Are Gaming Chairs Worth It?
If you’ve ever watched an eSports event or stream on Twitch or Youtube, then you’ve probably seen some fancy looking gaming chairs before.
Gaming chairs have exploded in popularity in recent years. Nowadays, it seems like every professional gamer or online influencer is sitting in one.
But before you ride the hype train and shell out the cash, you might be asking yourself, “Are gaming chairs worth it?” Is there any reason to get a gaming chair over an ordinary office chair?
In short, gaming chairs are worth it depending on your specific needs. In general, gaming chairs are worth it if you spend a lot of time in a chair in front of a computer every day, you need specific features, or if you’re a streamer who needs to look the part for branding purposes.
Gaming chairs are not worth it if you’re someone who is trying to boost your actual gaming performance, if you’re trying to relieve pain, or if you want to get the most comfortable chair for your money.
In this article, we’ll provide an in-depth analysis of the features and benefits of gaming chairs to help you determine whether or not gaming chairs are worth it for you.
Let’s get started!
Reasons Why Gaming Chairs ARE Worth It
Gaming chairs can be worth it for many people depending on your specific needs in a chair. While gaming chairs are more a luxury rather than a necessity when compared to ordinary office chairs, here are a few specific reasons that could make you want to consider a gaming chair.
Twitch or YouTube Streaming
If you’re someone who is considering getting into streaming on Twitch or YouTube, then I definitely think investing in a gaming chair could be worth it.
As I mentioned, if you ever watch a live Twitch or YouTube stream, then you’ve definitely seen some nice looking gaming chairs floating around.
In most cases, this isn’t really because they offer more comfort or support over any ordinary chair, but more so because they are aesthetically pleasing.
Since live streamers are obviously always in front of a camera with an audience, the way their chair looks can play a huge factor in the overall aesthetic of the stream.
Essentially, if you’re going to be streaming on a video game platform, investing in a gaming chair can help you look the part, which can be good from a branding perspective.
In addition, since gaming chair companies are always looking to sponsor up and coming streamers, having a gaming chair can help signal that you’re open to these types of sponsorships.
Spending Long Hours in Your Chair
If you’re someone who spends the majority of your time in front of the computer, then gaming chairs might be worth the investment.
Gaming chairs are typically designed to help with proper posture, allowing you to sit down for long hours without feeling aches and pain.
In addition, gaming chairs offer various adjustment options including adjustable armrests, lumbar support, headrest, seat height, and seat pan depth. This lets you set your chair to a proper sitting position and keeps you comfortable for long hours.
Personally, I spend the large majority of my day in my chair. I use the computer for work and leisure activities, so I felt it was worth it to invest in a comfortable chair that could be tweaked to the exact settings I like.
The OMEGA series is Secretlab's flagship gaming chair model. It features a simple and clean design, high-quality construction quality, and excellent comfort for hardcore gaming sessions.
You Want Extra Features with Your Chair
Another reason why gaming chairs could be worth it is if you’re looking for some specific features that some gaming chairs have that you won’t typically find in an ordinary office chair.
Some gaming chair features are specifically designed with gamers in mind.
For example, if you’re a console gamer, then you might want a gaming chair with built-in Bluetooth speakers. These types of chairs allow for a more immersive gaming experience. They can also be useful if you want to be able to play music and watch movies without headphones.
The GTRACING gaming chair features a classic racing style design with Bluetooth speakers that allow for a more immersive gaming experience.
Another common feature that most gaming chairs have is a reclining feature. Many gaming chairs can recline back as far as 165 degrees. I personally find a lot of use in this feature because it’s good for kicking back and relaxing to reduce strain. I sometimes even find myself taking quick naps in my gaming chair since they can recline basically all the way back.
The RESPAWN RSP 900 is a high-end racing style gaming chair. It features a pedestal reclining design suited for hardcore or relaxed casual gamers.
Reasons Why Gaming Chairs are NOT Worth It
Improving Gaming Performance
As ridiculous as it sounds, some people actually believe that buying a gaming chair will make them a better player.
This is nonsense.
If you were hoping to improve your gaming performance simply by upgrading your chair, then gaming chairs are not worth it.
In terms of your gaming skills, it doesn’t matter if you’re sitting in a gaming chair versus a metal college dorm room chair.
The only thing that will make you a better gamer is by practicing and learning the game.
That said, you definitely want to have a comfortable chair when you’re playing to help prevent pain, especially if you’re going to be sitting for a long time.
You could also argue the psychological benefits of having a gaming chair that motivates you to play more, as this could in turn help you improve at a game.
However, in terms of having a direct impact on your gaming performance, I’m afraid buying a gaming chair really won’t do much to help.
Pain Relief
Another reason why buying a gaming chair might not be worth it is for pain relief.
If you’re someone who already suffers from chronic pain in your back, shoulders hips, etc, then switching from a normal office chair to a gaming chair is likely not going to solve the issue.
Gaming can definitely help with posture and offer solid support and comfort. While this can definitely be a good thing for preventing pain from happening in the first place if you already experience chronic pain, then it’s not going to go away simply by buying a gaming chair.
Value
If your goal is to get the most comfortable chair for your money, then buying a gaming chair might not be worth it for you.
When buying a gaming chair, a lot of your money is going towards the bold and stylish design, the branding, and the extra features. While these are nice things to have, it could come at the cost of comfort when compared to conventional office chairs.
Since normal office chairs focus on function over form, there isn’t a whole lot of fancy design elements. Normal office chairs typically look dull and boring but are strictly designed to provide the most comfortable sitting experience.
Therefore, when you compare a $300 gaming chair to a $300 office chair, then the office chair will usually be more comfortable since the price of the gaming chair also factors in those stylish design elements while the entire cost of the office chair is dedicated to making it feel comfortable.
Why Are Gaming Chairs So Expensive?
One thing that you need to consider when you’re deciding whether or not a gaming chair is worth it for you is the price.
In general, gaming chairs can be pretty expensive. A question I often get is. “Why are Gaming Chairs so Expensive?”
In short, gaming chairs are expensive because of their rise in popularity and demand. With gaming chairs, you’re not just paying for a comfortable chair. You’re paying for the bold and vibrant design, branding, and additional features.
Design
One of the main reasons why gaming chairs are expensive is their bold and stylish design elements.
Most gaming chairs are designed to look like the inside of a racecar. These racing style gaming chairs also utilize bright, vibrant colors and are meant to give off a modern and luxurious vibe.
These fancy design elements make them stand out when compared to ordinary office chairs, which makes them more desirable.
Since these chairs are so different and cater to a specific demographic, it can make them more expensive than your ordinary run of the mill office chair.
Popularity
Another reason why gaming chairs are so expensive is simply due to the meteoric rise in popularity of the gaming industry in general.
With streaming sites like Twitch and YouTube making the gaming industry more mainstream, the demand for gaming chairs has risen with it.
And as the demand for gaming chairs increases, so does the price.
Branding
Similar to the previous point, a huge reason why gaming chairs are so expensive is because of the branding and marketing around these chairs.
Many of the top gaming chair brands, such as Secretlab and DXRacer, sponsor popular eSports organizations, content creators, and influences to help build up their branding and awareness.
This allows them to take advantage of these platform’s audience and charge more for their gaming chairs.
For example, if a popular streamer is using a Secretlab chair, then there’s a good chance that the streamer’s fan base will want to buy the same chair as them.
Then, once the gaming chair brand is well known in the industry, they can get away with charging more for their products.
This idea of branding is similar to how Apple can get away with charging a premium on all of their products.
Features
Another reason why gaming chairs are expensive is that they typically have additional features that you won’t find in typical office chairs.
For example, some gaming chairs have Bluetooth Speakers that allow you to connect your gaming console or other devices.
Some other common features that gaming chairs could have include:
- Built-in Footrest
- 165-degree reclining
- Massage vibration
- 4D armrests
- Adjustable lumbar support and headrests
These features can add to the overall cost of the chair, making them more expensive than ordinary office chairs.
FAQs
Do Gaming Chairs Make a Difference?
Gaming chairs can make a difference because they can allow for a more comfortable and enjoyable gaming experience. However, gaming chairs will not directly improve your gaming performance.
Are Cheap Gaming Chairs Worth It?
In many cases, cheap gaming chairs are not worth it because they are lacking in core areas such as comfort, adjustability, and build quality. While cheap gaming chairs may look good, they likely will not last as long as a higher quality gaming chair.
Are Gaming Chairs Good For Posture?
Gaming chairs are good for posture because they offer proper support and allow you to sit in a comfortable upright position. They also have adjustable armrests, headrests, and lumbar support, which allows you to set it in an optimal position for your specific body type.
