Do you know a keen gamer? Someone who’s always complaining about their uncomfortable chair? Maybe you’re worried about their posture as they slouch on the sofa through another bout of Call Of Duty? Or they always complain about backpain after gaming?
Being the kind-hearted soul you are, you want to buy them a gaming chair to make their birthday or Christmas really special… but you’re not a gamer yourself and you haven’t got a clue where to start.
Fear not TheGameChair are here to help! We’re completely independent. Yes, we get a commission if you buy something on our recommendation but we’re completely neutral on brand, budget or style — we want to help you find the perfect gift!
Strap in. Here it goes…
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Key Things to Consider When Buying a Gaming Chair as a Gift
As more and more people spend long hours sitting in front of their computers on gaming consoles, more and more of them are buying game chairs.
Your intended recipient has probably already seen them. Maybe their friends already have one or their favourite streamer.
You want to get one for them — you could ask them flat out which one to get but you’d really like if it was a surprise, right?
If you’re thinking of buying a gaming chair as a gift for someone else, there are a few key things you need to consider.
We’ll walk you through some of the most important factors to consider when buying a gaming chair. We’ll also provide some tips on how to choose the perfect chair for your perfect (and grateful!) recipient.
1. Ergonomics
The most important factor to consider when buying a gaming chair is ergonomics. The chair should provide good support for the back, neck, and shoulders. It should also be adjustable, so that the recipient can find a comfortable position to play in.
Things you may want to think about:
Which kinds of games do they play?
How do they usually prefer to sit?
The answers to these questions should help you decide if your chosen chair needs added features like adjustable arm rests; or a foot rest or foot stool option.
2. Materials
The materials used to make a gaming chair are also important. The chair should be made of durable materials that can withstand long hours of use.
It should also be comfortable, so that the recipient doesn’t get hot or sweaty while they’re using it. Leather (or synthetic ‘leather-look’) chairs have that “Oooh, shiny!” visual impact but if your favorite gamer gets a bit of a sweat on when they play, slipping around or chafing against a leather or ‘pleather’ chair isn’t the most comfortable.
Things you may want to think about:
How long do they game for? Short bursts of fun between chores? Or long all-nighter sessions with their friends? If it’s the latter you may want to check out: Best Computer Chairs for Long Hours of Sitting. It’s worth giving some thought to how to keep your chosen chair clean too: How to Clean a Gaming Chair Properly.
3. Design
The design of the gaming chair is also important. The chair should be stylish and look good in the recipient’s gaming setup.
It should also be comfortable, so that the recipient can relax and enjoy their gaming experience.
Things you may want to think about:
Do you know their favorite gamer or streamer? Who is it that they’re constantly talking about or that they follow/watch most on YouTube?
You might find: What Kit Do Influencers Use? helpful
4. Price
Gaming chairs can range in price from a few hundred dollars to well over a thousand dollars. It’s important to set a budget before you start shopping, so that you don’t overspend.
Yes, I’m sure they’d like the $3000 chair the most… but if you over stetch and then can’t afford the internet or electricity bill… they won’t be gaming much anyway — even if they are super comfortable… in the dark!
Things you may want to think about:
What’s your upper budget? It can be worth paying a little more for something that will last longer.
5. Brand
There are a number of different brands of gaming chairs on the market. Some of the most popular brands include DXRacer, Secretlab and Vertagear.
It’s important to do some research and choose a brand that has a good reputation — there are lots of copycat and rip-off brands out there that can look like the real deal (often at bargain prices too!) but offer pretty shoddy and inferior products… that’s if your purchase ever shows up at all.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Gaming Chair
1. Consider the recipient’s needs
The first step is to consider the recipient’s needs. How much time do they spend gaming? What kind of games do they play? What are their comfort preferences?
2. The recipient’s height and weight
This will help you to choose a chair that is the right size for the recipient. You’ll also need to consider the weight capacity of the chair.
If your birthday boy or girl (or Christmas elf!) is on the more… sturdy side, this may help: Best Gaming Chairs for Big Guys.
Height is important too. Some chairs are more adjustable than others so if the person you’re planning to buy for is shorter (or taller) than average, that’s something you’ll need to factor in to your buying decision.
3. Read reviews
Before you buy a gaming chair, it’s a good idea to read reviews from other users. This will give you an idea of the pros and cons of different chairs.
Yes, obviously we mean on sites like ours (check out: Are Gaming Chairs Worth It?) but from whichever provider you end up shopping with, they’ll have customer reviews too. They’re not always fully glowing and — even when they are — they’ll often give you clues about the pros and cons of the various products.
4. Try before you buy
If possible, try out a gaming chair before you buy it. This will help you to make sure that it’s the right fit for the recipient.
This can be especially helpful as you’ll know if you’re taller/shorter/heavier/lighter than your recipient. If you’re very different in size and build it may be helpful to take a similarly sized friend of family member along with you to ‘model’ for you in the chairs you’re looking at.
Remember you don’t have to buy from the retailer you’re using to try the chairs out with. ‘Show-rooming‘ is where people shopping around for a product use a physical bricks and mortar store to try things out… before then buying the same product from another retailer at a lower price (often online).
Conclusion
Buying a gaming chair as a gift can be a great way to show someone how much you care (or even just tolerate their gaming hobby!).
By considering the recipient’s needs and following the tips we’ve outlined above hopefully you feel confident enough to choose the perfect chair for them.
Here are some additional tips for buying a gaming chair as a gift:
- If you’re not sure what kind of chair the recipient would like, you can always get them a gift certificate to a gaming chair store — or even from the supplier you’ve narrowed it down to. It’s the thought that counts!
- If you’re buying a chair online, make sure to read their returns policy carefully. This way, if the recipient doesn’t like the chair, you can easily return it.
- Don’t forget to wrap the chair nicely! A thoughtful gift presentation will make the gift even more special. Yes, wrapping a chair is hard! But remember most chairs arrive requiring assembly.You could choose to assemble it for them (in which case you may want to buy a big bow and hide it in another room to wheel in at the appropriate time!) but for some gamers putting the chair together is part of the fun!
I hope this post helps you to choose the perfect gaming chair for your much-loved gamer!
