Best Gaming Chairs: Buying Guide

You're looking to revamp your gaming station, and after buying a new PC case and a new desk, it's finally time to choose a new gaming chair that will allow you to spend your free time in complete comfort. However, you know perfectly well that all chairs of this type are not the same and, to help you in your choice, you have opened up Google looking for more specific details on the subject.

If that's the case, then you've come to the right place, at the right time! In this guide to the best gaming chairs, in fact, it will be my task to clarify the various formats available and the distinctive characteristics of the furnishing accessories of this type. Finally, I will provide you with some purchase suggestions, subdivided according to price range.

So, without waiting any longer, take your time, make yourself comfortable and devote yourself to reading the following paragraphs: by doing so, I am sure you will be able to make the right choice, based on your needs. Having said that, there's nothing left for me to do but wish you a good reading and happy shopping!

Index Gaming chair features Style Material Comfort Colour Other features to consider Which gaming chair to buy Best budget gaming chairs (up to £80) Best mid-range gaming chairs ($80 to $150) Best high-end gaming chairs (over £150) Gaming Chair Features Before you even buy a gaming chair, you should carefully evaluate the one that best suits your needs. Therefore, before showing you the best gaming chair brands (and their models), I think it's only fair to give you an overview of the aspects you need to take into account when making your choice.

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Style The first characteristic to take into consideration before purchasing a gaming chair is its style, that is, the format that defines the seat and, in general, the posture assumed during its use. Here are the currently most popular formats.

Office - this is the most aesthetically sober style, usually made of breathable material and in a neutral colour (grey or black). Nevertheless, office-style gaming chairs are particularly attentive to the posture assumed during use, and usually have a slightly reclining backrest, a height-adjustable seat and a mobile base with castors. Racing - the racing style is most commonly associated with gaming chairs. Aesthetically very attractive, the chairs that belong to this format are designed for very long sessions of use and usually have postural cushions, height-adjustable armrests and seat, a backrest with variable inclination, and a wheeled base. Pedestal - this category of gaming chairs is characterised by its extreme stability, thanks to its particularly wide and stable base (pedestal gaming chairs, in fact, can hardly be moved, as they do not have wheels and are particularly heavy). Generally, these chairs resemble real armchairs and have electronic mechanisms for adjusting the backrest, armrests and, sometimes, the on-board audio. Rocking - this category of chairs is designed for those who play games using controllers or, in general, input devices that do not require the use of a desk, as they do not have a base or pedestal. Rocking gaming chairs are suitable for those who play with a low-positioned display (e.g. a TV), but are not suitable for those with back problems: although the seat is often comfortable and adequately padded, getting up from "floor level" may not be an easy task! Ottomans - for some players, it is absolutely essential to assume a position of complete relaxation during gaming sessions. For this reason, there are pouf-style gaming seats, i.e. real "padded bags" that can assume different shapes and positions. Seat - gaming seats are generally dedicated to those who use external peripherals other than the mouse, keyboard and controller, such as the steering wheel, pedals and gear stick: these gaming devices, in fact, require a particular posture (very similar to that assumed on a car seat, to which they resemble very much) for optimal use. Material Another aspect to take into consideration when purchasing a gaming chair is the material with which it is covered: there are in fact chairs and armchairs completely covered in eco-leather, in breathable material or, again, in synthetic fabric. Playing chairs covered completely in cotton or other "pure" materials are more rare. Also to be considered, in this sense, is the presence or absence of an anti-splash system, which renders the seat and the other elements of the armchair (armrests, footrests and so on) waterproof and stain-proof.

Another material to pay attention to is the one used for the frame of the chair: the wooden frame is undoubtedly lighter and easier to manage, but it cannot support excessive weight. On the contrary, a frame made of aluminium increases the weight of the chair, but certainly makes it more stable and more resistant.

Comfort The comfort (or otherwise) of a gaming chair or armchair depends on at least three fundamental factors: the shape of the seat, the position of the backrest and, finally, the material with which it is upholstered.

As far as the first two aspects are concerned, one cannot speak of comfort in an "absolute" manner, since everything varies according to the game, the time spent on the chair and the output devices used: ideally, one should have a comfortable seat, possibly padded, high enough to comfortably rest one's feet on the floor and with a back inclination at an angle of 90° (or slightly more). Most gaming chairs allow for a similar position.

The choice of material also contributes to the comfort of the chair: a leather or eco-leather covering may certainly be very attractive to look at and give a positive seating experience, however, in hot weather (especially if one leans on the chair without a cover, perhaps in shorts or bare-chested), it may noticeably increase sweating.

A breathable cover, on the other hand, may be less pleasant to the touch and more difficult to clean, but it will provide better body temperature control in most thermal conditions of use.

Colour If you're a gamer who's particularly aesthetically conscious, you can't help but consider the colour of the chair you'll be spending most of your free time on, which should blend in harmoniously with your gaming station.

In this regard, you'll be pleased to know that most manufacturers of such accessories offer the user a wide range of colours (the most common are red, blue and green), so that the chair can be matched to its surroundings (the colours of the desk, ambient lighting, keyboard and case LEDs, etc.).