Verdict – A solid gaming chair that offers up plenty of comfort and flash for a price that doesn’t make you wince.
Also available through BoysStuff.co.uk (from £169.95)
The Review
British gaming chair manufacturer Brazen has been making waves for some time now. We were lucky enough to get our hands on their latest model, the Brazen Sentinel Elite PC Gaming Chair. Coming in at under £200, we were intrigued to see what Brazen could offer gamers with such a reasonable price tag.
The first thing to note is that the Sentinel is a big chair, with an impressive seat width and back height, and you soon appreciate just how big when you come to construct the chair. It’s heavy too, which piqued our interest as typically weight is a good indication of material and build quality. Our reviewer was able to put it together solo, but an extra pair of hands would’ve gone a long way. Users will note there comes a stage where there’s a gap of several inches between the backrest and an attachment bracket – rest assured, with a bit of grunt, they do meet.
Sitting on the Sentinel is a very comfortable experience. The seat's bucketing is deep and wide, providing plenty of support and keeping your position centred without ever feeling as though you’re being squeezed in, which can be an issue with smaller framed chairs. The padding on the seat and backrest is generous too, keeping the reviewer comfortable throughout days of work and nights of gaming. The synthetic leather upholstery is finished to a good standard and carries a certain luxurious quality with it, yet, as with any chair using this material, the hot weather can be unforgiving, with backs and legs becoming particularly warm.
The Sentinel comes with two cushions, one for the head or neck, and one for lumbar support. These are easily adjustable and can be positioned where suits, though we found the lumbar support to be unnecessary and quite severe with its sharp angles and rigidity. The chair’s bucketing and supportive padding offered enough support on its own, though the softer head cushion was a welcome addition, cradling our neck during more relaxed gaming sessions.
In terms of aesthetic, the Sentinel wants to be noticed. The black and grey panelling sits alongside panels of vibrant colouring which, when combined with the embroidered Brazen logo, screams ‘Twitch streamer’. We have to admit, Brazen has pulled the look off with complete success.
For all its good, there are areas where Brazen has made some concessions to keep the overall pricing down. The height-adjustable arms work well, though their rotation lock isn’t as strict as we’d like, twisting slightly from side to side. The piston lift and attachment bracket are no different from those that you’ll find on stock office chairs, and while they fulfil their function well, we did need to lubricate a few joints to kill off a persistent squeak that developed after two weeks of use. While neither of these issues are terminal to the Sentinel’s success, it’s important to note where the chair falls short of higher-priced options of similar comfort levels and design.
Overall, we were impressed by the Sentinel. Coming in at under £200, Brazen has managed to deliver a product that ticks all the boxes expected of a racer-style gaming chair. It’s huge, it’s visually loud, and it’s comfortable all day long.
Also available through BoysStuff.co.uk (from £169.95)
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Features
Recline and Tilt
The Sentinel can be reclined, and is controlled with a short metal lever. There’s tilt too, which can be allowed or disabled as desired.
Wide Base
The five-stem nylon base has a wide footprint, providing a stable foundation that keeps things steady, even in full recline.
Castors
The nylon-caster wheels have a slightly-gripped rim, which helps them maintain traction on carpet and hard floors alike. They’re colour matched to the chair too, which is a nice touch.
Cushions
One soft head cushion and one firm lumbar cushion are provided. Attached via elasticated straps and buckles, they can be positioned to suit the individual, or removed entirely.
Adjustable Armrests
The adjustable armrests are height adjustable, which is controlled via a discreet latch, and can also be rotated from left to right.
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