Secretlab Titan Evo gaming chair impresses with build quality, customization

Secretlab’s Titan Evo debunked my thoughts on gaming chairs.

I’ve long avoided gaming chairs because I understood that they were not great for ergonomics. As someone who already has a bad back, good ergonomics are important for me, so I avoided gaming chairs entirely.

However, after spending over a month sitting on a Titan Evo gaming chair that Secretlab sent me to review, I was surprised to find that it hadn’t caused any issues for my back. In fact, the chair overall was quite comfortable, and I felt like it was supportive enough. Sure, it’s not quite as good as some ergonomic chairs I’ve tested, but overall, the Titan Evo is quite comfortable.

Part of what makes the Titan Evo so comfortable is how adaptable it is. It has tons of recline and tilt with adjustable tension, and customizable lumbar support. I’m typically not a fan of tilt on office chairs and often lock my chairs in place (I have a habit of leaning back and almost falling out of my chair because I think I’m falling). However, the Titan Evo’s tension adjustment allowed me to dial in the chair for ideal lean-back tension that didn’t leave me feeling like I was falling.

The lumbar support was also great. Thanks to dials on either side of the chair, I was able to set the ideal lumbar support for my back. My only real complaint about the lumbar support is that I find it has a creaky sound when I lean back on the chair. It’s not a huge deal, but it is a bit off-putting to hear as you lean back.

The Titan Evo sports two dials for adjusting the lumbar support.

On the topic of adjustability, I’m also a big fan of the Titan Evo’s armrests. The chair sports ‘4D’ armrests that can be moved up/down, left/right, and swivelled on an angle for the ideal position. Plus, Secretlab offers what it calls ‘CloudSwap’ technology, which is just a fancy term for the magnetic system that holds the armrests in place. You can buy alternate armrests and easily swap them out.

Secretlab also sent me a couple of different armrests to try. The default armrests are fine but not overly exciting — fairly basic polyurethane (PU) foam. They feel quite firm to me, and I’m not a huge fan of the PU feel. However, the other two options Secretlab sent for me to test were much more interesting.

From left to right: Default PU armrest, PlushCell armrest, Technogel armrest.

First up are the PlushCell memory foam armrests. These are absolutely fantastic, offering a soft, velour cover high-density memory foam. I found them to be extremely comfortable and the softness of the velour was a huge plus.

Along with the PlushCell, Secretlab also sent the Technogel armrests using German-made memory gel. I ended up using the Technogel armrests the most of the three. While they don’t have the soft-touch velour, the Technogel armrests have slightly more give than the memory foam, and an almost gel-like feel — true to the name. Plus, I found the Technogel had an almost cooling feeling on my arms, which I really appreciated on hotter days. While I’m not usually one to recommend upgrades, in the case of the Titan Evo, I’d definitely spring for the PlushCell or Technogel armrests, as they’re much better than the basic PU ones included with the chair.

I also want to quickly mention the upholstery. Secretlab offers quite a few options, including various leatherettes and fabrics. The main difference between the leatherette and fabric options seems to be softness versus breathability, so I opted to try the SoftWeave Plus Fabric since it’s the most breathable option. I find I’m a very warm person, so having a breathable material helps keep me cool. I did find the Titan Evo to be fairly firm, but I haven’t tried a leatherette variant to see if it’s significantly softer.

Overall, the Titan Evo chair was really impressive for me. I found it comfortable for lengthy sitting sessions for both work and play. The build quality is excellent, assembly is a breeze, and it’s just a very solid product. My only caveats are that it’s on the pricier side, and for some people, it might be better to invest in a high-quality ergonomic office chair. It really comes down to your spine and making sure it gets the optimal support. The Titan Evo felt good for me, but it might not work well for everyone.

The Secretlab Titan Evo is available starting at $714 in Canada, though the price can vary significantly depending on which customizations you add. Outside of the leatherette and fabric options I mentioned above, there are several colours and finishes, including the newer ‘NanoGen’ leatherette, which Secretlab says is softer and more durable than previous leatherette upholsteries. Secretlab also offers a ton of custom chair designs inspired by esports teams, games, and other media properties. Depending on what you’re into, there’s likely a Titan Evo design to match.

Beyond the upholsteries, the Titan Evo comes in three sizes: small, regular, and XL (I tested an XL version because it was the best fit for my height and weight). The small and regular sizes have the same price, while the XL costs an extra $55. There are also the add-ons, like the aforementioned armrest options. The PlushCell is an extra $99, and the Technogel costs $109. You can also add a recliner add-on to hold your legs for $249. And that’s not even getting into the other accessories Secretlab has on offer, like footrests, floor maps, and special cleaners for the chair. None of the add-ons or accessories are strictly necessary, and you can totally skip them, or wait to pick them up later when you actually need them.

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