Trey Chair Review
I've needed a new chair for a long time. The original chair I used in my office broke. Broke as in I leaned back, a spring shot across the room, and I nearly ended up on the floor. I then started using a hand-me-down chair, from my wife. It was a marginal chair at best, and was somewhere between 10-15 years old.
Within a few months the back broke out of that, and I was left with a stool. A few months after that, I received the Trey Chair. Finally having a good chair (the Trey) made me realize that my poor seating arrangement was responsible for my resurgence in chronic back pain.
I first saw info on the Trey Chair at Gizmodo, in early May of last year. During the summer I started looking for a new chair at my local big box office supply stores, with no luck. This past September, I contacted the folks at Trey Chair, and they were nice enough to send me a chair for review.
Video Review
Initial Impressions
Assembly
The chair comes in two pieces - the legs and casters, and the chair seat. The box also contained a t-shirt and assembly instructions. Assembly is dead easy. The chair seat is fitted on top of the leg/caster assembly. That's it. The whole assembly was completed in less than thirty seconds.
Look & Feel
The chair looks phenomenal. The "lake" green faux leather is a nice color, without being overwhelming. The twin back supports have a nice angular form that gives a modern twist to what is ostensibly an office chair design.
The chair feels even better than it looks. The back and seat are both molded from firm supportive foam. They also both offer a convex design that provide good lumbar support. This is a sharp contrast to the soft concave shape of my old chair. When first sitting in the chair, I instantly noticed how much support it gave and how good the seat felt. I knew my previous chair was "tired and old," but I didn't realize how much better a new chair would feel.
Transformation
The differentiating feature of the Trey Chair is its ability to transform from a single office task chair, to a floor rocker and a separate piece that can be used as a stool or small table. While one might pass this feature off as a gimmick, I'm with Alton - no unitaskers. The transformation of the chair is no simple gimmick, and it adds genuine value to an already comfortable chair. The chair transforms easily. To remove the chair, you simply grab the assembly at the back and pull up on the release lever with your fingers. You then pull up and peel the chair off of the base. All of this is done in one fluid motion, with no "counter-intuitive" movements or steps.
To reseat the chair on the base, you simply hook the front end of the chair on the base and drop it into place. The removal and replacement are quick and easy. No thumbscrews, no bolts, nothing that takes time. The chair is easy to split and reassemble as your need dictates.
Trey Chair Review - Conclusions
Long-Term Use
I received my Trey Chair back in November, and immediately put it into service in my home office. I telecommute from my home office for my "day job." Between the day job, gaming, and working on the WSGF, I average 10-12 hours each Monday-Friday in my Trey Chair. While other reviewers may have tested the Trey Chair for a few days or weeks, I doubt any reviewer has logged as many hours as I have.
Comfort
After six months the Trey Chair remains as comfortable as the day it arrived. The seat and back are still firm, and still offering great ergonomic support. The wheels roll smoothly, and the seat tilts easily without any fear of being "tossed out." Using the Trey Chair has helped to alleviate much of the significant back and shoulder pain I was having with my old chair. (Adjusting my monitor height with Ergotron Monitor Mounts has helped as well).
Also, the twin supports that attach the back of the chair to the seat provide for a firm connection. My previous chair used a single support bar to attach the back to the seat. This allowed the seat back to turn and twist, and failed to offer the same amount of comfort and support of the Trey.
Cleaning & Care
Having the chair for several months has afforded me the opportunity to test how it stands up to stains. Twice, my three year old has gotten after the chair - once with a highlighter, and once with a ballpoint pen. In both instances the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser was able to clean the marks without fading the chair's color. With the long term investment that will be prone to a lot of scuffs and marks, it is good to know that the surface is durable.
Conclusions
The Trey Chair is a fine piece of equipment. At $269 the leather version isn't cheap, but it is an investment. Any good quality task chair will require a decent investment. While the Trey Chair is a bit more expensive, it is certainly not unreasonable. A good chair should be considered an investment; and making a good investment up front will keep you from having to make a repeat investment.
Opportunities for Improvement
I'd really like a headrest on the chair. When sitting in the rocker, I would be more comfortable if I could lean my head back into the support of a "high back" headrest. I find that without it, my neck tires quickly if I lean back into the chair. This can be overcome by leaning forward, and probably isn't as much of an option for someone in the younger end of the 18-34 demographic. What can I say, I'm getting old. All that being said, I don't think that a headrest is a deal breaker for the existing Trey Chair. It's an option that not everyone needs, and would undoubtedly raise the price. Rather, I see it as a good start on a second version.
Also, since I received my Trey Chair, the faux leather is now only offered in black. I really like the "lake" green of my chair offered again (amongst others). If I was looking to buy one now, I would be pretty torn. I would want the stain resistance of the faux leather, but I would want something besides black...
Final Verdict
The Trey Chair would be considered an expensive investment if either the dual-purpose role of the transformation was unfeasible, or the chair itself was uncomfortable. Fortunately, the chair is extremely comfortable and well made; and the Trey works extremely well in its role as a task chair, and its role as a rocker and stool/table. For me, the Trey is a phenomenal chair. I know that I've invested far more money in different aspects of my PC gaming rig - monitors, video cards, etc. Many of these investments (such as video cards) are made repeatedly.
A good chair is a long term investment, and will provide long term benefits to the gamer through better ergonomics, less fatigue, and less back pain. Dare I say, it could make you a better gamer. If it doesn't do that, I'm confident it would make your gaming sessions more enjoyable.
Whether your space is a home office, the living room, or a dorm room, the Trey Chair makes an excellent addition.