FlexiSpot Sit2Go 2-in-1 Health Chair evaluation: enhancing your work-life steadiness
The FlexiSpot F1 Sit2Go 2-in-1 Health Chair is a component spin bike and half workplace chair, so you’ll be able to work and work out on the identical time. When FlexiSpot created this chair, they seemingly designed it with somebody like me in thoughts — a remote-working workaholic who loves their job a lot, they’ve let it bleed into different components of their lives.
Sustaining a wholesome work-life steadiness was a little bit of a wrestle for me. I not solely get pleasure from my work an excessive amount of, however I even have my desk mere steps away from the place I sleep, eat and calm down. So, after I grew to become complacent, it was straightforward for me to fall into that entice of stumbling away from bed and straight to my desk, pajamas and all, working for 12 hours, then stumbling again into mattress having performed not a lot else.
I wasn’t alone. Particularly on the top of the shelter-in-place lockdowns, lots of people working from house suffered from not figuring out the place work ended and life began. There was nowhere you may go, in spite of everything, nobody to see, no occasions to attend. The road between profession development and private development began to blur.
In fact, all of us lead such busy lives anyway that even earlier than the pandemic, it felt like there was by no means sufficient time to tick every thing off our laundry listing. Sacrifices needed to be made, and for lots of people, it was often health that bore the brunt of it. In any case, who had the time or vitality on the finish of an already busy day?
The FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 basically hits these two goal markets — the one with distant staff needing ingenious methods to hit that work-life candy spot and the one with overburdened hustlers who require intelligent health instruments they will multitask in and simplify their lives. And, as such, it’s a significant piece of tech that couldn’t have come at a greater time.
To check the FC211, I used it instead of my common chair over a collection of weeks. If you wish to learn extra about how we evaluation merchandise, see T3’s how we check (opens in new tab) web page.
(Picture credit score: Flexispot)
FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair evaluation: value and launch date
One of the best factor concerning the FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair is that it’s cheaper than the finest train bikes on the market. It’s not as fancy as a Peloton, to make sure, and it’s extra on the stripped-down, back-to-basics finish of the spectrum. However, its no-frills tackle issues additionally permits it to concentrate on the necessities and provide an accessible value of entry.
It units you again $399 within the US and £299 within the UK, which places it within the affordable-but-not dirt-cheap vary. That’s a reasonably good value, particularly contemplating how a lot you’ll profit from it, and cheap when in comparison with choices from Peloton or NordicTrack that price you greater than $1,000/£1,000 (and that’s with out the exercise subscriptions). Plus, these aren’t actually constructed so you’ll be able to cycle and work on the identical time.
There are cheaper desk train and stationary bikes on Amazon, however they aren’t more likely to be simply as sturdy or provide as many resistance ranges as this one.
It is available in white and black – though the white model does have a black seat and backrest. Sadly for shoppers down beneath, it isn’t accessible in Australia. Not one of the FlexiSpot merchandise are.
(Picture credit score: Flexispot)
FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair evaluation: unboxing and setup
The FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair does want a little bit of organising out of the field. However don’t fear, you received’t want a information of mechanics so as to take action. The complicated mechanical components of the bike come already assembled and encased in its arduous plastic-covered trunk, your job principally consists of attaching the seat and the backrest.
The corporate leaves that to you so you’ll be able to set the horizontal seat place and backrest place to what feels most comfy and supportive to your physique. These are to be performed manually, sadly, so remember to have the included allen key useful if you wish to make changes in a while. It’s a good suggestion to maintain that guide as nicely, simply in case.
Nonetheless, the entire setup is easy, particularly when you observe the easy-to-follow step-by-step directions supplied by FlexiSpot – one thing that firm is fairly good at. The guide even comes with easy directions on tips on how to function the chair together with tips on how to use its LCD show.
(Picture credit score: Michelle Rae Uy)
FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair evaluation: design
For one thing so inexpensive, the FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair is a smooth and clear piece of exercise equipment. In contrast to most stationary bikes, it has all its mechanical components tucked away and out of sight. You received’t see the belt or the flywheel right here; solely the pedals and the legs/ft. This offers it a contemporary, minimalist aesthetic that makes it office-friendlier.
The trunk is product of arduous, sturdy plastic, as are the caster or wheels, that are presupposed to have gravity sensors that preserve them from shifting when somebody’s on the chair, and the pedals, that are textured for correct grip. In the meantime, the legs and the seat tube are metallic. FlexiSpot will not be clear as to what kind of fabric it makes use of for its seat cowl, nevertheless it looks like some kind of versatile PU leather-based that’s comfortable to the touch and versatile but agency.
This and the pretty thick plush foam inside make for a really comfy but supportive seat. The seat on the FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 has greater than sufficient cushion for exercises which can be variety to your behind and is contoured to maintain you in place even once you’re pedaling quick and arduous. But, it’s additionally agency sufficient to provide the assist you want. Something squishier, and your again will undergo.
It’s a much bigger seat as nicely, not fairly as spacious as a correct desk chair, however positively a lot greater than a motorcycle saddle – I might say large enough to suit an grownup particular person’s complete bottom. That’s on goal as this chair can also be meant to maintain you comfy once you’re in work mode.
I wouldn’t say that it’s comfy sufficient to sit down in for a full workday, nevertheless. I discover the seat ok to sit down in between laps, like after I wanted to take a break and reply just a few emails. However, I additionally discover that I’m already eager for my common chair after a few hours on it. Then once more, I’ve the Mavix M9 because the chair I work in, and it is without doubt one of the most luxurious chairs in the marketplace, so it is a lot more durable for me to gauge.
I wouldn’t be stunned if many individuals discovered FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 a cushty throne to sit down in for eight or extra hours. I feel it’s extra a matter of desire at this level.
Whether or not you’re solely understanding on this or doing precise work as nicely, you’ll admire the backrest. Not solely is it supportive, nevertheless it’s breathable as nicely, due to its comfortable mesh materials that airs your again out and likewise makes you are feeling such as you’re type of in a hammock.
The seat is very adjustable. You possibly can modify its top from 22.4 to 31.5 inches, which suggests you must discover your comfy seat top whether or not you’re four-foot-nine, six-foot-three, or someplace in between. You can even modify its horizontal place in addition to its backrest for depth. Keep in mind, although, that whereas it comes with a lever for simple top changes, the remainder of it needs to be adjusted manually utilizing the included allen key. It’s a bit of annoying to take action you may need to discover probably the most ideally suited place for you early on.
An LED show sits on the primary trunk of the bike, which exhibits six totally different train metrics, a button to toggle the show, and a medium-sized knob that allows you to cycle by way of the eight resistance ranges.
(Picture credit score: Michelle Rae Uy)
FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair evaluation: options
The FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 isn’t probably the most kitted-out, feature-rich health chair in the marketplace. In contrast to different desk bike chairs, which include issues like their very own desk or a foldable type issue, it takes a no-frills, back-to-basics method, focusing as an alternative on the options which can be important to your exercises. If you need one with a desk attachment, the FlexiSpot V9 is simply $60/£100 extra.
A kind of options is its LED display screen, which shows seven totally different stationary bike metrics – time, velocity, distance, energy burned, odometer, and RPM or revolutions per minute. Under it’s a button, which helps you to manually select which setting you need to be displayed or set it to “Scan” in order that the show merely cycles by way of the metrics mechanically.
I discovered the LED show to be very helpful. Sadly, it’s not backlit, which makes it arduous to see the numbers on it and even determine what metric is at present being displayed. Particularly when you’re biking in a well-lit room in the course of the day, you must squint actual arduous to see something.
To its credit score, it does pause settings like time and energy once you cease pedaling, permitting it to present you extra correct numbers of your biking classes, and it turns off mechanically after 4 minutes of no exercise. It additionally mechanically activates as quickly as you begin pedaling.
Aside from that, the one different function you’ll discover on the FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 is its resistance knob. Situated on the highest panel of the trunk, proper within the center for simple entry, it allows you to change your resistance setting even once you’re pedaling.
It’s a bit clunky to function and never probably the most seamless to make use of – I’ve, once in a while, turned it a few notches greater than meant. That, in a method, impacts your biking expertise, particularly once you’re within the zone. Nonetheless, I additionally don’t discover it to be a deal-breaker. It’s simply one thing you must get used to, particularly when you’re used to only urgent a button on an train machine to alter the issue degree.
(Picture credit score: Michelle Rae Uy)
FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair evaluation: efficiency
Generally, the difficulty with cheaper stationary bikes is that they don’t provide sufficient resistance ranges to problem you once you begin to plateau in your present settings. You needn’t fear about that with the FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211. With eight totally different resistance ranges, every another troublesome than the final, it’ll final you just a few good years. And, that’s relying on how arduous and the way typically you utilize it.
Even when your aim is to only use it to only preserve your legs limber and the blood flowing, it’ll nonetheless get you sweating on the decrease settings.
Alternatively, in case your aim IS to shed extra pounds, or prepare for a marathon/backpacking journey within the wilderness, you’ll be happy to know that its most troublesome ranges are certainly difficult, particularly the very best ones.
You received’t have to fret about accidents both. The seat tube does begin to wobble just a bit when set at its highest level. However in case you are six ft tall or extra, you’re more likely to be heavier, and your weight ought to assist stabilize it.
The absence of a handlebar doesn’t cease it from being a safe machine both. Its gravity-sensing casters do a wonderful job of retaining the bike itself in place. In the meantime, its contoured seat takes care of you, retaining you in place on that bike regardless of how arduous you pedal.
The dearth of a handlebar or a laptop computer desk is, as a consequence of the truth that this train bike is designed to suit properly with a standing desk – extra particularly, FlexiSpot’s personal standing desks. Nonetheless, as a result of it’s so steady, you don’t must solely use it at your desk the place you’ve gotten one thing in entrance of you to lean on for assist. You won’t be capable to apply it to nearly any desk, as your legs will want that clearance so that you can pedal correctly. Nonetheless, you need to use it in your lounge whereas watching TV or on the balcony whilst you get pleasure from a great e-book comfortably. That additionally makes it fairly versatile.
One other factor that provides to its versatility is its quiet operation. FlexiSpot’s declare that it’s whisper-quiet isn’t precisely correct. If somebody’s within the room with you whilst you’re utilizing the bike, they may hear it, however not sufficient to trouble them in the event that they’re working or watching TV. This implies that you would be able to pedal away throughout a video or convention name with colleagues with out worrying about disrupting the assembly.
(Picture credit score: Michelle Rae Uy)
FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair evaluation: verdict
Is the FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 a great addition to your work-from-home setup or hectic life hacks? Completely. This health chair allows you to keep lively and productive on the identical time, saving you from a sedentary life and saving you a complete lot of time to tick different issues off your laundry listing.
It isn’t probably the most feature-rich choice in the marketplace, however the place the necessities are involved, it’s a honed train machine that will get the job down. It’s well-built, steady, extremely adjustable, comfy, and versatile. And, whereas there are cheaper choices on the market, there aren’t many that may rival it with regards to worth.
FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 2-in-1 health chair evaluation: additionally take into account
The FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211 is healthier suited to desktop laptop setups the place you’ve gotten an all-in-one PC or a desktop tower and a separate monitor. When you’re extra of a laptop computer person and need the flexibleness of working (out) wherever in your home, the FlexiSpot V9 (opens in new tab) could be extra your velocity. It comes with its personal small desk the place you’ll be able to set your laptop computer alongside different smaller work necessities like a cup of espresso. This can set you again $449 within the US and £399 within the UK (with the desktop attachment).
If you need one thing extra compact and fewer seen, the DeskCycle Below Desk Bike (opens in new tab) is cheaper at $199 / £179. It’s ideally suited for people who don’t have standing desks and it boasts eight resistance ranges just like the FlexiSpot Sit2Go FC211.
