Whether a first-time gamer or an expert, your health is worth thinking about as you take on various things in life. Ideally. Gaming is among the many things that keep you sitting for long hours, and if you are not careful, your sitting postures can affect the condition of your health particularly your spinal column.
When it comes to gaming chairs, ergonomics is the most critical factor to watch out for, because it allows your body to embrace different sitting positions, without compromising on support and comfort.
Recline function
Gaming can get pretty intensive, requiring constant movements and changes in sitting positions, sometimes, even standing. For this reason, you need a gaming seat that can adjust appropriately to cover your different positions, which makes the recline function very important.
Usually, the upright position is at 90 degrees, which is standard for all chairs, but the best recline function is up to 180 degrees. Such is a chair you can take a nap on during your breaks before the next game.
However, as you consider the recline capabilities, check out the backrest’s tilt mechanism, which is how you can be guaranteed of a smooth recline, preferably with a lock function or knob to keep you in position without falling apart.
Elevation adjustment
If you are serious about ergonomics, then you know that the ability to fine-tune your chair for height is essential. Elevation adjustment is a standard feature among most gaming chairs, with some having high height capabilities than others. The important thing is to ensure that the chair remains stable even for lofty heights.
If the chair does not adjust for height too far up, then it helps that it has a high back that supports most of your skeletal framework. Additionally, be on the lookout for height-adjustable armrests that will further ease your gaming experience, proportional to your desk level.
Seat rails
Many gamers overlook the essence of seat rails in the ergonomics factors of gaming chairs. The shape of the seat plays a considerable role in the amount of comfort you experience. For example, does its shape cut off the blood circulation from your legs after a while of sitting? A chair like N seat pro 300 has the best seat rail specs to keep your legs and rear fully considered through long hours of gaming.
Further, be keen to look into the flexibility of the seat pan in such a way it accommodates for your different sitting positions and postures. A good gaming chair should have a seat pan that moves back and forth in harmony with the recline of the backrest as you move your body, without letting your rear squeeze too tight or be unsettled.
Cushions and padding
Nothing quite screams comfort like proper padding and high-quality cushions. Different brands employ distinct material to pad the gaming chairs, the difference being in the quantity, quality, and type of the material. The common elements are memory foam, cold cured foam, velour foam, just to name a few.
An ergonomic gaming chair should have adequate padding all around, with keenness on the main pressure points of the body, that is the lumbar region, headrest, shoulder, and wrists. Look for additional features, for example thickly padded armrests, extra pillows for the headrest and lumbar region, among others. Some seats even come with contoured wings that are thickly padded for shoulder support.
As to the quality of the padding, ensure you get a seat with foam that does not have too much give when you sit on because that could imply that the cushioning will wear off quicker.
Extra features
Much as ergonomics is about comfort, the more features you can enjoy from a chair, the more pleasurable and comfortable your experience is. You may need a chair that has a retractable footrest, sometimes padded, which will let you stretch out your legs to reinforce blood circulation.
The kind of armrests you should be considering can be padded, and better, adjustable, say, 2D, 3D or 4D adjustability. Some can even pivot back and forth, and others detachable to be fit your preferences.
Exterior cover of the seat
The cover of the chair is not just to suit your aesthetic needs, but to complete the ergonomics of the chair. It needs to be lenient on your skin as you rub your body against it during gaming. You also need the kind of material that does not trap heat and sweat that builds up as you play. The most common breathable material is mesh, usually on the backrest.
Other than that, the material should complement the kind of padding used. For example, if a chair has thick padding but the fabric keeps sliding you off, then it will not be comfortable. Again, mesh fabric is preferable for the reason that it contours to your body spreading out your weight evenly, to reduce pressure on your rear, hips, and spine.
Choosing ergonomics over other factors like aesthetics is a wise idea, one that every gamer needs to consider, even youth players, in a bit to stay healthy a long time.