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The Cosm high-back is amazing. The leaf arms are ok but the adjustable arms are much better in my opinion. I am 6'1" and 190# and the Cosm recline works amazing for me, it just swings so naturally. The head rest is a little low - I have to tilt my head way back - but the back support is amazing. The mid height is also a great chair, but the low back was way too low for me. I prefer the Cosm to the Aeron, Embody, Sayl and Mirren 2 (listed in order of preference).
After this review I was hesitant to buy the chair. However, when I walked into our local store and sat down it all changed my mind. Wow, this is a fantastic chair and for me, better than the old AEON line. You truly don't need adjustments as the chair performs so outstanding and keeps you in any position your want. If I want to sit straight it does it with felt feedback. It also molds into my unique poster so much better than the AEON line. I had the benefit testing these chairs out side by side. I feel this review lacks this aspect. Herman Miller designed this chair to be functional and automatic.
I've been sitting on my 2nd hand Aeron for about 8 years... only in the last 3 years after working from home have I noticed that my back hurts a lot, because I don't have the posturefit adjustment... I've just ordered a cosm chair, hopefully it'll make a difference
I've had my Cosm for a few months and I really like it. It's definitely a "pushy" chair in that it has decided what position is ergonomic and it kind of just makes you sit that way automatically. As a big guy the #1 improvement they could make would be a wider seat. I fit but don't have a lot of room to twist around without the sides of the seat getting in the way. This review mentioned the short seat depth, but I am just over six feet tall (1.82m) and find it very comfortable. It does drop off a little earlier than cushioned chairs but I like it because there is no pressure on the bottom of your legs at the edge. The curved mesh does a nice job of just dropping away smoothly. However if you are much taller than 6 feet you may not feel enough support under your legs from this chair. As far as the mesh on bare skin goes: literally no problems for me and this was one of my biggest concerns going with a mesh chair. I ordered fabric samples from Herman Miller in advance. They call this their "Intercept" fabric and it is much smoother than the "Rhythm" or "Balance" fabrics they offer on other chairs, which felt like sandpaper in comparison. Supporting the fact that mesh is polarizing, I am now convinced that mesh is the only choice for a chair needed for long sitting sessions. It is so nice and cool. You will never stick to it like a leather chair but it is so much easier to clean than the old school fabric-over-foam design (you can just wipe it down with a damp cloth). Disagreeing with this review, I have found it very nice working long shifts in this chair since it encourages good posture. You won't be folding your leg to sit with your ankle under your other knee the way I used to in my old cushioned office chair. This can feel like a limitation. It's better than the back pain I was getting before, but it makes me long for a plush gaming recliner while watching long videos where I want to lounge back and don't need the keyboard/mouse. It took a little bit but the key to enjoying the leaf arms was having my keyboard and mouse at the right height. I've found that the leaf arms keep my shoulders back instead of hunched forward, and I don't really feel the solid plastic frame around the front of the armrest since my arm is a little bit above it. I actually like that there is zero adjustability to the arms. Maybe I am crazy but I cannot stand when adjustable arms have a half millimeter of play so they move around and make noise. I prefer the solid feel of these leaf armrests. Herman Miller doesn't make them an option on the chair but they do sell larger wheels that are easily swapped in. I ordered these but it was a waste. The smaller wheels actually roll better on my solid wood floor. Since I am not rolling over any bumps or transitions or carpet, I don't get the benefit of the larger wheels.
Hi my Swedish neighbor. I have tried the Cosm in the store today and first I was hesitant about the Leaf arms due to this review and then I read your comments and tried out the Leaf arms. My biggest concern with the Leaf arm was that I wouldn’t be able to get all the way into the table and rest my arms on the table itself. But they actually go all the way to the table and are in the same line as my stomach so it won’t be a problem. I am going to use it daily for my job at home so how is it the mechanism holding up in regards to tilting when you want to sit straight up at the desk? You say you have had yours for a couple of months so I was just curious. In the store today I could sit straight just fine. But an actual test would be to use it for 8 hours for a day but that would be impossible to test before buying the chair. First I wanted to buy the chair without any armrests but the Lead today changed my mind and your comment too.
@@LencoTB Guys: I have heard a lot about people having their back being pushed forward (their upper back to be more accurate) as a cause of the way the chairs backseat is formed. Could you give me a max. back height you are allowed to have without being automatically pushed forward by the backrest? Btw: I am 1.75 and a rather small build. (also very low weight) Would this Chair fit me?
@@schoggimah2142 I am 183cm tall and I don’t feel the chair is pushing me forwards. I tend to lean back at a 45 degree angle while in Teams meeting and lean forward while I code. I don’t even think about it. I just move my upper body the way I want and the chair follows.
@@LencoTB Thanks for the clarification. Definitely quite a few reviewers state that it pushes you forward and you can’t lean back unless you really tense up with your legs and work for it (instead of relaxing). Do you think it’s ok for leaning back and gaming or watching movies in this chair (as well as work)?
This chair is so strange, but so special. It's hard to describe just how soft and light yet incredibly sturdy it feels to touch and to sit in. I personally think I still want an Aeron over this since I am an upright tasker and need-need-need the forward tilt support in my life for a long days' fatigue, but it's a real experience and I see why some people love it so much.
Definitely agree. I’ve never sat in a chair and just had a “wow” moment until this. I ultimately ended up going with the Embody because I task upright as well as occasionally crossing my legs, which isn’t great on mesh chairs, but if my tasking position wasn’t a concern this might be the most immediately comfortable office chair I’ve ever sat in. It’ll definitely be my first choice if I ever have the need to get an additional chair.
Good review. I've been using the Cosm for 4 months now for long working days at a desk. I came from a medium size Aeron and I'm 195cm. Mine is a Medium height back (which is much higher than most office chairs) in Canyon red with a grey mesh. It's a great looking chair - elegant and lightweight and a real contrast the morass of black and grey chairs and doesn't look out of place in a home environment I really like mesh seats - they're much cooler to sit in. I had my Aeron for over 10 years and while I still think it's one of the most comfortable chairs I've sat in, after long days I'd feel the hard edges and sides of the seat - and the hard edge at the top of the back rest. The Cosm solves all those issues - I don't find the seat too short, and despite my height the medium backrest gives comfortable support high enough up my back. There are no hard edges and the flexibility of the back frame means it's also comfortable when leaning or reaching for things. What really surprises me is the level of comfortable lumbar support the chair gives. I was expecting this to be a weakness looking at the design but I've never experienced any back pain and there's none of the 'hard push' that other chair's lumbar supports give (neither of the older Aeron designs worked that well) Likewise the lack of adjustment - i really think the Cosm delivers on the designers promise and 'just works'. the seat tension auto adjust is perfect - if you want to lean back more you just lower the seat slightly. To sit more upright make the seat a little higher. It's intuitive and natural (and of course, as intended, it means multiple people can use the chair and be comfortable without needing to make a load of adjustments). If there's one thing thats turned out to be a disappointment it's the Leaf arms. They look amazing and I found on the phone or a video call when you're sat back they were really comfortable. However, over time I discovered were just slightly too high when typing and lifted my shoulder leading to pain later. I've now removed them and am just using the chair without. To be honest I've never found arms that worked on any office chair I've used - if they were high enough to rest on they got in the way at other times so I've always just dropped them low and not used them. Before I bought the Cosm I was looking at a new Aeron without arms fitted. As per the review I think the leaf ams would be great in a conference setting and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get on with either of the other Cosm arm designs.
How did you remove the Leaf Arms? I am in doubt if I should buy it with the Lead armrests or not. In the store I didn’t notice that they were lifting my shoulders but you can never know and the real test will be a proper use of it for 8 hours at a desk. I am just curious if you can unscrew them from the chair if you don’t like them in the long run?
@@LencoTB they are held on with a torx (star) head bolt. It’s recessed so I needed to buy a long torx bit, and it was very tight but you can remove them. I think if you order without arms there is a blanking plate that fits in the hole but it’s barely noticeable. I just put the bolts back in without the arms.
Best chair (and furniture) review website ever! I've watched many of your reviews and then bought this cosm chair. It is very comfortable to sit on. IMO, it is a huge improvement over Aeron and Mirra 2, whose sharp edge cuts into the thighs. (I skipped Embody because I want a mesh chair and Embody is twice more expensive.) But, I am experiencing an annoying "noise" problem. When I sit down on the chair, the whole chair sinks a little bit (not the mesh) in the central pillar, which is probably part of the weight-sensing mechanism, the spring makes a small noise, which is ok. BUT, when I stand up, the whole chair pops back suddenly and makes a big noise when hitting the end. No one has brought it up. Hasn't anybody else noticed it? Is it just me?
The Herman Miller Cosm High Back was the most comfortable office chair I've ever had the pleasure of sitting in. Yes, even moreso than the Aeron in my case. I'm 5'10 and it fit the shape of my body perfectly! Though I must mention that the one I sat in had the leaf arm rests and I hated them with a passion. They're definitely not good for desk work. I recommend the height adjustable armrests all day for their functionality and comfort to adapt to your usage situation. Hope I can buy one in the future someday but unfortunately the price is unjustifiable for me right now.
@@AdultsAreTalking i know your comment is old but I straight got the version with the height adjustable arm rests. tbh when i tested all herman miller models I liked the cosm the most. but it was really difficult since all of them where insane. especially the embody and aeron in C size
I went to a HM distributor they had the cosm there. I wasn't even there to test it, but it was actually very good,. The embody felt too hard on my back. The cosm was actually very comfortable.
@@dchew001 How about your back height? I heard a lot about the upper backs of some users being pushed forward. Could you give me a max. Back height that doesn’t cause this problem? TIA
I've tried the Aeron, Mirra 2, Embody and Gesture for extended periods of time each and this Cosm with Leaf arms is hands down the best of the bunch. The arms do rub your elbows raw for a few days but they soften up a lot after that and the irritation goes away. I find I like the leaf arms now more than any other chairs arms.
how's the embody gaming chair? did you have the opportunity to sit on it and the cosm too? if yes, which chair you recommend for which tasks? overall differences on the experience?
Most confusing part about this review is that he says the chair forces you to lean back, while other reviewers have specifically said the opposite (that’s it’s really hard to lean back on it, and the chair back pushes you forward to sit upright). Very confusing how two reviewers can have an opposite experience from this… Any views on why that’s the case? I would definitely like to lean back without having to work for it.
I think it might depend on a combination of your height + weight and how your weight is distributed through your body. I tested the chair the other day at a Design Within Reach location. I’m 5’3” 160lbs and I found it very supportive and easy to sit in an upright, engaged position. I definitely had the experience of the chair pushing me forward to sit upright. My partner is 5’10” 160lbs and had a very similar experience, commenting that he felt so engaged that it was almost like he was standing while sitting in the chair. I found it difficult to recline, but my partner had no problems.
How tall is the lady in your video? I’m thinking of getting the high back version so I can use the headrest, but I’m not sure if 5’4” is too short for it.
What I didn't like about Cosm chair is that there is a "hard stop with noise" when the recline reaches the end (I don't know any reviews that picked up that), which is annoying and does not happen on Embody and Aeron (more dampened and soft). Other than that the overall comfort feels the same as Embody, maybe a little less, however Embody offers much better adjustments so I ended up with Embody.
Thanks for your feedback! I have not experienced this when using the Cosm, but I can see how that would happen. Without any tension control, some people may be able to recline easier and faster. The stop will be much more abrupt because you cannot tighten the tension to soften the stop. Nice choice with the Embody, it is one of my favorites :) -RB
@@btodtv Sound's like that's reason, FYI I'm 183cm tall 72kg (on the slim side), guess any person that's not "lightweight" will experience something similar. Shame they should really design an additional "damper" to solve this problem
I can certify that I have the same "hard stop with noise". But it wasn't that big a deal for me cause most of the time I do not recline all the way. But another "noise" problem is much more annoying. When I sit down on the chair, the whole chair sinks a little bit (not the mesh) in the central pillar, which is probably part of the weight-sensing mechanism, the spring makes a small noise, which is ok. BUT, when I stand up, the whole chair pops back and makes a big noise when hitting the end. No one has brought it up. Is it just me?
I a looking for a real good office chair that has good thoracic support and the ability for the arms to come totally up. I mean out of the way. I play guitar that is why. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
ever since i started working in 2014, ive been having pains in my lower back. but when i go to the chiropractor i wasnt in pain cuz it only hurts when im working in the office. i would like to invest in a really good chair that can support the lower back, arms and neck..
its basically the perfect fancy dining chair if you remove the rollers maybe. :D seriously i consider these for that. super expensive for that but imagine a modern dining table with a few of these and not rollers.
I am not sure how that would be handled. If the squeak is from a defect, then I would think it would be covered. But, it may also fall under normal weak and tear, which wouldn't be covered. I would just reach our the Herman Miller and ask them to be sure. They have really responsive customer service. -RB
Guys: I have heard a lot about people having their back being pushed forward (their upper back to be more accurate) as a cause of the way the chairs backseat is formed. Could you give me a max. back height you are allowed to have without being automatically pushed forward by the backrest? Btw: I am 1.75 and a rather small build. (also very low weight) Would this Chair fit me?
Has anyone who owns it also had lower back pain from the stiffness of the lumbar support? I’ve seen a few people saying the same and want to find out what people have done about it, or if they’ve just returned it
i got cosm leaf arm for 2 weeked, for me it too short seat dimention but i very love about not adjustment and back support , like you said leaf arm is poor but think to change to adjust-arm than leaf arm
Our top rated ergonomic chair for 2019 is the Steelcase Leap. Here is a video with our full list: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jcs9srbVTr0.html -RB
I'm 6'2" ... to tall for the high-back to function as a real head-rest, I think :/ Alteast in the images I see, the tall people always end up poking their head over the head-rest ... neck rest, more like. otherwise I'd love this one, but I need something to rest my head on, when leaning back. Why is Herman Miller so allergic to proper headrests? They explicitly made a point of talking about their Embody 'gaming' chair not having one... I know the Aeron has a bunch of 3rd-party aftermarket headrests, but I'm not sure how I feel about mounting something 3rd party to a chair this expensive.
An aeron with the atlas headrest might not be too bad to look into! The atlas headrest material is virtually indistinguishable from the aerons material. I believe it was even made by former Herman Miller employees. I wouldn’t rule it out!
Debating between Embody or Cosm because I'm 6f 4 and worried that the back of the embody might be too short since it has no headrest.Want the chair primarily for gaming so comfort and back support are very important anybody tried both chairs for comparison?
I have a few hours of comparison between the two and it's super hard to choose but I sat in the Cosm again today and it is just awesome. It just feels good as soon as you sit down, no adjustments required (except up/down). What did you decide on? I am sitting in my Embody Gaming Chair now, have had it for two days now.
@@muriloninja how's the embody gaming chair? did you have the opportunity to sit on it and the cosm too? which chair you recommend for which tasks? overall differences on the experience and why did you choose the embody gaming chair over the cosm?
If you're above 6'2 or somewhat tall but slightly bigger in the thigh area, don't buy this chair, after researching for a long time I bought one (for ref. I'm 6'2 250lbs/190cm 115kg, pretty muscular with some bodyfat) and the frame was pressing so hard against my thighs that I couldn't sit in it for any reasonable amount of time and had some slight bruising afterwards. If you don't have my bodytype though, by all means go for it, the chair really does lock you in to a very ergonomic position and feels amazing, even the armrests didn't bother me at all while wearing a t-shirt, honestly really sad that they don't make these in three sizes like the aerons, that would have probably made the difference.
this is my situation as well, so I wonder what has worked for you, Asbu? I'm 6'2" and have muscular thighs - even my Aeron size C pinches a bit on the side of my thighs
@@toddfrench8596 I bought a Steelcase gesture, arrived today, after trying the aeron c, the cosm and the embody and all of them having the same problem to varying degrees, I thought I should probably stay away from Herman Miller. After about 4h of sitting I don't feel any hotspots, the cushion is very firm as is the back support and the arm rests are about perfect for me in their widest setting. We seem to have about the same body type so you might give the Gesture a try if the aeron is uncomfortable.
@@Asbu666 cool, thanks. I, also, have been considering Steelcase for a while, even though I really favor mesh (living in Southern CA). I see some dealers have the Leap 2 with mesh back, so maybe I'll look at that. Regardless, I'm gonna head to a Steelcase dealer to check these out - sick of receiving and returning office chairs!
What is the recommendation of the backrest height for a person 5'3" tall. Is a tall back going to be less comfortable then a mid size back. Is the tall back more for a tall person?
Sorry to hear that. I had a tough time using those arms for tasking and computing. They work well for our conference room, which is probably the best use for them. -RB
@@btodtv I agree with a lot of your other conclusions about the armrests at 9:19 and am pretty amazed they got past HM's user testing. Your Embody video has just about sold me on that chair instead :)
How come? I am in doubt if I should order them. In the store I had no problem with them. But the real test is when you sit an work for 8 hours. Can you dismantle them from the chair after the purchase?
if you read the design philosophy that's the whole point. It's designed to fit people without needing adjustment, because most people never adjust their chairs properly anyway, and in many office environments hotdesking is the norm
Form follows function. I do not appreciate trolling. I have been using and testing high-end work chairs for decades, both out of necessity and as a hobby. In my experience, the Herman Miller Cosm chair stands out as the least suitable high-end seating option. When considering the principle of form following function, this chair represents the worst example of it. I simply do not have space for decorative pieces better suited for lesser-known museums.
to put long story short - this is AWFUL design. And NO it has nothing really good going for it. It's a monument for complete design failure! Calling this "high end" is absurd. To put it mildly.
Yes, I’ve used the COSM high back for tasking in my home office for over two years now and still love it. Only drawback is the leaf arm mesh is uncomfortable on bare skin for extended periods.