Gaming Comfort: Gaming chairs are often one of the most overlooked pieces of furniture in a gaming setup. While luxury "thrones" can be left to customers with truly deep pockets, most gamers should at least consider investing in a somewhat expensive chair to ease the discomfort that comes with long gaming sessions.
Corsair recently launched the TC80 Gaming Chair, a new armchair designed to provide a durable and comfortable seating option for PC-focused gaming setups. The Fremont-based corporation highlights how its new chair has undergone more than 30 durability and safety tests, suggesting that it should accommodate gamers with a wide range of body types.
The TC80 Gaming Chair meets the BIFMA X5.1 and EN 1335 standards for office chairs, Corsair said. The chair underwent a series of demanding durability, stability, and weight-load tests, with Corsair particularly proud of how its new product survived the onslaught.
These tests included dropping a 136kg load onto the center of the seat, applying a 1,001N load to the backrest for 60 seconds, and placing 13 heavy discs against the backrest. Furthermore, the chair survived 100,000 cycles of a 57kg weight falling onto the seat, 60,000 cycles of 400N being applied to each armrest, and 120,000 swivel-test cycles with 122kg placed on the seat at both its maximum and minimum height.
The TC80 Gaming Chair provides a "generously" wide and flat seat with plush padding, breathable fabric upholstery, and 100mm of adjustable seat height. There is even a detachable neck pillow for people who like to alternate between office work sessions and more relaxing activities. The chair's stability comes from a steel five-star base, 50mm casters, and a Class 4 steel gas lift that should last for years.
Talking about comfort, Corsair's new chair offers a recline range of 90° to 115°. Users can adjust and lock the chair at their preferred angle, so there is no need to settle for a fixed position straight out of the box.
Corsair is already selling the TC80 Gaming Chair through its own store and other major retailers. The chair costs $200 in the US, while customers in Europe and the UK can get it for €180 and £170, respectively. The company's official announcement provides a full list of regional launch prices.
Corsair also highlights the TC80 as an entry-level product in its growing lineup of gaming chairs. The company already offers more expensive models, such as the TC100 Relaxed and the premium TC500 Luxe.
The TC500 comes with a €550 price tag in Europe, which is still a relatively affordable purchase compared with some truly expensive chairs, such as the obscenely priced Herman Miller x Logitech Embody. For now, I think I'll stick with my cheap Songmics gaming chair.