Isokinetics Inc. Balance Exercise Ball Chair - Standard or Tall Boy (Exclusive) Frame Height - Choice of Ball Color - Office Size 60mm/2.5" Wheels - Adult Size

I don't typically give a product a 5-star rating if I returned it because it didn't work for me, but I'm making an exception this time, and I think it's justified. I have a dear friend and colleague who has had a ball chair (not an Isokinetics brand) for several years and has been raving about how comfortable it is. I've been contemplating trying out a ball chair, and when my main office chair broke, I decided it was time.I was undecided which chair I should order, and I also realized that the chair might not be the perfect bliss for me that it is for others. I figured I'd start with the cheapest model, and if I liked it, and if it seemed appealing to me, I could always keep the cheap model as a spare and upgrade to a more expensive one.This particular chair was in the right price range, and the reviews were mostly very positive, so I figured this would be a good place to start. By the time I ordered the chair, my main chair had already broken a few weeks earlier, and the temporary chair that I was using in the interim was doing a number on my back. So by the time the chair arrived, my lower back was already in a lot of pain.The chair arrived quickly, well packaged, and the easy-to-read instructions made setup a breeze. I blew it up, as instructed, and waited the requisite 48 hours prior to using it, and another 24 hours before blowing it up fully. I expected an adjustment period, but from the very first day, I seemed to be in more pain than ever. The first day or two, I attributed it to the chair not being blown up to full capacity. But after I was finally able to do that, the pain was still excruciating. I just could not get comfortable. I literally had to roll forward and inch my way off the chair over the course of several minutes in order to get up. No matter how much I fidgeted around, I just couldn't get comfortable. And it wasn't just my back that was in pain - it was radiating all the way from my waist throughout my lower body.I talked to my friend about it, and it turns out she has another brand of chair that is 2 inches higher, and the ball is 5 inches greater in diameter. I'm wondering if that is not what I need, because maybe my body height and contours are just not right for this particular model. I am about 5'6", evenly proportioned (e.g., not one of those folks with long legs and a short torso), but I'm also on the heavy side, and I sit for long hours every day, because I work at home doing typing and transcription. My overall body is also extremely sensitive, and I've had issues with other chairs too. So it wasn't a total surprise that the chair didn't work for me.I don't think my pain had anything to do with the chair design, but maybe it's just too short and too small for me. I will soon be trying the model that my friend has, to see if the higher/bigger ball will do the trick.Even though the chair is plastic, it's a very sturdy plastic - it didn't feel flimsy or cheap at all. It rolls around very easily, although you do need to remember that the backrest is not actually meant to be used as a true backrest - it's more of a guide to remind you to sit up straight.I gave the chair several weeks' use to see if I just needed a longer adjustment period, but the pain just kept getting worse instead of better. I finally gave up and called the company to see about returning the chair. When I called, the rep was extremely nice and courteous. She felt very bad that the chair did not work out for me, but she did not try to give me a hard sell on keeping it or give me any resistance at all about sending it back. She provided me with a return authorization, and that was that. It was still another week or so before I could send it back, because I had misplaced the tool to undo the wire bar, and I had to call her again to get more information. Again, she was prompt, courteous, and helpful.I talked to her again to confirm she had received the chair, and she initiated the full refund that day, including the original shipping charges. I received a confirmation from Amazon that night about the refund, and the next business day, the refund was back in my bank. It was all very painless, except for my aching back. :)Because of this, I just don't think it would be fair to give the product a low rating, because clearly, it works for many people. It just wasn't right for me. But there is nothing about the quality or style of the chair that warrants a low rating, and the outstanding customer service more than makes up for my disappointment that the chair did not work out. I would just caution you to temper your expectations about whether it will be the perfect chair for you, because clearly, based on my experience, it's not the be-all/end-all chair for everyone. But I can tell you that everyone else who sat in the chair was quite impressed with it. It's certainly worth trying, especially with the superior customer service and painless return policy. So even though I was disappointed with the chair, I'm not at all unhappy about the overall experience.

First off - the ball and pump they give you will need some work. The pump will be cheap and won't actually put air into the ball once there is resistance. So fill the ball and let it sit for 24 hours like it tells you, then find a friend or family member with an air compressor or quality pump, or buy one, and use that to finish filling the ball. You need to do this bc if you don't actually fill the ball up properly, you're going to sit way too low in a standard desk.Let it be known, my back has pretty much been sore since I got this chair. I committed fully and threw away my old desk chair, and there are days I wish I still had it bc I want to just be lazy, but this new chair is really shaping me up.So - I'm a gamer. One thing this chair has done is limit my time ingame. Bc honestly my butt goes so numb after two hours, and I've been using this chair for a month now. It forces you to take breaks. And the first few days I used the chair I just avoided my computer lol. BUT when I'm sitting here I can feel everything working, I can feel myself using muscles just to sit here and type this.Also - I'm a large chested female. This chair has improved my back muscles - like I said I'm sore - but my posture is improving as a result of using this chair. Bc it's pretty uncomfortable to slouch in this chair - you just suck it up and sit straight and put your shoulders back - and it's more comfortable.I've been using this chair for just under a month, and I've had to start wearing belts to keep my pants up, if not they sag down and flash people. i was an idiot and didn't actually measure myself to track results, so I suggest you do that - they give you measuring tape with the chair to do so. I've done nothing but gain weight and buy bigger sizes the past year, and now I'm shrinking, with this chair being the only thing I've changed.Also - I had an extremely bad habit of tucking my legs under myself when I game. This is not possible in this chair. So not only are you improving posture, losing inches around your midsection, and strengthening your core, you can't tuck your legs under.I read a review to put the locks on the back wheels AFTER I already put the wheels on - but make sure you do that. I have wood floors and the chair stays put pretty well even without the locks on.In summary - I highly recommend this chair. If you're a gamer and you want to shape up, this chair will do that. You will complain, you will be sore, your butt will go numb if you don't take breaks, but it will work. if you're in an office environment where you can frequently get up to do your job, I would recommend it. I don't know if the numb booty is only something that happens to the more shapely people who use this chair, which is possible, but it's the only thing I consider a drawback, and it's honestly not - bc it forces you to get off your butt every once in a while if you want feeling back - and that's not such a bad thing.

Love that this chair came with the pump and measuring tape. It's a perfect height for me at my desk but some coworkers have said it's too low for them so make sure to measure your desk before buying. I did have to pay extra duty charges, around $25, once it got to my office in Vancouver BC.

Works wonders for the lower back!!!

Great for the office! Love it.