Chances are, if you don’t already have a “gaming chair,” it’s an item you’ve either long obsessed over getting—or didn’t know existed.
Designed to deliver comfort and posture support for video game fanatics who spend hours a day sitting down, these chairs have become increasingly posh since car seat manufacturer DXRacer USA marketed a racing-inspired version in 2006. Several companies specialize in them now, and the popular Omega chairs from Singapore-based SecretLab are available in 24 colors and variations, including “Dark Knight” for Batman lovers and the Game of Thrones-inspired “House Lannister.”
The Omega 2020 comes in black nappa leather (pictured, from $749). It’s a great tool for gamers—or, for that matter, anyone who’s been working from home.
THE COMPETITION
• The GTRacing Gaming Chair ($176) is made from cheaper materials but is similar in style to the Omega and comes with built-in Bluetooth speakers. Aficionados are divided on the value of this amenity, since they can’t match the quality of a good roomwide sound system. But it’s a neat trick for when friends are over.
• If you want a cushy perch that can double as an executive hub, the Noblechairs Icon Black (€580, or $655) doesn’t scream “I wish I were in a race car!” as many other gaming chairs do.
• Herman Miller, the manufacturer behind midcentury Noguchi tables and Eames loungers, is partnering with software maker Logitech Inc. The new seats will be available at some point after being delayed because of the pandemic, price TBA.
THE CASE
Gaming chairs are high-backed and built to support the upper back and shoulders—something most office chairs neglect. Giving those muscles a break can actually encourage you to sit straighter, more comfortably, and for longer. Plus, the Omega comes with additional lumbar and head cushions that are super squishy and can be adjusted to wherever you need them. Sculpted indentations around the elbows allow for freer arm movement as well, whether you’re playing Halo with friends at midnight or clutching your coffee during a Zoom meeting at 8 a.m. Or both. $749