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Eureka Ergonomic Axion: One-minute review
Founded in California, Eureka Ergonomic is an office and home furniture manufacturer that – predictably – focuses on ergonomic hardware. The Axion sits roughly in the middle of the brand’s vast array of chairs, and is a “hybrid chair that focuses on ergonomics and adjustability.”
Immediately, it’s clear that this is an attractive bit of kit. Decked out in all-black with a splash of color here and there, it’s tasteful enough to be at home in a fairly neutral home office, but energetic enough to satisfy an RGB-obsessed gamer. With plenty of reclining range and an astounding amount of adjustable support areas, there’s a lot going on – much of it very well executed, too.
My few complaints are picky ones. I took delivery of the fabric-upholstered version, and this comes with a nylon base. While I’m sure it’s more than tough enough for the job, the aluminium base of the mesh version would certainly inspire a little more confidence in the chair’s longevity.
However, at less than $500 – and considering the amount of ergonomic features on offer – it’s a reasonably-priced daily driver that I’ve enjoyed using. Of course, spend even more on the very best office chairs and you can get a few higher-end materials from the likes of Steelcase and Herman Miller, and more purpose-built gaming chairs will suit a proper streaming setup better. However, for most, the Axion will be a trusty throne that offers considerable support where you need it the most.
Eureka Ergonomic Axion: price and availability
The Axion is found in Eureka’s gaming chair section, and at the time of writing, it’s the second-most expensive out of four on the company’s website. Notably, on the website it’s the only one that hasn’t got the tag “best seller.” Make of that what you will.
However, viewed in the wider context of Eureka’s dozens of office chair designs, it sits firmly in the mid-range when it comes to price.
In the US, the list price is $499. However, at the time of writing, this has been reduced to $469, which is a decent, if not super-cheap price for a very adjustable ergonomic hybrid chair.
Compared to gaming chair stalwarts Secretlab, the Axion is about $200 cheaper, which makes it a decent pick in this sector of the market – especially if you’re looking for something more understated.
Eureka Ergonomic Axion: Design and setup
- Very smart design
- Huge array of adjustable ergonomic features
- Requires assembly
As you might expect, the Axion is delivered in a big cardboard box, and requires assembly at home. Each component is neatly wrapped, and I found the level of protection very good. As you’d expect, nothing was damaged in transit.
All of the requisite screws, bolts, and fitting are well-marked in separate bags, and I had no issue completing the assembly. I’d recommend setting aside about an hour of time so you’re not in a rush to complete the job.
In terms of instructions, the ones Eureka provides are good, but not great. I didn’t run into any issues – it’s a quite simple build – but I’ve definitely had clearer booklets with flat-pack furniture in my time. While fully understandable, the instructions definitely betray the chair’s Chinese origins.
During the procedure, each part of the chair felt very solid and well-made. For example, the base was very neatly stapled together, and while not entirely high-end, it everything felt like it’d stand the test of time. For an example of a chair I felt very differently about, check out my review of the Fezibo C3. Thankfully, so such manufacturing concerns here.
Something I would’ve appreciated was a little more documentation on all the excellent features of the chair itself. For example, through my testing I discovered most of the angles of adjustment offered by the chair. However, it was only when I referenced the product page on the Eureka website for this review did I realise the lumbar support could move horizontally as well as vertically. A nice problem to have, but a walkthrough guide would have got me using everything the chair offered from the start.
It’s worth noting too that I was supplied with a second gas strut for use on carpets. I’m not sure if this is a known issue or something confined to testing models, but it’s interesting to know there’s a minor design flaw here that has to be patched by the user. That said, the strut was easy to install, and presumably free to anyone buying the chair themselves.
On to the good stuff though – being a newbie to truly ergonomic seating, I’ve never used such an adjustable chair. The headrest, lumbar support, and armrests all have three degrees of adjustment, along with an adjustable seating pad too. I found it was very easy to dial in my perfect seating position.
Some parts could be a little “stiffer” – I found myself moving the headrest while leaning back – but overall there’s very little that has been overlooked in terms of design.
Finally, it’s interesting that the two upholstery options – mesh and fabric – come with a different base. I can find no reason given for this other than perhaps aesthetics, but I have a feeling most people would rather have a metal base regardless of the upholstery. The nylon base, present on my test model is fine, but at risk of sounding old-fashioned, I find anything metal just feels better.
Overall, there are few chairs that are as adjustable as the Axion in this price range, and beyond some small concerns about the materials, there’s not a lot to complain about at all.
In terms of looks, the Axion is very attractive. It’s a simple design, dominated by black plastic and fabric/mesh, but the pop of color on the back gives some welcome levity to the appearance.
There are a number of different colors available too, including blue (the color of the test model), bright green, red, and gray. There is also a “silver gray” version available – although personally I’d avoid this, because I’ve had silver-painted plastic items before, and they develop scratches and dings far faster than plain black in a real-life environment.
Some may be disappointed that there’s no all-black colorway, but the gray version is neutral enough to fit most setups.
Eureka Ergonomic Axion: Comfort
- Tons of support for long sessions
- Comfortable for everyday use
- I had some issues with the castors on my thick carpet
There’s no denying the Axion is a great daily driver. The amount of adjustment in almost every area means that no matter your body shape or seating preference, it’s easy to get comfy.
In the past, I’ve found that ergonomic chairs can be more trouble than they’re worth – with squeaking hardware and lumps all over making the whole experience unenjoyable. That’s not the case here, and there’s a great balance between moderate ergonomic intrusion and general easy-going comfort.
The areas you touch while using the chair are made of pleasant materials. The fabric-upholstered version is wrapped in high-quality synthetic material that has a slight fluff to it. Don’t worry, it’s not fleecy – but it feels warm enough not to feel staticky or slippery.
I haven’t had the chance to test the mesh version, but I expect it’s slightly lighter-weight, more cooling, and slightly smoother. The choice you make is down to your preference.
Some of the materials could fell more premium, but it certainly doesn’t feel cheap. For example, the rear plastic is nowhere near the scratchiest I’ve felt, but some really high-end chairs will feel less hollow, and have slightly more give if you were to press them with a fingernail.
Finally, I had a few issues with the castor wheels – most notably that when sitting and rolling towards my desk, the wheel would get slightly stuck in my carpet. Now, I’m aware that the carpet I have is fairly luxurious, but shuffling to move the chair was a little annoying. Of course, if you use a chair pad or have hard flooring, this won’t be a problem.
