A Beginner's Guide to Finding the Right Chair for Gaming

Whether it's doing dungeon runs with your guild, gunning for 10 wins over the Weekend League, or just having fun with your 5 stacks, gaming is often a rather sedentary activity. While it is not uncommon to be sat down and invest hours in gaming at home especially amidst Covid-19, a surefire sign of worry is feeling physical aches and pains after each session.

These symptoms manifest due to poor posture and ergonomics, resulting in back, neck, and shoulder pain. To save you from chronic discomfort, we break down what to look for in a good ergonomic gaming chair.

Are Gaming Chairs Really Worth it?

The first thing most buyers look out for is price. However, consider the posture of your body while gaming and the number of hours you might spend sitting at that angle. It is never a bad idea to invest good money in something that not only brings you joy but also occupies a good chunk of your time.

Apart from that, one should also take into account gaming habits while incorporating the ideal gaming chair. It would make no sense for a console gamer to buy the best PC gaming chair on the market if it means slamming it in the middle of the living room. If this all seems mildly confusing and you don’t know what to look out for, don’t worry - let’s look at some key facets of gaming chairs to help you decide!

1. Type of material

Gaming chairs often come in a variety of materials. Genuine leather is used in higher-end models of gaming chairs, due to the supreme levels of comfort that it provides. The next alternative that is close to fulfilling the same criteria is PU leather, which is normally found in the middle range of gaming chairs. Fabrics and mesh are also common options for mid-range chairs, allowing for more airflow in humid Singapore weather.

2. Size

The last thing you’d want is to buy a gaming chair, only for it to arrive and not fit your battle station. Most gaming chairs on the market sport a relatively large base to accommodate the weight and bulk of the build, therefore it is imperative you measure and allocate sufficient space for your chair. Speaking of size, gaming chairs also come in different size configurations. If you’ve been sedentary for too long and have been putting on the Work From Home pounds, chances are you’d want to opt for an XL/Titan version instead of a regular build.

3. Adjustable armrests

Functionality is paramount to the ergonomics and comfort of a gaming chair. With that in mind, it is crucial to make sure that the chair itself has adjustable armrests that are in line with your body profile. These armrests should have a sufficient range of extension, providing you the ability to rest your arms at a comfortable level which takes the burden off your shoulders and curbs potential strain.

4. Backrest

A backrest with lumbar support further complements ergonomics so that your body is streamlined during gaming sessions. There should be little to no stress on your spine while in the throes of gaming, thereby alleviating any potential back pains after you are done. If you find yourself having to hunch forward or side at the edge of your seat, that particular gaming chair might not be best suited for you.

5. Style

Personalisation is a huge boon for those of us who have specific colour-themed setups. A cosmetic choice that ties the room together, try to imagine how the tone and colour of your gaming chair will fit in the grand scheme of your layout. Suffice to say it might be a little awkward if there was a neon pink chair in the middle of a monochrome-themed room. Thankfully, most gaming chair retailers offer a variety of colourways, with some even allowing personalised customisations and stitching.

Complete Your Gaming Setup

There’s no better way to tell if a gaming chair is perfect for you than trying it out for yourself. There’s no reason to compound the already existing weight of carrying your teammates, head down to the Ergowork’s showrooms today to check out our extensive suite of ergonomic chairs - starting with our Duorest G1 Pro Gamer Ergo Chair!