Choosing the right gaming chair is a bit more complex than you realize. Most people veer away from gaming chairs because they are under the false notion that they can save tons of cash on your average office chair, and get the same overall value. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Let’s put it this way, the gaming chair share capital is slightly under the $70 million mark, which means as the gaming industry evolves, so does the need for industry-specific equipment, which means that gaming chair designs are becoming more and more cutting-edge as a trickle-down effect.
Look at the X rocker pro gaming chair, for instance, you have 180-degree tilt capabilities, 360-degree swivel, cushy neck pillow, seat side control and your state of the art lumbar support. Let’s compare this to your average office chair that can barely fix your posture, see where this is going?
Granted, gaming chairs are slightly expensive, and for good reason, but, they are definitely worth the price on the tag. Now, if you are looking to buy one, you need to know a few things.
How to Choose the Perfect Gaming Chair
Selection Criteria
Unlike console gaming, where you mostly concentrate on single screen action, PC gaming, especially for pros, contains gaming rigs that are a bit more complex. For a self-build especially, you will need to prioritize on swivel and tilt.
Here you have varieties such as the X Rocker 51259 Pro H3 4.1 Audio Gaming Chair, Wireless, Furmax Gaming Chair High Back Racing Chair, or the HEALGEN Gaming Chair with Footrest Back Massage Function. All of which feature a max of between 170- 180 degrees on the tilt, and an overall 360 degrees on the turn.
It’s not just about comfort, we are talking about an average of up to 7-hour gaming sessions, you need fluidity on the turn, and flexibility in your VR gaming.
Value over cost
Value over cost is always the way to go when trying to find the best chair. This is mainly because it is a bit difficult to find any variety with specified lumbar support that costs anything below $100. Unfortunately, there is always the issue of budgetary constraints, in which case you could always go for the Furmax PU leather gaming chair, or the VRocker SE wireless Gaming chair, or even the Giantex Executive Racing style Chair, all of which are under the $100 mark but still top-class.
Note that gaming, especially at the Pro level, is an investment, and as such, you will need to break the bank a little if you want to find the perfect gaming chair.
Weight Capacity
Weight capacity is the single most neglected criteria when choosing a perfect chair by virtue of the fact that people know nothing about it. There is only so much weight a gaming chair can take comfortably without strain. In most cases, it is indicated on the property card the amount of maximum poundage your gaming chair can handle.
The HealGen variety brand, for instance, can handle up to 350lbs, while Homall and Most garden variety gaming chairs are only restricted to between 275-300 lbs. The swivel and tilt all operate at optimal capacity if you don’t exceed the recommended weight. The longevity and durability are also adversely affected if you don’t pay attention to these specs.
Compatibility
Compatibility is not really a crucial consideration. This is because most modern ergonomic gaming chairs are built to suit most PCs and gaming consoles. What is important is how intricate the design is, and how much value you get in terms of Upper and lower back support, the dynamics on the head, neck, and hip support, as well as if it actually fixes your posture or it just says that as a marketing gimmick.
Bottom Line
Extreme gaming takes a toll not just on the mind, but on the body as well. According to a recent article by Bettermind.com comfort, focus and concentration are directly correlated. This means that for you to play better, and for much longer, you need a gaming chair that has all the above-mentioned qualities.
The key bit is to game at top-level, but also to safeguard the health of your back. Sometimes looking past the cost may be the best way to find a suitable fit.
Watch this space for updates in the Gaming category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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