We had the chance to try out E-WIN’s Champion Series line of gaming chairs, which combine comfort and design for a solid experience…with minor quibbles.
Somehow, for reasons I can’t fathom (but won’t argue with), I’ve had the good fortune of getting my hands on different gaming chairs over the years. Recently, E-WIN was kind enough to send me one from their best-selling Champion Series line which includes the lumbar and headrest pillows.
After spending some time with it (including some lengthy Diablo IV sessions), I’ve come away fairly impressed, even if there’s some room for improvement. Let me see if I can parse my thoughts in a clear way, here!
Putting It Together
First things first, as with any gaming/office chair, you have to put it together. The massive box it comes in is well packed, so there’s little chance of getting things already scuffed up (or worse) upon arrival. Inside is everything you need to put the chair together including tools, instructions, and even some fancy gloves to help prevent smudges and accidentally cutting/pinching your fingers. They aren’t necessary, in the least, but it’s neat and speaks to the level of pride they take in their chairs.
Assembly, generally speaking, is relatively simple. It doesn’t take long to finish up either (even with a six year-old nearby “helping”) because so much of it comes together in big parts. The pillows already came fastened to the top part of the chair, so there was no need to adjust those straps. All you really needed to do was unscrew a few bolts, secure the parts together, and screw them back in. In about 20-30 minutes, you’ll be sitting and enjoying your new chair.
About the only quibble I have in this stage is that the instructions that come packaged with the chair aren’t specific to the Champion series model. It’s actually for a different line of their chairs. They’re close enough in design/layout that it’s not a big deal. You can still get it put together and figure things out relatively quickly. Again, it’s a minor issue, but if you pay nearly $500 for a chair…it seems like getting specific assembly instructions would be the least they could do.
Form and Function
Once it’s all together, you’ve got a pretty damn swanky looking chair on your hands. The version they sent me is red and black (funny enough ALL the gaming chairs I’ve been sent have been red and black….That’s neither here nor there) and it looks sleek. I mean, I’m a sucker for that design/style anyway, but it looks great when it’s all together and can easily fit into any nerdy or professional setting you have need for.
Personally, I love how the straps holding the pillows in place are tucked away a bit more neatly than on some other gaming chairs. While going through the holes at the top of the chair has another issue (I’ll talk about that shortly), it does a great job of keeping those straps out of sight and looking less cluttered.
Beyond the look, there are some other features built into the chair worth noting:
Armrests – The Champion Series chair features 4D armrests. This means they not only go up and down, but the rests themselves also slide back and forth, along with being able to be angled. Making the adjustments is simple, and with six different height levels (almost double most regular chairs offer), finding the most comfortable positions for your arms while playing is easier than ever.
Adjustable Backrest: The chair allows you to adjust the back, via a little handle on the side. It’s range of motion means you can put the backrest anywhere between 85 and155 Degrees. Yes, that means you can adjust to sit it a little further forward for those of you who lean over while playing.
The incline on this thing is crazy. It goes so far back as to almost feel like you’re laying down. If you combine it with the tilt (which you can lock into place are varying levels) you pretty much COULD be laying down while playing. Personally speaking, I can’t game like that, but you do you.
2.0 PU Leather – This is the first chair in E-WIN’s line-up that uses the 2.0 PU Leather, and it’s pretty great. I love the feel of this material (it really does a great job of recreating the look/texture of leather), and is super durable. It’s already stain resistant, but it can also hold up to cleaning with a regular cloth, and won’t fade in the Sun.
Hub-Less Wheels – This may seem like a silly thing to highlight, but these wheels are just neat. They’re empty at the center, while featuring color accents to match the rest of the chair. It’s just damn cool looking and it glides pretty effortlessly on just about any surface (I primarily have mine on carpet).
Between the overall design and features implemented, the E-Win Championship Series chair brings the goods. It looks sleek and there’s no shortage of minor adjustments you can make to ensure the most comfortable gaming position possible from session to session.
How It Feels
Of course, how a chair looks is really only secondary to how it feels while you’re sitting in it. After all, if you’re buying something to keep you comfortable (and without pain) for long periods of time, it’s gotta actually be comfy!
Thankfully, there’s no need to worry about that here with the Champion Series chair. The soft padding, smooth material, and overall contours of the seat and backrest means your snug and comfy the minute you sit down. It’s a pretty great chair and certainly a step up from a number of other models out there.
About the only issue I had in this regard, was with the headrest pillow. Because of how it’s strapped, you can’t actually adjust the pillow to go any higher than where it’s at. When I leaned back initially, it was hitting right at the top of my shoulders (I’m 6’1″). I was able to move it up a smidge to get it to sit at the nape of my neck, but if I were any taller, it wouldn’t work.
Overall E-WIN’s Champion Series gaming chair is an impressive entry to the market. It doesn’t have the features of a higher-end model (with the magnetic pillows and such), but the quality is still there for this range of chairs. It manages to pack in a ton of great features and comfort for a relatively lower price point than other comparable chairs. Think of it as a $500 chair that you can get for about $400 or less.
The Champion Series chair is available now directly from E-WIN in a variety of styles and currently on sale for under $400.
