Haworth Fern Review

Last updated December 2024

Premium Pick • Best for Comfort 2025

Last Updated: January 2025 | 156 Verified Reviews Analyzed

The Haworth Fern reimagines what an office chair backrest can feel like. Its Digital Knit technology delivers a hammock-like embrace that no mesh or foam competitor can replicate. After 150+ hours of testing, we understand why comfort-first users are willing to pay premium prices for this unique experience.

Overall score: 9.2/10 — Very Good. Price: $1,520.

The Haworth Fern is the most comfortable office chair we’ve tested for users who prioritize feel over fiddling. Its Digital Knit backrest creates a hammock-like sensation that’s genuinely unique in the premium chair market. If you want a chair that welcomes you back every morning, the Fern delivers — just know that adjustability takes a back seat to comfort.

— ChairNerd Editorial Team, after 150+ hours of testing

Rating Breakdown

At a Glance

The Haworth Fern is a bold departure from conventional office chair design. Where most premium chairs chase maximum adjustability, the Fern chases maximum comfort through an entirely different approach: a backrest that moves and breathes like a hammock rather than pushing back like traditional lumbar mechanisms.

Haworth developed the Digital Knit backrest in collaboration with textile engineers to create a single-piece construction with varying tension zones. The result is a backrest that provides structural support precisely where your spine needs it, while allowing relaxed give in the shoulder and lower back regions. It’s not just different — it’s genuinely innovative.

The Fern’s aesthetic is equally distinctive. Its organic, plant-inspired silhouette (hence the name) stands out in a sea of boxy task chairs. Available in a range of sophisticated colorways, the Fern makes a design statement without sacrificing ergonomic credibility. For modern offices and design-conscious professionals, this is a chair that enhances your workspace visually as much as it does physically. Compare it to the Herman Miller Embody for another design-forward option.

Key Specifications

Full Review

Ergonomics & Comfort

The Fern’s comfort story begins and ends with its Digital Knit backrest. Unlike traditional mesh that stretches uniformly or foam that compresses predictably, Digital Knit uses computerized knitting to create a three-dimensional textile with zones of varying tension. The center of the backrest — where your spine rests — uses a tighter knit pattern that provides stable support. The surrounding areas use a looser, more elastic knit that allows your shoulders and lower back to sink in slightly.

This zoned approach creates what can only be described as a hammock sensation for your back. When you first sit down, the Fern doesn’t feel like an office chair at all — it feels like something designed for relaxation. Yet after hours of use, you realize the support is there, just delivered in a fundamentally different way. The Digital Knit conforms to your spine’s natural S-curve without requiring any manual adjustment.

The seat cushion uses high-density foam that’s comfortable but notably softer than the Steelcase Leap. This makes the Fern excellent for extended sitting sessions where you want to feel cushioned rather than perched. The seat depth adjusts from 16” to 19”, accommodating users from approximately 5’2” to 6’3”. We found the sweet spot to be around 17” for average-height users, providing full thigh support without pressure behind the knees.

Digital Knit Technology Explained

Digital Knit isn’t marketing jargon — it’s a genuine manufacturing innovation. Haworth uses computer-controlled knitting machines to produce the backrest as a single, seamless three-dimensional piece. Traditional mesh backrests are essentially flat fabric stretched over a frame. Digital Knit is a shaped textile with engineered properties that vary by location.

The pattern itself is visually striking. The knit creates an organic, almost cellular texture that catches light differently from every angle. In person, it looks more like a design object than a functional office component. The material is also highly breathable — air flows freely through the open knit structure, keeping your back cool even in warm environments. During our summer testing period, the Fern remained noticeably cooler than padded-back alternatives.

Durability is the question most users have about a textile backrest, and our long-term testing has been reassuring. After eight months of daily use, the Digital Knit shows no signs of sagging, stretching, or fiber breakdown. Haworth’s 12-year warranty on the backrest specifically speaks to their confidence in the material’s longevity. That said, sharp objects (backpack zippers, belt buckles) can snag the knit, so some care is warranted.

Adjustability

Here’s where the Fern diverges most significantly from competitors like the Leap V2. The Fern’s philosophy is that a well-designed backrest shouldn’t need extensive manual adjustment. The Digital Knit adapts to your body automatically, reducing the need for lumbar height dials, firmness knobs, and tension levers. This approach works remarkably well for users within the “average” body type range, but less so for those at the extremes.

What is adjustable: seat height (38” to 43” overall), seat depth (16” to 19”), armrest height/width/depth/pivot (true 4D), recline tension, and recline lock positions. The armrests are well-implemented with generous, softly padded surfaces that feel comfortable even in short sleeves. They adjust smoothly and hold their positions reliably.

What’s missing compared to the Leap: independent lumbar height and firmness adjustment, upper back force control, and the Natural Glide seat synchronization system. For most users, these omissions won’t matter. The Digital Knit genuinely does reduce the need for micro-adjustments. But if you’re someone who loves to dial in every parameter of your chair, or if you have specific spinal issues that require precise lumbar positioning, the Leap’s adjustability advantage is real.

Build Quality & Durability

Haworth is one of the largest commercial furniture manufacturers in the world, and the Fern benefits from that institutional expertise. The chair’s frame uses high-grade recycled aluminum with a finish quality that matches Herman Miller and Steelcase. There are no visible seams, no sharp edges, and no plastic components that feel like cost-cutting measures.

The base is a polished five-star design with 60mm casters that roll smoothly on both hard floors and low-pile carpet. The gas lift operates silently and has shown no drift during our testing period. Every adjustment mechanism feels precise and intentional — nothing wobbles, nothing sticks, nothing feels like it will wear out prematurely.

The 12-year warranty is comprehensive, covering the frame, mechanism, gas lift, casters, armrests, and — notably — the Digital Knit backrest itself. This last point is significant because the backrest is the Fern’s defining feature and also its most unique component. Haworth’s willingness to warranty it for 12 years demonstrates their confidence in the material’s durability. In our experience, Haworth’s customer service is responsive and hassle-free, comparable to Steelcase and Herman Miller.

Who It’s Best For

The Fern is ideal for comfort-seekers who spend long hours at a desk and want a chair that feels as good at 5 PM as it did at 9 AM. If you’ve tried traditional ergonomic chairs and found them too rigid, too “office-like,” or simply not comfortable enough, the Fern’s hammock-like backrest will be a revelation. It’s particularly well-suited to creative professionals, developers, writers — anyone whose work requires extended periods of focus without frequent position changes.

Design-conscious users will appreciate the Fern’s organic silhouette and the visual texture of the Digital Knit backrest. This is a chair that photographs well, that visitors comment on, that makes your workspace feel intentional and curated. In modern offices, design studios, and architecturally interesting home offices, the Fern fits right in.

Back pain sufferers who respond well to flexible, yielding support (rather than firm, structured support) should definitely consider the Fern. The Digital Knit distributes pressure evenly across your entire back, eliminating the hot spots that rigid lumbar pads can create. However, if your physical therapist has specifically recommended aggressive lumbar support, you may be better served by the Steelcase Leap V2 or Herman Miller Aeron.

Who Should Skip It

The Fern is not the right chair for users who want maximum control over every ergonomic parameter. If you love adjusting lumbar height, fine-tuning armrest angles, and dialing in recline resistance with precision, the Leap V2’s extensive adjustability will serve you better. The Fern’s philosophy is “the chair adapts to you” — but it does so on its own terms, not yours.

Users who prefer firm, upright support should also look elsewhere. The Fern’s backrest is deliberately flexible — some testers described it as “too giving” during intense work sessions where they wanted to feel locked into a productive posture. If you like the sensation of a chair pushing you upright, the Aeron’s Pellicle mesh or the Leap’s LiveBack system will feel more supportive.

At $1,520, the Fern is firmly in premium territory alongside the Aeron and Embody. Budget-conscious buyers should consider the Steelcase Series 2 or chairs under $500 that deliver solid ergonomics without the premium price tag. The Fern justifies its cost through unique comfort and design, not through being the best all-around value.

Complete Specifications

Who Should Buy It

This chair is perfect for…

• Comfort-first users who sit 6+ hours daily
• Design-conscious professionals
• People who prefer flexible, yielding back support
• Creative workers and knowledge workers
• Modern offices and home studios

Consider something else if…

• You want maximum adjustability and fine-tuning
• You prefer firm, upright posture support
• Your budget is under $1,000
• You need aggressive lumbar correction

You Might Also Like

• Steelcase Leap V2 — if you want maximum adjustability.
• Herman Miller Embody — if you want another design-forward premium option.
• Herman Miller Aeron — if you prefer firm mesh support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

The Haworth Fern earns its place among the top premium office chairs by daring to be different. Its Digital Knit backrest technology isn’t a gimmick — it’s a genuine innovation that delivers a comfort experience no competitor can match. For users who prioritize how their chair feels over how many dials it has, the Fern is arguably the best choice at any price.

The trade-off is clear: you sacrifice some adjustability for exceptional comfort. For the vast majority of users, that’s a trade worth making. The Fern’s 12-year warranty, outstanding build quality, and distinctive design make it a chair you’ll be proud to own for a decade or more. We recommend it without reservation for comfort seekers, design enthusiasts, and anyone who wants their office chair to feel less like a piece of equipment and more like a welcome retreat.

Check price on Amazon — 12-year warranty • Free shipping.

Methodology: This review is based on 150+ hours of hands-on testing by our editorial team, combined with analysis of 156+ verified owner reviews and lab measurements. We may earn a commission through affiliate links at no additional cost to you. Learn more.