How to Choose best gaming chair with footrest?

Latest industry reports show that more gamers are prioritizing comfort, with 35% now choosing ergonomic features (like footrests) over looks. 62% of users with footrest-equipped chairs report less back and leg fatigue. 70% of Twitch streamers rely on them for long streaming sessions.

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At GravaStar, we know that comfort is paramount while gaming, especially if you enjoy playing for hours at a time. One of the best ways to ensure you're always comfortable is to find a gaming chair with a footrest. That's why we decided to create this guide to look at some of the best options.

Having a gaming chair with a footrest lets you recline with total body support for optimal comfort. On the other hand, a chair with no footrest (or a low-quality one) can leave you feeling unsupported while reclining and limit your ability to switch positions as you play.

To find the best option, we searched through several comments and reviews and considered numerous different chairs. After this research, as well as our plentiful experience in the gaming industry, we found that the Dowinx Fabric Gaming Chair is the best option.

How We Picked

If you're looking for a gaming chair with a footrest, there are a few things to consider. Here are some of the most important considerations, and why they're so crucial to think about.

Footrest Quality

Look for a gaming chair with a footrest that's well-made and features quality materials. It shouldn't feel like it's going to break or bend during use. If a footrest is poorly made or unsupportive, it won't add comfort to your gaming experience and could get damaged much easier.

Overall Comfort

While not specific to gaming chairs with footrests, gamers need to ensure their chairs are comfortable. It should support your body and feature padded materials to keep you feeling cozy.

If you spend hours in an uncomfortable chair that isn't ergonomic, it can lead to pain throughout your body and even hurt your posture.

Durability

Keep an eye out for gaming chairs that feature a durable frame, preferably made from metal. It should feature quality materials throughout, from the footrest to the headrest. This ensures you can use it for years without fear of it breaking down.

Choosing a cheaper chair that's poorly made may save you money now, but you'll likely need to replace it much sooner as it'll be more prone to wearing out quickly.

Other Factors

Consider the extra features and weight capacity of gaming chairs with footrests too. Extras like adjustability, massage, and the ability to rock or tilt can let you get more functionality out of the chair.

Make sure the chair can support your weight, as going above the listed weight capacity could wear the chair down much quicker or bend/break it.

Best Overall: Dowinx Fabric Gaming Chair

• Size: 29.92"D x 22.44"W x 50.1"H (76 cm x 57 cm x 127.25 cm)
• Ergonomics: Adjustable lumbar support, quality armrests and headrest
• Comfort features: Breathable and skin-friendly fabric, with pocket springs, foam, and massage function

Dowinx Fabric Gaming Chair is our top pick. In addition to the comfortable footrest, it has a breathable and soft fabric, foam throughout, a massage function, and even pocket springs in the seat for a responsive experience while you game.

In his review, YouTuber Dashunthetruth says that the chair "feels amazing" thanks to its comfort and support.

He's right on the money in our opinion, as the chair is a nice blend of providing comfort while still keeping you in an ergonomic position during those marathon gaming sessions. The adjustable lumbar support ensures you always have support where you need it most.

We also like the quality materials the chair is made with, including the durable and strong armrests. It's easy to recline the chair while gaming, which is the perfect position to enjoy the padded footrest.

One drawback of the chair is that if you weigh over 220 lbs (99.8 kg), the spring effect of the seat won't be as responsive and comfortable, so this chair might be better suited for gamers who don't weigh very much.

Runner-up: GTPLAYER Gaming Chair

• Size: 20.1"D x 18.1"W x 50"H (51.05 cm x 45.97 cm x 127 cm)
• Ergonomics: Flexible headrest and lumbar support pillow
• Comfort features: High-quality shaping foam seat, and comfort padding on the armrests

GTPLAYER Gaming Chair is Our next best recommendation. It features a shaping foam seat and adequate padding on the armrests, to go along with the well-made and padded footrest that easily gets extended and retracted under the seat.

It also has plenty to offer in the support department, with a flexible headrest and a lumbar support pillow that you can place in the exact position you need it to ensure your back feels great as you play your favorite game.

YouTuber Blasten did an unboxing and review of the chair, and said that the "build quality is immediately noticeable and promising".

We also like the quality of the chair, as it features a reinforced steel frame and sturdy design. The chair is outfitted with a beautiful faux leather wrap that is soft, smooth, and resistant to spills.

In our opinion, the stunning and elegant design of the chair is another strong suit, especially the patterns along the back.

The chair also has plenty of great extras such as an adjustable seat, Bluetooth speakers for an incredible and immersive gaming experience, and several color options to choose from to ensure the chair looks great next to the rest of your gaming setup.

A downside of this chair compared to other options is that the padding is thinner. This isn't a bad thing for everyone, but some gamers prefer a thicker and more plush chair and believe that it provides more comfort.

Also Great: AutoFull C3 Gaming Chair

• Size: 19"D x 19.7"W x 50.4"H (48.26 cm x 50.04 cm x 128.02 cm)
• Ergonomics: 3D lumbar support, headrest, and ergonomic shape
• Comfort features: Memory foam, comfort cushion seat

AutoFull C3 Gaming Chair is another good choice for gamers looking for a chair with a footrest. It has a beautiful design, and 3D lumbar support designed with the natural curve of the spine in mind, to keep you comfortable and ergonomic as you play.

It has memory foam and a thick sponge cushion on the seat. The chair has adjustable armrests, a tilt/rocking function, and the ability to recline to enjoy the footrest in as comfortable a position as possible.

It's also a breeze to put together, which isn't something that can be said about every gaming chair. In fact, in his review of this chair, YouTuber Jay Rule said that the assembly was "pretty easy" and that it "didn't take long at all" to put together.

Another strong point of the chair in our opinion is the build quality, as it is built on a pure carbon steel frame with a strong chassis and heavy-duty nylon base. It's also a relatively heavy chair at 56.8 lbs (25.8 kg) to ensure it's both stable and durable.

While we like a lot of different things about the chair, one drawback is the cost. It comes in a little more expensive than similar options, which could turn off some gamers.

Budget-Friendly Option: YSSOA Gaming Chair

• Size: 20"D x 25"W x 46"H (50.8 cm x 63.5 cm x 116.84 cm)
• Ergonomics: Neck pillow, adjustable lumbar support, and height customization
• Comfort features: Soft comfort padding throughout the design

YSSOA Gaming Chair is a great choice if you're a gamer on a budget. It has soft comfort padding throughout the chair, from the neck pillow to the back, to the footrest. We like how the chair also has adjustable lumbar support so you can fine-tune exactly where it sits.

You can customize the height of the chair, and the ergonomic design of the chair helps to keep you in a healthy posture as you spend hours playing games with your friends. In our opinion, the many color and design options available are also a nice touch for gamers.

It also has metal legs for a secure experience, multiple recline options, and can support up to 330 lbs (149.69 kg).

While the chair is incredibly budget-friendly, it unfortunately isn't the most durable and stable. While this makes sense given the price, the chair may not last as long as some other options that are more expensive and feature higher-quality design and materials.

The Competition

A few other options to consider are:

• GTRACING Gaming Chair: It has a striking design and has several extra features in addition to the footrest, such as speakers, adjustability throughout, and full-back support. However, some users have questions about the stability and durability of the chair.
• RESPAWN 900 Gaming Recliner: The unique recliner design and plush padding of this comfortable gaming chair is truly unique in the industry. But it's an expensive chair and doesn't have the same ergonomic features of many traditional gaming chairs.
• AA Products Gaming Chair: It has a sleek/streamlined ergonomic design, with several adjustable aspects. You can remove/move the headrest and lumbar support, and it has silent wheels. Unfortunately, it comes with poor instructions and is hard to put together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let's go over a few common questions about gaming chairs with footrests, as well as our answers.

Is a footrest worth it for a gaming chair?

If you want to be able to recline, put your feet up, and take a break while gaming (or play games from that position), we believe it's worth it. However, if you always sit straight up while gaming, you may not get a lot of use from a footrest on a gaming chair as most require you to recline.

Does having a footrest make a gaming chair more expensive?

Not specifically, no. Many gaming chairs with a footrest are budget-friendly and cheaper than similar chairs with no footrest. The cost of a gaming chair generally depends on things like the materials, the build quality, the brand, and the included features.

Does the footrest get in the way when using the chair normally?

No, it shouldn't. The footrest on a gaming chair normally retracts. As a result, you can slide it out when you want to use it, but then tuck it back under the seat when you want to use the chair normally.

Final Thoughts

To ensure the footrest stays in good shape for as long as possible, make sure to treat it well. If you put too much weight on it or bend some of the components, it may not retract properly under the seat and could ruin the overall effectiveness and comfort of the whole chair.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Best Gaming Chairs

Best Gaming Chair for Most People

AndaSeat Kaiser 3

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 gaming chair delivers superb comfort with a thick, cushioned seat and supportive bolsters, surpassing pricier rivals like the SecretLabs Titan Evo . Our lead tester loved the magnetic neck pillow, saying, “It allows me to sit for long periods without pressure spots.” The internal lumbar adjusts for height and curvature (though tricky while seated), and the chair reclines from 90° to 165° with five lockable positions and smooth rocking, delighting our team with its micro-adjustability.

The Kaiser 3's adjustable armrests support mobile gaming with raisable, rotatable design and swappable magnetic toppers in various colors, matching the chair's solid build. Though less cushy than some prefer, they hold up well, and a tester notes. Consider the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 Pro if you want even more arm rest adjustability. However, it costs another $100 to get an incremental amount of adjustment.

SPECIFICATIONS Adjustable Lumbar Support Internal: Up/Down and Backward/Forward Comfortable Hours 8.0 hours Adjustable Armrest 4D Measured Recline Angle 165º Manufacturer Weight Limit 396 lbs

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3's wide seat allows varied positions, but its lumbar support needs work—taking time to adjust and feeling oddly shaped to some testers, unlike its other strong features. Smaller users may find it doesn't lower enough for flat-footed comfort and to get your legs at the recommended 90 degrees.

For a fully adjustable alternative, the Iskur V2 offers a standout lumbar system and exceptional comfort, though at a higher price. Still, the AndaSeat strikes an impressive cost-comfort balance, with one tester saying, “It's the best value for long gaming sessions I've tried.”

Read more: AndaSeat Kaiser 3 review

The Most Comfortable Option

Razer Iskur V2

The Razer Iskur V2 gaming chair is a significant upgrade over the V1, refined with input from ergonomic experts and pro gamers who pointed out flaws in the original design. It's ideal for players seeking long-term comfort and extensive customization, offering plenty of adjustments to suit individual preferences. Our reviewer praised it, saying, “The new version has a Goldilocks level of cushion for me; it's just right,” highlighting its perfect balance of support and comfort.

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The backrest cradles you in a racing seat style, replacing stiff bolsters with comfy foam. It's lumbar support swivels with your turns, adjusting up/down and in/out beyond most systems, while 4D armrests swivel and rise for mobile gaming. Tester Austin Palmer says, “The neck pillow's cushiness is luxurious.” Setup takes just 10 minutes, making the Iskur V2 a standout.

SPECIFICATIONS Adjustable Lumbar Support Internal: Up/Down and Backward/Forward Comfortable Hours 8.0 hours Adjustable Armrest 4D Measured Recline Angle 152º Manufacturer Weight Limit 300 lbs

All these admirable attributes come at a cost, and though we think the price point is mostly justified, the Iskur V2 might be out of reach for some; it is more than double the cost of our favorite budget buy, the Dowinx Retro Series LS-S. Razer offers a more affordable version of this chair, the Razer Iskur V2 X, which looks similar to the Iskur V2 but comes with fewer adjustable features. The armrests on the V2 X are limited to two adjustments (up/down and inward/outward) instead of the four-way adjustments found on the V2. Additionally, the lumbar support is fixed with no customization options, so if the built-in curve doesn't suit your back, there's no way to tweak it for comfort.

The seat height adjusts about five inches, allowing shorter gamers around 5'3" to rest their feet flat at its lowest setting, though some may still find the lumbar support uncomfortable even when fully lowered. The AndaSeat Kaiser 3, more affordable, offers a subtler internal lumbar support and a flexible magnetic neck pillow, making it a strong alternative. Our tests show both chairs provide excellent comfort, support, and adjustability. Despite minor critiques, we rank the Iskur V2 among the top gaming chairs available.

Read more: Razer Iskur V2 review

Best Bang for the Buck

Dowinx Retro Series LS-S

The Dowinx Retro Series LS-S offers comfort and adjustability at a budget-friendly price, ideal for gamers not wanting to compromise much on features. It's supple faux leather impressed a reviewer who said, “It feels nicer to me than many similar coverings.” The cushioned yet firm armrests adjust up/down, swivel, and move forward/back and in/out for solid support. A decently padded footrest enhances relaxation, though it could extend further, and pulls out easily for long sessions. It's perfect for naps between gaming with a recline from 165° to a flat 180° when unlocked.

SPECIFICATIONS Adjustable Lumbar Support Foam pillow
Raise/Lower Comfortable Hours 6.0 hours Adjustable Armrest 4D Measured Recline Angle 180º Manufacturer Weight Limit 350 lbs

The Dowinx Retro Series seat is wide and cushy, but one tester noted, “After 6 hours, I felt pressure spots due to its underlying structure.” Breathability lacks, causing heat in summer, and the strapped-in back and neck pillows sag slightly—taller users may need frequent adjustments. The lumbar massager vibrates well without motor bulk, though it's noisy with a short 4' cord (quick-release included).

Reclining is stiff with no tilt limiter and tight tension, yet its faux leather, adjustability, and comfort offer solid value. For a cheaper alternative, the GT800A Footrest provides similar comfort and a lumbar massager.

For about $50 less, the Dowinx LS- has a similar design yet uses a softer and more breathable fabric. However, its armrests adjust in only two ways, and the lumbar support is more squishy, lacking the massage function found on the S.

Read more: Dowinx Retro Series LS-S review

Best on A Tight Budget

GTPlayer GT800A Footrest

The GTPlayer GT800A Footrest, a budget-friendly gaming chair, delivers solid comfort and adjustability with movable lumbar and neck pillows strapped to the chair. Its footrest boosts leg support and leisure. A tester said, “It's satisfactorily comfortable for up to 5 hours of gaming.” Unlike the AndaSeat Kaiser 3, it lacks tilt but offers a steep recline for naps between sessions.

SPECIFICATIONS Adjustable Lumbar Support Foam pillow
Raise/Lower Comfortable Hours 5.0 hours Adjustable Armrest None Measured Recline Angle 135º Manufacturer Weight Limit 250 lbs

The GTPlayer GT800A Footrest lumbar includes a noisy but functional massager, no match for a real masseuse. Its armrests pivot at two points, adjusting with recline but lacking further customization. Larger testers found the tension knob too weak, and all agreed 5 hours was the comfort limit, one saying, “It's decent up to that point.” Still, it's a solid office chair replacement or budget gaming option. Try GTRacing's Music Series for more comfort and adjustability, including headrest speakers and better armrests.

Read more: GTPlayer GT800A Footrest review

A Great Office and Gaming Option

Modway Articulate Ergonomic

Adjustable Armrest: Up/Down | Adjustable Lumbar: Raise & Lower Backrest

The Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh doesn't rival top gaming chairs but impresses with its low cost, decent adjustability, and solid comfort, as noted by our test team. Its mesh keeps you cool during intense gaming or heavy computing. The standout is its price, though our reviewer says, “The backrest and seat are fine but not remarkable.”

The Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh offers less recline and adjustability than premium gaming chairs, missing robust lumbar or bucket seat features. It suits those needing a comfy chair mainly for work with some gaming. For budget gaming options, check the GT800A Footrest or Music Series for solid comfort and features. If you want a versatile multitasking chair, the Modway stands out.

Read more: Modway Articulate Ergonomic Mesh review

Compare Products

select up to 5 products to compare Score Product Price 86 Razer Iskur V2
The Most Comfortable Option $649 82 AndaSeat Kaiser 3
Best Gaming Chair for Most People $430 80 SecretLabs Titan Evo $659 71 Dowinx Retro Series LS-S
Best Bang for the Buck $250 69 Asus ROG Destrier $900 57 AutoFull C3 $300 53 GTRacing Music Series $170 47 GTPlayer GT800A Footrest
Best on A Tight Budget $190 47 Homall S-Racer Gaming Chair $240 42 BestOffice High-Back Ergonomic $160

How We Tested

Our GearLab test team systematically evaluated our curated product list, spending hundreds of hours testing. We tapped our in-house experts, who sit for hours daily analyzing products, offering diverse comfort and adjustability feedback based on their varied builds—from a 5'3", 120-lb tester to 6'+, 200-lb individuals.

We divided the scoring of each gaming chair into three key metrics:

• Comfort (55% of total score weighting)

• Adjustability (35% weighting)

• Setup (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

For this review, we brought in lead tester Austin Palmer. Austin has a rich research and objective review background, having honed that expertise while earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University. He now spends the typical work week sitting at a desk for his job at GearLab, so he has more than a few opinions on everyday office chairs. Moreover, he is a serious lifelong PC gamer who spends even more time sitting in a gaming chair during his free time and has also tested office chairs for seven years, so he came to the task ready to extract the facts and explore the subtle nuances in design or performance that might appear along the way. Austin was in a top 50 guild for raiding in World of Warcraft. He participated in Race to World First. He has been gaming for 30+ years since the Nintendo Entertainment System came out.

Review editor James Maiz has spent many years extracting and distilling qualitative and quantitative insights by parsing perceptions and preferences, combing through sprawling datasets, and supporting investigations and analyses by higher education researchers, pre-trial legal consultants, and market/product testers. He holds an advanced writing degree from San Francisco State University and trawled our extensive feedback on gaming chairs to help surface and illuminate the good, the bad, and the cushy.

Analysis and Test Results

We spent countless hours collectively sitting, reclining, measuring, and evaluating our gaming chair selection so that we could bring you the most unbiased and objective data available. You can choose the best model for elevating your gaming experience with our testing results.

What's the Best Value?

The quality and comfort of gaming chairs are somewhat correlated to cost, with a couple of opportunities to purchase bargain options on tighter budgets and still get a good balance of comfort and adjustability. The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 rides at the bottom of the high-priced product tier. It could be a good investment for gamers who put in long hours and need a quality chair to match.

If the cost is too steep for your wallet, the Dowinx Retro scores admirably in our tests, which provides a great balance between price and performance. For under $200, the GTPlayer GT800A Footrest is a great option for those who need to save even more money. Although we recommend these budget picks, we understand that they come with drawbacks in reduced adjustability, where we couldn't sit for full-length days compared to higher priced products in the selection.

We want to note one outlier in our results. Although priced high, the Asus ROGdidn't show a complementary appraisal from our test team. It has great features with a wide range of adjustability, but underperformed in our comfortability metric, making us look to other chairs in this category, all while saving a few hundred bucks.

Comfort

The comfort metric, the top priority in our gaming chair tests, was evaluated by our GearLab team across three submetrics: seat, backrest, and armrest comfort. They also measured the average maximum comfortable sitting time per chair. Our diverse panel, varying in height and weight, tested each chair side by side over extended periods.

Below, we've charted each chair's comfort, averaged from our panel of testers, taking the seat, backrest, and armrest into consideration. The Razer Iskur V2 came out on top, with all three components showing some of the highest scores in the test.

The Razer Iskur V2's lumbar support stands apart from other models for its noticeable lumbar panel. Instead of a pillow that changes position over time or fixed supports that cannot be adjusted, the Iskur V2 offers complete lower back support through a panel that matches a natural lumbar curve, which adjusts to some really serious extremes. It will also follow you as you turn, a unique design that provides support when moving around.

The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 scored well for back comfort, especially for the upper back, as the lumbar support takes some trial and error to get just right, while the AutoFull C3 also ranked well, although some of our testers reported feeling warmer over time. Also, wider-shouldered gamers who like to lean back and relax might find the C3's bolsters a little cramped but not to an uncomfortable degree. Another chair with excellent backrest comfort to consider is the SecretLabs Titan Evo , which is made of materials that seem to do a better job of dissipating heat. That, combined with the strong magnetic neck pillow that comes with it, makes it a great option for extended gaming sessions.

We also measured the amount of time each chair was comfortable to sit in for one session. This was averaged among our panel of five testers.

Concerning more serious gaming sessions, with campaigns lasting more than five hours and multiplayer cooperatives, you'll find long-term comfort from the SecretLabs Titan Evo , the AndaSeat Kaiser 3, and the Razer Iskur V2. Our team's final assessments rated these chairs to 8 hours of use with adequate comfort, while they rated the runner-ups, the AutoFull C3 and Dowinx Retro Series LS-S, to 6 hours.

Behind our duration comfort leaders, our team rated the Homall S-Racer Gaming Chair to a maximum of 5.5 hours of adequate comfort before needing to spend some time moving around, with the Asus ROG Destrier, GTPlayer GT800A Footrest, and GTRacing Music Series clocking in around 5 hours. These may be good options for fast rounds of first-person shooters and shorter campaigns or even for less serious gamers who might use these chairs for office work but don't expect to spend more than half a day gaming in comfort.

When giving each chair a comfort score, we took into consideration the comfort of each chair's components (back, seat, armrest) as well as the maximum average hours our testers felt they could sit comfortably in each chair. We've charted the overall comfort of each chair below.

Regarding overall comfort, the Razer Iskur V2 rose to the top as one of the most comfortable options we tested, with SecretLabs Titan Evo not far behind and just a smidge ahead of the AndaSeat Kaiser 3.

While most higher-priced contenders outshined the majority of options we tested, our team still felt two other models, the Dowinx Retro Series LS-S and the GTPlayer GT800A Footrest, offer serious gamers a high level of comfort at more approachable prices. They feature adjustable lumbar and neck pillows plus a comfortable footrest when you want one. Our test team rated the seat on the Dowinx Retro Series LS-S as the significantly more comfortable of the two overall, with the GTPlayer GT800A Footrest offering a firm seat cushion with less give. A massage feature of the GTPlayer GT800A might seem a bit gimmicky, but it is functional.

Lastly, if a supportive reclined is your gaming position, then the Razer Iskur V2 has your back. It has good backrest tension and can be locked into a wide range of positions, so you'll be sure to get the most comfortable reclined position possible. The large lumbar support continues functioning, even in the most extreme reclined positions.

Adjustability

For our adjustability metric, we assessed the extent to which each chair is adjustable and evaluated the ease of making those adjustments. We specifically examined the diverse options available in five submetrics and scored the ability to modify the armrests, seat height, and backrest of each chair, including features like lumbar support and tensioning knobs, but also evaluated whether we could achieve a good gaming position with each model.

The Razer Iskur V2 led the group for its greater seat height range, with some of our testers finding the Asus ROG Destrier a tad too low for their gaming setups. On the other hand, both can boast a great tension knob, which offers positive engagement for a wide range of reclining positions, though one of our testers mentioned the height adjustment could get in the way when adjusting the Destrier a long way but liked that the knob slides in and out, making it easier to adjust than some chairs while not sitting.

The Titan could have earned a better score if not for its rather weak reclining tension knob, while our testers found the Dowinx Retro Series to be too tight, with one tester needing to get the chair reclined past a certain point to get enough leverage to freely bounce around with the tension. On the other hand, our smaller, lighter tester had a little trouble pushing back.

If you have a large positive ape index, lanky arms, or bony elbows, you may value adjustable armrests that accommodate your preferred gaming position. It's nice to be able to widen or narrow your armrest positions, as well as raise and lower them. The Kaiser 3 and Titan both come with swappable magnetic armrest toppers, which allow for a variety of colors or styles and if damaged, an easier exchange without having to replace the whole chair. The Asus ROG has a wide range allowance compared to others, allowing it to go the extra distance for those outside of the averages. It has almost six inches of vertical movement, that's great for mobile gaming or possibly for taller gamers.

The top models all offer armrest adjustments for pivoting, height, and width and feature comfortable cushioning with a small range of densities. Although the rest of the group offers fairly comfortable armrests, they do lack adjustability. The GTPlayer GT800A Footrest incorporates a novel design that pivots and adjusts with the backrest as it reclines. While interesting and comfortable, it limits it to being unadjustable in any other way.

Tension knobs were another specific component of each gaming chair that our team evaluated, and the Razer Iskur V2 again earned a top score for the submetric. Although we found the location of the tension knob to be a little difficult to reach and adjust while seated, this is a rather common issue.

Our team was pleasantly surprised by the AndaSeat Kaiser 3's highly adjustable tension knob, and though the plastic is a bit sharp, the ability to get great tension for just about any weight earned it a high score. Neither the SecretLabs Titan Evo nor BestOffice High-Back Ergonomic have an impressive tension nob, and both are a little cumbersome to reach. The Titan Evo offered weak resistance, while the BestOffice offered too much resistance, even on the lowest setting. Unfortunately, the GTRacing Music Series, AutoFull C3, and GTPlayer GT800A Footrest completely miss the mark by the lack of a tension knob that had us wanting better support for our backs.

However, it's worth reiterating that GTRacing Music Series reclines to about 150°, the GTPlayer GT800A Footrest to about 135°, and the Dowinx Retro Series LS-S to an impressive nearly horizontal position and a full 180° with the tilt unlocked. While these models aren't ideal for PC gaming when using a keyboard and mouse, they are good options for those dedicated to console gaming.

Setup

Our final test metric setup focused on the effort required to go from a boxed-up chair to game-ready. Whether the setup task is painstaking or a breeze may make a difference in purchasing decisions. However, considering it only needs to be done once, we didn't attribute too heavy weighting to each model's overall score. Within this metric, some products stood out for their ease of assembly and short time to get from unboxing to comfortable gaming.

Our test team member responsible for the assembly of each chair put together the top performing model, the SecretLabs Titan Evo , in under 10 minutes, the Razer Iskur at about the 10-minute mark, and the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 in just over 12.5 minutes. Also impressive was the BestOffice Gaming Cheap Desk Task Executive with a 15-minute assembly time.

Overall, most models were reasonably easy to assemble, and even the most mechanically un-inclined person can assemble any chair in our test lineup with either the included tools or basic tools and instructions in under an hour.

Conclusion

Gaming chairs may seem unremarkable or even unnecessary to some. Still, an ergonomic gaming chair can significantly impact your gaming performance and contribute to whether you have a good gaming session or one filled with discomfort, backaches, and disappointing performance. Therefore, they can be a great investment and are worth careful consideration. Our intensive side-by-side analysis of the top gaming chairs on the market is designed to equip you with the information to select the ideal chair that aligns with your sitting requirements, budget, and gaming preferences.

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