Hey there,
I returned to playing computer after years of playstation. When I stopped playing, I was much younger than I am now.
Age: 33
Weight: 124kg
Height: 176cm
So I have that cheap office chair but on long sessions I can feel some stress in my back. Don’t have that in the office at work - but those chairs are probably much better.
So right now I’m struggling to find a decent chair that actually is good for my back and not just a chair that can bend back if you know what I mean.
So as I already struggled finding the right keyboard and mouse, I am struggling with finding the right chair. I don’t want to pay a fortune but also know that a good chair will not come off cheap.
A friend suggested Secretlab and also spoke about Back force one or something like that.
What should I pay attention to, next to weight and stuff, and what can you actually recommend?
Lots of thanks in advance!
I know you asked for a gaming chair but I will advise you to reconsider. Most gaming chairs are not really that good and are quite expensive for what you get.
I bought one and it wasn’t really all that great and it only lasted a few years before becoming entirely unusable. I paid similar a normal office chair after that and it is infinitely better and has outperformed the gaming chair in all regards. It don’t look as slick though
David Zhang on youtube does a lot of reviews of office chairs, maybe this can help out
https://youtu.be/zpIPhAGHSV4
Honestly you don’t want a Secret Lab chair. Yes, they can be nice but overly expensive. I’ve tried a couple of them and they just didn’t feel all that good. I suggest going and finding like a Staples or Office Max if you have any in your area. They have a ton of different styles of chairs to try out including gaming chairs and office chairs. Get a feel of what you think would work then shop around that style of chair to come up with the best price
I’ll never pass up an opportunity to shit on Secretlab: If a gaming chair company can make one of its co-founders so much money that in 7 years after founding he can buy not one, but two prime pieces of property for a combined US$30 million, think about the margins on those chairs.
You will always feel stress in your back during long sessions. Humans just aren’t meant to sit for that long. Good posture, stretching, and strengthening your back muscles are a necessity and no chair will replace that.
Dedicated gaming chair companies are usually rather bad for the price and won’t outperform any office chair for a similar price. The only advantage some provide is their reclining ability. But that’s not helpful for gaming or working and I only used it for watching movies on my PC. But overall I found the design of gaming chairs uncomfortable. The race care seat just isn’t what you need in an office chair.
Good office chairs are expensive. If you are fine with spending a lot, Herman Miller Aeron is top notch. You can go for some lower priced Herman Millers as well, they even added some “gaming chairs”.
For a more budget friendly option I can think of the Sihoo M57 or HON Ignition 2.0.
The unfortunate reality of ergonomic office equipment is that a good chair will run you about 600-900 USD new (or more with options). There’s a reason huge corporations buy from Herman Miller (the Aeron) or Steelcase. Those are the manufacturers that make the stuff reliably that will last for decades. The parts are heavy and made of a lot of metal.
If you spend less you’re getting a lot of plastic that’ll last maybe 5 years before the finishes start to wear off and you can’t repair it.
So, decide what matters: saving a few hundred short term or risking hurting your back.
But the biggest thing to consider is that bodies are so unique that it’s possible that a cheaper chair will work for you, but you’ll only know until you sit in it. So go sit in a bunch and see what works. Note that the stuff Office Max et al sell tends to be cheap and kinda garbage. If you want the professional tier of chair, that will require a trip and possibly an appointment with a specialized retailer. Also check furniture stores; sometimes they have larger executive chairs that are quite comfy if not as ergonomically sound.
Most people swear by Herman Miller office chairs. I’ve heard that you can get them for cheap at execution sales and the like
I can attest, beginning of covid, I immediately bought a Herman Miller. Now a couple of years later, the chair still looks, feels and sits as new.
Do note that there is only one comfortable position though, which is by design. Ergonomic chairs push you in the proper position. If you try to sit on it sideways or any other position, it will feel terrible. But I am a person that needs it