Introduction
Blacklyte is one of the most popular gaming chair brands in the pro scene right now, and the Kraken line is their most popular one. At the start of the year, our reviewer took a good look at the regular version, but now we’re also evaluating the Pro version. After reading our full Blacklyte Kraken Pro review, you’ll know whether or not this is the right fit for you.
At A Glance
Blacklyte Kraken Pro
Used by 29 players ()
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The Blacklyte Kraken Pro offers a substantial upgrade over the regular version, if you ask me.
Pros
- Adjustable lumbar support works nicely
- Soft, comfy padding is great for relaxing
- Great casters that won’t damage flooring
Cons
- There’s a foamy noise when moving in the chair
- The PU leather smudges easily
- Assembly isn’t the easiest
- Tons of branding, so the chair doesn’t look as sleek as it could
Specs
| Adjustable Seat Height | Yes |
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| Adjustable Seat Depth | No |
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| Adjustable Armrests | Yes |
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| Adjustable Backrest | Yes |
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| Lumbar Support | Built-in and adjustable |
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| Material | Artificial Leather |
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| Max Weight | 150kg |
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Assembly
I’ve assembled quite a few chairs over the past couple of years, so I thought I’d have no issues putting together the Kraken Pro. Sadly, that wasn’t fully true. The assembly process is clear and easy to follow, but when it was time to install the backrest, things got finicky.
There is a guiding rail for the backrest to slide into the bottom assembly, but I had to press down on the backrest pretty hard in order to get the screws to line up. Since I was alone, I ended up pressing the seat against the wall while I was wrestling with the backrest in order to get it aligned properly. This isn’t necessarily a knock against the chair itself (chair companies pretty much always recommend assembling furniture with a partner anyway) but the whole building process was quite a bit more difficult than I remember it being with other Blacklyte chairs.
Aside from the backrest wrestling, I had no issues with the assembly. The instructions diagrams are large and easy to follow. You also get a lot of spare parts, and all the tools that you need can be found in the box, so you don’t need to break out your toolbox.
The packaging itself isn’t exactly top-tier. Nothing was damaged, so there seem to be no issues with the protection that the packaging offers, but it’s not the very nicely presented experience that you get with some other premium chairs. I will say that the ‘layout’ of the packaging has improved, though. Compared to the regular Kraken, I found no loose parts or anything like that. Everything was nicely secured, too.
Adjustability and Features
A good chair should be adjustable so that you can find the right fit and shape for your particular body. The Kraken Pro offers lots of adjustments:
- Seat height
- Armrests (height, forward/backward, left/right, tilt)
- Backrest angle
- Chair tilt (with a tilt-lock)
- Lumbar support
- Detachable memory foam neck pillow
What’s notable here is that the lumbar support can now be adjusted. That’s something that wasn’t the case with the non-Pro version that I reviewed. I see this as a really good change, since the lumbar support on the original chair was extremely pronounced.
First Impressions and Materials
For my review, I got the regular black version, but you can get the Blacklyte Kraken Pro in a variety of colors. This black version looks decent, but it still has a bit of ‘gamer edge’ to it with the use of carbon fiber-looking materials and such.
The materials feel decent. To me, the faux leather upholstery feels pretty good to the touch and it seems like it’s supple enough to last for a good while. The stitching is done nicely, and other materials on the chair feel like they’re good quality.
I will say that I don’t like the branding, though. Or rather, the amount of it. There’s a logo on each shoulder, a logo on the neck area, and a huge logo on the backrest. I know that it’s subjective, but I am personally fond of subtler chairs.
Comfort and Adjustability
Foam and Seat Base
The foam and seat base both feel pretty much the same as they do on the regular version to me. This means that the Kraken Pro offers a rather soft seating experience, at least when compared to other popular gaming chairs.
I quite like the experience that this chair offers. I know that firmer foams can be better for posture, but the couch-like sensation that you’re getting with the Kraken Pro feels nice and relaxing, and sometimes that’s all you want out of a gaming chair.
The seat is wide and comfy, with rounded edges that don’t cut off blood flow, even after hours of relaxing.
All in all, this is quite simply a very comfortable chair. Gamers who are looking for a softer, ‘cozier’ seating experience will be happy with this one. I myself gravitate towards firmer or more posture-improving chairs since I work from home and thus spend hours behind my desk each day (and I have terrible posture, so I need a chair to correct me a bit), but if I only gamed for a couple of hours each day, this would be a very alluring pick. Give it a a bit of recline, and you can game or lounge for hours.
Lumbar Support
Contrary to what we see on the regular Kraken, the Pro version’s lumbar support can be adjusted. The system behind it is quite ingenious, if you ask me.
On the seat of the chair, there’s a ‘valve’ that you can open. Once you’ve done that, air can go in or out of the lumbar support, meaning that you can just sit down against the chair until you’ve found a good position. Once you have, simply close the valve again and the lumbar support will stay in place.
For me, this is a great solution, as it instantly gives you an optimal lumbar support position. You don’t need to fiddle around endlessly until you’ve found something that works: simply lean back, let the lumbar support adjust to your body, and then lock it. I’m not saying that this will fit perfectly for everybody (there’s not a single chair that works for every body type and size) but the Kraken Pro is definitely a lot more approachable to use due to its adjustable lumbar support than the non-Pro version with its fixed support.
In case you don’t want a ton of support, you can always make the support section disappear almost entirely. And if you love a good amount of volume in your back, you’re covered, too, as the support can extend very far.
Neck Pillow
The Blacklyte Kraken Pro’s memory foam neck pillow attaches via magnets. I find this to be superior to a strap system, since those straps always start sagging after a certain period of time. The pillow attaches easily and stays in place pretty much perfectly once you’ve put it where you want it to be.
With all of that said, it should be noted that this is a chunky pillow. If you like minimal neck support, it could quickly feel as if you’re being pushed forward by the pillow.
The pillow itself feels amazing, however. To me, it offers just the right amount of support, and the soft velour padding feels great when you’re reclining and relaxing. Again: it’s perhaps not the best type of cushion for people who really want to focus on their posture, but if you’re mostly looking for comfort then this will deliver.
Everyday Usage
Upholstery and Breathability
The Blacklyte Kraken Pro mostly uses PU leather. The only sections that aren’t covered in this material are the lumbar support cushion and the neck pillow, as they use velour. The velour feels smooth and soft, and not at all grainy.
The chosen leather also looks and feels good to me. Breathability is okay and it feels pleasant to the touch. As I already mentioned, it’s also pretty supple, so you get a comfy seating experience here.
I do also have to say that the PU leather seems to smudge quite easily. It’s not a big problem in the winter, but if you’re a bit sweaty and you’re using the chair in a warmer room, you might need to wipe it off from time to time. I know that this is the case for pretty much all (PU) leather products, but it does seem a bit more pronounced on this one. That’s more of an aesthetics thing rather than a comfort thing, but it can be good to know.
Build Quality
As a whole, the Kraken Pro looks and feels like a higher quality Kraken. There’s not as much plastic to be found, and things like the armrests feel notably better. The chair feels good, and there are no parts where I’d say that they made any huge compromises in order to keep the price down. All in all, the quality of the chair matches its price point.
Something I should note is that there’s a bit of a ‘foamy noise’ when moving in certain positions. It sounds a bit like someone’s rubbing two leather pads against each other. It’s not always present, and it seems to get less pronounced over time, but it is something that bothered me a bit. Especially for the first couple of days, when the sound was most noticeable.
Ease of Use
The Kraken Pro is easy to use and the controls feel responsive. The armrests are a noticeable upgrade from the non-Pro model as well, as they feel and look more premium. They’re also sturdy and don’t shoot out of position when you don’t want them to, so these are great.
The casters are also fantastic. They’re like the wheels on inline skates, and they roll extremely smoothly. As an added bonus, these wheels won’t damage any hardwood or other sensitive floors, so these types of caster wheels are perfect in my opinion.
Conclusion
The Blacklyte Kraken Pro offers a substantial upgrade over the regular version. The fact that you can adjust the lumbar support on this chair (through a very neat system) is the biggest win, but the better casters and improved build quality also take it up a notch.
In terms of how this chair positions itself against other popular options, I’d say that this is a good pick for people who like couch-style comfort. I don’t think this is the best option for people who are conscious about their posture, as its softer padding and more lounge-focused design don’t do a ton to actively correct bad posture, but if you find other popular gaming chairs to be too firm, this could be a good choice.
As most other products, it’s not perfect. The building process, for example, feels more difficult than it should be. There’s also a bit of noise coming from the chair when making certain moves. The looks could be streamlined a bit, too. But if you can live with all of that, then this is a good option if you’re looking for a new desk chair.
This product was received for free from the manufacturer and given to our reviewer to test and review. Brands and manufacturers have no editorial control over our reviews. For more information, check out our review FAQ.
Former semi-pro gamer turned writer, product reviewer, and community manager.
