More movement and better health. This is what the Swopper from Aeris aims to achieve with 3D ergonomics. Will it succeed?
Those looking for a gaming chair typically expect the obvious things: back and armrests, a padded seat, and perhaps wheels instead of stable feet. Some may prefer executive chairs, oversized chairs filled with foam. However, their back may not appreciate that.
The Swopper from Aeris has none of these obvious features. It is a stool with a spring. The latter allows movement in all directions: left and right, front and back, up and down. The body has a lot to do to maintain balance, keeping the back muscles constantly engaged. Thus, several questions arise:
- Is it comfortable to sit on? And also still? After all, some games require precision and a steady hand.
- Or does it rather feel like you could fall off the chair at any moment?
- Is the back muscle excessively strained so that sitting for prolonged periods does more harm than good?
These and other questions will be addressed in the following test.
My expectations
My expectations were not particularly high. I doubted I could sit still in the Swopper, after all, it advertises movement. My old office chair had to remain within reach. Nevertheless, I intended to use the Swopper as much as possible. I prepared to forgo drawing, as I probably wouldn’t be able to draw even a straight line. And I expected my back to protest.
Assembling the Swopper is extremely simple. It comes with three parts: base, spring, and seat. Nothing needs to be screwed; you just plug everything together. Once you sit on the chair, the components anchor themselves so firmly that they cannot be separated again. According to the manufacturer, this can only be done at the factory with special tools, which is why they offer special transport boxes for returns. Additionally, the spring has an adjustment option, allowing it to be adapted to one’s weight.
A new sitting experience
The Swopper is not a rigid office chair that can only move thanks to wheels on its feet. Rather, it can move in all directions. But nobody needs to worry about falling off the chair immediately—unless they want to lean back, as there is no backrest. After a period of adjustment, a suitable sitting position can be found.
However, those who want to remain in that position are poorly advised with the Swopper. Even small changes in position lead to the need to move and balance the chair again. Through the spring, the spine and intervertebral discs are pleasantly relieved. Nonetheless, a somewhat steady sitting posture is possible, even though it is not the intention of the chair.
The absent—but optionally purchasable—backrest seems a bit daunting at first. However, within a short time, one will no longer depend on it. Thanks to the regular activation of abdominal and back muscles, along with a not-so-rigid sitting position, one does not feel the need to lean back. After all, when walking or standing upright, you don’t have that urge either. Even after several hours of walking, your legs may feel slightly tired, but not your back.
Those sitting at a desk may have the habit of leaning slightly forward. Whether it’s to reach items at the opposite end of the workspace or because they prefer to rest their hands on the table rather than on armrests. This hunched posture is avoided by the Swopper. If you lean forward, the chair simply moves with you, allowing you to maintain an upright position.
Initial difficulties – my sitting experience with the Swopper
Love at first sit feels different. The first few minutes are still very pleasant. I playfully test how well it moves with the stool. It’s a lot of fun and varied. But shortly after, a disillusionment sets in. The seat is hard and uncomfortable. I still miss the back and armrests, and the feeling of potentially falling off the chair lingers. For the first while, I have to force myself to use the chair. This isn’t a matter of hours, but rather days or even weeks.
It does not make it easy for you. After all, the perseverance is not rewarded with a better sitting experience, but with more pain: a sore muscle. This is certainly not love, but more of a hate-love relationship.
Once I overcame these initial difficulties, the negative aspects were over. The sitting experience noticeably improved, and the fact that I experienced sore muscles even proves that the body is being challenged. While it does not serve as a replacement for exercise, it is an excellent complement, especially for those who sit a lot.
Additionally, it is said that back pain will be a thing of the past. Since I have fortunately remained spared from them so far, I could not verify this. However, the fact that almost every positive comment in the Amazon reviews mentions this positively can at least be seen as an indication of less pain.
Health
There is a lot of advertising with various information that sounds plausible to the layman and unfortunately cannot be verified for their accuracy. Here are two quotes from the manufacturer’s official FAQ.
Especially at the beginning, one may find the seat too hard. Eventually, you will get used to it, but the question remains why that is the case. This is because the chair is deliberately shaped in such a way. The reason is aptly stated:
The resulting pressure distribution on the sitting bones automatically leads to the spine slightly tilting forward in the lower area (lordosis), which corresponds to the natural shape of the spine when standing. Conventional seats, which often feature a seat hollow, do the opposite.
The advantages of vertical swaying are also explained further:
Swopping strengthens the back muscles and promotes the nourishment of the intervertebral discs. Additionally, there are no stagnations in the legs, and you feel fit and lively throughout the day. Sitting on the Swopper automatically puts you in the correct position and thus helps prevent back pain.
The problem here is that one must trust the accuracy of such statements. Intervertebral discs absorb nutrients like a sponge. Under load, they are compressed and release used fluid. During relief, they can then absorb new fluids again. For optimal nutrient supply, a constant alternation between loading and relieving is necessary. This is simply achieved through walking. Therefore, long periods of rest, like those one has while lying down, or prolonged loading, which occurs while sitting, are detrimental.
However, whether the movement enabled by the Swopper is sufficient to adequately relieve the intervertebral discs cannot be easily found out. Perhaps the intervertebral discs are not relieved at all, or perhaps they are somewhat relieved. But not enough to really promote nourishment. However, it may also be true as stated, and every intervertebral disc rejoices over this chair.
A medical verification, a check to see if the manufacturer’s claims are true, this test cannot provide. Unfortunately, science does not offer any rescue. There are studies showing that there is no difference between using a rigid office chair or a movable one. Of course, there are also opposing studies. It is therefore best to test the device yourself.
Configure and test yourself
And that is exactly possible. Thanks to the classic right of withdrawal, practically everything is testable for 14 days. Many vendors even offer 4 weeks right. As mentioned before, you need to take a little more time here. With 28 days, it’s okay to take a few days off due to muscle soreness without feeling pressured for time. Thus, everyone can decide for themselves whether the device meets their expectations or not. The manufacturer has published a few tips for getting started on its website.
One single chair can never be perfectly tailored to individual needs. For this reason, the Swopper is extremely variable; you can view the options in the product configurator.
In addition to color, numerous adjustments can be made. For example, regarding the cover, you can choose whether it should be made of microfiber, leather, or be more hygienic and anti-bacterial. The model can also be changed: the Swopper Air features softer seat comfort due to cushioning, and the Swopper Saddle has a saddle-like seat. Furthermore, there is the choice between gliders and wheels as a base ring, and a spring strength between 40-70kg and 60-120kg. A backrest can also be added. Overall, it is very extensive.
Conclusion
Fortunately, my initial fears did not come true. I didn’t even fall from the seat! And the sitting experience was very pleasant—after an appropriate adjustment period. Sitting quietly is possible, but it shouldn’t be done permanently because you bought the Swopper for the movement. However, I would only choose calm games. Something hectic, where precision and reaction are important, could become problematic. In such cases, you would have to remain tense and could not move, as that would be distracting.
In conclusion, I am satisfied with the device; however, I would not buy it for a price of over 500€. That is also due to the fact that I am quite satisfied with my old office chair. Anyone who is generally willing to pay that price can test the Swopper beforehand.
The chair was provided for testing by the manufacturer.
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