The Variable Balans is the chair that started the kneeling chair category.
Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik introduced it more than 40 years ago, and Varier still builds the same chair today, with the same forward-tilted seat, rounded base, and laminated wood construction.
What that means for a buyer in 2026 is that you're looking at one of the most tested kneeling chair designs on the market, with a clear set of strengths and a clear set of trade-offs.
This review covers what the chair is, who it suits, and how it compares to the rest of the Varier lineup.
Five key takeaways
- The original kneeling chair format is backless, lightweight, and built for active sitting in focused work blocks.
- The forward-tilted seat rotates the pelvis and opens the hip angle, which the design associates with reduced lower-back tension.
- There's no mechanical adjustment; the chair adapts to your body through position changes rather than through height or tilt settings.
- The build is laminated beech and ash wood with a fabric-covered seat and shin pads, backed by a 7-year wood and 5-year mechanical warranty.
- Best as a primary chair for focus sessions of 1 to 2 hours, or as a rotation chair within a multi-seat setup.
What the Variable Balans actually is
The Varier Variable Balans is a backless kneeling chair on a rounded wooden base. The seat tilts forward at a fixed angle; the shin pads sit below and slightly in front; the base rocks gently with weight shifts.
There are no levers, no gas lift, no height adjustment. You don't set the chair; you sit in it and shift between positions as you work. Varier's product page describes this directly: "Does not require any mechanical adjustments - adjust your position naturally as needed."
Core specs
- Seat height: 50 cm (about 20 inches)
- Footprint: 52 cm W x 72 cm D x 51 cm H
- Weight: 6.3 kg (about 14 lbs)
- Materials: laminated beech and ash wood base, fabric-covered seat and shin pads
- Soft Tape: included for floor protection
- Warranty: 7 years on wood parts, 5 years on mechanical parts
The 50 cm seat height is set to work with a standard desk (around 73 to 75 cm). It won't pair with a standing desk in its raised position; it's a sitting-desk chair.
How it feels to sit on
The first thing you notice is the forward tilt. Your pelvis rotates forward, your hips open past the closed angle of a regular chair, and your lower spine settles into its natural curve. The shin pads take some of the body's weight, so the seat doesn't feel like it's holding all of you.
The second thing you notice is the rocking motion. The rounded base lets you shift weight forward, back, and side to side without standing up. Over a focused work block, this turns sitting into a series of small position changes rather than a single locked posture.
What you can do with the shin pads
Varier's product page lists four position options:
- Knees on the shin pads (the default kneeling position)
- Knees in front of the pads (a more upright seated position)
- Knees between the pads (a wider, more relaxed stance)
- Knees beside the pads (a sideways or perch variation)
In practice, most users cycle between two or three of these over a session rather than committing to one.
Who the Variable Balans suits
The Variable Balans works best for users who:
- Want a kneeling chair for focused work blocks of 1 to 2 hours
- Rotate to a different chair, a standing desk, or short walks across the day
- Don't need backrest support during their main sitting sessions
- Prefer a lighter, lower-profile chair that moves easily between rooms
- Sit at a regular desk (not a raised sit-stand desk)
It's also one of the few kneeling chairs Varier explicitly notes as suitable for both adults and children, since the body adapts to it through position rather than mechanical adjustment.
Who it suits less well
- Users who want one chair to be their primary work seat for 6+ hour days without backrest breaks
- Users with existing knee injuries or severe anterior knee sensitivity
- Workspaces that need a chair on wheels for mobility between desks
- Users who want recliner functionality in the same chair
For the first case, a Varier Thatsit Balans or Variable Plus adds backrest support without changing the kneeling geometry. For the third, the Wing Balans is the wheeled version. For the fourth, theGravity Balans is the recliner-kneeling hybrid.
Variable Balans vs. Variable Plus vs. Thatsit
The three wood-base kneeling chairs in Varier's lineup share the same forward-tilted seat geometry and the same beech-and-ash construction. The difference is what the chair gives you behind your back.
- Variable Balans: no backrest. Open construction, lightest at 6.3 kg, best for focused sessions and rotation.
- Variable Plus: fixed cushion backrest. Same base geometry as the Variable, with a place to lean back between focus blocks.
- Thatsit Balans: fully supportive backrest. Designed for primary work-seat use, holds the upper body without breaking the kneeling position below.
The pick depends on session length and whether you want a place to rest the back without standing up. The Variable is the right pick when you'll be cycling to other seats or to a standing desk; the Plus and Thatsit make sense when the kneeling chair will be your main seat for longer stretches.
The Monochrome Series and upholstery options
The Variable Balans is available in two formats:
- Standard Variable Balans (QUICK SHIP): natural base with standard Revive fabric colors, ready to ship.
- Variable Balans Monochrome Series: introduced to mark Varier's 40 years of history, with five designer colors (Fern, Glacier, Ochre, Oxide, Stone) and an engraved Opsvik signature on the base.
For custom upholstery beyond the standard fabrics, the Varier upholstery collection covers the full fabric and leather range available across the Varier line, including Revive, Reflect, Nitto, Re-wool, Fiord 2, and several others.
The adjustment period
A kneeling chair takes some getting used to, and the Variable Balans is no exception. The first sessions engage muscles that don't usually work hard in a regular chair: the core stabilisers, the lower back, the quadriceps, the hip flexors. Most users settle in over one to two weeks, starting with 20 to 30 minute sessions in the first week and building to longer use over two to three weeks.
For a more detailed look at what to expect in the first week of using any kneeling chair, the kneeling chair explainer covers the adjustment process across the broader category.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Variable Balans need assembly?
Yes, but minimally. Varier's product page describes it as "easy assembly with only a few parts to put together." It ships partially assembled with a small number of components to join.
Will the rounded base damage hardwood or laminate floors?
The chair ships with Soft Tape included, which is a strip that goes on the underside of the base to prevent direct contact with the floor. Used as designed with the tape applied, the chair is meant to be safe on hard floors.
Is the Variable Balans suitable for use by more than one person in a shared space?
Yes. Because there's no mechanical adjustment, the chair works the same for different body sizes; each user adapts through position rather than through a height or tilt setting. This makes it a reasonable shared chair in classrooms or shared offices.
What's the difference between the QUICK SHIP and Custom Order versions?
The QUICK SHIP version comes in standard Revive fabric colors with a natural base and ships from existing inventory. The Custom Order version opens up the full fabric and leather range and the option of a black base, but is manufactured to order and takes longer to arrive.
Can the Variable Balans be used in front of a sit-stand desk?
When the desk is in its lowered (sitting) position, yes. When the desk is raised to standing height, no; the 50 cm seat is set for regular desk heights. For a sit-stand desk in its raised position, a perching stool or sit-stand-compatible active chair is the better fit.
Where to go from here
For a full picture of how the Variable Balans fits within the broader Varier line, the Varier Chairs collection lays out the full kneeling chair range side by side. For other ergonomic seating options that pair with a regular or sit-stand desk, the Office Chairs collection covers the range of active sitting alternatives.