REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly easy to assemble
Very adjustable
REASONS TO AVOID
Design isn't universal
Herman Miller Sayl Review
This chair distinguished itself on its looks, but still provides a high level of performance
RELATED: Best Office Chairs of 2023
Our Verdict
One of the first things you notice about the Herman Miller Sayl is its unique look. While it finishes in the upper portion of the group, it does not offer the highest level of comfort; however, it is still adequate. It also is priced on the higher end of the spectrum, though it is the least expensive chair with top marks in our adjustability metric. It is also quite easy to assemble. It's a great chair, particularly if you love its modern look, but it might not be for everyone.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Herman Miller Sayl | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $905 List | $972 List $1,049 at Amazon | $329 List | $493 List $399.00 at Amazon | $175 List $174.71 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Incredibly easy to assemble, very adjustable | Well built, comfortable, adjustable seat | Great value, durable, comfortable | High adjustability, adjustable lumbar support, comfortable backrest | Inexpensive, relatively comfortable, and adjustable |
| Cons | Design isn't universal | Not as comfortable for smaller folks, subpar tilt resistance | Looks aren't universally appealing | Thin plastic lumbar support, seat cushion foam prone to flattening | Durability could be better |
| Bottom Line | This chair distinguished itself on its looks, but still provides a high level of performance | With its highly adjustable armrests and seat, this option offers comfort for taller folks | Pairs exceptional comfort and durability, at a price you just can't beat | A decent chair in the mid-range arena; it offers above-average performance for comfort and ease of use and an excellent price point | This is our favorite budget-friendly chair for the money |
| Rating Categories | Herman Miller Sayl | Steelcase Think | DXRacer Racing Series | Hon Ignition 2.0 Task | Modway Articulate E... |
| Comfort (50%) | |||||
| Adjustability (35%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Ease of Assembly (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Herman Miller Sayl | Steelcase Think | DXRacer Racing Series | Hon Ignition 2.0 Task | Modway Articulate E... |
| Seat pan adjustment | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Adjustable lumbar support | Option available | Yes | Yes; a movable pad | Yes | Yes; the backrest moves up and down |
| Lumbar support | Option available | Yes | Yes; a removable movable pad | Yes | Yes |
| Recline lever | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Tilt limiter | Yes; 3 stop points | Yes; 4 stop points | Yes; only locks in the upright position | Yes; 3 stop points | Yes; locks you into a position |
| Armrest width adjustment | Option available as a third-party upgrade | Option available | Option available | Yes | No |
| Swivel armrests | Option available as a third-party upgrade | Option available | Yes | No | No |
| Armrest depth adjustment | Option available as a third-party upgrade | Option available | Yes | No | No |
| Tension knob | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Our testers either loved or hated the Sayl.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Comfort
Comprising half of the overall score for each chair, comfort is king when it comes to these products. We had each tester try out the Sayl for a significant amount of time, then decide how long they were able to comfortably sit in it — whether it be for a full workday or only for a few hours.
We also aggregated each judge's opinion of the backrest, armrests, and seat cushion and took that into account when determining scores. The Sayl delivered an okay performance. All of our judges agreed that they were content sitting on this chair for at least five hours, with four of them having no problem sitting for a full 8-10 hour day. It doesn't boast the tallest backrest, which may have contributed to the taller testers only wanting to sit in it for half of the day.
Some of our taller testers wished the backrest was just a bit higher.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The backrest is a rubberized mesh, which some of our judges loved and others weren't so enamored with. The armrests have a much more universal appeal, and the seat is also regarded as comfortable by most of our judges.
The Sayl has an impressive set of adjustable features.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Adjustability
Following our suite of comfort assessments, we moved on to rating and scoring how adjustable the Sayl is. We primarily focused on how customizable the backrest, armrests, and seat pan are and the way it can recline. Finally, we combined all of this to see if we could easily get the chair into an ergonomic seating position at an average desk or standing desk converter (in the down position). Altogether, these assessments account for 35% of the total score and the Sayl delivers a stellar performance.
The backrest offers lumbar support, and we liked that you can move it up or down. The armrests on the version we tested are fully customizable; you can move them up and down, closer or further to you, and forward and back. You can also pivot them, although we aren't the biggest fans of the raise and lower mechanism. We have seen versions of this chair without the completely adjustable armrests, so make sure you double-check you are buying the one you prefer.
You can buy this chair with both adjustable and non-adjustable armrests, so you'll want to ensure you're purchasing the model you're after.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
You can adjust the depth of the seat pan and move the chair height up and down. When it comes to reclining, the knob that adjusts the tension is fine, and there are tilt limiters to set different angles, which allow you to recline.
It's fairly easy to sit according to proper ergonomic guidelines, thanks to its many adjustability features.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Overall, these various adjustments make it super easy to move the chair into a position that conforms to ergonomic guidelines.
The rubberized mesh on the Sayl offers exceptional durability.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Durability
Next, we evaluate how well constructed and durable the Sayl is. We based the score on our own assessments of each chair, reading through tons of other user experiences. The Sayl performs quite well. We didn't notice any major signs of damage after our testing process, though we could see the front padding of the armrests showing a bit more signs of wear than some of the other models. The height adjustment lever also feels a little flimsy. We saw a handful of user reviews that echoed this sentiment, noting that the front seat cushion padding and the armrest padding began to wear or break.
The Sayl was a snap to assemble.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Assembly
For this metric, we evaluated how long it took to build each chair and the quality and clarity of the instructions. The Sayl did very well, earning a top score. It arrives almost completely built, and we had the chair ready to go in less than five minutes, as you only have to set the top on the base. The directions were also very clear, as there was really only a single step.
Value
This chair isn't the best value, but it can be a decent bargain if you are shopping for a high-end, premium chair that also sits pretty.
The Sayl has a very modern look.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
Overall, the Sayl is a solid chair and holds its own against much more expensive options. It's got a unique look and is fairly comfortable but might not be the best office chair for everyone.
—
David Wise and Austin Palmer
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