Two chairs, the same saddle idea, and about $750 between them. The HÅG Capisco 8106 starts at $1,858 and the Capisco Puls 8010 starts at $1,108.80, and the question we get asked more than any other about this range is what the difference actually is.
It is not a good-better arrangement. They are two different chairs built for two different jobs, and there are buyers for whom the cheaper one is unambiguously the correct choice — including some who cannot legally specify the dearer one. This page sets out every figure Flokk publishes for both, side by side, and tells you which one to put in your basket.
The short answer
- Buy the 8106 if this is your main chair for a full working day. It is fully upholstered, it has an adjustable backrest and adjustable seat depth, and it is the more comfortable chair over eight hours.
- Buy the Puls 8010 if the chair needs wiping down, if you are buying several, if it is a second position rather than a primary desk, or if you are specifying for a cleanroom — where the Puls is the only one of the two that qualifies.
Everything below is why.
Both are the same idea
Peter Opsvik designed the Capisco in 1984 around the posture of a rider on horseback. The saddle seat lets you sit forwards, sideways, astride the seat or perched high on a tall gas lift, and move between those positions without thinking about it. Both chairs are built at Flokk's factory in Røros, Norway, and both carry the same HÅG guarantee.
If the saddle position itself is new to you, start with our saddle chairs in Australia page, which covers why it works and who takes to it. This page assumes you have decided on a saddle chair and are choosing between the two.
Every published measurement, side by side
From Flokk's 2025 HÅG Capisco factsheet and the separate Capisco Puls factsheet. Flokk publishes the Capisco in centimetres and the Puls in millimetres; both are given here in millimetres. Seat heights are measured under a 64 kg load, so an unloaded chair sits slightly higher — that is normal and not a fault.
| Measurement | Capisco 8106 | Capisco Puls 8010 | Capisco Puls 8020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat height, 150 mm lift | 400–540 mm | 390–525 mm | 400–535 mm |
| Seat height, 200 mm lift | 460–640 mm | 455–640 mm | 470–650 mm |
| Seat height, 265 mm lift | 550–810 mm | 540–795 mm | 555–805 mm |
| Adjustable seat depth | 370–470 mm | 400–470 mm | 400–470 mm |
| Seat pad depth | 400 mm | Not published separately | Not published separately |
| Seat width | 500 mm | 460 mm | 460 mm |
| Backrest height | 440–500 mm, adjustable | 400 mm, fixed | 400 mm, fixed |
| Backrest width | 600 mm | Not published | Not published |
| Backrest inclination | 26° | Not published | Not published |
| Tilt range | (3)–(−17)° | Not published | Not published |
| Maximum chair width | Not published | 565 mm | 565 mm |
| Chair weight | 12.1 kg | 11.1 kg | 11.1 kg |
| Footbase diameter | 730 mm | 730 mm | 730 mm |
Read that seat height row carefully, because it is the trap in this range. The Capisco and the Capisco Puls do not share seat heights. Flokk publishes them on separate factsheets, in different units, and not a single figure carries across. If you have been quoted a seat height for "a Capisco", check which chair the number belongs to before you order the gas lift.
The gas lift is the one decision you cannot correct later without buying a new cylinder, so get it right first time. Our Capisco gas lift guide covers the 8106 and our Capisco Puls gas lift guide covers the Puls models. Use the right one — they are not interchangeable.
What the $750 actually buys
Four things, and they matter in this order.
1. An adjustable backrest
The 8106's backrest adjusts through 440–500 mm of height and reclines to 26°. The Puls has a fixed 400 mm back and Flokk publishes no inclination figure for it. Over a full working day that is the single biggest difference in the chair, particularly if you are tall or if you use the backrest astride the seat rather than facing it.
2. A wider, upholstered seat
500 mm across on the 8106 against 460 mm on the Puls, and upholstered foam rather than a moulded shell. Forty millimetres does not sound like much until you have sat on it for six hours.
3. More seat depth range
370–470 mm on the 8106 against 400–470 mm on the Puls — the same top end, but the 8106 goes 30 mm shallower, which matters for shorter femurs.
4. A published tilt specification
Flokk publishes a tilt range of (3)–(−17)° and a neutral position of −2° for the 8106. For the Puls it publishes neither. Both chairs move; only one has the movement documented, which matters if you are writing a specification rather than buying for yourself.
What the Puls does that the 8106 cannot
This is the part most comparisons miss, and it is the reason the cheaper chair wins some jobs outright.
- Cleanroom. The Capisco Puls satisfies ISO 14644 Class 4 and Class 5 — but only specified with black antistatic vinyl. Choose a fabric and the rating is gone. That qualifies the Puls for laboratory, pharmaceutical, medical device and electronics work where most task chairs cannot be specified at all. The 8106 has no equivalent rating.
- Fire. The Puls is approved to BS 5852 Crib 5 with CMHR foam. It must be specified at the time of order, it adds lead time, and it cannot be added afterwards.
- Wipe-down. A moulded shell cleans in seconds. In a clinic, a workshop, a studio or a shared hot desk that is a daily advantage rather than an occasional one.
- Recyclability. Flokk publishes 99% recyclable for the Puls against 50% recycled material for the 8106 — two different measures, both worth having, and the Puls's recyclability figure is the higher of the two headline numbers in this range.
One standards footnote for anyone writing a tender: the Capisco is certified to EN 1335 (2020) Type A and Type Ax, while the Puls is certified to EN 1335 Type A (2000). If your schedule names an edition of the standard, check which one it names before you specify.
Environment and certifications
| Capisco 8106 | Capisco Puls | |
|---|---|---|
| Recycled material | 50% | 39% |
| Recyclable | Not published | 99% |
| Carbon footprint | 32.87 kg CO₂e | 39.4 kg CO₂e |
| Office chair standard | EN 1335 (2020) Type A and Ax | EN 1335 Type A (2000) |
| Cleanroom | — | ISO 14644 Class 4 and 5, black antistatic vinyl only |
| Fire | — | BS 5852 Crib 5 with CMHR foam, specified at order |
| Other | ANSI/BIFMA, EN 16139, GS, EU Ecolabel, GREENGUARD Gold, Möbelfakta, EPD | iF Design Award 2011, red dot 2011, Award for Design Excellence |
Maximum user weight — what Flokk publishes, and what it does not
Flokk publishes no maximum user weight for either chair. Not for the Capisco, not for the Puls, in any factsheet.
The 110 kg figure that circulates for HÅG chairs is a condition of the ten-year guarantee, not a tested load rating, and the two are different measurements. If you need a certified user weight in writing — for a workplace assessment or a tender — ask us and we will request the test documentation from Flokk before you order. We would rather chase the document than let you specify on a number nobody can source.
What it costs, and what is on the floor
Checked live on 9 September 2026. AUD including GST.
| Chair or part | Price | In stock |
|---|---|---|
| Capisco 8106 | $1,858–$2,606.40 | 35 |
| Capisco Puls 8010 | $1,108.80–$1,219.50 | 11 |
| Capisco Puls 8020 | $1,108.80–$1,323 | 2 |
| Capisco FootRing | $210.60 | 51 |
| HÅG StepUp footrest | $297.90 | 12 |
| Replacement gas lift | $177.30–$220.50 | 294 |
Buying more than a handful? Talk to us — we hold 80 additional 8106 chairs on a separate business line and fit-out pricing is a conversation rather than a website transaction.
The foot support decision, which people forget
If you order a tall gas lift, your feet need somewhere to go, and there are two answers.
- The FootRing is 450 mm in diameter and fits 200 mm and 265 mm lifts only. It is colour-matched to the lift, so specify the two together. There is no adapter for a 150 mm lift.
- The HÅG StepUp is a chair-mounted footrest giving two foot levels, and it fits the 150, 200 and 265 mm lifts. It is the only foot support that works with a 150 mm lift.
Flokk publishes no height-above-floor figure or spacer increments for the FootRing, so anyone quoting you exact ring heights is quoting a reseller rather than the manufacturer.
Warranty
The same terms cover both: Flokk's ten-year guarantee against production defects in normal use up to nine hours a day, dropping to five years beyond nine hours a day. ESD chairs five years. Fabrics and leather five years. Normal wear is excluded.
Flokk also guarantees the delivery of spare parts for a minimum of ten years after the chair's production date, which is why a Capisco is a chair you repair rather than replace — our HÅG spare parts guide covers what wears and what it costs. Australian Consumer Law rights apply in addition and cannot be excluded.
Which one, by job
| If you are | Take | Why |
|---|---|---|
| At one desk all day, this is your main chair | 8106 | Adjustable back, wider seat, upholstered |
| A dentist, hygienist or clinician | Puls 8010 | Wipes down between patients |
| Specifying for a lab or cleanroom | Puls, black antistatic vinyl | Only model rated ISO 14644 Class 4 and 5 |
| Buying six or more for a studio or workshop | Puls 8010 | Same saddle position, lower cost per seat |
| Tall, or you lean on the backrest | 8106 | 440–500 mm adjustable back vs a fixed 400 mm |
| Perching at a sit-stand desk | Either, on the 265 mm lift | 8106 reaches 810 mm, Puls 8010 reaches 795 mm |
| Fitting a second position beside a main chair | Puls 8010 | Lighter, cheaper, less chair than you need full time |
If a saddle chair is not the answer
The saddle position asks you to move rather than settle, and it takes a fortnight to feel normal. Most people find the first few days unusual and then will not go back. But if you know you want a conventional chair to sink into at the end of a long day, we would rather point you at the right one than sell you the wrong one: the HÅG SoFi Mesh at $750 gives you the same HÅG inBalance movement with a conventional mesh back and adjustable seat depth, and the HÅG Tion range starts lower again. Both are on the floor in Pyrmont next to the Capiscos, so you can try all three in one visit and settle it in twenty minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the HÅG Capisco and the Capisco Puls?
The Capisco 8106 is fully upholstered with an adjustable backrest through 440 to 500 mm of height and a 500 mm wide seat. The Capisco Puls has a moulded shell, a fixed 400 mm backrest and a 460 mm wide seat, and it wipes down in seconds. The 8106 is the better chair for a full working day at one desk; the Puls is the better chair for clinics, labs, shared positions and multi-seat orders.
Do the Capisco and the Capisco Puls share seat heights?
No, and this is the most common mistake in this range. Flokk publishes them on separate factsheets in different units and not a single figure carries across. The Capisco 8106 gives 400 to 540 mm on the 150 mm lift, 460 to 640 mm on the 200 mm and 550 to 810 mm on the 265 mm. The Capisco Puls 8010 gives 390 to 525 mm, 455 to 640 mm and 540 to 795 mm on the same three lifts. Check which chair a quoted figure belongs to before you order.
Which Capisco can be used in a cleanroom?
Only the Capisco Puls, and only when it is specified with black antistatic vinyl. In that specification it satisfies ISO 14644 Class 4 and Class 5. Choose a fabric instead and the rating is lost. The Capisco 8106 has no equivalent cleanroom rating.
Is there a maximum user weight for the Capisco or the Capisco Puls?
Flokk publishes no maximum user weight for either chair in any factsheet. The 110 kg figure that circulates for HÅG chairs is a condition of the ten-year guarantee, not a tested load rating, and the two are different measurements. If you need a certified user weight in writing, ask us and we will request the test documentation from Flokk before you order.
Which gas lift should I choose?
It depends on your desk height, and it is the one decision you cannot correct later without buying a new cylinder. The 150 mm lift suits a conventional fixed desk, the 200 mm suits taller desks and taller sitters, and the 265 mm is the one to choose if you want to perch at a sit-stand desk. Gas lifts are three different cylinders rather than three settings.
Do I need a footring?
If you order a 200 mm or 265 mm lift, yes. The Capisco FootRing is 450 mm in diameter, fits the 200 mm and 265 mm lifts only, and is colour-matched to the lift, so specify the two together. There is no adapter for a 150 mm lift. If you have a 150 mm lift and want foot support, the HÅG StepUp is a chair-mounted footrest that fits all three lift sizes.
What warranty do they carry?
Both carry Flokk's ten-year guarantee against production defects in normal use up to nine hours a day, dropping to five years beyond nine hours a day. ESD chairs are five years, fabrics and leather five years, and normal wear is excluded. Flokk separately guarantees the delivery of spare parts for a minimum of ten years after the chair's production date. Australian Consumer Law rights apply in addition and cannot be excluded.
How long does it take to get used to a saddle chair?
About a fortnight. The saddle position asks you to move rather than settle, so the first few days feel unusual. Most people then do not want to go back. You are welcome to sit in one at our Pyrmont showroom before you decide.
Sources
- Flokk, 2025 HÅG Capisco factsheet — seat heights, seat depth, seat and backrest dimensions, inclination, tilt range, weight, footbase, certifications and environmental figures
- Flokk, HÅG Capisco Puls factsheet — seat heights, seat depth and width, backrest height, maximum chair width, weight, cleanroom and fire ratings, certifications and environmental figures
- Flokk FootRing product information — 450 mm diameter and lift compatibility
- Flokk warranties and product quality — guarantee terms and the spare parts commitment
- Chair Dinkum live product data, checked 9 September 2026 — prices and stock
