PC Gaming Chair Roundup 2016

Noblechairs Epic

Manufacturer: Noblechairs
UK price (as reviewed): £319.99 (inc VAT)
US price (as reviewed): Currently unavailable

Designed in Germany, the Noblechairs range of products is produced on a fully automated process to minimise flaws. The materials used are inspired by those used in luxury sport cars – as you can tell by the price of this model, the Epic, Noblechairs is unashamedly going after the premium end of the market.


The number of bits you get in the box is a little overwhelming, but with the instruction manual and supplied tools it won't take you too long to assemble the Epic. The main tilt mechanism attaches to the bottom of the seat base with four screws and a series of washers. You then need to manually add the plastic covers to the two adjustment levers – it's a shame these aren't fixed to begin with.


The five wheels simply push into the main base, and the metal stand and its plastic tubular cover also slot directly in. The assembled seat base lowers onto the stand with no real force required to secure it.


The last step involves unscrewing the screws and washers that come attached to the backrest, slotting the backrest between the two metal arms that extend upwards from the seat base and securing it with the aforementioned screws and washers. Aligning everything is generally pretty easy, and once it's secured you just have to cover the metal arms with their plastic cap, which involves one Philips screw on each side.

Material quality is high here – the five-star base is all aluminium, while the main bulk of the chair has a very sturdy steel frame. The outer coating is, for the most part, faux leather, which is perforated to allow for breathing, while the sides have a faux velour leather trim with a suede feel for some added finesse. Overall it does look and feel really quite nice, and the materials are complemented by good quality stitching too.

The Epic is available in all black, or black with green, red, gold or blue highlights. There's also an SK Gaming edition for a little extra, or for considerably more you can by a real leather version, which is only produced in all black (£480) or black with white and red (£470).

The Epic strikes a pleasant balance between softness and rigidity – it isn't rock solid to sit on but it does lend you lots of support and is comfortable. Noblechairs uses cold foam, open-cell padding with 55 percent density, saying that this allows it to be breathable but also to retain its shape even after prolonged use. Cushions for your head/neck and back are provided, and they're easy to secure and adjust as necessary. The lower back one is very pleasant to use, complementing the natural curve of your back. The chair has 10cm of height adjustment, which should be enough for most, and supports up to 120kg.

We weren't as keen on the arm rests. The polyurethane has a hardened rubbery texture which, while not too uncomfortable, also isn't as pleasant as padded arm rests. It also doesn't feel as premium as the rest of the chair. Then again, the small grooves are welcome, and the rests are nice and wide, and the lack of padding will probably reduce sweat build up in longer sessions on warm days. The rests are also adjustable in four directions, so you're sure to find a position that works for you.


The recline handle is easy to reach and the mechanism itself is smooth. The tilt lever is likewise easy to reach, and flicks up and down to lock or unlock the rocking motion. There's a maximum 11° tilt and 135° recline – this isn't a chair that goes horizontal, but we're not sure why you'd need that anyway.


Overall the Epic impresses and lives up to its premium price tag. If you can afford the luxury that this chair certainly is, then you'll have a great experience. However, otherwise there are plenty of other models to browse through here which won't cost quite as much.