Product · Varier
Varier Variable Balans: original rocking design
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The Variable Balans is the kneeling chair that started the category. Peter Opsvik designed it in Norway in 1979, and Varier still builds it to that design in moulded beech plywood, now made in Poland. It is for people who want to move while they sit rather than lock into one posture, and its defining feature is the pair of curved wooden runners that let the whole chair rock gently back and forth.
- Base
- Curved beech runners, rocks
- Backrest
- None
- Height adjustment
- Not stated
- Knee pads
- Included
- Max load
- 110 kg
In its favour
- Curved wooden runners let the chair rock, so your weight shifts as you work rather than staying locked in one position.
- Varier states 7 years against faults on wooden parts and 5 years on mechanisms.
- Felt pads are included so it can be used on hardwood, tile or carpet.
Good to know
- There is no backrest, so there is nothing to lean on when you want a break from sitting upright.
- The listing gives a 50 cm seat height but does not mention any way to change it.
Our take
How the rocking design works
You sit on a forward-tilted seat and rest your shins on a lower pad. Varier says this tips the hips into an open angle so you sit tall and use your core rather than slumping. The runners underneath are curved, so leaning forward to type or back to read rolls the chair with you. That constant small movement is the whole point of the design, and it is why the Balans is often used for part of the day rather than as the only seat in the room.
There are no levers, gas lifts or knobs. What you get is the seat, the shin pad and the frame, which keeps maintenance close to zero.
Sizes, weight and floors
Amazon lists the chair at 72 x 52 x 51 cm and 6.24 kg, light enough to carry to another room with one hand. The seat height is given as 50 cm, and the maximum user weight is 110 kg in the product details, while the highlight text quotes 250 lb. Treat 110 kg as the safer figure.
Felt pads come in the box to protect hardwood or tile, and Varier says the chair also works on carpet. Knee pads, floor protection tape, screws and assembly instructions are included, so a short build is needed before first use.
Warranty and build
Varier covers faults in the wooden parts for 7 years and faults in mechanisms for 5 years. The cushions are covered in recycled polyester over foam. Because the frame is plywood rather than tubular steel, the chair has a furniture look that suits a living room or study as well as an office.
Against the other kneeling chairs
The Sleekform Austin also rocks and uses a 20-ply birch frame with memory foam knee cushions, rated to 120 kg, but it lacks the original design pedigree and a stated warranty. If you want something to lean back against, the Varier Variable Plus keeps the same rocking idea and adds a cushioned backrest with a 150 kg rating. For a seat you can set to your desk height, the Master Massage chair offers six height holes on castors.
Verdict
Buy the Variable Balans if you want the original rocking kneeling chair, a simple wooden build and a long warranty on the frame, and you are happy to use it alongside a normal chair. Choose the Varier Variable Plus if you need a backrest, or the Master Massage model if adjustable height matters more than rocking.
Compared with alternatives in: Best kneeling chairs for a home office
Amazon listing title: Varier Ergonomic Kneeling Chair, Rocking Knee Stool for Home Office Desk