2y ago

Finding the right gaming chair

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!

50 comments

Do not buy a "gaming chair". They're a scam meant to take money from suckers. Whatever your budget is, you can find an ergonomic actual office chair meant for sitting that will vastly outperform a "gaming chair" in every conceivable metric that's important to a chair
- I've used ergonomic chairs before that absolutely destroyed my back. I think it comes down to finding a good brand and a high quality product, regardless of the style of chair.
- Came here to say exactly this ^.

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.
  
  That's good to hear. I ordered mine a few days ago.
- 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?
- 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
  
  I like my Leap v2 more than the Embody but it really just depends on every individual. If there's anywhere you can try these chairs (like an office supply or an office refurbishment store) then I'd strongly recommend doing so.
- 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.

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.
- Yeah. Sounds like a trip next week. There are some stores actually offering good office chairs.

I’d recommend looking for a used Herman Miller Aeron. They are super comfortable, offer fantastic back support and many businesses buy a bunch of them up and eventually sell them so you can find some pretty sweet deals instead of the $1400+ USD they are to get them new.
I think I paid $500 for a used one that was in excellent shape. It’s a chair that’s been around for a long time so aftermarket parts are easy to come buy if you ever need them. I swapped out the wheels on mine for roller blade wheels and couldn’t be happier.
- Second hand office chairs are great. Aerons were hard to come by during the pandemic but I ended up getting a stealcase leap for my wife, and a stealcase Amia for myself. The leap is better, but both are excellent chairs. I think they were $400 and $300 respectively
- I picked up an Herman Miller a few years back will vouch for its quality. In fact, I'm sitting in it right now.

I got my chair and my wife’s from an office furniture liquidator. They buy in bulk from companies that are going under or just upgrading. There will be some truly abused chairs in the lot, but most of the Herman millers and SteelCase hold up very well.
Look up used office furniture / office furniture liquidators, and get yourself a high quality chair for maybe $300-400 on the high end.
- This is the way to go, @LilDestructiveSheep. I got a Steelcase Think for US$250 and it basically stopped the sciatica issues I was having. You'll need to do some work to clean it up, but the savings are worth it.
  Then you can consider saving up in the future for a new chair if you so wish.

You definitely get what you pay for with office chairs. Moreso the ergonomic variety and not the terrible race-car-seat "gaming chairs".
Honestly, if you're paying less than $500 for a chair, be prepared to buy another one in two years or less if you actually plan to put in many hours on it, especialy at your weight. Cheap chairs start to break down quickly, with their immediately-flattened foam, particle board components, and cheap fabrics. None of it holds up well to pressure or long-term use. Think of the investment in terms of how long you'll use it: if you spend $500 and don't have to replace it for 10+ years, $50 per year is a pretty reasonable price to pay. I know the upfront cost is high, but it makes a huge difference in the quality and lifespan of the chair.
I just bought a chair myself a few days ago that will take most of a month to be constructed and get here, but my $700 Ergohuman chair has had another major failure for the second time in 10 years, so I figured it was time to buy something hopefully even more reliable.
I had to do a lot of research to find something that suits my height (the lumbar on about every chair I've ever seen seems to hit me in the tail bone instead of the lower back and I'm only about 6'1" - or 185 cm to you) and it's getting harder to find good ergonomic chairs with headrests. I ultimately decided to pay a fuckton for a Steelcase chair, as I hate mesh, hate Herman Miller, and I basically spend a third of my life in it. Skimping would be like buying a bad mattress and expecting to feel good after sleeping.
Anyway, I'd look over recommendations from sites or perhaps YouTube channels that review office chairs regularly. Use that to browse around and see what you can find at a cheap price from an online store that might be getting rid of some things that would work for you. (If I hadn't wanted a chair with a headrest, I probably could have gotten the same model on sale from one store for about half the price I paid.)
If you're sedentary and have weight issues (as most of us start to as we age), you definitely have to look out for your back as best you can, in all your furniture. Soon enough, you'll find your back getting tweaked just from laying wrong on the couch or in your bed.

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

Herman Miller Aeron is the best chair i've ever had, it was expensive in 2017 and probably more so now but honestly....it may be one of my best life purchases ever, no joke. I'm on the PC all day, and along with walking and a2g squat-stretches I never have back pain or any neck weirdness (but thats due to good monitor pos' for me of course I imagine).
- I have that chair too! I bought it in late 2020 and it cost a lot (bought it new) and it's very worth it. I can sit for hours without any problems.
  Before I had it though, I went through a few cheap office chairs and they all sucked.

I have a Steel case Leap V2 and yes a chair can be expensive, I think I paid like 600 for mine, but you owe it to yourself to get a comfortable chair your back will thank you. One of my biggest recommendations is to see if there is an office liquidation center near you that way you can walk around and try a chair out before you buy it, also this helps you find a chair you like and then you can look to see if people are selling that chair for cheaper. These chairs are long term investments but they are worth it in the end.

I swear I am not kidding about this. The Ikea Markus chair is my favorite office chair. I lock the back upright and the lumbar support perfectly contours to my back. I do use an extra memory foam cushion on it to make it a bit softer. Every fancy gaming chair or office chair I tried has felt worse on my back than this chair. The racing style gaming chairs are all too straight and the fancy herman miller chairs are too curved. The Ikea one is just right. I had one for almost 10 years and then the fabric started to wear away so I bought another one and it is also perfect. Try it out before spending $1000 on a chair.
- I'm a similar in build to OP and my old chair was the Markus, my mrs uses it now and I groan at it when I do something on her PC, i'm a leg-crosser too and the marky is just a bit stiff after years on the Aeron
- I have that one and it's terrible for me xD

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
- Hey there,
  got also from the other comments that a gaming chair is probably is not the best go. Thanks for the youtube channel. I will have a look. And I don't care soooo much about look. I mean.. I'm not trying to win a prize or anything :)

A gaming chair will be bad quality and uncomfortable for MOST people.
Your best bet will be a high-end adjustable office chair, such as Herman Miller. These chairs are very expensive, but consider how much you're sitting (easily 8h+ a day if you work from home and are a gamer) and the amazing warranty (12 years+). I stopped trying to save money on chairs and mattresses and all my little pains went away.
However, to make the most of it you have to try them to find the best one for your body. A good store will help you find the best chair for you and adjust it to fit you perfectly.

I saved up for a bit and bought a Herman Miller Embody. Yes, it’s really expensive. But, it’s just effortless to sit in from morning at work all the way to late evenings with after work games. I love it so much. And after two years it has absolutely zero signs of wear except for some dust on the back. I’m very happy with the purchase.

I have a 2022 Secretlab Titan and I've really enjoyed it for the 2 years I've used it. It's sturdy and can adjust to whatever sitting position I need at the moment which is exactly what I need as someone who is always adjusting their sitting position. They're on the stiffer side but it's not uncomfortable, at least once you break it in within a month.
I have to say though -- despite them actually getting a decent amount of praise for their adjustable lumbar support, I can't imagine them being better for your back than a high quality used office chair like many other people already suggested. So it really just depends on what you want to prioritize.
I wouldn't suggest a used Secretlab since their warranty is only 3-5 years depending on if buyers showed it off on social media or not, so if you're buying it new vs a used premium office chair, both would roughly cost the same at around $500.
Anyway, if you have any other questions about the chair, feel free to ask!

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
- Yes, they can be nice but overly expensive.
  Hah. I was debating a Secret Lab chair. I wound up spending 3x as much and getting a Steelcase Gesture and it has changed me forever.
- 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.

Similar size here, broke a few office chairs before getting a secret lab Titan which has now lasted about 4 years, not as comfy as a proper nice office chair and yes it’s probably a rip off but it’s built to last for the heftier gentleman
- As far as I saw a lot of office chairs exceed the weight limit of secretlabs up to a lot in the same price range.

I've used a cheap Ikea chair, gaming chairs (Secretlab Omega), a Steelcase Gesture and (my current chair) a Herman Miller Aeron. I strongly suggest, if possible, that you try them out before buying one. The Steelcase Gesture gets a lot of love on the internet, but after a couple months, it was putting an uncomfortable amount of pressure on my tailbone and a weird shearing force on my thighs where I had to get it replaced. Also, if you happen to live in a large enough city, look into getting a used chair, like a Herman Miller Aeron, which I did. I'm in the SoCal area, and there are SO many media/tech offices here that there's a huge used market specifically for Herman Miller Aerons, so I was able to get mine cheap and in surprisingly great shape for $750, which is half of what it would be new.

At home I have a steelcase leap, it's around $700 new. But I can literally sit in it all day with no issues. To me it's worth it to spend the extra since it's basically where I spend most of my non-working time.
But for a cheaper option, we have something similar to these at my work (software developer). If I didn't already have a really good chair at home, I would probably get one of these. I can sit in it probably just as much as my one at home, and have no issues. The mesh back actually lets your back breathe, and doesn't retain heat so no back sweat. It's also relatively durable for the mesh and seat area. But mine does have issues after about 2 years of sometimes the gas piston leaks and when you sit down in it, it goes to the lowest setting. I'm sure one day it will finally just always be at the low setting, but luckily, it's not to low for me to work with.

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..

Best chair is a bed with a wireless controller.
I sit at work all day, I don't want to come home to sit more.
- Really? You like sitting in a chair better than lying flat on your back?

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