Gaming Chairs – Helpful Hints On Choosing One

gaming chairs

Gaming chairs are a fun alternative to your standard office chair if you happen to be a PC gamer and tend to play at a desk. It is no surprise that in recent years gaming chairs are becoming ever more popular as a modern replacement to conventional options for seating while you game. You can finally dump the couch or bed for a seat that is more comfortable, doesn't take up a lot of space, and is easy to move and store.

The idea is to give gaming enthusiasts a choice when it comes to picking a chair that would best fit their personal style and budget. These days there are plenty of top rated brands that come in tons of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some companies even have models specific to weight and dimensions.

Many developers of gaming chairs have carefully researched and taken factors that are important to gamers into consideration. One, in particular, is the multiple hours that a gamer can remain seated. This can raise many health concerns. Therefore, a quality gaming chair is likely to come with many adjustable functions and parts, along with a high back for more neck and spinal support.

Not to mention moveable cushions and a backrest that is ergonomically shaped to cradle the contours of your body, thus supporting proper posture and encouraging good circulation.  A good gaming chair will allow for fluid movement in order to find different comfort zones, as well as positioning for different activities besides gaming. Firm but comfortable foam padding and cushioning will ensure many hours of enjoyable play.

When choosing the best gaming chair, the key to ultimate comfort is proper weight distribution and lateral support, especially if you plan to spend countless hours of usage. There's nothing worse than sitting in a chair that is uncomfortable and makes you sit with bad posture.

We all come in different shapes and sizes. Fortunately, there is a good chance of finding a gaming chair that is likely to meet your size requirements. For instance, if you are a parent looking for a chair for a child, a bean bag chair or a video rocker works well. These are low to the ground and are well within the safe weight limits.  PC gamers will love racing seats because many of these chairs are equipped with flexible settings within the seating, armrests, backrest, as you would typically find in a standard office chair but work much better for those who want to customize their gaming space.

In particular,  PC gaming chairs are growing in demand among Esports professional gamers. Many times you will see brands like dxracer being used and endorsed at world gaming competitions and exhibitions. These gaming professionals who consider themselves elite athletes, do not leave it to chance choosing the best gaming chair at a competitive level. As a gamer, you can understand how important it is to constantly find that competitive edge when it comes to your keyboard, mouse, and headset. So, why not have your butt covered (pun intended) when it comes to a gaming chair?

If you're interested in buying a gaming chair but you'd like to have a few questions answered first, then you've come to the right place!

Before making a decision to spend your hard-earned money, you want to get the best bang for your buck, while finding the right fit and preferences. But is it really necessary to buy a gaming chair? The short answer is no but there are a few good reasons to.

Why Buy A Gaming Chair?

why you need a gaming chair

Is it really worth it to invest in a game chair? Some people will tell you that you don't need a special chair just for gaming.“What's wrong with sitting on the couch, the floor, or in a regular office chair?”, they might say. After all, isn't that what everyone does?

But wouldn't you agree that sitting on the floor or in a standard boring office chair can get a little tedious after a while? Isn't that the reason why many movie theatres upgrade their seats? 

Gaming requires long periods sitting in one position, so things like ergonomics play an important role in your comfort and well-being. This is where gamer chairs can offer many benefits like the ability to enjoy playing your favorite game without being interrupted by back spasms.

You want to look for things like comfort, lumbar support, a reclining, and or rocking option. The seat, headrest, armrest, upholstery, and frame should be important factors when finding a chair for gaming. Look for quality and durability.

Not to mention some amazing features like built-in speakers, wireless technology, vibration and massage capabilities, and much more.All available in order to intensify your gaming experience.

What To Look For When Selecting The Best Gaming Chair

There are 5 important factors to consider before purchasing a gaming chair:

  • Comfort. Just imagine being able to be plant yourself in front of a screen for a few hours, settling in to relax and sink into your seat. One of the last things you want to do is become quickly reminded that your back hurts or your legs are going numb. No one needs to become distracted during those crucial moments when the fate of the world depends on your concentration and quick reflexes. Look for a chair with cusions that are firm enough for support but not overly stiff.
  • Style of gaming. The kind of gaming you are engaged in could likely determine the best chair for that particular gaming situation. The most common chair for gaming at a desk is a PC gaming chair. As mentioned above and throughout this discussion, an actual chair designed for gamers has unique advantages. For example, having to sit for a long time as a gamer tends to force you to change seating positions. Having a chair that allows you to sit completely upright, tilt back to a leaning position, or even lie completely flat can give you that type of flexibility.  A gaming rocker chair or a bean bag is fun if you are sitting in front of the T.V. using a gaming console or with a laptop computer in the comfort of your lap. Compared to sitting on the couch or the edge of the bed, these low profile video gaming chairs allow you the freedom of moment by means of rocking the chair base to the best angle while stretching out your legs. The bottom line is to define and establish the types of gaming you prefer more often, and it will naturally lead you to the model, style, and size that's right for you.
  • Buyer Ratings. With so many models and styles of gaming chair to choose from, how do you know which one is the best choice for your budget and preferences? Finding buyer ratings from real people like those found on Amazon who has bought and currently uses can be a helpful way of learning about a specific chair you may be interested in. Generally, there will be a rating of stars out of 5. You probably want to avoid a gaming chair that is rated lower than 3.5 stars and look for chairs 4 stars and above. You will find that many of the chairs we have researched and recommend are well within and in some cases of these ratings. Along with ratings, you will also find buyer comments. Most people are happy to share their honest opinion about their personal buying experience. You can average the positive to negative along with the star rating to focus on the best buying decision.
  • Quality & Durability. Especially over time will a chair prove whether it can feel and remain comfortable regardless of the amount of use. There is a fantastic selection of quality gaming chairs that are produced with the best of materials including the layered foam cushions for higher resilience and permeability. Well stitched and covered with a leather, mesh, or PU leather which can be much easier to clean and can hold up to constant wear. Solid metal and nylon frames with larger sized wheels provide excellent stability and mobility. Higher capacity gas lift allows for a smooth height adjustment. Some manufacturers offer excellent warranties to back up their guarantee that you receive a quality product made with solid parts.
  • Frequently asked questions. As we draw closer to a buying decision, there still may be a few questions that need to be answered before we make the investment.  Make sure to check out the FAQs below. We have researched what others were asking before they decided on purchasing a gaming chair. Getting a second opinion and in some cases having a question raised that we might not have thought of can also provide us with the greatest amount of information for making an educated decision. The answers can help us quickly determine which chair is right for our gaming needs. 

Which Gaming Chair Will You Choose? 

Your choice of video gaming chair will probably have a lot to do with where and how you prefer to sit. Whether you're at a desk or need more of a console gaming chair. For the most part, PC gamers normally sit at a desk to play. But with the use of gaming notebooks, leaning back comfortably in a pedestal base, rocker or a fluffy bean bag can be just as pleasurable with a laptop stand.

Likewise, things like age, height, weight, and of course budget will also be deciding factors in your selection. We have  compiled a list of cheap gaming chairs for those who want to spend under $200. Speaking of age, read our section on adult gaming chairs for those with such needs. 

There are a variety of types of cool gaming chairs to choose from including:

1. Racing seat office chair. These are similar to regular office chairs having caster wheels, a handle-toggle for adjusting tilt/height, etc. When looking at the different office type chairs available, these are the best computer chairs for gaming due to their style, colors, and high headrest. Designed specifically for PC gaming at a desk.

DXRacer chairs, for example, were inspired by a race car driving seat that reclines, making them more fun than your average office chair.

2. Rocker gaming chair. These are also great chairs for gaming if you prefer to sit closer to the floor. Maybe not the best choice for PC gamers, but they can be very comfortable. Read x rocker reviews here. You can literally rock-like being in a rocking chair (a real gaming chair rocker) while having all the lumbar support for your back muscles.Many of these come with speakers and other great features to enhance your gaming time.

3. Beanbag style gaming chair. If you're looking for a more casual seating while you are in a gaming session, then a bean bag chair may be all you need.They usually don't come with a whole lot of bells and whistles or posture support, but they are fun and relatively comfortable. If you live and play in an area with limited space, bean bags are great being both super lightweight and easy to store. Note: They're not much good for PC gaming and require refilling with stuffing from time time which you can purchase seperately.

4. Racing simulator cockpit. This type of gamer-chair is basically a specialized computer chair and monitor stand that comes with a steering wheel and pedal supports. Especially for those who enjoy setting up peripherals Giving you the feeling like your in the cockpit of a plane or race car.

5. Pedestal gaming chair. The chair itself is similar to a recliner, but it rocks and rotates on a pedestal base rather than on wheels or legs. Normally they include fancy options like built-in speakers and Bluetooth capabilities, as well as great lumbar support and armrests.

Gaming Chair Features & Options

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    Adjustable settings. Many of the PC gaming chairs are designed with customizable settings in the backrest such as a tilting function for whether you are playing with intensity or prefer to lay back and take a nap. Having adjustable armrests can help you fit better in the chair without feeling cramped for space.
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    Made for all sizes. No matter whether you are tall, slim or short, fat, light, or heavy, there is a gaming chair that can fit your size and weight. Most of the standard size chairs can comfortably support a person between five to six feet tall up to 200 pounds. There are also big and tall gaming chairs for those with larger and heavier frames. Companies like DX Racer has a different style chair for many shapes and sizes.
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    Built-in speakers & AFM technology. Many of the video rocker and pedestal style chairs come equipped with 2 speakers and a sub-woofer. These incorporate AFM or Audio Force Modulation technology which uses the hollow volume of space inside the chair and its frame to amplify and vibrate, thus providing greater multi-sensory entertainment value.
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    Wireless receiver/transmitter. Connects to an assortment of video and audio players with Bluetooth capacity. it also Acomes with RCA stereo outputs; optional RCA cables included. Why not connect multiple chairs to share your gaming experience with a friend?
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    Vibration motors that sync to your output bass frequencies and the audio from the game associated with explosions, gunfire, crashes, and other kinds of impact which are translated into vibration signals and sent to the motors vibrate the chair.
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    Cup holders & side pockets. Many of the v rocker and pedestal style gaming seats come with storage compartments and placeholders for controllers, drinks, etc..
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    High-quality padding and pillow cushioning for greater relaxation and support, promoting proper posture and blood flow when sitting for long periods of time.
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    Massage and Heating Pads. There aren't alot but some manufacturers incorperate built-in massage motors and heating pads to relax your back during extended gaming sessions. The quality of these chairs may be in question considering the low buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gaming Chairs

Q. What type of gaming will you be involved in?

A: This can greatly affect your choice of options whether you will be sitting at a desk, in front of a television or prefer racing or flight simulator games.

Q. Will the electronics be compatible with the gaming system I am using?  

Selected chairs will easily connect to a PS4, Xbox One, or Wii U. But in some cases, you may require some sort of optical to RCA adapter.

Q. Does size make a difference?

We could answer this question in 2 ways:

The first involves your size, weight, and age. You'll want to make sure the chair is best suited for your body. If you're over 6 feet tall, clearly a child size chair won't do.

The second involves the size of your room and storage space. Obviously, a small bean bag chair would be easier to store than a racing simulator cockpit.

Therefore, make sure to do all measurements before purchasing.

Q. How comfortable will the seat be?

Again, keep in mind the amount of time you will be in the chair. Especially after a new game release (if you know what I mean).

Comfort can come with a price, but it's well worth it to find a chair that comes with an adjustable backrest and lumbar to provide maximum support for your neck and back while encouraging good circulation.

Q. How can I find the best price without sacrificing quality?

You'll simply need to decide what you want and what you are willing to pay for. Don't worry, you have plenty of options to choose from.

Whether you have very basic needs or want all the thrills and frills, with a little research, there's bound to be a chair that you can make your own.

Q. Will it require major assembling and set-up?

Depending on the type of chair you choose, there will be some set-up time required. You can usually put one together in 20 minutes or so.

There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube with step by step instructions, so there's no need to fear a box of bolts and a small print instruction manual.

 Q. How heavy are these chairs?

Typically their weight can range anywhere from 2 pounds to 500 pounds depending on which chair you select.

The average weight, however, is about 50 pounds.

Q. Why are style and materials so important?

To some, style and the materials making up the chair are irrelevant.

But for the most part, you'll want a chair that complements your office or gaming space's colors and decor.

If you tend to sweat a lot, a breathable mesh type fabric may be a better choice over leather. Also,

Remember that most of the time you get what you pay for. If you plan to use the chair extensively than you will need to invest in better quality.

  Q. How much do gamer chairs cost?

The average cost for a decent chair will run you around $200 to $400. On the lower end, you're likely to pay under $100.

Q. Where can I buy a gaming chair?

There are a variety of places to purchase a gaming chair.

Purchasing locally can sometimes be a challenge as many department stores will not carry a lot of stock.

Although you can't "try it before you buy it", purchasing online is a great option for those who do not have access to big box stores in their area.

With secure online shopping and free shipping from mega-stores like Amazon, it makes it much easier to have your new chair delivered to your door within days, with little hassle and much convenience.

Finding Your Game Chair

Hopefully by now you are much more informed as to your choices when selecting a new gamer chair.You've learned about the many types that are available, as well as some of the cool technology included with them.

 We've also examined some of the questions that someone who is considering purchasing should be aware of. Please feel free to browse around and choose from specific brand reviews we have prepared and located the gaming chair that's best for you!

Get started by reading about the 7 Best Gaming Chairs of 2018.

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