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
188cm, 144kg, older than you if it helps
When I switched to working at home My regular at home office chair started absolutely destroying my thighs and lower back, The thing that fixed it and in the also being incredibly cheap was just switching to a yoga ball. I haven’t had any thigh or back pain since then, obviously you’re not going to be able to recline and relax but as far as for playing for extended periods of time I never feel like I’ve gotten sore. It’s weird at first and fell a few times but now I can sit around with for as long as I want with little soreness. The ball I bought holds up to something like 280kg comfortably so no need to be shy with it.
Well my desk is a little bit high for the most balls I know. But I guess theres one for every size :D.
Anyway. Isn’t a ball not also supporting a bad posture over time? Like leaning forward or something? I know dynamic sitting is very important… but I doubt I can keep a good posture all the time or as much as I probably should…
I know you said that you weren’t looking to spend a lot of money. I was going through the cycle of replacing my chair every year or so (because frankly, they all suck). I put some cash aside for a couple years and finally picked up a real office chair (steelcase gesture). Sure, it may have cost the same as 6 chairs, but I get a 10 year full replacement warranty which will save both my wallet and my back in the long run. Maybe you aren’t in position to make this purchase now, but you owe it to yourself to save for a good chair.
I also got a Steelcase Gesture after having some back issues. I’ve had it for a couple of years now and it is great. It’s well worth it if you can afford it. I see it as an investment to prevent long-term back issues.
I second the Steelcase recommendation. They initially cost more than the cheap plastic ones but it’s worth it both for how much longer it will last you and just how much more comfortable they are.
You also can customize it to your preferences. Things like flexible arm rests, lumbar support, head support, type of cushion and backing you want (extra soft, breathable micromesh, etc.).
I went with the Series 2 Air as another model to consider but honestly they’ve got quite a few good options. If the prices are too much right now, watching for sales could help. I bought mine for $490 on sale last year and it’s $636 for my config right now at full price. Maybe signing up for their email newsletter would get you notice on sales?
Replying to you. Thanks for all comments below yours!
Is the brand “Steelcase Gesture”?
The brand is just “Steelcase”. The Gesture is a specific model of chair. And I agree with everyone else here: after switching from el cheapo chair to my Gesture, my back pain (from sitting) completely went away.
I checked them out already. They’re listed like around $1000 in my country. Oof…
Have you ever tried the leap v2? I am currently using a leap v2 that I got from the office and I find it semi uncomfortable after awhile when gaming, but it doesn’t bother me too much when I working
Last year I also bought, and returned, a Herman Miller X Logitech Embody because it was too uncomfortable.
The gesture looks nice, but after reading reviews people claim it’s basically the same comfort level as a leap v2
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.