I was looking for a new home-office seat to replace a cheap hard-bottomed swivel chair I had repurposed for months during COVID. I found both the blue-backed (50232) and black (50233-CC) chairs in person at Staples. They seemed like a good balance of comfort and cost. The arm rests seem a bit wide for me (6'2" 175lb male). They only adjust up/down. Some other similarly priced seats in store had fully adjustable arms but were not as comfortable to sit on. The only seats slightly more comfortable were at least double the cost. Both "colors" are the same chair except for the seat. The seat for the blue-backed (50232) is a padded cushion. The seat for the black (50233-CC) is mesh just like the back of both chairs. I spent about 15-20 minutes sitting in both at the store to gauge comfort. The blue cushioned seat feels softer but is a bit warmer. It felt more inviting to sit down in initially but I worried it might be too warm for 8-9 hour days. The black seat was a bit cooler but firmer with the mesh. It was less comfortable for me due to the firmer seat but it was definitely airy. I typically have a pocket knife clipped in my back pocket and worried the clip might eventually damage the mesh seat and wear a hole in it. In the end I decided on the blue-backed cushioned seat (50232). I'm glad I did. It does not get too warm during long work-days and I have no worries about slicing a hole in my chair. It's much softer than the repurposed chair it's replacing and I've noticed my back feels better at the end of the day.
The chair is breathable mesh. I'm short and had trouble with most chairs but this one adjusts well leaving room for my knees under the desk. After having it a few days I missed the height of the arms of my previous chair. I then noticed that the arms on this chair can be adjusted for height. So it now mimics the arm height of my previous one. It leans back perfectly without tipping over. The only complaint I have is a persistent rattle in one of the wheels. I can't figure out which one it is. But when I slide the chair the rattle is annoying. Other than that it would have gotten 5 stars.
I have had this chair for a couple of weeks now and found it to be very sturdy and comfortable. I like that the arms of the chair are adjustable and cushioned. I also like the mesh back & bottom as I tend to feel too warm/hot when sitting in a chair that is all leather or another fabric.
I tried the chair in store before ordering and the floor model was a bit more comfortable so I'll chalk it up to still breaking in. Received the chair from ordering online as expected but the packaging was concerning. All the parts were wrapped but just put haphazardly into the box. I expected something to be damaged or missing but all was good.
I went to Staples to buy a chair I saw on sale and then realized it wasn't comfortable. I tried about 30 different chairs to find just the right one. I wanted proper lumbar support tilt and lock (not just tilt) and adjustable height at an affordable price. This chair has everything I wanted and I am very happy with my purchase. It is not flimsy and offers the same features other expensive chairs have. The mesh keeps me cool and I find I'm not turning my air conditioner on all day either.