When choosing your gaming chair, pay particular attention to armrest settings, backrest orientation and foam density.
But also the chair’s dimensions, maximum weight, seat materials, finishes and upholstery quality.
Do you want to get a good deal and buy your chair knowingly?
Do you want to be able to sit still and play for longer while sitting comfortably?
If you’ve answered “yes” to these questions, you’re bound to learn how to choose the right gaming chair!
I’ve done tons of research on the subject, and I’ve always been passionate about gaming and productivity (two activities that involve sitting for very long periods of time).
So I’m going to be able to tell you all there is to know on the subject, so stay with me and follow the correct steps to choose the perfect chair for you!
| 🏋️♂️ Your weight:️ | To know |
| 🧍 Your size: | Need to know |
| 💰 Your budget: | Have an idea |
| ⏰ Time: | 15 minutes |
A few points to determine in advance:
In reality, there are many ways to choose a gaming chair. Like most people, you can…
Rely solely on brand or price as an indicator.
The advantage is that it’s quick to think like that, but…
You’ll never know what you’re missing, or if you could have got something better by making a more reasoned choice.
That’s why I’m going to teach you the 12 steps to choosing the right gaming chair.
Sommaire
I recommend you read the whole thing.
If you haven’t already done so, set a budget now.
For example, a gaming chair with 4D armrests…
It’s bound to cost more (at least 200-300€) than a chair with fixed armrests that’s a bit crappy like the play haha.
So plan in advance what you can/can’t aim for.
If you’re on a budget, I’d like to recommend my rankings to help you choose a good, inexpensive gaming chair.
And read on to find out what’s worth it and what’s not!
Usually the brands specify the dimensions of the chair and with that they give an indication of what size to make.
If this isn’t done, I do it on each of my reviews to help you.
This is very important, because if you’re thin, you won’t have any problems, but…
If you’re fat and you take a chair that’s too small, you’re not going to be at your best in terms of comfort.
You also need to look at the maximum weight indicated (for sturdiness).
Some chairs, like the PL6000, accept very high maximum loads, which is perfect if you’re fat.
Or a chair like the tresko gaming chair or the Formula F08-NW, which are better suited to slim/normal physiques.
You can choose between imitation, fabric or leather.
Fabric is breathable, soft, cannot flake, but stains easily.
The DXRacer Robas Lund, for example, is available in a fabric version.
Faux is less breathable and can make you sweat in summer, but is easy to clean and maintain, although if it’s of poor quality it can flake.
You have Empire Gaming Racing 700, for example.
Genuine leather is breathable, easy to clean, very pretty, can’t flake and holds up very well over time, but will require more maintenance and is super-expensive.
Hello Noblechairs EPIC!
Pay attention to the seams: they need to be even and tight.
But not too tight either, they also need to be straight, and generally a good indicator is to look at the colors of the seams and the chair.
What’s the point?
If they pay close attention to the seams, they’ll vary the color of the thread to match the color of the chair upholstery.
So if you have a black and red chair, and the thread is only red…
Even where it covers black, you have every right to wonder.
(Exception: if the chair is all black, with a red stitching thread, then it’s done on purpose for style).
Also pay attention to the finish: is the upholstery pulled tight all over, or does it form unsightly folds?
A backrest that reclines to around 130-135° is ideal for taking short breaks, resting and watching movies in comfort.
There’s also the 160° option, which is a good compromise (Furgle Carry Series).
However, you can have gaming chairs with up to 180° tilt, where you can actually sleep on the chair.
(The Oversteel Ultimet)
I don’t find this very useful, are you here to play or sleep?
Be careful, sometimes 2D/3D is not the same for all brands. In any case, here are the 4 possible dimensions for armrest adjustment:
Note that there are also chairs with fixed armrests or no armrests at all.
From top to bottom allows you to adjust the height of your desk (after setting it so that your elbows form a 90° angle).
The angle allows the armrests to point in the same direction as your arms…
Unless you’re an alien, when you’re typing on a keyboard or playing with a joystick your arms are drawn inwards, so it’s great to be able to draw the armrests in too!
The width allows you to rest your shoulders on them if you’re too short or too broad-shouldered.
From front to back, it’s especially handy for getting even closer to the desk.
I’ve often felt too far away with normal armrests, and if they’re well adjusted, the fact that they bang into the desk prevents me from getting any further forward:
Problem solved with front-to-back adjustable armrests.
Fixed: The Songmics OBG62B
1D: Arozzi Verona
2D: Songmics RCG12W
3D: S300 Nitro
4D: The Corsair T1 Race and more generally, my ranking of the best gaming chairs!
The density of the foam is important, because low-density foam will eventually collapse (not regain its shape) after a while.
You’ll end up with a chair that’s no longer comfortable or useful, and the effect will be amplified the heavier you are.
I therefore recommend a gaming chair with high-density foam…
That is, at least 28kg/m3 (sometimes brands don’t specify the exact density).
What if the exact density isn’t specified?
Look for: high density/cold foam/high resilience in the description.
If it’s there: it’s ok!
The side bolsters ensure that you’re held securely in your gaming chair (i.e. the sides are raised).
Some chairs don’t have side bolsters, either on the back or the seat, and….
I recommend you avoid them, unless you prefer not to be held down.
The choice is yours.
The chair’s skeleton is what the chair is made of underneath its covering.
Is it metal? Wood? Is it anything else?
Metal/steel are solid materials that I recommend, and fortunately this is the case for virtually all gaming chairs.
With a few exceptions in the case of wooden chairs, you can also go for them with your eyes shut.
I won’t hide the fact that this will be difficult to check from a distance, but as it’s just a detail, it’s not a big deal.
Preferably, you want castors that don’t catch on the floor, and that are fluid.
Some chairs have “roller” castors, so on those it’ll be easy to tell that the castors are…
Majestic.
For example, in the photo, these are roller-type castors.
I prefer, and fully recommend, gaming chairs with cushions (or you can buy your own) for lumbar and neck.
They respect the natural curve of your body, and because they’re cushions, you can manually place them in the right spot.
Whereas when they’re already included in the chair, you won’t be able to adjust them as you please.
This is the least important, but if you can, I recommend matching the color of your chair to that of your set-up…
For example, keyboard/leds/mouse/mats can look great together.
Otherwise, black is a safe bet and goes with everything!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide (if you’ve read to the end it’s great news, so make the most of the fact that it’s fresh in your mind to go and choose your gaming chair!).
For me, these are the most important criteria for choosing a gaming chair.
They’ve all been summarized here, and they’re absolutely essential for making the right choice. So it’s very important that you follow them to the letter so you don’t regret your purchase.
Enjoy the article?
Don’t hesitate to share it with your gaming buddies or on the networks, because now you know how to choose your gaming chair.
Thomas is the creator/editor of this site. A very passionate gamer since his early childhood, his mission is to help you choose an important part of your set-up: the gaming chair.