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Hardware Review

Secretlab Omega 2020 Gaming Chair Review

Do Secretlab gaming chairs walk the talk?

This may come as a bit of a shock, but I live a double life. Not the secret kind where I fight crime and own a mega-corporation like Bruce Wayne, but the kind where I spend my nights writing about video games and my days working for a prominent Australian office supplies retailer. Exciting, I know. Now I don’t know if you’ve ever worked in an office, but generally there are desks, and where there are desks there are chairs. Given my years of experience wheeling and dealing office supplies, I know a thing or two about chairs – the boons of getting an ergonomic chair, how racing chairs are built for speed and not comfort, and everything in between. Despite my knowledge and the amount I sit on one, I’ve always been a bit of a tight arse when it comes to buying chairs, preferring to shop in the ‘best bang for your buck but not so good for your back section’.

After several years using the same chair, it was becoming painfully (literally) obvious that I needed to replace and upgrade. The faux-leather material had cracked and was peeling off in areas, and the cushions felt like I was sitting on rocks. Plus, and I’m no chiropractor (you already know that though), how I was sitting hunched over my keyboard was not doing my back any favours.

The SoftWeave Fabric not only feels great to sit on but looks great too

I decided it was time to get serious and look at gaming chairs, and when it comes to those, there’s no bigger brand than Secretlab. Secretlab chairs are not a one chair fits all design, instead the company offers three different models – the Omega, the Titan, and the Titan XL – which all come in various flavours and are tailored to suit your height and weight. As a little guy, the Omega was the best fit for me and thanks to the legends at Secretlab I was treated to an Omega gaming chair in charcoal blue (as close as I could get to WellPlayed teal), which I’ve been using for a little over a month now and am finally ready to give you my thoughts on whether Secretlab gaming chairs are really all that and a bag of chips.

Now the first thing to note is that you might need to smash a can of spinach and embrace your inner Popeye or have an Olympic bodybuilder handy because the box that the Omega comes in is massive and weighs in around 30kgs. I mean I am a pretty intimidating lad at 166cms and 65kgs, but even I struggled to move this behemoth without a second pair of hands.

Then you have to put it together, which if you’re lone-wolfing can be a little bit of a struggle. The majority of the building is easy, it’s when you have to connect the backrest and the base/seat together that it can be a challenge. I mean it’s doable (I managed) – it took me maybe an hour at most in total, but two people would be ideal. There is a handy video guide on YouTube should you need some direction, although the printed instructions that come in the giant box are huge and could be seen from space, which makes it heaps easier to see what goes where when you’ve got chair parts all over the floor.

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The struggle is real

The Charcoal Blue variant of the Omega features the company’s SoftWeave Fabric material, which has been engineered for excellent comfort, breathability and durability. Inside the fabric is the company’s Cold Cure foam, which is firm, yet surprisingly comfortable. My initial reaction was that it was very stiff and that I wasn’t going to find it comfy, but after a couple hours I was starting to feel accustomed to the seat, and fast-forward a month later I find it super comfortable, especially when sitting on it for long periods, and I can’t imagine going back to what I was previously using. Even my girlfriend, who has used it when working from home, has said that it’s much more comfortable than my previous chairs.

The other major perk for the Omega is that it offers great support for your back, thanks to a high-back design that not only tilts but can be adjusted to suit your posture. The Omega can recline up to 165 degrees, meaning that if you want to kick back and have a snooze or ensure your back is getting the most support you can All you need to do is use the lever on the right-hand side of the chair to adjust the back to the position you’re comfortable with.

Beneath the seat you’ll find a couple of levers, one on the left and one on the right. The lever on the right will adjust the height of the chair, while the left side locks the chair into position, meaning it won’t tilt back or go up or down when locked in. The Omega has a maximum height of 55.5cm from floor to seat, with a minimum of 46cm. At the lowest setting (46cm), the chair should fit nicely under most desks, however if you have it raised at all then the arms won’t go under. Just like the back, the chair’s armrests are also adjustable, and can be moved forward and back, up and down, and even inwards and outwards, giving owners several options to see what is most comfortable.

Included in the box is a head pillow that features cooling gel pads to help regulate heat in the neck and head areas and a lumbar support pillow. Both pillows utilise Secretlab’s Memory Foam, which is incredibly soft and comfortable. I personally wasn’t big on the head pillow, finding it uncomfortable to use, but the lumbar support rocked my world, it was comfortable to use and encouraged me to really keep a good posture. The only downside is that the lumbar support pillow just sits on the chair – there’s no strapping to keep it tightly in position, so it can move around here and there.

Full Omega specs

Aesthetically, the Charcoal Blue model uses charcoal grey fabric and features light blue stitching and Secretlab branding, as well as a black suede trim, while the armrests have a PU covering and the base is a solid aluminium alloy. Not only is it easy on the eye, but it also looks like a premium product.

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One of the biggest reasons why I love the SoftWeave Fabric is because your legs don’t stick to the seat like they’ve been fused onto it after a long sweaty session on a pleather chair, which also leads to the material cracking. Sure, the fabric can get a little grubby after a while, but nothing a rub with a damp cloth won’t fix.

Secretlab chairs don’t come cheap though, with the Omega setting you back between $519-$670 depending on your choice of material, colour and whether it’s on sale at the time (there’s also a Napa leather finish option that costs around $1k). Although when compared to other high-end gaming chairs, Secretlab chairs are certainly great value for money, with the company selling the product directly from their online store, meaning that there are no extra costs associated with having a retail presence. Each chair comes with a three-year warranty, which you can upgrade to a five-year warranty by sharing your new purchase within a year on selected social media platforms, a small price to pay for extra protection.

Final Thoughts

Gaming chairs like the Secretlab Omega are long-term investments. They’re kind of like bed mattresses – for the amount of time you spend sleeping in your bed and sitting at a computer, you want to lay and sit on something that is both comfortable and durable, and the Secretlab Omega gives you that. I’ve owned several computer chairs in my lifetime, and while the Omega isn’t the softest chair I’ve ever sat on, it’s certainly the most comfortable when it comes to using it for long periods. Plus with a ton of adjustment options, the Omega can be tailored to suit your needs, making it a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for a high-end chair at a good price.

Review unit supplied by the manufacturer 

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If you would like more information on the Secretlab Omega gaming chair or would like to purchase your own, you can find it all here.

Secretlab Omega 2020 Gaming Chair Review
Comfort Fit For A King
The Secretlab Omega is an excellent option for anyone looking for a high-end chair that is comfortable, adjustable and durable at a good price.
The Good
Extremely comfortable over long periods
A ton of adjustment options
Looks and feels like a premium product
Good value for money when comparing other high-end gaming chairs
Excellent back support
The Bad
Assembly is a bit of a challenge for one person
No strap to hold lumbar support in place
Headrest pillow isn't comfortable
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Secretlab Omega 2020 Gaming Chair Review
Comfort Fit For A King
The Secretlab Omega is an excellent option for anyone looking for a high-end chair that is comfortable, adjustable and durable at a good price.
The Good
Extremely comfortable over long periods
A ton of adjustment options
Looks and feels like a premium product
Good value for money when comparing other high-end gaming chairs
Excellent back support
The Bad
Assembly is a bit of a challenge for one person
No strap to hold lumbar support in place
Headrest pillow isn’t comfortable
Written By Zach Jackson

Despite a childhood playing survival horrors, point and clicks and beat ’em ups, these days Zach tries to convince people that Homefront: The Revolution is a good game while pining for a sequel to The Order: 1886 and a live-action Treasure Planet film. Carlton, Burnley FC & SJ Sharks fan. Get around him on Twitter @tightinthejorts

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