I feel like it wasn’t until everyone had to work from home during lockdown, that we all started to realise how important it is to have a comfortable and supportive office chair. As you sit down for up to eight hours a day, the best office chairs should offer lumbar and ergonomic support, while having adjustable features to better suit your requirements.
I’ve been looking for a comfortable office chair for my home office for a while now, as my previous chairs haven’t been the most supportive, particularly for my back and neck. So, I was excited to try out the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 which claims to offer ‘top of the range ergonomic specifications’. Here’s my full review to see if it lives up to its statements.
Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 review: price and availability
The Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 has an RRP £1,259 but you can currently get it for £780 at Back In Action. I tried it in a light pink and grey colour combination, but there are multiple colour options to choose from to suit your office aesthetic.
(Image credit: Beth Girdler-Maslen / T3)
Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 review: set-up
I can’t give a completely honest review of the unboxing and set-up process of the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500, as it was delivered to my home already assembled. It’s worth noting that this is an option that Back In Action offers for an additional charge if you have back pain or a health issue that will make assembly difficult. I have neither of these, but the office chair was delivered already made, so I can’t vouch for how easy or difficult it is to put together.
When assembled, the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 has a seat height with a 20mm range 450-649, a seat depth/width of 380 – 460mm/450mm and a foot base diameter of 730mm. In the box, the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 is said to weigh 17kg.
(Image credit: Beth Girdler-Maslen / T3)
Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 review: design and features
The Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 has aSoFi mesh backing that gives the chair a lot of bounce. The mesh backrest is combined with a foam seat and a circular foam pad that sits at the back of the chair and rests against the lower back and around the pelvis area. The chair has been designed this way to help maintain your posture and ergonomically support the back and alignment while sitting.
With movement in mind, the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 has a free-flowing centre pivot tilt mechanism that has a forward tilt range of 20° and a backward tilt range of 14°. This is designed to encourage movement while you sit to reduce fatigue and ease the muscles.
Aside from the main construction, the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 has soft-top slide back arms which can be adjusted back and forth, and up and down. The top of the arms are slightly padded for additional comfort. The chair has five legs with castor wheels at the bottom so it can move easily from room to room or desk to desk.
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Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 review: performance
After the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 was delivered to my house, I was decorating my home office, so I initially tried it while sitting at my dining room table. I’d have to say this made working outside of my home office much more comfortable and still made me feel like I was in a professional environment… despite being able to see my alcohol cabinet over the top of my laptop!
The floor in my dining room is hardwood, and I found the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 rolled smoothly and breezily across this type of flooring. When I moved back up to my home office (which was quite heavy to manoeuvre up a small flight of stairs), I found it less easy to move over carpet as it felt like I had to push a lot harder than on non-carpeted flooring.
(Image credit: Beth Girdler-Maslen / T3)
Aside from that, I found the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 very comfortable to sit on, especially with the foam seat and mesh backing. The back itself felt very springy, and the foam pad sat against my lower back which gave good support. I tend to hunch over a bit too much when I’m sitting down but with the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500, I noticed I sat more upright, my back felt much more supportive and my arms appreciated the arm rests. When I finished my work day, my back didn’t feel too sore or like I’d been sitting down for too long, which I appreciated.
I’m not completely sold on the tilting mechanism of the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500. When it tilted forward, it felt a bit jarring at times, but it often alerted me to change my posture which in turn gave my muscles a break from sitting in one position for too long. I appreciate the thought behind the tilt, but I don’t think it’s for me.
(Image credit: Beth Girdler-Maslen / T3)
Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 review: verdict
I’d have to say that the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 might be one of my favourite office chairs that I’ve ever had the pleasure to sit in. The mesh and colour-blocked design is attractive and is customisable to suit any office type, and it’s constructed in an ergonomic way, so you feel supported while sitting down for multiple hours at a time.
The wheels could work better on carpet and the tilt might not be for everyone, but the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500 was very much needed and appreciated when I had to work outside my home office… and back in it, too! The back pad and armrests are the stars of the show, so if you have back pains or need extra lumbar support, I’d recommend the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500.
Back In Action HAG SoFi 7500 review: alternatives to consider
If you want a similar-looking office chair, the Slouch Task One has an almost identical design to the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500. The Slouch Task One is also significantly cheaper, and it offers ergonomic features and maintained support throughout the day.
Another good alternative to consider is the Boulies Nubi. Boulies is well known for its range of office and gaming chairs, and its Nubi chair has a simple design and comfortable padding. It’s tilt-forward is great, if you like that sort of thing, although it’s not as adjustable as the Back In Action HAG SoFi Mesh 7500.
