Since the quarantine began, I spend at least eight hours a day in front of my computer and often follow that up by clocking out and simply moving to another room for a night spent on a streaming binge or a marathon gaming session. Until the last few days, I assumed that my generic office chair and prefab furniture from discount department stores were fine. Although I'd end the day with my back and upper legs feeling sore, I figured this cheap seating got the job done, and that was good enough.
After a few days with the Attack on Titan edition of Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 chair, which Secretlab sent to us for review, I finally understand the importance of investing in some proper seating. Secretlab's extremely comfortable and customizable gaming chair has made it so that I can spend hours working or gaming each day without feeling like my body is going to fall apart. With this gaming chair, the only pains in the ass I have to worry about now are Halo Infinite griefers.
Secretlab allows customers to customize their chairs to suit their style and needs. Chairs can be selected in three sizes to fit your height and weight and can be further tailored with various seating materials, colors and patterns. The Attack on Titan chair is themed after Hajime Isayama's bleak anime and manga series, but Secretlab also offers a design inspired by Capcom's Monster Hunter series, as well as chairs themed after several other popular pop-culture properties, including DC superheroes, Harry Potter, League of Legends and Game of Thrones. Whether you're looking for something understated and refined or want a chair that's bright and eye-catching, chances are you'll be able to find a Secretlab chair that matches your style.
The theming is deeply integrated into the design of Secretlab's chair, as the company went beyond simply slapping the Attack on Titan logo onto an existing product. The seat's backrest cleverly incorporates the design of the Survey Corps' iconic uniforms: a white base is flanked on both sides by a soft khaki-colored suede that recalls the military force's jackets, while dark brown leather bands recreate the look of the many harnesses that secure the heroes' 3D maneuvering gear. The rear of the backrest is colored with a deep forest green that recreates the look of the brigade's trademark capes. Both sides feature the "Wings of Freedom" insignia that symbolizes the Survey Corps' ultimate goal of liberating humanity from the threat of the titans. At first, the design looked a little busy, but it grew on me. It's a very aesthetically pleasing way of homaging the series' main characters in a subtle and thoughtful way.
Easily the best aspect of these chairs, though, is that they're easy to assemble. I've put together my fair share of IKEA furniture in my time, and I think Secretlab actually outperformed the Swedish furniture giant with its simple installation and easy-to-understand, clearly labeled instructions. While I did experience a few moments of trouble getting the backrest perfectly aligned with the seat, it was a mostly painless process, and I was able to get the chair fully assembled in the span of a single half-hour lunch break.
Of course, the most important aspect of any piece of furniture isn't its aesthetics or build process but how comfortable it is in day-to-day use. I can happily report that the Titan Evo 2022 exceeds all expectations in this category as well. Whether I was working at my computer or parked across from my TV with a gamepad in hand or an arcade fight stick in my lap, the chair remained comfortable for extended periods of time. I found myself having to readjust my posture and positioning way less when compared to a generic computer chair, and I was able to end each day with substantially less back and posterior soreness than usual. Secretlab's focus on customizability is at play here, too, as the positioning and intensity of the chair's lumbar support can also be easily calibrated with a set of knobs conveniently located on the sides of the backrest, and the seat's armrests can also be adjusted to match your preferred height.
The chair's wide, Titan-sized armrests were a surprise highlight of the product for me. Like the rest of the seat, they are covered with a soft leather padding that provides the right mix of comfort and support, but what made them stand out to me was how broad they are compared to the foamy noodles that usually make up a computer chair's armrests. While I initially thought they might get in the way, they ended up being the perfect spot to rest my elbows while I was typing, and during gaming sessions, I found that they were large enough that I could comfortably rest my phone or a spare controller on them.
Secretlab's chairs undeniably have a premium look and feel, but that leads me to my one caveat about recommending this chair: the equally premium price. The Titan Evo 2022 line starts at $549, and those premium armrests I mentioned will set you back an additional $79. It's certainly not an impulse purchase, and speaking as someone whose entire apartment is furnished with Target shelves and thrift store finds, I'll admit I initially balked at the price tag myself.
However, after sitting in the chair, I realized that saving my back was worth the cost. From the luxurious materials to the hassle-free build, it's clear that Secretlab put a lot of time and effort into developing the best chair they could. If you're like me and regularly spend hours in front of a screen, whether it's during a long workday or a weekend getaway to Hyrule or Eorzea, then a properly designed and well-put-together chair like the Titan Evo 2022 is a must-have. It's not cheap, but it's a more than worthwhile investment.
The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Attack on Titan edition is now available for order through Secretlab's website. CBR was provided this product by the manufacturer for review.
