Backforce One Plus Test - Interstuhl's declaration of war on the competition

Offers & Information: To store & manufacturer with the best prices for Backforce One Plus go here:

Upgrades of the Backforce One Plus in the test

I already wrote in the Backforce One review

“The Backforce One brings some innovations that I have not seen before from any gaming chair.”

In addition to some familiar and useful upgrades to the One Plus in the seating furniture sector, there are also at least 2 upgrades this time that I have not seen before in any gaming chair! What features are hidden behind them and what else is new:

Vertically & horizontally adjustable lumbar support: No gaming chair I know of has this so far. The previous lumbar supports could only be adjusted horizontally, i.e. in or out.
Seat tilt adjustment: Another unique feature is that you can tilt the seat forward a few degrees to achieve a more open seat angle between the upper and lower body. More on what this does for you later.
Seat depth adjustment: The seat depth is adjustable on the Backforce One Plus, so you can now adjust the seating experience even better to your body size.
"Bead" at the end of the seat is missing: A few buyers of the Backforce One have complained about an elevation at the rear end of the seat. This has now disappeared.
Folding 5D armrest: In the Backforce One Plus, the armrest is now not only height-adjustable and foldable, we have a decent 5D armrest here.
Armrest upholstery: For this purpose, the armrest is now upholstered and covered with an Alcantara imitation.
Larger rollers: The rollers on the One Plus are 65mm instead of 50mm.

In my opinion, it’s not a bad achievement to equip an already successful gamer chair with so many additional functions and not to go completely overboard with the purchase price. As the manufacturer of the Backforce One Plus, Interstuhl shows how flexible and close they are to their customers. This is because the upgrades partly address the most frequently cited points of criticism of the predecessor.

So instead of throwing chairs onto the market without any rhyme or reason, as some other manufacturers do, the concept of the One Plus is quite well thought out and coherent. By the way, if you’re interested in the basic features of a Backforce One, check out my Backforce One review. In this One Plus review, I’ll mainly focus on the new features, so you don’t have to read everything twice. And if you don’t know it yet: Check out my visit to Interstuhl while you’re at it: Manufacturing the Backforce One.

In detail: This is what the new functions of the Backforce One Plus do

Enough about the history and the features in short format. Now let’s take a closer look at what the individual innovations of the Backforce One Plus mean for the chair and your sitting experience on it.

Vertical & horizontal adjustable lumbar support

There are usually 2 types of lumbar support for gamer chairs. In one, cushions are used as a rather inexpensive and not always purposeful lumbar support. With the other, the lumbar support is quite variable adjustable with a rotary wheel.

As a rule, the lumbar support is installed at a fixed point, and the wheel can only be used to adjust the protrusion vertically, i.e. in or out, as it were. However, it would be ideal if the position could also be adjusted in height, as in many cars. The developers of the One Plus also thought of that.

The lumbar support can now be adjusted to the maximum here as described. This is what this wheel is for. When you pull it out, you can adjust the lumbar support vertically by turning the adjusting wheel. This means that you can adjust the curvature of the lower back up or down.

If you push the wheel in, you can adjust the lumbar support horizontally. This means that you increase or decrease the curvature. If you have a more pronounced lordosis or a hollow back, you turn it further out to optimally fill your lordosis and relieve surrounding structures.

Seat tilt adjustment for intervertebral disc relief

The seat tilt adjustment allows you to further open the angle between the upper and lower body by raising the seat in the back or lowering it in the front. Many a person with spinal disc problems recognizes the blessing in this feature and now throws their wedge cushion out on the street after ordering the One Plus.

Because you wouldn’t need that here anymore. By opening the angle between the upper and lower body, the intervertebral disc is relieved and the pelvis is tilted forward. You know the principle behind this from the synchronous mechanism, which also lets you open the angle and allows additional movement.

What I can say about this with my herniated disc: I have had a slight herniated disc since 2020, which I am currently trying to train away. For advice, I went to one of the best physios and injury specialists in the country, Chris Eikelmeier of Strengthfirst. He also advised me, for example, to put the backrest as far back as possible in the car to open up the angle between the upper and lower body. Since then, I’ve almost been lying down in the car, and it feels good!

But again, not every function needs to be used. Test the seat tilt adjustment for a while, give it a chance. I suspect that you will like the function, your spinal disc either way. But if you don’t like the option at all, don’t use it. If a setting doesn’t feel good in the long run, it usually isn’t good.

Seat depth adjustment for larger target group

The seat depth adjustment is a super rare feature for gaming chairs. I’m almost unaware of any manufacturer in the gaming segment that incorporates such mechanics for this feature as well. You can push the seat back and forth with this lever:

This allows you to get closer to the 2-4 finger scale, which says that optimally there is 2 to 4 finger widths of space between the back of the knee and the seat. In my Backforce One Plus test I was able to adjust the seat a little better to my height of 189cm, I have about 1-2cm more seat space.

Smaller gamers can especially benefit. Previously, the seat was about 43.5cm deep, but the Backforce One Plus now allows a narrow 38cm in its shortest setting, which will suit people with shorter legs.

Especially if the chair is used by several gamers of different sizes at home, such a function is useful so that you can adjust your seat to suit you individually, just like in the car.

Offers & Information: To store & manufacturer with the best prices for Backforce One Plus go here:

Elevation at the rear end of the seat optimized away

One or two have complained about the rise or “bulge” (ugly word!) at the rear end of the seat. This has bothered some gamers when they have parked their butts maximum close to the end of the seat. Personally, I never noticed this and only became aware of it with the first reports.

Here, too, Interstuhl has responded to customer feedback and has optimized away the increase. With the new seat depth adjustment, it would probably have bothered me too, but now it’s gone.

Folding 5D armrest with padding & cover

Previously, the armrests were foldable and height-adjustable. In my Backforce One Plus test, I note: That’s history. The armrests are still foldable, but at the same time adjustable in 4 additional directions. So it’s 4D + 1D (foldability) = 5D.

Together with the new removable armrests, the armrests are thus equipped to the maximum. The armrests are padded and covered with the Alcantara imitation that you know from the seat and backrest. This makes the armrests much softer than the normal soft plastic pads.

The armrest upholstery is removable and not fixed. Nevertheless, they sit nice and tight on the armrest. These padded armrests as well as the 5D armrests can be purchased cheaply in the accessories store. ▷ Click here to get to the product.

Rollers upgrade from 50mm to 65mm

The rollers became larger, grew by 15mm compared to the previous rollers. Generally, the larger the rollers, the easier it is to roll. Since the previous rollers were already smooth enough for me, but that should not interest me further.

What I find more interesting here is the visuals: One of my criticisms from the Backforce One test:

The casters are pretty standard and therefore don’t really fit to such an exclusive chair like the Backforce One.

The wheels are now just bigger and slightly different visually, but I think they fit the chair better now. Size wheels always look cooler.

New comfort in the test? This is what has changed in the comfort of the Backforce One Plus

Now, quite a few upgrades have been added and almost all of them also affect the seating comfort. So has the comfort effectively improved, is the Backforce One Plus more comfortable? I was very curious to test the new model, and I have now sat on it for many, many weeks.

When you place both chairs next to each other and sit down from one to the other, you don’t feel any difference at first, at least at first. The upholstery hardness is the same, as is the design. The first impression is the same. However, the first impression is of little value, after all, we want to sit reasonably on the One Plus for hours.

These features have a massive impact on the continuous comfort. I have much more flexibility in the adjustability of the armrests, my forearms and elbows no longer rub around on plastic (but that was never a problem now) and I can adjust the seat to my height better. The seat tilt adjustment really pleases my spinal discs and the lumbar support does the rest to noticeably relieve my back during longer sessions.

So has there been a change in comfort? Yes, and massively so. I find every single one of the upgrades absolutely successful and sensible. In any case, I sit better than on the standard model, where I was already very happy with the seating comfort. Only the now disappeared elevation on the seat surface makes no difference for me personally, but for some others.

Offers & Information: To store & manufacturer with the best prices for Backforce One Plus go here:

Body sizes: Does the One Plus fit you? My experience:

One of the most important issues, does the new Backforce One Plus fit your body proportions? The Plus also has a maximum load capacity of up to 130 kg. As before, there are no relevant side bolsters in the seat area that could restrict legroom.

The now variable seat depth has a small advantage for taller gamers, since 1-2cm more are now possible here, but it offers the biggest advantage for shorter people. Here, a good 6cm of shortening is now possible, which can possibly increase the barely existing distance between the back of the knee and the seat.

Otherwise, nothing has changed on the chair that would affect height suitability. Therefore, I am adjusting my size recommendation from the previous test a bit. Keep in mind, it’s a guideline and an estimate on my part. Depending on your torso length, a few inches more or less may be possible here:

According to my estimation, anyone who is between 152cm and 195cm tall will find room on the Backforce One Plus. At 152cm, you probably won’t be able to get your feet on the floor, but that can’t be avoided with any gaming chair. If you are between 152cm-195cm tall, there is nothing that speaks against buying the Backforce One Plus.

Conclusion: Buy Backforce One Plus? My test summary

I searched and found nothing when I wanted to find something to criticize. I’m sometimes accused of praising all chairs, even though almost every review contains criticism and especially chairs like the Corsair T1, MC Racing or Diablo X Fighter came off really badly – but you don’t see that on the website, because I naturally prefer to use the precious visible space for good chairs than for bad ones. And the Backforce One Plus is one of those good chairs.

Vertical & horizontal adjustable lumbar support
Seat tilt adjustment, seat depth adjustment & synchronous mechanism
Folding 5D armrest with padding & cover
Larger rollers & optimized seat
Made in Germany by hand
10 years warranty

You have now read the test, and the individual features together with the design form a perfect overall package. However, one important question remains…

Is the Backforce One Plus expensive?

A purchase price may seem daunting at first glance, but at second glance you quickly realize that the chair is more than good value for what it offers. The One Plus is still handmade in Germany. If you’re interested in what that looks like, here’s the report on my visit to the ▷ manufacturing facility.

In addition, the chair is produced in a resource-friendly and environmentally friendly way, is 100% recyclable and has a unique set of features. I had a look around the net trying to find a chair that looks cool, has seat tilt and seat depth adjustment, synchro mechanism, 5D armrests & lumbar support and is made in Germany. I have found chairs with the features, but none for anywhere near under $700. I think the price is absolutely fair for what you get here – an excellent product with a 10 year manufacturer warranty.

PC chair on test – how to find the best model

PC chair on test - how to find the best model for your body!

Westerners sit too much – I’m sure we’ve all heard that before. Sofa, car seat, PC chair – many hours a day we spend sitting. At the same time, everyone knows someone who has a lot of problems with their back. If you stay tuned now, you might not be one of them in the future!

In this PC chair review, I don’t want to slap a few links on you and try to sell you something, I also want to show you how to recognize a good PC chair for gamers or homeworkers and what you have to look for when buying your new seat. Of course, there are also product recommendations to shorten your search!

With a decent PC chair you not only sit comfortably, you also protect your spine including surrounding structures and thus prevent pain. And you’ll really be surprised how different PC chairs from the gaming sector can be!

The advantages of a well-designed PC gamer chair

Man is not born to sit, so it is so important to buy a chair that compensates for as many disadvantages of sitting too long as possible. If you buy the right PC gaming chair for you, you will have several advantages over a standard chair. In the best case, you sit dynamically, actively & naturally and at the same time comfortably, even if you have to or want to work or gamble for many hours.

Starting with small things like additional padding for the neck and back area, you can also adjust such a PC gamer chair to your seating needs. This means that the seat height as well as the position of the backrest should be adjustable, the armrests should allow flexibility and you need a good mechanism that fits your movements.

By the way, another word for “PC chair” is computer chair, or gaming chair. The information on the linked pages is mostly the same as here.

Marco's TOP recommendations - find your computer chair!

On the page now linked, you’ll find my absolute favorites from the more than 20 chairs tested. I have tested in detail and tell you exactly what is important in the individual models and what they bring you. There you also have the opportunity to view the test reports:

There really is something for everyone here: for those who want to save money, those who don’t want to spend so much money and those who simply want the very best. Take a look and find the chair that suits you personally:

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What is meant by an ergonomic PC chair?

A gaming PC chair has an ergonomic design when a good and pleasant seating comfort is provided. An ergonomically designed PC gamer chair can also be individually adjusted for your own body size and adapts to any body shape. As a rule, ergonomic models also have a synchronous mechanism.

Adjustment possibilities of a PC chair

Flexibility is what your gaming PC chair has to give you, it should offer many adjustment options with which you can adapt the PC chair to your sitting habits. By the way, the difference between a gaming and “normal” desk chair is basically the design with some exceptions, so it’s definitely not that only office chairs allow ergonomic sitting. You’ll get to know some chairs from office chair manufacturers in a moment.

Adjustable armrests of your PC chair

Starting with the smallest punbt, the armrests. Adjustability of the armrests is certainly not a must, but still makes many things more pleasant. Above all, height adjustability should be a minimum.

You want to buy a gaming PC chair and the manufacturer advertises the great height-adjustable armrests? Don’t be dazzled. The feature is cool and also important, but not worthy of praise, because even the PC chairs under $200 offer this minimum level of equipment.

Height adjustment is nice, so that the shoulders don’t hang too low or stand much too high when supporting the elbows. However, the comfort upgrade is usually offered more by 3D or 4D armrests, which can be adjusted in many directions. So height adjustment, rotation, moving back and forth and more are possible.

The advantage of rotating the armpads is, for example, the improved controller posture – if you adjust the armrests as shown in the picture, gaming with gamepads on the computer is much more comfortable. Generally, most gamer chairs have such armrests, even in the budget price range – with exceptions.

Tilt, incline and adjust the height of the backrest?

Ergonomically designed chairs for the PC in particular are usually equipped with an adjustable backrest, which is intended to support the back through its shape alone. Ideally, the backrest is pre-shaped and supports you without having to adjust anything in the lordosis area through a discreet protrusion.

Additionally, most PC chairs offer a lever on this side that allows you to adjust the angle between the backrest and the seat, in simple terms, you can fold the backrest back and lock it in multiple positions.

For further movement of the backrest contribute mechanisms, but more about that in a moment.

Lumbar support on the PC chair - a must or a gimmick?

Some models, such as noblechairs HERO, Secretlab TITAN or Backforce One Plus, offer lumbar supports with their chairs, which are supposed to support the lumbar spine, i.e. the lower back. But does that have to be the case?

Especially the lower back is often strained when sitting a lot, you don’t sit down much and small muscles and structures are strained a lot by this one-sided load. Here, the lumbar support should fill the lordosis or your hollow back and relieve the muscles.

Most chairs come with lumbar cushions, which are rarely a good solution. Most of the time, the cushions are much too thick and force us into an even stronger hollow back. The models mentioned above have real lumbar supports, usually even adjustable by means of a rotary wheel.

With the TITAN & HERO, such variable support is also appropriate, since the backrests would otherwise be very straight. Not with the Backforce One, though: the chairs are already pre-curved in the lumbar area anyway, which is enough for many people. For someone with a pathologically diagnosed hollow back, however, the upgrade to adjustable support can also make sense, or for those who want 100% perfection through fine-tuning.

Height adjustable chairs for PC

There are basically no PC chairs that are not height adjustable. This allows you to adjust the gaming PC chair individually to fit your height or the desk height. This feature is also helpful when the chair is used by several people of different heights.

Various PC chair mechanics

Each PC chair has a mechanism, which is located under the seat. There are many differences between the mechanisms, which are also reflected in the price. However, they all have one thing in common: the seat height can be adjusted with the PC chair mechanism together with the gas spring.

Rocking mechanism

The rocker mechanism is the simplest form of mechanism. When you lean back on your PC gamer chair, the backrest and seat move backward with you in the same proportion, following your movement. Think of it as sitting in a solid shell that you rock back and forth with.

This means that there is no actual change in the monotonous sitting position, which does not provide any significant relief for the intervertebral discs. However, the back only experiences relief through “real” movement. If the upper and lower body rock backwards at the same angle, as with the rocking mechanism, then we do move, but there is no movement in the back. It’s still pleasant, though, because you don’t always want to sit up straight and lean back sometimes.

I especially like to lean back when watching YouTube videos or movies. So a rocker mechanism is better than no mechanism! There are 2 types of mechanics for PC chairs, one allows just rocking, the other also allows locking. In this extended rocking mechanism, you can set fixed in many positions, in the normal one, we can only turn the function on or off.

Synchronous mechanism

In contrast, a synchronized mechanism can provide a decent amount of relief. When we lean backward here, the backrest tilts back much more than the seat surface. The result: we have movement in the intervertebral disc area. Only through movement can our intervertebral discs nourish themselves.

For high-quality office chairs, for example, a synchronous mechanism is almost mandatory. And even in the gaming and PC chair sector, there are the first Made in Germany models that come with a valuable synchronous mechanism. One example is the Backforce One.

Where to buy PC chair - online or in store?

If you want to buy a PC chair for gaming, you have several options. In addition to a purchase in a specialty store, the chairs are sometimes available in ordinary stores. In addition, the Internet is also a good place to buy a gaming PC chair. Each of these options has different advantages and disadvantages.

Buy in a store - Don't let anyone sell you anything!

First of all, you can buy a gaming PC chair in a department store, a supermarket or a discount store. The PC chair test has shown that you are usually only offered a small selection here and there are also no particularly high-quality chairs of this type.

Especially supermarkets and discounters usually only have PC chairs on offer during special promotions. Another disadvantage is that you will not find competent staff that can advise you on your choice. If the PC chair is to be cheap, you will find good prices here, but the models are correspondingly worse in terms of quality and features compared to the more expensive ones from the specialty stores.

But don’t let them sell you anything! There are sellers, both in stores and online, who actually have no idea and even praise things like height adjustability to the skies – while every PC chair has that.

Purchase in specialized trade

Then again, you can also purchase your PC chair in special stores. In addition to a selection, you have the advantage that you can get advice from the staff. They can give you tips and help you choose the right model for your needs.

In addition, you will mainly be offered the top brands in the specialty store. Even if it is not directly a specialty store, it is also possible to buy the PC chair in Ikea. There are different departments here, so you can also count on advice in a furniture store.

Disadvantage: Chairs in stationary trade are often very expensive and the store space is often not sufficient to present an actually large selection of suitable PC chairs. You are often limited in the selection here as well. My recommendation therefore:

Purchase via the Internet

The last option would be to buy online. You can go directly to the manufacturer’s site as well as buy from third-party sellers. You could find a PC chair on Amazon or eBay. Both sites offer the advantage that you can choose from a wide range of products. You are offered gaming chairs from many different manufacturers.

You are also guaranteed to find the perfect gaming PC chair for your needs in terms of features. Amazon, for example, lets you sort the search results according to different criteria. It is also possible to search for models in a certain price range. It is also advisable to make a comprehensive price comparison online to find the cheapest model with the best price-performance ratio.

Another advantage is the usually fast delivery in connection with the availability. Thus, if the PC chair is no longer available at one retailer, you can simply look for the model at another.

The big advantage is that on the web, you can read through and view the opinions of other users. There are also websites like this one, where more than 30 chairs have been tested. You can also get decent advice from me: You can write to me via live chat, by mail or via comments.

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Buying a gaming PC chair: Which upper material?

A gamer PC chair is generally used for sitting on it for a long time, usually for several hours. For this reason, the model you decide to buy should perfectly fit your needs. While some features and functionalities of a PC chair are only for comfort, others are important so that sitting for a long time doesn’t harm your health.

Another purchase criterion is the material of the chair. It should be breathable, especially if you sweat a lot or live in the attic. If the PC chair is to be inexpensive, a mesh material is recommended for the backrest. This is an inexpensive alternative to upholstery or leather (real and imitation) and still convinces with a lot of flexibility. In addition, with a mesh cover you benefit from good heat regulation on hot days, so you won’t sweat even when sitting for several hours.

Higher-quality models rely on PU and also genuine leather. Both are more comfortable to sit on, and leather in particular has a long service life. In addition, you benefit from a leather cover because it is easy to care for. The covers are also easy to clean.

Fabric covers

Fabric provides the most breathability, doesn’t it? Not necessarily. Many fabric covers are made of polyester, which in the end is also just a plastic. But there are big differences in quality here, and I would say that even a polyester cover is still more breathable than cheap PU leather.

Advantage of fabric covers: They are always at temperature and do not seem as cold as a leather at first contact.

Disadvantages of fabric covers: Their cleaning is more complex. A leather can usually be simply wiped off, but if we have smeared the fabric cover of the PC chair, we have to treat it with upholstery cleaner. This is not such a big deal, but just a difference from the more easy-care PU leather.

PU or imitation leather covers

Among the most widespread are PU leathers, also known as artificial leather. PU stands for “polyurethane”, a plastic that can vary greatly in quality. They are usually considered to be non-breathable, although the quality mentioned is decisive here: On very cheap artificial leather you sweat much faster than on more expensive ones.

I have sat on PU chairs for a very long time, for many hours every day, and I never sweated excessively. On my cheap dining chairs with PU, on the other hand, I sweat very quickly. So you can’t lump all synthetic leathers together.

On the subject of softeners: cheap leathers also contain cheap softeners. Softeners must be used so that the material remains soft and flexible. But if the manufacturer saves too much here, these softeners evaporate after very few years, the cover becomes brittle and flakes off. This is very disappointing and I think it’s a shame when you have to dispose of an entire chair because of its cheap synthetic leather. Here it is worth investing a little more. Then you don’t have to replace the chair after 2 years.

Advantage of imitation leather: They are very easy to clean and look noble.

Disadvantage: They are not a prime example of breathability and there are very many cheap leathers on the market that disintegrate after only 2 years.

Genuine leather covers

Of course, genuine leather covers are the top of the line. But be careful: If a genuine leather PC chair is very cheap, it may be very thin split leather that threatens to tear quickly, or leather from inappropriate animal husbandry.

The animal cover material is not for everyone, but has always been considered extremely high quality and durable.

Advantages: With proper care very durable, pleasant feel and breathable.

Disadvantages: It needs regular care and is very expensive.

Novelty vinyl & PU covers

Nowadays, hybrid covers take a special position. These are mostly made of PU & vinyl and are characterized by excellent breathing properties. This material can almost keep up with real leather. The noblechairs Black Edition, for example, is covered with it.

Advantages: Breathable faux leather, classy look & cheap compared to real leather.

Disadvantages: More expensive than regular PU leather.

Other features of gamer PC chairs

We have clarified the most important things so far, there are now a few more or a few small points that might be of interest to you when buying your PC chair:

The processing

Make sure that you choose a PC chair that is properly manufactured. You can find out if that’s the case in test reports like the ones on this page. There’s a lot of junk sold on the web, so never buy just any chair blindly.

From a certain price range, you usually get better processed chairs with higher quality materials. However, one must not forget here either: These chairs are man-made – tiny inconsistencies like a loose thread should not necessarily motivate you to return the entire PC chair.

Rollers

Casters on a PC gaming chair are generally practical, but you should consider what you are using the chair on. While a carpeted floor still offers you a secure stand despite the casters, you should rely on high-quality casters when using the chair on smooth floors.

Otherwise, casters are not particularly important in my PC chair tests. They are often more visually appealing, but you can hardly find casters on good PC chairs that are particularly loud or run stiffly.

The right look

Even though the appearance of a PC gamer chair is important in principle, this criterion should come last in the choice. A traditional gaming PC chair usually has a certain design. Nevertheless, you can choose between four and also five legs. The latter offer a safe anti-tip feature, which can be important.

Which PC chair is the best?

You can find a good insight into the best PC chairs on the home page: Gaming chair or in the TOP5. Choosing the best chair is difficult, because the chair often has to fit its user and therefore there is no universal best PC chair for gamers.

A very good PC chair, however, combines as many of the positive features mentioned in this article as possible and thus gives you maximum flexibility. It should also look good, but above all the functions are crucial: Your new PC chair should at least have a rocker mechanism, ideally a synchro mechanism.

Seat height and armrests should always be adjustable, and if you buy a particularly high-quality model, then seat depth adjustment and height adjustment of the backrest are also a great thing.

Lastly, the purchase price should match your usage patterns. If you spend many hours a day on your gamer PC chair, it should be a more robust model that improves and supports your posture as much as possible to relieve your muscles and structures.

However, all these points are of no use if you don’t find your chair comfortable – but that goes without saying. Without a real comfort factor, no PC chair in the world is fun!

Are there special PC chairs for children?

Children usually do not use a PC chair for video games, but only as a desk chair. Nevertheless, children should also use such a special chair to protect their bodies and especially their backs at a young age.

However, optimally adjusted models for children are rarely available, children will often not get their feet on the floor or the seat is too long.

There are also smaller PC chairs for kids, but these in turn rarely have sophisticated features that greatly improve ergonomics. So for most kids, it’s either a suitable small chair without great features, or a larger chair with a stool for the feet.

The bottom line, though, is that it’s not too crucial for kids how ergonomically they sit. As a rule, children have an extremely active lifestyle compared to adults, so their backs don’t always need the intensive care that some adults do.

PC chair cheap - tips for buying

A PC gamer chair can also be found in every price range. If the PC chair is cheap, then you will find a number of models that cost less than $100. However, the PC chair test proves that you get much fewer features and you also have to accept losses in terms of quality. A particularly cheap PC chair therefore also has a shorter lifespan. You can usually find such a gamer PC chair on the Internet.

For example, this is the inside of a PC chair that I cut open. Old, gammy wood in a brand new chair? Read more here: Chairs cut up and examined!

Conclusion

The PC chair test has proven that it is generally worthwhile to buy a professional gaming PC chair if you need one. Not only can it be used for a variety of purposes, but such a chair also offers you enough comfort to be used regularly for PC gaming or work. This gamer PC chair review has shown you what you should look for when choosing a model, so that you are now able to choose the right PC gamer chair for you. You can find many suggestions & reviews on this website!

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Best computer chair – comfort and convenience

Buy the best computer chair - comfort and convenience

Similar to a bed, many contemporaries often underestimate the need to own a good computer chair (also gaming chair) to own. A first-class computer chair does not necessarily have to be expensive. The right seat is in any case a good investment for body, mind and your health. A comfortable chair not only provides a high level of comfort, it also leads to less fatigue and increased alertness, while gaming or even during a long and hard day of work at the computer.

What makes a good computer chair

During working hours (or even when playing computer games), most people spend many hours on a computer chair. But unfortunately, humans are born for movement, not for sitting for hours on end. If you already have to sit, you should find a computer chair that supports dynamic, active and natural sitting. A perfect computer chair for gamers fully adapts to the needs of its user. It fits the body measurements, is versatile adjustable, supports an individual sitting position and promotes natural movements. There are as many things you should consider when looking for a top computer chair. We have tested many computer chairs. Check out our advice before you buy a computer chair. Here are the main indicators that distinguish a good chair from a bad one.

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Ergonomics - support for prolonged sitting

Actually, it’s a given: a good computer chair for work or a computer chair for gaming offers a proper ergonomic design that duly supports the body and especially the back when sitting for long periods of time. While no chair can eliminate problems with the hip and lumbar spine, it can alleviate the pain that can result from sitting for hours on end.

Even a $250 computer chair can support the lower and upper back areas and reduce pressure on the touch points on the buttocks or back. If you’re looking to buy a computer chair, be sure to consider the hip position when choosing. Some chairs allow you to move the seat forward or backward, which changes your posture. Ultimately, the chair should form an S-shape in the back for a healthier posture. At this point, a good computer chair can be compared to a high-quality mattress.

Adjustability - for the individual adjustment

Adjustability mainly refers to the ergonomics of a computer chair. Before you buy a chair, you should find out to what extent the chair can be adjusted. Is it possible to adjust the armrests, is there a lumbar support, do I even need one with this chair and does the chair fit my body?

A few very difficult questions that I would like to help you with my tests.

Breathable - For really hot working days

Our computer chair test has proven: Everyone sweats, even when sitting. This is not a heavy sweat, but our body still secretes moisture. Therefore, the fabric under the buttocks must absorb this moisture. Otherwise, it becomes uncomfortable and the chair starts to smell. The options:

Fabric covers

Fabric is considered the most breathable material of all – but that’s not necessarily true, because it depends on the type of fabric. Polyester, for example, is a fabric, but it is also a plastic. And plastics do not always breathe optimally, although much better than cheap artificial leather.

PU covers

Polyurethane covers are considered less breathable. But importantly, it also depends. At home, for example, I have very cheap dining chairs covered with cheap PU. I can’t sit on these for an entire evening because I sweat. However, there are also the higher quality PU materials. For example, I’ve been working on gaming chairs for 6 years and I don’t sweat much on the PU models either.

As long as you don’t live in the attic or generally tend to sweat a lot, a high quality PU is fine too.

Genuine leather

You also have to pay attention to the details when it comes to genuine leather, because some manufacturers try to trick you here. AKRacing, noblechairs and Secretlab, for example, use very high-quality and pure genuine leather. The seat is excellently air-conditioned here, but genuine leather is also really expensive.

Material mix of vinyl & PU

For example, a new production process that creates covers from vinyl and PU stands out in particular. The noblechairs Black Edition, for example, is covered with it. It is a unique material mix of vinyl & PU that easily keeps up with the breathing properties of real leather and is also very robust. The advantage: It breathes like real leather, but costs significantly less.

Other important features of a computer chair

+ Seat area & Adequate padding

There should be a balance between density (hardness) and resistance to deformation. Hard cushions retain their shape longer and are less likely to sag, but cushions that are too hard are also perceived as uncomfortable. A good average value must be found here to reduce one-sided stress.

The seat should also be deep enough for your height. In general, it is important that the computer chair also fits you.

+ Adjustable backrest (mechanism)

The important thing is the mechanics of the chair, which allows you to make the computer chair movable. The more you can adjust, the more dynamic you can sit. The best choice is a synchronous mechanism that provides movement in the back. However, such a mechanism is usually only available for expensive models.

At least a rocker mechanism and an adjustable backrest would be welcome and are usually available.

+ Adjustable armrests

Even if these adjustment options are not quite as important as those of the backrest, adjustable armrests are one of the keys to comfort and the right sitting position. In addition, each desk has a different height, so you can adjust the adjustable armrests to work comfortably at the desk. This reduces the strain on your shoulders.

+ Five legs as a base

A computer chair should have five legs (casters) on the floor, so most of today’s computer chairs have this number of legs. This is important for stability when sitting and moving. Before buying, you should test whether the casters fit the floor in question (hard floor, carpet, etc.). Otherwise, a good movement is difficult and the floor can be damaged.

+ Headrest - not only for restful breaks.

Appropriate placement of the headrest can reduce neck fatigue and provide relaxing breaks. Users who suffer from a stiff shoulder should definitely take a chair that is high enough to reach the head in the first place.

Criteria for the selection of a computer chair

A computer chair that is well designed and appropriately adjusted is considered an essential component of a productive computer workstation. A good chair provides the necessary support to the back, buttocks and legs and reduces harmful effects on the body, such as uncomfortable posture, pressure and heavy exertion.

Good chair adjustment ensures more comfortable use and provides support for the user in a variety of sitting postures. Variability in seating position is especially important for long workdays, even more so when a chair has multiple users.

To make sure a chair provides the appropriate support, check out my chair reviews before you decide to buy. Parts like the backrest, seat and armrest are important components of a computer chair you should consider when setting up a safe and productive workspace. The same guidelines apply to a computer chair for gamers. Before you buy a computer chair cheap the following advice will show you the way to a safe, comfortable and productive computer chair.

Possible faults with computer chairs

Chairs with four or fewer legs provide inadequate postural support and tend to tip over. In addition, choosing casters unsuitable for the floor, as well as a chair without casters, can make positioning at the desk difficult. This increases the risk of bending physically to access components, which can lead to fatigue or even muscle strain.

Solution:

A computer chair for work or a computer chair for gaming should have a five-legged base and allow for easy movement of the chair. You should also make sure that the casters are suitable for the existing flooring.

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The backrest - support for correct posture

The backrest should correspond to the natural curvature of the spine and provide adequate support for the lumbar spine.

Possible errors with the backrest

Insufficient size, the wrong material or improper positioning of the backrest can result in insufficient support of the back and therefore unhealthy posture. Working in incorrect positions quickly leads to back pain, lack of concentration and fatigue.

A chair without an appropriate or adjustable backrest does not provide adequate spinal support and is not helpful in maintaining the natural S-shape of the spinal curve. Prolonged, one-sided and uncomfortable sitting puts stress on the spine, especially in the lower back. This can lead to poor posture, known as a hunchback, which is often associated with severe pain. In some cases, the pain radiates along the sciatic nerve into the leg.

Solution:

The first thing to check is whether your chair already provides sufficient support. With the Backforce One, for example, additional support is only necessary in the case of extreme hollow backs; in my case, the lordosis is already fully supported. If your current computer chair is different and you also don’t have lumbar support, you can temporarily support your spine with a rolled-up towel or a back support pillow. In the long run, however, it’s more advisable to buy a chair that fits.

Before buying a computer chair, find out whether it has good lumbar support and can relieve and support the lumbar region when sitting for long periods. With the right chair, you can prevent poor posture and pain.

If you have a chair with an adjustable backrest, you can adjust it so that the backrest supports you in different sitting positions. Therefore, a backrest should have the following features:

A lumbar support is adjustable and can support your back in different positions. The outer curvature of the backrest should follow the curvature of the back.
The backrest should allow the user to move at least 15 degrees away from the vertical. In doing so, the backrest should lock in place or provide adequate resistance to back movement.
A movable backrest allows smaller people to have their buttocks and thighs fully supported. Some chairs also allow you to change the position of the seat pan.

The seat - relaxed and comfortable sitting

The seat should be comfortable and allow your feet to rest flat on the floor or a footrest. The seat pan should be adequate for most hip sizes. Larger seat shells are available for users with a wider pelvis.

Possible dangers due to incorrect adjustment of the seat surface

If you use a chair with a seat that is too high, you are either forced to work without the foot support or to slide forward on the seat pan. As a result, your back is no longer properly supported or the S-shape of your spine cannot be maintained. These inappropriate postures can lead to fatigue, restricted circulation, swelling, numbness and pain.

Solution:

Use a footrest if the seat cannot be lowered because, for example, a keyboard or monitor is then too high. A chair with a height adjustment of the seat shell also offers a comfortable solution. Before buying a computer chair, test whether the height of the chair is appropriate. In this case, the entire sole of the foot rests on the floor and the back of the knee is slightly higher than the seat of the chair. Ideally, the upholstery of the seat is rounded towards the front.

Possible dangers due to an inappropriate seating surface

An unsuitable seat pan can be very uncomfortable, not provide good support for the legs and restrict movement. If the seat is too short, it can lead to increased pressure on the buttocks for taller users. A seat that is too long increases pressure on the knee area for smaller users and minimizes support for the back. A seat surface that is too small can restrict range of motion and provide insufficient support. Prolonged use of the wrong seat can restrict blood flow to the legs and cause irritation and pain.

Solution:

The seat shell of your computer chair should ideally be adjustable in depth to adequately support taller users. However, a seat depth adjustment is rarely available, which is why you can check with me beforehand whether the chair fits you. In each test report I describe for which body sizes the respective model is still suitable.

Smaller users should be informed before buying a chair whether the back is fully supported when sitting. An appropriate seat shell supports most of the thigh and does not contact the back of the knee. A footrest can raise the knee slightly, preventing pressure on the back of the leg. If a chair is shared by multiple users, it makes sense to provide a chair for small users and a chair for large users if there is a very large difference in body size.

Armrests relieve pressure on important body regions

In an office with predominantly sedentary work, armrests relieve the arms, neck and shoulder area. They are also very helpful when sitting down and standing up. In a good computer chair, the height of the armrests can be adjusted, which promotes optimal posture during work. In principle, the armrests should be at the same height as the desk. For corpulent people, it is important that the armrests can also be adjusted in width.

Possible problems with armrests

Non-adjustable or poorly adjusted armrests do not provide adequate support for the body, which can lead to poor posture. Armrests set too low or too high can cause tension and fatigue in the neck, forearm and shoulders. If the armrests are set too wide, the arm is moved too far away from the body, which can also lead to tension.

Armrests that are set too close restrict movement. Armrests that are made of hard material or have sharp corners and edges can irritate nerves and the blood vessels of the forearm. This can manifest itself as pain or tingling in the hand or fingers.

Solution:

If armrests are present, they should be soft. Before buying a computer chair, find out whether the armrests relax your shoulders and keep your elbows close to your body. You should not use armrests that are not adjustable. Position the armrests to support your forearm and keep your upper arm close to your body. Adjust the backrests so that they allow you to get in and out of the chair comfortably.

They should be low enough to relax the shoulders while working and high enough to support the forearms. Good armrests are large enough to support most of the forearm, but small enough not to interfere with chair positioning. Use only padded armrests with soft and rounded edges.

It's not just about a good chair

The right chair is a good start. It will allow you to work in a relaxed manner, even if it takes hours. If you sit on a computer chair for several hours a day, you should buy an ergonomic and high-quality chair. While this is a good investment in one’s health, permanent sitting can still lead to health problems.

After sitting still for some time, it’s time for some exercise. Then you should take a break, get up and get your body moving again with some gymnastics. Even a short walk of a few minutes promotes circulation and loosens muscles, ligaments and tendons.

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Maxnomic Commander S in test: My experience with the chair from NEEDforSEAT

I finally get around to testing a Maxnomic gaming chair. I have the Maxnomic Commander S on test, which according to my research is identical in construction to the Commander III. This test report with my experiences is thus analogously applicable to the entire Commander series. Maxnomic, the brand of NEEDforSEAT is undoubtedly one of the best known brands in Germany next to noblechairs, DXRacer & Co.

Why did it take so long with the test, despite countless inquiries? More about that in a moment. If the details are rather annoying and you are looking for a pure review, just scroll a little further and you will get the usual information and my experiences with the Maxnomic Commander S.

Manufacturer

Maxnomic

Model

Commander S BWE
identical in construction Commander S III & PUE

Materials

powder-coated aluminum base, cold foam upholstery, PU cover, large standard castors, softpad armrests

Features

4D armrests, lockable rocker mechanism, tiltable backrest (I estimate 135°, no specification in the store), max. load capacity of 150kg, continuously adjustable lumbar support

Why no tests of Maxnomic chairs came so far and why they refuse to cooperate with me

Since 2015, I have written mails to Maxnomic and also called to check out cooperation possibilities. My mails always remained unanswered, but when I called the 3rd time, they put me through to the CEO himself, who then told me why he wanted nothing to do with me.

Blame it on an ill-considered statement on my part combined with the unforgiving nature of the management at Maxnomic. In 2014 I started building gaming-stuhl.de and in the first few months I was still green behind the ears. In a comment on the site in 2015, a visitor asked me if DXRacer or Maxnomic was better.

My cheeky answer back then: “Maxnomic seems like a copy of DXRacer to me”. After my today’s experience nonsense of course. I apologized directly on the phone to the managing director personally when he spoke to me about it, but I obviously encountered unforgiveness.

Why did I say that?

The company NEEDforSEAT sold DXRacer chairs themselves until the founding of the Maxnomic brand and apparently decided at some point to establish its own brand. For me, the impression was, without much thought, that they were now copying the previously self-distributed chairs under their own name.

This is not the case and this statement in one of the hundreds of comments on my page was absolutely unqualified. Therefore, once again: I take back this statement and apologize for it.

Management considers my work not neutral

The maintenance of this website costs a lot of time and also money and of course I try to earn something with it. I receive a small commission for recommendations that lead to a purchase – this is called affiliate. People at Maxnomic think that affiliate and independent consulting are incompatible. I see it differently:

Maxnomic does its work well and earns its living with it. I also do my job well and contribute something to my livelihood through it. Two parties, both deal “professionally” with chairs, but I am groundlessly accused of lack of independence. I think that’s a shame, because you can be sure:

I always test and recommend as objectively as possible. There have also been enough chairs that I could not evaluate well and also classify as not recommendable, although I could earn money with it in case of a positive result. But I don’t do it.

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Solid features: Commander in the test comes with common functions

The features of the Commander S are convincing on paper and include everything I would want in a chair in this price range.

4D armrests, i.e. are adjustable in 4 directions (directions=D)
Lockable rocker mechanism
High quality processing
Flattened side bolsters for maximum leg room (similar to HERO or TITAN)
Infinitely adjustable lumbar support

The Commander definitely comes with a very decent package of features that you would want for a chair in this price range. But what makes the chair stand out additionally is the lumbar support. I like this better than the use of lumbar cushions.

My experience: Can the Maxnomic chair convince in detail?

As usual, I will guide you through the test report and the features of the Commander S BWE, which is identical in construction to the Commander S III, with many photos. You will find out whether I will recommend the chair in the end in my conclusion.

Dimensions: A lot of space with the Maxnomic Commander?

One of the most complained about features of common gaming chairs has always been the overly restrictive side bolsters on the seat, which annoyed any gamer who is a bit wider or simply likes to sit very wide-legged. There was a lack of space. Therefore, many a brand decided at some point to build the chairs with flatter seating surfaces, including Maxnomic. This made a positive impression in the test.

As you can see from the picture, we can hardly find any elevation here and thus pretty much anyone who doesn’t exceed the maximum load of the chair should be able to fit and sit comfortably.

Design: High quality and simple with small criticism

The design of the Commander I like basically very well and I have deliberately chosen the black and white variant, a noble color combination. Basically, the chair also stands here exactly as I imagined it, however, I have a small comment:

Because the leather is white, you can see relatively many wrinkles on the backrest, with black leatherette, the wrinkles may also be there, but are less noticeable. I do not really mind these wrinkles, but you might. Therefore: Do you mind these small design deductions, then order the Maxnomic Commander S rather in black, because it should hardly be noticeable.

Base & casters: Stable and "normal

What else: There can’t be that much special about a base and casters. These two components should not really be interesting for you, because they differ rather insignificantly per chair.

The base is made of painted steel. The advantages: It withstands loads very well and looks good due to the black paint.

In the store, NEEDforSEAT calls the installed casters “standard casters” themselves, and they are. They are normal casters, which we also know from standard office chairs. Design-wise, the casters are generally not that important to me, even if there are certainly casters that look nicer. Such nicer and quieter casters are available separately in the Maxnomic store.

Workmanship: Flawless & precise except in my case

The workmanship of Maxnomic gaming chairs like the Commander leaves nothing to be desired. The chair looks and feels like it is worth its purchase price, and in my opinion it is. Everything is sewn nice and straight and every seam is in place, with one exception:

I think I just had bad luck there. Such small mistakes happen everywhere and Maxnomic’s production is not infallible. So you don’t have to worry that such errors would also occur with your chair. I assume that this is an isolated case, as it will also happen with other major brands.

Otherwise, everything is straight and in place. The remaining seams leave nothing to be desired in terms of workmanship.

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Maxnomic test: My experience with the individual functions

The Maxnomic Commander S comes with decent features and functionality. How well these can be used and what comfort this means in the end, I would like to show you briefly.

Rocking function lockable in 5 positions

The rocker mechanism is now standard on most gaming chairs. This also works flawlessly and allows the user to lock the position in 5 different positions. You have to adjust the resistance of this mechanism to your body via the dial underneath the seat.

Backrest adjustable 135° to the seat surface

Some manufacturers allow 180° here, another 155° and the next finds that 135° is sufficient, as with the Maxnomic Commander. And I see it similarly. I don’t really need the 180° angle, no sow can sleep restfully on such a chair. For me, the 135° is enough to watch YouTube videos or movies in front of the computer, for example, and to lie a bit more comfortably.

4D armrests under test

Once a highlight, now state of the art: 4D armrests. Unthinkable in this price range. The armrests can be easily adjusted in all 4 directions, and below the seat they can be adjusted outward or inward again.

I have nothing at all to criticize about the armrests. I’ve only seen cooler armrests in the RECARO Exo Platinum, which is in a different price league.

My favorite: Variable lumbar support

I already loved this new feature on the noblechairs HERO and I’m happy about it here as well: Instead of a lumbar cushion, which you can hardly build uniformly for each lordosis, here is a variably adjustable lumbar support.

You simply have to turn this wheel and the lumbar support shows up more prominently if you want it to – or not. The most sensible solution for me in the area of lumbar support.

Seat comfort: Does the Commander deliver?

How can I say… At Maxnomic may not like me, but I’m not vindictive and therefore honest: Yes, he does. I can report nothing negative about the seating comfort. It sits very comfortably in my Maxnomic Commander S test and I could easily spend several hours a day on this piece of furniture.

I like the hardness of the upholstery foam and the lumbar support, the pleasant armrests and the neck cushion provide a pleasant comfort level.

Conclusion of the test: Buy from Maxnomic?

Basically everything is right with the Commander S. The small seam defect should not be taken into account, so the Maxnomic chair plays in the upper league of well-known brands in the test, and rightly so. So if this model is your favorite among all the brands and models, then dig in.

It is regrettable for me, of course, that people basically reject me and my work at Maxnomic. To some extent that may be my fault, however I feel that 4 years after a personal apology for a misstep in word choice, one could practice reconciliation and forgive – but that probably won’t happen again.

Until then, this will be my only review of a Maxnomic chair from NEEDforSEAT.

Corsair T1 Race v2 review – My experience with the Corsair gaming chair

Corsair T1 Race v2 review - My experience with the Corsair gaming chair

My first Corsair gaming chair is ready for testing. I bought the Corsair T1 Race v2 for about $ 269 in a special offer, on Amazon it costs around $ 340 and thus already competes with models in a quite good price range. You can see it more often now that gaming brands provide catalog goods from the Far East with their own logo to participate in the gaming chair market.

Corsair has been known for high-quality mice, keyboards, headsets, RAM, SSDs and more. Now the US company has its own chairs on the market for a few months, of which the T1 Race is the very first to be subjected to a test by me. I have the v2 version here, which is the newer one that comes with screwable side panels and a new cushion cover compared to the T1 – otherwise everything is supposed to be the same here.

Manufacturer

Corsair

Model

T1 Race v2

Materials

Steel frame without cross braces, nylon base, cold foam upholstery, PU cover on contact surface, PVC on backside

Features

4D armrests, non-locking rocker function, backrest can be tilted 180°, smooth-running nylon skate wheels, max. load 120kg

Where to start in my T1 Race Test....

The chair is standing 3 meters next to me while I’m pounding these words into the keyboard. Why 3 meters? The Corsair T1 Race smells. Or stinks? It smells very strongly of plastic & chemicals. Despite it being 3 meters away, I can still smell the cover. Not because the smell pulls up to here, but because I have just neatly fumbled the chair and my hand has taken exactly this smell. So it was obvious to me to mention this point first and foremost.

I’m really trying to find as many positive things as possible about my Corsair gaming chair, so that people don’t scream that I’m too spoiled and that I only badmouth all cheap models. The chair is not one of the cheap ones at all with its almost $ 330 – and yet it’s hard for me to find points that justify the price – because the quality doesn’t really appeal to me, at least not in relation to the price paid.

The structure in the Corsair T1 test

I can’t complain about the assembly. The chair comes in more parts than the S300, Racer 1 or any noblechairs chair, but that’s not really a problem – whether I have to tighten 5 or 15 screws for a chair I want to use in the long term – screw it. So the assembly is a little different from other manufacturers in the price segment, but that’s not a direct criticism.

Design des Corsair Gaming Stuhls

The T1 Race looks like a typical gaming chair at first, and that strikes me as positive. After all, we want a decently designed and shaped chair. The use of different patterns makes the chair particularly attractive. On the armrests we find a 3D pattern that reminds me of carbon, PU variations are also used in other places for a pretty look. Look good? Check. But is the build quality of the T1 Race also convincing?

Corsair T1 Race in practice test - Now it goes into detail

Now it’s time to get down to business. I will now present the chair to you step by step with pictures. If you read my personal evaluation of the individual parts, keep in mind: I always make these evaluations in relation to the price. And this is about $ 340. And this much in advance: It wouldn’t be worth that to me. There are cheaper variants that can do more…

The PU cover of the T1...

… stinks terribly. But we’ve already had that. However, the feel is basically not bad. I directly dug through my gaming chair collection again and found out: The PU leathers at AKRacing, DXRacer, Nitro Concepts and noblechairs feel softer. Only the cover, not the cushion. Whether it feels soft to the hand or not so soft, I don’t really care. We often sit on it with clothes on anyway.

But the smell makes me very suspicious. And I have to be honest: I wouldn’t like to sit on it with naked skin, because the odors are very strong. And if you touch the chair, your hand smells of it for a while. The Corsair T1 Race has now been built for two weeks and unfortunately still smells very strong, so you have to be patient.

By the way, it is also quite certain that the cover smells so strongly, not the upholstery. Because that is made of polyurethane and polyurethane is supposed to be odorless.

Above all, the quality of the cover material seems to be poor. Because from other models in the price range I do not know these strong chemical and acrid odors. I do not know what this cover was treated with, but that it is healthy for humans, I can hardly imagine.

Improperly covered, some wrinkles

In the pictures you can see the many wrinkles that the cover throws. These would not affect the seating comfort, but for $340 we may demand a little more quality. And I’m looking here unfortunately on all corners, but do not quite find.

In any case, this lack of quality is noticeable in many places. But that is still one of the less serious problems. Personally, I wouldn’t mind it at all and would quickly get used to it. But if you know, like I do, that it could be better, you have to criticize it.

Positive: The Rollerblade wheels

They are actually pretty cool and I would like to see them more often with other manufacturers. You get here namely inline rollers made of rubber and they really run absolutely whisper-quiet and noiselessly over the floor. You really hear nothing here and almost floats over the ground. Once tapped, this chair rolls through the very smooth-running rollers several meters.

So I have found something positive: The casters. But just as the unclean cover is not a loss for seating comfort, the casters are not a significant gain when you consider the other ergonomic features of the Corsair Gaming Chair.

Armrest: Cool design, slightly damaged

The 3D pattern of the armrests looks cool, I like that. I can’t say anything particularly good or bad about the armrests either: they are just normal 4D armrests. What I find only a pity is that the one armrest already arrived with a quirk with me.

I would have gotten used to it quickly, but when you buy a chair for just under $ 300, you’re a bit pressed for the time being.

Seating comfort: Why 70% of us can barely use the T1

The main problem with the Corsair T1 Race in the test is probably the overall shape of the chair. After all, I can’t imagine that many of us will be able to sit on it adequately at all, because the strange dimensions exclude what I estimate to be 70% of the buyer base.

T1 Race without lumbar cushion unusable

I’m going to show you why I find the construction of the Corsair Gaming chair so incomprehensible. For the record, when I went to buy a new bed last year, the rude mattress salesman told me I had “a hip like a 9-year-old.” Bum. My hip is actually very narrow. And now this:

The side bolsters of the backrest go absolutely steeply outwards and I even have to press myself into this gap a little. And that with a hip circumference of only 90cm. Take but directly times n tape measure and measure with you.

The question: How many people will fit into this chair?

Women in particular often have wider hips and not all of us men are slim either. Therefore, if you’re not very slim, you’re out of luck.

My test person is also close to the limit: And that at 167cm and 53kg body weight. She really isn’t broadly built.

T1 Race with lumbar cushion also unusable

A lumbar or lordosis pillow is intended to fill the curvature of our spine and thus support and relieve our back muscles. The prerequisite for this is, of course, that the lumbar cushion also has the shape of the lordosis. And now let’s take a look at the lumbar cushion of the Corsair T1 Race in the test:

I would be surprised if this fits at all in anyone’s hollow back. It’s just not that long, the cushion shouldn’t be that deep. Using the chair with the cushion feels just as wrong as using it without. It’s not so much a pleasant support as a foreign body that doesn’t feel like it belongs there.

The cushion forces me to stretch out my stomach. I am quite sure that everyone who already owns this Corsair gaming chair sits on it without a lumbar cushion.

Seat experience with T1 Race - Conclusion

It’s not worth writing further about the seating comfort, because my experience here with the Corsair chair is already clear: I can’t sit comfortably on this. And most of you won’t be able to either. The T1 Race’s side bolsters are just so constricting that I find it uncomfortable to sit on the chair.

Without this faulty design, the chair could be quite comfortable. And for those who are narrower than me, the chair might even be comfortable, I can imagine. As a final point, however, there is now the price, which I feel is not quite appropriate for the performance offered.

Alternatives to T1 Race: More chair for less money

For $ 233-245 there is, for example, the S300 from Nitro Concepts. The armrests are similarly adjustable here. The only difference: The armrests of the S300 cannot be moved from the inside to the outside, so they are 3D instead of 4D armrests. On the other hand, the S300 has no constricting side panels. The T1 Race can support up to 120 kg, the S300 up to 135 kg.

The padding on the seat of the T1 is considerably thinner. A bit more foam would have been appropriate there. The S300 is available with a fabric or PU cover, while none of the covers smells unpleasant here. Overall, the chair makes a much more valuable impression at a lower price. I would definitely go for nitro concepts if in doubt.

The T1 Race’s rocker mechanism has an angle of 0-10°, while the S300’s is 0-14°. The mechanisms are not lockable on either chair. The S300 has steel cross braces in the backrest, while the T1 Race has rubber cross braces. This may not play a role in comfort at first, and perhaps not in longevity either, but it is at least a higher material input.

Alternative for a little more money and much more chair

For hardly more you can buy real premium chairs, like the noblechairs EPIC for $330. Also the ICON is not that far away in price and Secretlab also comes with some more features. The EPIC and T1 Race are similar in design, but in terms of features, quality and workmanship, it clearly surpasses the T1 in my opinion.

Conclusion: Buy Corsair T1 Race? My experience from the test

I can’t recommend the chair for $340. If there was the Corsair T1 Race v2 for $240, it would look different – for the money it would be ok. But with the real price I can not make friends, for that it hapert in too many places and there is simply the competition then rather in question. The most important points again in short:

Cover smells extremely unpleasant and takes a long time to dissipate
Backrest very constricting even for slim people
Lumbar cushion much too large and inappropriately shaped
Quality does not correspond to the price level of $340
Rollers are very good

It looks like Corsair tried to save a bit on all corners and edges so that the chair would be cheap to buy. The thin padding, the fragrant cover, the wobbly lever, small damages and unclean seams and dents in the seams. I think there was a savings fox involved.

I am dissatisfied with the gaming chair from Corsair, I expected more. And immediately to those who think I only want to recommend the expensive chairs: The chair belongs to the premium segment in terms of price and I even recommend a chair that costs less instead. So it’s definitely not about money here.

Production of the Backforce One

backforce-one-production-assembled-chairs

This is how the Backforce One is made - Marco visits Interstuhl's production!

A report like this is available for the first time today. It is the first time that I was allowed to see the production of a gaming chair myself and also film it. So I am proud to present you some exclusive impressions of the production of the Backforce One.

As you could already read in my ▷ Backforce One review, the gaming chair is produced by Interstuhl in Germany – Meßstetten Tieringen.

Interstuhl itself has around 650 employees and is still an owner-managed family business. The company has been around for more than 50 years, which means that more than 50 years of experience have gone into the design and implementation of the Backforce One. Insights into the production of this chair Made in Germany you get now via video & in this report. Have fun!

Of course, I can’t show you every single production step up to the finished product. But there are some very interesting insights in any case.

The sewing - backrest quilting pattern

We’ll start with the shoulder area of the backrest. More specifically, we’ll look at how the backrest gets its very handsome design.

This is the workplace of a seamstress at Interstuhl.

Here we see cut patterns for the individual cover components of the BF One.

To create this beautiful quilting pattern, work as follows:

But first of all, a template is applied and a pattern is drawn. On each of these drawn lines is sewn the same to create the pattern.

Under the imitation leather is a foam. It is there so that the quilting pattern is nicely visible at the end. The fact that there is foam under the sewn-on leather creates the padded curves.

Foam plant - How seat foam & back foam are produced

In this section we look at how the upholstery foams for the seat & backrest are produced.

This is a foam system from above. The base compound for the upholstery foam is poured into the molds, which resemble a waffle iron purely in terms of function.

A robot arm independently fills the molds with the base material for upholstery foams.

It takes 8 minutes and needs 60°C until the upholstery foam is ready.

Sustainability: Normally, these molds are wetted with silicone so that the finished foam can be easily released. At some point, however, the company asked itself whether wax could also be used to make production a bit more sustainable. It was recognized that wax works without any problems, so the molds are wetted with wax here.

There are air holes in the foam of the seat. These ensure that the air escapes when you lean against it. This helps make the upholstery as breathable as possible.

The foams are stored here for a short time until they are directly processed further.

Production of the back foam

Now let’s look at how the upholstery foam for the backrest is produced.

This is the tool, i.e. the mold for the production of the back cushion, into which the liquid base mass is immediately poured.

Before that, however, Velcro must first be inserted at the points provided for this purpose. The cover will be fixed to the Velcro tape later, as we will see. The Velcro will bond with the foam when it is foamed.

Now the liquid mass is filled into the mold and distributed. The process is comparable to a waffle iron. Little base material comes in, which then rises, so to speak, through the mold heated by means of hot water within 8 minutes.

8 minutes later we can see the product:

The excess around the edge is still cut off, of course, to get a completely clean shape.

You can also see very nicely how the padding & Velcro have bonded together.

Processing of the backrest in upholstery

Now let’s take a look at how Richard refers to the backrest. Richard did his training at Interstuhl and has been employed there ever since.

The foam part has already been provided with the back wood.

Here he fixes the cover to the hook tape. Actually, you usually say Velcro tape, but for Velcro you need two tapes: One time the loop tape and then the hook tape, which fixes the loop tape.

The blue tapes are hook tapes. The seam is fixed. Without the hook tape, the material would expand and slip in the long run. The cover would hang over the backrest like a sack.

During the process, we constantly check whether everything is sitting as it should. Everything has to sit evenly, there is no wild tacking around. The process is much more difficult than it looks.

By the way, this protection on the fingers is so that the materials do not cut into the fingers. A glove would be too obstructive, the sensitivity would be lost. That is why there is such a fingertip protection.

Now on the back of the backrest is still a thin foam, on which, in turn, is attached, in this case, a blue mat.

Depending on the chosen chair color, of course, the color of this component also differs – in the case of an orange chair, it is correspondingly orange. The plastic trim to be mounted later has cutouts, so you can see this color in the final product.

In my eyes, this is an important and interesting step. This process in particular makes the Backforce One an eye-catcher from behind as well. When we sit on the chair, we don’t notice much of the design.

However, as soon as we are no longer at the computer and push the chair to the table, it makes a really good picture from behind. Where most gaming chairs are plain black from behind, the Backforce One looks good exactly where you see it most often.

The plastic covering of the backrest is only stopped here to see if everything is correct. This is only a sample, the actual assembly takes place in another area.

Finally, the material is steamed again. Steaming causes the material to contract additionally. Now the backrest is ready for the next step!

Welding - an indestructible back bracket

Next, we stopped by the welding shop. There were no welding processes to look at, but we did take a look at the Backforce One’s backrest bracket, which connects the backrest and seat mechanism at the backrest.

This part is only stamped in the welding shop. The shaping is exactly as intended, it provides a much higher stability, which in combination with the steel thickness and the design is made for eternity.

You can bend and break the part as you like, it does not move a millimeter.

Final assembly - the last steps

We have now arrived at final assembly, where the final steps in the production of the Backforce are being taken.

Here we see the backrest, on which the plastic trim is about to be applied.

In this step, the mechanics are assembled to the chair. This process is called marriage – just as car builders do when the transmission & body are joined. So with car builders, as with chair builders, the joining of the heart of the product is called “marriage”.

At the end, the employee checks the chair again for its functions, i.e. checks whether everything is working properly.

I also find the packaging here nice by the way. This can be used for the assembly of the chair. You put the backrest according to the silhouette and can thus easily assemble the seat mechanism without having to balance the screw holes.

This can be really annoying sometimes. The idea for this came from one of the very dedicated employees, the idea was successfully implemented and is now a pleasant assembly aid for every Backforce One buyer.

Shipping and quality control

I personally found this department very interesting as well. The Backforce One is not processed here, but only some of the many other chairs from Interstuhl – but still a very exciting thing.

Here, too, an employee checks the function of each chair.

The chair is then placed in a cardboard shipping ship and onto a conveyor belt. And this is where it gets interesting: The chair now has to go to the shipping department, which is located in the next but one part of the building.

So the chair goes down the elevator here and is transferred through the catacombs to the next but one part of the building.

Here it comes up again to be transported along the ceiling to the shipping department.

The laboratory - the "in-house TÜV

And now we can take a look at why, among other things, Interstuhl can afford to confidently offer a 10-year warranty on the Backforce One.

Because here you can see Interstuhl’s laboratory, where every chair can be extensively tested even before it is launched on the market.

Here, every component is exposed to the daily stresses in simulated form. And you have to imagine the processes you see here over many hours. For example, the chair is leaned against several 10,000 times over a specified period of time to make absolutely sure that its design functions properly.

In this way, the product can be optimized to near perfection even before it is launched on the market, because many sources of error can be eliminated in advance, enabling a mature & robust product to be launched on the market.

Everything is tested here: Frequent sitting down is simulated on the seating surfaces with corresponding weights, the castors are tested for their load-bearing capacity with heavy weights, backrests & mechanisms are subjected to heavy loads, and the cover fabrics are also subjected to abrasion tests.

For Interstuhl, the laboratory is virtually the company’s own TÜV.

Sustainability & employee satisfaction at Interstuhl

In many places I was fascinated by how sustainably Interstuhl works and how they are always discovering new things to work in a way that conserves resources as much as possible. I already mentioned above that the molds for the foams are wetted with a natural material like wax instead of a plastic like silicone.

Apart from that, production is based on the just-in-time principle. The parts are hardly ever stored anymore, but produced or delivered and processed directly.

In conventional production, for example, it used to be necessary to pre-produce en masse and place them in stock. Certain pre-produced components then had to be packed, stored and unpacked again when used.

With the just-in-time principle, the produced parts are processed immediately and not stored. On the one hand, this makes production more efficient because there are fewer storage costs, and on the other hand, it is more environmentally friendly – because not every part is packaged in film and sent to the warehouse after production. There is no need to pack & store, less plastic waste is produced.

Also, the region is supported, they try to source as many components as possible from companies in the region. Even the fittings on the toilet come from a company in the region.

Water dispenser, kindergarten, homework supervision

I also noticed very positively that the company Interstuhl has its own kindergarten, including all-day and homework supervision, in order to relieve the employees. I know some big companies here from my region, but none of them offers that. That surprised me a lot.

In addition, there are water dispensers all over the production site, where employees can of course fill up with water free of charge. Each employee has a bottle with his or her own name on it. They really do take good care of their employees here. And when an employee has a baby, a tree is planted on the company grounds.

Is the Backforce One really worth the money?

To construct such a chair is very expensive. The tools alone, as several manufacturers have already confirmed to me, are incredibly expensive. You have to design a tool that can be used to cast the backrest trim, for example. Such tools are incredibly expensive.

And it is precisely because such tools are so expensive that you see chairs like this so extremely rarely – upholstering and covering a steel structure is simply much more cost-effective.

And now you just have to think about it: Do I buy a chair from the Far East, which is produced at very low wage and labor costs and costs its $450 – or do I spend $150 more and get an elaborately and expensively produced chair, which is manufactured in Germany, is recyclable and secures jobs in Germany?

Offers & Information: To store & manufacturer with the best prices for Backforce One go here:

Even before I was allowed to visit the production, I was excited about the Backforce One. A high-quality German chair that is worth every penny. After my visit in Meßstetten-Tieringen I am even more convinced. If this high class gaming chair fits your body, I can only recommend you to buy it!

Many thanks to Stefan, Ecki, Holger & the whole Interstuhl team. The visit with you was great fun!

Top 5 gaming chairs

Marco's top 5 gamer chair recommendations

I always emphasize that there are three basic criteria that must be met when buying a gaming chair:

The chair must fit into your budget,
you should like it visually and
Size & stature must fit your dimensions.

So much for that. However, since I am often asked “Which chairs are the best?”, I have picked out the 5 most recommendable chairs in my opinion. Marco’s Top 5 should help you to find the right chair quickly. Good luck!

Update 2021: Admittedly, it’s no longer a Top5, because there are now too many really good chairs on the market for that. Therefore, it is now a Top6 or 7, which consists of hand-picked and recommendable models.

Sustainable, comfortable & good-looking: Backforce One

The Backforce One – a chair that comes with particularly high-quality ergonomic components. Price-wise, it doesn’t seem like a bargain at first, but it’s definitely worth the money. It is handmade in Germany, benefits from 5 decades of experience in the construction of ergonomic seating and looks great. Besides, it is 100% recyclable, which is good for the environment. With its very high comfort level, it delivers neatly on several levels.

With breathable Alcantara imitation/PU mix
One of the most ergonomic gaming chairs
With fold away armrests for those who do not need armrests
Noble base in rim design and 100% recyclable
Handmade & made in Germany!

Secretlab TITAN & noblechairs HERO

Two equal giants, which is why the two share the space. High-precision workmanship, high-quality materials, and the whole thing comes in a completely innovative guise. The fresh silhouette not only looks elegant, it also offers special ergonomic advantages: It doesn’t pinch the back, shoulders and thighs are free, and the back of the head is gently supported (the HERO even has memory foam in the headrest).

Another special feature is that HERO and TITAN can also be purchased with genuine leather covers, and TITAN with fabric covers. In addition, the two shine with neck cushions (the TITAN even with memory foam) and an ingenious look with decorative stitching. An optimal interplay of sports seat design and at the same time generous space round off the luxurious overall picture.

Extremely many functions, high quality & convenient: Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022

Brand new is the Secretlab TITAN Evo. A combination of the two previous models of the Secretlab series with a wealth of new & useful features that significantly improve your seating comfort in the long run. Highly crafted & thought out in every detail, the Evo is one of the biggest surprises this year for me:

With soft neo leatherette or fabric cover
Magnetic memory foam neck pillows for flexible positioning
4-way lordosis support "L-Adapt" for precise support of the lordosis
Available in 3 sizes to fit your body
Cloudswap technology for swapping the armrest support with Technogel armrests
High quality & precisely processed product

Absolute price-performance champ: S300 & X1000!

No chair has been able to score with such an extraordinarily good price-performance ratio as S300 & X1000 from Nitro Concepts. Here you really get an incredible deal for a chair that can be had for as little as $233-245. You can expect a comfort experience that hardly has to hide from chairs that are a good $100 more expensive. That means:

Available with fabric or faux leather cover
3D armrests for good adjustability
Rocking and tilting mechanism for comfortable rocking
Many different designs available
Undisputed price-performance winner!

The S300 & X1000 are very generously padded for this. In other models in the price range are often palpable, for example, the steel frame, because the struts are not reasonably upholstered. This is not noticeable here at all, on the contrary: Anyone who does not know the price would think the chair is beyond $300!

Upper class from AK: the Master Pro

The AKRacing Master Pro is the predecessor of the ProX and basically the counterpart to the K-Series of DX. It is loadable up to 150kg and is suitable for gamers with a body height between 167cm & 203cm. Likewise, it features 4D armrests, a tilt & rock function, and adjustable lumbar & neck cushions. I can recommend this chair especially to somewhat obese gamers but also friends of comfort and free space are served. I, for example, prefer to sit on King and ProX although I am certainly not a heavyweight with about 85kg. One of the gaming chairs with the best seating feel – see for yourself: ▷ Master Pro in the test!

The S300 is very generously padded for this. In other models in the price range, the steel frames are often palpable, for example, because the struts are not upholstered properly. You don’t notice that here at all, on the contrary: If you didn’t know the price, you would think the chair was beyond $350!

Backforce One

Backforce One in test - Customizable, ergonomic & comfortable? My experiences!

It’s that time again: A new ambitious brand that dares to storm the gaming chair market: Backforce One! Many will have seen it on social media and in magazines, but as of today it’s also available on gaming-chair.com – my Backforce One review. I have the chair here, of course personalized & in desired colors and will tell you today my experiences with the now third chair produced in Germany.

Manufactured by the renowned manufacturer Interstuhl with 5 decades of experience, you can expect a lot of ergonomic potential, high-quality workmanship and a pleasant seating experience… right? In the next 5 minutes you’ll find out if that’s the case! But this much can be said: There are some exciting innovations that have never been seen before in a chair.

Offers & Information: To store & manufacturer with the best prices for Backforce One go here:

Manufacturer

Backforce

Model

Backforce One

Materials

Brushed aluminum base, Breathable dual-core upholstery, Breathable cover mix of faux Alcantara and PU, Plastic casters, Molded soft plastic armrests.

Features

fold-away 1D armrests, lockable & adjustable synchronous mechanism (improved rocker mechanism), max. load capacity of 130kg, foams CFC-free, dynamic sitting, armrests with soft-touch feeling,

Features & specialties of the Backforce One in the test

The Backforce One brings some innovations that I have never seen before in a gaming chair. So again something new & fresh for the market:

Folding armrests: You can fold the armrests back in seconds in case they get in the way of your gaming.
Made in Germany: The chair is produced in Germany.
Synchronous mechanism for more ergonomics: A rocker mechanism is already great, but a synchronous mechanism is even better. Read more about the different mechanisms here. In short: It ensures a better sitting posture, more movement & relief for the back.
Beautiful back with LED brooch: Ever seen a chair that also looks good from behind the desk? This is ensured by the special design of the backrest and the "Gamer Pulse LED brooch".
Highest quality base I have seen so far: Based on the design of horny aluminum rims, the base comes in brushed aluminum with laser-etched Backforce logo.
Flexible personalization: On the one hand, you can choose the color of your chair yourself, on the other hand, you can have your own patch designed, which you can attach to the backrest and reorder at any time in different designs.
Sociological & environmental sustainability: The Backforce One is completely recyclable, the foams are CFC-free, the parts come almost without exception from DE or the EU. More on the topic below.

Seating comfort & size advice: This is how well you sit on the Backforce

Before I go into detail about the features, the most interesting question: How comfortable is the Backforce One? The Interstuhl company knows what it’s doing – and it shows. I sit very comfortably on the chair. The upholstery of the seat is pleasantly soft, that of the backrest a little harder. The Backforce One is softer than the chairs from noblechairs, but harder than the Master Pro from AKRacing. So the cushion hardness should suit everyone.

A high level of comfort can be achieved through the use of the synchronous mechanism, the padded head area and the dual-core foam. You’ll find out more about the individual components and their effects in a moment.

Side bolsters: Limited leg and shoulder room?

The development department didn’t miss a beat here and sensibly incorporated as few ergonomic disturbing factors as possible into the design. There are no side bolsters at all on the seat, and the backrest also does almost entirely without them and only has suggested curvatures.

Thus, even wider gamers can benefit from the Backforce One: The legs are not restricted in any way, nor are the shoulders. You get unrestricted freedom.

Cross-legged test: maximum positional variety?

When you read about the fold-away armrests and the missing side bolsters, you can conclude that the Backforce One can also be used for cross-legged sitting: You can also sit cross-legged on the Backforce One in the test. There are neither rigid armrests that could stop you, nor steel tubes in the seat area.

And if you want to sit down differently, you simply fold up the armrests again. By the way, with my 189cm I can even sit cross-legged on it with and without armrests.

Size advice: How tall, short, heavy or light can you be?

The maximum load capacity of the Backforce One is 130kg, and the barrier-free surfaces mean that you can sit on it up to 130kg without any problems. With the body sizes can never fit a chair for all bodies. I with my 189cm and current 84kg body weight have no problems here:

The seat is still deep enough for my leg length. I also don’t reach the limits of my maximum height in the head area. A few centimeters more are still possible.

At 167cm and 53kg, my test person also sits very well, she also has some experience with chairs in the meantime. There is still a little room at the legs for a few centimeters less height.

The seat height can even be reduced significantly, so you could even sit down with 150cm. The Backforce one, for example, can be set a full 5cm lower than the noblechairs HERO. That is a lot.

My recommendation as a guideline: I think from 160cm height you can buy the Backforce One and at 191cm it stops again. So exactly you can never say, because people have different leg and torso lengths. But I think that you are very well served with 160cm-191cm, if you want it optimally. Otherwise, a few centimeters in both directions are still tolerable.

Offers & Information: To store & manufacturer with the best prices for Backforce One go here:

Features in detail: This makes the Backforce One an awesome chair in the test

We will now take a closer look at the individual components of the Backforce One. Through my experience, I can evaluate very well which feature you need and which you don’t, and what is really important here.

Synchronous mechanism: The better rocking mechanism

I would like to see many more chairs with synchronous mechanisms. With the rocking mechanism, the backrest and seat always remain at the same angle when leaning back. The synchronous mechanism works differently:

The seat tilts less than the backrest. On the one hand, this ensures that we move, and on the other, the contact points with the chair always remain the same, so that the lordosis is always decently supported.

The synchronous mechanism can be adjusted to the body weight of its user with this adjustment wheel underneath the seat.

Folding armrests

No other gaming chair that I know of has this feature: You can easily fold the armrests backwards. I’ve had a few users in the past ask for a test of a model with this feature, but there hasn’t been one – until now. Within seconds, the armrest is gone and back again.

However, the armrests themselves are only height-adjustable, so they are 1D armrests. If you don’t need the great variability in adjusting to the left, right, front and back anyway, that’s not a problem.

However, some might wish for more adjustment options. Perhaps there will be a product update at some point.

The armrest is equipped with a soft plastic. This is easy on the elbows and provides a pleasant feeling when resting the arm compared to the hard plastic armrests of cheaper gaming chairs.

Cover: Breathable mix of faux Alcantara and faux leather

The chair is covered with fabric & faux leather. Chairs made of PU leather usually look better but are less breathable, while fabric provides breathability but cannot deliver the classy leather look. Therefore, both upholstery skills are optimally used here:

The Alcantara imitation takes over breathability at the relevant contact points: the seat surface and the lower part of the backrest are covered with it. This covers precisely those areas where we sweat the most when sitting. A high-quality PU cover is used away from the contact surfaces.

Upholstery: Pollutant-free dual-core foam with 2 zones

Here I again notice that the product development at Backforce has put a lot of thought into it: They could have used a standard upholstery foam, of course, but opted for a multi-zone foam with two different hardnesses.

In the inner contact area we find the softer foam that delivers a feeling of coziness. In the outer area of the seat, the harder foam is used, which provides subtle support.

The upholstery foams in the Backforce One chairs are all CFC and CHC free.

Base: aluminum brushed & coated: Jewel!

Seriously, I have not had such a high quality base in my tests. Design & feel remind me of awesome aluminum rims. Again, the attention to detail catches my eye – do you take a standard aluminum cross, or do you have something really fat made?

The base is made of aluminum and gets an incredibly noble look by brushing. Finally, the Backforce logo was lasered in – the product of this process speaks for itself.

In addition, a special coating is used here, which prevents sweaty or bare feet from leaving stains on the aluminum. Well thought out.

The hybrid rollers: For hard and soft floors - small criticism

The casters are pretty standard and thus do not really fit such an exclusive chair like the Backforce One. I’ve had experience with many casters, but these tend to be among the more frugal in their class. They are office chair castors that comply with various DIN standards and thus perform their service without any problems and well, but just do not look so cool.

For me personally, the casters are usually not very important, but here they are the only item that doesn’t really fit with the rest of this well-designed and good-looking chair.

Unique look & customizability: THIS is design.

Normally, I do not go into great detail about the appearance of the chairs, because they are often similar in terms of design. However, here I would like to highlight a few things: This is a new gaming chair that looks very cool, but looks very different from the others!

And that, in my eyes, is an art, to have the courage to want to design something completely new and to do it really well.

The special backrest, which also convinces from behind

Have you ever thought about the fact that the look of the chair does not benefit you at all if it is pushed to the desk and is not used? Exactly, it doesn’t look very good in that state. That’s why the Backforce One has an exceptionally beautiful back.

The vents, which are matched to your chosen chair color, make a good impression even when not in use.

Gaming Pulse LED Brooch

This handsome LED brooch can be attached to the backrest and can either blink or light up continuously. You can use it for about 20 hours until it runs out of juice and needs to be charged.

There is also potential for personalization here, I’ll be trying things out here in the days to see what else can be printed on semi-transparent films and attached here.

Customizable - Today Pussyslayer6000, tomorrow MahatmaG69: Your own patch!

And that for a cheap $ 14,30 more. Some people change their nickname like underpants. Your patch decision does not have to be made once! This patch attached by Velcro, you can exchange and reorder at any time for cheap $ 14,30 / piece.

Offers & Information: To store & manufacturer with the best prices for Backforce One go here:

It doesn’t matter if you change your team, your nickname or your partner whose name you chose as a patch for her sake: You remain flexible and don’t have to look for a girlfriend with the same name as your last one. Just peel it off, order a new one, stick it on – and you’re done.

Quality & workmanship: Handmade Made in Germany

I examined the Backforce One closely during this test and could not find any flaws in the workmanship. Every seam sits where it should. No seam is crooked, everything is in place. There is also no need to argue about the quality of the materials, which is obvious and consistent.

Handmade Gaming Chair

The next point: Your Backforce is completely handmade. From head to toe, the chair is produced by hand, so every step of production is controlled by at least 2 eyes.

The potential for material defects, production errors and the like is thus substantially reduced and minimized as far as possible by subsequent quality inspection.

Sustainability: Responsibility for people & the environment

The topic of sustainability is becoming more and more important in our society every day. Most of the parts for the Backforce One come from Germany or the EU, so not every component has to be transported halfway around the world to Germany.

On the one hand, this benefits the environment by reducing emissions, and on the other hand, it benefits our fellow citizens, because production takes place in Germany instead of being outsourced to less expensive countries. This secures jobs and protects the environment at the same time.

Sustainability is also taken into account in the selection of materials: The Backforce One is completely recyclable, the materials are free of harmful substances, and overall the company Interstuhl has certifications in terms of sustainability that can’t even be counted on 2 hands. More on the subject of sustainability at Interstuhl.

Conclusion: Buy Backforce One? My experience with the southern German chair

It will come as no surprise to the reader of this review of the Backforce One that I can absolutely recommend this gaming chair. Everything fits here: The design is a tour de force and the Backforce One does not have to hide from critical judges of ergonomics.

The bottom line is that you get a chair that meets about all the requirements of a high-quality gaming chair and adds a few extras on top. In short:

Ecological & sociological Sustainable: For the environment & jobs
Made in Germany by hand
Synchronous mechanism offers high ergonomic potential
Unique design on many levels
Cheap & efficient way of personalization
Completely fold away armrests

A little criticism must also be: The casters don’t match the rest of the chair. However, this is almost only noticeable because the Backforce One is a masterpiece in terms of design. This would not have been noticed at all in a typical gaming chair.

I would also like to see one or two more adjustments for the armrests. The bottom line, however, is that the Backforce One is quite a bit ahead of most chairs.

Buy Backforce One - Your options

You can order your Backforce One directly from the manufacturer. If you want to buy the Backforce One, don’t waste time! You can pay via Paypal, Amazon Payments and credit card. Don’t forget: The sooner you order the Backforce One, the sooner it will be there. 🙂

Save offers: Go to the OMEGA with fabric, PU or genuine leather here:

Secretlab OMEGA Review

Secretlab OMEGA in test: My experiences & offers for Ω

Finally I can add another of the current top brands to my website – I have the Secretlab OMEGA in test. Among many of my videos you have asked when I’m going to say a few words about the manufacturer Secretlab, now it’s time. The manufacturer itself should already tell you something, because whoever has informed himself about gaming chairs via Google, often gets ads on Facebook from the brand.

Secretlab has particularly trumped in the past with the cool designs of the chairs, which also made a very solid impression in terms of quality. So there is real potential to take something from the market from the big top dogs. Whether I really like the OMEGA, which body sizes it fits and whether I would recommend a purchase to you, you can find out now!

The essentials are already in my video. A few pictures and details about the body size you can take from this report.

Manufacturer

Secretlab

Model

OMEGA

Materials

matt lacquered solid aluminum base, breathable cold foam upholstery, PRIME PU cover – fabric or genuine leather possible, memory foam in cushions, large 60mm plastic castors, molded soft plastic armrests

Features

4D armrests, lockable rocker mechanism, tiltable backrest (165°), max. load capacity of 110kg

Features & Benefits of the OMEGA

Let’s start in short format with what makes the Secretlab OMEGA: Of course, we find in the chair all the usual features that you can expect from a chair in the price range between $334-649. These would be:

Prime PU cover: My OMEGA is covered with PU, i.e. a synthetic leather. Secretlab states that the Prime cover achieved particularly good results in abrasion tests. The OMEGA is also available with SoftWeave (fabric cover) or Napa leather. However, the latter is expensive.
4D armrests: Not to be expected otherwise, the armrests can be adjusted in 4 directions. So they are absolutely up to date.
Neck and lumbar pillows with memory foam and velour cover. I like that - I don't like pillows with PU covers, they are too rigid and unformable for me. Fortunately, the OMEGA has fabric-covered pillows.
Sturdy steel frame as the base of the chair
Of course with continuously lockable rocker mechanism
Backrest can be tilted 165° to the seat surface for napping in between

▷ show Secretlab OMEGA!

Save offers: Go to the OMEGA with fabric, PU or genuine leather here:

The OMEGA in the test - Can it convince?

Now again just as detailed as in the video, but with high-resolution images: I’ll introduce you to the individual functions and show you the workmanship of the chair. You will notice that everything sits and fits as it should.

OMEGA Series dimensions

The OMEGA’s dimensions are more suitable for slim to normally built people. The dimensions are basically the same as those of the competition, but there is one very important restriction: The seat is theoretically wide, but the side bolsters limit the legroom. So, since you can’t make your legs infinitely wide here, the chair is less suitable for bulky people. For the “normal” stature (what is normal?) but fits perfectly.

Source: secretlab.co

Especially cool: fabric, PU and faux leather possible

I’ve never seen that from any manufacturer before. There is the faction that likes imitation leather and the faction with the cats at home who prefer fabric. Secretlab offers both with the OMEGA, TITAN & THRONE:

You can get the chair with so-called “Prime PU leather” or “▷ SoftWeave“, i.e. fabric. I think that’s cool! So everyone gets their money’s worth. Even the real leather fans: Napa is certainly pleasant, but $649 is of course also a house number.

Design: Versatile and simple on demand

At least TITAN and OMEGA Series are rather elegant chairs. Basically, the 3 series remind me of the 3 at noblechairs. They started with a more sporty model and it gets more and more elegant towards the top. I find the design of the OMEGA definitely office and gaming suitable and very nice simple and elegant.

With fabric cover the chairs look special, but already very cool. The color accents are also pleasantly subtle with all color variations. I find my black OMEGA with golden embroidery and red stitching very successful.

The aluminum base

The base of the Secretlab OMEGA is made of aluminum and is painted matte black. This alone makes a very nice impression visually.

60mm large PU rollers

The casters are pleasantly quiet and light. So you won’t make any noise at home. With a size of 60mm, they are also pretty standard: The noblechairs HERO, for example, has wheels of the same size. Some chairs use larger casters – the Core Ex Wide, for example, has 63.5 mm – but I don’t see why larger casters would help. That’s why I don’t care whether they are half a centimeter larger or smaller.

Field test: My experience with the features of the Secretlab OMEGA

Now it’s all about the OMEGA’s features. You’ll now learn what the chair can do, how its features work, and then finally my assessment of the seating comfort. In just 2 minutes, you’ll know whether the OMEGA is worth the money or whether you should keep looking.

▷ show Secretlab OMEGA!

Save offers: Go to the OMEGA with fabric, PU or genuine leather here:

Rocking mechanism infinitely variable

Of course, the OMEGA comes with a rocker function. The mechanism can also be locked in different positions, so that everyone will certainly find their favorite sitting position. Only the synchronous mechanism is better than a rocker mechanism – but such a mechanism is very rare, chairs like the Backforce One or Backforce One Plus, for example, have one integrated.

Backrest tiltable 165°

“Have a break, have a 165° reclinable backrest.”

Who doesn’t know this famous phrase? Either you’re sitting at your desk and just don’t feel like studying/working anymore, or you’ve been gaming for half an eternity and are failing non-stop – you need a break at some point. It’s nice when you don’t have to go to the bed or sofa, but simply tilt the backrest back 165° to the seat with a lever on your right and take a few minutes to reflect.

You can also fall asleep on the chair. It’s happened to me a time or two at work. It’s not a solution for a healthy 8-hour sleep, but it’s fine for a power nap.

4-Direction (4D) PU armrests

The armrests can be adjusted in 4 D̶i̶m̶e̶n̶s̶i̶o̶n̶e̶n̶ directions. The “D” stands for “direction”. Not dimension. You can see what this means in the video above.

The surface of the armrests is made of soft PU, plastic. Hard plastic is not used so that elbows are protected. Hard plastic creates too much unpleasant friction – so everything is done right with the OMEGA.

Lumbar and neck pillows: Velour & memory foam

Of course, there are also lumbar and neck pillows. Fortunately, the pillows are covered with velour, a fabric. So they are less rigid compared to artificial leather pillows, feel much more comfortable in the bare neck and are not cold when you just take a seat. I like that extremely well!

Since I got my first fabric pillows, I haven’t used a PU pillow. To be honest, I find them really uncomfortable by now.

Lendenkissen ohne Befestigung - überhaupt nötig?

It needs two holes in the upper backrest area to fix the lumbar cushion. If we do not have such holes, then we cannot attach the lumbar cushion. This is now the case with many current models, which do without the racing seat holes for optical reasons. But think about whether you need the cushion at all.

The backrest is pre-curved in the lumbar area anyway. I personally do not need the cushion despite a slight hollow back, I prefer to sit without it. Who has a more pronounced hollow back, the cushion must then probably straighten more often.

But don’t feel forced to use the cushion. If you find it rather unpleasantly disturbing, then just leave it out.

Seating comfort: the OMEGA is this cozy

I rate the seating comfort as very good. You notice before and after sitting down that you are sitting on a high-quality chair. It is very comfortable to sit on. The only small point of criticism: The side bolsters on the seat are very pronounced and stand a bit high. This limits the legroom. For me, this is still within reason, but it will certainly be uncomfortable for somewhat bulkier gamers. However, the chair is not made for massive gamers anyway.

Body sizes: My recommendations & Secretlab's

The chair is loadable up to 110kg. Secretlab recommends the OMEGA for gamers between 160-180cm tall in weight classes of 50-80kg. I am with my 189cm and 89kg so a bit too tall and fat. So I should actually rather take this one: Secretlab TITAN Test

In my case, you can see that there is still sufficient space between the leg and the end of the seat. The rule of thumb says that there should be about two finger widths of space. With a height of 189cm you have no problems with the length of the seat.

The backrest is a bit trickier: According to the manufacturer, the OMEGA is only suitable for gamers up to 180cm. I can almost agree with that, but I would say that 185cm is still possible if the chair is absolutely necessary.

Here is a photo of my test person with 167cm height. Also here it still goes. The manufacturer states 160cm as the lower limit. That may go with a different torso and leg length ratio, but my test person would perhaps already have difficulties with 7cm less height. So but it fits very well!

The only limitation: the adjustability of the neck pillow. As you can see from the elastic band, it is already pulled down to the maximum. And already there it has to readjust the one or other time. Body sizes under 165cm will have problems here.

I also almost agree with the assessment: However, I would shift the limits by 5cm: So from 165cm to 180/185cm. My partner with her 167cm still sits very well, but the seat could be too long for people under 165cm, in addition, the neck cushion can not be fastened low enough. But that becomes a problem with pretty much every chair. With other constellations between torso and leg length, however, this may still fit 1a even at 160cm – I do not know.

Buy Secretlab OMEGA - Best price?

Finding the best price is little difficult. Secretlab does not use external distribution and handles sales & shipping of its own chairs itself. According to the manufacturer itself, the chairs can therefore be offered at lower prices, and that seems to work: Some series are completely sold out.

So if you want to buy the OMEGA, take one of the links from this article, like ▷ this one: You will get directly to the manufacturer and may even benefit from discounts.

▷ show Secretlab OMEGA!

Save offers: Go to the TITAN with fabric, PU or genuine leather here:

Really cheaper through direct sales?

A question I asked myself. In my opinion, you undoubtedly get a super chair that is worth the money. And models at DXRacer and AKRacing are also often actually more expensive without offering great advantages (My opinion). In this respect: Yes, the chairs are worth their money. But you don’t necessarily make a super bargain either. The price is good for the performance, but also not significantly better than some competitors: noblechairs, for example, surprises with equally good prices.

Conclusion: Buy OMEGA or go to the competition?

If you like the designs at Secretlab or OMEGAS, I see no reason to look any further. In my opinion, the chair is great, it has everything you need: 4D armrests, a lockable rocker mechanism, 165° tiltability of the backrest and above all: comfort and high-quality materials.

A pleasantly thick padding, tightly covered and valuable PU leather, precisely finished seams. If it fits your height, then you can buy the OMEGA without hesitation! Click here to go directly to the store:

Secretlab TITAN Review

Secretlab TITAN Test: Better than the HERO? My experience with the TITAN series!

I am happy to present you my new Secretlab TITAN test! I have already told you my experiences with the Secretlab OMEGA and they were already quite good. But this time I go one series higher to present you the new TITAN in the 2020 Series. I’ve been sitting on the new Secretlab chair for a total of 4 weeks now and I’ve noticed a few things about this gaming chair.

Above all, it is similar to the noblechairs HERO in all its functions. You can also find out how the two compare in this review. The reading time is about 5 minutes and is refined by a lot of photos to illustrate the individual functions of the TITAN. Let’s go!

Manufacturer

Secretlab

Model

TITAN

Materials

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

Features

4D armrests, lockable rocker mechanism, tiltable backrest (135°), max. load capacity of 150kg, NEW: Continuously adjustable lumbar support, NEW: Memoryfoam in neck cushion

Features of the Secretlab TITAN - The Highlights

Sturdy and eternally resistant tubular steel frame
Full metal 4D armrests
Improved thicker PU leather in 2020 version
Also available with genuine leather or fabric cover
Many cool versions available, for example "Dark Knight" with Batman icon
Flat side panels = plenty of room for every gamer
Special: Memory foam in neck pillow
My favorite: variably adjustable lumbar support

Secretlab TITAN in the test: The details

Even though I already have 25 chairs standing here, it always brings a smile to my face at 3 moments: When the package delivery guy rings the doorbell, when I cut open the box and take out high quality chair components that don’t stink, and: When the chair is in place and I feel like I’m the owner of a new and imaginable model. That’s exactly how it was with the TITAN. And then I sat on it for 4 weeks for the time being….

▷ show Secretlab TITAN!

Save offers: Go to the TITAN with fabric, PU or genuine leather here:

Dimensions: No tightness, lots of free space

If you’re interested in the Secretlab TITAN, there’s one thing you don’t have to worry about: About free space. The side bolsters are very pleasantly flattened. So if you are either a bit bulkier or like to sit very wide-legged, you don’t have to worry about being limited in legroom by pronounced side bolsters.

The TITAN is the largest model in the Secretlab family and it is absolutely commendable that they have created a model for tall and wide gamers at an affordable price that is not beyond $500. In the shoulder area, the side bolsters also do not protrude and ensure that men with wide crosses can sit comfortably.

Height: For my 189cm, the chair is made for me. My 167cm tall test person also gets along very well with the chair. She gets her feet on the floor and the seat is not too deep. So you can sit well on the TITAN with heights from 165cm to 205cm.

Design: Successful with loving details

Visually, Secretlab has designed a good wallow with the TITAN, which is additionally available in many exciting versions. There is a Dark Knight version, Dota version, as well as deadmau5-version among many other variants. What I additionally like are the details. Many normally standard parts like bezels and other small plastic components are specially molded and some have the “Secretlab” logo on them.

Something like this shows me that there is attention to detail in the chair. You could have used standard, but you opted for something special. This underlines the demand for a unique and lovingly designed gamer chair.

All aluminum base with lacquer finish

The base is made of metal and has been painted black. Even though the base may not be the centerpiece of a chair, it can make a visual impact. And it does.

The design gives the entire chair an additional elegant look.

60mm rollers with solid running properties

These are hybrid rollers that can be used on both carpets and hard floors. For hard floors, a floor protection mat is often recommended for plastic rollers, but they do run pleasantly in any case.

Otherwise, rollers are not a highlight for me, as long as they do not scrape loudly and crabby over the floor. Everything is right here.

TITAN in the field test: Functions & comfort

What I just showed was nice and important accessories that round out the chair. But now it’s down one level to the heart and kidney test to prove the capabilities of the important functions. My experience with the Secretlab TITAN goes into detail, just like before with the OMEGA:

Special: variably adjustable lumbar support

I have a feeling that this very feature will one day become the standard. Lumbar cushions often adapt well to the lower back, but often they don’t: We people are built too differently for that. The curvature of the lumbar spine is more pronounced in one person than in another. That’s where a variably adjustable option comes in handy.

This wheel allows you to adjust the curvature of the lumbar support to your own spine. Some people may know this from their car. For longer sessions, the spine and the surrounding muscles can be relieved in my opinion better than with a rigid cushion.

Neck pillow with memory foam

The HERO has memory foam directly in the head area of the backrest. The TITAN provides memory foam in the neck cushion. In both cases, the memory foam can improve the seating experience.

This is a nice innovation of the 2020 series. The advantage is not particularly noticeable, but a nuance more comfort may be there in the long run.

▷ show Secretlab TITAN!

Save offers: Go to the TITAN with fabric, PU or genuine leather here:

New: 4D armrests "Full Metal

These are the new, much higher-quality metal armrests in the 2020 series. I have to say, it makes quite an impression. Of course, parts of the trim are still made of plastic, but the new metal elements definitely bring an upgrade in feel & look and certainly in durability.

For comparison: Here are the old armrests again. They are basically the standard of many manufacturers and also solid, but look almost cheap compared to the metal version, although they are not.

Of course, the armrests can also be adjusted in 4 directions (4D=4 Directions) as usual.

In addition, the armrests are equipped with soft plastic and provide sufficient and comfortable padding for the elbows.

Lockable rocker function & tilt mechanism up to approx. 125°

A rocker mechanism should not be missing in the Secretlab TITAN test. It also works flawlessly in the long-term test. However, you have to adjust the rocker mechanism to your body weight. You do that by turning the dial underneath the seat directly on the mechanism until it can be tilted lighter or heavier.

The tilt function allows an angle of up to 125° to the seat surface and also invites you to watch movies or YouTubing at your desk. You can influence the behavior of the tilt function by turning the tilt mechanism on or off.

Seat comfort test: Is the Secretlab TITAN comfortable?

I sit comfortably on the Secretlab Titan. Experience has my butt now already collected with many a cushion. At AKRacing, for example, the cushions are softer, at DXRacer too. Secretlab and noblechairs, however, use rather harder cushions. In a direct comparison between noble and Secret, I can’t see much difference in the hardness. So if the HERO is not too hard, you will also be satisfied with the TITAN.

The seating comfort is essentially a result of the interaction of the individual components: Extensively adjustable armrests, the shape of the TITAN, the upholstery, the neck cushion and, importantly for me, the lumbar support.

With this chair, which is comfortable anyway, an even higher comfort level can be achieved with this feature. The only thing that could still offer an upgrade here would be a synchronous mechanism. However, experience has shown that you have to pay a bit more for this.

Secretlab TITAN vs. noblechairs HERO

That’s exactly what I’ve been asked many times: Who performs better, the TITAN or the HERO? Well, the differences between the two chairs are not that big. The noblechairs HERO has memory foam in the headrest, the TITAN has memory foam in the neck cushion. I think both make sense – it’s a tie.

The other features seem to be pretty much the same. There are only some visual differences, which is why I declare the TITAN vs. HERO battle a pure design issue. Decide for the model that appeals more to you visually, because otherwise two equal giants meet here.

Conclusion: Can I recommend buying the Secretlab TITAN?

Absolutely. The seams are all where they belong, nothing was sewn crooked here. The workmanship is on a very high level and Secretlab did not let itself down in terms of design either. In addition to the visual aspects, the range of functions also shines:

A rocker and tilt function is available, we have memory foam in the neck cushion, 4D armrests with soft plastic and a lumbar support that can be precisely adjusted via a wheel.

In addition, the TITAN offers unlimited space and legroom due to very flat designed side bolsters on the seat and backrest. The chair is suitable for people from 165cm-205cm height and from a weight of 65kg for those who do not like harder seats. In my eyes, an all-round successful product! I can only recommend you to buy the Secretlab TITAN. You will not regret it.

▷ show Secretlab TITAN!