Herman Miller Mirra 2 vs Embody: Which is the Better Office Chair?

When we talk about ergonomic chairs (gaming or office), I don’t think anyone can do without mentioning Herman Miller. They have pretty much solidified themselves as a global force in premium furniture manufacturing. Today, we will be reviewing the herman miller mirra 2 vs embody.

Both stellar products, they do have some differences. The Mirra 2 has standard ergonomics, better than most chairs on the market. Expect nothing less from Herman Miller. Yet, the Embody has better ergonomic features, which is why it is more expensive.

Herman Miller is a leading manufacturer of modern interior furnishings. The Mirra 2 and Embody are top-of-the-line products that rival most high-end chairs already. So, what’s the big deal? Here’s a tip: keep reading to find out! Come on, let’s get into it!

Herman Miller Mirra 2

This is it if you’re looking for a unique, elegant addition to your workspace. Let me get this out; this chair comes fully assembled! Thank you, Herman Miller! So, if you dread assembling anything, fear not, my comrade. Just crack open the box, and you’re good to go.

The Mirra 2 makes a striking first impression. It screams simple yet stylish, from the look to the build to the feel. The chair has breathable mesh upholstery over a plastic frame. The backrest has a unique butterfly shape that contours nicely with the back.

Its ergonomic features include the AirWeave mesh, FlexFront seat, Butterfly back, PostureFit lumbar support, Harmonic Tilt, 4D Armrests, and depth-adjustable seat. The highlight of this chair is the environmentally sensitive design. It is made with recycled materials, yet it delivers maximum performance.

Overall, the Mirra 2 is a striking chair. In my opinion, it is one of a kind. Despite using fewer materials, it still performs impressively and even outperforms some of its peers. So, what are the strong points of this chair?

Pros

1. Lightweight: The Mirra 2 weighs 35 pounds, unlike your typical ergonomic chair. You can take it out of the box with little to no help. You can also easily roll it anywhere at home or in the office.

2. No assembly needed: The chair comes fully assembled right out of the box. Simply open the box and roll it out.

3. Back Support: The Butterfly back has graded cutouts that flex as you move, providing ample back support. A lumbar brace supports the lower back to prevent aches and pain.

4. Good sitting posture: One thing about this chair is that good sitting posture is assured. A harmonic tilt keeps your feet flat and your thighs parallel to the ground. So, reclined or not, your upper body is bound to stay upright.

5. Breathable fabric upholstery: The Mirra 2 has an AirWeave 2 mesh that helps distribute your weight equally and keeps you cool.

6. Depth-adjustable Seat: Adjusting the seat edge is easy. The FrontFlex allows you to do so by curling the seat’s edge up or down.

7. Durable: The Mirra offers a 12 years warranty. It will last you a long time.

Cons

1. The ergonomics could be better for the price.

2. The armrests may be too far apart for shorter users.

Herman Miller Embody

Here’s a chair that feels like floating in the air. Herman Miller pulled the big guns with this one. In terms of technology, this chair stands out from the rest. So, you know right off the bat that you’re in for a good time.

You know that feeling like you’re floating? That is the Pixelated Support. The Embody’s seat comprises four layers that work together to distribute weight equally while reducing pressure. So, you have an ultra-responsive seat that helps keep you focused while maintaining healthy circulation.

The chair’s ergonomics can rival the best of the best. The BackFit Adjustment is a far advanced back/lumbar human-like spine with ‘ribs.’ The backrest automatically attunes to your back, adapting to your movements to support your back.

The fabric upholstery is smooth and soft to the touch. It retains minimal heat, so your chair doesn’t get warm, keeping you comfortable for hours. This exquisite piece will suit your taste for the unique and different.

Pros

1. Technologically Advanced: The Embody is a step ahead of its peers in the technology department. Every part of the chair is thoughtfully crafted to serve a specific purpose.

2. Multi-layered Seat: The seat of theEmbody is not your everyday seat. The seat has four layers that absorb your weight effortlessly without putting pressure on your butt or back.

3. Enhanced Back Support: Embody’s back support is a central spine with ribs. This allows the chair’s back to align with the natural curve of your spine for a balanced, healthy posture.

4. Comfort: The Embody is built for comfort. The Pixelated Support gives a feeling of weightlessness while cradling you in its embrace. The chair provides a lot of space to move freely.

5. Fabric Upholstery: The chair’s fabric is soft and smooth, minimizing heat retention to keep you cool.

Cons

1. No dedicated lumbar support.

2. The armrests are 2D. They could be better.

Herman Miller Mirra 2 vs Embody: A Detailed Comparison

Now, we go into the nitty-gritty of the chairs. We will compare both chairs in 5 categories: design, lumbar support, ergonomics, assembly, and price.

Build/Design

Mirra 2

The Mirra 2 has a simple yet modern look with a solid feel. The upholstery is an all-fabric AirWeave 2 mesh fabric, perfect if you are done with the stickiness of leather when it gets warm. The mesh keeps you cool, so if you live in a hot climate, you may consider this.

The environmentally friendly design of the Mirra 2 scores good points in my book. The chair is made of solid and flexible recycled materials. The mesh stretches over a durable polymer. This sturdy plastic frame provides a rugged base for the rest of the chair.

The backrest has a unique and beautiful butterfly shape with graded cutouts for better movement and circulation. The contoured seat supports the butt while cradling it gently.

Embody

The Embody has an exciting look. Anyone seeing it for the first time would know right away that it is pricey. It just exudes power and elegance.

The seat and back have an all-fabric covering, and Herman Miller calls it the Rhythm fabric. It is simple yet stylish and elegant.

According to Herman Miller, the Embody is an embodiment (see what I did there, ha!) of the expertise of over 20 PhDs and physicians in physical therapy, ergonomics, and biomechanics. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what that is.

The backrest has an attractive hourglass shape. This is because of the ‘spine’ and ‘ribs’ behind it for better back support. All in all, the Embody has one of the most innovative and ergonomic designs.

Seat

Mirra 2

The seat of the Mirra 2 has a 5 degrees angle tilt, which works synchronously with the Harmonic tilt mechanism. The seat depth ranges from 16.25 to 18 inches, so you have space to move around.

Thanks to the FlexFront, this seat is very adjustable. Just pull the lever up or down. This will longen or shorten the depth as you desire.

Embody

One of Embody’s best features is its multi-layered adaptive seat. The seat has four different layers, which include 2 spring layers, a layer of padding, and the fabric covering. This results in a flexible seat pan that flexes with your weight.

These layers work in a way that distributes body weight optimally for better support. So, when you sit, you get that sense of floating yet perfect balance. The two main features of the seat are the multi-layers and pixelated support.

Backrest/Lumbar Support

Mirra 2

The butterfly-shaped backrest has graded cutouts to contour the back better for support. I keep saying Butterfly because the seat has the shape of a butterfly’s wings.

The lumbar brace extends wide to both sides of the backrest. It also extends to the upper back before converging into one frame. So, you have optimal upper and lower back support here.

Embody

One interesting thing about the Embody is that it prioritizes upper back support. There is no dedicated lumbar support. You will notice a hard curve in the lower region of the backrest. This is the BackFit dial you can adjust for support.

The downside to this is that you need to find the right angles. But hitting the right angles is not so easy for a beginner. You’ll best enjoy this chair if you have some experience with ergonomic chairs. Otherwise, you could end up with a slouch or back pain.

Ergonomics

Mirra 2

The Mirra 2 has top-of-the-line ergonomics. Looking at the chair, you can tell it was carefully crafted with minimalism and functionalism in mind.

Its ergonomic features include PostureFit lumbar support, Harmonic Tilt Limiter with 3-position tilt lock, adjustable seat depth, 4D armrests, AirWeave 2 Woven Mesh, and Butterfly Back seat.

Embody

You thought the Mirra 2 was good? The Embody is better, and Herman Miller took it up a notch. The Embody’s innovative ergonomic design has been critically acclaimed as one of the best on the market.

Some of the most outstanding ergonomic features of the Embody are its Pixelated BackFit Adjustment, multi-layered seat, adjustable 2D arms, height and depth adjustment, full recline with tilt adjustment, and standard carpet casters.

Price

Herman Miller products are not known to be the cheapest. Their products always meet top-notch quality, so you can expect it to tell on the price.

The Mirra 2 costs more than the regular office chair. However, it is 10-15% cheaper than the Embody. You can check the latest price of Herman Miller Mirra 2 here.

The Embody is more technologically advanced than the Mirra 2. Naturally, it will cost more. But it is a worthy investment if you ask me. You can check the latest price of Herman Miller Embody here.

Which One Should I Get?

There is no wrong or right answer here. The right chair for you depends on your needs and preferences.

If you’re looking for an excellent ergonomic chair with a high-end build, the Mirra 2 might be a good choice. It comes with every practical component you need. The issue with this is that the armrests may be too wide apart, especially if you’re under 5’6”. Apart from that, everything else is just fine.

On the other hand, the Embody is a beast. It offers full power that you may not be able to handle, especially if you’re new to ergonomic chairs. But if you know what you’re doing and are a sucker for technology, then go for it.

So, there you have it. I hope you have found this review helpful. One last thing before you go, what chair are you getting?