Fractal Refine gaming and office chair review: Scandinavian simplicity meets high demands

12. September 2024 06:00

Gallery

And that’s about it, because you really don’t have to write novels about chairs like this any more. But it only took a few minutes to create a pretty impressive work of art, which I will now, in the truest sense of the word, own extensively.

User experience and conclusion

The Fractal Refine Chair offers me an overall positive user experience, which is mainly due to its ergonomic properties and high-quality workmanship. You have to be that honest. However, I would place the “research-based” ergonomics claim more in the realm of marketing lyricism, as there are certain ergonomic standards in this price range that cannot be reinvented because they have been tried and tested for a long time. Unfortunately, as with the Refine, buyers have to pay a bit of money in order to benefit from these findings.

The pivotal point for the ergonomics of the Refine is the Synchro-Tilt mechanism from Donati, which offers exactly what you would expect from an ergonomically well-designed swivel chair. This is complemented by the practical width and length dimensions of the individual components, be it the seat, the backrest or the armrests. You will find everything where you need it and the design covers a fairly wide range of body options such as height, length of arms and legs as well as different weights up to around 125 kilos. In addition, the weight distribution is almost perfect. So you never topple over or tip over.

All these adjustment options, such as 4D armrests, adjustable lumbar support and the Synchro-Tilt mechanism, allow for individual fine-tuning to make different sitting positions comfortable, which can be rated positively across the board. These functions provide natural posture support and reduce discomfort during long sessions, as they do for me. What I miss, however, is the mobility of the seat surface (Dondola), but then you would have to dig a lot deeper into your pocket. Yes, you get used to good things far too quickly. Incidentally, the choice of material is appropriate for the price and you’ll be pleased that you’re not being offered a quickly ageing PU imitation leather, but a hard-wearing textile covering, including mesh.

With an entry-level price of around 549 euros for the standard version, it is still affordable when you consider the design, the features and the quality of the materials and workmanship. However, in my opinion, the 900 euros for the Alcantara version are not justified by anything. Yes, Alcantara is a high-quality synthetic material that is mainly used for upholstery in cars, furniture and luxury items, but it doesn’t cost that much more. It consists of approximately 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane, which gives it its soft, velvety texture and excellent durability. Alcantara feels similar to suede, but is easier to clean and resistant to stains and wear. The only difference is that it is not 350 euros more expensive than normal upholstery in terms of surface area.

My points of criticism therefore primarily relate to the price. The end customer would perhaps just about accept a surcharge of around 100 euros, but something like this doesn’t cost more to manufacture, it costs significantly less. In the 900-euro segment, there are already some heavyweights in the office sector that are even better, which in the end really no longer justifies the price of the premium version, as only the material varies. You don’t get any more functions.

And what conclusion can I draw for myself now? As a long-suffering frequent seater, I can certainly gain a lot from the Fractal Design Refine, because in weeks of self-testing I didn’t miss anything apart from the dondola of my Wagner chairs. The mesh is also easy to clean, as is the backrest (coffee!). You just have to start right away with the rescue attempt and not wait for it to dry out. The bottom line is that this is even worth a recommendation to me, because you can not only ruin your bank account with bad chairs, but also your back. But that wasn’t the case here. I’m still alive and sitting!

The Fractal Design Refine was provided free of charge by the supplier for this test. There was no influence or financial support, the only condition was compliance with the embargo period.

Fractal Design Refine Mesh Bürostuhl, hellgrau (FD-CH-RE1M-02)

	Lagernd im Außenlager, Lieferung 2-3 WerktageStand: 17.09.24 07:10	548,97 €*Stand: 17.09.24 07:10
	Ab Zentrallager sofort lieferbar	548,98 €*Stand: 17.09.24 07:13
	siehe Shop	549,00 €*Stand: 17.09.24 07:13