An ultra-premium chair without the ultra-premium pricing
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to assemble Very comfortbale Customisable to fit most body shapes Premium feeling | Some adjustments can be lost when moving |
Since a small event happened in 2020, a lot more of the general public have found themselves in positions where they are working from home. Whilst some have been happy to work from the sofa, the dining room or kitchen tables, or even from bed still. A lot of people have been repurposing bedrooms and using the room designated as their “office” as, well, an office. This in turn has brought about an issue and conundrum regarding how to best set up a workspace. Be it with completely comfortable seating, or something that allows for a much more ergonomic feeling whilst sacrificing style. What if we told you that Hinomi has found a solution that allows you to have both? Meet their revamped Hinomi H1 Pro chair, an incredibly stylish and exceptionally comfortable chair that has some amazing hidden features that bring a whole new level of comfort to the office space.
Assembly
Delivery of this product is something that should be considered. The box it all arrives in is far from small and can be quite cumbersome to move. That said, the hassle of moving the box around is all worth it when you get inside. Not only is everything elegantly packed but there’s a premium feel that oozes from each part of the packaging. All the components are carefully wrapped in protective packaging, and everything is encased in a giant, padded, foil container. Inside, users will find themselves presented with an easy-to-follow instruction manual and some tools. Unlike when purchasing flat-pack furniture from a well-known Swedish store, these tools are presented with such luxury that it is as if they were the highlight of the package themselves.
The instructions are super simple to follow, and it becomes apparent quite quickly as to why the box for the H1 Pro is as big as it is. There is so little to put together here it is almost too easy. In under fifteen minutes, users will be up and running (or in this case, sitting) as construction is about four to five steps long. There is even a handy QR code to scan that takes you to the Hinomi website that shows just how to adjust the chair to the user’s liking. One issue here is that we found the instructions to be for a slightly older model of the H1 Pro as certain knobs and levers have been changed in this re-vamp. However, that is hardly anything to worry about as it was really easy to figure out what had changed.
Features
If we told you that Hinomi crammed as many options to get comfortable as they possibly could on the H1 Pro, we would not be lying. Just about every joint or hinge can be customised and although it can take a little time to get things just right, it is all worth the effort.
Starting from the top, the “FusionMax” 3D Headrest offers not only height adjustments but angle adjustments too. Meaning that getting comfortable is simple. The headrest is very sturdy, so resting on it for any length of time is not going to cause the headrest to tilt unless you want it to. It should also be noted that the headrest is fully removable.
From there, we have the main body of the chair. This part is entirely height adjustable and the mesh back allows for a lot of air to pass through without jeopardising the comfort of the user. The mesh used in the chair is “certified by ISO, FR-One, OEKO-TEX” according to Hinomi’s website. Something that did pop up in testing was that if the chair is at the maximum height and moved about, the height can drop down a few notches. This has been done to allow the height to reset and is worth noting for taller individuals who may need to have settings like this, but it is far from a deal breaker.
The arms of the H1 Pro feature Hinomi’s “Flip5D” technology. This allows for adjustments to the height, width, pivot and depth of the armrests. Meaning that whatever users are doing they can get in the most comfortable position possible. The padding on them is not super deep, but it is incredibly soft and even after hours of use it was not a noticeable issue.
The stand-out piece of this chair is what Hinomi are calling their “FlexiLumbar” 3D Lumbar Support. Essentially a support for the user’s lumbar spine that is adjustable to provide maximum support and comfort. The height is adjusted along with the height of the chair (as previously mentioned) but there is also a dial on the back to adjust how much flex the support has. This means it can either be rigid or very forgiving, a great way of allowing users with their lower back issues to get as relaxed as possible.
Around the bottom of the seat, users will find the typical adjustments expected of most office chairs now. The height of the seat, the ability to lock the recline as well as the depth of the seat. These are all on a new control mechanism that prevents users from having to lean under the seat to reach. However, with that said there is one knob under the seat that controls the tension of the recline. This means it can be harder or easier to recline back in the chair, all this combines to form their “Finetilt” technology.
Just when you think Hinomi have it all covered, they go and also add in their “FlashFold” frame. Which is this chair’s way of folding up nice and snug to fit under a desk. Simply adjust the armrests to the lowest level and press the appropriate buttons and the chair back folds down. This allows for great storage options and stops the chair from being too overpowering if in a smaller room.
Finally, we have something seldom seen in an office chair, twofold out leg rests. These come out from under the main seat of the chair and fold out to allow users a new level of comfort. The best part? When not in use, they’re tucked so neatly under the seat that nobody would know they’re there!
The entire chair is supported on five wheels that are, well, just that. Sadly there are no special features here, no brakes for example. They move smoothly along most flooring, sometimes being a bit tougher to move on carpet. With that in mind, it is worth pointing out that issues with this are more down to wheels as a whole and not any fault of Hinomi’s. However, the base and frame feel extremely sturdy and help add to the premium feel of the H1 Pro.
Currently, the H1 Pro is available in black, grey, ice green (think a light aquamarine), coral red (a soft pink/orange colour), “gaming red” (which is a black body with red stripes) and “gaming yellow” (same as the red but with yellow stripes instead.
Value
There are a lot of ergonomic chairs on the market now, and to find a direct comparison would be a big undertaking (however if any manufacturers want to send over some for us to compare and contrast we are all ears here at Hubbley). Price-wise, these chairs come in (currently) at £599. That puts it at around half the price of the Logitech & Herman Miller “Embody” chair, and only slightly more than the SecretLabs “Titan Evo” (however, that is without any customisation to the Evo). These chairs are mentioned due to not only their popularity but also their premium production. Hinomi’s H1 Pro can certainly compare with them both. In comparison to the Titan Evo, not only do the materials feel more breathable and therefore cooler, users will not have to go through a lot of customisation options to get an amazing product. When it comes to the Herman Miller chairs, they will always be in a class of their own. However, Hinomi has done an amazing job of creating a chair that embodies the class and sophistication of the Herman Miller chairs without the ultra-premium price tag. Yes the H1 Pro is missing a few features when put side by side, but when two H1 Pro’s could get you just one Embody chair, that is a sacrifice worth making.
Conclusion
Hinomi has crafted something spectacular with the H1 Pro. A chair that caters for many body shapes and sizes, and allows for so many ergonomic alterations that it would be criminal to not recommend it. The H1 Pro is extremely comfortable, and with all the levels of adjustment available users will be spoilt for choice. There are more premium brands on the market, but at this price point, users will be hard-pressed to find something that offers what Hinomi do here. With an up to twelve-year warranty, free shipping and even a thirty-day risk-free return option, there is little to say no to. This chair gets our full backing (with lumbar support).
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