Hon Wave Mesh High-Back (HVL702) Review

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Our first round of tests for these products looked at how comfortable each of these chairs is to sit in, focusing on their seat, backrest, and armrests, and overall impressions. We also rated our comfort level after sitting in each chair for a set amount of time. Our judges had mixed feelings about this chair, bestowing an average score for a so-so overall performance. We found the backrest and the armrests to be about average. The armrests definitely felt a little cheap to us and were on the smaller side, offering a bit less support than we would have liked. The padding for the arms is also on the firmer side.

However, the seat has ample padding and is fairly comfortable for most people. Overall, we think this chair is more than comfortable enough to sit in for a few hours — maybe up to half a day — but we wouldn't recommend it as anyone's primary chair if they are sitting down for the entire workday.

Adjustability

Our next series of assessments looked at how versatile each office chair is based on the amount of adjustability offered. Unfortunately, the New Wave Mesh didn't score too highly in this regard, earning it a score well below average. Starting with the backrest, this chair doesn't offer any sort of adjustable lumbar support. In fact, it barely offers any lumbar support at all, in our opinion. It doesn't offer multiple tilt limiters, with only a single catch that forces the chair to remain in the upright position. All in all, this chair definitely subscribes to a one-size-fits-all mentality when it comes to the backrest.

The armrests offer a bit more adjustability but not by much. You can adjust their height up and down, but you cannot adjust their width or angle. This is a bit of a disappointment, as we found the armrests to be a bit on the wider side and would have liked to be able to adjust them to be narrower. The seat is also almost completely fixed. You can't change the seat pan depth, and it is still fairly high even on its lowest setting. However, we did like that the reclining tension knob is easy to turn and easy to access from a normal sitting position.

Durability

Our next set of evaluations looked at how durable we found each of these office chairs, awarding points based on our overall impression and the included warranty. The New Wave Mesh did considerably better in this metric, earning one of the better scores of the group. This chair is quite solid and sturdy for the most part. We didn't have to force anything during the assembly process and saw a minimal number of negative reviews. The back of this chair is mesh, so we could see damage occurring if it came in contact with anything sharp or stretching over time. This is really only the part of this chair that gave us any cause for concern.

The manufacturer also includes a significant warranty period of 5-12 years depending on the component, with more details on their website.

Ease of Assembly

Our last testing metric dealt with how much effort it took to go from unboxing this chair to sitting in it. The New Wave Mesh again did very well, earning another great score. This chair only took us 10-15 minutes to put together. The fasteners come clearly labeled, with arrows on the actual components that show where they go. The written instructions are also clear and easy to follow, with plenty of pictures and exploded diagrams to help you.

Value

This chair is a decent value option if you are shopping on the tightest of budgets.

Conclusion

The New Wave Mesh is an alright chair, though definitely far from the premium models when it comes to overall performance. It has a mesh back, which is somewhat uncommon on the more budget-friendly office chairs. This is great if you live somewhere warm, as the mesh back greatly increases ventilation and minimizes sweating. It could be a decent chair if you are looking for a budget option that isn't going to get heavy use, but we would definitely recommend other options if you are going to be spending the majority of your working hours or other significant time in your office chair.