This cheap gaming chair has become my ultimate WFH accessory
CNN
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A few years back, while getting ready to build my first gaming PC, I figured I should pick up a decent chair for it. Knowing that I already wanted to spend a lot on computer parts and peripherals, I chose the cheapest gaming chair I could find on Amazon, which had decent reviews. Blink until 2021, and that chair still holds up surprisingly well – and has become an integral part of my home office after more than a year in a row with telework.
Homall Gaming Chair ($ 88.89, originally $ 149.99; amazon.com) looks rather modest at first glance. It has a solid, race car-inspired design that is typical of any wheelchair – a look you may find attractive or uncomfortable depending on your taste. After seeing its low price and many positive reviews, I decided on the rather understated black and white model (there are also more daring colors like neon green and purple if that’s your thing), and I have not looked back.
Now that I have owned this chair for more than two years, I have found that it is an excellent beginner-level gaming seat that also happens to function as a good work-from-home chair. Here’s why the Homall gaming chair may be worth a seat in your home office – even if you spend more time on spreadsheets than Call of Duty.
An affordable chair perfect for gaming and working from home.
Grab this WFH, which is essential for less right now, at Amazon. It is currently set at $ 88.89 from the original price of $ 149.99.
Homall’s chair kept me comfortable early on when I sat down to stream on Twitch or play Halo for a few hours, but it really became an invaluable tool at the beginning of the pandemic. While countless friends and colleagues swayed to buy new chairs and complained of back pain from working at their kitchen tables, I was comfortable typing away in my comically large marshmallow of a seat. I received many compliments and comments about my chair over video calls, to which I simply replied, “Thank you, it was cheap on Amazon!” and sent over a link.
The high level of comfort is provided by high-density molding foam that is under the outer shell of synthetic leather. This combination has kept me free of soreness and tenderness for years now. The chair’s large headrest keeps my neck comfortable, while its large bottom cushion does the same for my lower back by providing plenty of lumbar support.
Its 360-degree seat rotation and rolling wheels still feel smooth and responsive, giving very little friction as I whiz around my work area to jump between different devices during the day. Homall’s chair is also easy to lean back, with a handle that lets you go from 90 degrees to sit upright to 180 degrees to relax while playing or watching movies.
And while the gaming chair’s aesthetic is not for everyone, I like that my black-and-white model has a somewhat subtle look that still helps me stand out as our resident nerd during work calls.
I can safely say that Homall’s gaming chair has been great for me, but does it hold up against the box we used to determine the best office chairs? Comfort and support are the areas we weigh the most in our chair tests, and Homall’s chair wins by far in terms of lumbar, backrest and overall seat support. But the seat armrest support could be better. The Homall chair uses hard plastic armrests, which can sometimes be rough on my elbows during particularly long phone meetings or game sessions, and make me long for something more padded.
Adjustability is another significant factor we consider when reviewing a chair, and Homall’s chair has a lot to offer in terms of overall angle and height flexibility. Again, the armrests are the big culprits here as they cannot be adjusted. While their low height works for my 5-foot, 10-inch frame and allows the armrests to slide under my desk when I’m not working or playing, the lack of adjustability can be a problem for those with different heights and arm lengths – especially since the chair only available in one size.
Steelcase Series 1, our favorite office chair.
When it comes to the assembly process, the assembly of Homall’s chair was a relatively painless process that took less than an hour from what I remember (time and a global pandemic can distort your memory a bit). That’s roughly on par with our $ 145 budget choice Alera Elusion series, but still requires more work than our preferred overall chair at $ 415 Steelcase series 1, which is delivered pre-assembled.
Having not tested these two seats, I can not definitively say whether Homall’s chair is a viable alternative to them. If you are put off by the bulky aesthetic of the highchair or work in an environment that requires you to look as professional as possible (I’m lucky to have a job that pleases me of my nerdiness), our office choice is probably best for you.
But I can say that the Homall gaming chair is at least worth having on your radar while expanding your home office, as you get a comfortable and flexible chair for work and play for just over $ 100. Considering that both office and gaming chairs can easily go for more than $ 1,000, it is essential that you can get something so reliable for so cheap.
In terms of how does Homall fare compared to other gaming chairs? Well, you get what you pay for. Around the time I bought Homall, I was also testing $ 399 Alienware S5000 in my old office. The benefits you get for the higher price were immediately apparent – the S5000’s denser foam and microfiber padded cushions created a softer, more well-padded chair, and the armrests were easy to adjust both horizontally and vertically. I would not mind one day replacing my Homall with something at the S5000’s quality level, but I feel like my current chair still gives me the support I need right now.
After living with Homall Gaming chair for more than two years I can not imagine going back to work or playing from home without it. For a seat that costs a little over $ 100, it has only been very little worn after prolonged use, and more importantly, it has kept me away from the chiropractor for a year plus writing and editing from my bedroom.
Of course, you’ll be sacrificing some at this lower price – Homall’s armrests feel a bit rough and can not be adjusted, and the materials are not as soft or comfortable as those you find on more expensive chairs.
Although its design is pretty standard for a wheelchair, you do not get the slimmer aesthetic of a more premium seat like $ 359 Secretlab Omega or $ 389 Vertagear Racing S-Line, both of which were recommended to us by experts. If you want a more subdued chair that looks like it actually belongs in an office, you’re better off with the Steelcase Series 1 or Alera Elusion Series.
But at this price, the Homall Gaming Chair is worth considering if you’re looking for your first gaming chair – or if you’re ready to stop working from the rigid kitchen chair that almost certainly kills your back. Seriously, it’s time.
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