Are Gaming Chairs Worth It?
Using the word “gaming” before most commonly used PC peripherals and equipment is usually snake oil and does not necessarily make the product any better than the competition. This applies to many things including gaming chairs which will be the subject of discussion for today.
From the tone of the first paragraph, you might have already deduced the overall stance we have on gaming chairs but we would still encourage you to read along because the arguments might be different than what you imagined.
Why Gaming Chairs Are Not Really for Gaming
A chair is a chair no matter what label you slap on it and the same applies to any gaming chair on the market. In the end, the whole purpose of the product is to allow you to sit comfortably while doing computer work or gaming.
It is also important to mention that technically the idea of bucket chairs being gaming chairs is also wrong since bucket chairs were designed for racing, not for gaming. In essence, any office chair or any other type of chair can be a gaming chair as long as it helps you maintain your posture and keeps you healthy.
Bucket racing chairs were popularized as “gaming” chairs since these were specifically made to keep the racing driver comfortable for multiple hours, which is the main requirement for a gaming chair nowaday.
In short, there is actually no real definition of what a gaming chair is, but there is a generally accepted image of what people ended up using as gaming chairs, therefore you can buy any chair and call it a gaming chair.
Are Gaming Chairs Worth It Then?
The answer to this unexpectedly complex question mainly depends on what the local market you have access to offers you. If you have access to high-quality office chairs for the same price as bucket chairs branded as “gaming” chairs then no – the trade in quality makes no sense.
If you, however, are in a market where there is an abundance of bucket chairs branded as gaming chairs which subsequently reduces their price because the market is saturated and you can get a decent (mind you not excellent) bucket/gaming chair then this might be the best play for you.
The main thing to take into account here is the value proposition of the gaming chair you are looking at. If you find a comfortable solid metal frame chair with decent cushioning and durability for one-third of the price of an office chair (which is quite often the case) then there is no reason for you to not buy it. The main argument here being how comfortable you find the chair to be.
There are different kinds of people and preferences might differ but if your back is ok in a bucket chair after 3-4 hours then maybe spending 2000$ on an office chair is simply not worth it for you. As long as you have proper blood flow to keep your hands warm and eyes peeled for that buttery smooth aim there is nothing wrong with buying a gaming chair.
Conclusions
The math here is simple and is oriented towards how much value you can get out of any chair for the money you are paying. If you are comfortable in a bucket chair that is supposedly made for gaming then that is a great deal for you.
If you however can find a cheaper random chair that offers you the same amount of comfort but is simply not branded for gaming then it would be stupid to not get it over a bucket chair.
Conversely, if none of the cheaper options fit your needs you might just have to pull the trigger and buy a solid office chair that is often more expensive but offers you the support you would need for long hours of gaming and work.
What is the conclusion then? Gaming chairs are OK depending on the situation but the marketing of the equipment should not be a priority for you and you should rather focus on the quality and value of the product.