Are racer gaming chairs a gimmick? Or are they superior to office chairs?
If you’ve ever watched a Twitch streamer, YouTube gamer, or walked into a computer store, chances are you’ve stumbled upon a racing gaming chair. Despite being controversial among the gaming community, race-car seat gaming chairs were popularized by luxury car seat manufacturer, DXRacer, who take pride in producing some of the most comfortable gaming chairs on the market.
The real question is, with companies such as Secretlab and Vertagear duplicating the racing seat aesthetic, are gaming chairs really much better than a standard office chair? Or are they just an expensive gimmick? Let’s compare the two chairs and take a look at which one is superior.
Office Chair vs Gaming Chair – Key Differences
Here, we are going to look into some of the key qualities of both gaming chairs and office chairs. By rating each feature separately, we’ll help you decide whether office chairs are actually better for gaming.
Design
Contrasting the popular red/black, in-your-face design of a gaming chair, office chairs tend to come with minimalistic features and a simple black/gray color scheme. To some, that may sound boring, yet it’s a practical design choice and often preferable.
After all, you’re going to be sat in the chair all day, not staring at it from a distance in admiration. Unless, of course, you own one of the best gaming chairs on the market.
Winner: Tie
Comfort
As racing gaming chairs are modeled after car seats, their trademark features are there to provide maximum comfort.
Raised Front Lip
Most car seats come with an elevated front lip that props the driver’s legs up for easier pedal reach. While you may think that this won’t benefit you as a gamer, it actually does a great job at helping you maintain an ergonomic sitting posture.
Bucket Seat
Like the raised front lip, raised sides can prevent drivers from sliding in their seat when making sharp turns, and unless you’re in the middle of an intense Forza Horizon game, a bucket seat isn’t exactly necessary.
Lumbar and Head Pillows
Detachable lumbar and head pillows are some of the most common gaming chair accessories. Together, they promote good spine and neck posture, improving relaxation, regardless of how many hours you work or play.
These additional features make gaming chairs good for posture and overall comfort.
On the contrary, office chairs are also made for all-day comfort, despite the fact that they don’t brag a whole bunch of quirky characteristics.
Winner:Â Tie
Adjustment Options
An office chair is much more ergonomic than a gaming chair, but can you do this?
All jokes aside, the ability to lie down in a reclining chair makes mini breaks in-between work or games more enjoyable. Especially during long working days trapped in an office.
Back Recline
We all got told about that one kid who lent back on his chair, fell off, and cracked his head open, which is likely why fully reclinable office chairs are almost non-existent.
Albeit, the feature isn’t in-demand, so it’s best to save your $399 for other gaming hardware, or a great gaming desk.
Adjustable Armrests
Just as a keyboard tray on a gaming desk can help with posture, adjustable armrests allow you to move them up and down so that your arms rest parallel to the floor.
Both gaming chairs and office chairs come with adjustable armrests, however, some cheaper models have fixed arms which can be extremely uncomfortable depending on your height.
Winner: Gaming Chair 🥇
Pricing
The sad truth is that gamer gear generally costs more than non-gamer gear. Take for example a mouse: with all of the additional buttons and high-end sensors, it’s clear why the best gaming mouse is more expensive than a basic office mouse, but why do gaming chairs cost a significant amount more than office chairs?
We mentioned how gaming chairs have some exceptional features, and unfortunately, in today’s world, a high-quality gaming chair will set you back anywhere between $50 to over $1,000. However, there are some great gaming chairs under $200 that are worth taking a look at.
The great thing about office chairs is that they come with a variety of different price tags, without all the gimmicky features that gaming chairs come with. That being said, a quality ergonomic chair will still put a dent in your wallet, though they come with a whole host of worth-your-money features for extreme comfort.
Winner: Office Chair 🥇
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, both chairs are made to cushion your gluteus maximus for an extended period of time, but out of gaming chairs and office chairs, which is superior?
While the gaming chairs offer far more adjustment and color options compared to office chairs, they often come with a hefty price tag. On the other hand, office chairs provide a better quality/cost balance, allowing you to save some extra bucks for a rainy day or an awesome gaming PC.
Sources:
- Rodney K. Lefler, Choosing the Right Ergonomic Office Chair, Spine-Health, February 7th, 2004
- Think Ergonomic, SteelCase Office Chairs