Haworth x Halo: Fern Gaming Chair REVIEW

Comfort and Style in a premium gaming chair

I work from home during the day and then use the same home office to write reviews at night. That means that I’m spending the majority of my day (10 hours on average) sitting behind a desk. I try to get up and move around as much as possible, but when I’m glued to my computer, I’m sitting. There are countless medical studies that state how a poor sitting environment can add to or create ailments of the back, spine, and other areas of the body. So, having a solid chair is essential for me.

About Haworth Fern Gaming Chair

The Haworth Fern Gaming Chair, a collaboration between Haworth and the Halo gaming franchise, is designed to provide exceptional comfort and ergonomic support for gamers. Featuring the patented Wave Suspension system, high-density foam cushioning, and a breathable mesh back, this chair adapts to the user’s movements and ensures long-lasting comfort. Its fully adjustable armrests, lumbar support, and headrest offer a customized fit, while the chair’s sleek design, inspired by the Halo universe, adds a touch of futuristic style to any gaming setup.

Haworth’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in the chair’s eco-friendly materials and modular design, which allows for easy repairs and upgrades. The Fern Gaming Chair is a perfect blend of style, performance, and innovation, making it an ideal choice for professional gamers, casual players, and Halo fans alike.

Main Features

• Wave Suspension™ System: Provides continuous back support.
• Adjustable Seat Height and Depth: Customize for ergonomic comfort.
• 4D Arms: Adjust up/down, side-to-side, front/back, and pivot.
• Back Stop and Tilt Tension: Control recline position and resistance.
• Optional Forward Tilt: Supports a forward-leaning posture.
• Optional Height-Adjustable Lumbar Support: Additional lower back support.
• Eco-Friendly Materials: GREENGUARD Gold® certification.
• Exclusive Design: Features unique horizontal fronds for spine support.
• Ultra Responsive: Reacts to every move with forward tilt for better focus.
• Energy Power-Up: Full shoulder and arm support to reduce fatigue.
• Cloud-Like Comfort: Provides exceptional comfort for long gaming sessions.
• Certified Authentic: Includes a unique patch and Master Chief embroidery.
• Emblem Edition: Comes with a plaque from the United Nations Space Command.

Dimensions

• Overall Height: 45″-53″
• Overall Width: 29″
• Overall Depth: 28.5″
• Seat Height: 16.5″-21.5″
• Seat Width: 19.9″
• Seat Depth: 15.5″-18.5″
• Arm Height: 6.7″-11.5″
• Warrantied for people up to 325 lbs.

Pricing & Availability

The Haworth Fern Gaming Chair has a list price of $1,499.00 without lumbar support and $1,573.00 with lumbar support included.

Unboxing & Setup

When it comes to unboxing and assembling an office/gaming chair, if you’ve done it once, the experience doesn’t change much chair to chair. The difference is when the chair comes complete assembled. I’ve only experienced this one other time, and that’s when the Aeron Chair from Herman Miller arrived at our house. In this instance, the Fern Gaming Chair had an upright cardboard crate that was covered in plastic box ties.

Once I cut those away, I was able to remove the top of the crate and pull down one side of the box. I then found several interior box placeholders and some other shipping materials. I removed those and pulled the chair into a different room. The only part of this chair that had to be assembled was the head rest. The instructions are easy to follow and basically, you take the front and back and snap them together around the mount that is already attached to the chair. Within 15 minutes, the chair is ready for use.

When you sit down, you will likely need to make adjustments to get the comfort setting just right for your particular preferences. There are several different options to got through. Haworth provides a very helpful video that walks you through all of the different settings, which I have outlined here.

• Seat Height – adjusted by lifting up or pressing down on the lever on the right side of the seat
• Seat Depth – adjusted by lifting up on the lever on the left/back side of the seat and pushing the seat forward or back
• Tilt Tension – adjust by turning the crank on the end of the arm on the right side of the seat (to tighten, turn toward the front of the seat; to loosen, turn toward the back of the seat)
• Tilt Lock – turn the lever on the arm on the right side of the seat for full tilt, partial tilt, or to lock the back in place
• Forward Tilt – adjusted by unlocking the lack on the left/front side of the seat and pushing the front of the seat down or lifting it up
• Arms – height and width can both be adjusted

It took me a few minutes and a few different tries to really get it just right, but the controls are there. I think that a lot of people might expect the chair to be exactly right for them out of the box. That’s what you get with budget office chairs. Those are made to be one-size fits all. The Fern Gaming Chair is not. Haworth recognized that everyone is not made the same way and that they would need different ways to sit comfortable. So, all the adjustment options are included specifically for that reason.

Comfortability

When it comes to evaluating office/gaming chairs, the main criteria I look at is comfortability. Even though having exclusive features for adjustments is nice, all of those elements create a comfortable or uncomfortable sitting experience. So, how comfortable is the Fern Gaming Chair? I would rate it a solid 8 out of 10.

I have an existing sciatica issue and because of that one of the only ways for me to sit comfortably is cross-legged in the chair’s seat. Therefore, I need a wider seat to be comfortable. So, I tend to be a little harsh with some seats that are intended to be more narrow. The Fern Gaming chair has a seat width of 19.9 inches. The chair I am used to has a seat width of 26 inches. That’s a big difference. If the Fern Gaming Chair had a wide-width option for the seat, I would gladly select it.

The seat cushion is plush and the leather covering is very breathable. I felt well-supported in that area — even after long periods of time. I did find that it seemed to compress some with longer sitting sessions, but it always fluffed back up after air got into it. In addition to the seat width, I sort of felt like it would be nice if it was a little deeper, too. Even with the seat pushed all the way forward, the edge of the seat cushion was just behind my knees.

I love the lumbar support option. It’s very easy to adjust and it really does give excellent support. I love that you can push the support to the exact area where you need support. The arms are also very flexible. I mentioned that I like to have a wider seat and sometimes, chair arms are so rigid that they can make a narrow seat feel more narrow. The Fern’s arms can be pushed outward, lifted up, or articulated left/right so that you have more room in the seat. It’s not a substitute for a wider seat, but having super adjustable arms is very helpful.

Now, when I say I had ‘issues’ with some of the features that are included, that isn’t to say that it’s not a comfortable chair. It is. My personal body type and preexisting health conditions prevented me from enjoying it as much as I thought I would. The Fern Gaming Chair is definitely worthy of the premium price range because of its build quality and especially for the central support column/spine. If it had a wider seat, I think this would have been ideal for me.

Style

I personally love the overall design of the Fern Gaming Chair. If you compare it to the standard Fern Chair, the shape and style are virtually the same. The gaming/Halo version obviously adds the Halo branding and colors, which also adds to the sticker price. There are several different variations of the Fern chair and the starting price range goes from $1,105 to $1,599 depending on the style and functions you select. The Halo variation starts at $1,499. Even though the Halo variation is an olive green color, which stands out a bit, it’s not gaudy by any means. We got an orange chair not too long ago that stands our far more than the Halo chair does. To me, this means that you can use it for personal use but if it sneaks into a Zoom call background, it’s not something that needs explanation like some gaming chair designs.

Conclusion

While some people might scoff at the price point, the Haworth Fern Gaming Chair is something to consider if you spend much of your time behind a desk. It’s well-built, you don’t have the hassle of assembly, and it’s got a very unique style to it thanks to the Halo branding. What it comes down to is personal comfort and the user’s seating needs. The Fern Gaming Chair has the ability to provide support and comfort to a person for 10+ hours. To me, that’s worth the investment.

For more information, visit haworth.com.