Introduction
A gaming chair is, essentially, an office chair that’s designed to keep gamers, pros, and casual gamers comfortable. Most people associate them with tall backrests, pronounced side wings, and racing-inspired designs, but not every gaming chair is created equal. If you follow esports, you’ll probably have noticed Secretlab chairs at tournaments such as LoL Worlds, VALORANT Champions, the TI, and in streamers’ homes. But why is this chair everywhere instead of other chairs? In this article, we’ll dive into why that is.
What chairs do pro players actually use?
The Secretlab TITAN Evo is used by many players, streamers, and some of the biggest tournaments. Secretlab works with teams and players such as Paper Rex, T1, and TenZ (to name a few) and is widely represented in players’ off-stage setups as well, making it one of the most ubiquitous chairs in the pro scene.
Of course, sponsorships influence what equipment appears in esports (that’s the case with all sports with an audience) so a usage figure won’t tell you why every player has a particular chair. But it does give a reason for a closer look. What are the things that make Secretlab, and particularly the TITAN Evo, so special that it has managed to be one of the most-used gaming chairs across multiple games for many years now?
Science-backed ergonomic design
Secretlab develops its chairs with input from its Ergonomics Advisory Board, and the TITAN Evo is certified by United States Ergonomics to provide measurable ergonomic benefits to the user by improving comfort and fit and minimizing risk factors that may cause injuries.
All of this means that the TITAN Evo isn’t just a quick attempt to cash in on the racing-style chair hype. It’s not your typical bucket seat design like so many others, but you need to take a closer look to understand this. The TITAN Evo is a chair developed with input from professionals and leading experts. Every detail has been tweaked and refined multiple times, resulting in a chair that’s purpose-built for the rigors of professional gaming and anyone who spends a long time sitting.
A familiar look with some important differences
But while many gaming chairs look similar at first glance, they don’t all do as good of a job of supporting you. Photos and streaming footage don’t tell you how a chair supports your body, how much room there is to move around in the seat, and how the mechanical parts hold up over time.
Wider side wings and a pebble seat base
The TITAN Evo’s wider side wings and pebble-shaped seat base allow for more room to move around than a narrow, deeply curved bucket seat like you see on many other gaming chairs.
The TITAN Evo also has gently sloping sides and flared edges on its seat base, which allows you to reposition without being ‘boxed in’ by the seat sides or curves and even sit cross-legged.
All of this is part of a larger concept: the perfect posture doesn’t exist. Instead people naturally want to shift their weight and position over the course of a day. This helps redistribute your weight and avoid the buildup of pressure peaks, which is what causes discomfort and strain over long hours. The TITAN Evo was explicitly designed around these posture shifts.
The restrictive bucket seat on most gaming chairs, on the other hand, can work against these natural shifts. If the sides do not allow your body to move, or the curvature of the bucket seat ends up forcing your body into the same position, it can contribute to discomfort.
Patent-pending cold-cure foam
Secretlab uses a patent-pending cold-cure foam in the TITAN Evo. This has a high-density, medium-firm formulation, which is meant to provide support over long sessions.
This firmer foam is more resistant to sagging than lower-quality foams, meaning that the chair will always support you properly, even when you’re in the midst of a marathon session.
The reason why super soft foams (which are often associated with increased comfort) aren’t good is because they compress too easily and bottom out. This means that a chair can develop unwanted pressure points by putting your body too close to hard elements like the chair’s frame. Furthermore, sinking too deep into a chair can make it more difficult to adjust your position and cause you to adopt an unnatural posture.
Lumbar support you can tailor to your back
Secretlab’s 4-way L-ADAPT lumbar support system lets you move the support up and down as well as in and out. Being able to precisely position the lumbar support and adjust its depth is a major boon for a chair, as every body is different.
One player might have a completely different lower back curvature compared to another so adjustable lumbar support helps you find the perfect lumbar position for your unique body.
Upholstery designed to last
Secretlab-developed synthetic leathers such as the NEO Hybrid Leatherette and NanoGen Hybrid Leatherette are up to 14 times more durable than regular PU leather, according to the company.
Your chair’s upholstery has to withstand a ton of friction from your skin and clothes, plus the occasional corrosive effect of sweat. So Secretlab made sure its leatherettes have been put through the entire gauntlet of abrasion and humidity chamber testing. This prevents your chair from peeling after just months of usage.
Aside from the leatherette options, users can also go for Softweave Plus, which is a fabric made to offer extra breathability while still being extremely durable.
The best gaming chair for long hours
When looking at Secretlab’s current lineup, the TITAN Evo is the obvious starting point for gamers and people who spend a lot of time at their desk. Its adjustable lumbar support section, combined with the medium-firm foam and ergonomic seat base make it a worthy contender for marathon users. The most important thing is, of course, to get a chair that fits you. There are three sizes to choose from, so make sure to get a version that fits your height and weight.
The Secretlab ATLAS is also a good alternative if you want to go for a more understated, less gaming-style chair. It offers adjustable seat depth and a synchronous tilt mechanism, which moves the seat and the backrest together when you lean. This is a more productivity-focused option, and in terms of looks and design, it’s a bit more like a regular desk chair that you might find in high-end offices rather than a gaming chair. It’s also a bit more compact and lighter.
In essence: the TITAN Evo is the chair to consider if you want a chair that supports the full range of postures, while the ATLAS is a great option to consider if you want a a task chair designed for more upright sitting and all-day focus.
Why you should invest in a good gaming chair
If you spend a lot of time at your desk, a good, fitting chair is absolutely worth the investment. Gamers often spend a lot on their PC setup and peripherals, but you only get one body. And, unlike peripherals, you can’t simply buy a new back if you’ve damaged yours.
A well-made and properly designed ergonomic chair such as the TITAN Evo can offer the same thing that an office chair offers: support over many hours, with adjustment options that help you stay comfortable at all times.
The idea that gaming chairs are automatically less ergonomic than office chairs is simply wrong. Sure, there are a lot of subpar gaming-style chairs, but the same is true for normal office chairs. In the end, it all depends on the chair itself.
When getting a chair, you should look at the support, the adjustment features, and, most importantly, how it will fit your body and back. Whether that ends up being a gaming chair or a traditional office chair doesn’t really matter.
