PC Gaming Chair Roundup 2016

Nitro Concepts C80 Pure

Manufacturer: Nitro Concepts
UK price (as reviewed): £139.99 (inc VAT)
US price (as reviewed): $199.00 (ex Tax)

The Nitro Concepts C80 Pure, part of the company's Carbon Class range, carries a significantly lower price tag than the Noblechairs model – it is less than half the price and targets the value end of the market instead. As such, there are a number of clear differences. For example, the wheel base, which is fully aluminium with the Noblechairs Epic, is instead made from plastic (nylon) here, with a thin metal cover on top to add a bit of rigidity.


The experience of building this chair up is a mixed bag. The initial steps are very straightforward – the 50mm wheels push into place with ease, and the metal stand and plastic cover are easily inserted into the wheel base. The main hydraulics mechanism is also easy to screw into place on the seat base (although no washers are used) and the seat base connects to the stand without fuss as well.


Where the chair is less user-friendly is in the arm rests. At first, these are attached to the seat base with two screws on either side as well as a pair of plastic caps to cover the holes. However, it's difficult to keep the armrests aligned, and the plastic caps are also fiddly. This is a shame because the same method of attachment is used to secure the backrest, which slots in between the two armrests. In fact, this final stage proved to be the most fiddly of all – getting the screws to catch on their threads inside the backrest proved to be pretty damn frustrating.


The faux leather covering is perforated in the central bits of the base and backrest, although a fair amount of your legs and back will make contact with the outer non-perforated sections. We also found that the perforated bit in the seat base had quite a lot of air in it, forming something of an air cushion. Stitching in the main areas seems to be all good, although you can see the chair is not as premium as others at the underside of the seat base – it's covered by a thin material and simply stapled into place.

If you're not a fan of our black with green highlights sample, a fully black option is available, as are four other colour highlight options, though some are a little pricier (£140). These highlights are found on the backrest, seat base and even the wheels.


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The first thing you notice when sitting in this is just how soft it is; it's the softest of all seven chairs. This makes it comfortable but may not be the best option if you're looking to retain good posture. It adapts easily to the shape of your body, and the chair itself is particularly stable thanks to the arms joining the back and base in the way they do.

There is wide soft cushioning on the arm rests, making them comfortable to rest on but potentially sweat-inducing on hotter days. They also cannot be adjusted at all. There is also no recline function and no cushions for added support. Thankfully, the seating angle is at least pleasant and feels natural. Height adjustment is 7cm and the chair supports 120kg loads.


One physical adjustment you do get is the ability to rock the chair. By pulling out the height-adjustment lever you unlock this, and you can adjust the tension in the spring support it with the knob near the front of the chair. You can't relock the chair into a new, tilted position, however.

While there are clear cutbacks in a chair like this, especially compared to something like the Noblechairs Epic, it does offer a very solid price. It's comfortable, if a little on the soft side, and if you can live without more advanced adjustments and have a little patience for the construction process it could be a great, cost-effective choice.