Gaming Chair - The Buying Guide

Today, the gaming chair has become a genuine centerpiece of any gaming setup. It's an investment that shouldn't be taken lightly! In recent years the number of brands offering gaming chairs has exploded, and it's easy to get lost or even get ripped off.

A careful selection has been made upstream so that only the best products and brands are offered on maxesport.gg. This guide is here to help you choose, from that selection, your gaming chair, based on your budget and your personal expectations.

Drawing on our own experience as well as that of industry experts, we've written this buying guide to help you see things more clearly, understand the criteria that matter, and finally find the gaming chair that suits you perfectly!

Why buy a gaming chair?

Popularized around 2015, gaming chairs quickly became everywhere, and that's no accident. As a gamer or pro / semi-pro player, we spend a huge amount of time sitting in front of our PC. So it seems only natural to equip yourself to maximize comfort, avoid back pain, and also adopt an ideal position (height, distance from the screen, etc.) to protect your health while gaming! Appearance-wise, owning a gaming chair is a real asset to make your setup look even better.

How much should you invest in a gaming chair?

Even though plenty of unknown brands offer low-cost entry-level models around €100, we recommend aiming for a minimum of €250 to get a gaming chair worthy of the name and avoid disappointment. When it comes to gaming chairs, buying cheap ends up being expensive. A low-cost chair won't last, and will degrade fairly quickly, taking its good looks with it and leaving behind bits of faux leather on the floor or patches of exposed foam. What's more, since comfort is one of the most important aspects of a gaming chair, entry-level models are almost always built with plywood and the foam density is very low. In short, it can end up being even worse than a standard chair, so you might as well do your research and invest in a real gaming chair!

What are the big gaming chair brands?

Many gaming chair brands shape esports today, starting with DXRacer, used at the biggest competitions (ESL, Dreamhack…), but also by pro teams and players as well as gaming personalities. More broadly, AKRacing, Noblechairs and Quersus are long-standing single-product brands that have made gaming chairs their core business. Some hardware and peripheral brands have also successfully tried their hand at it, such as Corsair or AORUS. French brands like REKT or Oraxeat also offer gaming chairs with excellent value for money.

How to choose a gaming chair?

Now that we know why to buy, from what price point, and from which manufacturers, let's define the specifications of a gaming chair: what are the main characteristics to take into account? Are they useful for everyone? What justifies a high price? And what are the other important factors when making your choice: body type, appearance, budget…

Which gaming chair for which body type?

Your body type is one of the first characteristics to take into account when choosing your chair. Depending on your height and/or weight, the right chairs will differ. Manufacturers have segmented their ranges well and offer XXL gaming chairs with a wider seat and a higher weight capacity. Since these are sturdier and larger, the price is also higher. Someone who is 1m75 and 75kg won't have the same needs as someone who is 1m95 and 90kg, so the first piece of buying advice is to look at the chair's dimensions and the manufacturer's recommendations regarding suitable sizes. Generally speaking we recommend a minimum capacity of 100-120kg for standard builds and 150kg for larger ones. The brand Arozzi even offers gaming chairs for children.

The different styles of gaming chairs

Overall there's something for every taste and in every color! Not all gaming chairs look alike, and it's important to know your preference before heading toward a particular brand. Whether you prefer a racing-style bucket chair, a chair with a very classy look, or one with a disruptive look, the brands won't be the same. When it comes to colors, the choice is wide, whether it's simple stitching or patterns, or the entire upholstery — manufacturers have shown plenty of imagination. DXRacer and AKRacing take the prize for variety, though, with over 100 different models each! Noblechairs offers chairs with a conventional look that exudes quality thanks to stitching or quilted effects on the seat. DXRacer, REKT and AKRacing specialize in racing-style bucket seats, which deliver large shoulder wings for a very pleasant enveloping and supportive feel. Quersus went against the grain of traditional chairs and opted for very clean, almost futuristic straight lines.

Recline angles (backrest and seat)

Backrest recline is one of the deciding criteria when it comes to adjustment and comfort. Most chairs offer recline ranging from 90° (upright position) to 180° (flat position), and it's fair to say the most used and useful positions are those between 100° and 160°. What's worth looking at is the number of intermediate positions available; the most common setup on well-known gaming chairs is 10° per position.

Seat recline, less well known and not available on every chair, is the ability to adjust the angle of the entire seat including the backrest. It's one of the features that sets a high-end chair apart from the rest.

The tilt lock

The tilt lock or rocking mechanism is often overlooked in product descriptions, and short of testing the chair in person, it's hard to appreciate its benefits. It's an important feature that isn't found on every chair and it can make all the difference.

There are 2 types of lock/rocking systems: the first releases only the backrest recline, while the second, rarer one also unlocks the seat for a very pleasant rocking chair effect.

The armrests

There are 4 types of armrests, designated: 1D, 2D, 3D or 4D. Why? It's simply the number of dimensions in which the armrests can be adjusted.

• 1D: Height
• 2D: Height + Lateral
• 3D: Height + Lateral + Depth (front/back)
• 4D: Height + Lateral + Depth + Rotation

Most chairs offer at least 2D armrests, with 3D being the most widespread and 4D reserved for high-end seats. These adjustments let you fine-tune your positioning relative to your desk, and therefore to your mouse or keyboard. Another advantage: it's handy to change the armrest settings when you switch games and play with a controller.

The upholstery

Upholstery is the chair specification that affects the price the most. There are 3 different types:

• Faux leather: a synthetic leather made from split leather and a layer of polyurethane. The result is very good and mimics both the look and feel of leather. This synthetic material also allows for a range of colors. It isn't a deciding criterion in itself. Generally speaking, well-known reputable brands work with quality faux leather.
• Fabric: choosing fabric upholstery is more a matter of personal preference. Made from synthetic fiber, the result differs from leather or faux leather both to the touch (softer) and in terms of look. Watch out, though, for this material's sensitivity to stains.
• Leather: the virtues of leather need no introduction. It's classy, more durable and lasts over time if maintained. Unfortunately it's reserved for high-end chairs like the Noblechairs. Also, since the leather is genuine, the color choice is limited.

The padding

The padding tells you the foam density inside the chair. The figure is easy to understand: the higher the density, the more comfortable, durable and high-quality the seat will be. This figure is presented as follows: "X kg/m3". We consider that a good chair should contain at least 50kg/m3. The other important aspect is making sure the foam used is cold-cured.

Frame, base and gas lift

A chair is broadly made up of 3 main blocks: the frame (over which the upholstery is fitted), the gas lift and the base.

The frame of a chair is also a deciding criterion. Most good gaming chairs have a rust-resistant stainless metal frame, but that isn't the only indicator of quality. The frame should extend not only through the seat but also through the backrest. This ensures greater strength and a longer lifespan.

The base, more commonly the chair's foot, doesn't vary much between brands or ranges. Just make sure it has 5 legs for more stability and mobility.

The gas lift, for its part, determines resistance to weight as well as to frequent adjustment. Almost all manufacturers use class 4 gas lifts, which do the job very well, so the only thing to take into account is the maximum weight.

The options

Options are very important and can be the deciding factor between 2 brands. The options we've identified are the following:

• Cushions: generally at least 1 cushion is included, but having 2 (head and lumbar) is better!
• Roller wheels: optional rubber wheels can be very handy to reduce noise on the floor, but above all to avoid scratching hardwood floors or damaging carpet. To prevent this, brands like Florpad offer floor mats.
• Customization: some brands like Maxnomic, REKT or Quersus offer customization of the cushion or even the chair's upholstery with embroidered text or a logo. Classy!
• Armrests: it's possible to add 3D or 4D armrests as an option when they aren't offered as standard.