Are gaming chairs just a trendy choice, or are they beneficial for your health? When it comes to extended gaming sessions, investing in an ergonomic gaming chair becomes crucial. In this blog post, discover essential factors to consider when purchasing a gaming chair and how it can enhance your gaming experience.

What is a Gaming Chair and its Benefits?

A gaming chair, also known as a gamer chair or racer chair, is specifically designed for PC or console gamers to promote a healthy posture during gameplay. Ergonomic features are key in these chairs, supporting comfort and posture stability. Interestingly, gaming chairs are not limited to gaming environments but are also popular in home offices and workplaces. Numerous studies emphasize the significance of ergonomic seating, highlighting its positive impact on health and productivity. Whether you opt for a dedicated gaming chair or a standard ergonomic office chair, the key is finding one that suits your height and body dimensions. So, what advantages does a gaming chair offer?

Advantages and disadvantages of a gaming chair

The perfect chair should facilitate natural movements and adapt to its owner. It’s crucial for the chair to adjust precisely to body dimensions and support a healthy sitting posture. But why opt for a gaming chair instead of a regular office chair? Is there any real difference?

Shape

Firstly, Gaming chairs typically boast a more attractive design. The most common style is the “racing chair,” inspired by car racing seats, known as bucket seats. This specific shape provides a stable sitting position and enhances the gaming experience for some, making you feel as if you're sitting in a Lamborghini while playing racing games like Need for Speed. Gaming chairs often feature a more futuristic design that complements a gaming setup. However, the bucket seat design can be less ergonomic. The raised sides of the seat limit movement and may impede blood circulation compared to a standard office chair, especially if you like to sit with your legs crossed.

Materials

Gaming chairs typically use PU leather or genuine leather, while regular or ergonomic office chairs offer a wider variety of materials. This diversity provides more options compared to gaming chairs. Genuine leather gaming chairs offer benefits such as breathability, buttery softness, and exceptional durability. They resist wear and tear well over time. However, maintaining them can be challenging as they are not waterproof, making them prone to stains that require careful cleaning. For this reason, black leather is often recommended due to its forgiving appearance.

PU leather gaming chairs, on the other hand, is typically a plastic coating made from materials like soft PVC or polyurethane. It's waterproof and easier to clean than real leather, though it can lead to quicker sweating during prolonged sitting. High-quality PU leather closely resembles genuine leather in appearance and resilience, making it a popular choice for gaming chairs.

In summary, gaming chairs tend to be more robust and long-lasting compared to cheaper office chairs. They offer superior ergonomic adjustments, though sometimes at the expense of build quality. Alternatively, more expensive ergonomic office chairs provide a wider range of shapes and materials, offering greater flexibility in finding the ideal chair to suit your needs.

Advantages

Has a better look and a nicer shape than a normal office chair

The bucket seat provides a stable sitting position

Increases the game feel due to its shape

A gaming chair made of real leather is very durable and robust, and you don’t sweat as quickly.

Disadvantages

A racing seat is not very ergonomic because it restricts your movements.

Gaming chairs are only available in genuine leather or PU leather

Cleaning real leather is costly and real leather is also not waterproof

What to Consider When Buying a Gaming Chair

When purchasing a gaming chair, your height and weight are crucial factors to consider. Tall individuals require a different chair compared to smaller, lighter individuals. Some manufacturers even offer chairs tailored specifically for men and women, so it's essential to review the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure a proper fit.

Body Size

Each person has a unique body size, making it important to choose a chair that is height-adjustable. If you're unsure about the correct height setting for your chair, various online resources can help you calculate the optimal desk and seat heights based on your body measurements.

Armrest

Armrests are essential for relieving stress in the shoulder and neck areas. Ideally, the armrest height should align with the length of your upper arm, forming a 90° angle between your upper and lower arms when seated. Properly adjusted armrests ensure that your elbows rest comfortably, promoting relaxation in your upper body. For optimal comfort, choose soft armrests over hard ones, as they are more comfortable and less likely to leave pressure marks on your forearms. Additionally, adjustable height armrests are preferred to accommodate different body types and seating preferences.

Backrest

A height-adjustable backrest is crucial for providing adequate support. The top edge of the backrest should reach the shoulder blades, and ideally, it should extend at least 45 centimeters above the seat. This ensures proper support for your upper back and shoulders, promoting a healthy sitting posture during extended gaming sessions.

Lumbar Support

Lumbar support is vital for maintaining a healthy sitting posture, especially for those prone to lower back pain. The lumbar region is the lower part of the spine, which naturally curves forward. Adjustable lumbar support helps to relieve pressure on the lower back, providing ergonomic comfort. Ideally, the lumbar support should be adjustable in both height and curvature to accommodate different body types and provide targeted support where needed.

Chair Mechanics

The chair's rocking mechanism is designed to reduce strain on the back muscles. Many gaming chairs offer extensive backrest adjustability, allowing the backrest to recline up to 180 degrees. This tilting mechanism is a significant ergonomic feature that helps reduce back pain by relieving the intervertebral discs and encouraging movement, preventing a monotonous posture. The resistance of the backrest should be adjustable to match the user’s weight, allowing for minimal effort when leaning back. This level of customization is often not found in standard or even ergonomic office chairs, making it a distinct advantage of gaming chairs.

When choosing a gaming chair, the most critical aspects to consider are its ergonomics, quality, and customization options. Ergonomics and adjustability are particularly intertwined; the more adjustable features a chair has, such as the armrests and backrest, the better it can be tailored to fit your body and preferences. These adjustments allow you to achieve an optimal sitting posture. But how can you tell when you've achieved the correct or ergonomic seating position?