The lumbar support isn't any better than a regular chair. The small black piece is soft so you just sit through it. It needs to be firm so you feel it when you sit back.
I sat on this chair inside a Staples and knew it was the one for me. I like to slouch and lean and rock and this chair lets me do all of that with plenty of room to spare! Love the adjustable arms and smooth wheels!
Had a surgery for my spine a year ago this really helps keep form but the back pad against the base of the spine is just a bit stiff. May get softer but only owned for a week. Height could be a bit higher but works for normal height desks.
It seems to be made fairly well but the back it attached to the rest of the chair by one steel plate that bolts under the seat. It flexes side to side especially when reclining so I'm not sure how long it will be before it gets permanently bent one way or the other. This is probably a 2 year chair as I've had similar ones in the past that lasted about that long. I'm a big guy about 250 but it's rated for that so it shouldn't flex like it does.