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Office chair footrests are made of a variety of materials, such as wood, foam, and plastic. Are you using a high-quality or low-quality footrest? The advantages and disadvantages of footrests of different designs and materials also make a difference to our human body.
Today, we mainly introduce the two most commonly used materials of office chair footrests, plastic and foam footrests.
Related article: How to Use Ergonomic Office Chairs with Footrest
Plastic Footrests
Plastics have been widely used. Quilts, chairs, tables, etc. all contain plastics. They are everywhere. But did you know that plastics are also widely used in office chair footrests? What are the advantages, disadvantages, and types of plastics? Here is a brief introduction for you:
Advantages
- Lightweight and durable, easier to shape into ergonomic shapes, can provide solid support, cost-effective, not easy to collapse, and is a common choice.
- The surface of the plastic footrest is smooth and not easy to hide dirt. It can be easily cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth.
Disadvantages
- The plastic surface is relatively hard, and it may not be as comfortable and soft as memory foam for long-term use. However, if the surface design is ergonomic and the material used is reinforced plastic, this can be ignored.
Classification of Plastics
- Virgin plastic: Virgin plastic refers to plastic made from new raw materials, which is stronger and harder. However, it is relatively expensive. All the plastics required for the Boulies chair are virgin plastic.
- Recycled Plastic: Recycled plastic is usually used as a secondary material in the plastic recycling process, which has a lower cost and better flexibility. Recycled plastic can also be mixed with virgin plastic and follow specific ratio requirements.
Foam Footrest
Foam is increasingly used by office chair manufacturers for footrests due to its soft properties. It is also simpler to make, with high-density foam filling inside and leather (PU leather, genuine leather) or breathable fabric wrapped outside.
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of foam, and what are the common types? We are revealing it to you:
Features
- Foam provides a softer touch and a more comfortable support experience.
- The leather or fabric on the outside can provide better friction to prevent legs or feet from sliding.
Disadvantages
- Long-term use of low-quality low-density foam materials may cause a certain degree of collapse, and you need to find a high-quality, high-density foam footrest.
- If the surface is Ultraflex PU leather, it is easy to clean, but if it is fabric, it is not easy to clean.
Classification of Foams
Virgin foam: Virgin foam is made of a whole piece of foam, which is environmentally friendly, hygienic, soft, and comfortable, and has a very good sitting feel. The density is usually above 45kg/m°, with good resilience and a more comfortable sitting feel. Boulies Master Rex's footrest uses virgin foam.
Rebonded foam: Rebonded foam is the recycling of industrial waste, which may have odors and even contain harmful substances that are harmful to the body. The sitting feel is poor, it is easy to deform and collapse, and it is not durable.
Cold-cure foam: The cost of cold-cure foam is high, and it needs to be molded and formed in one piece. Compared with non-cure foam, cold-cure foam has greatly improved density and resilience, and is more durable. Boulies' seat cushion uses 100% cold-cure foam.
Related articles: Footrest Types for Ergonomic Office Chairs
The Main Difference in Materials for Different Types of Footrests
Integrated/telescopic footrest: In addition to the material that provides support, the integrated footrest also has an extra telescopic structure, which is generally made of steel or aluminum. The telescopic structure material used for this part follows durability and smooth telescopic performance.
Separate Footrest: The material of the Separate footrest is simpler than that of the integrated footrest, without a telescopic structure.
Boulies Chair with Footrest Introduction
What kind of footrest should you choose? Boulies has two integrated footrests available, which we will introduce to you below:
Boulies Master Rex
The Master Rex is our latest gaming chair, which can be used for both gaming and office work. It is super easy to adjust and can be adjusted to the most suitable position according to your body shape. The footrest design is great, and you can use it when you want to stretch your body, which is really useful during long office hours. The wheels slide smoothly too.
The Boulies Master Rex even comes with a pull-out leg rest, which provides excellent support and relaxation when you want to lift your feet up and relieve pressure on your legs, making it perfect for working from home.
The footrest is made of virgin foam, which is a type of high-density foam. It is a foam that exists naturally in nature and is more expensive than the common recycled foam. It is denser and more durable, and the material is the tissue of foam animals, not artificially synthesized, and is usually soft, absorbent, and breathable.
Even virgin foam can maintain its original shape and comfort over time.
Boulies EP460
Boulies EP460 mesh office chair - breathable and comfortable even for long hours at a desk.
When you pull out the footrest, lean back, and adjust the headrest to the right position, you can rest and relax. When your feet are not on the floor, the EP460 also reduces the pressure on your legs, and you can stretch your legs during long meetings.
The footrest uses a reinforced plastic frame, which is a structural element made of plastic. The material is PE nylon. This plastic is reinforced with fibres to increase its strength and rigidity. 100% recyclable. Please look out for footrests made of recycled or 100% recyclable materials.
Mainly to provide you with stable ergonomic support. The combination of a plastic footrest and mesh seat design also takes into account the overall lightness and breathability of the office chair. Of course, this one is more affordable.
Summary
If you like lightness and breathability, and don’t require high softness, then the Boulies EP460 is a good choice.
If you like soft touch, have high requirements for ergonomics, and have a sufficient budget, Boulies Master Rex is a perfect match for you.
The best footrest material is the one that suits you, so choose the office chair that best suits you!
