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Haworth Fern vs Herman Miller Embody vs Herman Miller Sayl
Too close to call: the right one depends on your home.
The verdict in 10 seconds
The Haworth Fern suits you if
- You sit at a desk for long hours and want a chair for the long haul
- You value a flexible, supportive backrest and very adjustable armrests
- You like choosing your own colors, materials and features
May not suit you if
- You're tall and need the deepest seat setting without a gap at your back
- You depend on a good, fully adjustable headrest
- You want a full mesh chair or a lower-cost starter option
The Herman Miller Embody suits you if
- You sit at a desk most of the day and want a chair that moves with you
- You like a firm, curved lower-back shape and a smooth recline
- You want a chair built to last for many years
May not suit you if
- You prefer a softer, flatter back or are prone to tailbone pressure
- You want a headrest or armrests that slide forward and pivot
- You're taller than about six foot two or on a tighter budget
The Herman Miller Sayl suits you if
- You're petite to average height and sit at a desk all day
- You have a smaller home office and want a chair that doesn't take over the room
- You like firm, springy support and a breathable back that's easy to clean
May not suit you if
- You're especially tall and need support up to your shoulders
- You want a headrest or like to recline deeply
- You prefer a soft, plush, heavily padded seat
The short version
These are closely matched, so pick by what your home needs. The Haworth Fern suits you if you sit at a desk for long hours and want a chair for the long haul. The Herman Miller Embody suits you if you sit at a desk most of the day and want a chair that moves with you. The Herman Miller Sayl suits you if you're petite to average height and sit at a desk all day.
We researched 12 expert reviews, analyzed 9,555 owner ratings and comments across 12 sources for the three, and cross-checked them into one verdict, so you don't have to.
See the evidence
The scoreboardProduct Review score 78 vs 80 vs 81 · reliability 73 vs 91 vs 83
| Haworth Fern | Herman Miller Embody | Herman Miller Sayl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Review score | 78 | 80 | 81 |
| Experts | 89 | 83 | 79 |
| Owners | 69 | 73 | 83 |
| Reliability | 73 | 91 | 83 |
| Report problems | 11% | 4% | 7% |
| Evidence | 3 reviews · 158 comments | 4 reviews · 602 comments | 5 reviews · 534 comments |
| Typical price | $1,105 | $1,695–$2,075 | $1,020–$1,075 |
● marks the better number on each row.
Experts vs ownersExperts 89 vs 83 vs 79 · Owners 69 vs 73 vs 83
Haworth Fern
Herman Miller Embody
Herman Miller Sayl
How we reached each verdictThe numbers behind each model's score
Haworth Fern
All 3 expert reviewers used the Fern hands-on and rated it highly (expert score 89 across 2 published scores), praising long-session comfort, adaptive back support, adjustable arms and a 12-year warranty. Owners are cooler (owner score 69 from 158 comments, 111 first-hand): 26% praise comfort and 14% praise back support, but 12% find it uncomfortable and 14% say it isn't worth the money. Failure-related mentions show up in 11% of comments, though only 3% describe the chair actually breaking, with smaller numbers citing armrest issues (5%) and squeaks (3%). The evidence on back problems specifically is thin, since no reviewer assessed it for particular conditions; also, a large Amazon listing matched to this product is a houseplant, so we left it out, and the remaining retail ratings are modest (4.21 stars from 48 at the brand store, 3.92 from 69 on Google).
Herman Miller Embody
Comfort is the standout: 62% of owner comments praise it, and 3 of 4 hands-on reviewers found it very comfortable, with 32% of owners highlighting good back support. The fit isn't universal, though: one reviewer (btod.com) found the pronounced lumbar curve, hard back, and tailbone pressure uncomfortable enough to rotate it out, a techgearlab tester rated it poorly, and 10% of owners complain about comfort. Durability looks strong, with a reliability score of 91, failures mentioned in only 4% of comments, and a 12-year warranty noted. Expert evidence is thin at just 4 reviews with 2 published scores, so confidence is medium, and the Amazon rating (3.7 from 222 votes) runs noticeably lower than the Google listing (4.45 from 4,659).
Herman Miller Sayl
Four of 5 expert sources tested the Sayl hands-on, and all four call it comfortable and well built; Forbes named it its best office chair overall after a month of panel testing. Owners agree: of 534 comments (477 first-hand), 53% praise comfort and 21% specifically praise back support, while only 3% mention back pain and 7% mention any failure. About 80% of the 1,306 star ratings we saw are five stars. The evidence is thinner on back problems specifically, since no expert evaluated it for medical back conditions, Consumer Reports' results are paywalled, and lumbar support depends on an extra-cost option that testers judged differently.
Where each one falls shortThe most common complaints
Haworth Fern
- Very expensive for what some owners get
- Seat feels firm or uncomfortable to some
- Lumbar support is an add-on and the headrest is clumsy
Herman Miller Embody
- Very high and rising price
- Pronounced lumbar curve and firm back don't suit everyone
- Limited, bulky armrests that only adjust height and width
Herman Miller Sayl
- Short backrest and no headrest for tall users
- Lumbar support and other add-ons cost extra, and some find the lumbar flimsy
- Armrest adjustment and seat padding wear draw some complaints
Quick answers
Which is better, the Haworth Fern or the Herman Miller Embody or the Herman Miller Sayl?
Neither, clearly. They're closely matched, so choose by your floors, pets and budget.
Based on: Product Review score 78 vs 80 vs 81.Which is more reliable?
The Herman Miller Embody. It's the least likely of the three to give you trouble.
Based on: Reliability 73 vs 91 vs 83; problems mentioned by 11% vs 4% vs 7% of owners.Which is easier to live with day to day?
The Herman Miller Sayl. It's the one people are happiest with once it's home.
Based on: Owners score 69 vs 73 vs 83, from ratings and comments.Which is cheaper?
The Herman Miller Sayl usually costs less.
Based on: Typical prices: Haworth Fern $1,105; Herman Miller Embody $1,695–$2,075; Herman Miller Sayl $1,020–$1,075.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes a score.