Here is why you should trust me:
67+ chairs reviewed
4 years of experience
Honesty & Impartiality
Here is why you should trust me:
67+ chairs reviewed
4 years of experience
Honesty & Impartiality
The Valk brand, already well known in Spain for its high-quality, affordable chairs, is now making its debut in France!
And it has to be said, for the price it commands, it’s surprisingly good value.
The armrests are 4D adjustable, the foam is high density (55kg/m3), and the cushions are memory foam, which is incredible for this price…
But that’s not all: the chair can be tilted up to 165°, and there’s even an off-center rocking mechanism and an aluminum base.
It’s for these reasons that, after its review, I included it directly in my top list of the best gaming chairs.
(And I’ll explain why in more detail in the following review).
The brand’s aim is to offer gamers quality gaming chairs at an HONEST price.
With them, there’s nothing to inflate prices unnecessarily: they go direct to the end customer from the factory, with no middlemen or distributors.
What this means for you is that you’re paying for an item, and only an item, not unnecessary costs or “the brand”.
And frankly, that’s a lot of fun, so follow me throughout this review, because I’m going to tell you all about it.
Sommaire
In concrete terms, I’d recommend the Valk Freya if you spend many hours sitting at your PC.
If I had to give a figure, I’d say between 5 and 8 hours a day.
If you play/work less, say 1 to 2 hours maximum each day, you’d be better off with a gaming chair costing less than 200 dollars.
In my opinion, the Valk Freya is aimed more at the advanced gamer, so if you don’t play enough, save your money and go downmarket.
However, if you play frequently and don’t have a huge budget, it will be excellent.
To give you an idea, the Valk Freya is so well positioned in terms of price, that if you want something better, you’ll have to…
Spend almost twice as much (especially at Secretlab, who are reputed to be the best).
So you see, it’s made for you if you’ve got an “average” budget, are often on the computer and still want to treat yourself to a quality chair.
Good points:
Negative points:
| 📆 Warranty:️ | 3 years |
| 📦 Shipping : | Fast |
| 👩🏼🔧 Support: | Reactive |
| 🏋️♂️ Weight: | 21,5 kg |
That’s a very good point, and something you should always check before buying a gaming chair.
You MUST choose a gaming chair with high-density foam.
Then, as a general rule, the higher the better.
The density of the foam is what ensures that it won’t sag (even after months of intensive use, 8 hours a day).
So for a gamer who plays a lot, it’s very important.
By way of background, “high-density foam” is any foam with a density greater than 28kg/m3, so with the Valk Freya, you’re well above that.
That’s about average for high-end gaming chairs.
There are, however, chairs that go up to 70k/m3, but 55 is quite sufficient, especially as the maximum recommended weight is 130kg.
In fact, as this chair is designed for gamers up to a maximum of 1.90 m, it’s not for colossal builders over 2 m tall.
So it’s perfectly justified.
Next, the “cold-molded foam” part means that the foam has been designed to be breathable.
During cold molding, the pores of the foam are opened, allowing for better aeration and breathing.
What this means for you is that even in the middle of summer, you won’t be sweating like a marathon runner!
This is another very important point, as it can either greatly improve your posture, or totally destroy it.
For the record, not so long ago, I reviewed a gaming chair with overly abused side edges, and it was anything but comfortable to sit in.
My shoulders were really pushed forward.
So I appreciate chairs with well-designed side bolsters, and the Freya is one of them.
I tend to have fairly broad shoulders, yet I feel good in it.
In fact, I really appreciate it, because it’s a bit like a car seat in that it keeps you well supported.
And when I say well supported, I also mean well seated.
I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but when you’re on the PC you tend to slouch and sit badly, whereas in the car…
As a general rule, if you’re a driver, and therefore in a bucket seat, you stay well seated.
And for me, that’s the advantage of having pronounced side edges, but not too pronounced.
I find it really helps to correct posture, and when you’re sitting for hours on end, that’s very important.
So, as I see too many gamers blocking their tilt mechanisms, I must remind you why it’s ultra-important to have one and NOT to block it.
The purpose of a tilt mechanism is to make the chair (seat and back) move with you, following your movements.
The aim is to distribute pressure more evenly over the various zones of your body, and also to avoid always sitting in exactly the same position, because…
That would mean not moving all day, and your body isn’t made for that.
So when I see gamers blocking the tilt mechanism to spend the day sitting at 90°, I feel bad for them.
Especially since, as their bodies tire quickly, they end up with their backs bent, rounded and therefore very uncomfortable to sit on.
Basically, they think they’re improving their comfort, but it has the opposite effect.
Now, in the world of gaming chairs, there are two main tilting mechanisms.
The centered tilt mechanism, present on most low-end gaming chairs, tilts at the center of the chair.
It’s nice because it’s better than having no tilt mechanism, but it’s far from the best for the body.
Why is that?
Well, because this type of mechanism will lift your feet off the floor, pull on your hips too much with each tilt and even create a “heavy legs” effect.
On the other hand, a good off-center rocking mechanism like the one on the Valk Freya does the opposite.
Your feet can remain on the ground throughout the rocking motion, because the rocking is done at knee level.
As a result, blood circulation in your legs isn’t cut off, the heavy-legged effect is entirely avoided, and this type of rocker doesn’t particularly pull on the hips.
Ideal for gamers who spend a lot of time on the computer!
Another thing to always check is the presence of a class 4 gas strut.
It sometimes happens that certain brands use a class 3 gas strut for their chairs, and that’s really sad.
Because a class 3 gas spring is much less resistant, much less solid and tends to tire quickly over time.
So you could quickly find yourself with a chair that rises little by little instead of all at once.
Fortunately, Valk has used a Class 4 gas spring.
It’s the most resistant, the strongest and also the one with the best rising force.
And it’s this greater upward force that means that, unlike a class 3, you won’t end up with a chair that rises little by little and then stops in its tracks.
In the first instance, it’s a good thing that the frame is made of steel, because it’s strong, resistant and lightweight (so your chair will move more easily).
However, it’s a material used by virtually all manufacturers, so there’s nothing extraordinary or abnormal here.
Where it is extraordinary, however, is that the base used is aluminum.
This tends to be much rarer, and is a great mark of quality.
As well as being a really beautiful material with a super aesthetic appearance, it’s also the most qualitative.
To give you a point of comparison, consider that a normal nylon base withstands a pressure point of up to around 100-200kg.
A metal base withstands a little more, 500-600kg of pressure.
On the other hand, an aluminum base can easily withstand a targeted pressure of 1 tonne.
That’s quite a difference, all the more so since it’s an important part of the chair, since it rests entirely on it.
Another highly appreciated feature is the 4D adjustable armrests.
What’s in it for you?
Simple:
You can adjust their height.
The aim of adjusting their height is to adapt them to the height of your elbows (to form a 90° angle) and thus relieve your shoulders by giving them a “help” to support the weight of your arms.
Ideally, if you have a height-adjustable sitting desk, you should adjust it to the height of your armrests.
If that’s not possible, you can always adjust the height of the chair to match the height of the desk, but in that case there’s a good chance you’ll need to buy a footrest.
Then you can adjust the width.
It’s also handy for adjusting them to suit your build (no two people have the same build).
This is a bit of an extension of the first adjustment: adjusting the height is fine, but if your arms are too far apart or too close together, it’s not comfortable at all!
Next, you can adjust them from front to back.
This adjustment allows you to adapt the armrests to the depth of your desk.
I know that some of you have super-deep desks and others have very small ones.
So it’s vital to adjust the armrests to suit what you’ve got at home!
And finally, you can adjust the angles.
I consider this a must-have, because when you’re playing, how are your arms positioned?
That’s right, they’re not at a right angle of 90°, but inwards.
So being able to move the armrests so that they too can be drawn inwards is just about indispensable.
I really like the design of the Valk Freya.
It’s sober, but at the same time well crafted.
For example, most gaming chairs have a hole at the top of the backrest.
Here, there isn’t one, and I find it really more aesthetically pleasing, especially as it doesn’t prevent you from putting on and adjusting the neck cushion.
The colors are also well chosen: gray and black go very well together.
However, for those who want a completely sober, all-purpose chair, there’s an all-black version of the Valk.
It’s equally well made, so I thought I’d mention it.
Secondly, I like the fact that “Valk” is embroidered on the top of the backrest (front and back) as well as on the cushions.
It shows a certain attention to detail and a willingness to personalize the chair with the brand’s effigy.
What’s more, the embroidered logo in the center of the backrest also looks great.
In short, I don’t know about you, but I really like this design.
The Valk Freya is available in two different materials.
The one I have is fabric, and the other is pu leather.
The great advantage of fabric is that it’s breathable, and there’s no risk of it degrading over time.
So it’s the one I find most practical.
Have you ever seen those live gamers who put a sheet over their chairs in summer?
Well, with a good fabric chair, there’s no need to do that.
Because…
Your back will never get stuck to the backrest.
But fabric isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Sure, fabric is breathable and pu leather isn’t, but…
If you tend to eat on your chair a lot, you run the risk of staining the fabric.
And if you do stain the fabric, it’s much more difficult to remove than on pu leather, where a quick wipe with a cloth will get it all off.
So I advise you to select your chair upholstery according to your habits.
If you tend to sweat because there’s no air-conditioning at home, don’t hesitate and go for a fabric upholstery.
If you have air-conditioning and live on your chair to the point of eating on it, go for pu leather upholstery.
However, if you have pets, be careful, because if they claw on pu-leather, it’s infinitely more serious than if they claw on fabric…
Memory foam cushions are really excellent (but I’ll tell you more in 2 minutes).
Before that, let’s talk about the usefulness of the cushions.
The neck cushion is fairly optional, in itself you can do without it.
But if you do use it, the aim is to place it in the hollow of your neck.
That way, your neck will retain its natural curvature, which is supposed to be “neutral”.
So if you’re playing with your neck forward, bent over (whether up or down), you’re just wrecking your neck.
And in that case, use this cushion quickly!
Next, the lumbar cushion, which is positioned just above the belt.
The aim here is to produce the S that your spine makes.
If you don’t use it, you won’t be sitting for long before your lower back starts to ache.
Your lower back NEEDS to be supported, as it’s one of the muscles most at risk when you’re sitting.
So don’t overlook the importance of getting that cushion right.
Especially as sitting incorrectly could cause other, more annoying problems, such as an unbalanced pelvic tilt (either too far forward or too far back).
Now, as for the fact that these cushions are memory foam, that’s really very good news, because…
This type of foam improves blood circulation and distributes pressure points more evenly.
In short, it’s good for you and your comfort.
There’s nothing wrong with the finish. I took a photo of the back of the chair to show you that the fabric is well drawn, there’s no floating or “excess” material.
Next, everything is symmetrical.
As for the rest, the covers are plastic (which is commonplace, and present on 95% of gaming chairs).
The seams are well-made, regular and solid, so there’s nothing to worry about here.
Most, if not virtually all, gaming chair castors are 60-65mm polyurethane.
In concrete terms, they roll well, they don’t catch on floors and they’re big enough to pass over most (but not all) carpets easily.
On floors like the one in my bedroom (see photo), it rolls well enough, but stops very quickly, so the difference is palpable compared with tiles or parquet!
So if you’ve got a floor like mine, be warned that it’s going to be a bit difficult to roll, but I’ve had it with practically every chair.
So it’s not enough to take away a star.
Finally, the polyurethane aspect is mainly to avoid damaging your floors.
A tilt of up to 180° with the tilting mechanism + backrest tilt provides the greatest possible tilt on a chair.
In fact, no chair has a tilt greater than 180°.
And with good reason: 180° means you can nap or sleep on the chair.
It’s a bit gimmicky to tilt your chair so low, but 130-160° is just the thing to find a comfortable position AND…
To watch a little Gotaga or Kameto live!
Personally, I also like it for working on my laptop.
I tilt it to 160°, place my laptop on a cushion on my lap and work while almost lying down.
I find it extremely comfortable (if that gives you any ideas!).
Here’s how to adjust your Valk Freya:
The lever under the seat (on the right-hand side) raises/lowers the chair.
The lever under the seat (on the left) locks/unlocks the rocking mechanism.
The large knob under the seat adjusts the intensity of the rocking mechanism (to be adjusted according to your weight).
The lever on the right of the backrest adjusts the backrest inclination.
Next, the armrests:
And there you have it!
As far as assembly was concerned, everything went smoothly and was quick, I think I took about 20 minutes (while taking notes on the side).
The only fault with the assembly was that the screws were in a plastic bag, whereas I’m used to receiving the screws in a cardboard box with the names of the screws next to them.
This makes it easier to refer to the names of the screws and know where to place them.
But that’s okay, the problem is quickly solved by sorting the screws, and as there aren’t many of them, it wasn’t that much of a hassle!
However, and this is the 1st time I’ve seen this, the chair was delivered with the mouse pad you see in the photo, and a QR code to scan with a mission to complete.
And if you complete it, you win 5€ steam!
To give you as much diversity and as many different opinions as possible, I’ve collected the opinions of other gamers on the Valk Freya!
As I was telling you guys, what surprises everyone about this chair is its affordable price for top-of-the-range features.
The famous Secretlab Titan Evo! Its “basic” functions are similar to those of the Valk Freya, but it has an integrated, height/volume-adjustable lumbar support, as well as a magnetized headrest and an exclusive seat.
I recommend it, but its price is extremely high compared to the Freya.
Read the Secretlab Titan Evo review.
The DXRacer Air R1S, I won’t mention the features the two chairs have in common, but what sets them apart is that this one has a mesh backrest.
This is great, because it molds to your back and is super comfortable, but otherwise the Freya is identical and enormously less expensive.
Yes, the DXRacer Air R1S costs an arm and a leg!
Read the DXRacer Air review.
The Arozzi Vernazza Soft Fabric may be a good alternative, as the two chairs are broadly similar, but…
Once again, you’ll see that their prices are very, very different.
PLUS, the Vernazza only has 3D adjustable armrests…
Read the Arozzi Vernazza Soft Fabric review.
Frankly, if you’re not convinced…
I don’t know what will.
Because if you’re a gamer on a budget, but you’re still looking for a nice, quality gaming chair…
The Valk Freya is perfect for that.
The price is perfect, and on top of that, all the features are available: 4D armrests, off-center tilt mechanism, memory cushions, max reclining backrest, etc. It’s got it all, and worse.
It’s got it all, and the best part is that the price is unbelievable.
So to treat yourself, click on the button below, which will redirect you to the official website.
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.