FlexiSpot C5 ergonomic office chair review

It's hard to make a one-size-fits-all ergonomic office chair, as it's difficult to say whether or not any one chair would be the perfect option for every user. This is especially true of the FlexiSpot C5, which is a very comfortable chair that I would've enjoyed so much more had it been just slightly more accommodating to tall folks. 

But aside from its height limitations (and poor headrest), the FlexiSpot C5 has a lot else going for it. In this review, we'll highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly about the FlexiSpot C5 so you can determine if it would work for you and whether or not it’s one of the best office chairs you can get today.

FlexiSpot C5 review: Price and availability

The FlexiSpot C5 is available via the FlexiSpot website for $339.99. It comes in either black or gray, but both colorways feature identical materials and the same design.

At this price point, the FlexiSpot C5 is in a good overall spot to compete against similar office chairs with its feature set. It can often be found on sale for around $250, too, making it an even more attractive buy.

FlexiSpot C5 review: Specs

FlexiSpot C5 review: Design, comfort, and safety

The FlexiSpot C5 is a somewhat basic-looking office chair from the front, featuring standard stuff like a mesh back rest, an unremarkable fabric seat, and an adjustable mesh headrest. None of this is particularly striking, making it clear that this isn't a chair designed to catch your eye. Rather, it blends in well in an office setting just as it should, allowing more visually exciting things in the space to catch your eye instead.

Indeed, the point of an ergonomic office chair is to be, well, ergonomic — and in that regard, the FlexiSpot C5 is a good bit more successful overall. I've found its seat cushion to be just right, providing ample support without feeling too firm. And its mesh back rest is similarly comfortable, particularly once you find the right lumbar setting, which happened to be quite a big deal for me.

A strange phenomenon happened when I started messing with the lumbar knob on the FlexiSpot C5: Despite it only offering 2D lumbar support, it managed to be more comfortable than most chairs I've used with 4D adjustability. The cushion that emerged into my back as I adjusted the support felt subtle and nice, so I couldn't really tell I was having my posture improved even when I was.

The armrests are very cushy, which is great for the nerve issues in my elbows, but more importantly, I love the dip down the center that lets your arms feel as though the cushion is contouring to them. It's a simple thing — and not even that unusual — but something about the extra comfort it provides in the armrests really hit for me in a way that flat armrests never do. It's an ergonomic design choice I wish more chairs would use.

Unfortunately, while I no doubt adore multiple aspects of the FlexiSpot C5, it has one major flaw: the headrest is, frankly, awful. At first glance, it features the same mesh as the backrest, so it's reasonable to assume it'd be as comfortable. Instead, the mesh on the headrest isn't stretched tight enough, which causes it to have too much give. Laying my head on it results in collapsing enough that the frame pushes into the back of my head. Shocking as it may be to hear, the feeling of plastic pushing into my skull isn't pleasant.

Additionally, though I don't necessarily want to rest my head on the uncomfortable headrest, I'd be forced to bend my neck back at a miserable angle if I wanted to do so with any regularity. This is because the chair is overall too short for me as someone pushing 6'3", so I can't see myself using it long-term.

That said, no chair is going to be ideal for every user, so I fully accept that the FlexiSpot C5 is simply not marketed at those in my above-average height range. Folks under six feet tall are likely to find that it meets their needs much more adequately, so if that's you, you probably shouldn't let my personal experience with its height be a deterrent. That headrest on the other hand…

FlexiSpot C5 review: What’s adjustable

The FlexiSpot C5 features 2D lumbar support via a knob on the back of the chair that can be reached pretty easily while sitting. As I stated above, the lack of 4D adjustability here isn't really missed, either, as the lumbar support here manages to knock it out of the park without doing anything all that fancy.

Small buttons beneath each armrest lets you adjust them up or down to accommodate different heights, and the headrest is adjustable up to 45 degrees. Despite FlexiSpot claiming the chair is suitable for 5'3" - 6'5", however, most taller folks will find that the headrest requires you to flex your neck back to rest your head on it regardless of where you've aligned it.

While there is no adjustable seat depth, the chair holds up to 300lbs with a seat height adjustability of 20.8" W x 21.3" D. It can also recline up to 115 degrees to make things a bit more relaxing when needed.

FlexiSpot C5 review: Assembly

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I loathe when chairs come without pre-assembled armrests, as fumbling around with positioning the seat pan to attach them can be one of the most annoying aspects of the building process. The FlexiSpot C5 strikes out on this front by making you put them on yourself — but it luckily makes up for this transgression by making the rest of the assembly process so easy.

Simple-to-follow instructions detail everything you need to know in clear detail, the tools included are clearly labeled, and the entirety of the build should only take about 15 minutes at most. Even better, none of the parts are particularly heavy, so this is easily a one-person job for most folks — though it never hurts to have more hands on deck for any kind of assembly, of course.

FlexiSpot C5 review: Verdict

The FlexiSpot C5 is easy to assemble, fairly cozy for extended periods of use, and sports some fantastic armrests that are a treat to rest your elbows on. However, an uncomfortable headrest dampens the enjoyment of sitting in this otherwise great chair, and those over 6' may want to consider something more accommodating for their height. But if these two things don't affect you much, consider adding the FlexiSpot C5 to your list of possible purchases.