Comfort and ergonomics
It’s time to test the comfort and ergonomics of the noblechairs Legend. Here we go!
High tech synthetic leather round 2!
This is the second time that we have to deal with the high-tech synthetic leather of noblechairs. As a reminder, the latter was designed in Germany. Its objective is to get as close as possible to the feel and texture of Nappa leather. With this, the brand plays on the breathability of its material, while highlighting its clean construction without phthalates or solvents.
In fact, the bet is successful because we have a coating very pleasant under the fingers. This last one reproduces rather faithfully the leather effect although being a little softer. Nevertheless, the durability should be good because this coating is still 1.4 mm thick. Just like the PU of a Hero or an Icon, the durability should not be a problem, on the contrary.
As you know, it is now winter and the temperatures in our offices tend to drop quickly. Despite the cooler temperatures, the coating is not cold, at least it does not stay cold for long and this fake leather warms up quickly. Another aspect, it will not be slippery as it can be the case of some real leather chairs and will not stick to the skin either. No, frankly, it’s a great success!
Comfort
Let’s face it, one of the main comfort features of this Legend is its adjustable lumbar system. Like the Hero series, we have a mechanism that bulges the bottom of the backrest to hollow out the lower back, in order to keep it straight. This mechanism is controlled by a large knob located on the right side of the backrest. Moreover, when you are seated, it is not easy to reach since you will have to contort yourself to reach it.
Nevertheless, I find this mechanism more pleasant to use than the usual cushions that come with gaming chairs. This system gives, in my opinion, a more natural shape to the backrest as opposed to the cushions that dig too much into the back.
Compared to the Hero (I know, I compare a lot to this chair, but what do you expect? It’s the one I prefer), we have a different ergonomics. Indeed, the backrest being a little less wide, we are more guided, less free. In fact, it reminds us a lot of the comfort of the Icon that we tested a few years ago. As for the seat, it reminds us more of the comfort provided by the Epic Black Edition whose sides are slightly raised.
In use, the comfort is more guided than a Hero, but what it gives us as a sensation is to be like in a cocoon… Especially after the chair has warmed up. Once you’ve settled down, you don’t want to move.
As for the firmness of the foam, as usual noblechairs uses firm, high density foam. However, the Legend ‘s foam seems softer than that of the Hero TX. Then, when we say softer, on a scale of 0 to 100, we go from 4 to 6. Even though it is softer, it is still firmer than what we found on the Titan Evo XL 2022 from SecretLab. Personally, I like the firmness of the noblechairs, as it provides a good support, but it also guarantees a good longevity of the chair, as the foam is less likely to deform with time.
Cushions too much after all..
With the lumbar adjustment, the cushion in the lower back is clearly superfluous. This is an observation I’ve made since 2018 with the Hero PU test, but also more recently with the TX version and the SecretLab Titan Evo XL 2022, both of which have a similar system.
However, the Legend goes one step further by making the use of the cervical cushion, the one used for the head, obsolete. On this seat, the headrest is more pronounced, it is clearly more prominent than the one on the Hero that I use daily. If I add this extra cushion, my head is forced forward and it is clearly not comfortable. So I take the cushion off and it’s much better.
What about the settings?
As far as settings go, the Legend comes with everything you need. The height range is enough to get me up to my desk, which is higher than average. As a reminder, the top of the desk is 83 cm above the floor. To be perfectly comfortable, I need to adjust the seat to its highest position.
On the other hand, if you are a short person, even in its lowest position, this model might still be too high. I had the opportunity to test it with my wife (1,65 m), her heels did not touch the ground for the small anecdote.
Finally, the jack, which is new, ensures a smooth ascent and descent when you activate its control on the right side of the seat. Of course, you should not hesitate to put a little grease on it from time to time.
A quick word on the aesthetic aspect of the Hero TX :
From an aesthetic point of view, I find the Legend clearly successful, especially in its high-tech synthetic leather upholstery tricolor. In the latter, the chair displays three colors that are black, white and red with different textures. If the black and white coverings are smooth, we quickly notice that the burgundy red bands are sewn so as to give squares. Clearly, this brings a bit of contrast to the whole both on the textures and colors.
Speaking of texture, we note the presence of an opening in the top of the backrest circled by a piece of gray metallic plastic. Clearly, this is the same material as theEpic Black Edition, but it brings a little something extra.
Moreover, among all the versions proposed for this chair, this is clearly the most successful color in my opinion. The other models are too smooth and a bit too minimalist according to the visuals available on the brand’s website. Moreover, its rounded shapes and its general aspect make it fit in any kind of environment: personal or professional.
Otherwise, we will remember the presence of a cylindrical handle, massive, stainless steel, the same material as the Epic Black Edition. However, it is bigger and fits well in the hand, especially since it does not show any play unlike the TK700 from Oraxeat.
Nevertheless, this steel is also found as a coating on the lumbar adjustment knob, as well as the front armrest adjustment knob.
Let’s talk about the armrests:
For their part, the armrests do not change and are similar to those of other models of the brand. This translates into dimensions of 10.5 cm wide by 27 cm long. They also offer many adjustments since they can be moved forward/backward, sideways, inward or outward or up/down. All these adjustments allow you to adjust them as well as possible and to always have your elbows on them, whatever your position.
Nevertheless, I still find them very hard to use. Over long periods of use, it can become painful. In this respect, I can’t help but find the armrests of the SecretLab Titan Evo XL 2022 superior with their soft covering.
