*Fractal Refine* 🛒geni.us/pQade *All links are affiliate links! Please use them as I earn a small commission, but costs you nothing, which helps the channel a LOT!* ============================ In The Background ============================ *My Slippers* 🛒Glerups (Amazon): geni.us/rlk7C0H *LED Light Boxes* 📼Tutorial: ruclips.net/video/RxSVRAAxbr8/видео.html
I’m just sayin’, we gotta push channels like these to the top, having integrity, fairness and sticking true to one’s word is something that’s definitely needed more in the YT Meta
I don't think it's the channels fault but if you're looking for a more budget option do watch out, because his review for example of the chair I have is incredibly positive. But the actual chair has been so downgraded over the short time since his review was put on youtube that it's worse in every possible way while being more expensive now because his review made the chair more popular.
@@Ahnestly Sihoo M18 mate. I bought two (one for me, one for my sister). The base now comes in parts, it's much lower quality and makes a lot of squaking noises (wd40 helps for a while but then it starts again). The seat, is paper thin. It only took a few weeks for it to completely flatten, I can now feel the bottom whenever I sit on it. I'm well below the weight limit. It's also pretty small leaving part of my leg without support when you complained it was too large (I'm slightly taller than you). One of the chairs had a decent back. But the other one's mesh was so loose that the lumbar support's top part digs into your back, sihoo sent me a new back. Which was even worse, and then another one which was ok but worse than the "good chair". I've noticed a lot of negative reviews complain about the lumbar. Those people likely have the same issue with the mesh being too loose but don't know any better because they didn't have a better one to compare. Anyway, really regret buying the Sihoo. Should have spent a little more or just gone with the one I was originally buying (forgot the name, but it was similar to the sihoo).
I've had the mesh version for about 3 weeks now. I really like it. The easy sliding armrests bother me the most. I'm coming from a 2019 Secret Lab Titan. The seat is infinitely more comfortable. The construction seems premium and forces me to sit in a more erect position which feels better posturewise. Easy to assemble and comes packaged with all parts extremely well protected. Glad I got it.
Been waiting for the release of this chair since it first got showed (and looking at every new chair for over a year), want to change from Titan Evo myself which has been fine but always felt lacking, seriously considering it!
I have a question. how does the armrest feel when you recline the seat? does they slide back or remaing in place? Im worried about the slidiness of the armrests in various positions.
@@Roccosiffredo93 They mostly move when sitting down. When already seated they do slide easily but also easy to move back where you want them. This has not been a deal breaker for me. The pluses far outweigh this.
@@kenm.6230 Oh lol. So they move quite easily. I lay my legs up my desk and recline the seat so sliding armrest are quite a cons for me. What do you consider the pluses tho? Is the chair comfortable? I'm coming from a similar chair (noblechair hero) so i'd like to hear something more if you please.
@@Roccosiffredo93 The mesh seat is firm but very comfortable. I'm 5'11" and 170. The seat pan is sized fine for me. Wearing shorts and feeling it behind the knees presents no problem for me. Proper seating position should allow 2 to 3 inches from the seat edge to behind the knee. Again, no problem. Adjusting the rocking of the back tensioning is easy and quicker than he states. Once you move and get in your comfortable position and set the arms they won't move. They move when you change positions. My seating posture is much more comfortable than with the Titan. My post with NewEgg is the only one posted so far.
A pro-consumer company makes a great product... Shocker! But in all honesty, Fractal is such an amazing company. I can vouch for their customer support being one of the best, even when you're out of warranty
God I love this guys videos even though I already bought a new chair. He's the only reviewer that talks about the "single leg tuck" or the ergonomic enemies. XD I almost always sit with one leg tucked.
The chair resisiting the one leg tucked position is a feature, you shouldn't use that posture, if it is more confortable to you it means you have a muscle imbalance and should work on fixing it. I don't have this particular issue but I had other posture issues that I fixed through regular and specific exercises and lost the bad habit as a result (without even trying to) and my life improved a lot. I recommend researching this stuff and fixing your body instead of trying to accommodate it
I got the fabric version of the chair (not Alcantara) and as a man being 6’1 250 lbs, this chair is quite small on the base. But not entirely a big deal. One niche scenario I also experience is that this chair is higher than all my other chairs at its lowest setting. Which is an issue for me because my desk isn’t adjustable and the top of my thighs slightly graze my desk. And being able to cross my legs is even harder and more uncomfortable to do. Still giving this chair a chance but doesn’t seem like I’ll be keeping this one. Hope this helps anyone who is thinking about getting this chair. ❤
I'm the same height and weight as you and have been considering the Refine, but the seat depth's been concerning me. Some say it's too small, others have no problem. Would you say it's too small or something that you could get used too? I also like to sit with my legs crossed on my chair so this is kind of a dealbreaker 😅
@@Blacknike98 after further testing, I decided to return the chair, everything is great except for the most important part, the seat, criss cross wouldn’t work since the sides flare up and are hard material, I like to man spread a lot so it gets in the way of that and long term causes discomfort. The seat is too small for us big guys, I constantly feel the need to readjust my butt back more into the seat, and the curve shape of the seat doesn’t help either. The headrest is probably the nicest part for me and the length of the chair for the back, but it’s so weird, it’s like they designed the back for tall people but forgot to adjust the bottom seat which seems like it was meant for short kings haha. When comparing it to my other chairs. I can definitely see a preference in the previous than this one. I decided to buy the Secret labs titan evo chair and I’m currently waiting to see how it is. Personally I think it will be better. Hope this helps you decide.
@@Keiseru what does skinny have to do with the length of your butt and thigh? Oh if you mean about the width of the chair then maybe yea but it wouldn’t be an issue for me either being a bigger guy either, the core issue is the length of the seat. It’s too short.
+1 to fractal support. super responsive. I had a bad fan on my new case, and they sent out the fan replacement within hours for shipping and the customer support seems be somewhat knowledgeable about the shit they sell, which is fucking miracle in the tech industry.
completely different experience. Got new Fractal North. Both fans make noise. After every E-Mail to Fractal they just want more Details send and so on. It was like they spam u so long with requirements until u will give up and just accept it. I think Fractal thinks their customers try to scam them to get free fans.
@@DanKla91 I think they want to solve the problem with you because most people dont know the difference between PWM fans and DC... if you dont change it in you Mainboard settings this could happen.
Love the reviews! How would you say it compares to ASUS ROG Destrier? Maybe we can expect a comparison video between more models? Really curious how it holds up against the competition.
Finally a review from a someone who is actually testing stuff like that all the time. Was considering a Haworth Fern/Steelcase Gesture, but both companies have garbage warranties in Europe and their prices are extreme. Now i might pick up the refine. I wonder if the very easy to move armrests are a first batch production issue or on purpose. Too bad it doesn't have forward tilt.
@@valcvetanoski9105 nothing particularly. It’s a solid chair, super comfortable, and looks great. However from a pure value proposition (I think I paid £1200), I fail to really see its worth, honestly. Looking at the RRPs, the Fractal is a third of the price. The HM really has its work cut out to be 3 times better at what it does.
I can vouch for Fractal's customer support. I had a Fractal case for my first PC build. It had a glass side panel, and I accidentally dropped it while building it (completely my fault). I contacted support and they sent me a new side panel and an extra case fan for free. Since then I usually choose their products whenever I have the choice. They make good stuff.
Ooooh a chair from Fractal? Already tempting. I bought a Flexispot C7 chair last year because there was a bundle deal with a desk... and the chair is okay, but I'm not super thrilled with it. Thankfully did enough research to keep me from pulling the trigger on a Secret Lab chair. Might be upgrading to one of these soon, thanks for the review!
Really thorough review, straight to the point! Thank you for that. I had a couple of questions though; I like to sit crossed-legged, i.e. sitting on my feet. Is this chair comfortable to do that? Also, in the racing style chairs you could easily take a nap in, could you do this also in this chair?
Nice review man! Now I can't decide between the Fractal Refine and the Anda Seat Kaiser 4 L or XL. Most of the time when I chill I like to lean back and put my leg up on the chairseat or on the table. Wich chair would be suitable for this usecase? I'm around 100kg and my previous cheaper chairs all broke at some point due to the increased load on the back. The single metal bar under the Refine's back makes me worry a little compared to the 2 side connection on the Kaiser 4 but I dig the slick design vs the racing seat. What should I choose for long term Refine / Kaiser 4 L / Kaiser 4 XL?
I think it makes sense to have one with an Alcantara seat & mesh back. I like the soft touch & more supporting alcantara seat compared to the mesh, but the mesh back seems better for sweaty backs.
Pretty interesting for a gaming targetted chair as it gets much closer to real ergonomic seating. And they've done a great job on looks. I'm seeing £474 in the UK for normal fabric or mesh. The Alcantara is an eye watering £779, which is well into used Steelcase, Humanscale, etc territory.
LOL I realized this after I made the video. I promise I only noticed the maximum height. It's awesome that my minimum height recommendation and theirs aligned!
The flat back with strong and ajustable lumbar support sounds line a way better idea than any built-in curvature. A built-in curvature cannot accommodate many body types
My main annoyance so far is the same as one of yours; the arms move forward and back to easily. I feel like the mechanisms for locking and adjusting the chair base could be improved for durability but hopefully I'm setting and forgetting. I have my fingers crossed that the mesh doesn't stretch much over time.
With all these new chairs, which would you say is your favourite? Do you still prefer the Embody / Anthros over any of these? As someone who did not want to pay anywhere near those prices I think I might just go for one of them as I can't afford to keep buying mid ranged chairs but I did see this one and wonder about it as it is pretty well priced here in the UK. I still think I should go for the Embody though. I'd be trying Anthros if I was able to return it but that isn't available to do yet in the UK.
I was kind of hoping there would be a review of the regular light fabric one. I want a solid seat and not mesh, I wondered if the back gets hot or not.
I'm chair hunting right now, and this immediately shot to the top of my list when I saw it existed. Seems to check all my boxes, except perhaps the loose arm rests. I'm going to look at some more expensive chairs first, but unless one of them turns out to be made of pixie dust and gold, I'm probably ordering one of these in the regular fabric variant. Don't need expensive, ultra-soft fabric, but I think the better cusion of the non-mesh will suit my 90kg+ body somewhat better. Either way, I can't wait to be rid of this stupid DXRacer chair I bought 7 years ago...
FINALLY, a full review of this chair, i know it was just annouced a few weeks ago but still, is appreciate it. If you could answer this doubt, the room I'm at gets quite hot depending at the hour of the day, for such I tend to use shorts (i do WFH) most of the time, I woud use this chair for about 7 hours evert day 5 days a week and for about 3 of those hours it can get a bit of heat in the room im using. I do preffer the chairs that go up to your head and i really like to lean back when i have some free time, do you think this chair would suit me? I"m 5'5 that's why im asking.
Hands down the Embody. I have become a HUGE believer in chairs moving with you, and nothing does it quite like the higher end chairs like the Embody. Hope this helps, and if you decide to pick up an Embody, please consider using my links! Helps the channel a LOT!
Amy good recomendation for chairs with footrest attach to it I also like to sit crossed and stretch my legs straith. i don't want to buy a separate foot rest.
I like the headrest, although I wish they had designed it to just flip over to the top of the chair to sit behind the back of the chair when you don't want to use it, instead of needing to take it off and put it somewhere else. The rigid sides on the pan is also a slight disappointment. Honestly I don't get that design on office/gaming chairs at all. It's not like people are going to fall off the chair if they didn't make the seat into a bowl. Also how's the situation with heat on the alcantara version? I'm assuming it gets warm easily.
Hi thank you so much for this informative review, hope you're having a good week!! One question if you have some time, I know you said 165cm height is the min recommended, but as someone who's 155cm, is this chair still okay if I have a footrest + remove the headrest? 🙏
man I was excited, a new chair that might be the one, looked extremely promising on first glance, even the price and warranty. But man, who ever came up with these 3,4 and 5D armrests but almost no one have a locking mechanism for them (for ALL moving directions).. just why. The other only thing that made me loose my excitement almost immediately was how the seat was sloping down again in the back. Never had great experience with this, not even on the 1k-2k chairs. Combine this design of a seat with a shorter seat depth and the sloping down edge in the back and the seat depth function to increase the gap in the back.. horrible feeling. Why can we can not just have a 50x50cm seat minimum and then go from there with sliding the seat in and out for less or more depth. And on top of that, to prevent the feel of a gap in the back after sliding the seat pan out, make the edge in the back of the seat padding go slightly upwards or form it like a cup in the back, just extremely subtle to give that hug feeling in the back bum, so you pretty much never gonna feel a gap even if there is one. I can only dream ;(
*This one or AndaSeat Kaiser 4 and why?* Like I wanna hear all the cons and pros when you compare these 2 because I'm thinking about choosing a chair mostly for gaming and I'm not sure which one should I choose (I wish I could just test them both and decide)
ahah finally. i was waiting for a review for this chair. i want this chair. i wish i hadnt bought this haworth soji. its a decent chair dont get me wrong, but id like this chair
I got to try this chair at a store and I was absolutely amazed, I love the material on the arms... But I'm just a bit too short for it 😭 I cant reach the headrest.. I just wanted a chair like this T-T but its a tad too big in different ways ugh 💔💔 the seatpan actually fits me for once being 5'2
I can’t say for sure, but I believe the fabric will have the same characteristics as the alcantara minus the soft feel of the fabric. The alcantara isn’t super thick, so it’s not as if you’re getting a ton of cushion from that vs standard fabric!
Is it possible for you to make a video about the Ergohuman chairs? I'm looking for a new chair and almost all the chairs I see reviews off and I get interested in don't ship to Germany, but the Ergohuman Elite G2 for example looks promising.
@@niecoZlesaEyyy a fellow ergohuman V1 user. Theres dozens of us. DOZENS! I'm interested in this fractal chair, just wish there was a store near me in the UK where I could actually sit in them before buying.
Great review, as always! What would be your minimum user height estimate for someone using a footrest to keep their feet firmly planted, i.e. based on the seat depth and lumbar support height? If the seat height skews high but the seat depth is short and the lumbar support is low enough, the Fractal Refine could be a great ergonomic option for short users sitting at regular fixed-height desks that would normally be too tall for them!
its not just gameing chair companies not backing up warrenty. herman miller are also pretty terrible there. they boast a 12 year warranty but when there is a problem they just say "its normal wear, so not covered by warranty"
There is also a fabric version, not alcantara that is the same price as the mesh. I would like to know how it compares on firmness Texture will obviously be very different
It’s funny that he tells his viewers that the firmer version is still softer than the Secret Lab chair. Literally anything is softer than a Secret Lab chair, including my brick house. If he was more Ahnest, he would tell his viewers that a Secret Lab chair is actually made of pure concrete, but they keep it a secret by transmogging/glamouring their chairs before shipping.
I’m new here, looking for a new chair. I like the style of this chair but I’m 1.80 m (5,9 ft) and have a weight of around 85 kg (188 lb), which means I’m too heavy for the mesh version. Hence I struggle, if I shall buy the Alcantara version or instead the Sihoo Doro S300. The S300 looks cool! But the price is a bit higher. Has someone of you tried both and has a recommendation?
Title: now this is how you do a gaming chair Me: great, finally I can get a good chair as gaming chairs are cheapers than office chairs Looks at price: ay caramba....sad noises
How do you feel this compared to the secret lab titan Evo 🤔? Refine brought me to your channel but I've seen your Titan Evo videos and now I'm conflicted
I personally would pick refine over the SecretLab unless you need a larger chair! A little softer cushion, better and more intuitive lumbar. Hope this helps! please consider using my links if you decide to pick up!
Do you know if there's a way to "open up" the armrest and manually tighten something in the armrest to make the forward/backward adjustment less loose?
The mesh is no for me, but the alcantara look really good and the only thing its lacking for me is the seat dept really. Also am used to a firmer seat cushion like Noble chairs, they tend to have longer lifespan and be comfortable.
@@Roccosiffredo93 i bought mine noblechair epic in 2017 and the only thing i replaced is the gaslift which was within the warranty, so it was free. Mine is basically working as new today accept the seat area is losing the soft layer of the faux leather and I have a tear in leather aswell in the seat bolster. The backrest is still new like day one. Am 186cm and weigh 80kg using it daily. Am very happy with the quality.
I was in the market for either an Embody or a Hayworth Fern last year but gave up trying to source either in the UK. This seems to tick the same boxes and is readily available from places like Scan so im sorely tempted
I tried a Fern in Europe but ended up not buying it, it's so bulky and huge, I'm an average build for Europe standards (not big not small) and this didn't feel like it was built for me. I'm looking into European brands now, the American market is catered for huge people imo
I need your professional recommendation! I'm 6'8'' I need a chair with seat depth for my long legs. I currently own the Haworth Fern & the Herman Miller Embody (I purchased both head rests from Atlas per your recommendations. They're great chairs, but just not for my frame.. Please HELP!
*Fractal Refine*
🛒geni.us/pQade
*All links are affiliate links! Please use them as I earn a small commission, but costs you nothing, which helps the channel a LOT!*
============================
In The Background
============================
*My Slippers*
🛒Glerups (Amazon): geni.us/rlk7C0H
*LED Light Boxes*
📼Tutorial: ruclips.net/video/RxSVRAAxbr8/видео.html
I’m just sayin’, we gotta push channels like these to the top, having integrity, fairness and sticking true to one’s word is something that’s definitely needed more in the YT Meta
"YT meta" lol
Are you fk serious? Dude made a review for a fk chair
I don't think it's the channels fault but if you're looking for a more budget option do watch out, because his review for example of the chair I have is incredibly positive. But the actual chair has been so downgraded over the short time since his review was put on youtube that it's worse in every possible way while being more expensive now because his review made the chair more popular.
Which chair?
@@Ahnestly Sihoo M18 mate. I bought two (one for me, one for my sister). The base now comes in parts, it's much lower quality and makes a lot of squaking noises (wd40 helps for a while but then it starts again). The seat, is paper thin. It only took a few weeks for it to completely flatten, I can now feel the bottom whenever I sit on it. I'm well below the weight limit. It's also pretty small leaving part of my leg without support when you complained it was too large (I'm slightly taller than you). One of the chairs had a decent back. But the other one's mesh was so loose that the lumbar support's top part digs into your back, sihoo sent me a new back. Which was even worse, and then another one which was ok but worse than the "good chair". I've noticed a lot of negative reviews complain about the lumbar. Those people likely have the same issue with the mesh being too loose but don't know any better because they didn't have a better one to compare. Anyway, really regret buying the Sihoo. Should have spent a little more or just gone with the one I was originally buying (forgot the name, but it was similar to the sihoo).
I've had the mesh version for about 3 weeks now. I really like it. The easy sliding armrests bother me the most. I'm coming from a 2019 Secret Lab Titan. The seat is infinitely more comfortable. The construction seems premium and forces me to sit in a more erect position which feels better posturewise. Easy to assemble and comes packaged with all parts extremely well protected. Glad I got it.
Been waiting for the release of this chair since it first got showed (and looking at every new chair for over a year), want to change from Titan Evo myself which has been fine but always felt lacking, seriously considering it!
I have a question. how does the armrest feel when you recline the seat? does they slide back or remaing in place? Im worried about the slidiness of the armrests in various positions.
@@Roccosiffredo93 They mostly move when sitting down. When already seated they do slide easily but also easy to move back where you want them. This has not been a deal breaker for me. The pluses far outweigh this.
@@kenm.6230 Oh lol. So they move quite easily. I lay my legs up my desk and recline the seat so sliding armrest are quite a cons for me.
What do you consider the pluses tho? Is the chair comfortable? I'm coming from a similar chair (noblechair hero) so i'd like to hear something more if you please.
@@Roccosiffredo93 The mesh seat is firm but very comfortable. I'm 5'11" and 170. The seat pan is sized fine for me. Wearing shorts and feeling it behind the knees presents no problem for me. Proper seating position should allow 2 to 3 inches from the seat edge to behind the knee. Again, no problem. Adjusting the rocking of the back tensioning is easy and quicker than he states. Once you move and get in your comfortable position and set the arms they won't move. They move when you change positions. My seating posture is much more comfortable than with the Titan. My post with NewEgg is the only one posted so far.
A pro-consumer company makes a great product... Shocker! But in all honesty, Fractal is such an amazing company. I can vouch for their customer support being one of the best, even when you're out of warranty
Me too. Very good company.
I won't buy a case from any other company!
God I love this guys videos even though I already bought a new chair. He's the only reviewer that talks about the "single leg tuck" or the ergonomic enemies. XD
I almost always sit with one leg tucked.
ergonomic rebels!
The chair resisiting the one leg tucked position is a feature, you shouldn't use that posture, if it is more confortable to you it means you have a muscle imbalance and should work on fixing it. I don't have this particular issue but I had other posture issues that I fixed through regular and specific exercises and lost the bad habit as a result (without even trying to) and my life improved a lot.
I recommend researching this stuff and fixing your body instead of trying to accommodate it
I thought that was good too. I wondered if I was the only one sitting like that.
I got the fabric version of the chair (not Alcantara) and as a man being 6’1 250 lbs, this chair is quite small on the base. But not entirely a big deal. One niche scenario I also experience is that this chair is higher than all my other chairs at its lowest setting. Which is an issue for me because my desk isn’t adjustable and the top of my thighs slightly graze my desk. And being able to cross my legs is even harder and more uncomfortable to do. Still giving this chair a chance but doesn’t seem like I’ll be keeping this one. Hope this helps anyone who is thinking about getting this chair. ❤
I'm the same height and weight as you and have been considering the Refine, but the seat depth's been concerning me. Some say it's too small, others have no problem. Would you say it's too small or something that you could get used too? I also like to sit with my legs crossed on my chair so this is kind of a dealbreaker 😅
@@Blacknike98 after further testing, I decided to return the chair, everything is great except for the most important part, the seat, criss cross wouldn’t work since the sides flare up and are hard material, I like to man spread a lot so it gets in the way of that and long term causes discomfort. The seat is too small for us big guys, I constantly feel the need to readjust my butt back more into the seat, and the curve shape of the seat doesn’t help either. The headrest is probably the nicest part for me and the length of the chair for the back, but it’s so weird, it’s like they designed the back for tall people but forgot to adjust the bottom seat which seems like it was meant for short kings haha. When comparing it to my other chairs. I can definitely see a preference in the previous than this one. I decided to buy the Secret labs titan evo chair and I’m currently waiting to see how it is. Personally I think it will be better. Hope this helps you decide.
@@ZappyIsKey Probably because it's a Swedish brand and swedes are tall and skinny :D
@@Keiseru what does skinny have to do with the length of your butt and thigh? Oh if you mean about the width of the chair then maybe yea but it wouldn’t be an issue for me either being a bigger guy either, the core issue is the length of the seat. It’s too short.
@@ZappyIsKey ah I see. Yeah I saw somewhere else as well that the depth was odd.
Ahnestly, your channel is a must watch for me now
I shall hereby engage with this flawless chair review in order to support it in the eyes of the algorithm. GG.
+1 to fractal support. super responsive. I had a bad fan on my new case, and they sent out the fan replacement within hours for shipping
and the customer support seems be somewhat knowledgeable about the shit they sell, which is fucking miracle in the tech industry.
same here for a whole case panel.
@@Pino1536 As a long Fractal fan and customer, I can only agree on that. Price is high, but you know what are you paying in and out. Full service.
completely different experience. Got new Fractal North. Both fans make noise. After every E-Mail to Fractal they just want more Details send and so on. It was like they spam u so long with requirements until u will give up and just accept it. I think Fractal thinks their customers try to scam them to get free fans.
@@DanKla91 I think they want to solve the problem with you because most people dont know the difference between PWM fans and DC... if you dont change it in you Mainboard settings this could happen.
I already bought the steelcase gesture thanks to you but i still watch ur videos, they're so entretaining lol
Finally someone who has the alcantara variant to review too bad about the qc of fractal, seen a lot of issues with the armrests online
I LOVE their PC cases and I think I just fell in love with their chairs. 😮
I never knew i needed to find the best chair review channel. Glad to be here.
Love the reviews! How would you say it compares to ASUS ROG Destrier? Maybe we can expect a comparison video between more models? Really curious how it holds up against the competition.
$550 is a good price for how it looks and functions. Good job from Fractal!
Why didn't he mention the price? I was waiting the whole review for that... it's a good price, so it would be a positive.
Finally a review from a someone who is actually testing stuff like that all the time.
Was considering a Haworth Fern/Steelcase Gesture, but both companies have garbage warranties in Europe and their prices are extreme.
Now i might pick up the refine. I wonder if the very easy to move armrests are a first batch production issue or on purpose.
Too bad it doesn't have forward tilt.
if you're complaining about the depth of the seat, you should provide some measurements so we can compare with the chairs we're currently using.
I'm happy to own a Herman Miller Embody, but that said, this looks fantastic for a great price! If my HM breaks, this will be on the list for sure.
You own a Herman Miller and would consider this? HM are highly rated and expensive chairs. Anything you dislike about it?
@@valcvetanoski9105 nothing particularly. It’s a solid chair, super comfortable, and looks great. However from a pure value proposition (I think I paid £1200), I fail to really see its worth, honestly. Looking at the RRPs, the Fractal is a third of the price. The HM really has its work cut out to be 3 times better at what it does.
I can vouch for Fractal's customer support. I had a Fractal case for my first PC build. It had a glass side panel, and I accidentally dropped it while building it (completely my fault). I contacted support and they sent me a new side panel and an extra case fan for free.
Since then I usually choose their products whenever I have the choice. They make good stuff.
I didn't know Fractal has chairs now. Thasnks for the great review!
Loving the backdrop chair setup btw. Really premium looking.
THE review I've been waiting for!
Tysm for the review, was waiting for this video before pulling the trigger
Ooooh a chair from Fractal? Already tempting. I bought a Flexispot C7 chair last year because there was a bundle deal with a desk... and the chair is okay, but I'm not super thrilled with it. Thankfully did enough research to keep me from pulling the trigger on a Secret Lab chair. Might be upgrading to one of these soon, thanks for the review!
A Herman Miller for a third of the price I’m sold
I was following this product since the announcement, thnx for the review.
Thank you for this review. I’ve been hunting for a new chair and your channel has been an immense help. Subscribe button hit!
Thank you for the kind words!!
Really thorough review, straight to the point! Thank you for that. I had a couple of questions though; I like to sit crossed-legged, i.e. sitting on my feet. Is this chair comfortable to do that? Also, in the racing style chairs you could easily take a nap in, could you do this also in this chair?
Nice review man!
Now I can't decide between the Fractal Refine and the Anda Seat Kaiser 4 L or XL. Most of the time when I chill I like to lean back and put my leg up on the chairseat or on the table. Wich chair would be suitable for this usecase? I'm around 100kg and my previous cheaper chairs all broke at some point due to the increased load on the back. The single metal bar under the Refine's back makes me worry a little compared to the 2 side connection on the Kaiser 4 but I dig the slick design vs the racing seat. What should I choose for long term Refine / Kaiser 4 L / Kaiser 4 XL?
Kaiser 4 review should be up in 2-3 weeks!
I think it makes sense to have one with an Alcantara seat & mesh back. I like the soft touch & more supporting alcantara seat compared to the mesh, but the mesh back seems better for sweaty backs.
Awesome review man. Do you recommend this over the Vantum 2.0?
Pretty interesting for a gaming targetted chair as it gets much closer to real ergonomic seating. And they've done a great job on looks. I'm seeing £474 in the UK for normal fabric or mesh. The Alcantara is an eye watering £779, which is well into used Steelcase, Humanscale, etc territory.
11:35 You literally just screen captured, zoomed in and showed Fractal's recommendation of min 165 cm length
😂😂😂
LOL I realized this after I made the video. I promise I only noticed the maximum height. It's awesome that my minimum height recommendation and theirs aligned!
I was confused by this "what does the 165cm mean then 🤔"
dude, your channel is awesome, great review, good videos and audio. thanks!
The flat back with strong and ajustable lumbar support sounds line a way better idea than any built-in curvature. A built-in curvature cannot accommodate many body types
My main annoyance so far is the same as one of yours; the arms move forward and back to easily. I feel like the mechanisms for locking and adjusting the chair base could be improved for durability but hopefully I'm setting and forgetting. I have my fingers crossed that the mesh doesn't stretch much over time.
Maybe wait for v1.1 or v2, they're probably going to fix these kind of issues over time
Yes! Was hoping you'd review this
Best chair guide videos channel
With all these new chairs, which would you say is your favourite? Do you still prefer the Embody / Anthros over any of these?
As someone who did not want to pay anywhere near those prices I think I might just go for one of them as I can't afford to keep buying mid ranged chairs but I did see this one and wonder about it as it is pretty well priced here in the UK. I still think I should go for the Embody though. I'd be trying Anthros if I was able to return it but that isn't available to do yet in the UK.
I was kind of hoping there would be a review of the regular light fabric one. I want a solid seat and not mesh, I wondered if the back gets hot or not.
thanks for putting your slipper in the bio as well :D
I get so many questions about them lol
Great looking chair, sadly impossible to find here. Any chance you have an Ikea Gronfjall review coming up?
SOLD thank you. Getting a fabric one.
I'm chair hunting right now, and this immediately shot to the top of my list when I saw it existed. Seems to check all my boxes, except perhaps the loose arm rests. I'm going to look at some more expensive chairs first, but unless one of them turns out to be made of pixie dust and gold, I'm probably ordering one of these in the regular fabric variant. Don't need expensive, ultra-soft fabric, but I think the better cusion of the non-mesh will suit my 90kg+ body somewhat better.
Either way, I can't wait to be rid of this stupid DXRacer chair I bought 7 years ago...
FINALLY, a full review of this chair, i know it was just annouced a few weeks ago but still, is appreciate it.
If you could answer this doubt, the room I'm at gets quite hot depending at the hour of the day, for such I tend to use shorts (i do WFH) most of the time, I woud use this chair for about 7 hours evert day 5 days a week and for about 3 of those hours it can get a bit of heat in the room im using.
I do preffer the chairs that go up to your head and i really like to lean back when i have some free time, do you think this chair would suit me? I"m 5'5 that's why im asking.
Great review! Just FYI, the lighting was a little dark so I really couldn't see the dark chair and the fabric but again great review!
Uh oh, a new player has entered the ring, and its Fractal! Looks pretty solid too. I bet they fix all the things. Still watching, great channel!
Great video! I’m considering getting a Herman Miller Embody, but this one looks impressive as well. What would you recommend? How do the two compare?
Hands down the Embody. I have become a HUGE believer in chairs moving with you, and nothing does it quite like the higher end chairs like the Embody. Hope this helps, and if you decide to pick up an Embody, please consider using my links! Helps the channel a LOT!
How is it compared to the Herman Miller Embody? Is it worth adding more money for the Embody?
Just bought the chair. Although, I bought mesh and I am 90kg. Will test if its not too soft and I should exchange it for fabric instead.
Hello! I weight the same as you and i'm 6'1. Do you reccomend it? It's comfortable for this weight?
@@Roccosiffredo93 Still waiting for the delivery, cant say atm
@@smthsmth update?
@@AltraHapi Still waiting for the delivery
@@smthsmthupdate? Xd
Amy good recomendation for chairs with footrest attach to it I also like to sit crossed and stretch my legs straith. i don't want to buy a separate foot rest.
I like the headrest, although I wish they had designed it to just flip over to the top of the chair to sit behind the back of the chair when you don't want to use it, instead of needing to take it off and put it somewhere else. The rigid sides on the pan is also a slight disappointment. Honestly I don't get that design on office/gaming chairs at all. It's not like people are going to fall off the chair if they didn't make the seat into a bowl.
Also how's the situation with heat on the alcantara version? I'm assuming it gets warm easily.
Could you review the Eureka Typhon mesh chair?
Hi thank you so much for this informative review, hope you're having a good week!! One question if you have some time, I know you said 165cm height is the min recommended, but as someone who's 155cm, is this chair still okay if I have a footrest + remove the headrest? 🙏
man I was excited, a new chair that might be the one, looked extremely promising on first glance, even the price and warranty. But man, who ever came up with these 3,4 and 5D armrests but almost no one have a locking mechanism for them (for ALL moving directions).. just why. The other only thing that made me loose my excitement almost immediately was how the seat was sloping down again in the back. Never had great experience with this, not even on the 1k-2k chairs. Combine this design of a seat with a shorter seat depth and the sloping down edge in the back and the seat depth function to increase the gap in the back.. horrible feeling. Why can we can not just have a 50x50cm seat minimum and then go from there with sliding the seat in and out for less or more depth. And on top of that, to prevent the feel of a gap in the back after sliding the seat pan out, make the edge in the back of the seat padding go slightly upwards or form it like a cup in the back, just extremely subtle to give that hug feeling in the back bum, so you pretty much never gonna feel a gap even if there is one. I can only dream ;(
Would like to see a long term test of the alcantara. Have some Surface laptops with alcantara, the touch points get a bit gross after a while.
*This one or AndaSeat Kaiser 4 and why?*
Like I wanna hear all the cons and pros when you compare these 2 because I'm thinking about choosing a chair mostly for gaming and I'm not sure which one should I choose (I wish I could just test them both and decide)
ahah finally. i was waiting for a review for this chair. i want this chair. i wish i hadnt bought this haworth soji. its a decent chair dont get me wrong, but id like this chair
I got to try this chair at a store and I was absolutely amazed, I love the material on the arms... But I'm just a bit too short for it 😭 I cant reach the headrest.. I just wanted a chair like this T-T but its a tad too big in different ways ugh 💔💔 the seatpan actually fits me for once being 5'2
I wished you review the full fabric chair alongside the mesh and alcantara.
I can’t say for sure, but I believe the fabric will have the same characteristics as the alcantara minus the soft feel of the fabric. The alcantara isn’t super thick, so it’s not as if you’re getting a ton of cushion from that vs standard fabric!
Is it possible for you to make a video about the Ergohuman chairs? I'm looking for a new chair and almost all the chairs I see reviews off and I get interested in don't ship to Germany, but the Ergohuman Elite G2 for example looks promising.
same here, I'm currently torn between the Refine and the V2 Ergohumans (sitting on a V1 Ergohuman for years now)
@@niecoZlesaEyyy a fellow ergohuman V1 user. Theres dozens of us. DOZENS! I'm interested in this fractal chair, just wish there was a store near me in the UK where I could actually sit in them before buying.
Great review, as always! What would be your minimum user height estimate for someone using a footrest to keep their feet firmly planted, i.e. based on the seat depth and lumbar support height? If the seat height skews high but the seat depth is short and the lumbar support is low enough, the Fractal Refine could be a great ergonomic option for short users sitting at regular fixed-height desks that would normally be too tall for them!
Need a review of the Hbada E3 Ultra asap.
I notice newegg has fabric versions instead of mesh, but they're not the alcantara version. Wonder how those are compared to mesh
its not just gameing chair companies not backing up warrenty. herman miller are also pretty terrible there. they boast a 12 year warranty but when there is a problem they just say "its normal wear, so not covered by warranty"
I'm not short but the throwing of shade at tall people every single video gives me life.
There is also a fabric version, not alcantara that is the same price as the mesh.
I would like to know how it compares on firmness
Texture will obviously be very different
I believe it’ll be the same as alcantara! Minus the softness of course
One question if it's not a secret. Will there be a promised review of the Sihoo S300?
I'm def going to try, but it's likely not going to come for another month or so. I have so many videos for new chairs lined up before the holidays...
@@Ahnestly Ok. Keep on the good work bro! Cheers
Would you recommend this for someone around 155 to 160? Would the headrest be at an uncomfortable height?
The biggest reason I like this chair is that I'm able to swap left and right arms and be able to rest my elbows while reclining and using mouse.
What is with the important question, how about sit cross-legged? Is it comfortable?
@@Teisi300 the single leg tuck answer I give should give you your answer to that one!
@@Ahnestly ah yes thanks, I somehow overlooked that - thanks, so that's not really a chair for me.
Between this and the Asus destrier, what would you recommend for someone thats 185cm tall?
Love ❤️ this video; ur my go-to for chairs. If you don’t review it, I won’t buy it! 😂
It’s funny that he tells his viewers that the firmer version is still softer than the Secret Lab chair. Literally anything is softer than a Secret Lab chair, including my brick house. If he was more Ahnest, he would tell his viewers that a Secret Lab chair is actually made of pure concrete, but they keep it a secret by transmogging/glamouring their chairs before shipping.
Great review. The Alcantara is twice the price of the fabric (Which is another open now)....Darn
I’m new here, looking for a new chair. I like the style of this chair but I’m 1.80 m (5,9 ft) and have a weight of around 85 kg (188 lb), which means I’m too heavy for the mesh version. Hence I struggle, if I shall buy the Alcantara version or instead the Sihoo Doro S300. The S300 looks cool! But the price is a bit higher. Has someone of you tried both and has a recommendation?
bro in the driving seat with a daytona
Had to scroll way too deep into the comments to find another watch geek 😅 I was like yo is that a DAYTONA.....on leather?
Ahnestly how would you compare it to ROG Destrier?
Looks nice. Although I don't think the Alcantara version should be £800. Prestige pricing at its finest. £450 for the mesh/fabric is a good price
Hi could you take a look at the backforce one (plus). I couldn't realy find a good review of it that talks about the ergonomics like you do.
Title: now this is how you do a gaming chair
Me: great, finally I can get a good chair as gaming chairs are cheapers than office chairs
Looks at price: ay caramba....sad noises
How do you feel this compared to the secret lab titan Evo 🤔? Refine brought me to your channel but I've seen your Titan Evo videos and now I'm conflicted
I personally would pick refine over the SecretLab unless you need a larger chair! A little softer cushion, better and more intuitive lumbar. Hope this helps! please consider using my links if you decide to pick up!
Do you know if there's a way to "open up" the armrest and manually tighten something in the armrest to make the forward/backward adjustment less loose?
can you review one of those cheap big chairs that you sit cross legged in please
Fractal made a CHAIR?? Oh I'm so in.
so is it worth it to do the alcantera or just standard fabric? Do you feel the $350 mark up is worth it?
do you prefer the mesh or alcantara version?
For someone around 170-175cm would you reccomend this or the asus destrier?
How would you compare it to Humanscale Freedom?
The mesh is no for me, but the alcantara look really good and the only thing its lacking for me is the seat dept really. Also am used to a firmer seat cushion like Noble chairs, they tend to have longer lifespan and be comfortable.
lol i have a noblechair hero and the seat cushon is pure slop. Hard as hell and uncomfortable made out of cheap foam
@@Roccosiffredo93 i bought mine noblechair epic in 2017 and the only thing i replaced is the gaslift which was within the warranty, so it was free. Mine is basically working as new today accept the seat area is losing the soft layer of the faux leather and I have a tear in leather aswell in the seat bolster. The backrest is still new like day one. Am 186cm and weigh 80kg using it daily. Am very happy with the quality.
My Chair doesn't come with the "Like Botton" on the bottom as yours, maybe its faulty or am i missing something?
Have you gotten really sweaty with the alcantara version during hot days? I feel like the mesh version would be better for breathability.
My studio is too cold to tell…I’d say you sit on top
Of the cushion more than sink in, so wasn’t all that bad!
@@Ahnestlythanks! Also, I know you mentioned you’re 5’ 6” similar to me. Do you find the chair too tall for you or is it fine?
How does it compare to the ROG Strix chair?
This better than the Herman Miller Embody?
Would you recommend this chair for european people who aren't able to buy a Herman Miller Embody?
I was in the market for either an Embody or a Hayworth Fern last year but gave up trying to source either in the UK. This seems to tick the same boxes and is readily available from places like Scan so im sorely tempted
I tried a Fern in Europe but ended up not buying it, it's so bulky and huge, I'm an average build for Europe standards (not big not small) and this didn't feel like it was built for me. I'm looking into European brands now, the American market is catered for huge people imo
I need your professional recommendation! I'm 6'8'' I need a chair with seat depth for my long legs. I currently own the Haworth Fern & the Herman Miller Embody (I purchased both head rests from Atlas per your recommendations. They're great chairs, but just not for my frame.. Please HELP!
Awesome great product!
I'm worried that the alcantara would make you sweaty because of that material? Is that not the case?
They might update the loose armrests in future i heard. Till then im waiting.
Better than ergonomic chairs?