Last updated: 02nd Jun 2025
Want an ergonomic office chair that doesn’t scream “teenage gamer”? ErgoTune claims to have you covered.
The Vesby is the more sophisticated cousin to the venerable ErgoTune Joobie – and the most recent addition to my list of top office chairs in Australia.
Is it worth the $899 sticker price – about $200 more than the Joobie? I’ve been using it in my home office for the past 5 months to find out.
Where To Buy
5 Things I Love About The ErgoTune Vesby.
Chairs that sell for $900-$1000 offer full ergonomic adjustment, premium materials and reasonably stylish design. The Vesby doesn’t disappoint.
1. Design That Turns Heads.
Above: The Vesby costs $900, but looks like a $1,500 office chair.
If you regularly read my blog, you’ll know that I consistently complain that ergonomic chairs tend to look like bulky, ugly monstrosities that belong in basements of young teenagers.
Vesby’s designers made an effort to break out of this drudgery.
The design is outstanding. In fact, I believe it’s the chair’s main selling point.
The shape is bold and sophisticated, reminding me of classic Humanscale designs by Nils Diffrient (Google Humanscale Liberty and World, if you’re curious).
Expert Tip.
I didn’t attach Vesby’s headrest because, in my view, the chair looks smarter without it (see photo below). I also rarely use headrests.
Above: My Vesby in black with the headrest removed. I prefer the squared-off shape of the backrest.
You get a choice of 5 colours – most of them very loud.
But if you do choose a coloured option, note that the colour covers both the frame and the mesh – not just the mesh.
This subtle design choice contributes to Vesby’s bold, standout look. Unlike the safe, subdued Steelcase designs, the Vesby demands attention.
It’s built to be a statement piece.
Important!
Vesby’s size contributes to the visual heft. It’s ~20% larger in all dimensions than a standard office chair (more about it below).
2. Fabulous Fabric Mesh.
Above: The lumbar pad adjusts for height and reach. It’s always strong, without being aggressive.
Do you hate the feeling of rubbery office chair mesh on your skin?
But do you find fabric seats too sweaty?
The Vesby offers the best of both worlds.
ErgoTune’s fabric-infused mesh extends across both the seat base and the backrest, and feels outstanding on the skin.
It also provides a luxurious suspended feeling.
The tension is just right. I never felt my backside getting sore from 8-10 hour workdays. Nor did I feel like I was sagging into the chair.
Important!
Will the soft mesh withstand years of daily use? 5 months in, it still looks brand new. My ErgoTune Joobie also fared well
3. Plush, Premium Armrests.
Above: Two-piece backrest, with a separate lumbar, is clearly visible here.
ErgoTune’s armrests have always sucked. I’ve criticised them on the Supreme for the past 4 years – and even more so on the Joobie.
The Vesby is the polar opposite.
It’s a masterclass in armrest design.
First, they’re attractive to look at. As with the rest of the chair, their rounded shape looks heavily inspired by Humanscale designs.
Second, their caps are on point. Soft enough to provide comfort but hard enough to be durable, they also look like they belong on a chair that costs almost $1,000.
Third, they adjust in all directions you’d expect. Full 360-degree swivel, width, pivot, height and depth are available.
Important!
My only gripe with the Vesby’s armrests? Their minimum height. At the lowest setting – 18 cm above the seat – they sit higher than most. Most chairs drop below 15 cm to keep your shoulders relaxed.
4. Built Like A Tank.
Above: Vesby’s headrest is massive. Instead of looking like an awkward afterthought, it follows the lines of the backrest.
I’ve used on chairs ranging from $120 to $3300, and the Vesby’s build quality definitely feels like it belongs at the upper end of this scale.
Armrests make satisfying metallic clicks when adjusted. Lumbar support knobs, although made from plastic, don’t feel flimsy.
Controls look and feel decidedly premium, and are laid out in a logical, legible row of levers on the right-hand side of the chair.
Important!
The warranty is shorter than I expected at this price – 4 years on the frame, 3 on the mechanisms. In contrast, a Steelcase Series 2, retailing for roughly $1,200, offers 12 years of coverage. That said, ErgoTune bumps it up to 6 and 5 years if you post a photo or video of the chair on social media. It’s a great deal – do it.
Above: Seat depth, tilt lock, and seat height controls are in the top row. Tilt tension is adjusted using the big knob below.
3 Things I Hate About The ErgoTune Vesby.
The Vesby is a great chair, but it as a few flaws you must know about.
1. Mesh Is Prone To Stains.
Above: Black is the least prone to stains.
I’ve pointed this out when reviewing both the Joobie and the Supreme, and I must do it here.
That soft, fuzzy feeling against your legs comes at a cost: it’s harder to clean. Fabric doesn’t let go of stains as well as rubber.
This is not an issue if your Vesby is black in colour, or you don’t eat at your desk. But if you opted for one of the lighter/brighter hues, and/or are known for spilling your food, be careful.
Important!
I once ruined a perfectly good Coral Red Supreme while scoffing down a sandwich. Hitting it with a few rounds of dishwashing liquid reduced the stain but didn’t quite eliminate it.
2. It’s Huge!
Above: Notice the Vesby’s bulk in this side-by-side comparison with my Recess Ergo chair.
This is both a strength and a weakness. But after deliberation, I decided to mark it as the former.
Look at the photo above: the Recess Ergo is pretty typical in size. But the Vesby’s parts are clearly much wider:
- Armrests (53 vs 45 cm) yes, Vesby’s can be moved in by 5 cm each – but I wanted to show them in their default setting.
- Seat pan (52 vs 50 cm).
- Backrest (60 vs 49 cm at widest point).
The Vesby is great for tall people like me (I’m 200 cm) or those on the heavier side. But that’s less than 20% of the population.
For shorter or petite users, it will feel oversized. More like being swallowed than seated.
Vesby’s larger dimensions also impact the chair’s seating experience (see below) and its room presence.
This is not a great chair for small offices. It will overpower a small room – especially when optioned in a bright colour.
3. Not For Tasking.
Some office chairs (like the Recess Ergo I showed in the photo above) are made for tasking. They are great at keeping you bolt upright, in a perfectly ergonomic position.
Downside?
They don’t recline well.
Important!
Other chairs (e.g., Herman Miller Aeron, you guessed it, the Vesby) are made for reclining. Their autonomous or synchronous-tilt mechanisms encourage you to lean back and relax.
Chairs like this are great for people who spend 50% of their day tasking and the other 50% researching, on Zoom meetings, gaming or watching movies.
Think of tasking chairs as utility cars. You use them for shorter periods of time – and for a specific purpose. If you spend 5-6 hours per day typing – and nothing else – the Vesby isn’t for you.
Reclining chairs, meanwhile are the perfect all-rounders. SUVs of the ergonomic office chair world, they let you do anything – but feel compromised in everything.
How The ErgoTune Vesby Scored.
The Vesby scores high for its ergonomics and price.
| Ergonomics | 5/5 |
| Comfort | 4.5/5 |
| Aesthetics | 4.5/5 |
| Build Quality | 4.5/5 |
| Ease Of Assembly | 4.5/5 |
| Price | 5/5 |
| Warranty | 4/5 |
| Return Policy | 4/5 |
| OVERALL | 4.5/5 |
My Verdict About the ErgoTune Vesby.
If you’re looking for an attractive, bold chair that costs under $1,000 and offers superb ergonomics, the Vesby is for you.
It’s not for petite or short people (if you’re under 165 cm and/or 70 kg, you’re better off with the Steelcase Series 2 or Steelcase Series 1).
The Vesby is a particularly great deal if you’re over 35 years of age, and want a chair that communicates “professionalism” and “maturity” – but you don’t want to stretch to $2,000 on something like a Steelcase Leap or Gesture.
Steven
Sam says:
Hi.
I am considering buying an electric standing desk. I have a large 44 inch monitor and am concerned about monitor wobble. Which desk and setup do you recommend?
Sam
Steven McConnell says:
44″ is huge – and side-to-side wobble is your biggest enemy. But most premium standing desks in Australia have minimal wobble. Search for “best standing desks in Australia – Arielle” in Google to find my comprehensive review of all standing desks – it will help you make the right decision.