Reviews You Can Rely On

Herman Miller Sayl Review

This chair distinguishes itself on its looks, but still provides a high level of performance
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Herman Miller Sayl Review (The Sayl has a very modern look.)
The Sayl has a very modern look.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Price:  $1,150 List
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Manufacturer:   Herman Miller
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Jun 30, 2021
76
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 50% 6.7
  • Adjustability - 35% 8.5
  • Durability - 10% 8.0
  • Ease of Assembly - 5% 10.0

Our Verdict

One of the first noticeable things about the Herman Miller Sayl is its unique look. And yet — while this chair finishes in the upper portion of our group, it does not offer the highest level of comfort. That said, comfort is subjective and personal, and what the Sayl offers was still adequate for most of our testers. While pricey, this is on the cheaper end of many Herman Miller offerings, and it earned top marks in our ease of assembly metric. It is also quite adjustable. Overall, this a great chair, particularly if you love its modern look.
REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly easy to assemble
Very adjustable
REASONS TO AVOID
Design isn't universal

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Sayl is a head-turner, no doubt about it. It was inspired by suspension bridges — specifically the Golden Gate Bridge — which are known for looking delicate while providing impressive support. The ventilated elastomer back of the Sayl is designed to flex with your body where it's most needed and keep air easily flowing. Impressively, no tools are required for assembly, and the materials are 90% recyclable.

Performance Comparison


herman miller sayl - the sayl was a bit polarizing for our testers, but everyone agreed...
The Sayl was a bit polarizing for our testers, but everyone agreed that it's mighty eye-catching.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Comfort


Comprising half of the overall score for each chair, comfort is king when it comes to an office chair. We had each tester try out the Sayl for a full workday, then decide how long they could comfortably sit in it — the full day or just a few hours.


We also aggregated each tester's opinion of the backrest, armrests, and seat cushion and took that into account when determining final scores. The Sayl delivered an okay performance. All of our judges agreed that they were content sitting on this chair for at least five hours, with four of them having no problem sitting for a full 8-10 hour day. It doesn't boast the tallest backrest, which may have contributed to the taller testers only wanting to sit in it for half of the day.

The backrest is made of a rubberized mesh, which some of our judges loved, and others weren't so enamored with. The armrests have a much more universal appeal, and most of our judges also regarded the seat as comfortable. As with all things of such a personal nature, if you're able to try this chair before committing, take the opportunity. Otherwise, look into the return policy of whoever you order from in case it's not a good fit.

herman miller sayl - some of our taller testers wished the backrest was just a bit higher.
Some of our taller testers wished the backrest was just a bit higher.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Adjustability


Following our suite of comfort assessments, we moved on to rating and scoring adjustability. We primarily focused on how customizable the backrest, armrests, and seat pan are and how the chair can recline. Finally, we combined all of this to see if we could easily get the chair into an ergonomic seating position at an average desk or standing desk (in the lowered position). The Sayl delivered a stellar performance in this metric.


The backrest offers very good lumbar support, and we like that you can move it up or down. The armrests on the version we tested are fully customizable; you can move them up and down, closer or further to you, and forward and back. You can also pivot them, although we aren't the biggest fans of the raise and lower mechanism. We have seen versions of this chair without the completely adjustable armrests, so make sure you double-check you are buying the one you prefer.

It's fairly easy to sit according to proper ergonomic guidelines...
It's fairly easy to sit according to proper ergonomic guidelines, thanks to its many adjustability features.
You can buy this chair with both adjustable and non-adjustable...
You can buy this chair with both adjustable and non-adjustable armrests, so you'll want to ensure you're purchasing the model you're after.

You can adjust the depth of the seat pan and move the chair height up and down. When it comes to reclining, the knob that adjusts the tension is fine, and there are tilt limiters to set different angles, which allow you to recline. Overall, these various adjustments make it super easy to move the Sayl into a position that conforms to ergonomic guidelines.

herman miller sayl - the sayl has an impressive set of adjustable features.
The Sayl has an impressive set of adjustable features.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Durability


Next, we evaluated how well-constructed and durable the Sayl is. We based the score on our own assessments of each chair, reading through tons of other user experiences.


The Sayl performed quite well here as well. We didn't notice any major signs of damage after our testing process, though we could see the front padding of the armrests showing a bit more signs of wear than some of the other models in our lineup. The height adjustment lever also felt a little flimsy for our preferences. We saw a handful of user reviews that echoed this sentiment, noting that the front seat cushion padding and the armrest padding began to wear or break.

herman miller sayl - the rubberized mesh on the sayl offers exceptional durability.
The rubberized mesh on the Sayl offers exceptional durability.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Ease of Assembly


For this metric, we evaluated how long it took to build each chair and the quality and clarity of the instructions. The Sayl did very well, earning an impressive score.


This chair arrives almost completely built, and we had it ready to go in less than five minutes. No tools are required, and you only have to set the top on the base — that's it. The directions are also very clear — though that's not a surprise when there's only a single step involved in assembly.

herman miller sayl - the sayl was a snap to assemble. literally.
The Sayl was a snap to assemble. Literally.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Value


The Sayl isn't the best value when compared to our entire lineup, but when looked at next to other Herman Miller products, it's a pretty decent bargain — especially if you are shopping for a high-end, premium chair that also sits pretty. For that reason, this is the model from Herman Miller that we recommend to folks that have an interest in the brand but want a bit of a break on price.

Conclusion


Overall, the Herman Miller Sayl is a solid chair and holds its own against much more expensive options. It's got a unique look, is fairly comfortable, and is as easy to assemble as anyone could hope for. That said, it might not be the best chair for everyone, so if you can try it out before committing, that's our recommendation.

David Wise and Austin Palmer