The Boulies Master Rex office chair made me excited to sit down for hours – but it took time to get used to

Up until a couple months ago, I thought I was getting by just fine with the chair that my office provided me with. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not an uncomfortable chair by any means, and I tend to sit curled up like a pretzel, so my back and neck pains are probably more down to me than the chair.

But I recently switched to the Boulies Master Rex, a new model from the brand that is said to make some of the best office chairs on the market. As a hybrid worker, I’ve been using the Boulies Master Rex a few days a week and judging it for its merits as well as comparing it to the chair I have at home.

After a few weeks of testing the Boulies Master Rex, I’d have to say that this premium office chair may have ruined me for other office chairs – here’s why.

Boulies Master Rex review: price and availability

The Boulies Master Rex is priced at £409.99 / $479.99. As of writing, Boulies is running a sale where you can get the Master Rex for £329.99 / $419.99, so you can expect to get at least £80 / $80 off this office chair during sales seasons.

The Boulies Master Rex comes in two different materials and five different colours. Shoppers can choose between Ultraflex PU which comes in black and brown colours, or Water Repellent Fabric which is available in charcoal grey, ash grey or como. I chose the charcoal grey water repellent fabric option for this review.

Boulies Master Rex review: set up

The Boulies Master Rex came in a large cardboard box and while it arrived with many screws and parts to put together, it was relatively easy to do. The main part that needed assembling was the five-pointed base which needed the wheels and the entirety of the chair to be screwed into.

While it didn’t take too long to put up the Boulies Master Rex, it was quite heavy to attach the seat to the stand. It was definitely a two-person job and took a bit of heavy lifting and balancing, but it came together quickly.

Boulies Master Rex review: design

The Boulies Master Rex is designed with a ‘sleek, modern aesthetic’, and is made from aluminium and water repellent materials. It looks more like a gaming chair, although it’s described as a ‘Home Office and Gaming Chair with Leg Rest’ on the Boulies website so this is somewhat to be expected.

Boulies put adjustability at the forefront of the Boulies Master Rex’s design, with an integrated leg rest, lumbar support adjustments, back reclining, tilting mechanism and armrests. When not in use, the leg rest conveniently tucks under the chair, and you can easily adjust the height and recline of the office chair with the wheel-like knobs on either side of the chair.

The chair itself is round-edged, from the cushion to the armrests. The cushion and ‘back board’ of the chair is designed for comfort and body support, and it has an ergonomic design to help improve your posture. The lumbar support can be adjusted to better fit your spine with its up and down adjustments.

For reclining, the Boulies Master Rex can recline from 95° to 165°, and it has a tilt mechanism where you can rock forward by 15° and lock your positioning into place by tilting backwards. The armrests are internally made of aluminium but have a soft material coating to lean on. They can easily be adjusted up and down to cater to all body heights and types.

Boulies Master Rex review: performance

Despite it looking a lot like a gaming chair, I liked the design of the Boulies Master Rex and didn’t feel that it stood out too much within an office environment. The black and grey combination was stylish, and I could really see the stitched detailing in the chair, particularly around the logo which I enjoyed.

I liked the amount of adjustable options that the Boulies Master Rex came with, particularly with the arm rests. The arm rests sat nice and high, and they’ve clearly been well thought about as they fit comfortably under a standard sized desk when at its shortest. They were sturdy enough to make good elbow rests and they didn’t get in the way if I was really spreading out in the chair.

In terms of comfort, the Boulies Master Rex started off quite hard but got more comfortable as time went on. The fabric felt quite spongy especially when squeezed, but I wouldn’t describe it as a soft chair. If you like something quite soft, the Boulies Master Rex probably isn’t the chair for you, but I felt that its firmness gave a good amount of support and stability as I sat down.

I found the Boulies Master Rex to be very supportive, particularly around the lower back area. Due to the comfort of the Boulies Master Rex, I’ve stopped sitting so scrunched up and have definitely noticed that my posture has improved. The wheels of the Boulies Master Rex also roll nicely on all floor types, especially on carpet which I was surprised by as some office chairs falter with that material.

While I found the comfort, support and design superior, there were a couple negatives of the Boulies Master Rex. As explained, it’s quite a firm chair and doesn’t have a built-in headrest so it’s not the most comfortable to lay your head on. Having said that, it came with a pillow that you can slip over the top of the chair to use.

Personally, I found the pillow squishy to the touch but too prominent when on the chair, almost pushing your head out when you rested on it. However, I found if you settle it just under the head and on the neck, it’s quite cosy, although it doesn’t feel high quality, considering the overall premium look, feel and price of the chair. Another small issue I had was the height of the Boulies Master Rex. It stands quite tall and as a short person, I felt a bit drowned in it at times.

Boulies Master Rex review: verdict

I’d say that the Boulies Master Rex excels as both an office and gaming chair. It has a premium, stylish design that’s also extremely practical, particularly with its wheels and arm rests. It offers a good amount of comfort and support, and if you like a firm chair, you’ll love the Boulies Master Rex.

Where it falls a little short is its firmness, weight which can be tricky during set-up and lack of headrest. But these are small things that you can adjust to – like the firmness – and things that don’t need to be worried about after the initial assembly.

Boulies Master Rex review: alternatives to consider

If you’re a fan of Boulies but would like a more traditional-looking office chair, I’d recommend the Boulies EP400. It has exceptional lumbar support, lots of adjustments, and it has a nice mesh-like design. It’s also much cheaper than the Boulies Master Rex if you’re on a tighter budget.

The Slouch Task One is a blend of the Boulies Master Rex and the Boulies EP400, in terms of looks, with its rounded fabric cushion and mesh body. It’s easy to set-up, has plenty of design options and isn’t too pricey either – the Slouch Task One actually won a T3 Award in 2024!