I switched to a standing desk in 2015. This popular trend aimed at reducing sitting time appeals to me. I bought a stool that I can use from time to time, but even so, my desk setup is designed for ergonomics, not relaxation. As a result, I never feel relaxed in front of the PC – when I want to sit down and enjoy a game, I move to a much more comfortable chair in front of the TV. So I basically lost touch with the world of PC gaming.
However, after beefing up my PC last year, I started thinking about making a change, which coincided with the opportunity to review a gaming chair, the Legend TX from Noblechairs. Now, this wasn’t exactly what I had imagined, but the timing was perfect, so I thought, why not give it a shot? It turned out to be the right choice, and switching to a quality chair has made a huge difference in the way I play games with my PC.
Before we discuss why it makes a difference, let’s talk about functionality. The chair comes in a large and heavy package in which all the parts are neatly arranged. Following the manual, I threw it together in about 20 minutes using the included tools. The setup process is relatively straightforward, and the instructions are clear and easy to read. (This is an area where well-known companies tend to do a better job than their off-brand counterparts, which often come with inaccurate or just confusing instructions.) PLEASE NOTE – there is a small bolt attached to the tilt mechanism that needs to be screwed in first Its removed you can use this function. You won’t be able to lean back without removing it first, so pay special attention to it.
When I’m done, I put the chair in front of my computer and sit down. As with any new desk chair, I immediately started experimenting with features and adjustments, of which there are many. You can adjust the height of the base, the angle of the backrest, and the tilt of the chair, including the option to lock it in place. The backrest includes lumbar adjustment, while the armrests are very flexible with a great range of motion, allowing you to dial in the perfect setting for your setup.
I imagine this is par for the course for gaming or high-end office chairs, but I’m pretty picky about each of these features, and I’m impressed with the granularity of adjustments on offer here. After adjusting the desk to the right height, I feel much more comfortable than before. Before switching to a standing desk, the less expensive office chairs I used to make me uncomfortable no matter how long I used them — one of the reasons I made the switch in the first place. I’m really surprised to find that the Legend TX hasn’t triggered any of these issues, which is a huge win and speaks to the depth of the ergonomic options here.
The chair I received for review purposes is covered in a soft-textured anthracite gray fabric, which feels great, but if you’re willing to up the cost, the chair is also available in faux leather (up to £460 for the faux leather model, compared to £420 for the Fabric TX).
After three months of use, the fabric models showed no visible signs of wear. Of course, you’d expect this, but I’ve had bad experiences in the past with cheap faux leather desk chairs that would start to fail after a short time. Best of all, the fabric is fairly breathable and comfortable, which may make this type of chair a better choice than faux leather for places where you might get hot and sweaty.
Then there is the design. So far, I’ve largely avoided self-described “gaming chairs,” mostly because of their often gimmicky design language and ridiculous color schemes. Thankfully, the Legend TX avoids this problem entirely with its clean, tasteful matte gray design that won’t feel out of place in the office. The contour of the headrest does give it a bit of a gaming vibe, I suppose, but the overall design is tasteful and clean.
It’s been three months since I first picked up this chair, and I can safely say I’m a fan. I still switch to stand mode throughout the day, just to avoid sitting too long, but having a good chair ready means I’ve spent more time playing PC games in front of a monitor in the past three months than I’ve spent in the past three years combined. In between, I finished Need for Speed Unbound, finally got into The Witcher 3, finished Halo Infinite a second time, and Titanfall 2, among others. I’ve been devouring PC games left and right.
So if you also spend a lot of time in front of your computer, it makes sense to choose a chair that you can sit in comfortably, even if you work from a standing desk. It doesn’t need to be this particular model – although it’s great – it just needs to have the necessary structure and adjustment options to ensure you’re sitting ergonomically.
Both office chairs and gaming chairs might fit the bill here, so consider both categories and try to find one that fits your frame and has enough adjustability backed by strong reviews. Based on our testing, we happen to have a few gaming chair recommendations, including options from companies like IKEA, Corsair, and Herman Miller.
For example, the Noblechairs Hero and Razer Iskur both have integrated and adjustable lumbar support, making them, along with the Legend TX, a good choice for those with bad backs, while the Corsair TC200 is a cheaper fabric alternative to the Legend TX with a simpler design. If you prefer the look of your office chair, the IKEA Markus and Herman Miller Embody are great options at both ends of the price spectrum—and generally, you get what you pay for when it comes to ergonomics.
As they say, spend your money on things that keep you off the ground – and I think that applies to chairs as it does to shoes, tires, and beds.
