Why Spencer Air Uses Full-Function Adjustable Armrests — Not Just Another “6D” Label

When people compare ergonomic office chairs, armrests are often described with labels such as 2D, 3D, 4D or 6D.

The idea is simple: the more directions an armrest can move, the easier it should be to position it around your body.

But with the new Spencer Air Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair, we wanted to focus less on the number and more on what those movements actually allow you to do.

That is why we describe Spencer Air as using full-function adjustable armrests.

Your Arms Don't Stay in One Position All Day

Think about how your arms move during a normal workday.

When typing, your elbows usually stay relatively close to your body.

When using a mouse, one arm may move slightly outward and forward.

During a video call, you may sit further back.

And when reclining, your elbows naturally move backwards with your upper body.

A fixed or height-only armrest can work in one of those positions, but it cannot necessarily follow you into the others.

Spencer Air's armrests can be repositioned across multiple directions, allowing you to bring the support closer to where your elbows naturally fall rather than forcing your shoulders and arms to adapt to the chair.

This is especially useful if you regularly switch between typing, mousing, reading, meetings and reclining throughout the day.

Why Armrest Position Matters

A good armrest should support your forearms without forcing your shoulders upward.

If the armrests are too high, you may start shrugging your shoulders.

If they are too low, your arms are left hanging and your shoulders have to carry more of their weight.

If they sit too far apart, your elbows move away from your body. If they sit too far forward or backward, you may have to reach for support.

The goal isn't simply to have more adjustment.

The goal is to find the position where your elbows can rest naturally while your shoulders remain relaxed.

You can also read our full guide on how to adjust an ergonomic chair for a step-by-step setup covering seat height, lumbar support, armrests, headrest and recline.

From Spencer to Spencer Air

The original Spencer Ergonomic Chair already featured highly adjustable armrests designed for different working positions.

Spencer Air takes that philosophy further.

Rather than treating the armrest as a fixed accessory attached to the side of the chair, the objective is to make it part of the overall ergonomic system — alongside the backrest, headrest, seat and recline mechanism.

When you change posture, the support around your body should be able to change with you.

That is the thinking behind Spencer Air's full-function armrest design.

More Adjustability Doesn't Mean More Complicated

An ergonomic chair shouldn't require you to constantly adjust it.

In fact, the opposite is usually true.

The purpose of having a wider adjustment range is to help you find a natural position in the first place. Once the armrests are positioned correctly, small changes throughout the day should feel intuitive rather than technical.

A useful starting point is simple:

• keep your shoulders relaxed;
• let your elbows bend naturally around 90 degrees;
• position the armrests underneath your forearms rather than forcing your arms toward them; and
• readjust them when moving from upright work to a more reclined position.

The best setting is not a particular number or angle. It is the position that fits your body, your desk and the way you work.

Full-Function Support for a More Adaptable Chair

Spencer Air was designed around the idea that an ergonomic chair should adapt to more than one sitting position.

Its full mesh construction, adjustable back and head support, recline system and full-function armrests work together to give you more control over how the chair fits.

And that is ultimately why we prefer the term full-function adjustable armrests over simply adding another “D” to the specification sheet.

The number tells you how many movements are available.

What matters more is whether those movements help the chair fit the way you actually sit.

Explore the Shappa Ergonomic Chair Collection to compare different adjustment systems and find the setup that suits your workspace.