Gaming chairs are undoubtedly popular, but they are generally not cost-effective for a variety of reasons. Its success is due to its design appeal, reminiscent of racing car seats, where manufacturers try to work with fabrics and colors that harmonize with the appearance of the PC. However, for a chair to be really good, it must be functional first, thus requiring a deeper analysis to know if a particular gamer chair really delivers a quality experience for the consumer.
What makes a gaming chair good or bad?
The main points that make a gaming chair good or bad are ergonomics, the modularity of the parts, the materials used and the variety of adjustments. These points are crucial to having a comfortable chair that does not cause pain after prolonged use and is durable.
Ergonomics and range of adjustments
Chairs that have good ergonomics usually have adjustable lumbar support, where the user can adjust the ideal height according to the region of the lumbar vertebrae of the spine.
Below is an image to illustrate the location of the lumbar spine in the back.
Another point related to ergonomics are the armrests of the chair, where we support the elbow and forearm. So that there is no pain in the shoulder, the ideal is to have adjustments both in height and for the sides. However, do not confuse lateral adjustment as moving from right to left, as it is necessary that the support can go north, south, northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest.
The need to place the arm support in different positions is to ensure that the shoulder is not strained. For this, the ideal height must be the one that forms a 90° angle between the upper arm and forearm.
In addition to height, the distance between the elbow and the waist has to be small, that is, the closer the arm is to the body, the better. Below an example.
It is important that the chair seat has depth adjustment. Ideally, you should rest your back on the back of the chair, from the lower back to the top, on the thoracic vertebrae (the region of the spine where the chest is located). The entire thigh of your leg should rest on the seat, with the exception of the region close to the knee, leaving enough space for your wrist to fit between the seat and the calf.
If you like to move your legs, especially your thighs, it’s interesting that the seat of the chair is smooth instead of sloping on the sides, as usually happens in gaming chairs. In this way, you will have more space and comfort to rest your leg on the chair.
Modularity of parts
In the specific case of gamer chairs, there is usually a pillow to support the lumbar region of the user’s spine. Although not ideal, due to the volume of the piece, most of the time, the system used to attach them to the chair is simply elastic strips. Due to the fact that these strips are sewn into the pillow, they tend to lose their elasticity even before the foam of the pillow gives way due to natural use, causing the person to no longer be able to adjust the height of the pillow.
Although the above point is the most critical, it is interesting that the armrests of the chair are to be removable and sold separately by the manufacturer, in the same way that the elastic of the lumbar support cushions should be sold, if not sewn.
Materials used
As much as some manufacturers have switched from the pvc/pu material that imitates leather to suede, avoiding the problem of cracks, peeling of the seat and backrest, another problem has arisen. When using suede, the feeling of heat increased, making the experience not good at warmer times of the year.
Why is a gaming chair so expensive?
A gaming chair is usually more expensive not because of its functionality or the quality of the material for superior comfort and good durability, but because of the demand for beauty. Most of the time, the materials for gamer chairs are chosen by color, by the similarity with sports materials used in clothing and tennis, instead of evaluating whether they will deliver a good cost-benefit in terms of thermal comfort and durability. That is, the focus here is the appearance and not the usability of the user, increasing the total value of the product to deliver, most of the time, a chair that fails in the main aspects to be functional, but beautiful.
How is an ergonomic chair different compared to a gaming chair?
The main difference between an ergonomic chair and a gaming chair is the development focus. This is very clear in cheaper models of gaming chairs, where the visual appeal is very strong and there is a great deal of neglect in terms of comfort, ergonomics and durability, as you may have noticed above. However, this has gradually changed with the launch of models that mix the qualities of ergonomic chairs with the qualities of gaming chairs, such as the Herman Miller Embody x Gaming and the Herman Miller Vantum Gaming, made in partnership with Logitech.
What are the best gaming chairs on the market?
The best gaming chairs on the market are expensive. Herman Miller Vantum Gaming, for example, currently costs R$7837 in Brazil while Herman Miller Embody x Gaming is sold for R$12,983.75.
What is the price of a good ergonomic chair?
If you have suffered a lot with bad chairs, you have lower back pain and you want a chair to sit in for a long time that can deliver good durability, the ideal is to look for an ergonomic chair. However, it is important to remember that a good chair is not enough, as the table, the height of the monitor and even its musculature are essential for an experience without back pain, as mentioned in this article. Generally, good ergonomic chairs, which are comfortable and durable, today cost approximately between R$1000 and R$2000.
Personally, according to what I have already experienced, the manufacturers Flexform and Alberflex offer good value for money in models that cost between R$ 1000 and R$ 2000. The Tess model by Alberflex, according to my analyses, presented a better material and finish quality than Flexform chairs in the same price range.
If you are looking for the best, the most praised manufacturers in the world that have representation in Brazil are Herman Miller and Steelcase. In the case of Steelcase, the representative is the Brazilian company Alberflex. Below are the most popular models of each brand:
- Herman Miller Aeron
- Herman Miller Embody
- Steelcase Think
- Steelcase Leap
- Steelcase Gesture
