Boulies EP500 Ergonomic Chair Review

The Boulies EP500 is an ergonomic chair designed with larger users in mind, as it boasts a wider seat width. As a 6’7” man who takes up a fair bit of room, I always appreciate a chair company going the extra mile to offer larger options. After using the EP500 for a month now, for both office work in the day and PC gaming at night, it’s time for my review.

Get it built

As with similar chairs from Boulies, the build process is quick and simple. Though it should only take 15 minutes or so for a novice to unbox and put the chair together, I’d recommend giving yourself 30 minutes so you can take your time. The only way to mess up the build is when you’re rushing.

Once assembled, the EP500 design can be taken in. I’d say it’s similar to other modern ergonomic chairs out there, with a clean and timeless design that should still look subtle and smart in the decades to come. It’s aesthetically inoffensive and would look the part in a public office space, as well as in a home office. It avoids being too “gamery” or garishly futuristic.

Fine-tuning

The EP500’s various customizable parts can take a while to get “just right.” Users will likely spend the first couple of days fine-tuning the various tweakable aspects. Users can adjust the backrest height, headrest location, seat depth, armrest position (including changing the upward angle), and the backrest recline. The option for a footrest is welcome, too.

As for the lumbar support, that automatically adjusts. It’s intended to stay in the right position to support the user’s lower back. While I typically prefer to manually set where the lumbar support sits and how aggressive it feels, I found the EP500’s implementation worked okay. Though, I’d still prefer the manual option.

The chosen mesh material is also worthy of highlighting. It’s very breathable, which becomes a real boon during summer months when, in the UK without air conditioning, it can get very sticky in office setups. For those reasons, mesh is an absolute must-have and the EP500 appears top tier.

My one nitpick

If I had to pick fault with the EP500, I would target the overall build quality. For a chair designed with bigger and heavier users in mind, I wouldn’t say it feels like it has enhanced durability. That isn’t to say I’ve had any issues with quality during my month of using it, but I do wonder how it will fare after years of use. Given the price, you’d hope it would last the test of time.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Boulies.