Founded by former e-sports professionals, Secretlab has a strong gaming pedigree and instant name recognition within the community. The Omega Gaming Chair is its flagship offering, boasting Cold-Cure padding, robust materials and the promise of comfort for countless hours spent in front of the PC. What’s The Best’s gamer-in-residence William Lobley takes a closer look.

The Secretlab Omega Gaming Chair is available from Secretlab.com for an RRP of £379. Click here to visit the product page.

The Review

Compared with products both higher and lower in the marketplace, the Omega was quick and easy to put together. Instructions are clear, the frame reasonably light and the arms and seat come already bolted together. All you need to do is slot the base together and attach the backrest. The hinge and mechanism caps are a surprise early highlight. After spending far too much time fiddling with tiny screws when setting up Secretlab's competition, touches like the simple magnetic connections and high-quality grip-friendly toolkit were a relief. Though in the long-term, build time and magnetic hinge caps really don't matter much, they give an early insight into the care and consideration that Secretlab has put into the whole Omega user experience.

In terms of aesthetics, the Omega is a good looking chair. It’s got some pretty persistent branding, but the embroidered details are well-placed and forceful, while elsewhere there sits some more subtle, relief logos. Emblazoned on a sub-standard item, these might feel out of place - a bit shouty or ostentatious. But here, they fit right in - with the Omega it feels like Secretlabs has earned its right to be proud.

The SoftWeave upholstery is just that: soft and woven. Though almost fluffy to the touch, it promises great, hard-wearing durability. Underneath the upholstery sits the Secretlab Cold-Cure foam, which offers both heat regulation and long-lasting firmness. The fabric and padding make for a plush pairing that feels at once lavish and robust. Even after a workday and hours of gaming, the material remained temperate and comfortable.

Though high-backed and by-no-means subtle, the Omega is slightly smaller than I had expected; this is no flaw, but coming from the positively looming noblechairs Hero, the Omega does feel like a more compact, racer-like seat. The backrest curves at its outermost edges to support the upper back and shoulders, while the high and steep bucketed sides of the seat keep the legs and hips locked into position. This combination of ergonomic support keep you upright, comfortable and alert.

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I have to confess that as someone who gets a little restless after hours on the PC, regularly shifting position to sit on my legs or feet (yes, I know that's bad), at times I found the Omega’s narrow frame and bucket seat restrictive. Also restrictive is Secretlab's choice to not provide built-in lumbar support - a strange choice though one that, admittedly, won’t bother everyone.

Potential buyers need not fear purchasing a too-tight chair, however, as Secretlab has kindly provided a sizing guide online that lets you know whether you'll fit the Omega. If not, its range caters for those who prefer larger chairs - the Secretlab Titan in particular appears to answer these criticisms.

The Omega comes with two cushions, one head and one lumbar, to help out those who would like it a little more support. Both are high-quality products, but the lumbar support stands out for me. It’s the best example of a lumbar cushion I’ve seen, being both large, sculpted and stuffed with first-rate memory foam. I usually throw these cushions on a shelf after a brief trial, but this one stayed with me for the whole duration of testing.

Elsewhere there are the standard office chair features that do offer some flexibility in positioning. The armrests' padding is a soft, springing material and are adjustable over the traditional 4D-axis, with chromium plating finishing off the buttons and levers. Interestingly, here I found the narrowness of the Omega chair a benefit, allowing the armrest to tuck in and keep my elbows close while on the PC, while quickly being able to widen them out for gaming with a controller. Responsive and versatile recline and hydraulic controls are all present and correct, too.

The Secretlab Omega is hard not to admire. In terms of material choice, styling and finishing touches, it's got a lot to love. My own leg-sitting foibles aside, every element of the chair’s design and execution attains to the highest of standards.

Pros: High-quality build, stunning aesthetic and comfortable for upright posture.

Cons: Bucketed seat, depending on taste.

William Lobley is a Content Writer and reviewer for What's The Best, specialising in technology, gaming, and outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online.

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