A chair that’s a good fit.
Finding just the right chair can be a little like Goldilocks trying to find porridge that is just the right temperature. There are several factors that come into play when you are chair shopping. You have to find something that is comfortable for you. It also needs to be able to meet your daily use needs. And let’s not forget — the chair quite literally needs to be a good ‘fit’ for you and your body type. When I started looking at desk chairs a few years ago, I quickly found that gaming chairs were a great choice for me since I spend an average of 12 hours a day behind my computer. After I narrowed down the chair field to ‘gaming’ style chairs, then I had to find the fit for me. I’m a bigger person – plus size if you will – and so I needed something that could accommodate me for long periods of time. It can be exhausting trying to wade through the choices out there. That’s why I’m glad that Vertagear has three different options for people to choose from in their P-Series product line.
The P-Series chairs are designed to be comfortable, easy to assemble, and have superior durability over other gaming chairs. This product line is the ‘racing series’ style gaming chairs. It’s a very popular style and each model is designed for a specific type of user. The PL1000 is the ‘entry’ level gaming chair. It’s budget-friendly and is the smallest of the three models. The PL4500 is a step up from the PL1000. It has HygennX included for odor control and anti-bacterial properties. The chair is slightly larger than the PL1000. It can hold up to 260lbs and is designed for a person up to 6’6” in height. The PL6000 is the largest option in the P-Series lineup and is considered a ‘big and tall’ chair. It can hold someone who is up to 350lbs and 6’8” in height. This P-Series chair ended up being the one that was best suited for me.
CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS
- UPHR Foam: The Ultra Premium High Resilience Foam can withstand 62% more weight per cubic foot than standard high resilience foam. The foam prolongs the lifespan of the chair.
- Penta RS1 Casters: The casters are engineered to be carefree and are coated with polyurethane and colored to match the chair.
- Steel Frame: The skeleton of the chair is made with steel and includes a 10-year warranty.
- Gas Lift: The PL6000 is supported with an industrial-grade class 4 gas lift.
- PUC: This is the material that covers the chair. It’s a combination of PVC and PU faux leather. It’s durable but has the softness of PU.
- Aluminum Alloy 5-star Base: The base is lightweight but strong enough to support the structure of the chair.
FEATURES
- Lumbar & Neck Support: Ergonomic support is provided by the memory foam pillows for the lower back (lumbar region) and the neck. Both cushions are easily removable and adjustable.
- Adjustable 4D Armrests: The armrests adjust in four directions – forward/back, left/right, up/down, and it rotates. This versatile adjustability provides ergonomic support for your arms to help prevent sore shoulders.
- Adjustable Backseat: The back can adjust between 80-140º to provide the optimal sitting position for the user.
- Adjustable Tilt with Locking System: The chair’s tension can be easily adaptable to your body weight. The tilting function allows the user to lean back and it can be locked in 4 different positions.
- Adjustable Seat Height: The seat height is controlled by the gas lift and the user can adjust the height so that it’s relative to their desk.
USER EXPERIENCE
The PL6000 comes in a large cardboard box. It’s not pre-assembled, but Vertagear makes putting the chair together easy. The description that is provided through Vertagear’s website states that the chair can be put together in seconds, but it’s not exactly that quick. I would say that it might take 20-30 minutes from box to chair. The first thing I did was to take everything out of the box and make sure all the parts are there. Vertagear includes all the tools needed for assembly. One of my favorite tools that is included is a hex wrench with a built-in handle. It makes it much easier to tighten the bolts on the chair.
If you’ve ever assembled an office chair, you shouldn’t have any issue with putting this one together. The steps include:
- Inserting the casters into the 5-star steel base.
- Inserting the gas lift into the base.
- Attaching the lift control mechanism to the seat.
- Setting the seat onto the gas lift.
- Sliding the seat back onto the seat.
- Screwing the bolts into the sides of the seat back – through the metal braces.
- Placing the pillows.
That’s pretty much it. Because this is a big and tall chair, all the parts are heavy-duty in nature. The base and frame are engineered with industrial-strength metals. The information on the Vertagear website states that it can withstand a max load of 440 pounds. There is a note though that says, “Max load was tested by an independently certified safety laboratory. The PL6000 is ergonomically designed and recommended for those 5’9” to 6’8” tall, up to 350 lbs.” While I understand the reasoning for specifying all this information, I sort of wish they would only put the ‘real’ max limit with the specs. I just feel as though including both of these weight limits is confusing for the consumer.
The chair is supportive and the cushion in the seat is firm. While it’s not ‘comfortable’ by some users’ standards, I actually prefer the seat to feel supportive and not ultra-soft like memory foam. The thing that really stood out to me though was the fact that the seat was only 21 inches wide. Some big and tall chairs I’ve used have had a seat that was at least 23 inches wide. So, the 21-inch seat caught me off guard.
CONCLUSION
The PL6000 gaming chair is a comfortable, supportive seating option for work or home. It is very easy to assemble and it’s competitively priced with other gaming chairs. I would get it again and I would recommend it to others looking for a gaming chair. I would, however, prefer that the seat be a bit wider.
For more information, vertagear.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
