We tested the Evolution Fishbones Gray office chair and found that its unique design with a fish skeleton on the back not only gives it an original look, but also plays an important role in supporting the user's back.
In our article you will find information about other settings of this chair, whether it is possible to assemble it yourself, and also find out what its weight is.
Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Evolution |
|---|---|
| Model | Fishbones Gray |
| Type | ergonomic office chair |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Guarantee | 1 year |
| Life time * | 3 years |
| Mechanism type | synchronized tilt mechanism with 3-level backrest locking |
| Gas lift | SGS BIFMA |
| Gas lift class | 4 |
| Back material | breathable mesh |
| Seat material | high density fabric and foam |
| Cross material | reinforced nylon |
| Headrest | mesh with height and angle adjustment |
| Lumbar support | adjustable |
| Armrests | plastic, adjustable (3D) |
| Rollers | polyurethane, 60 mm |
| Maximum load | up to 150 kg |
| Backrest tilt adjustment | 90°—135° |
| Adjusting the headrest | in three directions |
| Seat depth adjustment | There is |
| Back height adjustment | There is |
| Fixation in an inclined position | There is |
| Seat depth adjustment | No |
| Back width | 50.5 cm |
| Back height | 61 cm |
| Seat width | 51 cm |
| Chair width | 68 cm |
| Seat depth | 47 cm |
| Support height | 45.5—52.5 cm |
| Overall height | 114—128 cm |
| Weight | 18.5 kg |
* Contrary to popular belief, this is not the time limit after which the device will necessarily break down. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its performance and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.
Equipment
The chair comes in a large brown cardboard box. On the front side of the box, the manufacturer placed a vector image of the chair and indicated the main technical characteristics. On the back side the same information is presented in English.
Having opened the box, inside we found carefully packed components of the chair:
- backrest
- seat
- headrest
- five-pointed cross
- five support rollers
- gas lift mechanism
- swing mechanism assembly
- two armrests
- set of screws with L-shaped hex key
- user guide
At first sight
The base of the chair is a five-ray cross in gray with a matte finish. According to the manufacturer, it is made of reinforced nylon.
The cross rests on five double 60mm rollers, also made of nylon. The wheels rotate 360°.
The Evolution Fishbones design uses a gas lift of the fourth, highest class, which can withstand loads of up to 150 kg.
The gas lift body is painted with matte black paint and is not covered with a decorative casing.
The synchronizing mechanism used in this model is quite simple: one handle controls the height of the gas lift and the swing mechanism with three-level locking. The rigidity of the swing can be adjusted using the cylindrical handle.
The seat is also arranged in a familiar and simple manner: no lateral support, no any decorations.
This part of the chair is upholstered in practical and wear-resistant synthetic fabric, typical of office furniture. It is easy to clean and is not easily damaged by accident. The Fishbones is available in three color options: gray as shown in the photos, as well as black and aquamarine.
The base of the seat, like most office chairs, is made of plastic. On the underside of the base there are holes with pressed-in metal nuts for attaching the swing mechanism and armrests. The chair comes with the screws already installed in the seat, no additional screws from the kit were needed.
The armrests are entirely made of plastic and can be adjusted in three planes.
The back of the chair consists of a nylon mesh with soft elements, which is stretched over a plastic base. The back side attracts attention with the original design of the lumbar support, which gives the model its name: the nine “ribs” on the “spine” really resemble a fish skeleton.
The spring structure bends and can be fixed in one of four positions using a plastic handle at the bottom.
The headrest is covered in the same fabric as the backrest. Its height is smoothly adjustable over a wide range, and it is also possible to adjust the tilt.
Now let's start assembling. To do this, you only need the included L-shaped hex key, although the process will be faster if you use a screwdriver with a suitable bit.
First of all, we unpack the rollers and, with some effort, insert them into the mounting holes on the cross.
After this, we turn the structure over and insert a gas elevator into the central hole.
At first glance at the plastic seat base, it seemed that during assembly you could choose the most comfortable position for the armrests. However, closer to attention, it became clear that metal nuts were pressed into only three of the nine holes. The six remaining holes are empty and there are no options for rearranging.
Oval holes on the armrests allow you to further adjust the expansion of the structure within about 30 mm — it is better to completely tighten these screws last.
Four more screws are needed to secure the synchronized swing mechanism. They can be immediately tightened all the way.
Three short screws included in the kit are used to secure the backrest to the synchronizing mechanism. They also allow for slight adjustment, about 30mm.
All that remains is to insert the headrest into the corresponding groove on the backrest, then turn the structure over and align the gas lift rod with the hole of the synchronizing mechanism. The whole process takes less than ten minutes, and you can easily assemble the chair yourself.
Instructions
The documentation set consists of two A4 sheets, folded in half and nested one inside the other.
On the first sheet, the manufacturer provides assembly instructions, equipped with clear and detailed illustrations. The second sheet contains a brief guide to setting up the chair.
Control
A single handle on the rocking mechanism controls the tilt of the chair and adjusts its height.
Evolution Fishbones has three fixed positions: the chair allows you to keep your back strictly vertical, recline at 135°, or take an intermediate position.
The height of the headrest allows for smooth adjustment within a very wide range.
You can also adjust the tilt here: the headrest hinge has four fixed positions.
The fishbone lumbar support can be adjusted in four fixed positions: from almost straight to highly curved.
A button on the outside of the armrests allows you to smoothly adjust their height from 18 to 26 cm above the seat surface.
The armrests can be placed parallel to the seat or placed at an angle of about 30° — positive or negative.
Exploitation
Evolution Fishbone rollers glide easily across a variety of surfaces without any extra effort. The chair moves well on flat floors and easily overcomes small obstacles, but it is better to avoid larger obstacles. Thanks to the plastic design parts, the weight of the chair is relatively small: it is almost 10 kg less than the Legend Gray gaming model we previously reviewed from the same manufacturer, and more than a kilogram lighter than the office Evolution Exo F1. The wide, flat seat without hip or back support allows you to choose a comfortable position and change it as needed. Thus, we see a standard office chair without innovations in the field of anatomy and ergonomics.
The Evolution Fishbone chair has an original lumbar support design that allows you to adjust the backrest's curvature in a wide range, adapting to the user's anatomical features. Adjusting the height of the headrest and its inclination add comfort to the neck. The mesh backrest and headrest provide good ventilation, which is especially valuable in hot environments.
The rocking mechanism works smoothly, ensuring the stability of the chair. With the backrest lowered, you can sit comfortably, especially if you adjust the seat height correctly. It is important that your feet are firmly planted on the floor, since the chair does not have a special footrest, and that the edge of the pillow does not put pressure under your knees.
The reach range of the gas lift is large enough for users of different heights, and the rigidity of the chair can be described as medium. The chair uses a 4th class gas lift that can withstand loads of up to 150 kg.
The plastic armrests are comfortable and practical, providing reliable arm support and allowing you to adjust them for different positions.
Care
The chair manufacturer does not provide any specific care recommendations, other than the general advice to wipe the fabric with a damp cloth if necessary.
They do not recommend using the chair in areas with high humidity or near powerful heating devices. The instructions also note the need to avoid contact of the mesh upholstery with sharp or cutting objects.
Our measurements
According to the technical specifications, the seat of this model can change its height in the range from 48 to 57 cm. The backrest tilt varies from 90 to 135 degrees. The armrests rise and fall from 18 to 26 cm above the seat and can move forward and backward by 6 cm, and rotate out and in by 30° from a parallel position. The width of the armrests ranges from 80 to 95 mm. The seat width in the middle part is 49 cm, and the width of the backrest in the lumbar support area is 42 cm. The headrest height adjustment range is 12 cm.
conclusions
The Evolution Fishbone chair features practical and wear-resistant materials typical of office furniture, as well as a lightweight design. It offers a variety of individual settings, allowing you to adjust the height of the seat, the angle of the backrest and the rigidity of the rocking mechanism, as well as the height and inclination of the headrest, the depth of the lumbar support and the position of the armrests. Although the manufacturer does not indicate the optimal height of the user, our testing showed that the chair is comfortable for people with a height of 160 to 185 cm.
The model is available in three colors: gray, black and aquamarine. All of them are suitable for both home office and office interiors. The original design of adjustable lumbar support not only provides comfortable sitting, but also gives the chair an attractive appearance thanks to decorative elements in the shape of “fish bones”.
Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the relatively simple swing mechanism and the lack of adjustment of the seat reach and back height. For users above average height, this may cause inconvenience.
Pros:
- original and effective lumbar support
- lightweight design
- practical and wear-resistant upholstery materials for the seat, backrest and headrest
- low price
Minuses:
- no backrest height or seat reach adjustments
- budget synchronized swing mechanism