Happy to see they didn't just eviscerate the chair and write it off as a gaming chair from the get-go. I bought one a few months ago and have really liked it so far. I was also coming from a very basic Ikea chair )not even an "ergonomic" one) and mostly was interested in the adjustability and I do like the bucket design as I'm a car guy. It's quite a bit stiffer material than I was expecting, but I like it more the more I use it. I've been working from home for over a year now, so that was one reason I finally decided to pull the trigger on a "real" chair. For the price I'm pretty happy. I got the softweave fabric because I have cats, but even with the minor upcharge it's still quite a bit cheaper than many "ergonomic" office chairs and seems to have more adjustability than similarly priced office chairs, at least anything I would be able to find locally.
@@JGAbstract Yep, got a 2022 in the standard size and black softweave. Still really liking it and it had held up really well. One cat likes to try to claw at it some, but so far very little noticeable effect. I try to keep him from really going at it though.
@@Map71Vette its defintely better then alot of gaming chairs. those standard back support pillows are pretty bad for most people. But yea ergo chairs get expensive fast. you can find used aeron chairs in the 300-400 range or new stuff like Autonomous ErgoChair for about that price new. But chairs like the embody or aeron new get pretty expensive fast. CHairs are kinda like bike saddles/seats what ever you want to call them its not a one size fits all kinda world so if you find a chair that works for you and doesn't cause you any issues Don't be bothered by others opinions on it
@@thelazyduck9370 Yeah, generally speaking I think it's pretty nice. I think leather style material would be a little more "sticky" and less comfortable in any temperature. Also just think it provides a little better motion, like when readjusting I'm not dragging across a smooth surface like with leather or vinyl.
I had the same issue with the Leather rubbing on the plastic noises. They sent me a barrier kit and the noise was completely gone. It took me 2 mins to install them. They are basically 2 pieces on the sides that go in between and are not visible. I have the XL version. I highly recommend the chair.
Anyone about to buy one please keep in mind this chair is as hard as a rock. I found it way too hard and not comfortable. Its solid and quality product, but I prefer a soft cozy chair.
I got the softweave titan XL and it makes no noise whatsoever anywhere on the chair. It's completely silent, comfortable, and solid. If I had to nitpick, I'd say the only thing I don't care for is the small amount of play in the arm rests, but that's just a byproduct of the ability to adjust them to that extent.
@Relaxxed There's also the fact that they allegedly fixed the noise on newer models. Those who have older models can contact their support and have a kit sent to fix it.
I received the Titan EVO 2022 black leatherette chair four days ago. I was impressed with the way it was packaged in the box , foam padding throughout which helps eliminate any issues one might encounter during transport. Instructions to assemble the chair were very clear, and the parts for the chair justified the $580 price tag. My only peeve is the formaldehyde like smell on the chair padding . I’m going on day 3 and I’m still “airing” out the chair. As for the lumbar support, it’s ok, it could be better. Please note: the chair padding is firm and I recommend getting a “purple” seat cushion. Good luck .
Being brutally honest, the seat is so hard and uncomfortable. I have never had lower back pain issues and started getting them bad within hours of sitting on this chair.
I bought this chair a couple of weeks ago and you are right. People say it breaks in but I don't get it. At least the cushion doesn't bottom out though.
You are right. The chair is absolutely agonising and i started to feel pain only after 30 minutes sitting in it. My wooden kitchen chairs are more comfortable than this. Luckily i was able to sell mine at a smaller loss than the return shipping would have cost. And why did i buy a gaming chair instead of an office chair? Mainly because of the tilt mechanism, thinking i would be able to chill and watch movies and play some casual games laying down... maybe even take a nap? But when the chair is as comfortable as a pile of rocks, that didn't happen. Hopefully the new owner enjoys it more.. or at all. Few things i learned is to NEVER again buy a chair without testing it first, and for the love of god DO NOT buy a racing style seat (unless you own a race car).
i can see on the video that your example is sitting crooked too lol. this is extremely common. mine does the same thing. the cylinder isn't straight internally. depending where it is in the 360 degree rotation, it either leans left or right. plus the backrest is literally built crooked. PSA don't bother with secretlab. they're all hype.
You are right about the seat plastics to the leather(fake leather) making noise. I am just about to recieve two custom made things from them that slot into the plastics on the side to reduce the rubbing noise. I also used in the meantime a small to size cut piece of paper and slid it in the side of the plastic, makes the noise disappear.
I have sat on a softweave version daily for over 3 years. I haven't had any issues with backpain, stiffness or anything. I don't use the backpillow, I dont find it comfortable for me. But overall, the chair is very comfortable! It's the best chair I have had. I'm very happy with it, and I recommend it.
100% Overrated.. Titan Evo 2022's are horribly uncomfortable. About as hard as cement. Buyer beware. They wont even pay shipping back if you want to return.
I recently got a used Herman Miller Mira 1 from a government auction, but I have to say I can confidently say it was one of the worst chairs I've ever used. The Back support was 10/10 the actual seat part was brutally uncomfortable. Ended up going with one of these even though I saw some reviews about it having noise issues on some older ones and I have to say I much prefer this over the Herman Miller but again mine was a used Mira 1 so maybe that had something to do with it and the new herman millers could be better.
I have the Mirra 2 with butterfly back and find the back rest extremely uncomfortable. I find it triggers pain in my lower and mid back after only a short time sitting in it. Wish I'd sent it back whilst I had two weeks to return it 😑
you won't. ive had mine for a month, and im actually waiting on customer service to reply to me so i can send it back. it doesn't get any more comfortable after a "couple weeks" like secretlab will tell you. plus, the quality issues are already showing themselves. overrated.
This is the most uncomfortable so called chair you will ever own. If you want to sit on the bleachers at a high school game while Brett hart has you in the sharp shooter then you will love it. The shipping is half the price of the chair. I have a brand new one right here. I can't sit in it for more then 5 mins without my butt falling asleep and my neck and back feeling like I got whip lash. The chair is too flat and the back is way too long and doesn't fit your body your body has to shape the chair. You have been warned. I have tried to sell it no one's wants it, I tried to give it a way no one wants it. 400.00 paper weight that is pretending to be a chair.
For people watching this 2 years later. I ordered one of these chairs in October of this year (2023) and can confirm the seat & back are hard as a park bench. Much firmer than my 2008 DXRacer King, which also has a firm (and similarly designed) seat. I also have a Steelcase Leap v2 I use at work, which is well known to have a firm seat, and it’s nowhere close to this. So when people say the chair is firm, they are definitely not exaggerating. It’s a shame, because everything else about it was great. I opted to return it. If they dialed back the firmness, I’d probably have kept it. I also ordered their lumbar pillow, which feels nice due to it being memory foam, but it slides you further forward in the seat pan due to how thick it is, making it less ergonomic. Also, regarding returns, they do not cover their initial shipping either. So this “experiment” with the chair cost ultimately cost around $106 for shipping both ways.
The fact that you can recline and lounge in a gaming chair is without a doubt one of its biggest advantages over an office chair that office chair elitists always seem to discount completely. I challenge any of them to show me an equally good office chair that doubles as a lounging chair replacement in the same budget range - it simply doesn't exist.
You can recline and lounge in almost any office chair. The recline on gaming chairs being special is the most overhyped thing about them. Unless you love having numb legs from having them hang over a non ergonomic seat edge, the recline is worthless. I’d take the IKEA Markus as a better option for recline and lounging over any gaming racing gaming chair I’ve used and it’s only $249.
Yes, yes it is overrated. I found a great ergonomic chair on Amazon for $200 and couldn't be happier. It's a fucking chair. How much greater could a $1000 chair be compared to a $200 chair?
I purchased this chair and it arrived yesterday. I purchased this chair to replace my dx racer. End result, the titan 2022 evo regular size chair is now my wife's chair. Why? The chair is not as comfortable as my dx racer. The seat cushion is harder than the dx racer. But what surprised me more, the back cushion is much harder than the dx racer. It's almost like putting your back against a wall, especially if you use the lumbar support. They say it's always greener but after trying this titan, I appreciate my dx racer chair.
I am having a similar issue as you. I have bought 3 chairs (Random Fabric Amazon Chair, Razr Iskur XL, Automous Ergo Chair) and I cannot find one to replace my 2016 DxRacer. I didnt realize how much I loved my DxRacer until buying 3 different chairs and either giving them away or returning them because they dont hold up. Honestly, I am about ready to just buy a 2nd DXRacer chair at this point. Potentially the KING, except it seems like they havent improved them at all, they all look exactly as they did 6-7 years ago.
Been looking at the fabric version of these to get, have been looking at ergonomic chairs for a while, have a good one at work, but I came to realize that when I'm on my home computer, I really just want to lounge back, and not be ergonomic, that's when I'm most comfortable.
I just ordered this. I am not a fan of "Gaming Chairs" but i heard A LOT of good things about this chair. I am coming from a small Hyken Chair and was looking for something bigger. update: I have had this chair for over a month and it's the best chair I've owned. No pains and aches after long sitting sessions. It also helps to stretch every hour if you plan on sitting a while.
You heard a lot of good things about the chair because they make people post on social media to give them 2 more years on their warranty, or to get a free bottle of cleaner. The posts can be on social media, or a video. Which is why there's so many videos as well.
@@uch1gatana I'm considering it, but a lot of stuff about Secret Lab seems shady and puts me off. Like the warranty thing I mentioned above, and the fact if you want to return it within the 49 days, you need to repackage it exactly as it was shipped, and if there's any damage, even to the packaging, they deduct whatever they want from your refund. Their Trustpilot reviews are half great, and half really poor. So I have a hunch it'll be a nightmare dealing with them if it ends up breaking.
@@twiggsherman3641 They make you post it on social media but they don't tell you what to say about it. If there's a lot of good things being said it's because people like it. It's not some conspiracy.
@@VMYeahVN they need to approve the post before they give you the extended warranty. You don't think that seems like added incentive for someone to be positive out of fear they won't get the extended warranty?
For people watching this 2 years later. I ordered one of these chairs in October of this year (2023) and can confirm the seat & back are hard as a park bench. Much firmer than my 2008 DXRacer King, which also has a firm seat. I also have a Steelcase Leap v2 I use at work, which is well known to have a firm seat. So when people say the chair is firm, they are definitely not exaggerating. It’s a shame, because everything else about it was great. I opted to return it. If they dialed back the firmness, I’d probably have kept it. I also ordered their lumbar pillow, which feels nice due to it being memory foam, but it slides you further forward in the seat pan due to how thick it is, making it less ergonomic. Also, regarding returns, they do not cover their initial shipping either. So this “experiment” with the chair cost ultimately cost around $106 for shipping both ways.
My Titan evo 2022 was bult like a tank, but ...Either the firmness varies from chair to chair or people are just flat out delusional or lying when they say it's comfortable. it's like stiiting on a park bench with the seat made of bricks. Glad I ditched it. I'm pretty built and padded but I could feel every bump of the horrendous nobbly lumbar mechanism. Now I'm happy with a truly comfortable AKracing Masters Pro.
How is your AKracing holding up? I purchased one yesterday after i tested it in a store. I checked dozens of reviews about the Secretlab, but it seems that onky all sponsoered reviews say it's very comfortable, this made me decide to pick the AKracing. How it's a good buy.
@@rex436 it's wonderful. Only had it 6 months but looks and works brand new, my old AK racing lasted 7 years and only one armrest started to split on one edge. So I know it will last. I'm finally comfy. I do have my own lumbar cushion I use instead of the provided one as I have a somewhat herniated disc and sciatica that flares up. I don't use the headrest pillow, I do have a 65 inch OLED so I have a foot rest under my desk for reclining and watching films when doing that I don't use any lumbar pillow and have soft cushion for my head. Gaming I have the seat tilted back one notch and the backrest reclined just a little, That's how I rock it.
Thanks so much for your friendly answer! I am really looking forward to get this chair, normally it will be delivered tomorrow. The price was much lower than the titan chair. Foot rest is a good idea and also the own lumbar cushion, ofcourse i will first try the original, maybe i do like it. :) @@BLACKSYNTH
I personally hate the way office chairs "rock". It's not even like rocking really. It's one of the reasons I really prefer the rocking motion on chairs like this.
Those synchro recline will break your spine in 1month, I tested 4 biggest chair stores, about 100 chairs and none up to 400€ price was worth the price. Ended up with titan 2020 and will never sell it. Best chair I tryed in 33 years. I have back problems, but with this chair I can spend 8 hours working without any problems.
@@btodtv yes, I have 230€ new office chair at work and it hurts to sit, it does not lock reclined, it does not have adjustable armrests. Before I had 300€ chair from ikea with that synchro, ended up 2 months at home with awful back and neck pain, after whitch I had 2 year panic dissorder. So yes 99% of office chairs in my local stores up to 400€ are garbage worth 50€. Not only that, for 400€ (I paid for my titan) I have 5 year warranty for whole chair including peal protection. I use it already for almost 2 years. Everything works, no noise, just a little crack on armrest side, because I always lean on that armrest and I am 103kg, was 120kg. BTW secret lab sent me new armrest free of charge without any issues.
How on earth do you sit in this thing for 8 hours without it hurting you? I can't sit in the Titan for more than 5 minutes without some kind of extra cushion on there without the backrest torturing me.
@@FlashlightTech You have no issue at all with a super firm backrest with seemingly zero cushioning? I keep wondering if something is wrong with the lumbar support device in the chair making it feel worse than it should.
100% for $990 (which is what they want for a 2020 Titan in full leather) I can get a V2 ErgoHuman in full leather (fully adjustable everywhere) for $300 less! AND way more comfy.
Just got mine and the seat is NOT comfortable. His review of the soft side is accurate but the immediate center seat cushion is pretty damn hard and not comfortable at all. Hoping it will break in a little better with some time but overall disappointed and will probably return
@@MJR91 Its not good for your posture & it never gets softer or so called "broke in". Its a line of bs that secretlab uses to trick people. Secretlab would have free returns if they had a good comfortable product. They don't...
Shipping isn't straight forward, it's not easy to remove the piston once installed. Even if you try the hammer method to pop it out, getting it out of the socket is near impossible. THINK FIVE TIMES BEFORE ORDERING IT. You can't even fit it into a hatchback. Shipping it back costs $150
The Secretlab Evo 2022 is the worst chair purchase I ever made. Backrest is extremely stiff and it's not made to be sit in for longer sessions. It fixes your body to one position and it will get uncomfortable if your sessions are too long. I have sold my Secretlab chair and have now ordered a Herman Miller Embody.
@@KuyaArbee I couldn't manage the embody price tag even though I've had my eye on it for about a year :( I opted for the Herman Miller Vantage though and am very pleased. Much less back pain and it is more comfortable so I'll take it!
@@tiltedtoken1450 oh you’re referring to the vantum? I had to pass on that…. Especially seeing how many rated the seat comfort as mediocre and the poor quality do parts and construction… it looked like a slightly nicer staples hyken chair…. Ya the embody might be pricey… but it’s totally worth it and doesn’t feel like any other chair in the world. I got the logitech g embody and it’s been amazing
Recently got a ash color leatherette evo XL, and it's amazing, quite a big chair but sits very comfortable and gives you many options in terms of changing your comfortability, so i definitely recommend it, although its quite costly (578 euro for me), but definitely worth the price knowing it will go for years to come!
Like every other video/review I've seen, this failed to mention or show the angle of the backrest. Every high-back chair I've seen requires you to recline when using it; if you sit up straight, your back will be several inches away from the backrest. This chair claims to have an 85-165 degree angle for the backrest, which would indicate you can sit up straight, but every picture I've seen shows an angle much greater than 85 degrees, so I'm not so sure about that claim.
Definitely not overrated, everything about the chair is premium, even down to the packaging and assembly. I got the soft weave material, and it feels and smells great. Huge improvement over my old cheap gaming chair, and loving the lumbar support.
I think it is important to qualify the premium quality sentiment. It is premium quality when compared to most bucket seat gaming chairs. It is definitely the best of that group by a good margin. When compared to high end gaming chairs, like the Gaming Embody or Halo Fern, it would be considered a mid-grade chair. -Ryan
How hard is it? I just ordered one as I need the lumber support, but I am worried after seeing people say its as hard as a rock. Could a memory foam pad be added or would that ruin the lumber support?
@@joandsarah77 It is indeed as hard as a rock on the old Titan chair at least. I've had to put various cushions on it. I never found a suitable memory foam pad. I don't know why they seem to be so hard to find. All it needs to be is a rectangle...
In this video, it was said that the BTOD 100MC was selling for around $200. Now, 6 months later, that same chair is $300. That's a 50% increase in price in only 6 months. Inflation has been high, but it was probably closer to 4.7. 7.9% at most. I've noticed this trend with a lot of chairs, from many different manufacturers. What is going on? Is it because more people are working from home?
Just the freight cost alone on containers shipping across the ocean is up 3x. You can fit about 300 chairs in one container. The difference could be as much as $30-40 a chair just in freight alone. We’ve seen 3 price increase from some manufacturers in the last year -GK
I like how Secretlab designs a better gaming chair by removing the side bolstering...just imagine if they got rid of the ridiculous racing seat aesthetic, completely. Perhaps even designed a proper "regular" chair.
@@TheLoneMartian I had Neue for 9 months and sold it. Most uncomfortabel chair I ever had... I would not recommend it to anyone under 6' and the recline is back only, it makes your lumbar support move up your spine. Very bad design... also you can find GT-Chair Marrit on Aliexpress/Alibaba for half the price. Neue chair is just rebranded GT Chair and they still tell you they produce it...
The DXRacer King series chair I’ve owned since 2008 lacked side bolsters, so it’s not even a new thing. And that chair doesn’t use rock-hard foam, so it’s actually comfortable to sit on, unlike the Titan.
Most people skip the conclusion so we have been cutting them down. Hard to believe considering it’s 16 min long. Haha. I think Ryan did a good job saying that if you want a racing style gaming chair, this is probably the best option out there. If you want an ergonomic chair, this is probably not it. Hopefully that helps :) -GK
The refund policy is a scam, and you are a shill for not calling them out on it. The shipping cost is about half the price of the chair, they run you in circles when attempting to get a refund.
We are shills because you didn’t read their return policy? We have been very consistent about Secret Lab and only recommending it for people that want a racer, otherwise we recommend getting an ergonomic chair. We’ve talked about their polices and chair quality extensively in dozens of videos. You chose to do research after buying the chair and are now blaming us. -Ryan
thanks for the review, a friend told me to check this out before buying a haworth fern and i think i'd rather just spend the little extra and get something with twice the warranty.
At 5'5 I had the 2020 version for over a year, using it with and without the lumbar pillow and had lower back pain I couldn't alleviate . Swapped to my old chair and it went away instantly. Tried the Evo 2022 and after 2-3 weeks I was hurting again. It just felt too big for me, despite messing with the lumbar settings, no matter where I put it it just wasn't comfortable. I just managed to get a Haworth Fern for an amazing deal and it's night and day. This fits me perfectly, personally. Thank goodness Secret Labs has a decent return policy. Very nice chair, just not for everyone.
This is a very good review! I bought this chair, I like it a lot but it's true I don't have much experience with chairs. However for a gamer who just wants a good gaming chair this is a great choice.
Without watchin the vide I will answer you title: Yes it is overrated. Some of my notes after having one (without too much explanation): 1) assembly is not that easy (not hard either) 2) one of the worst armrests on the market - literally everything about them - they are so flimsy... have so much play it them, it is madness 3) lumbar support is so hard, it actually hurts my back more; also it is too high; it should be called "high back" support, not "low back" support; probably that's why Secretlab are selling a separate low back support :) 4) seat is super hard 5) the chair is very heavy and doesn't roll around easy, so if you move a lot - sorryyyy :/ JOKE: the packaging is better engineered than the chair. :) Now I'll watch your video. :)
I got the Evo 2022 as a gift had no idea the cost or quality. I have to say overall it's very cheaply made even with the leather edition i have. The knobs and lumbar adjusters are very cheaply made, plastic flimsy for this price point. The magnetic arm rest are nice but mine have unfinished areas underneath. Most of the functions of the chair are very clunky simply raising the height or lowering the back is not a high end experience. I'm shocked at the price of this chair coming from a Herman Miller there simply is no comparison. This chair feels like a cheap $150 chair at best. The only thing i did like was the pillow and the idea of replacable magnetic parts.
Why the hell are they selling chairs with effectively a fake leather coated plank of wood as the backrest? All they need to do is build cushioning into the backrest and I'd consider it a good chair. This is based on me having the original Titan, not the Evo. It does look like the seat cushion is squishier now. Is the backrest any softer on the Evo? On the original I've found the lumbar support to be utterly useless. The backrest itself is rock hard. Hurts me in seconds let alone any longer period of sitting against it.
How long can we expect any Titan Evo chair cushion to last? My problems with chairs over the years is the cushion/foam wearing out after a year, any thoughts on this?
I've had mine since the original Titan was released. As of the last couple of years it does have wear and tear on the seat cushion but only enough to look bad, not actually effect it meaningfully. The seat cushion is firm and doesn't wear out. The problem is the backrest basically has no cushioning.
The range on the piston of this chair is so fucking shitty? It barely changes height at all and the minimum is way too tall for me. They seem to have assumed that gamers--who tend to be sedentary--are supermodels with long legs.
Recent reviews in the UK are not great thanks to their appalling customer service and delivery. As a victim of this really cant recommend them to anyone!
with their income they should pay for the return shipping cost without doubt, as they legit the most known gaming chairs i've seen, its kinda sad they show their greed
I got an Evo 2022 recently, the seat cushion is NOT soft. its feels like sitting on a piece of wood. they say it'll break in, but i'm curious who breaks first, me or the cushion.
The Soji that would be relatively the same price ($500 USD) has zero adjustability. That's not really a "comparison" For the same amount of adjustability you'd end up paying twice the cost.
@@Dracconus I ended up getting the Soji. I got adjustable lumbar, 4 way arm rests, adjustable seat and even seat tilt and it was still way cheaper than this.
@@brandonxchang Then there is no way in hell you bought it new from Haworth or several other reputable sellers. That is a 1200 dollar chair fully specced.
@@Dracconus bro what LOL I got it from Haworth’s website. I think you’re thinking of a different chair. It’s only $450, and then I got a discount during their fall sale so total including shipping was only like $419
Hold on, lemme TL;DW this entire review for everyone "This chair is really nice for the type of chair it is, but man, this $500 gaming chair just isn't as good for me personally as a $2,200 ergonomic chair or any of the other very expensive chairs that we personally sell in our online store, so keep that in mind."
Change the $2,200 to $500 in your comment and you are spot on. It’s a decent chair for what it is but there are better options for the same price from a lot of different sellers. -RB
when he specifically says in the price range and you assume he's talking about chairs that are more expensive maybe you should work on your comprehension skills
I received mine 10 days ago, softweave, and no squeaky issue for now. Lucky me maybe, as I saw other customers complaining, but maybe they finally fixed it
Mine is the pleather and it squeaks. Secret labs will have you send them a video of the issue and they said they would send me a fix kit. Brand new and squeaks... That is why I got a new chair, my Ikea chair finally started squeaking after 12 years... And this secret labs chair squeaks the moment you finish putting it together.
@@patrickkellaher9673 well, lucky me mine isn't squeaking (yet). And I was super afraid about that seeing some reviews like yours before. So I advise you to push Secretlab for getting a replacement one then, it seems not all their chairs have the issue
Overpriced Junk. Frame is flimsy breaks easily. My 130lb wife broke off the arm. After 3 weeks and 64 emails they refused to honor my legit warranty claim. Bad company don't buy.
I got Mine and it was not in the best condition. Even got replacement for the backrest and Multi-tilt Mechanism also wasnt sealed properly and was chipped. By far the worse company
I'm torn between this titan Evo gaming chair or the Haworth Soji office chair. I use keyboard mouse as well as lean back with a controller about 4- 6hr a day. Im 5'10" 200 lbs, any advice?
AVOID their PU leather (or any pleather for that matter) at all costs. It will not last more than 2-3 years until it starts to peel, regardless of how well you take care of it. And honestly for the price tag, yes it's a comfy chair with great features, but apart from its unique designs, it's not THAT much better than say a DX Racer or any other bucket gaming chair. Highly unnecessary unless perhaps if you're a growing streamer where aesthetic almost matters. Stick with a high quality office chair otherwise with real leather or mesh and it'll last ages under decent care.
I really dont want an office chair feel or look for my gaming. I want something col looking with most functions. Something that I can sit one leg up or slouch in! Very happy to see you did not went full on armageddon on this one. nice !
