OFM 247 and OFM 247 VAM Ergonomic Chair Review

As with pretty much any ergonomic chair on the market, both the OFM 247 and the 247 VAM come with the standard seat height adjustment. Beyond that, the chairs are extremely adjustable, with back tilt, seat depth slider, several types of adjustments for arms, and more.

Related: What Does Your Office Chair Height Have To Do With Your Hip Angle, And Your Back?

Let’s start this review by looking at the paddles and other gizmos located under the seat. (Paddles are the levers on either side of the seat that are used to make the adjustments. You simply reach for a paddle with your hand and lift or lower it, then change the angle, place or dimension of the chair part the lever addresses, then flip the lever back to lock in the adjustment.)

In back on the right is the adjustment for the back tilt mechanism. Lift the lever and press into the back rest until your trunk reaches the desired angle. Then flip the lever back up to lock that angle into place. The back rest on the OFM 247 and OFM 247 VAM moves and adjusts independently from the seat tilt adjustment, which may help enable you to finely tune your ergonomic sitting posture for greater spine support.

Just in front of the back tilt mechanism lever on the right side is the seat height lever. (For most people the height adjustment is self-explanatory, so I’ll leave that one to you.) In front of this paddle is a small lever that makes an adjustment to the chair arms. There is one of these levers on either side of the chair, and I’ll explain why these are special in a minute.

In front of the small arm adjustment lever is the one for the seat tilt adjustment. The seat tilt allows you to adjust your pelvis, and therefore your spine into a position that will facilitate siting with good posture. To adjust the seat, all you do is lift the lever, tilt the seat to the desired angle (generally so that your hip bones tilt downward, which preserves the curve in the small of your back), and then flip the lever back up again.

Another seat adjustment is the forward and back position. The forward and back seat adjustment is also known as the seat slider. Unlike the adjustments discussed so far, to work with the seat position, use the thin metal bar located under the seat. Press down on the bar and, with your feet flat on the floor, use your hips to slide the seat forward or back until you find the ideal distance from your work. Remember to position the seat so that you have a few inches between your knees and the edge of the chair, and so that your back can reach and be supported by the back rest.

Related:

• How Close or Far Away From Your Computer Monitor Should You Work?
• About the Seat Depth Adjustment on Your Ergonomic Office Chair

But have you ever tried to adjust arm rests that slide separately? It can be a real pain, to say the least. With the OFM 247 and 247 VAM, it's easy to keep the arm rest heights equal, because these chairs come with a ratchet mechanism. All you have to do is count the clicks on one arm, then replicate that number when you adjust the height for the other arm rest.

For most ergonomic chairs, to adjust the arm rest width, you have to crawl under the chair with tools. Let's face it - that's an ordeal few of us relish, and even fewer will actually take the time and make the effort to do. But with the OFM 247 and OFM 247 VAM, you can press down on the small levers on the right and left sides of the seat, then push the arm rests in or pull them out to the desired width. So simple!

And finally, the arm rests for this model also pivot. This will allow you to internally and externally rotate your upper arm (shoulder). You can adjust the pivot to comfort, as most people would do. But I also like this feature because you can use it to train your shoulders to open up in front, which may help you address such posture issues as kyphosis and forward head posture. Just pivot them outward, or so that the back of the arm rest is pointing toward your body while the front is pointing away.

Related: Office Chair Arm Rests