A common question we get is why does Anthros have a foam cushion? People have said it’s “bulky”, or “It will just compress over time”. And our answer always comes back to our origins. If you know about Anthros, you probably know that the core of our team came from the wheelchair seating industry. We designed and manufactured seat cushions for people who have no choice but to sit all day long. Which means, cushion design is incredibly important! We brought this expertise to the Anthros chair.
There are some key principles to be aware of when considering cushion design, namely the quality of foam, and contours.
The quality of the foam needs to be a priority for a seat cushion to last and not bottom out after long hours of sitting. The reality is that not all foams are created equal. It’s true that foam is simply a combination of chemicals that are poured into a mold. However, the type of combination affects the end product. It’s difficult to assess the quality of foam simply by looking at it. The quality of a foam is determined by its density, which should not be confused with firmness, although the terms are often used interchangeably. Density is expressed by measuring the weight of a single cubic foot of foam (ASTM standards). For a high-quality foam designed for all-day, everyday use, a density range of 1.5-3lbs per cubic foot (pcf) is ideal. In our case, we use a foam that weighs 3lbs pcf, ensuring its longevity throughout our 12-year warranty period.
Another crucial aspect that influences quality and durability is the contours of the foam. These contours are specifically designed to match the shape of the human body based on anthropometric data. By allowing the user to sink in and be embraced by the foam's shape, we are not forcing a flat piece of foam to conform to the user's contours and break down over time.
Additionally, the contours are providing greater pressure distribution across a larger surface area. This increases comfort by minimizing high peak pressures in one area, namely the sit bones. Most people don’t realize that the frequent repositioning and fidgeting they experience is due to high peak pressures!
And finally, the contours also add stability to the seat surface. Many people assume that a cushion that has low peak pressures will be soft and non-supportive. By using a high-quality foam with contours to match the human body, we are creating a soft-feeling, highly supportive surface.
So those factors alone should be enough to convince you to try the Anthros seat! But we didn’t stop at using quality foam and optimal contours. There’s more!
Since the Anthros chair is designed to bring the pelvis into a neutral position, we know that this will cause the sit bones to drive directly down into the seat surface. The contours of the cushion help with this by distributing pressure, but we knew we could do better. Using 3D human modeling we designed Cloudfloat technology under the sit bones to allow them to float, further dissipating the pressure in this area. The cutouts offer an open space for the sit bones to fall into, further relieving peak pressures and promoting pressure distribution over a large surface area.
The most unassuming or least recognizable feature of our seat is the use of Cloudtex. Essentially we are using three layers of fabric, two layers (Cloudtex) below the top layer that you see (Boucle or Port Leather). The two underlying layers are slippery and allow the top layer to glide over it, adding additional comfort to the cushion.
It should be clear that the science, expertise, and intention that went behind our cushion is not common practice! And coming from an industry where everything had to be tested and proven, we had our cushion tested at an independent university lab against 9 competitors in three measures of comfort: pressure, contact area, and shear. Using standardized mechanical bench testing according to ISO standards, the Anthros seat was clearly a level above the rest.
Learn MoreAll of that to say, we know our SIT and the cushion design is no exception!
If you are looking to improve posture and decrease pain while sitting, look no further than Anthros.
Anthros is the only chair in the world that is guaranteed to improve posture or your money back. The science-backed, patented design is registered with the FDA as a posture-improving chair and is proven to have the lowest pressure (most comfortable) cushion on the planet (verified by university testing).
Take the next step to reducing pain, increasing comfort, and maximizing performance!