An ergonomic kneeling chair opens the hip angle so the spine finds its own alignment. The Varier Variable Balans is the original — designed by Peter Opsvik and produced in Norway since 1979. Forty-seven years on, it is still the design every other kneeler is measured against.
This page is the master view of the Varier line: the Variable, Variable Plus, Thatsit, Wing, Multi, Move, Gravity, Ekstrem, and Social. Use the right-column navigation to compare Varier against the brands buyers research most often, or to find the best ergonomic kneeling chair for your desk, your role, or the way you work.
What an ergonomic kneeling chair actually does
A conventional task chair locks one position into your spine. An ergonomic kneeling chair from Varier opens the hip angle so the body keeps moving — micro-corrections you do not have to think about. Weight distributes between a slightly forward-tilted seat and a pair of shin pads instead of pooling at the lumbar spine. The design is not a single posture. It is a system that lets you shift, lean, rock, and reset through long days at the screen.
“Active sitting” is the term for what the chair encourages. The Variable Balans started it in 1979, and the principle has carried through every Varier kneeling chair since. Open hip angle. Unrestricted micro-movement. A spine that ends the workday roughly where it started, instead of slumped four inches lower.
The Varier Balans family
Eight production designs, one design language. Each chair uses the same active-sitting principle in a different way.
- Variable Balans — the 1979 original. No backrest. The reference point of the kneeling-chair category.
- Variable Plus — the same platform with an added backrest for buyers who want a back option without losing the geometry.
- Thatsit Balans — adjustable backrest, taller frame, built for users up to about 6’4″.
- Wing — wide seat, no mechanical adjustments. Room to cross-leg or shift sideways.
- Multi Balans — multi-position kneeler with a different seat geometry, leans into varied posture rotation.
- Move stool — sit-stand active stool. Pairs with a standing desk for the standing half of the day.
- Gravity Balans — zero-gravity recliner with kneeling-to-reclined range of motion.
- Ekstrem — postmodern Norwegian accent lounge. Sculptural, slow, made to sit in.
Best for the way you work
Varier organises its workday-shape recommendations under three entry points. Pick the one closest to yours, then drill in.
- Best for back pain — open the hip angle, ease lower-back compression.
- Best for the home office — furniture-grade build that fits a home, not a cubicle.
- Best for tall users — the Thatsit Balans, sized for the long-legged worker.
How Varier compares
Most kneeling-chair shoppers also research Stokke, Swopper, HÅG, Jobri, Herman Miller, or a sub-$100 Amazon option. The comparison cluster covers each one head-to-head and walks through the within-Varier model choices the considered-purchase buyer actually wrestles with.
Heritage and proof
Norwegian, since 1979. Designed by Peter Opsvik. The Balans family — Variable, Thatsit, Wing, Multi, and Gravity — has been continuously produced ever since. Varier is the manufacturer that has carried the line forward across every transfer of production rights, and the Variable design is still the chair other kneeling-chair makers benchmark against. Every active US campaign carries the same anchors: Since 1979 · Leading the way since 1979 · #1 Rated Kneeling Chair · Change the Way You Sit.
Further reading
For the editorial backstory on what active sitting is and why kneeling chairs are different from regular chairs, see the active-sitting overview, the ergonomic kneeling chairs primer, the Peter Opsvik chairs piece, and the long-form kneeling chairs vs regular chairs article.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ergonomic kneeling chair?
An ergonomic kneeling chair distributes weight between a slightly forward-tilted seat and a pair of shin pads, opening the hip angle so the spine finds its own alignment. The Variable Balans is the original — designed by Peter Opsvik in 1979 and produced in Norway ever since.
Do kneeling chairs actually help with back pain?
The design principle is reduced compression at the lumbar spine and unrestricted micro-movement. Buyers who pair an ergonomic kneeling chair with sensible workday habits — breaks, water, walks — typically report easier hip flexion and less back strain through long sittings. We frame this descriptively, not therapeutically. If pain is severe or persistent, see a clinician.
How do I choose between the Variable, Thatsit, and Wing?
Variable for the entry seat with no backrest. Thatsit for taller users or anyone who wants an adjustable backrest. Wing for a wider seat and a more relaxed posture without mechanical adjustments. The Variable vs Thatsit page walks through it.
How long can I sit on a kneeling chair in one stretch?
Most users build up over a week or two. Half hour at first, then longer as the lower body adapts. By the second week you are typically at full workday length, alternating between kneeling, leaning, and short standing breaks.
Where is Varier made?
Norway. The brand has been Norwegian since the Balans line launched in 1979. The US operation, varierchairs.com, distributes the Norwegian production directly.
Find your chair
Browse the full Varier shop or jump directly into the comparison cluster to see how each model lines up against the brands buyers research most often.
