Most gaming chairs are upholstered in PU leather, which has the unfortunate side effect of not being very breathable. If you live in a hot climate and would like to avoid the unpleasant feeling of your chair sticking to you, a good mesh gaming chair might be the better option.
In this buyer’s guide we review the 8 best mesh gaming chairs you can get on the market..
Best Mesh Gaming Chairs at a Glance
Let’s look at our picks for the best mesh gaming chairs based on different criteria:
- DXRacer AIR – Best Overall Mesh Gaming Chair
- NeueChair – Runner Up
- Samofu Mesh Office Chair – Best Option with a Footrest
- MIISLAIN Ergonomic Office Chair – Best Under $200
- Gabrylly High Back Office Chair – Best Under $300
- Steelcase Series I – Best option with fabric seat
- Gabrylly Flipup Office Chair – Best Option with Flipup Arms
- Oak Hollow Furniture Aloria – Best for Big and Tall Gamers
Best Overall Mesh Gaming Chair
DXRacer AIR
Starting off our list is the DXRacer Air mesh gaming chair, the most breathable gaming chair we’ve ever tested. It’s also one of the most striking, with a futuristic exoskeleton frame that would fit right in as the captain’s seat on the Millennium Falcon.
We reviewed the DXRacer AIR during the summer in close to 40 degrees temperature. The all-mesh design featuring large diamond shape patterns was the only gaming chair that didn’t stick to our bodies after just a few minutes, unlike any PU leather chair. And thanks to the robust multi-tilt mechanism, you can independently lock in the angle of both the seat and backrest to find the most comfortable seating posture.
The neck pillow on the AIR is also one of a kind. It’s mounted on tracks that allows you to adjust it for height while staying in place. Apart from the Secretlab Titan Evo, this is the only gaming chair with just an ingenious design.
A couple of drawbacks with the AIR. The lumbar support is made of a strip of flexible plastic, and can start to feel uncomfortable after a while. Also, the mesh material is coarser than on some of the other chairs we’ve tested, though it does feel more durable and longer lasting as a result.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Premium all-mesh design for extreme breathability
- Height adjustable neck rest that stays in place
- Multi-tilt mechanism that locks in back and seat angle separately
- Backrest reclines 135°
- 4D armrests
- Weight and capacity: 242lbs.
What Other Owners Say:
- This is one sturdy gaming chair. Feels like a tank.
- I wish the lumbar support had some padding on it
Runner’s Up for Best Mesh Gaming Chair
NeueChair from Secretlab
Secretlab has always been the dark horse in the gaming chair industry, adding a sophisticated, corporate spin to all of its chairs. The NeueChair is Secretlab’s version of the mesh gaming chair, and successfully blends superior ergonomics and comfort with a more muted style that fits perfectly in any home or office.
Like with all Secretlab chairs, two things you can count on with the NeueChair are supreme comfort and build quality.
The mesh on the NeueChair consists of three layers that give it an almost velvety feel. According to the company, it uses a mixture of polyester fibre and DuPont yarn, making it soft on the skin yet extremely durable. In fact, the mesh has passed the ASTM tensile and tearing strength tests.
The NeueChair isn’t just highly adjustable, it’s also designed to be easily so. If you’ve ever had to control the tilt tension on most chairs, you know what a chore that is, by having to reach down to the bottom of the seat. All of the controls on the Neue are intelligently placed so you can activate them without so much as reaching down or bending over.
And speaking of adjustments, there are plenty on the NeueChair. The seat for example can be adjusted for depth. The lumbar support is well padded, and is both height and depth adjustable.
In our review of the NeueChair, the main letdowns we found are the 2D armrests that don’t lock into place, and the hefty price tag ($599 at last check), which doesn’t include the excellent headrest attachment).
Features and Specs at a Glance
- Soft yet resilient NeueMesh upholstery
- Intuitive controls for quickly adjusting all aspects of the chair
- Backrest tilts and reclines up to 130 degrees
- Adjustable seat depth
- Weight and capacity: 64lbs/ 240lbs.
- Chair seat height: 18.5” – 22”
What Other Owners Say:
- I was quite hesitant to pull the buy trigger. But I don’t regret it one bit.
- The mesh is silky smooth and very comfortable.
Best Option with Footrest
SAMOFU Mesh Office Chair
The SAMOFU chair is perhaps the most adjustable mesh gaming chair in its price range you can get. This maximizes the changes the chair will fit you, and fit you well. It’s also the only chair on the list with a footrest, so you can finally take your feet off the desk when you lean back.
Kicking off the list of notable features is a backrest that can actually move up and down up to 2.4”. Combined with a dynamic lumbar support that is pressure sensitive, you’re much better ensured the lumbar support will fit your unique body. One owner happily extolled that the pictures do not do it justice in terms of comfort.
You’ll find a lot of other high end features on the SAMOFU. Those include a seat that can move in and out 2” to cater to the length of your thighs, 4D armrests, and a robust headrest that is both wide and can move up and down 3”. All these specs just means a chair that better caters to you, instead of the other way around.
And finally, we’d be remiss not to mention the footrest on the SAMOFU. It works beautifully in conjunction with the reclining backrest when you’re watching Youtube or Netflix to just relax .
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Wide, self adjusting dynamic lumbar support
- 4D adjustable armrests that pivots close to 360 degrees.
- 3-inch height adjustable headrest with 45° rotation
- Backrest tilts and reclines up to 135°
- Elastic waterfall mesh seat with 2-inch adjustable seat depth
- Pullout footrest
- Weight and capacity: 59.9lbs/ 350lbs.
- Chair seat height: 18.7” – 22.2”
What Other Owners Say:
- This chair is equal or better quality to chairs costing twice as much. Worth it.
- Comfortable even for very tall people, but the backrest doesn’t stay in place for me.
Best Mesh Gaming Chair under $200
MIISLAIN Ergonomic Office Chair
The MIISLAIN ergonomic chair is our pick for the best budget mesh chair. Costing just under $200 (at time of writing), this gaming chair offers a heck of a value for what you’re paying.
The backrest on the MIISLAIN is made of breathable mesh, reinforced with an exoskeleton Y-shape frame. The combination gives the chair a very masculine look.
Unlike a lot of mesh gaming chairs, the seat here is made of padded nylon. While this makes it less breathable, it is a better choice for people who crave a more plush sitting experience while still getting the benefit of mesh in the backrest where most people sweat the most.
Another interesting thing about the MIISLAIN are the design of the armrests. The base that the armrests are attached to can actually swivel up to 60 degrees, allowing you to partially move the armrests out of the way when desired. They are also length adjustable.
And finally, the MISLAIN has one last trick up its sleeve- a depth adjustable seat. This is a feature usually found on much pricier chairs.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Backrest can tilt up 135°
- Depth adjustable seat
- Mesh backrest combined with more supple nylon seat
- 3D armrests with a rotating base
- Weight and Capacity: 53.9 lbs/ na
- Chair height: 19” – 23”
What Other Owners Say:
- The chair looks and feels much more expensive than it is. Very happy with it.
- The foam seat is durable, but not the most comfortable.
Best Mesh Gaming Chair under $300
Gabrylly High Back Office Chair
The Gabrylly mesh gaming chair stands out for its overall build quality and comfort. One owner put it best when he said “For the money, you can’t go wrong with this chair”.
The part of the Gabrylly chair most often praised has got to be the backrest. The 3 piece mesh design cradles the natural curvatures of your spine perfectly, while the silver x-shaped frame gives it a distinctly superhero look. Several people have commented that the chair has helped them with back pain.
Moving on to the seat, we like the highly pronounced waterfall edge that is also well padded underneath. This cushions your thighs without applying too much pressure to it. The mesh on the seat is dense and well made.
One letdown of the chair are the armrests. For the price, we wish it could also be adjusted for width, especially given the slightly wider seat that measures 18.9” across.
Features and specs at a Glance:
- Headrest that’s height and angle adjustable
- Breathable mesh 3 piece backrest
- Recline tilt back up to 120 degrees
- Length adjustable 2D armrests
- Weight and Capacity: 47.7lbs/ 300 lbs.
- Chair seat height: n/a
What Other Owners Say:
- This chair beats traditional gaming chairs in comfort and support. It’s just so comfy.
- Pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to assemble the chair.
Best option with fabric seat
Steelcase Series 1
From world renowned furniture manufacturer Steelcase, the Series 1 is an elegant mesh gaming chair with a comfortable fabric seat. Its beauty lies in its minimalistic design that conceals a highly ergonomic and durable chair.
To a lot of people, the microknit mesh backrest and fabric seat on the Series 1 is the perfect combination. Unlike regular mesh, the material on the chair’s backrest is softer, and as a result, more comfortable while still being extremely breathable. Throw in a nicely padded fabric seat, and you have a chair that you can sit in for hours on end without feeling scratchy or uncomfortable.
Instead of a whole bunch of controls, it takes just one to toggle the backrest’s tilt angle, tension, and lock. The ease in which you can make these customizations encourages you to frequently make changes to your back posture, which is much healthier for your back.
Other high end features found on the Series I are a depth adjustable seat, 4D armrests, and a wide flexible lumbar support that can move up and down. All of them can be accessed easily without ever getting out of your seat.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Comfortable 3D micronit backrest
- Height-adjustable 4D armrests
- Height adjustable headrest and lumbar support
- Weight-activated mechanism with one control to toggle both tilt and tilt tension
- Weight and capacity: 69lbs/ 300lbs
- Chair seat height: 16.5″ – 21.5″
What Other Owners Say:
- This chair provides excellent lumbar support. It’s a great work from home chair.
- The Series 1 looks professional, is comfortable and easy to assemble.
Best Option with Flipup Arms
Gabrylly Flipup Office Chair
If you’re looking for a gaming chair with flip up arms, the Gabrylly is our top pick due to the clever design that makes them height adjustable as well, unlike most of its counterparts on the market. This all mesh chair also scores high in overall ergonomics and build quality.
Flip up arms are a particular asset for freeing up more space in your seat. If you like to stretch while seated or play the guitar, you’ll find this feature indispensable. They also make it easier to move the chair under any desk to get out of the way when not needed.
Complimenting the dismissable armrests is a large 20″W x 19.3″D mesh seat with a well pronounced waterfall edge. These specs make the chair roomy enough even for larger folks.
In other areas of adjustments, the backrest on the Gabrylly can recline back 120 degrees. That’s certainly not the steepest we’ve seen in gaming chairs. The headrest however is much more versatile, being able to both pivot and move up.
A couple of drawbacks of the chair. The lumbar support on the Gabrylly is fixed, which means if you don’t like its position, you’ll need to get an external pillow to make up the difference. Some owners also felt that the mesh material is too harsh, though overtime people usually get used to it.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Armrests are both dismissable and height adjustable
- Large 20″W x 19.3″D seat
- Backrest reclines up to 120°
- 2D adjustable headrest
- Weight and capacity: 41lbs/ 280 lbs.
- Chair seat height: 18.5″ – 22.05″
What Other Owners Say:
- Compared to my boyfriend’s Herman Miller, this chair is more comfortable and comes at a quarter of the price.
- The mesh is harder and not as comfortable as I had thought.
Best for Big or Tall Gamers
Oak Hollow Furniture Aloria
It can be quite frustrating shopping for mesh chairs when you’re big and tall. It’s not just about the dimensions that matter, but just as importantly, the build quality. The Aloria gaming chair checks both boxes with its large size, tall cylinder and superb structural quality.
The Aloria chair has an advertised weight limit of 300 lbs. Backing up that figure is a sturdy aluminum base, metal frame and an ultra large and well padded seat.
The seat on the Aloria measures a hefty 21.5″ W by 20” D, making it suitable even for really large folks. It’s also depth adjustable, allowing you to increase the depth to 22.25” at its maximum. And we’d be remiss not to mention the material of the seat – it consists of high density foam upholstered in premium cowhide leather for the ultimate in durability and breathability.
Moving on to the backrest, here is where you’ll find a mesh cover with a decent lumbar support behind it. The backrest can recline and lock into 4 different angles. The presets make it easier to go back to a previous angle you found comfortable for doing a certain task, such as watching a movie.
The Aloria isn’t the cheapest mesh gaming chair on this list, but if you’re big and tall, this is the one that has the size, build quality and warranty (5 years) to support you properly.
Features and Specs at a Glance:
- Thickly padded seat covered in premium cowhide leather
- Adjustable seat depth
- Wide breathable mesh backrest with adjustable lumbar
- 4 different recline angle settings
- 4D Armrests
- Weight and capacity: 300 lbs.
- Chair height: 16.9 – 21.6″
What Other Owners Say:
- I’m 6’8” and this is the best office chair I’ve found yet for my body size.
- Good quality but the armrests are annoying in that they don’t lock into place.
