Fractal Refine Mesh Chair Review

Up Close Continued

Up Close Continued

If you’ve ever reached below your chair to make an adjustment and tried to remember which of the twelve levers is the one you want, the simplicity of the Fractal Refine system will be a blessing. Want to stop the chair tilting? This lock with the arrow, stops the chair moving in that direction. Simples. You can also see the thickness of the polycarbonate structure. This thing is built like a tank.

4D armrests are a godsend. You might feel that it’s better to have them correct in the first place. You’d be wrong. Or, perhaps, haven’t had the benefits of this system. We know we have them in very different positions for racing when compared to typing or flying. Fast, reliable adjustment is king and the Fractal Refine has it in spades.

If you’re very heavy on your elbows then the solidity of the armrest tops is for you. They’re definitely not soft, but you feel like they’ll last for a decade or more without even showing a hint of use.

Seat adjustment is easy too. The back button lets you move the whole base of the seat forwards and backwards. Not a common feature, and one that is really beneficial to maximising your comfort. The up down button controls the gas lift height. Obviously we’re all used to the slight stand up thing you have to do to move the chair upwards. Lastly the triangular cam adjusts the tension of the synchro-tilt.

If you’re really in need of back support the Fractal Refine has a very obvious lumbar adjustment. Rather than be obfuscated within a chair, it’s blatantly obvious where it is positioned. In ten years time your spine will thank you for supporting it so well.

We know this is another undershot, but the tilt mechanism is especially worthy of applause. It’s far more robust than the majority of systems and has a lovely smooth gliding feel to it. You don’t feel like you’re about to fall off the back.