Backforce V Test

backforce-v-test-backrest

Backforce V review - The revolution made in Germany for under $500?

The year 2022 really does have some exciting things in store for us, such as the brand new Backforce V! After Interstuhl’s Backforce One hit the gaming chair market like a bomb a few years ago and they followed up with the Backforce One Plus, the Backforce V is supposed to usher in a new era.

backforce-v-test-backrest

How is that supposed to work? Well: The Backforce V comes as usual with its 10-year warranty, a synchro mechanism, Made in Germany, permanently installed lumbar support and the usual shoulder patches. The point: it costs just $465. I can hardly believe it myself so far and was more than excited to get my hands on the good stuff.

 

With the specs, the model name “V” could not only be based on the “V-shaped” backrest, but also symbolize “Victory”, i.e. the possible victory over the gaming chair market. Because if the Bacforce V delivers like its siblings, the air will be thin for some brands. Now let’s get started with my Backforce V review!

Backforce

V

Plastic base, cold foam upholstery, plastic casters, plastic armrests, recycled fabric covers,

Synchronous mechanism, 1D armrests, fixed lumbar support, max. load 130kg

Table of contents
backforce-v-test-portrait

Seating comfort: This is how comfortable the Backforce V is in the test

I find the Backforce V very comfortable. The cushion firmness is quite comparable to the Backforce One and Backforce One Plus. I have the feeling that the upholstery is even a bit firmer, but that could also be because I have already sat in my other Backforce gaming chairs. Upholstery usually gets a bit softer over time.

 

There is also nothing annoying here for me, of course Interstuhl has not integrated any oppressive side bolsters on the Backforce V, over 50 years of experience in building office chairs would make such a thing impossible for a traditional company like this.

seat-comfort-test-backforce-v

Cross-legged test: Still goes all right

With my 189cm and 85kg body weight, I can still sit cross-legged on the Backforce V. I can only sit straight up if I raise the armrests. However, I can only sit straight up and when I raise the armrests. It would be practical at this point to fold the armrest away – but that’s no longer possible on the Backforce V. Understandable, with a hammer price of $465 you have to save somewhere.

cutting seat test-4

But you shouldn’t be much taller than me for the Backforce V anyway, so that fits. Especially since you already get the complete 5D armrests with upholstery for $64.

Cross-legged test passed.

seat-flap-without-side-panels

Side bolsters measured in the shoulder area

The side bolsters in the shoulder area are problematic in many gaming chairs. They are modeled after those of sports cars, which only fulfill their purpose there, namely holding the driver firmly in the seat. They serve absolutely no purpose on chairs and can even be a nuisance.

side cheeks protractor measurement

Backforce has always dispensed with such side bolsters. Accordingly, I get an excellent value in my measurement here as well: The angle between the backrest and the bulge of the shoulder area is about 166°.

 

That is a very good value! 180° would be completely straight, so with 166° we are already very close. No gaming chair has ever achieved more than 168°. It could hardly be flatter!

Does the V-shape bother you? Is something missing in the lower back?

The question was already asked at the Backforce V launch event: Since the backrest tapers downwards, wider people were afraid that they wouldn’t be adequately supported. However, all of them were immediately convinced of the opposite, because the backrest is very comfortable:

v-shape-unproblematic

This definitely does not interfere. The important thing is that the middle strand, so to speak, the spine and a little more berliegefläche. A little excess hip fat we do not necessarily have to lean with, so do not worry: You really do not notice anything of this.

Size advice: With these body proportions you fit the Backforce V!

Backforce itself recommends the chair just like its other models for heights of 151cm-192cm with a maximum load capacity of 130kg. With the 151cm I am unsure, I think at the size it could be difficult.

seat depth-backforce-v-189cm

You probably either won’t get your feet on the floor or the seat will be too long if you’re under 165cm tall. However, the seat depth is still perfectly fine at 167cm, for example:

sitting-depth-at-167cm-size

For the missing seat height at under 160-165cm but there’s extra cushions to buy on Amazon, because so far I know no gaming chair that still works under 160cm. With the cushions 160cm are also possible.

foot-cushion-for-smaller-people

The maximum height of 192cm I find quite suitable. I am 189cm tall and much taller than me should rather not be. The seat would otherwise be too short and also the height of the backrest soon becomes a limiting factor. The headrest is a little too low for me, for example, as a headrest, but you can understand this as a head and neck support.

backrest-height-headrest

For me, it lies very well in the neck, so I can still lean nicely.

Conclusion: The Backforce V is ideally suited for heights of 165cm-192cm. Depending on the torso-to-leg length ratio, a little more or less is possible. If you’re shorter than 165cm, you can still use the Backforce V, but you’ll need a foot cushion.

Features of the Backforce V

Let’s now take a look at the features that I checked in detail in my Backforce V test. I didn’t have much to do – because the Backforce V doesn’t have too many features at a fabulous price of $465 and a 10-year warranty despite German manufacturing – but the essential ones for an already high minimum of ergonomics are included:

Synchronous mechanism: Ergonomic mechanism with automatic weight adjustment

The right mechanism makes a lot of difference, so it’s not surprising that Interstuhl again uses such a mechanism for the Backforce V. Compared to the rocker mechanism, the angle between the upper and lower body opens up when leaning backwards.

 

The result is movement in the back. This noticeably relieves the back and above all the intervertebral discs, which suffer most from sitting for too long. Compared to other synchronous mechanisms, however, we can only lock this in 2 positions, namely the starting position and the maximum position:

synchronous-mechanics-practice-test

The special feature: both rocking and synchronous mechanisms normally have a lever or adjusting wheel with which we set the resistance of the backrest to our body weight. The synchronous mechanism of the Backforce V does not have such a lever; it is a synchronous automatic.

 

The mechanism determines the weight on the seat surface and adjusts the contact pressure based on this itself. Such mechanisms are a bit cheaper, which is why they were chosen at a fighting price of $465.

 

Even though I would prefer the standard mechanics, this is simply nothing that you could really criticize in this price segment – especially since we still have a synchronous mechanism in front of us. Especially since the mechanism does the job very well for my girlfriend and me – the contact pressure fits 100%.

Lumbar support completes the relief package for the back

A lumbar support should also not be missing for the Backforce V. However, one thing is clear at $465: It is not adjustable. That would be nice to have, but it’s not absolutely necessary – I’ve always found the fixed supports of the Backforce One or Recaro Rae, for example, very suitable. And the support is always better than most lumbar cushions.

lordosenstuetze-photographed

With the lumbar support, the Backforce V is supposed to fill our hollow back and thus counteract one-sided overload in this area. This works very well for me, my lordosis is optimally filled. An adjustable lumbar support is then particularly what for those who want to buy absolutely premium at any price, or have a particularly pronounced hollow back. Nice to have, not a must have.

(Foldable) armrests with soft plastic

The armrests of the Backforce V are only height-adjustable. They are also foldable on some models, as they were on its predecessors. This applies to the Eintracht Spandau, PCGH and blue/red versions. However, these cost $30 more – my opinion on whether it’s worth it, in a moment.

1D-Armrest-from-side-Backforce-V

The armrests are not further adjustable – this is also the price, we cannot expect more for $465.

 

In any case, you can be satisfied with the height-adjustable armrests of the V – we should not forget what the Backforce V costs. If you can save $64, you can also buy the optional 5D armrest and upgrade the Backforce V with it.

My opinion: Special editions are not worth it for armrests - my alternative

The special editions cost $30 more, but you get the LED brooch at PCGH & Eintracht Spandau (not red blue!) and the 2D armrests, which are height adjustable & foldable back. If you celebrate the designs of the 3 special editions, of course you can buy those. However, I wouldn’t do it for the extra features.

 

I would spend $64 more if anything instead of the $30 and buy the 5D armrests with upholstery for that:

backforce-v-with-5d-armrest

Sure, that’s another $30 more – but for that you can adjust the armrest in 4 directions and you also have it covered with the soft Alcantara imitation. Very well invested money, and: You do not have to order the armrests directly. You can still buy them months later.

 

So the special editions wouldn’t make much sense to me, unless you just find the design particularly nice. But I wouldn’t want to buy a 1D for $30 more.

Backforce V plastic base & casters

We cannot expect a noble base in aluminum rim design here. Instead, the simpler version is used here, a plastic base. This does not make any difference in terms of functionality, only optically.

plastic-foot-cross-of-the-v

Plastic bases are also extremely sturdy and can easily withstand the approved loads, so there’s definitely nothing to worry about – there are already enough gaming chairs with plastic bases anyway.

65mm-roll-backforce-v

The rollers are 65mm large, these are very smooth running and also run quietly. By the way, the casters are braked depending on the load, so if you’re not sitting on your Backforce V, it won’t roll well. Office chair manufacturers do this specifically so that the chair doesn’t roll away behind you when you’re standing. As soon as you sit down, the casters roll.

 

These are the same casters that are used on Backforce One & One Plus.

Breathable fabric covers made from recycled material

The seat covers of the Backforce V models are all made of 100% fabric; no artificial leather is used. The fabrics are made of 100% recycled PET, for example from recycled plastic bottles. Here, too, attention is paid to sustainability, which is not at the expense of fabric quality.

fabric-cover-the-backforce-v

This one is good, after all. The cover is not as rough as that of the Backforce One (Plus) in All Black, but not as soft as an Alcantara imitation, either. It feels high-quality and will also protect us from sweating more than necessary in higher temperatures in summer. Everything fits here!

Personalizability: This is how the V becomes your V!

A feature that simply belongs to Backforce and therefore must not be missing on the V: The shoulder patches! I still find the idea really nice and am glad that there is the possibility of the Backforce V again. Patches are attached in the shoulder area, which are attached by Velcro.

shoulder-patch-photographed

For $12 a piece you can choose your own text here, for example your name or that of your team. The patch is then embroidered just for you and thus the Backforce V becomes your personal unique. For me absolutely super, the patches look very cool, are always replaceable and above all cheap.

Quality & workmanship on the Backforce V

The build quality of the Backforce V is on the same high level as its more expensive siblings, the One & One Plus. After all, both are handmade for you in the same factory by the same staff. The seams all sit here, there are no irregularities whatsoever. So super high level!

 

What’s clear: The use of materials is kept a bit more favorable here, you’ll find more information about that in the next section, basically it’s just the base and less elaborate design elements. What I find crass: Despite the small price of $465, the interior of the Backforce V is again equipped with molded wood. It doesn’t get any higher quality than that.

praezise-worked-processing

Overall, I also find that the V makes a high-quality impression despite the affordable price. It is very sturdy and simply looks high-quality. I would have suspected without knowing that it costs more.

Sustainable production & 100% recyclable

The Backforce V is produced as sustainably as possible. What Interstuhl does to conserve resources simply cannot be summarized here in a nutshell. For more information, take a look at my video on the production of the Backforce chairs. The fact that they are produced in Germany alone saves a lot of emissions, because nothing has to be shipped halfway around the world, the chairs are already in Germany.

 

In addition, the V is again 100% recyclable, here absolutely nothing must be on the hazardous waste, everything can be recycled and production runs are re-supplied. To guarantee this, one has come up with something for the honeycomb pattern in the shoulder area, for example.

Honeycomb pattern-electro-welding

If you had glued the honeycomb pattern, you wouldn’t have had recyclable plastics on the gaming chair. Instead, they used the Electro Welding process. Here’s a video where you can see Electro Welding in action. The covers are made of 100% recycled PET material.

 

You can find out more about sustainability at Interstuhl here, and at the bottom of the page you can also download a sustainability report.

Service: 10 years warranty and low return shipping cost

Actually, it’s really crazy that I can write this here, but the Backforce V comes with a full 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. So with an investment of 399€ you have the absolute security that you can use the V for at least 10 years. I think this is pretty sensational, a Made in Germany chair with 10 years warranty for $465 is something special.

 

If something should be with your V, in most cases even a technician comes to your home, who analyzes the error directly on site and then fixes it. This is customer service.

elegant-plastic-backshell

How can the Backfoce V be so cheap?

Various points are responsible for the small price. On the one hand, less material is used here, so the backrest is narrow at the bottom without restricting the seating comfort. On the other hand, savings have of course been made here and there, such as with the base, which is now made of plastic instead of aluminum. The LED brooch has also been replaced by a plastic panel (but can be added if desired):

backforce-brooch

Conclusion to my Backforce V pre-assessment

As is the case with a company that has been building chairs for over 5 decades, the Backforce V is right on comfort, sitting very well without causing any uncomfortable tightness or foreign body sensations anywhere. With that being said, the Backforce brand has sparked a true revolution here that will definitely turn the gaming chair market upside down. Why?

 

We have a very well-designed gaming chair here, which already has the basic requirements for ergonomic sitting with a synchro mechanism, fixed lumbar support and height-adjustable armrests. The Backforce V is handmade in Germany and comes with a 10-year warranty.

backforce-v-buy-summary

You can get all that for $465 including shipping. This can only change the market. There is absolutely no gaming chair, not even from the Far East, that can keep up with this price-performance ratio. I am thrilled. Of course, some savings were made here and there, which is why an aluminum base, for example, is no longer included – but who really wants to complain about that at under $500?

Tip: Take the models for $465

I would rather buy the Backforce V models for $465. There are also 3 models for a little bit more, for $40 more there’s partly the LED brooch, but partly only the fold-away function for the armrest. I would spend if then rather $64 more and buy the complete 5D armrests including upholstery with Alcantara imitation in the accessories store. The $30-40 more just for the fold away feature is not really worth it in my opinion.

 

Unless of course you like the design of one of the special models, in which case it might be worth buying. However, it is not really worth it for functional reasons.

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

Razer Enki / Enki X & Enki Pro test – All 3 models!

razer-enki-x-pro-test

Razer Enki / Enki X & Enki Pro test - all 3 models - all differences

Today I test the complete Razer Enki family – for this I have all 3 models here. The Razer Enki I had already bought & the Enki Pro Razer has offered me a few weeks ago – since I had planned a test anyway, it came in handy! To offer you a complete package to the Razer Enki test, I have the Enki X then also bought – one treats himself nothing else, right?

razer-enki-x-pro-test

After I was anything but satisfied with the Razer Iskur, I was super excited about the Razer Enki, as well as the Enki X & Enki Pro models. Whether Razer has done a better job or I have to rate some things as not so cool in this review, you will find out in the next few minutes!

 

There’s also an overview of the differences between the Razer Enki vs Enki X vs Enki Pro!

Razer

Enki / Enki X / Enki Pro

Enki X: metal base, PU foam upholstery, mix of fabric and PU covers, plastic castors, plastic armrests

 

Enki: additional metal armrests

 

Enki Pro: additional metal armrests, genuine Alcantara & plastic seat shell

Enki X: 2D armrests, simple rocker mechanism, max. load up to 150kg, fixed lumbar support

 

Enki: + 4D armrests & extended rocker mechanism

 

Enki Pro: + 4D armrests, extended rocker mechanism, magnetic neck cushion, genuine Alcantara cover

Table of contents
Show the best price of the Enki models at Razer🠗
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Razer Enki X vs Enki vs Enki Pro - All features & differences at a glance

  • Simple rocking mechanism: You can rock, but you can’t lock the mechanism at will.
  • 2D Armrests: The armrests are adjustable in 2 directions & made of plastic.
  • Integrated lumbar support: The integrated lumbar support is fixed.
  • Metal base & plastic castors
  • Backrest can be tilted 152° to the seat surface
  • Covers consisting of a mix of fabric & more sustainable PU leather
razer-headrest
razer-logo

All the features of the Enki X, plus:

 

  • Advanced Rocker Mechanics: You can lock the rocker in any position.
  • 4D Armrests: The armrests here are adjustable in 4 directions and the interior is made of metal.
  • A Razer neck cushion is included

All the featues of the Enki, plus:

 

  • Genuine Alcantara cover from Italy
  • Magnetic neck pillow without straps
  • Noble plastic shell in carbon look
  • Wheel instead of lever for backrest adjustment
carbon-backside

Comfort in the test: Different for Enki X, Enki & Enki Pro

I have long considered whether I work off the Razer Enki all in one report, or make 3 individual, because surprisingly, the models also all sit a little differently, which I would not have thought at first. My assumption was that only the equipment is better depending on the model.

 

Overall, it is basically good to sit on the Enkis. The cushion hardnesses are well chosen, the Enki X seems softest to me, but the differences are minimal. The lumbar support is somewhat problematic for me.

Lordosis support partly disturbs a bit with Enki & X

The 3 models differ in terms of lumbar support, although they all seem to have the same on paper: Namely, a fixed support that is supposed to support our lower back.

lordose support -enki-x

Unfortunately, the lumbar supports of the Razer Enki & Razer Enki X are not optimal for my anatomy. I sat on the Enki for a few weeks and couldn’t get used to it either, the lumbar arch sits a bit too low for me, so it misses my actual lordosis and thus feels like a foreign body between lordosis & tailbone.

 

Only the Razer Enki Pro manages this much better: Maybe it’s because of the different backrest padding, but here I feel well supported by the brace without being bothered by it. It was exactly the same for my test person. Too bad this only fits for me on the very expensive Pro model.

 

Note: We are all built very differently. The fact that the lumbar support doesn’t fit me doesn’t mean that it will be the same for you. But of course it is possible.

Cross-legged test: still possible on all models

The Razer Enki, just like the Razer Enki X & Razer Enki Pro, has similarities with sports seats from cars, but we still hardly have any side bolsters in use. This makes it possible to sit cross-legged on the Razer Enki chairs with my 189cm & 82kg.

cutting seat test-2

Only the Razer Enki Pro is tighter: I can only just manage to cross my legs. The side bolsters are a bit firmer than in the other models because of the plastic shell. So if you’re 189cm or smaller, you can sit cross-legged here just fine.

Cross-legged test passed.

Discreet side panels without nerve effect

Side bolsters are part of the design concept in many gaming chairs, and that’s perfectly okay if the seat is wide enough for it. Otherwise, the chair user’s legroom is often restricted. While the Razer Iskur had quite stable side bolsters, the Razer Enki family is quite different.

side-cheeks-enki-x-vs-enki-pro

Here you can see the sidewalls of the 3 models. Razer Enki & Enki X have the flattest and softest sides. The slight increase at the edge is made of pure cushion material. The side bolsters of the Razer Enki Pro are a bit firmer, simply because the basic construction is a bit different here. The seat and backrest are edged in plastic, and it is precisely this plastic that makes the side bolsters firmer as a result.

 

Nevertheless, I don’t have any problems with legroom here. The seat offers enough space for that.

Side bolsters on backrest: 158° measured

The side bolsters in the shoulder area on the backrest are also still very unproblematic. In many chairs with very narrow or steep cheeks, shoulder freedom is partially restricted.

side-cheek-back protractor

I always measure the angle between the backrest and the side panel. It’s quite good here at 158°. If you consider that 180° would be quite flat, I think the value is pretty okay. It’s more critical in the 140° range, where we’re talking about particularly pronounced side bolsters. The sidewalls are even flatter, for example, in the Secretlab TITAN Evo.

Size advice: This is how big & heavy you can be for the Razer Enkis in the test

Razer itself specifies some values in which size range the different Enkis can be used. I usually arrive at different specifications than the manufacturers, which is also the case here – but it is also difficult to determine that, since we humans have very different upper body and leg lengths.

Enki: 166,5 – 204cm

Enki X: 156,5 – 194cm

Enki Pro: 166 – 204cm

Enki: 165 – 195cm

Enki X: 160 – 195cm

Enki Pro: 170 – 195cm

Enki: 136kg

Enki X: 136kg

Enki Pro: 136kg

I hope this table helps! All specifications are to be understood here +- a few centimeters. For all who are a little smaller, a foot cushion like this one could still help to get with the feet on the ground.

sitting depth-enki-pro-at-189cm

Here is a picture of the seat depth on the Enki Pro. The effective seat depths differ between the models by only 1-2cm. Nevertheless, you should not be much taller than me, because then the backrest will be too short.

sitting depth-pro-at-167

At 167cm tall, the seat depth on the Enki Pro looks like this. It looks very similar for the other models.

Weight: Best not too light & not too heavy

If you really want to use the rocker mechanisms well, you shouldn’t be too light. Especially with the Enki X’s simple rocker mechanism, my tester with 52kg does not bring enough weight to be able to rock. Even on the lightest setting, the resistance here is too great.

 

The situation is different with the advanced mechanics of the Razer Enki & Enki Pro, where it works well.

 

You shouldn’t be too heavy either, because there probably won’t be enough room at some point. However, I would say that you can easily sit on the Enkis with a slim to chubby physique.

Show the best price of the Enki models at Razer🠗
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Features & functions of the Razer Enki in the test

There are still some features & subtleties left to be highlighted on the 3 Enki models. Styling & design are very similar, but each model has slightly different features.

Rocking Mechanism: Simple & advanced rocker mechanism

The Razer Enki X, the slimmed-down model from the series, only has a simple rocker mechanism. This means we can rock & also turn the rocker function on and off, but we cannot determine in every position. It should be noted here that it is hardest to rock with the simple mechanism. With 52kg body weight as with my girlfriend for example, the rocking does not work at all, because she is too light.

rocking-mechanism-in-use

The Razer Enki Pro & Enki are different, as they use extended rocker mechanisms. On the one hand, these make it easier to rock, and on the other hand, we can also lock the mechanics as we want – halfway back, for example.

Criticism of the Razer Enki Pro: Synchro mechanism would be cool for the price

The extended rocker mechanism of the Razer Enki Pro works without problems & very well. However, there are even better mechanics, such as the synchronous mechanism, which opens the angle between the upper and lower body when leaning and thus provides movement in the intervertebral disc area. This is good for the back.

 

From a certain price range, I expect such a mechanism, but the Enki Pro has only the extended rocker mechanism despite a proud 999€. More would have been possible here.

Backrest: 152° inclination possible

All 3 Enki models offer their user the option to tilt the backrest backwards at an angle of up to 152° to the seat surface. This is quite a high value and more than most will probably need, which is of course good.

backrest-152-degree-inclination

Thus, you can lean back very far when watching videos/streams and make yourself comfortable.

 

There are only small differences between the models: While we adjust the backrest on the Razer Enki X & Enki backwards with a lever, we have a rotary wheel on the Razer Enki Pro that we only have to turn a little bit to unlock the backrest and adjust it backwards.

turning-wheel-for-backrest-adjustment

You don’t have to imagine the rotary wheel here as in a car, so we don’t have to turn forever. It is only an estimated quarter turn with which we can adjust the backrest quite variably.

Fixed lumbar support: Mixed experiences

I have already touched on this above. All Enkis have a fixed lumbar support in the form of a bulge in the lower back. Lordosis supports are supposed to fill out our hollow back and thus relieve the surrounding structures.

 

As for the Razer Enki & Enki X, unfortunately that doesn’t work so well for my build. For me, the lumbar supports here are placed too far down and they are too firm. The protrusion is more towards the tailbone, where I perceive it as a nuisance.

 

In my research, I read in 2 reviews that the reviewers were similar – but there are also many reviews without comment on this, which is why I also assume that it is an individual problem.

lordosis support - am-enki-pro-sits-well

The Razer Enki Pro’s lumbar support, on the other hand, fits better. It doesn’t really look higher to me, but it is better padded and feels much better. For me as a potential customer, that would be a shame, since I’m not sure I’d even go for the Enki Pro at that price.

Different armrests in use

The Razer Enkis differ in terms of armrests. Somewhere there must be differences between the slimmed-down models and the premium models.

2D plastic armrests on the Razer Enki X

The armrests of the Razer Enki X are so-called 2D armrests, they can only be adjusted in height and rotated. Thus, we can rotate the armrest away from or towards the seating surface at an angle.

rotation-the-2d-armrest

The interior of the armrests here is made of plastic, as is the knob for adjusting the armrest height. For many, these adjustment options will certainly suffice as well. The surface of the armrest is covered with a soft plastic.

4D metal armrests for Enki & Enki Pro

These two models are equipped with 4D armrests that can be adjusted laterally and forward & backward in addition to the rotation & height adjustment of the Enki X.

metal-knobs-vs-plastic

The interior and the knobs are made of metal, which makes the armrests look valuable. The armrests work great!

Razer neck pillow only for Enki & Enki Pro

For the cheaper model, the Razer Enki X, there is no neck pillow included – one of the reasons for the smaller price of the Enki X. I would actually miss the neck pillow, which is why the Enki X would not be for me, or I would buy the pillow later. Whereby that is not really worth it, because you could then buy the Enki right away.

 

Anyway, the neck pillow for the other models is filled with memory foam and has a soft velvet cover. I find the pillows really top!

Magnetic neck pillow on the Enki Pro!

Just like the Secretlab TITAN Evo, the Enki Pro’s neck pillow is magnetic, so there’s no need for straps or belts to secure it. So it always sits exactly where you want it. Especially with the solutions with straps, the pillows are often not optimally adjustable for every body size.

neck pillow-pro-magnetic

I think that’s really cool about the Enki Pro! I hope that more manufacturers will switch to magnetic cushions in the future.

60mm casters & metal base

Here, all models are equipped exactly the same: In a high-quality looking metal base, 5 plastic castors are inserted in each case, which are 60mm in size.

60mm-plastic rolls

The rollers run quietly & easily, just as they should.

metal-foot-cross

Covers: Mix of fabric & "EPU"?

Razer has made the right choice when it comes to the covers: The contact surfaces of the Razer Enki & Enki X are covered with a fabric cover that feels very nice and makes a high-quality impression.

fabric cover-enki-x-enki

Only the side parts are covered with a synthetic leather, which does not matter for breathability. The important places where we lean are covered with fabric and thus ensure that we do not sweat unnecessarily.

What is an EPU leatherette?

That’s what I wondered when I read about the EPU leather. Well known are the not so horny PVC leather and the most common PU, as polyurethane covers. In my research I found out that EPU stands for “Elastomeric Polyurethane”, but how does it differ from conventional PU?

 

To find out, I contacted a company that specializes in polyurethanes and luckily they were very helpful.

The solution: EPU = PU.

The nice gentleman explained to me on the phone that any polyurethane is also elastomeric. Elastomeric plastics are supposed to be stretchable & durable, as well as return to their original shape after stretching – this is true of polyurethane in general.

fabric-cover-the-enkis

Faux leather sustainable according to Razer

Razer states that the synthetic leathers used on the Razer Enkis are produced sustainably. Specifically, it is described that less energy is needed during production, which also results in fewer emissions and that no environmentally harmful solvents are used.

 

I did not find a certificate or a brand name of the cover material, so we have to trust Razer here. Basically, I also think it is laudable to care about more sustainable materials.

Razer Enki Pro: Special features on the $999 chair

I have already highlighted some of the differences in the respective sections, such as the wheel for backrest adjustment or the magnetic neck pillow. What didn’t quite fit in anywhere is the very cool design of the Razer Enki Pro. You absolutely cannot say that the Enki Pro does not look very classy and high-quality.

High quality plastic shell in carbon look

Its plastic shell & back is the main contributor to this. In most gaming chairs, apart from Backforce, the back is simply covered with the chair’s cover and plain.

enki-pro-carbon-backside

The Enki Pro, on the other hand, shines with a carbon look back.

enki-pro-underside-plastic

The whole chair is edged in this look, which definitely looks very high-quality. Even from below, everything is kept in the carbon plastic.

page-cover-enki-vs-enki-pro

Elegant here are also the side covers for the screw connections between the backrest & seat. Here, too, everything is covered by plastic and, above all, flat.

Super Premium: Genuine Alcantara cover on the Pro!

The Razer Enki Pro is the first gaming chair in my test repertoire to be covered in genuine Alcantara. In the US, the patented material from Italy is also known as “Ultrasuede” and it stands out for many of its properties. It feels like suede, but is a mix of polyester & polyurethane.

 

Alcantara even surpasses the advantages of real leather: it is lighter, more breathable & easier to clean. In addition, it is just as allergy-neutral, antistatic & very durable.

real-alcantara-pro

Alcantara: Climate-neutral & sustainable since 2009

The super high-quality upholstery fabric is distinguished not only by its properties but also by its sustainable production. The material has been produced in a climate-neutral way since 2009, so it does not contribute to global warming. The entire value chain is also kept as sustainable as possible.

 

The manufacturer Alcantara from Italy has been increasing almost annually since 2009 in terms of sustainability balances. You can find out more about the sustainability of the products and annual sustainability reports here on Alcantara’s website.

Dual density backrest? Nothing special.

The Enki Pro is advertised with the Dual Density Backrest, so in the backrest are cushion foams with different hardnesses installed. I first thought that this is a consideration for the comfort to optimize something there. In fact, however, you won’t feel anything from the different foam densities.

uebergang-dual-density-backrest

The fact is that all Alcantara surfaces are upholstered with foam with a density of 60kg/m³, and the leatherette-covered areas have 75kg/m³. However, we hardly have any contact with the PU-covered areas when sitting, we don’t really lean against them. That’s why, in my estimation, it doesn’t do any good.

Is the Razer Enki Pro too expensive?

I think so. The Enki Pro comes in at $999, but I expect the price to drop a bit. The Enki Pro is a very high-quality gaming chair, no question. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be worth just under $1,000 to me, because I lack ergonomic features. For around $1,000, you can get extremely high-quality office chairs with a seat tilt function, synchro mechanism, variable lumbar support, seat depth adjustment and more – all features that the Enki Pro doesn’t have.

razer-enki-pro-to-tax

Chairs like the Backforce One Plus are even available for $650 with all the ergonomic features mentioned and a 10-year warranty at Made in Germany. Of course, not every chair is comparable to this one, but still the Enki Pro offers me too little. The cover material & the magnetic neck cushion is great, the plastic shell too – but that’s all that really makes the Razer Enki Pro stand out from other chairs.

 

For $500-550, I’d certainly be happy to recommend it! Unfortunately, it is not worth $999 to me. I think it’s a shame, because the Enki Pro could be a real hit at a lower price.

Quality & workmanship: Everything flawless.

In terms of material quality and manufacturing precision, all 3 Razer Enkis are completely flawless. All seams run straight, I find absolutely no workmanship issues. The backrest pads of the Enki X & Enki are perhaps a bit thin in the head area, but at least the Enki has a neck pillow for that.

razer-logo-embroidered

All 3 models arrived free of complaints. Of course, the Razer Enki Pro looks particularly high-end, as it seems to have used much more solid materials inside, since it weighs a few kilograms more than its siblings.

Conclusion: Which Razer Enki you should buy

The Razer Enki X is basically rather uninteresting for me. The better equipped Enki without X costs only $30-40 more, but you get 4D instead of 2D armrests, an extended instead of simple rocker mechanism and the memory foam neck cushion. Buying the Enki X is clearly saving money at the wrong end.

 

Otherwise, I can definitely recommend the Enki! Personally, I would rather not use it because the lumbar support is too far down and I perceive it rather as a foreign body. But that does not have to be so with you! And for its around $360, the Razer Enki is definitely a decently equipped chair at an absolutely fair price.

 

That does not apply to the Razer Enki Pro in my eyes. I can only recommend buying it if you are extremely in love with the design and money is not an issue in your life. The Razer Enki Pro is super high-quality and comfortable, but there are other chairs that can do a lot more for a price of $999 or even less. For a much lower price, I would give it an unqualified recommendation.

Show the best price of the Enki models at Razer🠗
Show the best price of the Enki models at Amazon🠗
conclusion-razer-enki-buy
Pros:
Cons:

RECARO Exo Platinum Test – My experiences with the flagship from Germany

recaro-logo-made-in-germany

RECARO Exo Platinum Test - My experiences with the flagship from Germany

Today I’m testing a chair from probably the biggest company ever in the gaming chair market: RECARO. RECARO (CAPSLOCK!!1) may be completely new to the gaming market, but the company’s history goes back over 50 years.

 

If the company is known for one thing, it’s seating: Anyone who enjoys sporty cars knows that RECARO seats are considered THE premium seats. Likewise, RECARO equips aircraft manufacturers with its seats, and it also produces children’s seats.

 

So you can be curious about what the RECARO gaming chair has to offer in terms of seating. RECARO is not building chairs for the first time – there are already office chairs from RECARO that start at €2,000 – fortunately, they are cheaper in the gaming segment.

recaro-gaming-chair-test
Table of contents

Recaro

Exo Platinum

Polished aluminum base, Breathable original RECARO automotive foam upholstery, Breathable & non-slip fabric cover, Italian plastic casters, Highly stable plastic shell, Aluminum and polyurethane armrests.

Innovative soft-touch pad 360° 5D armrests, lockable self-developed mechanism, adjustable seat height, tiltable backrest with rotating wheel, max. load capacity up to 150kg, anti-submarining bar, Made in Germany.

Anyway, they started with the Exo series – there’s the standard Exo, the Exo Fx with more features, and finally the Exo Platinum with everything – that’s the one I have here and I’ll introduce it to you.

Innovations, Features & Advantages of the Super Premium Brand

Anyone who has already seen the RECARO gaming chair on the net has noticed: The design is very different from other models. The RECARO team has tried to completely redesign the approach from design to functionality. The most important differences, innovations and new features are presented first in brief, later in detail:

recaro-exo-platinum-photographed

Seating comfort: My experience with the seating feel of the Exo Platinum

So how does it feel to sit on a chair that costs €999? There’s no negative surprise here – comfort-wise, it’s good. It’s not like you immediately think, “WOW!” when you sit down, because a chair is still a chair, more or less. However, it is many of the features mentioned that bring the comfort to a solid level.

settings-for-seat-comfort

Namely, the armrests, the backrest adjustability to the nearest millimeter (has advantages and disadvantages), the variable intensity of its own kind rocking mechanism and the anti-slip fabric together with the anti-submarining hill ensure this. All these features can work synergistically together to create an absolute feel-good effect on the chair, because we can have it exactly the way we want. Only the mechanics still leaves room for greater comfort and I would not need the anti-submarining hill now.

Multi-zone upholstery foam: proprietary development from automotive sector

Here, no random upholstery foam is poured onto steel tubes, no. A foam specially developed by RECARO with different hardnesses is used here, which is also used in the automotive sector, i.e. for sports seats. Just as with mattresses, there are different zones with individual degrees of hardness, so that every area of the body experiences the right hardness.

comfort-seat-flat-photo

So here you get an original RECARO sports seat foam for home. The cushion is also not particularly hard like noblechairs, but also not as soft as the AKRacing Master Pro. The hardness is pretty much in between and should please everyone.

Cross-legged test: Enough space for it?

Since many of you like to sit cross-legged, we also do the cross-legged test, as always. We do have a seat limit – it’s a bucket seat – but it’s not a problem because the seat is very wide anyway.

 

As you can see here, the cross-legged seat is neither a problem with 189cm height, nor with 167cm height.

Barely any side bolsters on seat & backrest

Both the seat and the backrest are almost free of side bolsters. In the seat area, we do have a boundary on the sides, but I wouldn’t call this a typical side bolster. The elevations are softly padded, we have a lot of space on the seat here.

light-side-panels-on-seat

In the backrest area, we absolutely cannot speak of side bolsters. The Cobra neck shield has a minimal curvature, as many office chairs do. However, if we use the protractor here, we can see that the backrest is not curved at all:

 

At a value of about 172° between the backrest & seat, we can hardly speak of side bolsters. At 180°, the backrest would be completely flat, with only 8° missing. Thus, we can at most speak of a minimal curvature here.

Cobra neck shield discreetly shields

In the Cobra it is called the neck shield, the counterpart to it in the RECARO Exo Platinum is the shoulder attachment with the “belt holes”. Due to the special width & especially height, it shields us slightly from the environment. You’re somehow more in the game and get a little more peace of mind when playing on a fairly crowded LAN or competition.

cobra-optics-at-exo-platinum

Suitable body sizes - Does the Exo fit you?

As always, it is important that the chair fits your height and weight. The maximum allowed total weight is 150kg. For the assessment, I take myself with 189cm height and my test person with 167cm height.

testperson-with-189cm

With my 189cm I find the distance between the end of the seat and the back of the knee just appropriate. 2-finger width would be optimal, here’s rather 4. That does not lead to the fact that I do not sit comfortably on the chair, this is all still within the framework. However, in my opinion, you can’t be taller than 190cm.

testperson-with-167cm

Here at 167cm height, it’s less than 2-finger wide, but still okay. Therefore, I would set the lower limit at 165cm height. By the way, with her 55kg she can’t manage to adjust the chair lower because she is not heavy enough. She has to “hop” a bit to make it work.

 

So between 165cm and 190cm you can fit the Exo. The two-finger method gives the optimal ratio for orientation. A little more or less is absolutely no problem. Note: Depending on the torso – leg length ratio, this can vary.

RECARO Exo Platinum test in detail: The special features

I’m really into this section. Why? I have the opportunity to describe a few new things to you. You can’t wait to find out what the Exo Platinum’s submarining hill is all about, what you can do with the armrests, and how it feels to sit on the new flagship from Stuttgart. Above all, how different does a specially developed foam feel that no chair has ever had before?

Design: An elegant cobra

The wide shoulder area at the top reminds me a bit of a stately cobra. Although other gaming seats also have a bulge in the shoulder area, I particularly notice it in the Exo Platinum, but that could be due to the color contrast. In terms of width, we have about 60cm in the shoulder area, just like the Master Pro. That’s only 4 cm less than the EPIC, for example. However, the shoulder element is higher than on the other models – that could be the reason.

recaro-exo-platinum-photographed

After I have analyzed the cobra look: The rest of the design is also really something. Elegance is my keyword for the Exo. You can see the chair’s price at first, and that’s the way it should be. From the unique armrests to the polished aluminum base to the certainly elaborate use of various fabric accents, everything is right here for me. However, it only gets really exciting when we look at the functions.

Also unique: the Exo is a bucket seat made of high-strength plastic

No, the fact that other chairs have a steel frame is not an advantage over a plastic shell. A high-strength plastic is used here, which you won’t break while sitting or even when freaking out in front of the computer. The RECARO company knows exactly what it’s doing here and pursues an ergonomic ulterior motive in addition to the design aspect.

plastic-shell-of-the-exo-platinum

The models you’re familiar with usually use steel frames – though, of course, they don’t use a steel plate, but rather several steel tubes give the foam a chance to adhere and form your backrest. How this looks exactly, you can see here: Marco destroys 2 gaming chairs. Problem: Theoretically, this creates pressure points on each steel strut when leaning against it. With a complete plastic shell, however, the foam can lie completely against it and thus offers a uniform support.

 

Even if it’s hard to notice while sitting – optimal quality & ergonomics seem to be important points and these are served with a plastic shell.

Problem of a bucket seat: a synchronous mechanism is not possible

As ergonomically sensible as an optimal contact of the upholstery with the plastic shell seems, it is a pity that there is no synchronous mechanism option for the chair with this design. A synchro mechanism is much better than a rocker mechanism, which is the tendency here – but more on that later.

White plastic shell - dark streaks after impact?

With sensitive colors such as white, it’s hard to say whether the reverse side will remain white even if I bump into something with it. Yes, it does. This is because the tray made of highly stable plastic is actually made of white plastic, not just painted white. So if there is a scratch at all when it is bumped, it remains white and is hardly noticeable. Ultra close-up:

plastic-conscious-damaged

Here we see it: I went GTA-style with a screwdriver on my Exo Platinum in the test and lo and behold: There are no ugly stripes, the plastic is completely white. The dark spots here are just shadows or dirt from the screwdriver.

 

Apart from the fact that it is an absolute rarity to hit your backrest so hard somewhere anyway, nothing can happen here.

Base: aluminum mirror polished

The three most commonly used materials for foot crosses are aluminum, nylon (plastic) or steel. A highly polished aluminum cross has been chosen here, which contributes to the high-quality appearance and of course also provides sufficient stability.

aluminum-polished-foot-cross

Made in Germany, parts from DE & EU, handmade

RECARO produces the Exo Platinum in an ecologically and sociologically sustainable way. This means that not all parts have to be transported around the world from Asia to be assembled in Germany, because the parts for the Exo come directly from Germany & the EU. Sociological sustainability is becoming more and more important in times of globalization and I think it’s really cool that so much is made possible in Germany. Because that not only secures jobs at RECARO, but also at all of its German suppliers.

recaro-logo-made-in-germany

The chair is partly manufactured by extremely precise machines, but some important things, such as attaching the upholstery, can only be done by man and his hand, which is why they rely on handwork by skilled personnel.

 

Slowly, even those who already know the price of the chair should realize why it is not the cheapest. Here simply ecological & sociological responsibility meets outstanding quality through tradition. But whether it is really worth its price in the end remains questionable.

Rocking mechanism - Synchronous mechanism Mechanism developed in-house

Normally, swivel chairs use rocker or synchronous mechanisms that allow the user to swing or move the seat and backrest.

 

However, because RECARO considered offering different preset seat positions for the RECARO Exo, which according to RECARO could not be realized with either a rocker or a synchro mechanism, they developed their own mechanism, which I can only partially see as an advantage, because the mechanism is more of a rocker than a synchro mechanism.

mechanics-of-the-recaro-gaming-chair

When rocking, we can adjust the resistance of the mechanics via a wheel on the right underneath the seat and adapt it to our body weight.

 

This is the only way to implement the “attack position” that many gamers want. And that brings us to this feature:

The preset seating positions - Developed through collaboration with gamers

The design & development of the RECARO Gaming Chair has been in the works since 2017 – 2 years before market launch. Many gamers were consulted and their seating behavior was analyzed in order to finally implement these 4 most selected seating positions, which can be quickly adjusted through the pre-setting:

attack-position

This is the attack position. You probably know this from yourselves – when you’re playing with real concentration, you like to bend forward longer. The problem is that our posture sucks and we end up with a hunchback. But with the Attack Setting our posture stays much better and thanks to a special feature we shouldn’t slip off the chair. I’ll show you this feature in a moment.

core-fokus-position

This is the Core Focus position. Here we lean a little further back, so we don’t sit quite as tense and chasing as we do in the Attack position. This sitting position is also supposed to be perfect for playing in a focused and goal-oriented manner.

core-relax-position

This is the Core Relax function. A more relaxed position than the previous two, optimal for those sessions where we don’t need to give 100% performance, but rather mess around a bit for fun. So already on the computer, you get the idea.

recharge-position

This is the Relax position, meanwhile it has been renamed to Recharge. The name of the position says it all – when the session is over, we relax and sit back – just like when we’re watching a movie or on YouTube or whatever.

My problem: price vs. mechanics vs. ergonomics potential

High-quality office or gaming chairs in this price segment almost exclusively use synchronized mechanisms. These ensure that the seat tilts back less than the backrest when the user reclines. This gives the back “real” movement, which is necessary for a decent supply of nutritive fluid to the intervertebral discs, for example.

 

The Exo has a rocker mechanism. Even though it comes from RECARO and has been optimized, it remains a rocker mechanism. And I don’t know that from such strong price ranges. Meanwhile, there are, for example, the Backforce One and One Plus to buy, with synchronous mechanism and priced at $540 go.

 

I think that RECARO wanted to stay true to the tradition of the bucket seat, which in my opinion is at the expense of ergonomics. The Exo sits not shit, so I sit well on it – ergonomically would have been with a synchronous mechanism but just more in it – discs & back would be grateful. I can not forgive that in a chair for the price almost.

 

Update: RECARO has written to me that they deliberately decided against a synchronous mechanism, because this is more useful for everyday office use and you could not have specified the individual positions with a synchronous mechanism. However, I can’t really understand the reasons, especially because gaming chairs from Germany with a synchro mechanism have been rapidly gaining popularity for a few years now and are very well bought.

 

So far I haven’t met anyone who says that their mechanics compete with their personal gaming positions. And what you have to remember is that very few of us are highly professional tournament players who sit in front of the computer for hours in the attack position. Even with a lot of gaming, movement in the back is important and you can mimic almost all of RECARO’s positions with a synchronized mechanism, except for the attack position.

Anti-submarining hill - My experience with the Exo Platinum

This feature didn’t mean anything to me at first. Submarining is when a passenger slips under the lap belt in a car accident, causing serious injuries upon impact. At the gaming table, the consequences are less dramatic, but in some seating positions, we get stuck and slide forward with our butts – like in a car when submarining.

anti-submarining-hanger-recaro-exo

The anti-submarining hill is designed to prevent just that. The idea is that there is a hill in the front area that keeps us in our sitting position. Initially, I was quite convinced of this, but over time I noticed it while testing many other gaming chairs: I never actually slide off the chair, even when wearing slick chino pants. In this respect, I can’t really chalk up this feature as a win for me; the already low-slip cover of the RECARO Exo Platinum in the test would probably have been enough.

 

However, I do not want to exclude that this hill can have a benefit for one or the other.

Adjustment options and other features in the RECARO Exo Platinum test

There’s no question that a chair has to deliver when it comes to adjustability. That you can adjust the height is little worth mentioning & clear, but there are a few other very good features. I’ll show you those now, starting with the absolutely awesome armrests.

armrests-from-side

The most valuable, innovative & stable 5D armrests I have ever seen

The Backforce One has been the chair where the armrests wobbled the least. Otherwise, no matter which manufacturer: The armrests always seemed a bit cheap and were not stable, they always had a lot of play and wobbled. Not with the RECARO Exo Platinum. In our experience, many people complain about this wobble, but the new armrests here are bombproof. Nothing wobbles at all.

 

And quite apart from that, these armrests are a highlight that I’ve never seen before. They run completely smoothly, can be moved into any conceivable position, and simply look so premium.

softtouch-pad-armrests

In addition, there is a soft-touch pad that is harder than a cushion, but softer than the standard armrests made of soft plastic. My elbows love it!

armrest-folded-away

Those who find the armrests annoying can also fold them very far back and sit cross-legged on the chair, for example. Here, too, you can see that the target group has been intensively studied, because you can realize any position with the armrests.

armrests-outward-and-inside-adjusted

A lever below the seat allows the armrests to be adjusted separately outward and inward.

Backrest like in a car - Turning wheel instead of lever - Adjustment accurate to the millimeter

You can adjust the angle of the backrest to the seat surface according to your taste. However, a sports seat manufacturer doesn’t do this with a lever like other gaming chairs, but with a rotary wheel – just like in a car. The advantage: We can adjust the position of the backrest with millimeter precision.

rotating-wheel-for-backrest

The downside: It’s a bit of a hassle to adjust the backrest angle more often. My girlfriend, for example, tested the Exo Platinum for a while, she usually likes to adjust the backrest. With the standard gaming chairs, you adjusted the tilt with a lever in seconds. Here, the process takes its time.

Hybrid rollers - chic, but not as easy to run as expected

The RECARO Exo Platinum comes with hybrid rollers that are equally suitable for hard and soft floors. I can confirm that, I can roll on both tiles and carpet without any problems.

roll-of-the-recaro-exo

The rollers are also nice and quiet, but they don’t run as smoothly as I expected. That’s not a big deal, but there should be a bit of rework.

Fabric covers for all exo chairs

All Recaro Exos are covered with a high-quality fabric to ensure a healthy level of breathability. The fabric feels quality and comfortable, I’m very happy with it. I never got too hot on the Exo.

Exo Platinum: What does "high-quality breathable fabrics in a composite" mean?

Recaro writes about the most expensive model, the Recaro Exo Platinum, that it is equipped with “high-quality breathable fabrics in the composite”. I asked Recaro what that actually means and whether a different cover is used here than in the Exo or Exo FX:

fabric-cover-on-chair

No, the fabric covers are the same everywhere. The breathable fabrics of the Platinum refer to the mesh applications on the side bolsters. However, we did not experience a real plus in breathability compared to the other models. Customer service also said that this was more of an optical element.

High price - justified? No.

The Exo starts at 799€, my Exo Platinum is 999€, in between there is a model for 929€. Proud price, no question – if you deal with the chair, you also know that the Exo must cost a bit.

 

However, it is still too expensive in my eyes. Compared to competitors, which are at 500-700€, none of the Exos performs more – on the contrary – even less. The synchronous mechanism is missing in this price range. At around 1,000€, features like a seat depth adjustment or seat tilt adjustment would also make sense. Features that the competition already offers at much lower prices.

recaro-exo-to-tax

No warranty - only legal warranty

In addition, there is no warranty – where other manufacturers in these price segments offer 5, 10 or even 12 years warranty, RECARO gives no warranty at all. More than the statutory warranty is not included here. That is a pity.

 

If you produce Made in Germany, with high-quality components and fully stand by your product, you should offer something. Even manufacturers from China sometimes give a 3-5 year warranty. To be one of the most expensive brands on the market, but to offer the least warranty, does not fit for me.

Why are the prices so high? No own production

The first reason: RECARO does not produce its gaming chairs itself. They are manufactured by the company Bock 1 GmbH & Co. KG in Postbauer-Heng, which of course greatly increases costs: The producer is, after all, an external party who also wants to make a profit.

 

The second reason, according to my theory, is that RECARO thought they could get away with a lot in terms of price because of the name. Because there’s not really a good reason to sell the chairs from 800-1,200€. I think through the company’s history they thought they could calculate generous margins.

 

This thesis is supported by RECARO itself, because you have a large part of the year juicy discount promotions: At very regular intervals there are vouchers and discounts, with which you can easily get 150-400€ off. To me, it looks like they overestimated the price, so they have to boost sales with heavy discounts.

 

Of course, they still earn money even with the discounts, after all, no company has anything to give away. Personally, this shows me that the price was set too high from the start.

 

Another argument for the overly high price are Amazon’s prices. For some time now, Amazon itself has been buying RECARO models and selling them themselves with Prime shipping. The Exos as well as the Raes are much cheaper than at RECARO directly. Some are even more than 200€ cheaper – and here, too, you can assume that Amazon still earns money on the models.

Criticism of customer service accessibility

At least at the market launch, RECARO proudly claimed that it wanted to support the customer with support options. Apparently, this only works sometimes. There is a hotline that is supposed to be available Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also a live chat.

medium-measurement-customer-service

In the past few weeks, I have wanted to call the hotline a few times – on Tuesdays at 13:20, the tape announcement tells me that I would be calling outside of business hours. Sometimes you are on hold for a few seconds until you are told that all employees are on the line and then they hang up.

 

It doesn’t quite work out with the live chat either. I’ve asked a question or two there, too – even though it said I was in position 1 in the queue, I still didn’t get an answer after 15 minutes and finally left. That can be quite annoying.

TL;DR: Conclusion & review of the RECARO Exo Platinum in test - Buy?

For those who didn’t want to read this text block in its entirety, here it is again in brief: Can I recommend the RECARO Exo Platinum based on my current experience? If it’s purely about the functions: Yes, I could. I sit well in the chair, it is comfortable and has many adjustment options.

 

But when I put the features in relation to the price, the recommendation turns. In my eyes, the RECARO gaming chairs are simply too expensive. You have to shell out 750-1,200€ for the EXO, which I simply don’t think is okay considering the lack of warranty & synchro mechanism.

 

Of course, there are also some good arguments for a higher price:

In summary, you get a well-tuned gaming seat that invites you to relax, focus and deliver thanks to the preset seating positions. Quality and workmanship are also impeccable here – there is not a seam out of place.

 

On the other hand, there are also quite a few minus points that diminished the fun of the RECARO Exo Platinum test:

Update: My criticism regarding mechanics

In this price range, the material quality of the RECARO gaming chair is impeccable, no question: However, there is more ergonomic potential in the chair at this price, which the manufacturer does not take advantage of. Thus, the Exo “only” gets a rocker mechanism instead of a more valuable synchro mechanism.

 

For this price range, a synchro mechanism is actually a must when you look at the competition from the gaming or office chair sector. This would allow the back to move more when sitting, which would nourish the intervertebral discs and relieve muscle groups. When sitting in the rocker mechanism, the angle between the upper and lower body always remains the same. We do move with the chair when we lean back, but our backs don’t move.

 

So if you don’t want to miss this ergonomic feature, you should take another look at the Backforce One Plus or Backforce One. If you want maximum material quality, go for the RECARO Exo; if you want maximum ergonomics and very good quality at the same time, go for its two competitors.

recaro-exo-buy

Note: Returning the RECARO Exo costs 30-40€.

RECARO does not offer free return shipping. So if you don’t like the chair, you will have to pay 30-40€ for the return. This is of course not nice, but in this day and age it is becoming more and more common: Backforce & Secretlab also charge return shipping costs. For this, shipping is free with most sellers, with others it is charged, but the return costs nothing. So, on the whole, it’s a balanced deal.

Recaro Gaming Chairs – Overview

Recaro gaming chairs - overview of all models + test

In 2019, the Recaro company came out with their first gaming chairs. First there were 3 models, of the Exo family, the Exo, the Exo FX and the Recaro Exo Platinum. In 2021, a model was added: The Recaro Rae.

 

Recaro has been producing seating for over 50 years, but so far more sports seats, aircraft seats and child seats. So experience in seating should be there, which went into the development of the first Recaro gaming chair. In my tests of the individual models, you can find out how well this has worked out.

Table of contents

Where are Recaro gaming chairs produced?

The chairs are produced in Germany, making it one of the few Made in Germany products on the gaming chair market. However, Recaro does not produce the chairs itself – this is done by the company Bock 1 GmbH in Postbauer-Heng. However, Recaro Gaming GmbH is headquartered in Stuttgart.

 

For reasons of sustainability, I very much welcome this: The environment is protected because Recaro chairs do not have to be shipped halfway around the world, and jobs are also secured in Germany. Strengthening one’s own economy is therefore fundamentally a good thing!

Models: Click here for the tests

Recaro Exo / Exo FX / Exo Platinum:

The Exo was the first model of Recaro Gaming. It is available in 3 versions, which differ a little in terms of function, but mainly in terms of design. What all 3 models have in common: They are way too expensive in my opinion. Details can be found in my Recaro Exo Platinum review including video.

Pros:
Cons:

Workmanship and quality are on a high level, and there is nothing to complain about in terms of seating comfort. Nevertheless, the Recaro gaming chair disappointed me in the test: You don’t get enough for the extremely high price. All details about the features & my experience with it here:

▷ To the Recaro Exo Platinum test with pictures, video & more! ◁

Recaro Rae Essential / Bright:

2021 saw the release of a new Recaro gaming chair, the Recaro Rae. They took the many criticisms of the mechanics of the first model seriously and gave the Rae a synchronous mechanism. I find the design here again very beautiful and special. However, this chair is not cheap either.

▷ To the Recaro Rae test with pictures, video & more! ◁

Fittingly, my Recaro Rae unboxing video:

No warranty on Recaro Gaming Chairs

Unfortunately, this circumstance unites all Recaro gaming chairs: Despite the very high purchase prices and the manufacturing in Germany, Recaro does not grant the customers any manufacturer’s warranty. This means that you only have the legal warranty of 24 months at your disposal.

 

For me personally, this is a bit disappointing. Recaro is one of the absolutely most expensive manufacturers in the gaming segment, topped only by Herman Miller in terms of price. Herman Miller gives 12 years on this, while manufacturers like Interstuhl give a whopping 10 years for the Backforce One & Backforce One Plus models – and at prices far below those of the Recaro models.

 

I don’t quite understand what’s behind this. One reads on the net basically hardly after now 2-3 years aufgetrenenen defects, the chairs seem to be robust, they also make this impression. Was one not sure at the beginning and wanted to see how the Recaro Exo performed on the market? Would it be better not to offer a warranty before it becomes a cost trap? Pure speculation.

recaro-logos-on-headrest

High quality workmanship & solid functions

Recaro’s gaming chairs are characterized by solid workmanship and material quality. In my tests, I could only find small things to criticize about the quality of the chairs.

 

Functionally, the chairs also make a good impression. The features such as armrests, mechanisms or lumbar support function perfectly in tests, only the casters of the Exo Platinum are a bit stiff.

Partly not enough function for the money

Still, what I find lacking in the Recaro Gaming Seats are the points that justify the models’ high prices. The Exo, for example, is very expensive for the fact that it has neither a synchro mechanism nor a seat tilt or seat depth adjustment. A variably adjustable lumbar support would also be included at prices of €800-1,200. However, such features are unfortunately not included.

recaro-exo-to-tax

Conclusion of the Recaro Gaming Chair Test

To get a detailed picture of the individual models, be sure to check out the reviews. My conclusion so far in the Recaro gaming chair test is that I cannot recommend at least the Exo family. Recaro does build comfortable chairs, but purely in terms of price they are not competitive: That’s because the competition gives customers more, at smaller prices.

 

Thus, Recaro’s gaming chairs are quite basic and what bothers me the most is that there is no warranty for the strong prices. My conclusion about the Recaro Rae is still pending.

recaro-rae-test-headrest-photographed
Recaro Rae Test – Experience on the Bright Orange from Germany

Recaro Rae Test – Experience on the Bright Orange from Germany Here you can read about my Recaro Rae review. This is the second Recaro gaming chair ever, after the Recaro Exo Platinum, whose price-performance ratio I didn’t really like. The Recaro Rae, however, is cheaper and comes with a feature that is important to

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Recaro Rae Test – Experience on the Bright Orange from Germany

recaro-rae-test-headrest-photographed

Recaro Rae Test - Experience on the Bright Orange from Germany

Here you can read about my Recaro Rae review. This is the second Recaro gaming chair ever, after the Recaro Exo Platinum, whose price-performance ratio I didn’t really like. The Recaro Rae, however, is cheaper and comes with a feature that is important to me: The synchronous mechanism.

recaro-rae-test-headrest-photographed

It will be very exciting to see how the Recaro Rae will convince. Considering the purchase price, I was skeptical, but after the last offer on Amazon, I finally struck: Whether I could make friends with the new gaming chair in the last few weeks in the Recaro Rae test, you will now find out!

Recaro

Rae (Bright Orange)

Plastic base, multi-zone seat cushion, breathable & non-slip fabric cover, plastic casters, wood/plastic composite interior, plastic & polyurethane armrests.

4D armrests, synchronous mechanism, max. load up to 150kg, anti-submarining bar, fixed lumbar support, Made in Germany

Table of contents

Features of the Recaro Rae at a glance

Let’s move on to the features that distinguish the Recaro Rae. Functionally, it is well positioned so far, only a neck pillow would have been an option – and the fact that there is no warranty at a rather steep price bothers me:

Seat comfort test: Is the Recaro Rae comfortable?

I am so far well satisfied with the seat comfort. I’m definitely sitting comfortably here, the upholstery is a multi-zone upholstery foam according to Recaro. How you can imagine the different zones, I unfortunately do not know – for me, the cushion feels pretty much the same in all places, the only thing I can feel is the anti-submarining hill.

seat-comfort-test-recaro-rae

The cushion has a very pleasant hardness. I would compare it to the cushion of the Backforce One and Backforce One Plus respectively, so very balanced – as both manufacturers are very experienced office chair builders, I’m convinced this is decently tuned. The cushion is softer than noblechairs & Secretlab, but firmer than DXRacer.

A neck pillow would be nice.

No neck or headrest is included with the Recaro Rae, and none is available as an optional accessory. In the case of the Recaro Rae, however, I did miss some sort of support in the test. I can’t even explain exactly why – because I don’t use a neck pillow with every gaming chair, but in this case it would improve comfort. My girlfriend doesn’t see it that way, she doesn’t miss the neck pillow.

with-neck-pillow-vs-without-neck-pillow-comparison

However, the Rae is not uncomfortable without a neck pillow – I often keep my head in the air anyway, but a pillow would be much more comfortable when leaning against it in a relaxed manner. I therefore put one on from another gaming chair.

 

It doesn’t help the chic design of the Recaro Rae, but I like it.

Neck pillow recommendation for repurchase

I would also recommend buying a neck pillow if you don’t have one – if you want a particularly good pillow, I would recommend the Nitro Concepts pillow set (on Amazon or Overclockers) or the noblechairs pillow set (on Overclockers) – they are filled with memory foam and are a bit cooler.

 

You won’t need the lumbar cushion, but you could use it for other purposes. Otherwise, of course, it’s also another, just make sure a soft fabric cover. Neck pillows made of PU leather are rather unattractive.

Crossed legs on the Rae: cross-legged test

The seat offers enough space to sit cross-legged on the Recaro Rae even with my 189cm & 82-84kg body weight. The only limiting factor here can be the armrests:

cutting seat test

They can not be placed particularly far out, so that one with longer or thicker legs may get space problems. With my physique’s but easy clear, as of course with my girlfriend with 167cm & 52kg.

 

Cross-legged test passed!

Seating surface: Lots of space & hardly any side bolsters

As with the Recaro Exo, side bolsters have been omitted here as well. Strictly speaking, side bolsters are already visible, but they don’t feel like any. These are probably the softest side bolsters I have ever seen or felt.

seat-flap-side-panels

They can be pressed down with absolute ease and even when you put your leg on here, you absolutely don’t notice them. So this has been implemented optimally here: side bolsters are part of a design concept here without interfering in the slightest.

Backrest: side bolsters measured with protractor

The side bolsters on the Recaro Rae are also very mild. Actually, I don’t even want to talk about side bolsters, because they come from racing and the Rae isn’t actually modeled on a racing seat – so here it’s more like the normal shapes that office chairs often have.

side-cheek-to-backrest-measured

If I apply the protractor, we arrive at a value of X degrees. Thus, there is no question of side bolsters here, considering that 180° would be completely straight. You also have to remember that you tend to arch your shoulders forward on the PC anyway, because you stretch your arms out towards the keyboard and mouse.

 

In my opinion, no one has to fear an impairment of shoulder freedom here.

Suitable body sizes in the Recaro Rae test

Finally, on the subject of comfort, the question now arises as to how tall and heavy one may be in order to be able to call oneself “suitable” for the Recaro Rae. I am 189cm tall & weigh about 84kg. My test person is 167cm tall and weighs 52kg.

seat-depth-at-189cm

The seat depth is still well suited for my height. I have about 4 fingers of space between the seat and the back of the knee, 2 fingers is considered a guideline for optimal conditions, but a few fingers more or less is not a thing.

 

If you’re much taller than me, or have a different torso-to-leg length ratio than I do, it could soon get tight here.

 

Likewise with the backrest – with my height, I’m already almost at the upper limit. I can’t be much taller, otherwise my head would protrude above the headrest.

 

The body weight is also important here: The Recaro Rae is indeed loadable up to 150kg, but some customers report that already at 85-90kg the resistance of the mechanism can no longer be adjusted strongly enough. I can not confirm this so, but also believe that you put too much weight in the backrest at 100kg + and rather fall backwards.

 

I recommend the Recaro Rae for users from 165cm-190cm tall. A few centimeters more or less are possible, depending on torso and leg length. Space-wise, you should easily weigh the maximum 150kg, but then the synchro mechanism might not be adjustable tightly enough. I think with a maximum of 100-110kg that still goes here.

seat-depth-at-167cm-size

Tip for gamers under 165cm: If you’re shorter, it’s going to be hard for you to even find a chair that allows you to get your feet on the floor. That’s why I like to recommend footrests like these for the smaller among us. The feedback so far has been great – a real solution!

Features of the Recaro Rae in detail

Before we look at the rest of the Recaro Rae’s features, there’s one thing I’d like to note that’s important in evaluating them – the Recaro Rae’s purchase price. The Recaro Rae Essentials are available for €599, while the Bright versions have different colors and cost a tidy €699. Again, I feel the price is a bit high, which is why I rather recommend you buy from Amazon.

 

The Raes are often a lot cheaper here. Personally, the RRP directly at Recaro would be too high, especially since you have to pay there for the return, if necessary – which is okay in itself – at Amazon you can avoid this, the chairs are cheaper there & the return shipping free of charge.

Synchronous mechanism: Listening to customers

One of the main criticisms of the previous model, the Exo, was that only a rocker mechanism was installed for the high price. Recaro has taken this feedback to heart and equipped the Rae with a synchronous mechanism. That made me very happy & is also appropriate for the price.

 

When leaning back, the backrest tilts back significantly more than the seat. This creates real movement in the lower back, providing blood flow & nutrients to the intervertebral discs. The only condition: You also have to use the function, and preferably not lock the backrest.

 

Of course, this is also possible: You can lock the synchronous mechanism in 5 different positions.

Resistance may not be adjustable firmly enough

As with every rocker and synchronous mechanism, there is an adjusting wheel with which you can set the resistance of the mechanism when leaning back. You have to adjust this to your own body weight so that you don’t have to use too much force when leaning backwards or fall backwards too easily.

 

In some reviews & mails I have already read that some users with 85-90kg the setting even on the hardest level still yields too quickly. I can not yet determine that personally with my 84kg, but also already use the hardest of the 7 setting options.

 

Accordingly, I can well imagine that you put from 90-110kg quite too much weight in the backrest and comes too easily back when you lean. It depends very much on how the weight is distributed over the upper body and legs. Recaro could work on this again.

Fixed lumbar support

Lordosis supports are known in many variations: The most inelegant are the lumbar cushions, which are often too large. Next, there are the fixed lumbar supports, which can also be found on the Recaro Rae. In the area of the lower back, you see a bulge that is supposed to fill your lordosis (quasi your hollow back).

lordosenstuetze-from-above

I also find the lumbar support here very suitable, as does my girlfriend. We humans have very different anatomies, so fixed supports are not always suitable, sometimes they are too high or low, or too far pronounced. Here, however, it is perfectly balanced and supports our lordoses excellently.

 

Even better would be lumbar supports that can be variably adjusted. Secretlab TITAN Evo, noblechairs HERO or Backforce One Plus, for example, have such supports. Here we can optimally adjust the curvature to our lordosis – absolute fine tuning. At the purchase price of the Recaro Rae (600-700€), I would have found such a lumbar support also appropriate. But that does not make the fixed support bad!

Anti-submarining hill on Recaro Rae

Recaro remains true to its anti-submarining hill, which was also already available on the Exo. Recaro is a racing seat manufacturer and that’s exactly where this hill comes from. In the automotive sector, submarining is when you slip under your lap belt in a rear-end collision, causing yourself serious injuries.

anti-submarining hill

Rear-end collisions don’t tend to happen on the PC, at least not outside the screen. Recaro believes that people often slip off their chairs while gaming. That’s why there’s a hill under the cushion at the front of the seat to stop us.

 

I personally don’t slide forward on any chair so far. The idea is therefore nice, but irrelevant for me and therefore not really a plus.

Does the elevation of the anti-submarining hill interfere?

I could not feel the hill on the Exo. But since the upholstery of the Recaro Rae seems softer and thinner, I can definitely feel this hill here. In one or two comments on the net I have read that this hill can be very annoying when you slump in the chair and loll.

 

I can’t confirm that so far. I also often hang in the chair more than sit in it and I hardly notice the hill. Only when I sit on the edge of the seat do I feel it very well.

4D armrests - or 3.5D? + soft plastic

The Recaro Rae features 4D armrests, which are made entirely of plastic, whereas the predecessor model has metal armrests. Since the Rae costs less than its predecessor, it seems that savings had to be made somewhere. However, this doesn’t make any difference from a purely functional point of view. The surface of the armrest is made of a softer polyurethane to protect the forearms.

4d-armrest-photo

However, the armrests are not quite 4D. One of the 4 directions is the rotation of the armrest. The support can also be rotated inwards, but hardly outwards. The outward rotation is actually only needed when you sit cross-legged on the chair and need more space.

outside-rotation-comparison-noblechairs

The inward rotation is more important because you can also hold controllers comfortably. Nevertheless, other 4D armrests can do more here, so I didn’t want to leave it unmentioned – so rather 3.5D armrests in my estimation.

softpad-rest-of-4d-armrest

60mm casters & plastic base

The rollers of the Recaro Rae are made of plastic and are suitable for hard and soft floors. On our hardened cork floor, the rollers also run nice and smooth and quiet.

plastic rolls-rae

The base here is made of plastic. Recaro itself speaks of “high-performance plastic”, which presumably means that the plastic is reinforced with glass fibers. Some other manufacturers also have such reinforced foot crosses. The plastic base crosses can withstand the load limits without any problems – that’s what they’re there for, after all – but an aluminum base could have been used here for the price.

plastic-foot-cross

This does not make a functional difference, but the high price has to be found somewhere – if not in the functions, then at least in the use of materials. More would have been possible here, but I only write this in view of the price. If the Rae would only cost $400 or $450, I would not say anything, after all it is made in Germany.

Covers of the Recaro Rae Essential & Bright

Since Recaro wants to ensure maximum breathability, all models on the Rae are also covered with a fabric cover. More specifically, these are polyester covers that are also supposed to have anti-slip properties, for the same reasons as for the use of the anti-submarining hill.

fabric-cover-of-the-recaro-rae

Haptically, the covers make a high-quality impression and I also feel well ventilated on the Recaro Rae, it does not get too hot on the chair.

Differences: Rae Essential vs. Rae Bright

The models are equipped exactly the same purely functional. The difference between the Rae Essential & Bright is only in the colors of the covers and its decorative stitching. The Essential versions are available with black, gray & white applications on the edge of the chair, the rest is standard black.

 

The Bright versions are designed completely different in color – I also find very nice. Backrest & seat are different colors here and the decorative stitching is color matched. There is also a 3D fabric on the sides of the seat & backrest, which is also rather visually different.

 

My only problem here: The Bright editions are 100€ more expensive than the Essentials. I feel that’s too much for just having to use different colored fabrics & stitching in production. Maximum a fifty I would have found for it still ok. But with Recaro’s pricing policy I’m on a war footing anyway.

Price vs. materials & workmanship: More is possible

Also this criticism I ask to see in consideration of the price of the Recaro Rae: At $400-$450 I would say nothing. The build quality here is flawless so far: The seams all run straight and I can see absolutely nothing that speaks for an expandable workmanship.

processing-sewn-teeth

The material quality, however, could be better. Many found the Recaro Exo too expensive, which is why the Rae is also cheaper. But you also notice that: The Rae only weighs 20.2kg, the Exo weighs 4.4kg more, FX & Platinum even over 6kg. So generally less or less massive material is used here.

 

The upholstery, for example, is thinner, I can already feel the inner workings of the backrest with medium pressure on the upholstery. The armrests are made entirely of plastic and the base is also made of plastic. Also overall, the Recaro Rae Bright Orange does not look like a 699€ chair in my eyes. I’m glad I only paid around 500€.

 

The Recaro Rae did get a synchro mechanism unlike its predecessor, but it just got some other savings. For the price I paid, I think it’s ok – at the Recaro price, the Rae would not be an option for me.

No warranty - only warranty

The next point: I would accept the slightly cheaper materials if Recaro would give a warranty, but they don’t. Despite the fact that they sell their chairs as super high-quality, Made in Germany by hand, they do not give their deep-pocketed customers any warranty.

 

Only the legally obligated warranty of 24 months we get. For me this is too little. Even some manufacturers who produce in China give guarantees. And the competition from Germany can do it better: Backforce already offers a 10-year warranty for the One, which only costs 499€.

Why is the Recaro Rae so expensive?

One reason for this is that Recaro produces in Germany. Production here is of course much more expensive than in the Far East. What drives the price up, however, is that Recaro does not produce itself, but has it produced. The production takes over the company Bock1 GmbH & Co KG in Postbauer-Heng. Thus, there is one more instance here that wants to earn money on the chair.

recaro-rae-to-tax

Nevertheless, it is apparently also cheaper: For example, Amazon also sells the Recaro Rae itself, and often significantly below the price that Recaro itself calls up. My Recaro Rae Bright Orange cost less than 500€ instead of 699€.

 

The competition offers much more for the money. If you want to compare with German manufacturers, there is only Backforce: And the One Plus costs 649€, with 10 years warranty, seat depth adjustment, seat tilt adjustment, 4-way lumbar support, more elaborate design & partially higher quality materials. Therefore, my opinion: The Rae would be for me at most around the 500€ still an option.

Conclusion on the Recaro Rae test: Worth buying?

In conclusion, I can say in my Recaro Rae review that the chair is definitely something. It sits comfortably, has decent features and is handmade in Germany. Only the price doesn’t quite suit me. I also do not want to compare only with Backforce, there are also ergonomic office chairs that offer much more in the price range.

 

The materials are kept rather cheap, functional could also be more in it and there is no warranty. Nevertheless, I can recommend buying the Recaro Rae. There are now hardly any German gaming chairs and the seating comfort is very good here. However, I would personally wait for offers.

recaro-rae-buy-summary
Pros:
Cons:

Razer Iskur in test – Disappointing – Good lumbar support? + Experience with customer service

razer-iskur-test

Razer Iskur in test - Disappointing - Good lumbar support? + Experience with customer service

I was curious about today’s Razer Iskur review myself, but at the beginning mainly because of the price. It came on the market for $380, which seemed very expensive to me compared to the competition – but the price has already settled at around 400€ in the meantime.

 

Exciting for me was therefore the question of whether this new type of lumbar support justifies such a surcharge, irritated I was at the same time about the use of PVC as a cover. With the now adjusted price, the question arises a little less, but whether the lumbar support is as good as it looks and how I like the comfort compared to the many other models, you’ll find out in a moment!

razer-iskur-test

I also had contact with Razer’s customer service in connection with the Razer Iskur test: My lumbar adjustment did not work. You can also read about the struggle with Razer at the end of the report. In advance: I do not agree with all the praise that the web sings about the Iskur.

Razer

Iskur

steel frame with wooden elements, metal base, cold foam upholstery, PVC leather, 60mm plastic castors, PU armrests

4D armrests, extended tilt mechanism with lock, integrated variable lumbar support, backrest can be tilted up to 139°, max. load 136kg

Table of contents

Features & functions of the Razer Iskur

For the Iskur, Razer has come up with a new concept to support the lumbar spine. This is the main differentiator from other gaming chairs.

Show the best price of the Iskur on Razer🠗
Show the best price of the Iskur on Amazon🠗

Seat comfort: Is the Razer Iskur comfortable?

Even though I would like to, because the Razer Iskur would certainly sell well, I cannot really recommend the seating comfort in the Iskur test. I don’t sit badly on the chair, but there are much more comfortable chairs in this price range in my opinion.

 

The upholstery hardness is perfectly fine and not the problem. It is much more a mix of the pronounced side bolsters and the special lumbar support: For me, this is not a meaningful lumbar support, I can only sit on the Iskur when it is completely retracted. Otherwise, I actually tend to get back pain.

 

Sadly, I was glad when I was able to finish my Razer Iskur test, my back has been craving alternatives. You’ll find out what bothered me about the side bolsters and lumbar support in detail in a moment.

Cross-legged test on the Iskur

The Razer Iskur does have side bolsters, both in the seat and back area, more pictures later. The question is: Can you still sit cross-legged on it?

razer-iskur-cutter-seat-test

Yes, even with 189cm height it just barely goes. My girlfriend with 167cm has of course no problems, but with me is then also end. Anyone taller than 189cm will probably no longer be able to sit cross-legged here, unless he has shorter legs than me, which is of course possible.

Size advice: how tall and heavy you should be

In my Razer Iskur test, it became clear after the first few minutes that the chair is only suitable for a limited target group.

Neck pillow restriction

The first small problem arises with the neck pillow, but I do not weigh that soo heavily, because many do not use the neck pillows anyway.

 

Whereas, if you already advertise with high-quality memory foam pillows, which do not seem so memory-like to me (more later), they should perhaps already be usable.

neck-pillow-bad-adjustable

Nevertheless, I can only pull the cushion down just far enough for it to sit in my neck, even with an actually tall 189cm body height. Since the Razer Iskur does without strap holes, the cushion cannot be attached to them, nor is there a magnetic function. You have to be at least 189cm tall if you want to adjust it correctly, Razer itself recommends 170-190cm.

Seat & Backrest: Side bolsters & Square

You shouldn’t be too wide either. The Iskur still relies on very pronounced side bolsters on the backrest and seat.

I think side bolsters are out. In the meantime, most people have understood that they can only be a nuisance on a PC chair and are of no use except for design reasons.

sidewalls-on-seat

There are also fewer and fewer new chairs with side bolsters coming onto the market. The major brands have long since dispensed with them on most models. Of course, this is not a drama, they do not have to disturb, if you are not too wide for the chair. However, this is a careless way to cut off part of the target group, although you can still pick them up with the next production. The Enki and the Enki X have already been announced, and I have already ordered the Enki.

Seat

The side bolsters of the seat are very steeply constructed and therefore limit the siz surface for wider-built gamers. I would say that you should be of average build at most. Particularly muscular or simply wide legs won’t necessarily find room.

seat-depth-at-167cm

The seat depth is completely ok for my girlfriend with 167cm, even with 165cm you should still be able to sit here and also get the feet on the floor.

seat-depth-for-189cm-sufficient

At 189cm, the seat is still long enough. Two fingers wide should be a guideline between the lower leg and the seat, but the 4 fingers are also very good and sufficient. Razer recommends the use up to 190cm, because of the seat I would also agree.

Backrest

The backrest, in turn, does not allow for excessively broad shoulders. In the shoulder area are here again noticeable side bolsters in use. With my cross width, however, this is still completely fine, I think even 5cm more go clearly.

shoulder-area-bounded-by-side-cheeks

But: Those who are even taller than me may have reached the limit earlier. My shoulders are still below the bulge and therefore very free to move. Those who have their shoulders a bit higher will have their arms very keyboard-centric, with the shoulders bulging slightly forward, as is often the case when typing or gaming.

side-cheek-measured-with-angle-knife

I measured the shoulder cheeks with my protractor: As always the note, the values are not 100% or the measurement method can have small errors. In any case, I come here to an angle between backrest & sidewall of about 148-150 °. For comparison: typical racing chairs have 140-145°, chairs with a very wide design like Secretlab TITAN Evo or noblechairs HERO are more likely to have 160-165°.

 

The angle could therefore be a bit more open.

Conclusion: Suitable body proportions for the Razer Iskur

I’m neutral about the neck pillow, otherwise I’d have to say that the Razer Iskur won’t work below 190cm. But as I said, many do not use it at all.

In my opinion, the Razer Iskur is ideal for gamers from 165-190cm with a slim to average build. Even 195cm would still go, then the seat depth is not perfect, but ok. If you are too wide, you will be limited by the side bolsters. The neck pillow can only be used as a pillow.

Lumbar support: For me an aberration

Razer is praised from all corners for the lumbar support, I especially wondered why not a single office chair manufacturer would have come up with this idea until today, if it would be so great. And that is exactly the point: I do not like the lumbar support here, it rather causes me back pain.

lordosis-support-in-practice-test

Lordosis supports are actually supposed to fill our hollow back as accurately as possible and thus achieve a relief of the surrounding structures & intervertebral discs. However, the support of the Razer Iskur is much too extreme for me and has been developed past its actual use, because this model is simply much too montrös.

lordosis-support-in-practice-test

Thus, the support is in its initial state.

oversized-lordosenstuetze

And so it is completely extended.

 

Who exactly is that supposed to be good for? Sure, you can also set positions in between, even steplessly. However, I could not use any of these positions, the support makes my stomach stick out extremely, it pushes me into a much stronger hollow back than I actually have.

 

The support rather gave me back pain. I have had them in my test period of 2-3 weeks only retracted and found them not even so pleasant.

Lumbar support makes poor sitting posture more comfortable - sense of an ergonomic chair?

Before my Razer Iskur review, I watched a few review videos about the model, I’m always interested in what other reviewers think of it. One of the videos praised that the lumbar support was comfortable in this position:

funny-sitting-position

So if you sit on your chair like that more often anyway, the support would be great because you would have a slight support in the lower back. For me, this is absolutely no argument, my most ergonomic chair should not support me to take a crappy posture better.

 

Because sitting like that is anything but good for your back. In the long run, you let your shoulders droop, make a hunched back and thus strain the majority of your back.

 

My chair should help me to sit better/ergonomically and not help me to be able to hold bad postures longer.

Show the best price of the Iskur on Razer🠗
Show the best price of the Iskur on Amazon🠗

Conclusion about the lumbar support: Razer is perhaps not without reason the first with this technology.

I don’t see Razer’s lumbar support for the Iskur as a super cool innovative technology for better sitting, but rather an idea that probably no manufacturer of ergonomic office chairs would ever implement because it simply doesn’t make sense.

 

Of course, I can’t ignore the fact that apparently a lot of customers are very happy with it. I certainly am not & cannot comprehend it either. A lumbar support is supposed to support the lordosis, not bend the entire back into a weird position.

Other features of the Razer Iskur in detail

We’ve dealt with the Razer Iskur’s lumbar support enough, let’s continue with the other features that are left: Not all of these are bad either.

Memory foam cushion: Barely any memory, poorly adjustable

It is advertised as a memory foam neck pillow, but it does not really deserve its name. I know the memory foam pillows from Secretlab, noblechairs and the Razer Enki. All of them are pillows that live up to their name.

neck-pillow-with-razer-inscription

But not the Razer Iskur. Razer apparently knows how to do it; the Enki’s cushion is top-notch. However, this one hardly has a memory effect and behaves almost like a normal fabric cushion with cotton padding. I do not know why they have saved here.

 

The adjustability is also problematic. At 189cm, I’m not exactly short, but only just tall enough to be able to adjust the neck pillow correctly. This can only be put over the headrest and since the headrest with the side bolsters very quickly becomes wide, it can not be pulled down far enough for smaller people than 189cm.

4D armrests with metal & soft plastic

The Razer Iskur is equipped with 4D armrests, which I am also very happy with. There is a button on the front of the armrest that we have to press to be able to adjust the armrest. This is to prevent us from accidentally adjusting the armrests.

4d-armrest-photographed

Furthermore, the knobs & levers are made of metal, which creates an image of value and also haptically gives the feeling of valuable materials.

 

Of course, the armrest support is equipped with a soft plastic that comfortably beds our forearms.

Extended rocker mechanism & 139° backrest tilt

In the Razer Iskur test, we are dealing with an extended rocker mechanism. Thus, we can rock and also determine our position in every position compared to the simple rocking mechanics.

rocking-mechanism-in-test

This also works very well.

backrest-139-degree-tiltable

The backrest can also be tilted backwards by up to 139° with a lever on our right. This should allow us to recline nicely for video consumption.

60mm casters & metal base

The base of the Razer Iskur is made of powder-coated metal and looks quite plain.

foot-cross-of-razer-iskur

Inside this base are 60mm plastic casters that should do their job on hard & soft floors.

60mm-rolls

Here everything works as it should, the rollers are smooth running and quiet.

PVC cover - Why Razer, why?!

I haven’t had a gaming chair covered in PVC in ages, and there’s a reason for that. PVC is more robust than the most commonly used PU covers (polyurethane), but it is also not breathable. And that’s rather not so cool for seating.

 

PVC is waterproof. That’s why waterproof mattress covers are also made of PVC. I once lay on one of these in the hospital, I was not allowed to get up for 24 hours and my bed was damp for 22 hours. The mattress is protected, but it’s pretty disgusting for the patient.

pvc-cover-the-razer-iskur

It can also be read here in the material archive: PVC is more robust than PU, but not breathable and much cheaper. Of course, Razer only advertises the cover’s great robustness in its own store, but that’s how advertising works. Advertise with the pros, the cons under the table. Maybe PVC was Razer’s choice due to the low purchase price, I don’t know.

 

The bottom line is that I wouldn’t want a chair with a PVC cover for the summer, and there’s certainly a reason why 98% of gaming chairs over 230€ are covered in PU instead of PVC. $380 and then PVC to deliver is for me anyway a no-go.

 

Apart from that, PVC is a real creaky leather. With every movement the chair creaks around because PVC rubs on PVC. This is not the biggest problem for me, but is more noticeable here than with other chairs.

How breathable covers actually work

Our seat cover is actually supposed to absorb our sweat, transport it away and release it again via the room air. Often the upholstery foams also help, they also absorb moisture and transport it further. But to do this, the material must also be able to absorb moisture.

 

PVC cannot absorb moisture, so it is also very popular as flooring. When we sit on it for a long time, this means for us: we sweat into the PVC cover, but it does not absorb the moisture, so it becomes and remains more and more humid between us and the cover.

 

The higher quality a PU cover is, the better it breathes. Fabric covers also breathe well, or genuine leather. PVC, however, does not.

Razer support: Slow, bad & annoying

In the package of my Razer Iskur, which I bought from Amazon, there was a little card: If I have problems with the chair, do not contact the retailer, but Razer directly. Presumably, they want to shine with particularly good statistics, because fewer chairs are returned and the RMA rates look low.

 

Unfortunately, I had to contact Razer because the lumbar support did not work. I have never experienced such poor customer support. Had I contacted Amazon, I would have returned the chair and had a new one in 2 days. Keep this in mind.

 

  • September 10:
    On Sept. 10, I submitted to Razer all the requested documentation & information they asked for regarding my defect.
  • September 14:
    Jan from Razer writes me that they are now asking the engineering team if a replacement backrest is available.
  • September 27:
    Angelica from Razer lets me know that there is currently no backrest available. And it takes them 13 DAYS?! I express my disappointment that it took them almost 2 weeks to send me a message like this and it doesn’t get me anywhere.They also offer to send me a black backrest. I decline, I ordered the black/green one and want it the same.
  • 02 October:
    Razer found a backrest for me and sends it to me.
  • 06 October:
    I receive my new backrest. This one is stained with grease stains that I have not been able to get off until today. I didn’t feel like contacting them again about it and just accept it.


It just took 26 days from my request to receiving the replacement backrest, which is then also stained with grease stains. It’s not like I’m short of chairs, but for a prospective buyer like you, that would be pretty annoying, right? Besides, Razer sends a mail every day saying that they haven’t forgotten me. Absolutely annoying, I have received a total of 25 mails.

grease-stain-on-backrest

If the spare parts are not there, ok. But just the fact that you let 13 days pass until you even write that the spare parts warehouse is empty. And that there are no spare parts in stock, leads me to conclude that I was not the first with such problems.

 

I also found an Amazon review exciting. A customer also needed a spare part, which came from Singapore just like mine, and he even had to pay customs duty for it. And since the replacement delivery was also defective, he paid customs again for the 2nd delivery.

 

Conclusion: If your Razer Iskur is defective, do not contact Razer support. Send the chair back and have the retailer send you a replacement.

Workmanship & material quality: Problems here as well

I don’t count the fact that my first backrest was defective as a workmanship problem, because that can happen anywhere. But I become more critical when my replacement backrest is also not quite in order and, as described above, grease stains are on it that cannot be wiped off.

crooked-needle-on-headrest

However, aside from crooked seams at the top of the headrest, everything is fine here. But the bottom line I have to say: 2 defective backrests, odd seams & grease stains. That does not fit, so I’m probably unlucky with the processing, my experiences with the Razer Iskur are rather mixed here.

Positive: plywood construction

However, I have to praise one thing about the chair. Razer’s choice of materials is mixed. I can understand even less why they chose a cheap PVC cover when you look at the construction of the chair.

 

The Razer Iskur is made of plywood, which actually speaks for the chair. For reinforcement, additional steel is used here, why I do not know, because office chair manufacturers who use high-quality wood actually do not need additional steel as a construction. But that may have its reasons, shaped wood is actually a very good thing. Why, you can find out on my homepage: progamingchair.com

Conclusion: No buy recommendation for Razer Iskur

I lack any argument to suggest you buy the Razer Iskurs. For the life of me, I can’t understand how so many magazines and reviewers can recommend this chair so strongly. Whether monetary interests are behind it? I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything, but I find this strange.

 

What I find good? The armrests are great and that plywood is used is also good. Unfortunately, that’s all though, the Razer Iskur has strong side bolsters, the lumbar support is not a good design for me and rather invites you to adopt bad sitting postures. The memory foam head cushion has hardly any memory foam and cannot be adjusted well due to the wide headrest.

razer-iskur-buy

In addition, they have opted for robust, but breathable and creaky PVC leather and my experience with the Razer support was more than bad. The processing / material quality is also not the hit, considering that I needed 2 backrests and the 2nd has grease spots and crooked seams.

 

For me, the chair is nothing. Since there are definitely satisfied customers, I won’t rule out that the Razer Iskur might suit you, but in my estimation there are better options on the market: Secretlab TITAN, noblechairs HERO, HP Omen Citadel, DXRacer Master, and if it can be more expensive, then of course Backforce One & Backforce One Plus.

 

Even chairs like the Nitro Concepts S300 or Nitro Concepts X1000 I would prefer to the Iskur, if you at least buy the memoryfoam cushions. There the mechanics are “worse” and there is 1D with the armrests less, but we have much more space and a solid finish.

Benefits:
Cons:
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Nitro Concepts X1000 Review – Worthy Successor to the S300?

nitro-concepts-x1000-test-backrest

Nitro Concepts X1000 test - the new price-performance killer after the S300?

Nitro Concepts starts a new attempt with the X1000 to offer as much gaming chair as possible for as “little” money as possible, i.e. in relation to other chairs. This has already worked very well with the S300 (Nitro Concepts S300 review), which is why it has been my undisputed favorite in the under $300 range for years.

nitro-concepts-x1000-test-backrest

But can the X1000 do just as well or even better? Find out now in my Nitro Concepts X1000 review with photos, lots of details and of course information about who this chair is particularly suitable for.

Nitro Concepts

X1000

Steel frame, nylon base, high density cold foam upholstery, fabric cover, 60mm PU/nylon casters, PU armrests.

3D armrests, adjustable 14° rocker function, backrest can be tilted up to 125°, max. load capacity of 135kg

Table of contents

Features & Functions of the X1000

Here in a nutshell are the features and functions of the Nitro Concepts X1000 that you can expect. I’ll explain more details on the items as the review progresses.

 

  • With breathable fabric cover
  • With $245 in the good middle class range
  • Available in several colors
  • Simple rocker mechanism that can be turned on or off.
  • 3D armrests with design applications & soft plastic
  • Backrest can be tilted by up to 125
  • Generous space, also ideally suited for wider gamers
  • Reminiscent of the noblechairs HERO in terms of shape
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nitro-concepts-x1000-portrait

Nitro Concepts X1000 vs. S300 - the differences

The question has come up quite often how the Nitro Concepts X1000 differs from the S300. In fact, hardly, there are only minimal differences, but depending on the physique can make the difference:

X1000

S300

In fact, that’s all. The angle of the backrest in relation to the seat can be opened minimally less, the casters are slightly larger, and there are almost no more side bolsters compared to the previously implied ones of the S300.

Seating comfort: This is how comfortable the X1000 sits

I could almost copy and paste everything from the S300 review here, because for me with my build (189cm, 80-82kg), the Nitro Concepts X1000 sits almost the same. The chair, which is qualified as an office chair according to DIN EN 1335, sits very well and differs only minimally in terms of pure spontaneous comfort from even significantly more expensive models. Of course, there are still differences that can also affect the comfort, but more on that later.

marco-tests-comfort-of-the-x1000

The cushion has a pleasant hardness, is not as hard as noblechairs or Secretlab and is at the same time slightly firmer than DXRacer or AKRacing. A good mediocrity, with which I get along excellently. The lumbar cushion is not quite as suitable for me personally, I have even without a hollow back when sitting. But more about that in the course of the Nitro Concepts X1000 test.

Cross-legged seat possible?

On a wide chair without significant side bolsters, you can usually sit cross-legged without any problems, as is also the case here. Above all, the side bolsters are minimally indicated, but they consist purely of upholstery material without steel tubes.

x1000-cutter-seat-test

With 167cm you have of course no problems at all with the cross-legged seat. The only limiting for me at 189cm would be the armrests here, although I can push them thanks to 3D adjustment options so that it fits perfectly.

 

Even those who are even taller can create more space for themselves, because under the seat are screws with which we can push the armrests on each side about 1.5cm further out.

 

Cross-legged test passed!

Size advice: Does the Nitro Concepts X1000 fit you?

The main question is always whether the chair fits one’s own body. After all, we want to avoid having too little space in the shoulder or leg area and the load capacity must be right.

 

With the height my girlfriend with 167cm and 50-52kg already has no problems, just as little as I with 189cm and 80-82kg. In addition, the Nitro Concepts X1000 has a wide seat surface, which almost completely dispenses with side bolsters.

seat depth-nitro-x1000

However, the seat is also quite long, my girlfriend is there with her leg length already at the limit. You should not really be smaller than her.

seat-depth-at-189cm

With me, however, it fits great. From the seat, you can be even taller than 189cm.

 

Seat and backrest remind me of the noblechairs HERO, very open design, where no one will have problems with leg or shoulder room. Pictures of seat and backrest will be available later, just scroll.

 

Load capacity of the chair is up to 135kg, with the large space I would also say that you can also exhaust the appropriate height.

Conclusion: Maximum body dimensions for the Nitro chair

Anyone who is at least 165cm tall and a maximum of 205cm tall can sit on the Nitro Concepts X1000. It doesn’t matter if you are slim, average or very wide built, the X1000 will give you a good seating experience. Even the 135kg load limit can be maxed out in terms of physique.

In the size specifications 2-3cm tolerance are included, because the torso to leg length ratios can differ.

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Features of the Nitro Concepts X1000 in detail

We’ve discussed the rough direction on seating comfort and sizing advice, now let’s look at each of the X1000’s features in detail.

Simple & solid rocking mechanism

There are different types of mechanics that you can check out here on the home page: Gaming chair home page, about heading 10. In the price range of the X1000, the simple rocker mechanism is the standard.

use-rocker-mechanism-x1000

The backrest and seat do not change their angle to each other when you lean back; you rock backwards with the entire chair from the gas spring. You can either turn the mechanism off or on, but you can’t lock it in any position.

 

What I find good is that even with little body weight (about 50kg) you can still put enough weight in the backrest to use the rocker function as well. In some chairs, the rocker mechanism is too resistant for people of little weight.

adjusting-wheel-for-adjusting-the-rocker-mechanism

Don’t forget: You can adjust the resistance of the rocker mechanism to your body weight with the adjusting wheel under the seat!

Tilt function: 90-125° possible

This is where the trend sensibly goes back. You can use a lever on your right to adjust the backrest backwards independently of the seat surface to open up the angle between the seat surface and the backrest. This can be especially useful for people with disc problems, because the greater the angle between the upper and lower body, the better for the disc.

maximum-tilt-backrest

While a few years ago there were many chairs that allowed angles of up to 180° to the seat, the trend is declining. Nowadays, 120-140° is more common, and you don’t need more. At 180°, you’re looking straight at the ceiling, and you can’t sleep on gaming chairs anyway. I tried it.

 

125° is 10° less than the S300, but still enough in my opinion. The Backforce One, for example, doesn’t allow more with its synchro mechanism. For relaxed movies or YT-watching it’s enough.

Seating area: Plenty of space on the X1000

We’ve covered this a lot above, but here it is again with photos. I think it’s really good that Nitro Concepts like noblechairs & Secretlabs deviate from the thick side bolsters of a sports car seat. One may find them visually cool, but they really have no use and can rather disturb.

sitzflaeche-mit-flachen-seitenwangen

Especially when the side bolsters are poorly padded, the legs quickly press against the steel tubes under the cover, which is very unpleasant. The X1000 does almost completely without side bolsters; there are only a maximum of slight elevations at the edge.

 

However, there are no steel tubes behind them; they consist entirely of soft upholstery foam. Everything was done right, and above all, we listened to the market and customer feedback!

Backrest: Also hardly any side bolsters

The backrest is also sparse with side bolsters. They are a bit more pronounced in the hip area, but they have never been a problem there. There has to be a bit of shaping, otherwise the design goes completely to pieces, especially since office chairs are also partly constructed this way.

little-side-panels-on-backrest-nitro-concepts-x1000

Much more important are the side bolsters in the shoulder area, which have been reduced to a minimum here. The picture shows the side bolsters of the X1000 vs. DXRacer Formula F08 vs. Backforce One Plus. Conclusion: Less than the bucket seat advocate DXRacer, about the same as the ergonomics king Backforce from Interstuhl.

 

In any case, the shoulder is not hindered in its freedom of movement here or particularly pressed forward. The lack of belt feed-throughs also stands out from the classic racing design. Fits!

3D armrests with soft touch, design & button

The 3D armrests of the Nitro Concepts X1000 can be moved in 3 directions, which you can see in the video. Height adjustability is obvious, you can push the armrest forward and rotate it.

button-adjustment-armrest

The good thing is that there is a button on the front edge of the armrest that you have to press to adjust the armrest. This is convenient because you can’t accidentally adjust the armrest when you stand up or move it. Once again, a decision for the user from product development.

3d-armrests-nitro-concepts-x1000

More is only possible with a 4D armrest, where you can slide the support inside and outside. For the price of the Nitro Concepts X1000, 3D is perfectly fine and I don’t miss this feature.

 

And don’t forget: Under the seat you can loosen the armrest and push it about 1.5cm outwards on each side and tighten it again. This may be the wood version of the 4th “D”, but you have the option. And not everyone will need it anyway.

nitro logo on armrest

Last but not least, Nitro Concepts didn’t mind adding a nice design application to the armrest. Here, a strip in carbon look is incorporated with the Nitro flame.

Neck and lumbar pillow with fabric cover

Lumbar and neck pillows are included as always. Both are covered with fabric, which I welcome. Neck pillows with PU cover are simply much too rigid and uncomfortable in the bare neck. The fabric is not as velvety as noble & Secretlab, but of course the price is somewhere and the pillows are not scratchy or anything, just not super velvety.

neck-pillow-not-optimal-adjustable

The fact that the belt passages have been rationalized away in the X1000 is good for the design, but not for the adjustment of the cushions. At 189cm, I can pull the neck pillow down just enough so that it lies in my neck. If you’re shorter, you’ll probably have to use the pillow more as a pillow or leave it out, as I and many other gamers often do. I rarely lean on it completely. The lumbar cushions also suffer from the nicer backrest, as they cannot be attached as they are on the noblechairs ICON or Arozzi Vernazza. If you use it at all, you probably have to readjust it more often.

lumbar cushion-without-fixation

I don’t need the lumbar pillow at all. It’s not quite as thick as some competitors, but it’s too thick for my hollow back and also a bit too high. The surprising thing, however, is that even when I lean against the backrest without the lumbar cushion, there is no hollow space in my lordosis. The backrest doesn’t have its own protrusion for the lordosis, but I don’t seem to need it with an average lordosis. With my girlfriend, a minimal cavity can be discerned. The only thing I find comfortable are the memory foam cushions that Nitro Concepts offers. These are very thin and also really comfortable in the back!

Gas lift & base: nylon & loadable up to 135kg

After unpacking your Nitro Concepts X1000, you can install a Class 4 gas spring, which, like the base, can handle loads of up to 135kg. The gas spring is an otherwise rather uninteresting component that does its job without any problems.

nylon-foot-cross-x1000

The base is made of nylon, a plastic. The plastic inserts on the S300 match the color of the chair, but they are always black on the X1000. I think that’s a good thing, too.

 

The base is one of the reasons for the lower price compared to the competition: It is made of plastic instead of aluminum or metal. But as you can see, even with plastic, a stately load capacity of 135kg is possible. So I don’t really see that as a disadvantage, although metal naturally looks more elegant. But as I said: In relation to the price, it’s absolutely normal and okay.

 

Note: There are still some reports on the S300 on the net that the gas lift presses through the base. This was a purely production-related problem that has been fixed. It has nothing to do with the material itself. All affected customers were provided with replacement parts, even after the warranty expired. So no worries. 🙂

Rollers: Grown by 10mm

Compared to the S300, the rollers of the X1000 are 10mm larger with their 60mm diameter. There is not much else to say about the rollers, rollers are rollers.

60mm-rolls

The larger the roller, the easier it is to run, they say. With 10mm more than its predecessor, the X1000 should glide even smoother over the ground, but I can only notice a minimal difference, if any. The rollers do their job to my fullest satisfaction. Smooth and quiet, only Rollerblade rubber wheels are quieter and lighter.

Processing of the Nitro Concepts X1000

The X1000 is surprisingly cheap for its features: Apart from raw material price increases and exaggerated freight costs due to the virus that gets on all our nerves, you can get it for around 280€. Is that reflected in the quality and workmanship?

carbon-elements-on-side-cheek

Not really. The seams run very precisely, no threads hang out anywhere, everything makes a robust & stable impression, which attests to the 135kg load capacity. The materials also make a reasonable and not cheap impression overall.

fold-in-side-cheek

There is only one small inaccuracy here, when you sit left side panel on the backrest is a fold in the carbon part to see. At the price the Nitro Concepts X1000 costs I find that even ok, at the same time you must remember that this is not the rule.

 

For example, I have already had 3 S300 from Nitro Concepts with me, where the processing was right without exception. For the sake of completeness, however, this is mentioned here.

How can the X1000 be so cheap in comparison?

Some differences to the top models, which start at a good 380€, are of course already there. If you’ve read the review, you’ll probably recognize them all – but if you’re just skimming, here are the minor differences compared to premium chairs:

 

  • Cover: The X1000 is covered with a “normal” fabric cover. More expensive examples often have even softer covers in use, which feel a bit more upscale, or quality-looking faux leather covers.
  • Armrests: instead of 3D armrests, 4D is common in the premium segment.
  • Mechanics: The X1000 has the simple rocker mechanism, in the higher-priced area there are usually extended rocker mechanisms that can be locked in any position.
  • Materials: The material is saved, of course without making the chair unstable. For example, the base is plastic instead of aluminum or steel, and the armrests have a slightly higher plastic content.


That’s basically it. Those who can put their money to good use on other things will be very well served here. After all, the aforementioned differences have little or no effect on seating comfort. But if you want maximum ergonomics or material quality, you’ll have to spend 100-150€ more.

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Accessories: Memoryfoam cushion for your X1000

You can buy accessories for the X1000 at overclockers. Among other things, you can find floor gliders that can replace your casters if you want to play racing games with your X1000 and need a firm footing.

nitro-concepts-memoryfoam-pillow-set

But I find the memory foam cushions particularly interesting. They’re not exactly cheap, but they’re really comfortable, especially the lumbar pillow. On the one hand, it is thin, so that it also fits in the lordosis, and on the other hand, the memory foam is very pliable and adapts perfectly.

soft-memoryfoam-lumbar-cushion-x1000

If every chair manufacturer had such lumbar cushions, I would probably use them more regularly myself. Because the normal lumbar cushions are too thick for the “common hollow back” in 9 out of 10 cases.

 

You can buy the cushions at Overclockers, at Amazon they are usually more expensive.

Conclusion to the Nitro Concepts X1000 test: Buy or keep looking?

I can think of very few things to criticize about the X1000. The only weak point in functionality or construction is the neck pillow, which cannot be placed far enough down for small people. If you don’t use the pillows anyway, you can safely forget it. If the neck pillow is very important to you, you should take a look at the S300, where the neck pillow can also be attached to the belt holes and thus lower.

nitro-concepts-x1000-with-marco

Otherwise, the X1000 is just like its predecessor the S300 in my eyes a blast, if you look at the price: It does not have to hide from a good $80-100 more expensive chairs and only minimally loses in quality and functionality. So if you don’t want to spend too much money, you’re in the right place and won’t miss a thing with the X1000. Absolute buy recommendation!

Pros:
Cons:
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Secretlab TITAN EVO 2022 Series Review – The ultimate power amplifier?

secretlab-titan-evo-2022-review

Secretlab TITAN EVO 2022 Series Test - The ultimate power amplifier?

Secretlab recently announced the TITAN EVO 2022, a gaming chair that is supposed to combine the best of the 2020 series of the Secretlab OMEGA & Secretlab TITAN. After Secretlab released the specs & features, I was also first flashed by all the innovations & features that are supposed to be there.

secretlab-titan-evo-2022-review

As I noted in my Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 review, there isn’t a remarkable new feature behind all of it, but there are some cool new features. The new TITAN EVO 2022 can be ordered in 3 sizes and I could imagine that the two predecessor models could be replaced by the 2022 model one day. However, nothing is known about this.

 

Of course, I got myself a 2022 in XL early on to convince myself of the new improvements. First of all: The market launch of the Evo did not go completely smoothly and my model is also affected by creaking noises. You can find out where they come from and what to do about them in this test report.

Secretlab

TITAN Evo 2022 XL

lacquered solid aluminum base, breathable cold foam upholstery, PU cover//fabric possible, large 60mm plastic castors, molded soft plastic armrests

4D armrests, lockable rocker mechanism, tiltable backrest (165°), max. load capacity of 150/180kg, NEW: Continuously adjustable 4-way lumbar support, NEW: Magnetic neck cushion with memory foam, NEW: Cloudswap system for swapping armrest pads, NFC tag for authenticity check.

Table of contents

Innovations & functions on the TITAN EVO 2022

Secretlab really hits the ground running when it comes to features & innovations and also applies for patents & trademarks for a lot of things, but there’s not as much behind some of the points as you might think. Essentially:

These are the essential things for me. Also new, for example, is the shape of the seat, the previous softweave cover now has a “plus” and is supposed to be even better, and there is also an NFC tag on the chair to check whether you have bought a genuine TITAN Evo 2022.

Secretlab-TITAN-review-in-Portrait

Your chair creaks? Mine too. Solution:

After the delivery of the first TITAN Evo 2022 models there were many reports of strong creaking noises, my model is also affected. The noise is generated by friction between the cover and a side cover, which did not exist before:

creak noise side cover

But there is already a solution: Secretlab sends out “barrier kits” for this, which are inserted between the cover and the side cover. These then eliminate the problem. That’s not a big deal, but it would of course be nicer to avoid contacting the customer service and to have the whole thing work creak-free right away.

 

However, it can be assumed that this problem only affects the first large batch. In upcoming batches, the problem will be fixed. Happens!

Seating comfort: Is the TITAN Evo 2022 comfortable?

Comfort-wise, the TITAN Evo is comparable to its predecessor, I would say. The cushion hardness seems a little softer to me, but must still be called firm. With my 189cm I opted for the XL, rather too big than too small is my motto.

comfortable-sitting-on-titan-evo

The features of the chair allow a more precise optimization of the seating comfort, so we can adjust the lumbar support vertically & horizontally for real fine tuning. With the memory foam cushion, neck & head are well bedded.

Patented cold foam - Really?

In fact, there is less behind it than you might think at first. The foam is good, no question! However, Secretlab is quite clever in marketing individual features. I did a little research on the patent issues:

 

The patent is “pending”, meaning applied for but not yet approved. It probably won’t be, Secretlab probably knows that too. In the field of seat foams it is difficult to reinvent the wheel and above all not necessary.

 

But let’s take a look at patent SG 10202102953R: “SG” stands for Singapore and if the number starts with “10”, it is a local patent, which refers only to the country where it was applied for – Singapore in this case.

 

This means that if this patent were to be approved, it would only apply to Singapore. Foam producers from Singapore would not be allowed to use this “special” foam composition. However, production in all other countries of the world would be allowed to use it. Is this how you would protect your blatant cold foam innovation?

 

Here you can see that the patent is rather clever marketing for the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022, but I can’t really blame the manufacturer. Anyone who had really developed a blatant foam would probably not only patent it for a country of production, but for a continent or the whole world. Otherwise, China, for example, would copy it instantly.

So not such good cold foam after all?

Do not misunderstand – the foam is therefore not bad. On the contrary, a very good, dimensionally stable cold foam is used here, which you will not sit through so quickly. The resistance to deformation is very good here due to the strength. It’s just not the super hot shit that you expect when you think of the patent.

Cross-legged test: legs crossed on the TITAN Evo

For me with 189cm height and 80kg weight it is of course no problem to cross the legs on the XL. The Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 hardly has any side bolsters anyway, so this will not be the legroom limiting component for anyone.

cutting seat test-titan-evo

The advantage here is that the TITAN Evo is available in 3 sizes. So everyone has the space required for his height to cross the legs.

Cross-legged test passed!

Body sizes: Which Secretlab TITAN Evo fits you

This question, which is sometimes the most important when buying the right gaming chair, takes a back seat with the TITAN Evo. After all, the chair is available in 3 sizes: Small, Regular & XL. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the space conditions:

"Pebble" seating area with plenty of space

The old seat of the TITAN has been redesigned, the newly shaped seat is called the “Pebble seat base” and is intended to provide ergonomic support. A gentle curvature is intended to ensure a centered sitting position. To this end, seat cheeks are only hinted at.

pebble-seat

For me, the new seat is just a new seat, with a different shape, but without that I feel a big improvement. But there was not much to improve for me. You could have taken an even softer foam for those who like to sit soft. Otherwise, we have the Secretlab TITAN Evo just a solid seat that does what it should.

Waterfall edge for pressure relief

Part of the new seat surface is also the so-called waterfall edge. The end of the seat is beveled. This is to take pressure off the thighs and make it easier to bend the legs if you like to have them or your feet under the chair.

waterfall edge seat

This is a good idea, the effect is not a massive one, but it does make it easier to get your feet under the chair. The fact that so much attention is paid to detail here can only be praised.

Backrest without restrictions

The backrest also does not restrict its users. Often, the side wings are pronounced in the shoulder area, causing the shoulders to round forward. That is not the case here.

flat-side-panels-backrest

Such sidewalls are of no use at all, so I think it’s very good that they’re left out, because they can’t be of any use, but they can be a nuisance. Leaving them out is the best option.

Conclusion: Suitable body for the Secretlab TITAN Evo

So space is there and I believe that a chair is better off providing too much space than too little. Secretlab gives the size recommendations as follows:

Body size: 169cm or smaller

Body weight: till 90kg

Max. Load capacity: 130kg

Body size: 170-189cm

Body weight: till 100kg

Max. Load capacity: 130kg

Body size: 189-205cm

Body weight: up to 80-180kg

Max. Load capacity: 130kg

These size specifications I can not agree after I received the Small. Even on the Small I can sit with 189cm just even, because would have been completely sufficient for me with 189cm also the Regular, whose backrest is another 4cm higher than that of the Small.

 

Therefore, I am firmly convinced that you can take even up to 195cm height still the Regular and can save the 50€ to the XL. The XL you need only if you are really very wide built or even taller. More about this here in the video:

By the way, the same gas springs are used for the Small and Regular versions, and the possible seat heights are also the same. Only the seat height of the XL is higher to make the chair suitable for particularly tall gamers.

 

The open design of the backrest should not cause any problems for anyone. Even in previous models, we were careful not to include any pitfalls for the freedom of movement.

Innovations & Features of the TITAN Evo en Detail

The main points are through: Comfort & Size Advice. Now it’s exciting to find out what all the innovations & features add to the seating comfort as well as the look:

L-Adapt 4-way lordosis support

Secretlab has treated itself to a neat innovation here. The lumbar support can be adjusted vertically and horizontally with the wheel on the backrest. We can therefore adjust the height of the lumbar support as well as its shape. So far, only the Backforce One Plus had that.

marco-sets-lordosis-support-one

The L-Adapt technology is intended to additionally adapt the support to the user’s movements. When we turn to the right, for example, the support, which is equipped with movable hinges, is supposed to move with us. However, I don’t notice that much of it, but it’s also hard to feel it with my back.

 

The vertical & horizontal adjustment option, on the other hand, one notices of course already and this function I also welcome. Lumbar cushions are not a hit for lordosis support. The next level is a firm protrusion of the backrest in the lordosis area like on the Backforce One.

 

After that comes horizontally adjustable support, such as the noblechairs HERO has. This type of support should easily suffice for most people.

raedchen-lordosenstuetze

The dynamic L-Adapt lumbar support goes one better with its vertical adjustment, allowing for precise fine-tuning. This means you can support your hollow back exactly the way you want.

Magnetic head / neck pillow + memory foam

This is something that I really find very useful and successful. Secretlab has discovered the magnets for themselves, which are also used for Cloudswap and the side covers on the backrest.

neck pillow-minimal-height
Minimum cushion height

With the help of neodymium magnets, the head or neck pillow sticks where you want it. The pillow can therefore be fixed without straps, it is important here that you have also chosen the right model for your own size, so that the magnetic device is also in a suitable frame.

neck-pillow-maximum-height
Maximum cushion height

Neck cushions often can’t be pulled down low enough on chairs with wide headrests, so smaller people can’t adjust the cushions properly; they lie too high. With the magnets, that problem is history.

 

It also looks better. It looks better without the straps that grip around the backrest. Most importantly, the memory foam is really comfortable on the Secretlab TITAN Evo! The pillow is velvety soft to the touch and the memory foam conforms very nicely to the head and neck area. A pillow that I like to use.

 

In addition, on the foam in the pillow is still a layer of cooling gel, so that it is not too warm in the neck. Nice to have, but probably not necessary.

4D armrest with cloudswap on the TITAN Evo

The armrests of the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 are adjustable in 4 directions (4D) and equipped with Secretlab’s new Cloudswap technology. The armrest supports, which come with a particularly soft plastic, are removable and also hold magnetically.

4d-armrest-titan-evo

Secretlab thus offers the possibility of upgrading the arm rests with accessory pads. Technogel Premium pads are offered in the store for this purpose. These are supposed to adapt to the arm & wrists like memory foam and cool at the same time. I have already ordered them, they should be delivered in January 2022.

 

I find this option very interesting! I can not yet imagine anything under the Technogel, but I’m super excited and find the idea also just cool to change also at the always same armrest pads times what. Very innovative!

cloudswap-armrest

By the way, the armrests can only be adjusted by operating the metal knob at the front of the base. This is to prevent you from accidentally adjusting the armrest. Secretlab really goes into the smallest detail in development!

Advanced rocking mechanism with locking function

Anything else would of course be disappointing in this price range, the Secretlab TITAN Evo comes to your home with an extended rocker mechanism.

rocking-mechanism-in-use

The resistance during rocking can be adjusted to the user’s own body weight by means of an adjusting wheel under the seat. Backrest & seat do not change the angle to each other when rocking, as a synchronous mechanism would, for example.

 

For this purpose, we can lock the rocker mechanism in any position. With standard mechanisms, the only option is to rock or not to rock. Here, the lever can also be moved, for example halfway, and the position is locked.

Tilt back up to 165°

The backrest can be adjusted backwards at an angle of up to 165° to the seat surface using the lever on your right. This allows you to lie in the Secretlab TITAN Evo and also have a root canal performed spontaneously.

160 degree backrest

The trend here is downward: more and more manufacturers are limiting this angle, often only 125-140° is offered. So far, no one seems to need more, but since having is better than needing, we are happy to take the 165° and keep as much flexibility open as possible.

60mm large & quiet running rollers

The rollers of the Secretlab TITAN Evo are with 60mm size rather large rollers. The larger the rollers, the lighter they should be.

60mm-rolls

The Evo’s rollers run smoothly and quietly and do their job to full satisfaction.

Aluminum base in noble look

Metal bases are common in the price range of the Secretlab TITAN Evo; nylon is used more in cheaper segments. Thus, the TITAN Evo is delivered with a black lacquered aluminum base.

titan-evo-alu-foot-cross

I find the design very nice, the base looks classy and high-quality. On one of the struts is still a Secretlab logo fitted.

Authentication via NFC tag

An NFC tag is attached to the lower backrest of the TITAN Evo 2022. If you scan it with your smartphone, it confirms whether it is a genuine chair or a fake from another manufacturer.

nfc-authenticity-scan

This question does not really arise in Germany, we can only order directly from Secretlab anyway. Apparently there have been cases of counterfeiting abroad, however, Secretlab once pointed this out in a Facebook post. So for us quite unexciting, but nice gimmick.

Covers on TITAN Evo: Softweave & Neo

You can get your TITAN Evo 2022 with the new Softweave+ or the Neo Hybrid synthetic leather, which isn’t really hybrid at all. But more about that in a moment. There is also the option with real nappa leather in the store, but it says for a very long time that this is currently not available. I suspect that this option will be abolished in the long term.

Softweave+: fabric cover has become 3.5x stronger

We already know the softweave covers made of super soft fabric from the previous models. This softweave cover has been further developed for the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022. Whether the new fabric cover performs better than its predecessor in abrasion tests is not known.

 

Only in a tensile strength test does Secretlab state that Softweave+ is 3.5 times stronger than its predecessor. I don’t dare to draw conclusions about a higher durability from this, because I don’t know whether a tensile and tear test is the appropriate method for this. But what the heck, the fabric cover has been optimized for the better, and that’s a good thing for now!

 

In any case, though, Softweave is a super comfortable and soft fabric cover that feels similar to the noblechairs HERO TX fabric cover. The qualities of the fabric covers can already differ greatly. Compared to the fabric cover of the DXRacer 1, this one is really worlds better.

Neo hybrid leather - Caution misunderstanding

Secretlab claims to have developed the new Neo hybrid leather itself. With hybrid leather, I first thought of the noblechairs Black Edition, which consists of vinyl & PU and is particularly robust and breathable. Secretlab means the “hybrid” in the name but differently:

high quality-neo-leather

The Neo synthetic leather consists of a carrier layer of microfiber and a top layer of resin laminate. Secretlab has developed this top layer itself. The surface also feels really great, the leather is really nice and soft and actually reminds you of Napa leather, one of the most expensive genuine leathers around.

titan-logo

However, I am somewhat critical of the term “hybrid”. According to my research, it is relatively common in the production of PU artificial leathers to take a backing layer of fleece (also microfiber) and provide this with a PU top layer. According to this, the hybrid leather is a normally manufactured artificial leather:

 

In both cases, you have a fleece/microfiber carrier layer and a top layer. The innovation here then lies “only” in the top layer, which Secretlab has developed. I find the new leatherette absolutely successful, haptically it is really great! Only with the term “hybrid” I have my problems.

Workmanship & quality on the Secretlab TITAN Evo

At a price of around $470, I have very high expectations here, which could already be met with the predecessors and also met with the TITAN Evo 2022. I have nothing to complain about here, the chair looks very valuable.

minimal-wrinkles-on-evo

Here you can see a very minimal wrinkling on the headboard, the leather could have been a bit tighter. Here I complain but at the highest level, I had to hold the lamp well on it, so that you can see it at all – I’ve noticed it myself only late.

 

The seams are otherwise very precise without exception, the manufacturing level is high here.

 

And you don’t have to worry about the use of materials either, after all, the chairs can withstand loads of up to 150kg or 180kg – you can’t afford materials that are too cheap, especially not if you give a 3-5 year warranty.

3-5 years warranty with exclusions

Secretlab offers a 3-year warranty on the TITAN Evo 2022. You get 2 years on top if you either pay $50 or share a picture of the new chair on social media. A warranty beyond the 2 years is commendable.

 

However, there are also some exclusions in the warranty statement. Natural wear and tear, for example, is not included, but that’s normal and basically how all office or gaming chair warranties are handled.

 

Secretlab’s statement has a lot more, though, so “aging of materials” is excluded, as well as damage if you sweat a lot due to illness, and “accidents” are also excluded, whatever that means. That’s the point: these points can be interpreted generously and it’s not entirely clear what exactly the warranty covers.

 

What it should definitely apply to, however, are cases in which basic components of the chair simply break, such as the base, seat, armrests or similar. At least these points are covered in my opinion, and for longer than is often the case.

Conclusion on the TITAN Evo Review - Buy?

This has become a long test report, which speaks for the Secretlab TITAN Evo for now, because: If I have a lot to write about, it’s either because there are a lot of features, or because there is a lot to criticize. The only criticism I have for the TITAN Evo is the marketing: The cold foam patent is a bit of window dressing, and I’m not sure if the “hybrid” leather was deliberately chosen to make more of the new cover than it is.

 

Although that wouldn’t be necessary: The neo-imitation leather with its nappa-like surface is haptically great and successful. However, I’m not sure if I can really hold that against Secretlab – marketing is marketing.

secretlab-titan-evo-2022-buy-marco

The bottom line is that Secretlab has made a big leap in the evolution of its own chair series and created an all-around successful product. With 3 sizes to choose from, everyone can find their perfect chair, features like the L-Adapt 4-way lumbar support make a big splash, as does the new Cloudswap technology for the armrests.

 

The chair is well thought out down to the last detail, the magnetic neck cushions are a highlight for me and you can clearly tell that they are making the right effort in developing the perfect gaming chair. I find the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 really great.

Pros:

Cons:

DXRacer Master Review – Soft, modular & lots of space: My experience

dxracer-master-review

DXRacer Master Review - Soft, modular & lots of space: My experience

In my current DXRacer Master review I was really surprised, because after I was previously rather convinced by models like the DXRacer King, but otherwise have not really found many suitable models from the house of DXRacer for me, the DXRacer Master meets my taste very well.

dxracer-master-review

DXRacer has done a good job with the Master and added some new features to the program that have not been available in any other gaming chair of the brand so far. How these features affect the seating comfort and to which body sizes the DXRacer Master fits, you can now find out in the test & video!

DXRacer

Master

steel frame, aluminum base, cold foam upholstery, PU leather, 75mm plastic castors, PU armrests

4D armrests, extended tilt mechanism with lock, integrated variable lumbar support, backrest can be tilted up to 135°, max. load capacity of 135kg

Table of contents

New & general functions on DXRacer Master

The DXRacer Master is well equipped and comes with pretty much everything possible in its price range & also surprised me with an interesting neck pillow attachment:

dxracer-master-review-portrait

Seating comfort: This is how well the Master sits

The cushion of the DXRacer Master is pleasantly soft on the seat. Foam hardness is always a big issue, not everyone wants to sit on firmer chairs like the noblechairs HERO or Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 and prefers rather softer cushions.

DXRacer installs the softest cushions of all the tested brands on my website and accordingly my butt is comfortably softly bedded here. The backrest feels firmer in the lumbar support area or above. However, this is not a problem depending on the seating position. If I let myself slump more in the chair, it can get a little uncomfortable – but that’s a personal thing, my girlfriend didn’t have that feeling, for example. The bottom line is that I found the comfort super in 3 weeks of testing.

Cross-legged test: Possible on the master?

The fact that there is a lot of space on the DXRacer Master in the test and that hardly any or no restricting side panels are used, crossing the legs is not a big problem:

cutting-seat-test-dxracer-master

On the contrary, with my 189cm & 80kg I can easily cross my legs without getting into trouble. With my girlfriend with 167cm is of course no problem.

Cross-legged test passed!

Seat: Hardly any sidewalls

Many gaming chairs still emulate the typical sports seats from cars, where side bolsters help us maintain our sitting position in the corners. Of course, such side bolsters don’t make sense in front of the PC; at most, they can limit our legroom.

seat-flats-dxracer-master-barely-side-cheeks

As you may have read in the DXRacer Formula F08 review or the DXRacer 1 review, DXRacer still has such side bolsters, but not on the Master!

 

At the seat these are here only maximally indicated, the seat is already nice and wide and the legroom is not threatened in any way.

Backrest: side bolsters measured with protractor

To show you the sidewall expression as well as possible, I recently bought a protractor. I use it to measure the angle between the flat backrest and the side bolster. The values are certainly not 100% accurate, but give a good starting point.

side-cheeks-shoulder-measured

Here, the angle is approx. 160°. On the smaller models, this is partly around 145°, so 160° is a clear improvement. Considering that 180° means no sidewalls at all, I would call this only implied with 160°.

Size advice: this is how big/small & heavy you can be

DXRacer itself gives a height recommendation of 170-190cm and this recommendation I can also agree. It is actually rather rare that the sellers here really realistic information, so big praise to DXRacer!

seat-depth-at-165cm
feet-at-167cm

My girlfriend, for example, is a bit too small for the chair at 167cm. On the one hand, the seat is too deep, and on the other hand, she can only reach the floor with a little more than the tips of her toes. From 170cm, however, that should work.

seat-depth-at-189cm

I with my 189cm have no problems and fit pretty perfectly to the DXRacer Master. The limit of 190cm fits well, however, because if I were taller, the neck or head pillow would no longer have the best position. I use it already pushed all the way up, with a few cm more height it would sit me under the neck in the shoulder area.

 

You can sit on the DXRacer Master if you are between 170-190cm tall. In terms of physique, you can be slim, average build or even wider: there is enough space with a load capacity of up to 135kg.

NEW: Master goes modular: Exchangeable seat, footrest & cup holder optional

A completely new feature of the DXRacer Master is that it is modular to a certain extent. For example, it will be possible to replace the seat in the future: It can already be removed, but the optional seat surfaces are not yet available. Fabric seating surfaces for particularly hot days would therefore be conceivable here.

modular-seat-flat-expanded

In addition, we are quite flexible when it comes to accessories: The base frame of the DXRacer Master, for example, is prepared to optionally mount a cup holder, footrest or monitor holder.

dxracer-master-modular-screwholes

The accessories are of course not included and must be purchased separately. I find the option but very nice, especially the footrest I imagine quite cool.

Functions & innovations of the DXRacer Master in detail

Now let’s take a detailed look at the new features of the DXRacer Master. I don’t really look at the construction in my tests, because I don’t find it all that interesting. But already here I noticed something positive: To mount the backrest to the seat, there is a rail attached to the backrest, so you can mount the backrest much easier.

 

And in addition, the side covers are magnetic here and no longer need to be screwed tight. I found that quite nice already!

Variable adjustable lumbar support

I believe the DXRacer Master is the first gamer chair from DX to do away with lumbar cushions and instead rely on a variable lumbar support that can be adjusted in degree with a wheel to our right.

wheel-for-lordless-support

Since lumbar pillows are too thick for the hollow back in most cases, I see this as the best decision. Producing a lumbar pillow for all backs is just extremely difficult, so adjustable lumbar supports are just much better.

interior-of-the-lordosenstuetze
Interior of the lumbar support - back upholstery removed

With my lordosis, I do not even have to extend the support, my lower back is already filled in the DXRacer Master Review. So who is equipped with a stronger hollow back, gets here no problems with a good setting.

Innovative headrest with memory foam

I also find the attachment of the headrest very nice, which I have not seen before in any chair. Apart from that, the neck and head cushion of the DXRacer Master is filled with memory foam.

attachment-for-neck-pillow

Anyway, here on the backrest there is a plastic rail that we slide the headrest onto.

fastening-on-pillow

Thus, we can slide the headrest up and down on this rail. The mechanism is a bit stiff, but since you don’t really adjust the cushion that often, that’s fine.

 

So the advantage here is that on the one hand we don’t have any more straps on the cushions, which looks better. On the other hand, the cushion can no longer slip, it holds bombproof.

headrest-in-use

There are only disadvantages here for people who want to do without these cushions altogether, because the fastening rail is firmly installed in the backrest. So the cushion has to be used, but that shouldn’t really be a thing, because it’s really cozy.

 

The only thing I could imagine for the support would be a cover made of soft fabric. That would be even more pliable and the memory foam would work even better with it. However, this is not a criticism, even so, the support does a great job.

4D armrests with button & soft support

The DXRacer Master is equipped with 4D armrests, so we can adjust the armrest support in 4 directions. The armrest is made of a soft plastic that is pleasant to the skin.

soft-plastic-armrest-of-the-master

There is also a button at the front of the armrest that you have to press before you can adjust or rotate the support forwards and backwards. This is very convenient for many gamers, because the armrests cannot be adjusted accidentally.

4d-armrest-lateral

But here’s a hint: Most gamers move their armrests unintentionally because they push themselves up on the armrests when moving or standing up. You should never do that with armrests, because they are not designed for such high loads. So when moving or standing up, it’s best to keep your hands off the armrests 🙂

DXRacer Master with extended rocker mechanism

The DXRacer Master has an advanced rocker mechanism that can be locked in any position. With simple rocker mechanisms, we can only switch the function on or off, but not lock it variably.

rocking mechanism -dxracer-master

With the adjusting wheel under the seat, we still need to adjust the resistance of the spring in the mechanism to our body weight and we can benefit from the function.

Backrest tiltable up to 135°

The backrest can be tilted backwards by up to 135° to the seat in the DXRacer Master test. In the past, 170° or 180° were also possible, but the trend is declining because no one really needs that.

backrest-tilted-135°

135° is a solid configuration, no one should actually need more to sit back and relax while watching videos.

Huge 75mm casters & aluminum base

As of 2021/2022, the DXRacer Master’s plastic rollers are the largest I’ve ever seen. With 75mm are the huge. Thus, they also run very nice smoothly and quietly.

75mm-large -rolls

The base is made of aluminum. Plastic covers are clipped onto the individual arms of the base. I assume that DXRacer does this for the sake of looks, or because plastic is perhaps a bit more comfortable on bare feet than cool aluminum.

aluminum-foot-cross-artificial-substance

Visually, the clunky covers are not my taste, but that is really a matter of taste and purely functionally, the covers have no disadvantages. The main thing is that the base looks good (in the eye of the beholder) and is stable.

Covers: PU leatherette or fabric cover

The DXRacer Master is available with a high-quality PU cover, like the model in this test, or with a mix of fabric and PU.

 

In the mix, the vast majority of areas are covered with a soft microfiber cover and only some parts are covered with imitation leather for visual reasons. Importantly, the contact surfaces on the backrest, seat & headrest of the DXRacer Master are covered with fabric. This way we benefit from increased breathability in the important places.

leatherette- of -master

However, even a PU cover is not always contemptible in terms of breathability if it is a high-quality material. Because even polyurethane can breathe to a certain degree, depending on the quality. I haven’t had any exceptionally big problems with high-quality PU synthetic leathers like this one in the summer so far. You’re more likely to get those with chairs around $200 or less if the quality of the faux leather is too poor, as is the case with my dining room chairs, for example.

Processing of the DXRacer Master: Precise or expandable?

I was not so satisfied with the workmanship in the DXRacer Racing Review. The RV131 model had too many inconsistencies for its price of around $240. However, the DXRacer Master shows that it can be done differently.

precision -processing-the-suture

Here is no trace of the many wrinkles or inconsistencies. Only on the seat there was the one or other wrinkle after sitting for a long time, but I seem to be an isolated case and DXRacer-Germany has promptly sent me a replacement. I could not find another report of this kind on the net.

 

Also, the seams run nice and straight here, so in terms of workmanship I can not criticize anything here. The DXRacer Master looks thoroughly valuable.

Conclusion: Is the DXRacer Master worth buying?

I have tested the DXRacer Master a good 3 weeks now and can say: The Master is absolutely suitable for everyday use, so 8-10 hours a day I spent gladly on the Master. The padding of the seat is pleasantly soft, although the backrest is somewhat firmer.

 

Due to the innovative headrest attachment, the neck or head pillow always sits optimally, as long as you of course adhere to the size specifications: 170-190cm tall is optimal with a few centimeters of leeway, since we are all very individually built.

dxracer-master-buy-facet-marco-with-chair

The lower back can be supported very precisely with the lumbar support and large 4D armrests provide a comfortable rest for the forearms. Add to that a precise build and we have a very good gaming chair!

 

At around $420 – $445, it’s not exactly cheap either, but it doesn’t have to hide from similarly priced chairs from other manufacturers. When all the fuss about the pandemic is over and the transport and material costs drop again one day, the price will probably also become more attractive.

Pros:

Cons:

Gaming chair vs. cheap alternative: Is a higher-priced gamer chair worth the money? I have both … cut open!

broken-office-chairs

Gaming chair vs. cheap alternative: Is a higher-priced gamer chair worth the money? I have both ... cut open!

You asked for it. Every now and then, people complain that I hardly ever test chairs in the lower price segment. There is a good reason for this: I have had very bad experiences with these cheap chairs. I always emphasize that – but today I’m putting my money where my mouth is.

 

I reluctantly brought a gaming chair for under $150 into my house and put it next to a noblechairs EPIC in the following article + video. What did I do then? Well, a simple top to bottom comparison wasn’t enough for me. It didn’t go deep enough for me… so without further ado, I treated myself to a brand new box cutter from the hardware store and stripped both chairs down to their skeletons.

You want to know if it’s worth investing 300, 400 or more dollars in a gaming chair? Then watch my video – the result will impress you!

Table of contents

Click here for my ▷ EPIC Series review and here for the new ▷ ICON Series from noblechairs.

Early frustration with the construction of the cheap chair

I actually wanted to skip the usually unspectacular assembly, but I didn’t want to withhold the following “disaster” from you. First of all, I was greeted by an incomparably disgusting chemical cloud when I opened the box, and the innards then did their part to my displeasure:

marco-and-the-cheap-gaming-chair

Here we have captured quite wonderfully my motivated expression, which I put on at the sight of the disassembled cheap gamer chair. Normally, such a chair consists of casters, base, gas lift, seat and backrest … this cheap chair has a thousand more parts – I didn’t feel like it.

parts-of-the-cheap-chair

Here you can see that the joints for the backrest have to be screwed on separately – and the whole thing looks pretty “delicate”. I don’t expect much stability.

instruction-of-the-favorable-chair

From antique wooden planks & toy rolls - details in comparison

I spared you a photo of the chair set up – ok, I forgot to take one – but I recommend my video anyway. So let’s take a look at a few details of the two office chairs:

Screwing of armrests & base

wood-plate-in-the-seat-flat-of-the-cheap-office-chair

The cheap chair’s armrests and base are merely screwed into wooden panels – and they don’t make a particularly robust impression (see below). The connecting piece between the base and seat, including the adjusting screw, also looks extremely puny.

steel-frame-of-the-expensive-office-chair

In comparison, everything in the EPIC Series is made of solid steel. This is not only more robust, but also much easier to screw together.

stable-screwed-seat

The EPIC’s adjusting screw and the like look much more solid and valuable. No comparison to the cheap chair.

The frame

broken-frame-at-cheap-racing-chair

I didn’t have to use much force to break the wing off. The thing was simply welded extremely unclean.

tube-thickness-of-12mm-at-cheap-zocker-chair

After a few pulls with the hacksaw, the thin tube of the cheap chair is cut. The tube wall thickness is about 1.2 mm.

tube-thickness-of-2-mm-at-expensive-office-chair

In the case of the noblechairs, it’s 2 mm – so the tube is almost 70% thicker, leaving the material quality aside. In addition, the stability increases exponentially to the tube wall thickness – in short: The frame of the EPIC is many times more stable.

Base & casters

plastic-foot-cross-in-red-and-black

Both the casters and the base are made of plastic and look like toys. On the plus side, the casters at least roll quite easily.

high-quality-rollers-and-foot-cross

On the EPIC, everything is solid and has a high-quality finish. This not only looks better, but should also withstand much more.

A rotten but certainly historically valuable seat

cut open-seat

After removing the foam from the seat, this sight awaited me. I don’t know where this rotten wood came from – no, I have nothing against recycling per se – but I wouldn’t have expected something like this in a brand new chair. Fits the rusty frame, though.

frame-of-cheap-office-chair

I don’t think I need to say much about this picture … after all, one remains true to the motto “from old make new”.

Cheap foam vs noblechairs cold foam

material comparison-foam-and-hard-foam

Here you can see the upholstery of the side bolsters in direct comparison. The cheap foam from the noname chair is not only much thinner, but can also be easily compressed to the point where the fingers touch each other. There’s no question that the cheap upholstery would wear through within a short time.

 

Tearing it is also child’s play. With the noble, you have to use extreme force to even get the cold foam out of its position – it’s hardly possible with a bare hand.

 

A look inside the upholstery reflects well the feeling you get when sitting in these chairs. One is comfortable and gives its owner pleasure for a long time, the other is not…

My conclusion: Saving money on the gaming chair makes you unhappy

broken-office-chairs

The journey into the interior of the two chairs was really exciting and delivered surprising results, even though I would have expected many things to be so. Let’s take a brief look at the results:

  • Thanks to the many individual parts, assembling the cheap model is a test of patience – accompanied by an acrid chemical smell.
  • The frame of the cheap chair is rusty and can be damaged with little effort
  • The tube wall thickness of the noblechairs is 70% thicker, which should have a massive effect on the stability of the chair.
  • The cover of the EPIC is not only visually and haptically on a different level, it is also much thicker and more robust.
  • In the premium chair, the entire frame is made of steel – in the cheap model, the screws are turned into old wood
  • The connecting piece incl. set screw is much more stable on the EPIC and also looks better
  • The wooden planks under the seat upholstery are rotten and look ancient
  • The base and casters of the noble chair resemble cheap children’s toys
  • The upholstery of the noble is thicker, more robust and much more comfortable when sitting – with the economy version, sitting through is soon pre-programmed

I could list a lot more bullet points with details, but I’ll break it down to the following conclusion:

 

Knife, hacksaw & muscle power have shown in my duel Cheap vs. EPIC that a high-quality gaming chair does not cost a few euros more without reason. Each of you would have noticed that by sitting on a similarly cheap copy for a few weeks – the things are simply uncomfortable and the durability is also poor.

 

This test was not about price-performance – maybe you just don’t get more for $100-150 – but rather about the fact that it is not worth spending this money on a cheap chair. It simply doesn’t make you happy and it doesn’t allow you to sit ergonomically. So either buy a real gaming chair now, like the noblechairs EPIC or ICON, or don’t bother.