The Embody is a high-end and well-designed chair. If the price tag isn't a stopping block, we think you will be pleased with this product and what it has to offer.
The Embody is a comfortable and well-designed chair.Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The armrests weren't universally lauded by our testers, but are still quite comfortable.Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Adjustability
The Embody again did well. The backrest on this chair has lumbar support, though we were quite disappointed that you can't adjust its height, only the amount of curvature. The backrest comes up quite high, and it has four different stop points that you can set as tilt limiters when reclining.
The armrests are quite adjustable, allowing you to move them up and down or closer or further to you, but you can't move them forward or backward or swivel them.
Unfortunately, you can't move the armrests on this chair forwards or backwards or pivot them.Credit: Jenna Ammerman
However, the seat offers a full range of adjustability, letting you move the seat pan forward or backward. It also has a generous range of motion when moving the chair up and down. Additionally, the reclining tension adjustment knob is responsive and very accessible, and we didn't find it to be a hassle at all to get this chair into a position that allows you to sit ergonomically.
It's easy to reach all of the adjustments on the Embody.Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Assembly
We spent over 45 minutes and struggled to get the screws in, hampered by a few sloppy tolerances and deformed threads. We were very grateful for the Torx screw heads, as we are convinced that we would he stripped them if they were Phillips-heads.
The Embody took a little bit of time to get together, but overall wasn't too much of a hassle.Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Value
The list price of the Embody is high and seems to increase yearly. That said, if you sit at a desk for a large portion of the day and are looking for a stylish office chair that provides excellent comfort and a high level of adjustability, this one could be a worthy addition to your shortlist.
Conclusion The Herman Miller Embody is a nice office chair that mostly doesn't disappoint. We think this is a solid contender if you're patient with assembly and can stomach the price point.