Anthros Chair Review…
The Anthros Chair has many options that increase the price beyond its $1,897 starting cost. You can choose from black or off-white ($99) for the chair frame; six fabric or four synthetic leather colors for the upholstery ($299); 10 different back panel designs including five wood veneers ($159 to $298), eight stylized, non-wood panels including circuitboards and esports themes ($79), and carbon fiber ($299); standard or scratch-resistant ($25) casters; black, chrome ($39) or gold-finished ($49) control knobs; and arm-free or 4D, adjustable arms ($149). Anthros provides a 60-day return policy.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)
Anthros provides a free video consultation with one of the company’s ergonomics therapists before you buy. This allows you to determine if the chair is a good fit. The expert also helps you adjust the chair after you receive it.
The company recently switched its chair fabric to Gabriel Fabrics Athlon, replacing the somewhat rough-feeling Gabriel ShapeKnit material. Anthros sent me replacement cushions to test the new fabric, which I found softer, smoother, and sturdier to the touch.
If you already have an Anthros Chair with the older seat fabric, you can order a set of replacement cushions with the new upholstery for $279. You can also spend $299 for cushions featuring a new Port leatherette, which Anthros says is updated from the previous faux leather material.
The Anthros Chair has four-spoke and five-spoke base options, which is a choice I haven’t previously encountered. Every desk-focused gaming and office chair I’ve previously reviewed has had a five-spoke base with a rotating, central pillar gas cylinder. It lets you spin left and right while the casters stay in approximately the same place. The Anthros Chair’s four-spoke base option locks the central pillar under the seat and doesn’t rotate. This keeps the casters set at consistent positions relative to the rest of the chair, but means spinning isn’t as smooth as five-spoke seats. However, it reduces the chance of something getting caught under the spokes. Neither option is superior.
My four-spoke test chair had a black body with black fabric upholstery, a white circuit-styled design, a four-spoke base with standard casters, and armrests. It cost $2,157 as configured. You’ll almost certainly push past Herman Miller prices with this chair.
The chair comes with a lengthy 12-year warranty similar to Herman Miller’s products, which is good. Most other gaming chairs have warranties that last one to three years. Secretlab extends its standard three-year warranty to five years if you post about your chair on social media. The Anthros Chair is manufactured in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so you can enjoy a seat that’s made in America (similar to the Herman Miller Embody).
