Like many other gaming products, people often wonder if gaming chairs are worth the money. The truth is, not only will gaming chairs help you play better, they will also improve your health at the same time. The best part? Because they’ve become so popular, the prices have gone down significantly due to competition!
There are a number of benefits that can come from the use of one, especially if you sit at your computer for long periods of time.
Even for non-gamers, studies have shown that people are becoming much more sedentary. On average, someone in the United Kingdom spends about 60% of their time sitting. That doesn’t even include office workers. It is estimated that this group of individuals spend about 75% of their total non-sleeping time seated. Issues arise when you consider the fact that a regular chair forces a person’s spine to hold up most of their upper body. Once the strain becomes too much, the back will start slouching.
How do gaming chairs help this problem? The more support that is put on your back and shoulders, the more it pushes your spine to be straight. This is why many gaming chairs are tall with built-in padding, so they can cushion your upper body. Throw in other comfort-focused features like adjustable armrests or breathable material, and you’ll be able to sit without worsening your posture.
This is why more and more people these days are investing in a good gaming chair even if they don’t play computer games. Having that ergonomic support can be a huge boon to your overall health. It’ll also be easier to focus on tasks, causing you to become more productive.
Why Consider a Gaming Chair?
1. Well Built: Provided you stick with a well-known manufacturer, the majority of gaming chairs are fairly well-built. They are a luxury item in a space where there’s a lot of competition, so they know skimping on quality control will damage their brand.
2. Cooling Technology: A common problem that gamers have is getting hot in their chairs. This is especially true with the kind of leather cushions that people expect from a premium product. Look for material that have mesh interwoven in, which will allow the seat to breathe a lot better. This in turn will prevent it from heating up too much.
3. Support: As mentioned above, neck and lumbar support will greatly assist you with proper posture. Avoid chairs that do not include both, which you will see on the lower end of the price spectrum.
4. Adjustability: Some of the nicer chairs will have adjustability options that you normally don’t get with basic models. Things like 4d armrests and adjustable cushions will help you find the optimal position to relax while still maintaining good posture.
The Benefits of Gaming Chairs
Of course, buying a gaming chair is useless if you don’t adjust it properly. You’ll want to be sure the support cushions are positioned in the curves of your neck and spine. Next, the recline should be set somewhere between 100 and 110 degrees. Finally, the arm rests should be positioned so that they support your elbows without elevating your shoulders. This ensures that you will take full advantage of the following benefits:
Good Posture
The danger of poor posture is that the longer you slouch or sit with a bent back, the more you become used to it. In turn, it becomes more difficult to correct in the future. This is why a gaming chair might feel odd or even uncomfortable the first time you sit in one, since your body doesn’t want to straighten back out.
Having bad posture long term can have many adverse effects, such as injury or constant discomfort. Studies have even showed that sitting incorrectly can lead to digestion problems or incontinence. With proper support, a gaming chair will adjust your body into what will ultimately be a healthier and more comfortable position.
If you only sit at your computer a few hours a day, you might be able to get away with a cheap ergonomic gaming chair. They don’t have quite as many features when compared to the higher end, but will definitely get the job done. If you spend a lot more time seated though, you may want to invest in something more substantial. $300 dollars may seem like a lot of money for a chair, but the benefits will definitely be worth it.
Being Comfortable
It might seem a bit silly, but don’t underestimate the benefits of simply being comfortable. Once you settle into your gaming chair, you’ll be able to sit longer without feeling the effects of fatigue or discomfort. This in turn results in:
• Improved circulation
• Increased energy and focus
• Increased productivity at work or other tasks
• Easier to breathe
• Increased awareness
Increased Energy
Poor posture effects energy by straining the muscles. Once they become fatigued, it can severely impact how you perform while playing games or doing work. You may also start to feel lingering pain in your shoulders, neck, or back.
Once you switch to a gaming chair, the extra head and lumbar cushions means your body doesn’t have to support as much of your weight. With that source of strain gone, it will allow you to feel more refreshed.
Popular Gaming Chair Options
GTRACING Ace-S1 || $234.99
https://gtracing.com/collections/ace-series/products/gtracing-ace-s1
The name of the game here is price, and the Ace-S1 has features you normally see on more expensive chairs. While the list MSRP is over $200, you can often find it on sale for much less. You won’t get things like 4D armrests or a 5-year warranty on most models in this range, both of which the Ace-S1 has.
Razer Enki X || $299
https://www.razer.com/gaming-chairs/razer-enki-x
Out of the different Enki models offered by Razer, the Enki X is the cheapest. Although it’s missing a few features when compared to its brethren, the price is hard to beat for a premium-looking and feeling product. It also has somewhat of a wide cushion, which is ideal for those who find gaming chairs too narrow for their liking.
Secretlab Titan Evo 2023 || Starts at $439
https://secretlab.co/products/titan-evo-2022-series
The price tag on the customizable Titan Evo is a bit high, but you do get a whole lot of chair for the money. From adjustable lumbar support to magnetic cushions, there are features here you just don’t get with any other brand. Even with all the extras though, it is far from the most expensive on this list.
Herman Miller x Logitech Embody || $1,795
https://store.hermanmiller.com/gaming-chairs/embody-gaming-chair/100206608.html
Herman Miller is well known for their very expensive but very comfortable chairs. The Embody is actually one of their office chairs that has been around for quite a while. The Logitech version is bit firmer and has more features catered specifically towards gamers. This includes extra cooling built into the cushion and more layers of material.
Final Word
Some may write off gaming chairs as an unnecessary gimmick. In reality, there are certainly many “gaming” products out there that have no measurable benefit over their “non-gaming” counterparts. However, gaming chairs is one of those categories where you can definitely reap tangible benefits. You just need to do your homework ahead of time to be sure you are purchasing a good model.
Increased comfort and focus are things that will positively impact whatever you are doing, gaming or not. You will also decrease your chances of long-term injury. While the price can be a deterrent, there are good budget options out there for you to consider.
