Whichever way you slice it, gaming is a time-intensive hobby. One of the bestselling games of 2020, The Last of Us Part 2, clocks in at an impressive 25 hours. That pales in comparison to another one of 2020s heavy hitters, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which will eat up anywhere between 130 to 160 hours of your time. To put that in context, it would take over six days to beat the game in a single sitting.
As a gamer, you sit down a lot. You remain in a stationary position for literally hours at a time. This kind of time-intensive sitting means that you’ll need a chair that’s both comfortable and protects your back. Any chiropractor worth their salt will tell you prolonged sitting on a poorly designed chair is a recipe for long-term back pain.
If your gaming hobby is creating back problems, it may be time to consider purchasing a gaming chair. Gaming chairs are engineered to protect a person’s back even if they are sitting for long periods of time. However, not all gaming chairs are created equally. There are different gaming chair types suitable for different gamers.
The Different Types of Gaming Chairs
Gaming chairs are available in a few distinctive categories.
The PC Gaming Chair
The humble and often maligned office chair was the design jumping-off point for PC Gaming chairs. At first glance, you’ll notice that a PC gaming chair looks similar to a typical ergonomic office chair. But look a little closer, you will notice a PC gaming chair has a bucket-style seat and extra cushioning. Armrests will be adjustable to ensure the best gaming experience. Crucially, for a chair designed for long seating sessions, PC Gaming chairs offer additional lumbar support. Lumbar support helps maintain the natural curvature of the spine. As the name suggests, PC chairs are typically for PC gamers. The upright design of PC chairs means they slot in nicely to just about any computer table, making for the perfect personal computer gaming experience.
Some of the higher-end models of gaming chairs come with adjustable pillows, reclining features, cup holders, and even speakers.
If you’re a PC gamer, this type of gaming chair is your best option.
Platform Gaming Chairs
Don’t worry console fans, you haven’t been forgotten. Platform gaming chairs are most often associated with console gaming. Typically these chairs are lower to the ground and look more like sitting room recliners than office chairs. Most console chairs rock for additional comfort, come with side pockets for game controller storage, and either has installed speakers or an available headphone jack. Platform gaming chairs are closer to the ground making this type of chair better suited to playing a game on a television screen.
If you’re a console gamer, and your gaming set-up is low to the ground, a platform gaming chair may be right for you.
Hybrid Gaming Chairs
Nobody likes making tough decisions, so if you’re paralysed with indecision perhaps you should consider a hybrid gaming chair.
Hybrid gaming chairs are mounted on a swivel base – like an office chair – and shaped like a sitting room recliner. There is a staggering amount of variation in the hybrid market. Base models offer a comfortable seat but premium hybrids can include game peripherals like monitors and steering wheels for racing games.
Gamer Bean Bag Chairs
While not suited to long gaming sessions, custom-engineered gaming bean bag chairs can be surprisingly comfortable. Great for video game parties, these chairs offer a snug base to get a quick gaming session in. Think a 3 minute game of Fifa or Super Smash Bros rather than a long single-player RPG session. As these chairs are low to the ground, they are suited to a console set-up.
Comparing the Price
In conclusion, if you’re a PC gamer, consider a PC Gaming chair or a hybrid. A console gamer should look into a platform chair or a hybrid. If you regularly host gaming parties having a few inexpensive gaming bean bag chairs lying around can help set the party mood. Once you’ve selected the appropriate type of gaming chair, we recommend comparing prices between retailers. When shopping for gaming chairs in Ireland, try comparing prices and retailers on GetLocal.ie.
Did we miss a gaming chair type? Let us know in the comments.