If you are looking for a gaming chair that can help your game comfortably for hours on end, the very first thing that may come to your mind is ‘are expensive gaming chairs worth it?’ How much you will spend on a gaming chair is one of the essential things that you need to consider.
Expensive gaming chairs may be worth the buy for some people but it’s not the case for everyone. It has high-quality upholstery, is highly durable, fade-resistant, and can be high maintenance. Now, it may not be the best for everyone since it may not be as comfortable to use and will promote improper posture.
You may think that expensive gaming chairs may be a good catch. Well, that would be a case-to-case scenario. In this article, you will know whether gaming chairs are worth it and what is the comfort level of it. Aside from that, you will also know whether expensive chairs are really for you and what high-profile streamers use for their chairs. Lastly, you will know the difference between cheap and expensive gaming chairs.
Expensive Gaming Chairs: Are They Really Worth It?
For years now, there has been a lot of hype when it comes to gaming chairs and you might be thinking if you should get one. There may be a chance that your old chair is breaking down or giving you pain in particular areas of the body.
Aside from using gaming chairs for gaming, they can also be good to use while you’re working. Having a gaming chair as your work chair can give you comfort, especially when you are sitting for 10 to 12 hours a day.
Comfortability Level of a Gaming Chair
A comfortable chair is defined as having zero to near zero pain as well as discomfort after sitting for more than 12 hours. These are rated by the manufacturers and the best chair that you can possibly get will provide you with 24/7 comfort.
Now, everyone has their own natural comfortable sitting position, so this hour range would depend on your comfort level.
Gaming chairs have different adjustment features and this should be the second factor that you need to consider when you are looking for a gaming chair. Also, be sure that you check the maximum recommended weight of the chair and the minimum, as well as the maximum, suggested height.
You also have to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you want stronger support for your lower or upper back?
- Should the gaming chair stand more upright or can it slightly lean back?
- Should the chair have wheels or not?
Due to these questions, different people can use gaming chairs in different ways. When it comes to expensive gaming chairs, you can expect them to have plenty of adjustment options. Having plenty of adjustment options will ensure that you are comfortably sitting while you game.
Expensive Gaming Chairs: Is It Really for You?
As mentioned above, it is important that you are comfortable in your gaming chair since you may be gaming for hours on end. You may wonder where the distinctive look of gaming chairs came from. Well, they get their design from racing car seats which is called ‘bucket seat’.
These types of seats work well in cars since the driver is held in place during tight turns that they do. Now, the wings on the edge of the seat and backrest may not have any practical purpose.
The design of the gaming chairs ensures that they are uncomfortable for some people since they form pressure points. These are formed in locations where the chair pushes against your body. It can cut blood circulation when it goes through important blood vessels in your body.
Now, if you have broad shoulders, the lateral wings on the backrest of the chairs will not allow you to have a straight back. It will push your shoulders inwards which will cause discomfort on your collarbone instead.
You will sit with your legs more spread out and will find lateral wings on gaming chair seats a bit more restrictive and uncomfortable. You can also experience numb legs since there is also a common pressure point in the thighs.
High Profile Streamers: Do They Use Gaming Chairs?
You may think that plenty of professional streamers and other content creators may use expensive gaming chairs, but they actually don’t. The answer to the why here is simple, they just want to game comfortably especially when they need to stream for long periods of time.
I’m sure everyone is familiar with Shroud (Michael Grzesiek) who is the world’s most successful streamer. He streams about eight or more hours a day and his preferred chair is the Herman Miller Aeron.
He said in one of his streams is for those who are gaming for eight to ten hours a day, would need a good chair to sit on. He also stated that you may not need it now, but in the coming years, you will soon realize that you will eventually go for the non-gaming chairs instead.
Another popular streamer is Pokimane and she uses the Herman Miller Embody. It is an expensive chair but this is a great chair to use not only for gaming but also for work. She says that it helps with back problems from sitting for hours and hours on the chair.
If you search for these chairs, it’s not gaming chairs but they are the regular type of office chairs that you would see in a corporate setting. Remember, don’t cheap out on your comfort. It is important that you take care of your body, especially when you game for long hours.
Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Gaming Chairs
The Materials Used in the Chair
There are two different materials that you should look out for when choosing from cheap and expensive gaming chairs. One is the upholstery and the other is the seat padding. Making sure that you take these two factors into consideration is important if you want to know if expensive gaming chairs are really worth the purchase.
Upholstery of the Gaming Chair
One of the major differences that will separate a cheap from an expensive gaming chair is the upholstery. There are four different types of upholstery: PU, PVC, fabric, and real leather. PU leather can be found in cheap and easy-to-manufacture chairs but it is widely used as a cover, especially in the lower end.
When the chair reaches $250 or more, you can see higher-end options such as PVC leather, real leather, and fabric. Having said this, expect to see a higher type of upholstery inexpensive gaming chairs.
If you are above the average weight which is 250 lbs or more, like to sit with one or both feet up, and are sitting for more than ten hours a day, it is best to choose PVC leather or genuine leather which is commonly found in expensive gaming chairs.
Now, the main drawback to this type of gaming chair is it’s not very breathable. So, if you live in hot climate areas, then it may get uncomfortable for you. Another drawback is it can feel a bit rougher than the other materials that are listed above.
Real gold is real leather when it comes to gaming chairs, however, it can be expensive and high maintenance.
Seat Padding of the Gaming Chair
There are three types of foam that are used as seat padding when it comes to gaming chairs. The three types are HD36 Foam, Lux Foam, and Cold Cure Moulded Foam. Most of the time, you can find the padding on the inside of the seat and in the backrest.
In cheaper gaming chairs, you will find manufacturers cutting corners to save costs so it may not be as visible as the more expensive chairs.
The density of the foam used in the seat padding is one of the factors that you need to consider. It refers to how compact the materials are inside the chair. It is best to keep in mind that the denser the foam, the heavier and more durable it will be.
Foams with ILD (Indentation Load Deflection) are more resistant to sagging and indentation as you use them.
If you have had cheap gaming chairs before, you may have experienced the seat completely losing its bounciness. It may have an HD36 foam and this is to blame for that. So, for expensive gaming chairs, expect them to have a cold-cured foam that will not lose its bounciness over time.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to comfortable gaming, you don’t need to spend millions. Sometimes buying cheap gaming or office chairs will be the best choice. However, you should never cheap out on the chairs that you will be using, whether you are gaming or working. As long as you are comfortable with the seat that you choose and you feel like you have a good posture, then go for it. Sometimes gaming chair is not always worth it as they tend to be uncomfortable.
