Sitting at the high table
I spend a massive amount of time sitting at a desk, so a comfortable chair is of utmost importance. I have spent far too much time researching, testing, and figuring out what works best for me. Several years back I reviewed the E-WIN racer gaming chair and have been using it ever since. As it broke down, I tried and tried to replace it, to no avail. Now we are revisiting their latest offering, the Flash XL upgrade, and it might finally replace my trusty chair that has lasted me for so long.
It has been a while since I received my original gaming chair from E-WIN, so it was interesting to see what had changed after all these years. The Flash XL is a beast of a chair. It is designed to hold up to 500lbs, which is A LOT. Opening the box, I could tell this was a quality build. Each piece was carefully packaged and even included its own toolkit to put together. I have put together my fair share of chairs, but this one was by far the most in-depth and each piece was made of the highest quality. It only took me about 20 mins from start to finish, then it was time to take the new features for a test drive.
MSRP: $599.00
Price I’d Pay: $599.00
One of my favorite things about E-WIN gaming chairs is the support. It has a headrest as well as lumbar support, and my last one was done with a strap system. This time around the lumbar pillow sits on its own, while the headrest uses a magnet. At first, I was skeptical of this design. Surely these would move around a lot and not be comfortable. The headrest rarely moves, and it feels great. The lumbar one, however, does have some issues. I must adjust it multiple times over the course of an eight-hour day.
Even with that issue, these pillows are the most comfortable I have ever used. The padding is so soft and conforms to my back. The fabric on it is also amazing. So soft and feels great, even after hours of use. The seat cushion is equally soft, while at the same time firm enough that it doesn’t cause any issues after extended use. The lip of the chair did give me some issues though, I like to cross my legs after a while, and combined with the extended height of the chair, it did take some getting used to.
The Flash XL also features plenty of customization for sitting postures. There is the normal height adjustment, which is a little high for my tastes, I like to sit relatively low at my desk, but it works. There is also a level that can be used to lean back during long gaming sessions. Finally, it also has a rocking feature that can be locked out if you don’t want to use it. This is a feature I use regularly when I am working. Just taking a second to kick back and relax after sitting in one position for hours at a time is nice. Of course, it has a knob underneath to set the tension, which is nice.
The armrests are also adjustable, but not quite as much as my original chair. This one has magnetic rests that can be detached, but I have no earthly idea why. I will never take them off, so why they are removable is beyond me, I guess it is in case they ever create branded ones to replace it with. The padding is nice and never gave me any pain after hours of use. They can be adjusted up and down as well as being able to be widened and shifted forward and back. They offer plenty of customization to make it comfortable for people of all sizes.
This being the XL I have to say that it is not for smaller people. I had my 14-year-old son sit in it, and he had way too much room, and again it was too high for his feet to hit the floor. Obviously, this is labeled XL, so it is designed with larger individuals in mind. This works well for me, but again not for everyone. It is also worth noting that this being XL, it has a wide base. The wheels on the bottom roll well though and it is easy to move, even on carpet. Just be sure you have clearance when moving it room to room. I have a tight fit, so it took a little more effort to get it into my office.
The Flash XL is an outstanding upgrade and has finally allowed me to retire my previous racer gaming chair. I am a creature of habit and when I find something I like, I stick with it. That is why I have had any issues recommending these chairs to friends and family. They are comfortable, reasonably priced, and well worth the investment. I have been using E-WIN gaming chairs for years and will likely continue to use them as long as I work or play games at a computer desk.
Use code ztgd for 20% off EwinRacing gaming chair
Review sample provided by E-WIN.
