If you watched my recent review of the Boulies Fit Pro chair, you will know that overall I liked it, but I did have a few reservations, particularly around its physical presence in a smaller studio space like mine.
Since then, Boulies has released a new model in the UK, the Fit Lite, and after spending time using it in my studio, I think this chair actually makes a lot of sense for the type of workspace many of us now have at home.
This is not a budget version of the Fit Pro. Instead, it feels more like a deliberately scaled-down, more space-conscious take on the same design philosophy. So today, I want to talk about whether the Fit Lite is actually the better choice for creators, home offices, and standing desk users.
Why the Fit Lite Exists
The biggest difference between the Fit Lite and the Fit Pro is height. The Fit Lite removes the tall backrest and headrest, while keeping almost all of the core ergonomic features intact.
For my setup, that change alone is significant. I use a standing desk, and one of my frustrations with the Fit Pro was that it physically dominated the studio. It also couldn’t easily be pushed underneath the desk when I was standing, which meant it was always visually and physically in the way.
The Fit Lite solves that problem almost immediately. It is lower, visually lighter, and easier to move around. In a smaller studio or office, that alone makes it feel far more appropriate.
Build Quality and Materials
The Fit Lite I am using is the green fabric version, and I’ll start by saying that overall build quality is very similar to the Fit Pro.
Assembly is just as straightforward. Like the Pro, it arrives almost fully assembled. You fit the casters, insert the gas lift, attach the arms, and drop the chair onto the base. It took me around twelve minutes from opening the box to sitting down, which is excellent for a chair in this category.
The fabric itself feels hard-wearing but not coarse. It has a soft, premium texture that doesn’t feel cheap, and importantly it feels breathable, especially compared to the Nappa leather Fit Pro, which can feel cold when you first sit down and warmer over longer sessions.
The green colour is more muted than you might expect. It is not a loud gaming green; it is more subdued and actually pairs quite well with neutral studio environments. Side by side with my brown Nappa Fit Pro, it does not feel visually out of place at all.
That said, there is one visible cost-saving area. The upper portion of the backrest above the lumbar support is fabric rather than the plastic used on the lower back. From a distance, you would not notice, but up close, the material change is clear. It also means that this area is not as wipe-clean as the Pro, which is something worth bearing in mind if you like to keep your gear pristine.
Everywhere else, though, the chair feels very similar to the Pro. The seat cushion, armrests, base, casters and piston all feel effectively identical.
Comfort and Ergonomics
Sitting in the Fit Lite feels extremely similar to the Fit Pro, which is both a strength and a limitation.
The seat is comfortable over long sessions, and I’ve had no issues using it for extended editing, writing, and filming preparation. In colder weather, the fabric actually makes it more comfortable initially than the leather version of the Pro, which can feel quite cold when you first sit down.
The lumbar support is the same system used on the Pro, and my opinion remains largely unchanged. It is a token but welcome form of support rather than a fully sculpted ergonomic solution. You can feel it when adjusting it up and down, but only if you are sitting properly into the chair with your lower back against it. If you slouch, it essentially disappears. It works, but I would have liked more presence and contouring in this area.
The armrests are also very similar. They are adjustable in multiple directions, which is good, but the padding is thinner than I would ideally like, and the locking mechanism still isn’t as firm as it should be. They are slightly firmer than on the Pro, but not by a meaningful margin. A button-based locking system would have elevated these significantly.
Seat height, seat depth, recline and tilt adjustments are all unchanged, and the side-mounted controls remain one of the best features of this chair. They are far more intuitive and usable than traditional under-seat levers, and in daily use they genuinely make adjusting the chair less annoying.
One limitation that remains is the rear tilt system. There are only three locking positions, and while I would personally prefer more granular options, in practice I only ever use upright and halfway reclined, so it has not been a real issue for me.
Fit Lite in a Real Studio and Standing Desk Setup
This is where the Fit Lite truly separates itself from the Fit Pro.
At my height, around 172cm, the Fit Lite feels perfectly proportioned. It no longer towers over the desk or visually dominates the space. More importantly, I can push it underneath my standing desk to free up space when standing, something I simply could not do properly with the Fit Pro.
Even so, it is worth noting that unless I lower the desk each time, I still need to raise it slightly higher than my natural standing position to get the chair fully underneath. So while it is much better, it is not completely invisible.
In a small studio or home office, though, the difference is immediately noticeable. The Fit Lite feels like it belongs in this environment in a way the Pro sometimes did not.
Fit Lite vs Fit Pro – Which Should You Choose?
On paper, the Fit Pro offers more for the money. For £100 more, you get a taller back and a headrest, and if you value those features, especially for leaning back or relaxing, the Pro is clearly the better deal.
However, that only holds true if the size of the Pro works for your space.
If you use a standing desk, if you are in a smaller room, or if you simply do not need a headrest, I would actually recommend the Fit Lite over the Pro. It is lighter, less imposing, easier to integrate into modern workspaces, and offers essentially the same comfort and core ergonomics.
Pricing and Value
Retailing for £499.99 in the UK, the Fit Lite sits in a slightly awkward price position.
Personally, for a fabric, short-back chair, I would have expected something closer to the £350 to £400 range. It does feel premium, and it is well built, but it is also competing in a very crowded market at this price.
That said, compared to the Fit Pro’s £599.99 and especially the £799.99 Nappa leather version I own, the Fit Lite does start to look more reasonable, particularly if you never intended to use a headrest in the first place.
What I’d Like to See Improved
I would like to see more colour options, and ideally a Nappa leather Fit Lite for durability and easier cleaning. I would also prefer the upper back section to use the same plastic finish as the lower part for consistency and easier maintenance.
And finally, the armrest design still feels like the biggest missed opportunity in what is otherwise a very thoughtfully designed chair.
Is the Fit Lite Worth It?
The Boulies Fit Lite is not a cheaper Fit Pro. It is a more appropriate Fit Pro for modern home offices, studios, and standing desk setups.
It delivers the same comfort and usability in a more space-conscious form, and for people like me who do not need a headrest and dislike tall-backed chairs dominating their workspace, it is actually the better product.
If your space is large and you value full-height support, the Fit Pro still makes sense. But if your workspace is compact, flexible, or visually minimal, the Fit Lite is the smarter choice.
