Hi everyone! Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I’d like some advice.
I’ve been spending a lot of time at the computer lately and want to get a comfortable chair. I’ve heard that gaming chairs can be quite good, but I’m not sure what to look for.
Any tips or personal recommendations would be really appreciated!
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office depot or office max has the best chairs.
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I would stay away from from most “gaming” chairs. A lot of them are just more expensive because of that nomenclature. They’re not necessarily good quality and more likely to use fake leather that peels.
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Welcome to the L1T forums, @KateNyt!
A common recommendation is to look for a chair from a office furniture salvager / refurbisher. If you’re lucky, you can get some very good deals on high end brands such as Herman Miller, or Steelcase. You can end up getting a chair that has far better quality and ergonomics than similarly priced, new chairs.
[EDIT] I’d also second that you should probably avoid “gamer” chairs, as they’re sold for how they look (which is a product of marketing to their target audience), rather than how they function.
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As others have said, stay away from gamer racing chairs. And, be aware of weight restrictions for office chairs. Height is also a factor, but unless you’re 6ft 4in you’ll most likely be fine.
Monoprice sometimes has good deals on chairs, and don’t skimp on the headrest. Your neck will thank you. 
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The gaming chairs you see in the background of videos from LTT or GN are there because they got them for free. If you want an actually good chair, look for an office supply reseller near you. Someone that buys out office supplies when companies go under and resells them. Look for a Steelcase Leap or Leap v2 chair. They are well designed, comfortable, and have all the adjustments you need.
With cheaper chairs from Office Max or gaming type chairs, you’re looking at roughly 1 year of durability per $100 spent. With a Leap or Leap v2, you’re looking at more like 10+ years of durability for ~$400. Don’t try to buy a Leap V2 brand new. They’re like $3000. Get one used for almost 1/10th the price.
If the seat/back are showing signs of wear, you can buy a new seat. You can either get an OEM replacement seat/back for $400 each, or you can go third party and get both for around $300 total with fabric that is, supposedly, even more durable than OEM (I haven’t owned the replacement long enough to tell).
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I would go with an Aeron chair. I got mine well over 20 years ago cuz my butt was hurting and it is still going strong. There are plenty of clones, some maybe okay, no idea. I would go with the original and if the price new is too much there are companies that sell like new ones for a more reasonable price.
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I got a La Z Boy on sale for $150 at Staples and it has been a far better chair than the previous two “gaming” chair had had in the past. It sits at the perfect angle for long term computer sitting and gaming, it has much thicker padding, real leather, and half the price or better than the previous chairs.
I don’t know if you should buy a gaming chair or not, but consider buying a comfortable chair that gives neck support. This will protect your back and neck.
I will never again buy a chair without the ability to put my ass in it first.
Unfortunately that doesn’t tell me anything about the longevity. Been burned many times by the initially comfortable Office Depot chair. Tired of this, I went back to the internet and bought a “big and tall rated” office chair that looked like it shouldn’t have any comfort problems. I was wrong, the minimum setting on the lumbar support feels like a mild version that medieval torture device that presses a peg into your back until your spine shatters.
I’d be willing to pay for one of the expensive brands if they last, but I have no idea where I could go to try one first.
GN has a video specifically ranting about and roasting “gaming chairs”. In typical Steve fashion, he even started to do some investigation by contacting chinese OEM factories pretending to want to bring a chair to market.
Hi there.
Gaming chairs work well for long hours.Focus on adjustable lumbar support first.Check the seat height for your desk.Look for breathable mesh or quality leather.Test the recline if possible.Read recent reviews on Amazon.Herman Miller Aeron lasts forever but costs more.Secretlab Titan offers great value.Sit in one at a store before buying.
My current chair is still a Steelcase Gesture, but I recommend against buying them used.
Warranties do not transfer, and do not apply at all unless sold directly from an authorized retailer (with that 4 digit price tag you mentioned).
Steelcase did provide me schematics on how to disassemble my chair, but wouldn’t service it at all - not even for a fee - because I didn’t buy it through their approved channels.
I no longer think the cost-benefit assessment of used ergonomic chairs are justified. There are $150 chairs that are 80% as good and come with lifetime warranties through the retailer. Driving to the store and driving home with a new one same day for free beats the inflated hassle and expense of dealing with unofficial retailers that need to be shipped back to them at your expense to start the repair process.
Everybody’s situation and skills are going to be a bit different. A car mechanic is going to have a higher tolerance for a jank or temperamental car than someone who doesn’t even have a place to rotate their own tires. That said, my Leap v2 has been excellent, and the only cost has been the seats/back fabric when it started to wear through. But the seat literally comes off with a single push tab (you do need some sort of long bar to get to it) and the back is a couple screws. Youtube explains how to do all this. The wheels/base could be a bear, mostly because they are press fit and not designed to come apart, but at that point, why not buy a second chair and transfer the cushions over?
IDK who you’ve been hearing that from but if it’s a place that also happens to sell gaming chairs I’d recommend never buying there.
Gaming chairs are terrible.
Also take a look at this
and this
and this
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Thanks for all the advice and recommendations! 
From what you’ve said, it seems the comfort of gaming chairs is pretty overrated. I’ll look into other options, especially ones I can try out before buying.
The only reliable way to choose one is to actually…try it. Sit on it. Apart from that many “gaming” chairs aren’t what you’re looking for since they’re just bucket seats with wheels. You wouldn’t sit on a bucket seat for hours on end would you?
Other than that the only thing I can recommend is full back support: from lower back to the back of your head. If you’re spending anywhere from 6 to 12+ hours on your pc, having full back support will go a long way.