Review of the ergonomic office chair Evolution Exo F1

Can a simple office chair compare in comfort to a dedicated gaming chair? We will find out about this by testing the ergonomic model Evolution Exo F1.

Its design instantly caught our attention, fitting perfectly into both an office environment and a home office interior. The characteristics, weight and assembly process of this device will also be discussed in detail in our article.

^* 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.

The chair is delivered unassembled, carefully packed in a large cardboard box. On the front of the package there is a vector image of the model, accompanied by a list of the main advantages of the Exo F1. Among them are a synchronized tilt mechanism with four-level locking and a seat slider, flexible lumbar support, an aluminum crosspiece, three-way adjustable armrests and 60 mm polyurethane casters.

The packaging also notes the materials used for the back (breathable nylon mesh) and seat (fabric and high-density foam). The same information is duplicated on the back of the package in English, and the sides contain information about the manufacturer and importer.

Opening the box we found:

• Backrest
• Seat
• Headrest
• Five-pointed cross
• Five support rollers
• Gas lift mechanism
• Rocking mechanism with handles
• Two armrests assembled
• Set of hardware for assembly
• Thread household gloves
• User guide

All soft parts such as the back, seat and cushions were wrapped in thick plastic. Protruding parts are carefully wrapped with porous material to prevent damage. The set of screws is in a blister, and two hex L-shaped keys are packaged separately.

The Evolution Exo F1 chair is delivered unassembled. Before we start assembling it, we will, as usual, look at all the parts individually.

The upholstery of the seat of the chair is made of synthetic fabric, typical of office furniture — practical, durable and easy to clean.

The manufacturer offers this model in two colors — black, as in our photographs, and gray.

The seat of the Evolution Exo F1 is simple, without lateral support. Upholstery material: fabric, filling: high-density foam.

The seat base is plastic. On the bottom side there are holes with pressed-in metal nuts: they are intended for fastening the swing mechanism and armrests.

The noticeably curved backrest is also made of plastic, over which a synthetic breathable mesh is stretched. In the middle part there is an adjustable lumbar support made of soft material.

The upholstery of the removable headrest is made of the same mesh as the backrest. The design is equipped with a height and tilt adjustment mechanism.

The swing mechanism allows you to fix the seat tilt in three positions. It has a slider to change the reach of the seat relative to the backrest.

The armrests are entirely made of plastic and are adjustable in three planes.

The five-beam cross is made of aluminum: this makes the structure reliable and lightweight.

Five double polyurethane rollers with a diameter of 60 mm roll easily on any surface.

The design uses a third class gas lift with a polished metal body. The maximum permissible load on the chair is 150 kg.

So, let's start assembling. We unpack the rollers and install their axes into the corresponding holes of the cross, which requires some effort. Then we turn the structure over and insert the gas elevator cartridge into the central hole.

We open the package with mounting screws and remove two hex L-shaped keys from a separate package, which are suitable for all fittings. However, the assembly process can be simplified and speeded up by using a screwdriver with the appropriate bits. We chose this method.

We use black screws, marked “Long” on the blister, to attach the plastic armrests to the seat. The oval holes allow additional adjustment of the width of the structure by approximately 30 mm, so it is recommended to tighten these screws last.

The four screws labeled “Short” on the package are for securing the swing mechanism. They can be immediately tightened as far as possible.

Three screws called «Big» are used to secure the backrest to the rocking mechanism. The fourth one in the blister is a spare.

Two more long black screws secure the headrest.

Finally, we turn the assembled chair over and connect the gas lift rod to the hole in the swing mechanism. The whole process takes no more than ten minutes and can be done alone, thanks to the relatively low weight of the structure (less than 20 kg) and clear assembly instructions provided in the kit.

The documentation set consists of two A4 sheets, folded in half and nested one inside the other.

Evolution Exo F1 has many settings to suit any needs of an office worker who spends most of his time at a computer desk.

The swing mechanism is equipped with two handles. The flat first handle controls the tilt angle and can be installed in one of four fixed positions, allowing you to recline the backrest up to 130°. The same knob also adjusts the height of the chair within a range of about 9 cm, allowing the seat to be installed at a height of 44 to 53 cm from the floor.

The round handle is designed to adjust the reach of the seat: it can be moved forward relative to the backrest by about 6 cm.

Plastic armrests can be installed relative to the seat at an angle of about 20° — positive or negative.

A button on the outside of the armrest posts controls their height and helps you choose the most comfortable position — from 18 to 26 cm above the seat.

The headrest can be left close to the backrest or raised 6 cm above it.

The headrest mechanism allows you to adjust its tilt in one of three fixed positions.

To adjust the lumbar support, use a plastic wheel on the back of the backrest.

The adjustable reach of the soft lumbar cushion is approximately 5 cm.

All mechanisms function smoothly, without unnecessary play, and do not require significant effort during adjustment. The only exception is the backrest and headrest height adjustment mechanisms, which may require some effort to install. However, taking into account our experience, the user will not carry out this adjustment every day.

The rollers on the Evolution Exo F1 chair are adjusted tightly enough to prevent the chair from swinging on its own. Moving requires a slight effort, which ensures safety when standing up or sitting down suddenly — the chair will not accidentally start to roll. This model can easily move on flat surfaces and overcome small obstacles, but for larger obstacles it is recommended to carry it.

Thanks to the aluminum crosspiece and plastic seat base, the weight of the structure is relatively light, almost 10 kg less than that of the Legend Gray gaming chair model we previously reviewed from the same manufacturer.

The main part of the seat is wide and flat, without any special protrusions or recesses. This allows you to take a comfortable position and freely change it as needed. This model lacks lateral support for the hips and back, which gives it a traditional “office” style.

Despite its obvious office orientation, Evolution Exo F1 provides comfortable reclining of the backrest with a maximum tilt angle of up to 135°. The rocking mechanism easily locks into one of four preset positions, providing a wide enough range of settings to choose the optimal position for your back.

The chair swings smoothly and stably, even with the backrest reclined to the maximum. The user can even recline by adjusting the seat height correctly. Given that there is no dedicated footrest, it is important that your feet are firmly planted on the floor and that the edge of the cushion does not put pressure on your knees.

This model allows the user to adjust the swing force using a special handle located under the seat. The design of the backrest, with adjustment of the height and reach of the lumbar support, allows you to adjust the chair to the individual parameters of the user. A wide range of headrest height settings adds neck comfort. Ventilated mesh upholstery provides excellent air circulation — especially appreciated by those who work in hot areas.

The gas lift's reach range is suitable for users of any height, and its rigidity is rated as medium. The chair uses a Class 3 gas lift that can withstand a load of up to 150 kg.

Practical plastic armrests provide reliable elbow support and provide ample adjustment options.

The manufacturer does not provide any special recommendations for caring for the chair. However, the only guideline suggested is to regularly wipe down fabric upholstery with a damp cloth.

It is not recommended to use the chair in rooms with high humidity or near intense heat sources.

The manufacturer also advises to avoid contact of the mesh upholstery with sharp and cutting objects.

The seat can be adjusted in height from 44 to 53 cm. The backrest can be tilted from 90 to 135 degrees. The armrests rise and fall from 18 to 26 cm above the seat. They can also move forward and backward by up to 6 cm, and can be rotated outwards and inwards by 30°.

The width of the armrests varies from 8 to 9 cm.

The width of the main part of the seat in the middle part is 51 cm.

The width of the backrest in the area of the lumbar support is 42 cm.

Other sizes listed in the technical specifications for this model correspond to our measurements.

The ergonomic Evolution Exo F1 chair combines the practical and durable materials found in office furniture with a variety of customization options that will delight any gamer. In addition to the standard parameters, such as seat height, backrest tilt and the rigidity of the rocking mechanism, this chair has the ability to adjust the backrest height, the height and inclination of the headrest, the seat reach, the depth of the lumbar support, as well as the position of the armrests. The manufacturer does not indicate the recommended user height, but based on our tests we can say that the chair is equally comfortable for people with a height of 160 to 190 cm.

This model comes in two color options: black, which we reviewed today, and gray. Both options fit perfectly into an office interior and can be suitable for a home office.

Among the shortcomings of the chair, one can highlight only the relatively tight mechanisms for adjusting the height of the backrest and headrest. However, given that these settings rarely need to be set, this is a minor drawback that can be corrected with a one-time adjustment to the user’s individual parameters.

Pros:

• a large number of adjustments to the seat, back and armrests
• ease of construction
• strict appearance
• practical and wear-resistant seat and backrest materials
• low price

Minuses:

• the mechanisms for adjusting the height of the backrest and headrest turned out to be a little tight