Introduction
A chair is an essential part of your desk setup, especially if you’re going to be spending hours behind your desk. Gaming chairs (see our office chair vs gaming chair article) have been trending for quite some time now, and today we’re taking a look at a relatively new player on the scene. In our full Blacklyte Kraken review, you’ll find out whether or not this chair has what it takes to take on other gaming chairs in its mid-tier pricing bracket.
At A Glance
Blacklyte Kraken
The Blacklyte Kraken is a compelling entry into the mid-tier gaming chair market. It’s not perfect—some rough edges in build quality and presentation keep it from feeling truly premium—but there’s a lot to like here.
Pros
- Very comfy and wide seat base
- Easy to assemble solo
- Solid build quality for the core components
- Lots of adjustability options
Cons
- Fixed lumbar support will not work everyone due to how prominent it is
- Packaging could use some work
- Controls can be somewhat inconsistent
Specs
| Adjustable Seat Height | Yes |
|---|---|
| Adjustable Seat Depth | No |
| Adjustable Armrests | Yes |
| Adjustable Backrest | Yes |
| Lumbar Support | Built-in |
| Material | Artificial Leather |
| Max Weight | 150kg |
Assembly
Assembling the Blacklyte Kraken is very easy. The manual isn’t particularly beautiful or anything like that, but it is straightforward and rather easy to follow. There’s also an assembly video on Blacklyte’s website. It took me a good 20-25 minutes to unpack and assemble the chair by myself.
Something that I really appreciated while assembling the chair were the ‘guiding brackets’ for the backrest. I’ve put together many chairs at this point, and the section where you need to secure the backrest to the base of the chair has almost always given me trouble. These backrests are quite heavy, and aligning the screw holes properly without having the whole backrest move while you’re screwing can be quite a pain in the behind.
Blacklyte has completely taken away this issue by adding guiding brackets to the both sides of the backrest itself. Simply slide those guide brackets over the backrest attachment parts on the base, and you can start screwing without any issues. A simple yet brilliant idea that makes solo assembly a lot easier. You also get a lot of spare screws, which is something that I appreciate.
I should note that the unboxing experience could use some work, though. I fully understand that having premium packaging can drive up the price of a product. However, here the parts almost seemed like they were randomly placed into the box. The box is sturdy and the parts are decently well-protected, but they’re kind of loose in the box, and the packaging and presentation is definitely not quite on par with other chairs in this price range. Should you decide to order one, I suggest thoroughly checking your parts for any damage when you receive yours.
A funny, yet ultimately harmless confirmation of the fact that the packaging isn’t at the level it should be (yet) came in the form of two gloves that are included for safe assembly. It’s obviously very nice that these are there, but I got two left gloves in my box. Not quite so useful.
Adjustability and Features
Being able to adjust a chair to your body and posture is crucial for your comfort and long-term health. Luckily, the Kraken allows for plenty of adjustment. You can adjust the following aspects:
- Height
- Armrests (height, forward/backward, left/right, tilt)
- Backrest (recline up to 168°)
- Chair tilt (with tilt lock)
- Head cushion (detachable memory foam)
What’s notable here is that the (quite present) lumbar support section cannot be adjusted, nor taken out. I’ll talk more about the lumbar support further down in the review though.
First Impressions and Materials
As of writing, the Kraken is only available with a leatherette upholstery. There are several color options to consider, though, from a racecar-like red to a more subtle and classy blue. Personally, I’m quite happy with the black one that I received, as I like its subtle color scheme.
Something that is a little more on the nose is the branding. There’s a large logo on the backrest, another on the head pillow, and two more on the ‘name badges’ on both sides of the backrest. Branding-wise, it’s a smart move to have those badges. After all, when pro gamers or streamers are using the chair, you can tell what brand they’re sitting on from all angles. However, it would be nice for regular customers to also be able to choose a stealth or blackout version.
As far as the chosen materials go, the chair left a decent impression on me. The leatherette feels supple and nice to the touch, and the velvet-like materials they’ve used for the headrest and the lumbar section offer a touch of extra comfort. It’s not the most luxurious chair I’ve ever laid eyes on, but I would say that the overall quality matches the price.
Comfort and Adjustability
Foam and Seat Base
Whether you like a firm foam or not is down to personal preference. A desk chair shouldn’t be too soft, nor too hard, but there’s a wide range of acceptable softness levels in between those two extremes that come down to personal preference.
In comparison to other, similar chairs in this price bracket, I’d say that the Kraken’s memory foam seat base is on the softer side. If you like a cushier, more couch-like style of chair over firmer ones, then this should be right up your alley.
For me, the comfort is great. These days, I prefer mesh or softer chairs over firmer ones, so I am very satisfied with how the Kraken’s seat feels. Do note that a soft base can more easily lead to subpar posture, though. If you’re someone who is mainly buying a chair for health reasons or to improve your posture, I would perhaps suggest going towards a slightly firmer alternative.
The seat base is wide, with nicely rounded corners. This adds to the comfort aspect, and also means that you can sit cross-legged (or in any other ‘chill position’) for when it’s time to relax a bit. I am someone who adopts a very wide variety of postures over the course of a day, and I never felt uncomfortable using this chair. It’s definitely a very flexible chair in that way.
Lumbar Support
The lumbar support section on the Blacklyte Kraken is fixed. It moves a little bit with your body as you adjust your position, but there’s no way to change its height or how far it does or doesn’t protrude. Given the fact that it’s rather pronounced, it’s thus absolutely critical that this lumbar support suits your body and the way you like to sit.
For me, it fits very well. I love the way it supports my back, and it remains comfy even after spending hours in the chair. However, I also asked some of my friends to test it out, and some of them noted that they did not like the way that the chair felt due to the lumbar support.
The reason for this is the fact that the lumbar section is very large and prominent. If the concave section of your spine does not line up with the support, you’ll be forced to sit in an awkward position that’s also quite far forward. This drastically limits the amount of space you have on the chair, and it also pretty much eliminates any back support.
Knowing all of this, I would definitely encourage you to try out the chair before buying. If you cannot do that, I’d recommend unboxing it carefully so that you can still return it if necessary. Because of the lumbar section, I feel like this is very much a ‘you love it or you hate it’ type of chair for most people. That’s not a bad thing, but buyer beware.
Neck Pillow
The memory foam pillow attaches to the chair via magnets. There’s a pretty wide area that you can attach it to, and once it’s applied it tends to stay there.
Usually, I throw neck pillows away after a day or two, but I have kept this one on for almost the entire duration of my testing. It feels supportive, soft, and doesn’t force me to sit in an awkward position. Whether or not these types of pillows feel good to use depend on your body and height, but for me this is a great one.
I also like the fact that it attaches via magnets. It looks cleaner than using straps, and it’s also more durable. No matter how good your elasticated strap is, it will start to stretch over time. That is simply not a concern with these magnetic head pillows, which is why I prefer them.
Everyday Usage
Upholstery and Breathability
As I mentioned, the Blacklyte Kraken uses a mix of PU leather (a synthetic leather alternative) and a more velvety material. While I’m generally not a fan of faux leather, I have to admit that the Kraken’s PU leather is nice. It feels soft to the touch and has enough give to it that I’m not overly concerned about long-term durability.
Breathability is, for a PU leather chair, quite okay. It obviously doesn’t hold a candle to mesh chairs or perforated chairs though. For this reason, it would be good to see Blacklyte offering a fabric option in the future.
The stitching on my unit mostly looks good, but there are some sections where I felt like they could’ve gone a little tighter.
All in all, the upholstery job is satisfactory. As long as you don’t mind PU leather materials, you’ll more than likely have no problem with this chair.
Build Quality
All major parts of the chair feel and look good. It’s definitely not the most ‘corporate-looking’ neutral gaming chair out there, but not every chair needs to look the same.
I don’t tend to go easy on my chairs. I frequently use the controls, lean back using the backrest, and I also tend to throw myself into chairs rather than gently lower myself. Despite this, the Blacklyte Kraken has held up well over the past weeks. There’s no noise coming from the chair when using it, and everything still works exactly as intended.
With that said: I do feel like Blacklyte cut some corners here and there. The plastic covers for the controls and backrest attachment, for example, look and feel quite cheap to me. The casters also don’t roll as smoothly as I’d like. The controls for the backrest and armrests also don’t always respond in a consistent manner.
All of this does somewhat lower the ‘premium factor’ of the chair. None of it really hindered my experience, but it did give me the feeling that, if they tightened up those things, the experience would feel a lot more high-end.
Ease of Use
With all controls being well within arm’s reach, the Blacklyte Kraken is easy to adjust on the fly.
The 4D arm rests feel quite soft and are a nice inclusion, but they can feel a bit loose in certain positions. Furthermore, their pivot adjustment can’t be locked. As such, I often accidentally moved them when I was trying to get up or reposition myself. Since all other armrest adjustments are locked with physical buttons, I’d love to see the pivot adjustment get the same treatment in the next iteration.
Aside from this, the Blacklyte Kraken is a chair that’s easy to use on a day-to-day basis, even if you’re someone who is changing positions multiple times a day.
Thanks to the wide base and deep reclining angle, it can also be used a ‘lounge chair’. You can put your feet under your bottom, you can lie down, you can sit slightly off-center, … Of course none of these are healthy posture options, but if you’re someone who also likes to chill in their chair, it’s good to know that you can definitely do that with the Blacklyte Kraken.
Conclusion
The Blacklyte Kraken is a compelling entry into the mid-tier gaming chair market. It’s not perfect—some rough edges in build quality and presentation keep it from feeling truly premium—but there’s a lot to like here.
Comfort is definitely one of the chair’s strong points. If you’re into softer chairs with wide seats that allow for a lot of flexibility in how you sit, the Kraken has you covered, provided that the lumbar support matches your body. This fixed lumbar support will be a dealbreaker for some, but if it fits your frame, you’re in for a treat.
What I like is that this chair moves away from the firm and rigid trend that we’ve been seeing with gaming chairs. Yes, a firmer base generally allows for better posture, but there are tons of people who want a softer chair. As such, it’s good to see a brand come out with a softer, more ‘hugging’ chair.
All in all though, the Blacklyte Kraken is not trying to reinvent the wheel, and it doesn’t need to. What you get is a well-rounded, comfort-focused gaming chair with good features and a few quirks. If you’re looking for a softer, comfy gaming chair and you’re okay with some branding flash and minor quality compromises, the Kraken should definitely be on your list.
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.
This is the kraken normal, not the pro?
Yes, I tested the non-pro Kraken!