The Stressless chair was first built by Ekornes furniture in 1971. It was designed to be the "ultimate" recliner, one that could provide comfort and support whether in the upright or reclined position. Today, the company still does a brisk business and has over 20 different models in its recliner line alone.



Likely, if you're familiar with the Stressless brand, you've seen their infomercials or displays in your local furniture store. And you may be wondering if the Stressless recliner is really worth the $1299 asking price? Is it that comfortable? Does the company back its product? Is the chair durable? For a full review of the Stressless recliner and the answers to these questions, keep reading.

Glide Reclining

The Stressless chair uses gliding wheels to take the chair from an upright to reclined position and back again. Rather than springing you back and forth with a traditional lever mechanism, the chair simply relies on your body weight and cues to tell it when to sit up and to recline.

Rather than the forced, jarring feeling of your average La-Z-Boy, the Stressless wheels move smoothly and easily. That said, they make a subtle noise with every move and, if the chair isn't properly maintained and cared for, likely would become a louder problem later.

Comfort for Lumbar and Head

The Ekornes Stressless chair has great lower back and head support that adjust with the headrest. By default, the headrest sits up so you are able to watch TV in a reclined position, but can lay flat with a simply adjustment.

That said, though the headrest is designed to lean back as you lean back your head, the springs are fairly strong and for those with weak neck muscles, it can often feel like it is forcing your head forward. The best solution is to keep the headrest reclined.

Customized Sizes

A great feature of the Ekornes Stressless is that many models come in both small and large sizes. Whether you need to accommodate a smaller living space or a larger body, there's a Stressless chair that will likely meet your comfort need.

Guarantee

Ekornes offers customers a 10-year warranty on the internal mechanisms in all its chairs. Basically, the metal frame, headrest, lumbar system, metal springs and gliding system are all covered under that 10-year commitment.

While a lengthy guarantee is great, consumers should keep in mind that warranties on the Stressless chair do not include coverage for the leather, fabric upholstery or the woodwork. In lieu of manufacturer's support, customers will have to rely on local upholsterers and wood workers.

As you consider the prospect of investing in furniture, there are obviously many factors that must be weighed before committing not only to the expense, but also the volume of space taken up in your home. This is even more so when a change of heart would result in fairly significant return delivery charge. Take full advantage of any opportunity to "test drive" the Stressless chair in a store before making the financial plunge.