Boulies NUBI chair review: Compact but comfortable and stylish

I really like this little chair – though it is far from perfect, and available only in the UK. There are chairs that I review that feel ideally engineered; I feel supported and comfortable no matter what sitting position I'm in (I'm looking at you, Embody). This is not that chair. It is comfortable, and it's got a little lumbar support too, but the main appeal is that it's an enjoyable chair to use and move around, due to its lightness. It also looks cool, and for the price, I think it'd make for a good secondary chair. 

When I review the best office chairs for back pain, I think a lot about how the chair encourages movement, how it supports your back, and the adjustability options. This falls short on a lot of that, so I wouldn't suggest it being a chair that you would work long hours on... but I still really like it! And for £300, it's definitely good value for money. Let's dive into the details of the Nubi. 

Design and build

In creating its NUBI Series, Boulies has been successful in designing a chair that easily fits into small spaces without compromising on functionality or comfort. Compact and comfortable, it’s designed for those who value space efficiency, while maintaining a foot base that has a compact footprint but remains stable and reliable. 

The chair’s fabric feels soft yet resilient, and the sponge foam is comfortable. The cold-cured foam Boulies has used is engineered to evenly distribute pressure as you sit, reducing the risk of pressure points and fatigue. Meanwhile, the backrest enables you to recline up to 27 degrees with ease courtesy of its weight-synchronised mechanism.

However, though it looks great, because it's light, it doesn't have that solid base feel that other mid- and high-range chairs have. that proper, full support. In fact, when using the Nubi, I did feel it a little flimsy under me, especially when leaning heavily on one arm rest, for example. 

Comfort and assembly

The seat also boasts a feature I’ve not seen before that enables you to tilt the seat pad forward or backward to enhance lower-back support and alleviate pressure. You’re also able to adjust the seat’s depth by sliding it forward to ensure that your knees can be aligned properly to the edge of the seat without affecting your circulation. All of these features make this chair highly customisable and ergonomic, meaning it’s a great choice for a wide variety of body types and personal preferences. 

You can feel confident in the longevity of the chair too as it’s upholstered in Boulies’ UNO breathable fabric, a high-grade material comparable to fabrics used in car seats. The heavy-duty gas lift mechanism offers seamless height adjustment and has been heavily tested to ensure that it will withstand the demands of long-term use. 

You can get the NUBI in either beige or charcoal, with the beige version I reviewed satisfyingly neutral and verging on a warm grey. As a bonus, it was also quick and easy to put together thanks to foolproof instructions and the need to only screw in nine bolts and push on five castors.

This content originally appeared in 3D World magazine. Subscribe to 3D World at Magazines Direct.