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Two ways to remove the lumbar pad from a Branch Ergonomic Chair - the no-tools slide-and-pry method and the backrest-unbolt fallback - plus when to keep it.
The Branch Ergonomic Chair ships with a removable lumbar pad - and a fair number of owners eventually decide they sit better without it. Whether the curve feels too aggressive against your lower back, you've added an aftermarket lumbar pillow, or you simply want a flatter backrest profile, the pad comes out with basic tools and about ten minutes of careful work.
This guide covers two removal paths: the slide-and-pry method that works from outside the chair, and the backrest unbolt method for cases where the pad won't budge.
The lumbar rest on the Branch Ergonomic Chair adjusts in two axes: vertically (slide up or down to match the curve of your spine) and in depth (push in or pull out to dial how much it presses forward). If you haven't worked through those adjustments, do that first - most lower-back complaints come from a pad sitting too high, too low, or pressed too far forward.
Sit normally with both feet flat on the floor, then grip the lumbar pad and slide it until it lands on the natural curve of your lumbar spine - typically just above the belt line. If it still feels wrong after a day or two of fine-tuning, removal is straightforward.
This is the method most Branch owners report success with, and it doesn't require taking the backrest apart.
Keep the lumbar pad with your chair paperwork - Branch's warranty assumes the original components are available, and you may want it back if you change desks or seating positions.
If the pad refuses to release with the pry method, you can reach it from inside by removing the backrest. You'll need a 4 mm Allen wrench (the one Branch ships with the chair works) and about fifteen minutes.
Most owners who remove the lumbar pad report two things: the backrest feels noticeably flatter against the spine, and the chair tilts back through a wider range because nothing is pressing forward at the lumbar curve. If you have a history of disc issues or pronounced lordosis, a flat backrest may not be the right call - talk to your physical therapist before making the change permanent.
If you remove the pad and find your lower back fatiguing within an hour, the issue probably wasn't the pad itself. Check seat-pan depth (your knees should clear the front edge by two to three fingers' width) and chair height (feet flat, knees at roughly 90 degrees). A lumbar pad can't compensate for the wrong seat geometry underneath it.
The lumbar pad earns its place for people who sit upright for long stretches and tend to slump forward - the pressure cue reminds the lower back to stay engaged. It also helps users who sit in a tilted-back posture and want active support behind the lumbar curve rather than relying on the backrest alone.
If you're between desk and standing all day, the pad is doing less for you, and removing it is a reasonable preference call rather than an ergonomic compromise.
The Branch Ergonomic Chair is designed for component removal - Branch's own product team confirms the lumbar pad is user-removable without voiding the chair's twelve-year warranty. Keep the pad and the four backrest bolts in a labeled bag with your original assembly hardware, and document the date you removed it. If you ever resell the chair or transfer it to another workstation, restoring the original configuration takes the same ten minutes in reverse.
No. Branch designed the lumbar pad to be user-removable, and the twelve-year warranty remains intact as long as you do not damage the backrest frame or upholstery during removal. Keep the pad and any hardware you remove in case you need to restore the original configuration.
For the slide-and-pry method, a flat-head screwdriver or thin pry tool is enough. For the backrest-unbolt method, you need a 4 mm Allen wrench - the same one Branch ships with the chair for assembly.
Yes for most users - the molded backrest still curves to follow the spine, just with a flatter profile at the lumbar region. If you have a history of disc issues or pronounced lordosis, talk to a physical therapist before removing the pad permanently.
Yes. Reinstallation reverses either removal method and takes about the same amount of time. Keep the pad and any hardware in a labeled bag with your assembly paperwork.
Written by
Dr. Lena Park, DPTDoctor of Physical Therapy and lead reviewer at Ergoprise. Specializes in workplace posture, cervical-spine load, and the biomechanics of seated work.
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