Let me start this review by saying, first of all, I’m not the best at when it comes to what makes a gaming chair great. Sure, I know enough about chairs to tell the difference between good and bad, but if you had asked me the difference between some of the most popular chairs a week ago, I might have looked like a deer in a headlight. After all, I’m one of those people who sits in the worst possible way, and I don’t think any chair out there can fix me (or my back).
That said, I can safely say that the difference between Secretlab’s Titan EVO 2022 series and my previous chair is palpable, a mid-range kit from Luckracer (which I sell on footrests).
I’ll start by mentioning the real difference between the 2022 series and previous products in the company’s lineup. The Titan EVO 2022 collection combines the best components of Secretlab’s Titan and Omega chairs for the best of both worlds. There’s no doubt that when you take the chair out of the box, you think you have something of high quality, with the smell of the premium new hybrid leatherette material filling your nostrils.
The material may be high quality, durable, and easy to clean with some leather wipes in a pinch, but it’s not competitive for cats. Coincidentally, the chair arrived while I was sitting on the cat. Of course, he was just as curious about the big box in the hallway as I was about its contents. Sure enough, as soon as he had the box, he went to find the chair; he had no interest in curling up on it, but fiddling with the leatherette of the chair I had just covered.
I think it’s a cat problem, not a chair problem – but if your cat can quickly grab anything you have, it’s definitely worth considering. No one wants to buy a top chair for their furry friend to destroy it a week later.
As for the assembly process, the Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 series is also easier to assemble than other chairs I own, as the lack of screws is rather surprising. I was able to put everything together during my lunch break and still have plenty of time for lunch: SUCCESS! With the VALORANT Edition chair, your screws and bolts come in a VALORANT-themed crate, and your instructions adorn the back of a giant A2 VALORANT poster, a great one if you’re a Riot fan Bonus points for competitive shooters.
Also, the absence of bolts and screws is easily explained, many of which have been replaced with magnets. It only takes seconds to attach the armrests to the chair, and it’s much easier to replace them now, thanks to magnets. Granted, it can cost a fortune to actually order replacements, but at least you know you won’t have to mess around once they arrive.
This chair is also the perfect size for me, there are more sizes available. I bought a regular chair – even though I’m a relatively small 5’5″ – although I was initially concerned that I would have difficulty sitting cross-legged or like a gargoyle (don’t judge me), the chair Plenty of room for me to sit as I feel awkward. and more comfortable. Activated with 165° of caster, I can sit in any ungodly position without feeling bound by the plastic sheets. Although I do sometimes sit down and feel like I’m about to tip over – that’s perhaps the only downside to this chair.
My kneecap no longer hits the armrest, which, oddly enough, has to be one of my favorite things about the chair. The Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 series is definitely bigger than your average low budget chair, and your whole body feels more supported by sitting for hours at a time, whether for work or play.
Now, let’s talk about another thing I love about this chair; the stitching and embroidery. Sewn into the premium leatherette material is a mix of navy, black, red and silver stitching. This all fits with the chairman theme of Riot Gun Buddy, which is highly sought after in VALORANT. The predominantly dark blue chair has red accents everywhere, with VALORANT’s “Defy the Limits” etched in various languages on the back, at the top of the game logo, and the corresponding icons for each agent class in the game.
Not only does everything about the chair feel premium, the chair is designed to be unapologetically brave while still being small enough to not be distracting or in your face. Finally, we already know that I can sit in this chair as much as I want, but how comfortable is it? do I really support it? Yes.
For context, I’m 23 years old and my back is probably 20 years older; I twist and crack a lot, and my back hurts a lot. It’s definitely my own fault (see: sitting like a gargoyle), but the Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 series controls my posture to some extent. I don’t think my refusal to sit properly will ever be resolved, but the firmness of the 2022 series has certainly allowed me to sit straighter than ever.
The problem with the other chairs I’ve owned is that they don’t feel as strong or solid as this one, and they usually have their own unwelcome quirks: squeaky leather, wheels that don’t roll on the rug, or somewhere Shake things. The Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 series is unyielding, easy to handle, and doesn’t (currently) get warm and sweaty when sitting for long periods of time. Considering I’ve been using sub-par chairs before, it’s not a miracle that the firmness of the chair forced me to have a better posture than before, but I can say that now my back feels significantly better after a day at work compared to my chair. Different a few months ago.
All in all, the Secretlab Titan EVO 2022 series is a solid chair, although it’s not cat-proof and rather expensive. That said, the price of a chair is largely reflected in its quality. Everything about it feels premium. It’s smart, comfortable, easy to assemble, and while only the test of time will tell, the chair is also durable.
The final test was to see if a new chair, especially the VALORANT version, would make me perform better in Riot Games’ FPS games. Of course it doesn’t. In fact, my performance this time was much worse than before. After all, maybe sitting like a gargoyle is the key to winning.