HardwarePeripheralsChairsI hope gaming chair brands get over their mesh phase, because it’s making them needlessly expensiveWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwarePeripheralsChairsI hope gaming chair brands get over their mesh phase, because it’s making them needlessly expensiveWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Herman Miller)
Let’s face it, gaming chairs are already riding the line of being too expensive. An office chair designed for long-lasting comfort and ergonomics may have been touted as a luxury item before the global pandemic, but in 2024, I don’t think they should cost as much as they do.
Yes, thebest gaming chairsare comfortable. Yes, they’re loud and proud about their innovative lumbar and posture support. And yes, sometimes they do have out-there designs that muted office chairs could never dream of. Most of the biggest brands still charge upwards of $400 for what is now a pretty standard set of features, and you’ll never convince me there’s no price gouging happening there.
The varying prices of similar models from brand to brand always make me question how manufacturers actually decide on a price. Sometimes I picture Wolf of Wall Street-style parties where gaming chair higher-ups drink booze, play mini golf in an office, and laugh with one another about how much they could dare to charge schmucks like me for a little bit of lumbar support.
With that over-the-top image in mind, the last thing we needed was for all the biggest gaming chair brands to put less cushioning in, leave out the fancy materials, and start chargingmoremoney for them in the name of “cooling”. Yet, that’s exactly what happened with the current trend of mesh gaming chairs.
“Guys, I’m in my mesh era”
(Image credit: Future / Alistair Jones)
Where your typical, personality-filledpink gaming chairwill have a racing seat shape, leather, and cushioning, mesh options go for a more minimalist style. They have one or two layers of netted material, perforated all the way through, that’s wrapped around the edges of the seat frame so that a backrest acts almost like a hammock.
(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)
The big draw of these chairs is supposed to be their temperature control. With an almost transparent backrest, there’s apparently more “breathability”, meaning during the sweatiest gaming sessions you won’t overheat. Having tested a few of these chairs, I think that’s utter nonsense. I’ve sat in leather gaming chairs, upholstered ones, and mesh ones, and the temperature almost always feels the exact same. In fact, perforated leather is probably the one I find cools me down the most because it’s breathable while also having a cooler surface.
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Mesh chairs also tend to be weirdly heavy. Despite taking out the usual innards of a back cushion, their frames usually have more outlandish designs. This can make it harder to assemble them solo, again, leaving me to wonder why we should be charged more for them.
Pay more for less
(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)
Ok, so I may not be the biggest fan of mesh gaming chairs personally, but beyond my own tastes, what’s the big deal?
What I can’t wrap my head around is the over-the-top prices of these seats. No matter what your thoughts are on leather versus mesh, you can’t deny that since mesh has become more of a mainstay in the market, gaming chair brands have used it as an excuse to release new models that cost more.
Razerintroduced its Fujin line late last year, and although Razer’s Enki andIskur V2models are fairly pricey anyway, the mesh Fujin Pro will set you back $1,049. Asus has its Herman Miller rival, theAsus ROG Destrier Ergo Chair. It’s maybe one of the most “extra” bits of hardware I’ve ever tested, and it costs $899. Mavix, in fairness, uses a mix of leather and mesh, and even without the added cost of a heated, massaging backrest, theMavix M7is priced at $777. Autonomous has its Ergo chair model at $449, which isn’t as bad as the rest, but it’s still more expensive than some of today’s gaming consoles.
(Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)
Even Boulies, the makers of my favorite gaming chair, theBoulies Ninja Pro, now has its EP460, which uses a hybrid mesh material and comes in at $299. Having more options is never a bad thing, and I’m sure there’s loads of market data telling these brands there’s a demand for them. Still, I wish they weren’t as expensive as they are, because as someone who reviews these products, I fail to see why they cost the small fortune they do.
It’s not a phase mum, it’s a lifestyle
Introducing Refine and Scape - YouTubeWatch On
Introducing Refine and Scape - YouTube
Introducing Refine and Scape - YouTube
The Refine is going to be available in a few different colorways and materials, including a beautifully lush Alcantara black, a light fabric, and even a few mesh options. Shockingly, all of them are counted as one product and will cost the same $549 price (except the Alcantara model, which is bizarrely $899).
This chair isn’t exactly cheap either, but what I like is that regardless of the material you choose, you’ll get the same design and features. Unless there’s some ergonomic science I don’t know about Mesh or fabricisa cosmetic choice that should be available to all, not some luxurious alternative.
Today’s best gaming chair dealsHerman Miller Embody$1,769.99$1,684.99ViewSee all pricesHerman Miller X Logitech G Embody$1,995ViewSee all pricesSecretlab Titan Evo 2022$549ViewSee all pricesCorsair TC100 relaxed$249.99$179.99ViewSee all pricesNoblechairs Hero Gaming Chair$399.99ViewSee all pricesRazer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair$649$568.78ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best gaming chair dealsHerman Miller Embody$1,769.99$1,684.99ViewSee all pricesHerman Miller X Logitech G Embody$1,995ViewSee all pricesSecretlab Titan Evo 2022$549ViewSee all pricesCorsair TC100 relaxed$249.99$179.99ViewSee all pricesNoblechairs Hero Gaming Chair$399.99ViewSee all pricesRazer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair$649$568.78ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best gaming chair dealsHerman Miller Embody$1,769.99$1,684.99ViewSee all pricesHerman Miller X Logitech G Embody$1,995ViewSee all pricesSecretlab Titan Evo 2022$549ViewSee all pricesCorsair TC100 relaxed$249.99$179.99ViewSee all pricesNoblechairs Hero Gaming Chair$399.99ViewSee all pricesRazer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair$649$568.78ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best gaming chair deals
Herman Miller Embody$1,769.99$1,684.99ViewSee all pricesHerman Miller X Logitech G Embody$1,995ViewSee all pricesSecretlab Titan Evo 2022$549ViewSee all pricesCorsair TC100 relaxed$249.99$179.99ViewSee all pricesNoblechairs Hero Gaming Chair$399.99ViewSee all pricesRazer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair$649$568.78ViewSee all prices
Herman Miller Embody$1,769.99$1,684.99ViewSee all prices
Herman Miller Embody$1,769.99$1,684.99ViewSee all prices
Herman Miller Embody
Herman Miller Embody
$1,769.99$1,684.99View
$1,769.99$1,684.99
$1,684.99
See all prices
Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody$1,995ViewSee all prices
Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody$1,995ViewSee all prices
Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody
Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody
$1,995View
$1,995
$1,995
See all prices
Secretlab Titan Evo 2022$549ViewSee all prices
Secretlab Titan Evo 2022$549ViewSee all prices
Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
$549View
$549
$549
See all prices
Corsair TC100 relaxed$249.99$179.99ViewSee all prices
Corsair TC100 relaxed$249.99$179.99ViewSee all prices
Corsair TC100 relaxed
Corsair TC100 relaxed
$249.99$179.99View
$249.99$179.99
$179.99
See all prices
Noblechairs Hero Gaming Chair$399.99ViewSee all prices
Noblechairs Hero Gaming Chair$399.99ViewSee all prices
Noblechairs Hero Gaming Chair
Noblechairs Hero Gaming Chair
$399.99View
$399.99
$399.99
See all prices
Razer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair$649$568.78ViewSee all prices
Razer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair$649$568.78ViewSee all prices
Razer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair
Razer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair
$649$568.78View
$649$568.78
$568.78
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Looking for more gaming furniture? Check out thebest console gaming chairs, thebest gaming desks, and thebest standing desks.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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