Hbada Office Chair Review (Folding Arms Any Good?)

The Hbada Office Chair is a budget task chair with a trick up its sleeves- folding amrests that free up more space around the seat when you need it, such as when playing the guitar, sitting cross legged etc.

Given its mere $129.99 price point at the time of this review, it begs the question, is the Hbada chair any good? That is what I sought to find out in this hands on review of the Hbada Office Task Chair.

Assembly & Cosmetics

Assembly of the Hbada folding arms task chair was relatively simple. There was a little bit of difficulty in screwing in one of the arm rest screws into the seat due to the lever being positioned right above it, but at the right angle I managed. Hbada even incorporated the cardboard box in the instructions to be used to prop up the backrest and seat as you attach the arm rests. 

Cosmetically speaking the craftsmanship isn’t perfect, but nothing major to sound off any alarms. I noticed a few light yellow stains on some of the white plastic parts of the chair. The screw covers also don’t seem to fit their intended spots very well and are a different material and colour from the rest of the chair.

Specs & Dimensions

With a net weight of just 25 lbs, one of the biggest strengths of the Hbada task chair is its high portability. Along with the fold up arms, this chair can easily go under a desk or be moved from room to room on a whim.

Here are the specs of the chair. Note that they may differ from the official documentation, as they are my measurements directly taken:

Seat Width	19.25”
Seat Depth (Adjustable)	19” (not adjustable)
Seat Height Range	16” – 19.75”
Backrest Height (Adjustable)	19” (not adjustable)
Backrest Tilt	Backrest tilts around 30 degrees backwards. Tilt angle not lockable.
Backrest Recline	None
Tilt Tension Control	Yes
Armrests (3D)	Flip upwards for easier storage
Weight	25 lbs
Maximum Capacity	250 lbs

The chair has an official maximum capacity of 250 lbs, though given the nylon base and small frame, I’d say 180 lbs would be more accurate.

Hbada Task Chair Adjustability

In terms of adjustability, the Hbada Office Chair is rather limited, which is understandable given its budget price.

The backrest can tilt up to 30 degrees, though you cannot lock the recline angle. There is a tilt tension control knob as well, allowing you to customize the force required to rock the backrest to release spinal pressure periodically from sitting upright.

Those looking to work in a reclined position will be disappointed, however, as the backrest cannot recline. Unlike higher end office chairs, the seat depth is also non adjustable, and is fixed at 19”, which should fit most people just fine however.

The lumbar support on the Hbada task chair is fixed, though for a 5’4″ person like myself, is positioned perfectly for good support. I can see this being the case for people up to 5’8″ or so. You can always get an external lumbar pillow if you need something more robust or adjustable.

In terms of height adjustment, the Hbada Task Chair’s seat can be adjusted between 16” – 19.75” (measured from the ground to top of seat). The lowest setting is actually very low, and makes it perfect for shorter folks like myself.

As someone who is 5’4″, I’ve had issues before with chairs that don’t go quite low enough for my feet to sit flat against the floor but I can do this with this chair without using the minimum setting. The height range will be comfortable for people between 5’ and 6’ tall.

How Well do the Flip Up Arms Work?

This is one of the distinguishing qualities of the Hbada task chair- its flip up arms. It can be quite useful.

If you have a low desk and like to sit with the chair partially under the desk, the flip up arms on the Hbada is perfect to let you do just that. Wider people will also appreciate having the arms out of the way when they want to sprawl out.

Having said that, I do have a bone to pick with the height of the armrests on the Hbada Task chair when they are deployed. Even at their maximum height, they only reach 27.75″, which is too low to line up with a standard 29″ desk. This means they aren’t that helpful in supporting your arms when you’re working (typing, writing etc).

Chair Comfort

In terms of comfort, the Hbada is obviously no Herman Miller, but it’s fairly comfortable, at least for short bouts of sitting.

In the two weeks I have been testing it, the seat cushion has been very comfortable. The padding inside so far has managed to retain its bounciness and hasn’t deformed yet. However, how long this lasts remains to be seen, as some owners on Amazon have complained on this occurring after a few months.

The lack of a more pronounced waterfall edge on the seat is a pity however, as there were some moments during longer 8+ hour sessions at the desk where I felt pressure building up in my thighs. I resolved this somewhat by lowering the chair a little more.

I’m impressed with the mesh back of the Hbada chair as well. It provides strong lumbar support and good ventilation, making it great in hotter climates. The mesh is made from a fairly smooth material that doesn’t irritate your skin if you’re wearing a tank top, for example.

As a serial sloucher, I am always looking for ergonomic chairs to give me a good reason not to slouch. During testing, I would unconsciously fold my leg under myself and sit on it, but this chair didn’t let me do that for long, proving significantly less comfortable when I was denying it of its purpose and made me conscious of my bad positioning quite quickly so I can then fix it. 

Hbada Task Chair Build Quality

If you look at the Hbada Office Chair from a distance, it’s beautiful. The sleek black and white colour scheme and simple design make any office look professional. Upon close inspection, the flaws in the plastic moulding become visible, as well as the truly atrocious screw covers that’s a dirty yellow color.

Flaws in the aesthetics aside, however, the Hbada task chair is decently built. You’ll find more plastic parts compared to more expensive office chairs, but as long as you’re within 180 lbs, I see no obvious weak link in the chair in terms of durability.

Who Should Get this Chair?

At the end of the day, the Hbada Task Chair makes for a decent office chair for the average to petite sized user on a budget. You won’t be blown away by any particular aspect of the chair, nor will you be sorely disappointed. As a secondary office chair or for short term sitting, it’s a good buy.

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