Last updated: January 21st, 2026
You need a new office chair, but don’t want to spend more than roughly $500. No problems. Meet the UpDown Ergo ProFlex. It misses out on some premium features (e.g., depth-adjustable lumbar), but offers a lot of comfort per dollar.
I get it – it can be stressful to fork over $500+ on something you have never seen. So I used one for a few weeks to tell you all about it.
Reasons To Buy The UpDown Ergo ProFlex.
Above: The Ergo ProFlex cuts a handsome, contemporary shape.
I have to start with the seat pan. This is a super comfortable seat that provides just the right amount of support.
The foam is firm yet plush – you can sink down to get that cossetted feeling, but it’s never so soft that it begins to feel like a spongy old couch.
Frame flexibility is also great.
The seat pan and backrest don’t have a tonne of flex, but they do allow you to move around in the chair – you never feel like you’re locked into one place.
Expert Tip.
If you want a chair with a lot of flex, consider a Steelcase Leap or a Haworth Fern. But a word of warning – you won’t get much change from $2,000.
Above: I love the contemporary geometric shape of this backrest. Perfect if the back of your chair faces into the room.
Unusually for this price point, the UpDown chair doesn’t shortchange you on adjustments. You get:
- Width, depth, height and pivot on the armrests.
- Depth on the seat pan.
- Height and tilt on the headrest.
Last but not least – the chair’s recline is outstanding.
Smooth and following a nice rearward arc, it uses a sycnro-tilt mechanism to tilt you back without lifting your feet off the ground.
It stops short of that perfect suspended feeling you get on ultra-premium chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron. But it is on par with the more expensive ErgoTune Joobie.
It also locks in 3 positions – tasking (upright), semi-reclined, and fully reclined. The upright setting is unusually vertical and may not be to everyone’s liking.
But the good news is that the semi-reclined position is also usable for tasking.
Important!
Fun fact – I prefer it to the recline in much more expensive Steelcase chairs.
Above: Notice the non-aggressive lumbar curve and uncomplicated controls.
The included neckroll-style headrest is a pleasant surprise.
I don’t personally use them, but if you’re someone who works in a hybrid mode, and likes to kick back in the chair after work, you’ll find it comfortable and well-positioned.
All this makes for a comfortable sitting experience.
I’ve felt well-supported in the Updown Ergo ProFlex, and could easily spend 8 hours a day in it.
But how attractive is it?
Plenty. I’ve pointed out before that ergonomic chairs are rarely attractive, but Ergo ProFlex is a rare exception.
Did You Know?
The rear of the backrest is usually the biggest aesthetic offender, cluttered by ugly, busy-looking frame supports that stop it from folding over.
Above: This chair has one of the prettiest backrest designs I’ve seen. And I’ve seen many.
ErgoPro ProFlex’s backrest frame is the opposite. It is as geometrically beautiful as it is minimalist.
The clean lines continue to the armrests and backrest.
Important!
Speaking of backrest, the semi-translucent, patterned mesh also looks great in real life. The photos don’t quite do it justice.
Overall, it’s a very aesthetically pleasing chair that looks sleek and inviting in my office.
In fact, when sitting next to the $2,000-$3,500 chairs currently cluttering my office, it’s not obvious that this one is 4-5X cheaper than the others.
Reasons To Avoid The UpDown Ergo ProFlex.
Above: Armrests adjust in four dimensions, but the armcaps are quite hard.
Let’s start with the armpads. While their 4D adjustment range is outstanding, they have a couple of annoying quirks:
- The material is firm and inexpensive-feeling. Its not super hard, but doesn’t have as much give as high-end chairs (but it does mean that the armpads will last longer).
- The armcaps have a pointy front edge and tend to dig into the forearm when reclining.
I also wish the backrest’s mesh was more taut.
If you recline back fully, you’ll feel the “Y” part of the frame through the mesh – especially if you’re tall and heavy like me.
This isn’t a dealbreaker problem, but it is something to consider if you spend a lot of time kicking back in the chair (e.g., watching Netflix or gaming after work).
My second gripe is recline tension of the (admittedly excellent) recline:
- The loosest setting is way too weak, making you feel like you’re falling backwards.
- The most tense setting is just adequate
Above: Lumbar support pad is uncomplicated – and adjusts for height only.
How The UpDown Ergo ProFlex Stacks Up.
I’m on the fence about some areas of the UpDown Ergo ProFlex, so let me mention them before I offer my verdict.
The build quality is a mixed bag.
It doesn’t blow me away, nor does it do anything wrong. You get hard, durable plastics everywhere that feel more utilitarian and mass-produced than luxurious.
Mechanisms are simple and functional. Armrests wobble a bit more than I’d like, but not enough to be problematic.
Expert Tip.
Armrests attach using a single bolt. Overtighten it to eliminate most of the wobble.
Above: Slightly contoured seat pan allows you to sit cross-legged.
But I really like the mesh and seat materials. And there are no rattles or creaks – every part fits together nicely.
Lumbar is my second “on the fence” item.
It’s very gentle – and adjusts for height only. But the adjustment doesn’t do much, so you’re stuck with this borderline nonexistent lumbar forever.
If that’s what you prefer – great. If you prefer an aggressive lumbar, this isn’t a chair for you at all.
| Adjustments | 5/5 |
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Aesthetics | 5/5 |
| Build Quality & Warranty | 4/5 |
| Cost | 4/5 |
| OVERALL | 4.4 |
My Verdict On The UpDown Ergo ProFlex Office Chair.
I currently have five different ergonomic chairs in my home office. The UpDown Ergo ProFlex is by far the cheapest – yet it doesn’t trail the others by much in comfort or ergonomics.
It’s for people who frequently sit for an extended period of time and demand plenty of adjustability and ergonomic functionality – without paying a premium price.
You can dial in an ergonomic position regardless of body size.
Because of the seat depth adjustment and 4D armrests, the chair will accommodate unusually tall and short people.
You can’t build a highly adjustable ergonomic chair at the mid-$500 price point without compromises – and UpDown made them. Smartly.
For example, there is a lot of plastic, but it is moulded into an excellent design.
Yes, the armrests and the backrest can be somewhat pokey in the fully reclined position.
But otherwise, the chair is supremely comfortable. And if you spend most of your day tasking in a relatively upright position, this is a non-issue for you.
Steven
