|
|
Seat Width:
21.7”
|
Seat Width:
19.7”
|
Seat Width:
22”
|
Seat Width:
21.3”
|
|
Seat Height:
18.9” to 22.4”
|
Seat Height:
18.1” to 21.3”
|
Seat Height:
18.1” to 20.9”
|
Seat Height:
19.3” to 21.7”
|
|
Seat Depth:
18.9
|
Seat Depth:
18.5”
|
Seat Depth:
19.3”
|
Seat Depth:
19.7”
|
*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva1575 Luxury High Back Ergonomic Chair
Provisionally recommended if you like the aesthetic more than we did.
We wanted to like this chair more than we did but found something “off” about it. On paper, it’s a solid enough contender.
It’s got a decent height adjustment range that spans 18.9” to 23.4”, not quite to industry standards but close enough. It’s well-padded and comfortable, although we note that the seat cushion feels like it has less padding than the back. We rather wish that had been the other way around.
Ergonomically, it covers all the basics, with a waterfall-style seat, ergonomic arms, good lumbar support, and good head and neck support.
We like the flares on the edges of the seat and at the top of the seatback. They give you a feeling of being cradled in the chair, which adds to the seating experience.
All of those are good things, but again, there’s just something missing here. The upholstery design of the seatback doesn’t “work” with the flared edges, leaving the chair looking a bit cheap. They may have slightly overdone it where the angle of the waterfall seat is concerned.
One of the more common complaints with this chair is that users feel like they will slide right out of it.
Another minor quibble is that, given the price, we were expecting more regarding the recline angle. Many other chairs in its price range recline to 135 degrees, while this one is limited to 120. Honestly, that’s more of a nit and won’t be a deal breaker for most, but it’s worth mentioning.
On balance, we provisionally recommend the chair if you’re a fan of the aesthetic but feel that this model is somehow…unfinished. With a few refinements, we think it could be one of their top contenders, but we were disappointed that a chair at this price range didn’t offer any adjustable ergonomic features.
This model more or less satisfies, but it doesn’t dazzle.
Viva0422L1 High Back Bonded Leather Exec. Chair
Provisionally recommended if you’re patient enough to break the headrest padding in.
This is another model we wanted to like more than we did. The design is perfect—classic and conventional, with a headrest and lumbar pillows for added support.
The waterfall-style seat is comfortable, as are the ergonomic armrests, which, while they’re not adjustable, do flip up, so you’ll have an easier time tucking this under your desk when you’re not using the chair. It’s also a great chair for musicians to practice in.
The seat is more generously padded than the back, which is appropriate, but the headrest doesn’t offer enough support without the optional pillow.
The problem is that the pillow offers a bit too much. True, over time, the block foam used in the padding will begin to break down, which is why we suspect they overdid it where the padding was concerned. Even so, you might find it a bit much, at least early on.
Our recommendation would be to try it out, and if there’s too much padding to be comfortable since you can’t easily trim some of the foam off, take the pillow off and compress it with heavy books for a week or two, then put it back and try it again. It’ll bounce back some, but you may be able to compress it enough that way to make it a better fit for you.
The lumbar support pillow suffers from the same problem, but we found it easier to adjust than the headrest pillow.
Those are the only real problems we had with the design, though, although, in fairness, those are two fairly important aspects of the chair, which is why it ultimately ranked no higher than it did. We provisionally recommend it, but be prepared for the possibility of some DIY hacks to make it a better fit for you.
Note: Unlike the slightly more expensive model, this Viva Office High Back Bonded Leather Executive chair reclines 135 degrees. That leaves us scratching our heads as to why the more expensive chair doesn’t.
Viva1563 Fashionable Executive Chair
We readily admit that we’re biased in favor of this chair. We’ve got a soft spot for wooden furniture, and the wooden arms and base really enhance its appearance.
We’re not as thrilled with the seatback’s upholstery as we would like, but thanks to the presence of the wood, we’re more than happy to overlook it. If we could change one thing, we’d probably ask for a slightly darker stain.
Nonetheless, the wood makes a striking, handsome contrast with the black bonded leather upholstery.
That, combined with the generous cushioning, the waterfall-style seat, good lumbar support, ergonomic, padded armrests, and head/neck support, make for a high-quality seating experience at a fair price.
The company describes the padding of this chair as “elastic foam,” which is, as far as we can tell, an inferior form of memory foam. It is more comfortable than standard block foam, and we noted the difference, so this chair got extra points for comfort from us.
Sadly, they saddled this pretty chair with a nylon base. We’re sure the wood frame could handle more than 250 pounds, so if they’d set it on an aluminum (or preferably steel) base, they could have had a chair with a higher weight limit, although given the seat height range (18.5” to 22”) that’s not necessary, strictly speaking. 22” is headed toward big and tall territory, but only just.
Even so, we felt it to be a missed opportunity. Still, we recommend this model.
Viva1549 High Back w/ Overstuffed Headrest
Recommended, especially if you don’t like the Fashionable Executive Chair and want a different aesthetic.
Another strong model. This chair probably has the best lumbar support in this product class, so if you’re looking for a comfortable, reasonably-priced chair with terrific lumbar support, this is probably the one you want.
However, we’re less impressed with the headrest. When they described it as being overstuffed, they weren’t kidding! It’s a shade too much for us, but if you’re willing to give it time and break it in, that’s probably not a deal breaker.
We will go so far as to say that the headrest is so overstuffed that any ergonomic value it possesses is gone, leaving you with the excellent lumbar support, the waterfall-style seat, and the padded ergonomic armrests. And again, if you’re willing to spend the time breaking the headrest in, that is probably the case, too.
It’s a well-priced chair, and we recommend it, especially if you don’t like the aesthetic of the Fashionable Executive Chair we reviewed just before. Its stats are similar enough that one could easily be substituted for the other.
Viva3631L1A High Back Manager’s Chair
Recommended for: Anyone. It has all the features and comfort you’d expect.
This chair feels like a trimmed-down version of the Luxury High Back Ergonomic Chair, and interestingly, we like it better. It’s got the same basic look, but we like the seatback upholstery better because it works with the flared edges on the flanks of the headrest.
It’s generously padded and deliciously comfortable, with a full suite of basic, non-adjustable features (lumbar, waterfall-style seat, ergonomic arms, and a comfortable headrest for head and neck support) and the same recline range.
The only thing it’s not as good at is the height adjustment range, which is practically nonexistent, spanning a tiny range between 19.3” and 21.7.” This has been a persistent gripe with all of Viva Office’s chairs, but this is the worst example we’ve seen.
The company has GOT to start using better gas lifts. If they did, they’d be able to cater to a broader market segment with far fewer models.
It’s the one thing they haven’t been able to work out yet, and we hope that changes soon.
That’s honestly the only real weakness of the design. As long as you can find a happy height in the anemic adjustment range, this chair is awesome for the money. Recommended.
Viva Office Executive Office Chairs $161+
|
|
|
|
|
Primary Rating:
3.7
|
Primary Rating:
3.8
|
Primary Rating:
3.8
|
Primary Rating:
4.0
|
|
Value:
3.5
|
Value:
4.3
|
Value:
4.0
|
Value:
4.3
|
|
Comfort:
4.5
|
Comfort:
4.5
|
Comfort:
4.5
|
Comfort:
5.0
|
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.5
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.3
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.3
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.5
|
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
|
Summary:
A handsome, functional design with well-implemented ergonomic features.
|
Summary:
Functionally similar to the chair with flip up arms, this model is a slightly better value.
|
Summary:
This chair is virtually identical to the Thick Padded Exec. Chair, with some slight tweaks to the dimensions.
|
Summary:
This is another model that’s highly similar to the others in this table. While this one doesn’t recline, it does feature memory foam, making it the best of the bunch, in our view.
|
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally Recommended for anyone, though some of the company’s cheaper models offer a better value.
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally Recommended for anyone.
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally Recommended. Take measurements to see which of the chairs here the best fit for you is, as they’re all quite similar.
|
Recommended for:
Recommended. In our view, this is the best chair in this portion of the lineup. If this model isn’t a perfect fit for you, check out the others in this product segment.
|
|
Overall Dimensions:
28.3” x 31.5” 45.75” to 48”
|
Overall Dimensions:
25.6” x 31.5” x 43.25” to 47”
|
Overall Dimensions:
26.8” x 30.1” x 44.1” to 47.2”
|
Overall Dimensions:
31.3” x 28” x 46.5” to 50”
|
|
Chair Weight:
44.4 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
34.1 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
37 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
39.2 pounds
|
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
|
Recline Range:
90 to 145 degrees.
|
Recline Range:
90 to 145 degrees
|
Recline Range:
90 to 120 degrees
|
Recline Range:
Does not recline but does rock back and forth slightly.
|
|
Seat Width:
20.5”
|
Seat Width:
21.75”
|
Seat Width:
20.9”
|
Seat Width:
20.9”
|
|
Seat Height:
19.75” to 22”
|
Seat Height:
17.25” to 21.25”
|
Seat Height:
18.9” to 23”
|
Seat Height:
19” to 23.2”
|
|
Seat Depth:
19”
|
Seat Depth:
19.25”
|
Seat Depth:
19.3”
|
Seat Depth:
18.5"
|
*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva1427L Big and Tall Thick Padded High Back
This chair is a disaster, and we wouldn’t mind if Viva Office deleted it immediately from their lineup. This design has so many issues that it’s hard to know even where to start, so let’s pick the most obvious.
This is an ugly chair. It doesn’t look like any thought was put into its aesthetic. On top of being ugly, it has a useless 2” height adjustment range. It might as well not even have a gas lift.
Even worse, although this chair is billed as being for “big and tall” people, it has only a 350-pound weight limit. That’s the kind of weight limit you typically see on conventional furniture. It’s common to see big and tall chairs supporting 400-500 pounds of user weight.
Then there’s the ergonomic features. The headrest is overstuffed to be useless, and the waterfall seat isn’t. It does offer good lumbar support, and the armrests are ergonomic and well-padded, but that’s about it.
On the plus side, the chair features “soft spring technology” combined with block foam padding in both the seat and the back, making it delightfully comfortable. Unfortunately, even here, the comfort is degraded by poorly implemented ergonomic features.
The soft spring technology would be a key selling point if it weren’t for so many glaring design flaws. As things stand, the flaws overwhelm the chair’s few positive attributes. It’s just not worth the money.
There is something of a silver lining here, though. This base proves that Viva Office can make a chair that supports more than 250 pounds of user weight. In our view, every chair should be built around this basic frame so that its default maximum supported weight is 350 pounds.
The company sells a ruggedized nylon base capable of supporting 500 pounds of user weight. This is what their big and tall chair should have been built around.
Bottom line: This is a really bad design. The weight limit is too low, the height adjustment range is barely in the big and tall zone, and the bonded leather won’t stand up well to the rigors of heavy daily usage.
For comparative purposes, check out the Hercules 24/7 by Flash Furniture. THIS is a Big and Tall chair.
It’s less expensive than the model featured in this part of our brand review, can support more user weight, has a proper height adjustment range, well-implemented ergonomic features, and nothing short of throwing it into a live volcano will so much as slow it down. That’s how it’s done. Viva Office’s Big and Tall chair is a toy by comparison.
Viva0468L1 Executive High Back with Flip-Up Arms
Provisionally recommended. Some of the company’s cheaper models offer a better value.
A good design that falls short of greatness. There are some things we like about this model, though.
First, the key selling point is that the ergonomic features are uniformly well-implemented. You get good head and neck support, ergonomic armrests, a waterfall-style seat, and solid lumbar support.
None of those are adjustable, which is a minor disappointment at the chair’s price, but that’s not a deal breaker.
The well-implemented ergonomic features combine with the chair’s double padding to make it quite comfortable. The generous recline range and flip-up arms are nice finishing touches that make this chair well worth owning.
Even so, the model is hobbled by the persistent weaknesses of Viva’s current designs: an anemic height adjustment range and bonded leather that limits the chair to light or moderate daily usage if you want the upholstery to hold up.
Another minor quibble is the weight limit. Given that Viva is capable of making chairs that support more weight, 250 seems a bit on the skimpy side. Finally, we’d like to see double stitching on the upholstery for added durability at this price point.
Overall, though, we recommend the model. It has some weaknesses, and there are better values out there, but it’s a good design that will blend well with most home or office décor schemes.
Viva1596 Thick Padded Executive Chair
This model is functionally equal to the chair we just reviewed (The Executive High Back with Flip Up Arms). However, its armrests are fixed in their positions, and the chair isn’t quite as aesthetically pleasing as the other model.
The weight limit is identical, as are the quality of the ergonomic features and the angle of the recline. The key differences are these:
If you’re trying to pick between this model and the Executive High Back with Flip-Up Arms, unless you’re just put off by its aesthetic, this model is the superior product. But as you’ll see below, the next couple of chairs we’ll talk about are also virtually identical, and the Double Padded High Back is the best choice overall.
Viva0505L1 Leather High Back Thick Padded Chair
Provisionally recommended. Virtually identical to the Thick Padded Exec. Chair, with some slight tweaks to the dimensions.
There’s very little difference between this chair and the one we just described. The key thing is that this one doesn’t recline quite as far back (120 degrees here, vs. 145 for the Thick Padded Executive Chair).
The dimensions are slightly different, too, and there’s a small difference in the seat height range. So, the deciding factor for choosing this chair over that will be:
We won’t linger on this topic, as these chairs are similar. However, Viva Office could greatly simplify its product line by streamlining it.
Better product standardization, combined with a more robust gas lift, could see them eliminate many models because a single model would accommodate a broader market.
Viva1547L Double Padded High Back Office Chair
While this one doesn’t recline, it does feature memory foam, making it the best of the bunch, in our view.
Except for the Big and Tall chair, all the models in this segment of Viva Office’s product lineup are virtually identical in price and functionality. This one’s no different, being virtually identical to the last three chairs we described.
Again, the key differences are subtle variations in the dimensions, so measure yourself carefully to find the model that would be the best fit for you. Then, let your eyes be your guide and find the one with the “look” you like the best.
The key differences beyond mere measurements are these:
For those reasons, if you don’t have a clear preference and you’re considering buying one of the chairs in this part of the company’s lineup, we recommend this one.
Viva Office Computer Gaming Chairs
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|
|
|
|
Primary Rating:
3.3
|
Primary Rating:
3.3
|
Primary Rating:
3.1
|
Primary Rating:
3.6
|
|
Value:
2.0
|
Value:
2.3
|
Value:
3.0
|
Value:
4.8
|
|
Comfort:
4.5
|
Comfort:
4.3
|
Comfort:
4.3
|
Comfort:
4.0
|
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.5
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.3
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.0
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.5
|
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
|
Summary:
This chair tries to be great but honestly misses the mark. It’s comfortable, but the features aren’t cohesive, or especially well-implemented.
|
Summary:
An attractive chair with good ergonomic supports, but pricey, especially given the lack of a recline feature.
|
Summary:
A relatively stylish chair, but the black and white coloration might be off-putting to some. Serves as an adequate gaming chair for light to moderate use though.
|
Summary:
It’s comfortable and fairly attractive but is barely functional as an actual gaming chair. Still, its main selling point is its low price!
|
|
Recommended for:
Not recommended. There are much better values on the market where gaming chairs are concerned.
|
Recommended for:
Not recommended. Works as a gaming chair in a pinch, but there are better options available.
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally Recommended for people who like the aesthetic. Again, it’s not hard to find better values though.
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally recommended on the basis of its low price, but again, this is barely functional as a gaming chair.
|
|
Overall Dimensions:
25.2” x 16.5” x 48.4” x 52.4”
|
Overall Dimensions:
30.3” 26.8” x 40.9” to 44.1”
|
Overall Dimensions:
33.3” x 27.9” x 44.5” to 48”
|
Overall Dimensions:
40.6” to 44.5”
|
|
Chair Weight:
50 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
34.1 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
47.5 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
35.5 pounds
|
|
Max. Supported Weight:
350 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
|
Recline Range:
Recline range is 90 to 145 degrees
|
Recline Range:
Doesn’t recline but does rock back and forth slightly.
|
Recline Range:
Recline range is 90 to 120 degrees
|
Recline Range:
Doesn’t recline but does rock back and forth slightly.
|
|
Seat Width:
18.5”
|
Seat Width:
20.9”
|
Seat Width:
20.5”
|
Seat Width:
18.1”
|
|
Seat Height:
18.9” to 22.8”
|
Seat Height:
17.7” to 20.9”
|
Seat Height:
19.1” to 22.8”
|
Seat Height:
17.3” to 21.3”
|
|
Seat Depth:
18.9”
|
Seat Depth:
18.5”
|
Seat Depth:
19.25”
|
Seat Depth:
19.7”
|
*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva2000 Luxury Gaming Chair
Not recommended. There are much better values on the market where gaming chairs are concerned.
This is a great-looking, comfortable chair, and we wanted to like it, but…we didn’t. There are many reasons why, but let’s start with what the chair gets right to try to present a balanced view:
First, as we said, it looks great. All black with silver accents at the base and that edgy look that racing-style seats are known for. The all-black helps with the chair’s aesthetic flexibility, too, because gaming chairs are often multi-color, and the colors chosen can frequently clash with whatever existing home décor scheme you may have.
Second, it’s well-padded and has great ergonomic features: Lumbar support, a waterfall-style seat, and decent head and neck support.
Even better, the chair utilizes an aluminum base and is one of the few Viva models that supports more than 250 pounds (this is another one with a 350-pound limit, like their disastrous Big and Tall office chair).
Sounds good, right?
Well, and it is, but only to a point.
The arms are an epic fail. The author of this piece is himself a gamer, and the armrests on this chair are wholly unsuitable for gaming. They’re stubby, flat, and not padded. Viva is extremely proud of them, touting them as Italian Donati armrests. Be that as it may, they’re not great for the purpose the chair is designed for.
Second, and this is the real nail in the coffin, this chair costs more than it should. You can find dozens of gaming chairs that rival this one in terms of comfort and have at least as many features for much less money. The combination of the low-value score and the relatively low brand heft Viva has given this chair a final score that’s barely above average.
As pretty and comfortable as it is, we can’t recommend it in good conscience.
Viva1421 High Back Bonded Leather Racing Style
Not recommended. Works as a gaming chair in a pinch, but there are better options available.
This one’s probably better described as a task chair meant to mimic a gaming chair’s look. As a task chair, it’s not bad, but as a gaming chair, it’s barely adequate.
It’s a sharp-looking piece of office furniture, with its two-toned black and grey bonded leather upholstery. It has good lumbar support paired with a waterfall-style seat and ergonomically sculpted (and padded!) arms that can flip up when you don’t need them.
Mid-back support is fine, but there’s no headrest, so there’s no head or neck support, and the chair can’t recline at all but merely rocks slightly.
If you’re a casual gamer, this might be a good choice, but there are better gaming chairs on the market. Viva hasn’t figured out this market segment yet, and we find their entire product line underwhelming.
Viva1446L High Back Ergonomic Chair with Flip-Up Arms
There’s little to say about this chair except that we don’t recommend it. It’s functionally similar to the chair we just reviewed but offered in a different, less attractive color combination and with different styling.
The dimensions are slightly different, so if you want the black and gray model but it’s not a good fit, check the stats for this one to see if it’s a better fit.
Again,, though, we do not recommend this chair as a gaming chair or a task chair.
Viva1447L Executive Racing Style High Back
Provisionally recommended. Serves as an adequate gaming chair for light to moderate use.
This is an adequate gaming chair, but it falls well short of excellence. It’s relatively attractive, very comfortable, and has well-implemented ergonomic features, including:
It reclines modestly (120 degrees), which we like, but it’s saddled with Viva’s standard 250-pound weight limit. That’s problematic because the seat height range is 19” to 22.75”, which is Big and Tall territory. We feel there should be a weight limit for matching, but it doesn’t.
We provisionally recommend it for people who like the aesthetic and can fit into it well, but we can’t give it a strong recommendation by any means. There are too many better values out there and elsewhere on the market.
Viva1552L1 Fashionable High Back Racing Style
Provisionally recommended, with its main selling point being its low price!
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Viva hasn’t quite figured out how to “do” gaming chairs, which is why none of their models in this category are particularly strong. This is the best of the bunch, but it even suffers serious drawbacks.
First, though, let’s look at what the chair gets right.
It’s stylishly designed and handsome, although we’ll be quick to concede that not everyone will be fond of the black and red color scheme, and the colors may make it stand out, depending on your home’s décor scheme.
It’s also delightfully comfortable and well-padded, so if you’re using it for its intended purpose, you certainly won’t mind spending time in it playing your favorite games.
Well-implemented ergonomic features, such as good lumbar, head, and neck support and a waterfall-edge style seat, help with comfort.
The armrests, however, are problematic.
While ergonomically designed, they’re not padded, which doesn’t work well in a gaming chair. This marks this model as best suited for casual gamers. Also, we were disappointed to see that this chair doesn’t recline at all. Its movement is limited to slight rocking, which again is suboptimal for a gaming chair.
Still, it’s offered for a song. Given that and its relative comfort (minus the armrests), we do provisionally recommend it.
Viva Office Mesh Chairs Under $200
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|
|
Primary Rating:
3.4
|
Primary Rating:
3.1
|
|
Value:
3.8
|
Value:
3.5
|
|
Comfort:
4.3
|
Comfort:
3.3
|
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.5
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.5
|
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
|
Summary:
A surprisingly full-featured, durable office chair with well-implemented ergonomic features.
|
Summary:
Not terribly well padded, so not comfortable for long duration sitting. Good choice for light to moderate use though. Good lumbar support!
|
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally recommended for anyone, but please note the seat height adjustment range and the max. weight!
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally recommended for light to moderate use.
|
|
Overall Dimensions:
25.2” x 22.8” x 45.7"
|
Overall Dimensions:
25.5” x 22.4” x 36.6”
|
|
Chair Weight:
32.4 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
24.2 pounds
|
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
|
Recline Range:
Recline range is 90 to 120 degrees
|
Recline Range:
Recline range is 90 to 120 degrees
|
|
Seat Width:
19.7”
|
Seat Width:
20”
|
|
Seat Height:
19” to 22.75”
|
Seat Height:
16.5” to 20.5”
|
|
Seat Depth:
16.9
|
Seat Depth:
18.5”
|
*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva 1168F1 Mesh High Back w/ Adjustable Arms
Provisionally recommended. Please note the seat height adjustment range and the max. weight!
This chair disappoints us because it’s so close to being excellent, only barely missing the mark with a few feature mismatches.
Aesthetically, it’s not bad looking, although it suffers like all mesh chairs tend to do in that department. It’s surprisingly comfortable, owing to generous padding in the mesh fabric-covered seat and strong ergonomic features, including excellent lumbar support, a sculpted seat (not waterfall-edge), and head/neck support via an adjustable headrest!
The armrests are a bit of a disappointment, not being ergonomically designed, but in a pleasant surprise, they’re also height-adjustable. There’s a barely visible button on the outside of each arm. Press the button and adjust the armrest height to taste.
The chair would be even stronger if it incorporated a waterfall-edge style seat and padded, ergonomic armrests, as well as if there was a more robust locking mechanism to keep the headrest in place.
Unfortunately, one of the most common complaints about the model is that, over time, that mechanism fails, and the headrest slides down to its lowest position. Sadly, the company doesn’t yet sell spare headrests, so if it breaks, there’s no easy way to replace it.
The other, bigger problem with the design is that there’s a mismatch between the seat height range and the maximum weight the chair can support. 19” to 22.75” is Big and Tall territory, yet the chair is only designed to support a maximum of 250 pounds.
On top of that, the seat width and depth are relatively narrow, marking it as a chair specifically designed for taller, thinner folk with long legs but not big-boned people. In our view, that makes this chair a niche product, which is ultimately why we felt a provisional recommendation was more appropriate than an outright one.
Note: We also like that the chair reclines, although the 120-degree maximum was a bit underwhelming. Still, it’s better to have a 120-degree recline feature than none!
Viva 0581F Mesh Task Chair
This model is about as basic as it gets. Given the asking price, we were a little disappointed in the limited feature set, but it gets the job done and doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, either.
The seat padding is adequate but neither sculpted nor waterfall-edge style. Still, the lumbar support in this model is surprisingly good, but that’s the only ergonomic feature on offer here.
We like that the armrests are height adjustable, but we wish some padding had been included. Resting your arms on that hard nylon surface for an extended period is part of what makes the chair poorly suited to long-duration stints (the other being the modest seat padding).
It does tilt and lock back to a maximum of about 120 degrees, which gives you a bit of flexibility regarding seating options, but this Viva Mesh Office chair doesn’t offer many tricks. It’s above average but not a standout design, and as such, it is only provisionally recommended.
Viva 8880 Alien Face Mesh Task Chair
We like this chair more than its final score would indicate, and we love the name. It took us a minute, but yes, the seatback design looks a bit like an alien face, and yet, somehow, not creepy. That’s pretty cool.
It’s an inexpensive chair and reasonably priced, but given the price, don’t expect to find many features here. It’s got:
It does have a few downsides, though. The padding isn’t sufficient to make it a good choice for heavy daily use, although you could add a small pillow to compensate if you wanted. However, that may blunt the impact of the waterfall-edge style seat.
The armrests are decent but not padded or ergonomically designed. Padding them yourself would be a little harder than solving for the seat padding, but it is certainly doable. Of course, you could also spend a bit more money and buy a chair you didn’t have to tweak or modify.
Overall, we provisionally recommend this model. It’s got an interesting aesthetic and is fine for light to moderate use, but if you’re looking for something you can use for 8+ hours a day, expect to do a bit of DIY tinkering.
Viva 2319F Lime Green Midback
This really fun, inexpensive chair would serve most people well. It’s basic, but that’s hardly a surprise, given the chair’s modest price tag.
While it doesn’t provide lumbar support, the seatback is curved and hits slightly higher than that to provide midback support. Unfortunately, the seatback shape makes this chair a poor choice for lounging, which explains why the designers passed on offering a recline range and settled for a simple rocking motion.
The seat doesn’t quite qualify as a waterfall-edge style, but it is angled and provides some ergonomic benefits. It’s got enough padding to make it comfortable for light to moderate daily use. Make no mistake though; this is a work chair, not a leisure chair. It’s just not designed for casual sitting.
We even like the color. Normally, you’d think that such a vibrant color would make it hard for the chair to blend seamlessly with most home décor schemes. Still, in this case, the color is so vibrant it works because it will become the focal point of whatever room you put it in, which makes it more aesthetically versatile than you might first imagine.
We can only give the model a provisional recommendation, though, because it’s only useful for people who:
If all of those things apply to you, this is a fun, budget-friendly choice.
Viva Office Mesh Office Chairs Over $200
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|
|
Primary Rating:
4.0
|
Primary Rating:
3.1
|
|
Value:
4.5
|
Value:
3.5
|
|
Comfort:
4.3
|
Comfort:
3.0
|
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
5.0
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.5
|
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
|
Summary:
Best looking chair Viva currently offers for sale, and it’s full-featured and comfortable too!
|
Summary:
Significantly less expensive than the company’s most advanced models, this one isn’t as comfortable, but has almost as many features on offer.
|
|
Recommended for:
Recommended.
|
Recommended for:
Not Recommended. Too many feature and comfort sacrifices, but still costs a lot.
|
|
Overall Dimensions:
28.2” x 26.7” x 44.1” to 47”
|
Overall Dimensions:
25.2” x 26.4” 41” to 47.25”
|
|
Chair Weight:
59.5 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
37.8 pounds
|
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
|
Recline Range:
Recline range is 90 to 135 degrees
|
Recline Range:
Recline range is 90 to 120 degrees
|
|
Seat Width:
19.5”
|
Seat Width:
19.25”
|
|
Seat Height:
17.7” to 20.9”
|
Seat Height:
18” to 21.25”
|
|
Seat Depth:
19.3”
|
Seat Depth:
16”
|
*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva 9699F1A Deluxe Mesh Office Chair
In other segments of its product line, Viva has stumbled with its higher-priced designs and tended to excel at its less expensive ones. With their mesh chairs, the situation is reversed. When this review is written, this is the most expensive chair Viva Office sells, and it’s awesome.
It’s a fairly good-looking chair, which is a pleasant surprise when it comes to mesh designs. It blends in reasonably well with most home or office décor schemes. It’s also much more comfortable than Viva’s sub-$200 mesh chairs, featuring a mesh-like fabric stretched over a generous amount of block foam.
The padding is augmented by three exceptionally well-implemented ergonomic features, which are:
In addition, the seat depth can be adjusted within a small range, allowing you to customize your seating experience to taste. That, combined with its recline range, makes this a surprisingly versatile chair.
It gets better, though, because although the armrests aren’t ergonomically designed, they can move both up and down and backward or forwards, allowing you to tweak their position to fit you perfectly. And they’re padded, too!
As great as all of that is, the design has a few limitations. First, as with most of Viva’s models, the height adjustment range isn’t as broad as we’d like to see.
Related to that is the weight limit problem. It’s stuck at 250 pounds, while the height range is clearly designed with bigger, taller people in mind.
It’s a less-than-optimal pairing that only makes it a good fit for a fairly narrow band of potential customers, so be sure to take careful measurements before committing to a purchase. We feel this model should have been built on the company’s 350-pound frame.
Even given those limitations, though, this is a super strong model, and we hope to see more like this from Viva in the months and years ahead. We recommend it.
Viva 1388F1K Mesh Chair with Modular Seatback
Earlier, when we discussed the Deluxe Mesh Office Chair, we mentioned that moving the entire seatback up and down to adjust the headrest and lumbar support positions was a crude but workable solution.
This chair offers a better solution and proves that Viva Office knows how to do it right, which makes the feature implementation of the Deluxe model a bit of a head-scratcher. Not only is this chair less expensive, but overall, it’s the better product, even if it doesn’t have quite as many features.
It’s functionally similar to the Deluxe we described above, but two key aspects are missing here:
Aside from a few differences in the measurements of the two chairs, that’s about it.
As we said, this chair does better where the headrest and lumbar supports are concerned. Both are strongly implemented, and even better, they can be adjusted independently, which gives you more ability to fine tune your seating experience.
Unfortunately, this model is strapped with the same basic limitation that works against the Deluxe model. The seat height adjustment range spans 18.5” to 22.2”, which strays into big and tall territory, and yet, it only has a 250-pound weight limit, which limits its appeal.
This is another model that should have been built on the 350-pound frame we know the company has available. Even so, we recommend this model without reservation, provided, of course, that the chair’s measurements align with yours. It’s a strong, decent-looking model designed to withstand the rigors of heavy daily use, and you won’t be disappointed.
Viva1508F1 Artistic Mesh Chair
We’re amazed that Viva Office even attempted a design like this. It shows, though, that they have the design chops to produce incredible chairs.
This model bears an uncanny resemblance to the Herman Miller Sayl. That a tiny brand like this would have the gumption to take on a design challenge and succeed in turning it into a great product is outstanding. The fact that this chair exists is one of the reasons we have such high hopes for the long-term prospects of the brand (well, this chair, combined with its fun modular approach).
In almost every case, mesh chairs get dinged for aesthetic flexibility because they’re not normally great-looking pieces of furniture. The Artistic Chair proves that it doesn’t have to be that way. You’ll love it, blending in well with any home décor scheme.
It’s got a lot more going for it than looks, though, it also offers:
In addition, it reclines to a maximum of 135 degrees, giving you plenty of options for changing your seating position during a long, grueling workday.
This is one of Viva’s best (and prettiest!) chairs. We recommend it.
Viva 1366F High Back Adjustable Mesh Chair with Flip-Up Arms
Not recommended. Too many features and comfort sacrifices, but it still costs a lot.
Given how great the last few chairs we’ve reviewed, you might go into this mini-review with high hopes. Unfortunately, this model represents a bit of a stumble for the company. It still costs quite a bit, but there are too many features and capabilities to conclude that this is a successful model.
It’s not a bad-looking chair, and it’s got some nice ergonomic features, including:
Unfortunately, those are the best features of the chair. The recline range isn’t as robust as the company’s other models, and the waterfall-style seat isn’t padded. It’s mesh stretched over the frame, which means it’s not as comfortable and not as well-suited to the rigors of heavy daily use.
Even if you’re looking for something for light to moderate daily use, wouldn’t you rather have a padded seat? Our sense of it is that most people would.
Finally, there’s the tiny seat depth, paired with the typical 250-pound max weight limit and a height adjustment range that strays into the Big and Tall Zone. It’s just not a great combination of features that marks this as being very much a niche product and, in our view, an overpriced niche product. We can’t recommend this one in good conscience.
Viva Office Task Chairs
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|
|
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|
Primary Rating:
3.3
|
Primary Rating:
2.6
|
Primary Rating:
4.1
|
Primary Rating:
3.4
|
|
Value:
3.3
|
Value:
2.8
|
Value:
5.0
|
Value:
4.0
|
|
Comfort:
4.5
|
Comfort:
2.8
|
Comfort:
4.3
|
Comfort:
3.3
|
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
3.5
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
2.5
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.8
|
Aesthetic Flexibility*:
4.3
|
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
Brand Reliability:
2.3
|
|
Summary:
An excellent, comfortable drafting chair.
|
Summary:
A minimally functional chair designed mostly for conference rooms. No real ergonomic value.
|
Summary:
A great little design! Modestly priced and surprisingly full-featured and comfortable. You can’t go wrong with this one.
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Summary:
The sister chair of the lime green mesh chair we talked about earlier. Minimal feature set but offered for a song.
|
|
Recommended for:
Recommended for anyone in the market for a drafting chair.
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Recommended for:
Not Recommended.
|
Recommended for:
Recommended for anyone.
|
Recommended for:
Provisionally Recommended for people looking for a low-cost, short duration seating solution.
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|
Overall Dimensions:
28.7” x 21.6” x 44” to 52.75”
|
Overall Dimensions:
22.4” x 22.8” x 40.2” to 42.5”
|
Overall Dimensions:
27.6” x 26.8” x 39” to 42.9”
|
Overall Dimensions:
19.9” x 18.5” x 40.5” to 45.3”
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|
Chair Weight:
35 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
36.1 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
37 pounds
|
Chair Weight:
23.4 pounds
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|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
Max. Supported Weight:
250 pounds
|
|
Recline Range: |
Recline Range:
Tilt range is 90 to 120 degrees.
|
Recline Range:
Does not recline but does rock back and forth slightly.
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Recline Range:
Does not recline but does rock back and forth slightly.
|
|
Seat Width:
18.9”
|
Seat Width:
20.1”
|
Seat Width:
21.3”
|
Seat Width:
18.5”
|
|
Seat Height:
25.2” to 33.9”
|
Seat Height:
17.7” to 20.1”
|
Seat Height:
18.9” to 22.8”
|
Seat Height:
23.2” to 28”
|
|
Seat Depth:
16.5”
|
Seat Depth:
16.5”
|
Seat Depth:
18.9”
|
Seat Depth:
16.1”
|
*While aesthetics is a matter of taste, aesthetic flexibility is a measure of how easily a given design would fit into a wide range of home or office décor schemes.
**Brand Reliability is a measure of the strength and longevity of the brand, which by extension, is a measure of the level of support you can expect.
Viva1702F5 Tall Drafting Mesh Chair
Recommended for: Anyone in the market for a drafting chair.
We’ll say upfront that drafting chairs aren’t for everyone, making this a niche product. Even so, this is a good, cost-effective option if you need one. While Viva Office might not know much about making gaming chairs, they’ve got the particulars of the drafting chair nailed.
There’s a lot to like here, including:
The seat is both sculpted and has a waterfall-edge style. It’s only moderately padded, but draft chairs were never intended for long-duration use.
We wish the armrests were padded, but that’s a minor quibble. We’re also disappointed with the 250-pound weight limit, but that’s a complaint that applies to most of the chairs Viva currently offers for sale.
We’d want this in a drafting chair, and Viva Office delivers. A job very well done. We recommend it.
Viva977L1 Bonded Leather “Brick” Task Chair
Not Recommended. It has no real ergonomic value.
It’s probably our least favorite chair of the whole Viva Office lineup. It might be okay if you run a small company and are looking for some relatively inexpensive chairs you can throw in a conference room, but we
We don’t recommend it unless you fundamentally disagree with our assessment of the chair’s aesthetic and fall in love with the design.
Viva10375G Gray Swivel Chair
Although this chair doesn’t offer any ergonomic features, surprisingly, we still like it. It’s stylish, attractive, and will blend well with almost any home décor scheme. It’s also comfortable enough to use it for either work or relaxation.
This chair isn’t designed for long periods of work, but the lack of ergonomic features won’t be missed if you are an active person, and what you’re doing only requires that you sit for short periods before you’re back on your feet again doing something else.
The only thing we wish is that they’d opted to build the chair on their 350-pound frame, which would have made it more appealing to an even broader swath of the market. But as things stand, it’s still a solid value for the money and provisionally recommended.
Viva1430 Bonded Leather Mid-Back Office Chair
Recommended for: Anyone. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Believe it or not, this humble, modestly priced little task chair should, in our view, be the template Viva Office uses to design and improve every chair it makes. This is a solid little performer, and of all the chairs in the Viva Office lineup, it is the one we rated the highest overall.
It offers tremendous value for the money, managing to pack three well-implemented ergonomic features (lumbar support, padded ergonomic armrests, and a waterfall-edge style seat) into a comfortable, low-cost package.
Sure, it has some limitations. Its nylon base and bonded leather upholstery make it susceptible to the rigors of heavy daily use.
Its seat height adjustment range strays into the Big and Tall zone while being limited to 250 pounds in user weight (this is another model that would have been an excellent candidate to build around the company’s 350-pound frame). Still, despite its limitations and shortcomings, this chair delivers where it counts.
If you’re in the market for a low-priced, comfortable work chair and plan to use it lightly to moderately every day, this model absolutely belongs on your short list of contenders. Recommended.
Viva967L1 “Modern” Task Chair
This is much like the “Brick” we discussed earlier in this review section. It’s not a bad chair for an office if you’re looking to buy a dozen chairs to furnish a conference room and you don’t mind its austere aesthetic. But it’s a relatively poor choice for home use, not all that comfortable, and of limited ergonomic value. We don’t recommend it.
Viva2557L Mid-Back Task Chair
Provisionally recommended for people looking for a low-cost, short-duration seating solution.
This chair is functionally the equivalent of the little lime green mesh chair we reviewed earlier in this document, except that it’s offered in a more subdued color and has a more conventional design. This makes it better for casual sitting, while the lime green chair is exclusively a work chair.
It isn’t blessed with an abundance of padding, so it’s not great for long-duration sitting, but it’s great for people who need a chair to do short bursts of work and then are back on their feet to do something else.
The only ergonomic feature it offers is decent but not exceptional lumbar support. Still, they’re practically giving the chair away, so if you’re looking for a bargain-priced chair, you won’t be spending a ton of time in it every day; this is a good, inexpensive option.
Like the lime green task chair, we provisionally recommend this model.
Note: This chair has an impressive 4.8” height adjustment range. We don’t know why the company couldn’t use this gas lift on every model they make. Given this model’s height adjustment range, you could probably use it as a stand-in drafting chair in a pinch, which increases its versatility.
Pros and Cons (Our Viva Office Wish List)
As you can see, Viva makes pretty good products overall. Sure, they’ve had some mishaps, but that’s true of any company, and some of their designs verge on greatness.
The one thing that sets them apart, though, is the fact that they sell spare parts for their chairs, which we mentioned toward the beginning. We love the concept, and from what we can tell, the company plans to build on it in the future.
We think that’s a fabulous idea, and this is what we’d like to see from the company in the future (this list will address the various “cons” we see in the company’s furniture designs). Here goes:
If the company did these things, mixing and matching components and buying your dream chair in pieces would be possible. You’ve got to put it together when it arrives at your doorstep anyway, so why not?
Even if you didn’t want to do that, the ability to swap out any failing part of the chair with a brand new part would mean you’d never have to buy another chair in your life. Since it would seldom be the case that more than one part failed at a time, the incremental costs of keeping your chair usable would be quite low.
Most small brands are destined to stay small, but a few show real long-term potential. We feel that Viva Office is one of those.
We obviously don’t have a window into the company’s inner workings, so we can’t speak to its long-term plans, but if it implements anything close to what we’ve outlined above, it’s destined to be a big name in office furniture and could carve out a fabulous niche for itself. We’re excited to see what it has in store for us going forward.
Viva Office Chairs Review Conclusion
As you can see, Viva Office has a little something for everyone. You can find everything from bargain-priced, no-frills office chairs to robust, surprisingly feature-rich, deluxe models. As a brand, we regard Viva Office furniture as being consistently good (a few inevitably missteps notwithstanding), but falling short of true greatness.
We provisionally recommend the Viva Office chairs as a whole, but note that the following chairs are the company’s stand-out designs:
Reclining Executive Office Chairs
- The High Back Bonded Leather Recliner
Executive Office Chairs Under $130
- High Back Bonded Leather Office Chair
- Viva Office Swivel Office Chair
Executive Office Chairs $130 – $160
- The Fashionable Executive Chair
- The High Back w/ Overstuffed Headrest
- The High Back Manager’s Chair
Executive Office Chairs $161+
- The Double Padded High Back
Mesh Chair Over $200
- The Deluxe Mesh Office Chair
- The Mesh Chair with Modular Seatback
- The Artistic Mesh Chair
Task Chair
- The Tall Drafting Mesh Chair
- The Bonded Leather Mid-Back Office Chair
These, we recommend without reservation.
References & Resources
- Types of Office Chairs, PA Prive.
- Choosing the Right Leather: What You Need to Know, Mountain Living.