In the world of form versus function, gaming chairs should be a topic of particular interest and study. Rarely is there a requirement for a high-performing item – one that ensures you can achieve optimal performance while your body is ergonomically supported for hours at a time – where many purchasers ignore all the important, functional attributes in favour of buying something that looks cool in pictures.
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Don’t get us wrong: even a fancy pair of stilettos can offer benefits that outweigh comfort factors to the point of inflicting incredible pain. However, it’s not like gamers even look at their gaming chair: barring the armrests, it’s literally in the opposite direction to our eyeballs (and point of focus) when it’s being used. Even with an audience, game streamers are usually obscuring their chairs unless they’re being paid (by a gaming-chair manufacturer) to lean forward and show it off.
It’s time for gamers to realise that epic-looks are far from the only requirement when buying a chair for gaming. So, here are five reasons why choosing an ergonomic office chair over a gaming chair makes sense.
1. Peak performance throughout the day
If your gaming chair doesn’t support you in all the right places, over the long term you’re likely going to suffer acute musculoskeletal discomfort that distracts you from thinking about what’s happening on screen. Regardless of game genre, getting distracted is one of the worst things that can happen when gaming. What’s worse is that if you spend too long sitting with bad posture – and gamers are notorious for not taking recommended breaks – you may well end up with chronic musculoskeletal conditions that will make life-in general (even) more painful than it needs to be.
So instead, consider a high-quality office-designated ergonomic chair. These are designed to promote good posture, support your body and ensure that you’re comfortable when sitting down. With a quality ergonomic office chair, your body won’t suffer from being in the same, sedentary position for extended periods, so you won’t be distracted from your game and, when you get up many hours later and walk away, they can help make sure you won’t suffer from aches and pains.
2. Mesh or cushion
When you know you’re going to be sitting down for a long time, a comfy seat with a plush cushion can seem attractive. But, is it? If you’re sat down for hours at the time, various emissions are naturally going to exit one’s person, and while volumes may be tiny, over time, chairs’ cushions will increasingly reveal themselves to be unwelcomingly absorbent… especially if more than one person is using the chair. This is a particularly important consideration in hot and humid countries like Australia where sweat management is a daily part of life for many months of the year.
This is why mesh is increasingly being adopted as the office (and gaming) chair upholstery of choice. Covering’s like DuraWeave mesh are durable, easy to clean, don’t sag over time, don’t absorb any nastiness and allow the body to breathe. Ultimately, mesh can make a chair much more comfortable over time.
3. Longevity and total cost of ownership
When manufacturers are selling form over function, durability is rarely a consideration. This is often by design, as cheap products usually don’t last long, so manufacturers will have the opportunity to sell you another model a few years down the line.
Conversely, while high-quality ergonomic office chairs can cost more, they should also include a much longer warranty – typically 8 to 10 years – meaning that you won’t need to buy another chair throughout that time. Viewing any prospective chair purchase on a ‘cost per year’ basis should mean the total cost of ownership plummets, and make investing in a decent chair a much cheaper option in the long run – and that’s not even considering the health benefits of an ergonomic chair.
4. Tailoring the perfect fit
A well-made ergonomic chair will feature multiple customisation options to enable you to sit in a position that’s comfortable (or tactical) regardless of your body size or shape. Settings shouldn’t just include the ability to go up and down, recline or move the arm rests a bit – they should offer an extendible seat to ensure your legs point straight down regardless of height, lumbar support that can be adjusted to fit snugly in the curve of your back, multi directional arm rests which can be pointed in various directions, plus multi-axis neck support to protect your upper spine when resting your head.
5. Better out-of-the-box quality
Chairs of all kinds regularly need some form of assembly. Some cheaper model don’t fit together well, which can have consequences for both your comfort and physical health. The instructions included with cheap chairs are often also confusing and/or frustrating.
However, a high-quality office-chair will come with excellent instructions, set-up videos, various guides and fit together in a planned, sturdy and stable manner. It will also use components that won’t loosen, wobble or bend.
Need a great ergonomic chair? Consider the ErgoTune Supreme V3
There are two well-known adages which speak to posture. The first is that you spend one-third of your life in bed, so you should buy a good mattress. The second is that if you take care of your feet by buying good shoes, your whole body will thank you for it. However, in today’s world, many of us spend even more time sitting down than either walking or sleeping. What’s more, in the new post-Covid normal where many people are working from home for at least some of the week, we can be using the same chair for work, rest and play.
So, it’s never been more important to choose a high-quality desk chair. To that end, Singapore-based NorthDay has developed the ErgoTune Supreme V3 mesh chair – the third iteration of its ergonomic posture chair, which has been designed in conjunction with a community made up of ErgoTune owners. Constructed with the highest-quality components, the Supreme V3 will keep you comfortable and supported throughout the day, whether you’re working or gaming. It offers fully adjustable ergonomics, both lumbar and neck support, incredibly adaptable armrests and a highly customisable seat – plus a reasonable price tag and a massive 8-year warranty.
The Supreme V3 also makes a great Christmas gift idea for the demanding gamer in your life – and right now, it's AU$150 off if you purchase before December 31, meaning you'll pay just AU$599.
- Keen to find out more? Head to the NorthDay website to discover everything you need to know about the ErgoTune Supreme V3 – and nab AU$150 off in the special Xmas promotion!
