Balans Chair Review
Recommended by chiropractors all around the world, the kneeling chair uses the “right angle” approach to seating. The forwardly-slanted seat and supportive knee cushion open the angle of the hips, which provides a more natural posture for the spinal column. The Balans chair’s shape forces the hips more forward, which naturally balances and stabilizes the user. This sitting position greatly reduces the strain on the lumbar portion of the back, improves breathing and increases flexibility.
“Balans” was originally used as a term for the first Norwegian chairs that allowed users to sit in a kneeling posture. Progressive Norwegian thinker Hans Christian Mengshoel conducted the first experiments in the kneeling concept. Three Norwegian designers (Peter Opsvik, Oddvin Rykken, and Svein Gusrud) developed their own solutions based on Mengshoel’s principles. Opsvik emphasized variation and movement in his solution and teamed with HAG to bring the chair to market.
Opsvik’s design used a greater thigh angle to ensure that the user would be most comfortable and not slide off the seat cushion. This configuration facilitated a more natural curve in the lumbar region. To compensate for different user heights and worksurface heights, the HAG Balans chair comes in three different pneumatic lift sizes.
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Comments
Does anyone know where i can get parts for my Balans chair? I’ve had the chair for nearly 20 years and the little rubber flexing piece underneath the knee pad has started to crack.
As I understand it, only Ergo Depot and Sit In Comfort are selling Balans chairs now. I would say that one of those sites would be your best bet for Balans parts.
My chiropractor recommended this chair. Does anyone else have disc issues in their back who use this chair? I trust my doctor, but would appreciate any thoughts from people with disc conditions that have tried the Balans chair.
Hi all.
Does anyone know any good links that demostrate the CORRECT way to sit on this chair?
Thanks?
Theo,
I primarily sit in the chair at my desk with my shins on the kneepad and my bum on the seat pad. It took me awhile to find the ideal configuration for me, but based on what I found I would recommend the following:
Your back should be very slightly arched above the tailbone and your shoulders relaxed. The seat height should be adjusted so that your elbow is slightly above the worksurface (and your forearms parallel to the floor). The closest picture I could find to this is the first picture (the guy in the suit) on this link:
http://www.posture.co.uk/ourrange.html
I sometimes rest my feet on the grooved foot places and sometimes let them rest angled to the floor. I find it easier to maneuver around when my feet are on the foot places.
You can also vary up your posture a lot – like “reversed” with your bum on the kneepad with elbows back on seat pad.
Rich
What adjustments does this chair allow? I am short. I know I can change the seat hight, but .can I change the kneepad height, the kneepad angle or the seat angle?
Hi Martha.
The adjustments on the Balans chair are seat height and kneepad angle. The kneepad angle “swivels” based upon how the user’s weight is distributed between the seat pad and knee pad. There is a fixed distance between the two pads. According to HAG, the range of the kneepad angle is suitable for users between 5′1″ and 6′0″.
I have long-term severe ischial bursitis and can’t sit without pain. Would this chair help? I need something that won’t put too much pressure on my butt.
has anyone actually used a Balans chair as a serious task chair–12 hours a day banging on a keyboard?
Also, can it be disassembled for easy transport or mailing?
Rick – I used a Balans chair for many years and can tell you that it is POSSIBLE. In my case at least, I was able to adjust to the sitting posture relatively easily and used the chair religiously for 8-10 hours a day for several years. That said, I bought a Capisco chair a while back and there’s no doubt that the Capisco is a better option for longer workdays. It allows for more freedom of movement with many more seating positions than the Balans does. You also have the sit/stand option with the Capisco.
I have been looking for this chair for the past 8 years since I seen a co-worker with one. I would like to know how and where can I get one? Anyone.
I have a Balans chair that has served me well for over 20 years. It was given to me by a friend so I did not purchase it myself. However, the gas lift isn’t working so I need to know where to send it for repair. I live in Kuala Lumpur. Can someone please help me?
I’ve haad 3 back sugeries and a friend loaned me his chair and while I say it helped my back pain I could leg would not tolerate the position for any length of time because of my replacement knee. Just something to keep in mind if you a contemplating a chair.
Hi Lillian. The current replacement lifts should be available from any authorized HAG dealer. The repair can be a little tricky but certainly can be done by an end-user. It isn’t that the repair is difficult but that after 20 years of sitting the parts can be wedged together quite tightly.
Also, to John Greene, your unique condition is definitely something to consider when purchasing any kneeling chair. You may still be able to achieve many of the benefits of the Balans chair by using it as a secondary chair throughout the day. It can easily slide under your desk for storage and then be pulled out for a change of pace.
Hi. I just read that the HAG Balans is no longer available. What’s the deal?! I have been reading a lot of great things about this chair and that this was basically the original kneeling chair. I really haven’t been looking at any other chairs because this was supposed to be the bee’s knees when it came to kneeling chairs. Does anyone have suggestions or maybe a place where I can still purchase the HAG chair?
HAG officially discontinued the chair in 2009. Peter Opsvik, the inventor of the original Balans kneeling concept and designer of the HAG Balans Vital is apparently suggesting that consumers buy the Varier Wing Balans (which he also designed). This is the closest design to the HAG chair out there. The main difference is that the frame/base are made of wood rather than aluminum.
I have a Wing Balans chair and can say it is CONSIDERABLY more comfortable than the HAG Balans Vital ever was due to the wooden frame of the Wing Balans. It has significantly more “give” than the HAG model. Here is a link to one of the Opsvik-designed Wing Balans chairs.
If you are dead-set on getting the HAG chair, I would wait for a used one to come up on Ebay. They are on there every once in a while (though they won’t have the mfr’s warranty since that is only extended to the original user).
Hi, In response to Andy’s comment posted 22 March 2010, I have an original HAG Balans chair which I shall be selling through ebay. I shall be posting the chair today so feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. My ebay user ID is kelbird1. I have found this chair perfect for my posture and lower back problems, however due to now having a bad knee through cycling, I am unable to kneel comfortably on this.
Hello,
I have frequent back pain due to an injury to my SI joints- has anyone on this forum had a similar issue and found the HAG chairs to be of benefit? Any recommendations are appreciated- these chairs aren’t cheap and I would like to hear from someone who has actually used the chair before I commit to purchasing:)
Warmest thanks!
To Suraj and other s looking for a replacement to HAG Balans. I have sat in both chairs and totally agree with Suraj. The Varier Wing balans is much more comfortable. I’m not sure if it is necessarily the wood, though. I think that may be a part of it but there are also 6 of those little rubber bushing things on the underside. I compared this to a friend’s HAG chair and it only had two. I think it’s a combination of the wooden frame and extra “suspension” that makes the Wing so much more comfortable and forgiving.
I called HAG/Izzy and they said that the chair is only available through two of their dealers now, Ergo Depot and the Comfort Channel I think? Why are they limiting the distribution for the chair?