Products at a Glance
How we picked the best gaming chair
Several key factors go into how we chose the below list. These considerations include whether the chair has built-in lumbar support, its build quality, and its durability. Framing is also a key aspect, as steel frames are the best in terms of quality. We also took a gander at the price to an extent, but you definitely won’t be finding the best budget gaming chair on this list.
The main takeaways were adjustability, comfort, and ergonomics. These were the overriding factors that we took into account when searching for a worthy chair to fit the bill of the best gaming chair. It also has to be a looker, as one might expect.
Product Reviews
- Tilt adjustment
- Ergonomic
- Real leather
- Cost
This Racing chair from Noblechairs’ EPIC series is one of the most comfortable gaming chairs we’ve tested. Even after hours of non-stop gaming, my back didn’t feel strained and my arms were well-supported. The chair’s high-quality fabric mimics that of the interior of a high-end car.
You can adjust the amount of pressure required to recline your seat, which is one of our favorite features about the chair. It’s comfortable, ergonomic, made from high-quality leather, and it feels like a premium Racing chair. Unfortunately, it is a bit on the expensive side. If the price came down a tad, the chair would be an absolute steal!
Nevertheless, you definitely get what you pay for. If you’re looking for an incredibly comfortable gaming chair from a reputable company, this is the chair for you.
- Unparalleled support
- Incredible design
- price
The Herman Miller Embody office chair was crafted by experts with ergonomics in mind. In fact, more than 20 physicians and PhDs in the fields of vision, physical therapy, ergonomics, and biomechanics contributed to this chair’s construction.
The Embody gaming chair uses a dynamic matrix of pixels to automatically conform to your body’s every movement, no matter how big or small it is.
In this way, your weight is evenly distributed as you sit. By reducing pressure on your body and encouraging movement, the Herman Miller Embody chair helps to maintain healthy circulation while simultaneously increasing your focus.
The back of the chair’s design is probably one of its coolest features. Resembling human anatomy, the back of the Embody has a central spine and flexible ribs. You can even adjust the position of the backrest with your spine’s natural shape, helping you maintain a balanced posture.
After you’ve adjusted the chair to suit your needs, which can take some time to nail down, it will automatically adjust whenever you shift positions. Whether you’re reclining or leaning forward in your seat, you’ll never be without adequate support.
- Stylish look
- Adjustable back support
- Armrests are shaky
Corsair is well-known in the PC gaming community. They manufacture all sorts of products, from power supplies to gaming mice, so it’s not surprising that they’ve decided to create their own PC gaming chairs as well.
The T2 Road Warrior is a luxurious gaming chair constructed from premium material. Featuring a steel base and comfortable PU leather upholstery, the chair was built to last.
What we like the most about this chair, however, is its incredible adjustability. The seat’s height can be adjusted up and down, and you can also adjust the incline of the backrest. It has adjustable armrests, as well, which can be maneuvered in four different directions: up and down, side to side, back and forth; they can even be tilted at an angle.
- Ergonomic
- Plenty of adjustment options
- Best suited for short people
The Secretlab Omega is one of the best racing-style gaming chairs that we’ve tested; the Secretlab Secret scientists clearly worked hard to craft a quality chair.
The casters, chair base, lift mechanism, armrests, and seat back were all engineered with the best materials, leveraging a steel frame in tandem with an overall comfortable chair. The chair itself uses a comfortable cold-cured foam lined with PU leather– it’s incredibly comfortable, even after gaming for hours at a time.
It also has plenty of adjustment options, something that is a must-have when it comes to buying a gaming chair. For example, the armrests can be adjusted in four different ways: up and down, side to side, back and forth, and at an angle. Moreover, you can also adjust the seat height and the backrest as well.
The chair is best suited for those who are 5’10 or shorter, and less than 200 lbs. Although, if you are a bit heavier it shouldn’t be much of an issue, as the chair is built well. With that being said, taller people should probably look for a different chair that would cater to longer legs and a larger torso.
It’s also got a bit of a high price tag, but if you’re willing to get a chair that has some pizzazz with expert collaborations, this is the perfect option.
Features and considerations
Why A Gaming Chair Matters
Here’s the deal: humans are now spending more time than ever sitting. We sit at school, work, in transit, and even watch TV and play video games.
Our ancestors walked more than 10+ miles a day as hunter-gatherers, and we have evolved accordingly. If you take a look at the entirety of human history, we only recently began sitting this often.
As a gamer, you’ll spend even more time sitting than the average Joe, which puts you at high risk for ‘sitting disease’ and back disorders.
I can fondly recall many ‘all-nighters’ where my friends and I would game until the sun came up, only to sleep until 4 in the afternoon. Then we’d do it all over again. The kitchen chair left my back aching through the night and made it hard to fall asleep. When I finally upgraded to a proper gaming chair, the difference was night and day.
If you’ve had experiences like this, you already know what I’m talking about; that’s probably why you’re reading this article, to begin with.
What to Look For
Finding the right chair for you can be challenging, as we all come in different shapes and sizes. There is no one “best” chair for any given person– still, some chairs are better than others.
While getting up and moving around in between levels and rounds proves especially useful for minimizing lower back pain, a gaming chair will still help with all of the hours actually spent sitting.
Here are the most important factors to look for:
Ergonomics: A gaming chair must be ergonomic. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, ergonomics is defined as:
“an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely”
In other words, ergonomic products are well-designed to accommodate the human body. In this instance, a quality gaming chair should provide adequate lower-back support, comfortable armrests, soft padding in the right places, height adjustments, etc.
The best chairs will be able to use these tools, and the ones below, to improve your posture which will ideally lead to health benefits.
- Height control: This feature is pretty standard among both office and gaming chairs alike. In order to maintain a healthy posture while gaming, your feet need to remain flat on the floor with your legs bent at ~90°. If your chair is too high or low, you won’t be able to sit properly and you’ll quickly become uncomfortable.
- Tension adjustment: Tension control allows you to adjust the amount of pressure needed to lean back in your chair. This one isn’t as important as some of the other adjustment features but can be important nonetheless.
I used to have a gaming chair that would recline too easily and managed to fling myself out of it when I leaned back too fast after losing a match.
- Backrest lock: Some chairs actually allow you to lock the backrest in place in addition to adjusting backrest tension.
- Armrest height control: Although often overlooked, this feature is actually pretty important. If your armrests are not at the proper height for your body, discomfort is sure to ensue.
- Seat slider: This feature allows you to adjust the seat forward or backward in relation to the chair’s backrest. This feature is an excellent way to tailor your gaming chair specifically for your body type and needs.
Material: Before you purchase a gaming chair, it would be wise to consider the material from which it is constructed. In general, most gaming chairs are made with leather padding or a metal wire mesh material.
If you often find yourself getting too hot during your gaming sessions, a mesh material is probably best for you. Wire mesh tends to be more breathable than leather, and it will help to keep you cool.
On the other hand, leather is better for those who get cold easily. Leather helps to retain heat, and it is pretty comfortable as well.
Build quality: This one is pretty straightforward. You don’t want a chair with poor construction that’ll wear down and crumble underneath you after you spend your hard-earned money on it. Most of the chairs we featured have steel innards though, so this shouldn’t be a big deal.
Casters: The casters (wheels, if your chair has them) take a heavy beating, as they’re supporting the chair’s weight and yours as well. They roll around without hesitation– well, at least they’re supposed to. When you’re buying your next gaming chair, make sure you buy one with heavy-duty casters.
Generally speaking, there are two types of casters: hardwood floor casters and carpet casters. If your gaming setup is in a carpeted room, you should choose your chair’s casters accordingly.
Style: Just like you purchased a good-looking, sleek PC case to look nice on your desk, you should also purchase a gaming chair that you find visually pleasing to complement your gaming setup.
Some gaming chairs on our list will resemble office chairs, while others are full-blown racing gaming chairs. All of them– despite having different designs and color schemes– have ergonomic and comfortable designs.
Our Verdict
The best gaming chair really comes down to your own specific budget and the type of chair that fits your needs. While it might be a bit expensive, the EPIC from Noblechairs remains a staple in the industry. It’s not too high a price as seen on the Embody, but it does prove its worth and is marked as a valiant investment for those looking to get the most mileage out of their gaming chairs.