INTRODUCTION

   Lately many friends, family members and even readers have come forward to ask what type of chair they should be getting, mainly between gaming and ergonomic models (some even mentioned large office chairs but i don't really have extensive experience with them). Well, my answer is always the same, it all comes down to usage so if you're sitting for countless hours Infront of your computer an ergonomic chair could be the better choice. Still even that however is not 100% certain (many things come down to personal preference in the end) and so i always encourage people to try numerous chairs before they make their decision (especially if they plan on spending a good amount on one). Sharkoon is well known for their PC cases and gaming peripherals and since many of you asked today, I’ll be testing their latest gaming chair model, the SKILLER SGS30.

   Since 2003, Sharkoon has been developing “Designed in Germany” gaming products, which are popular in the worldwide gaming community due to an exceptional combination of high-performance and affordability. Stylish PC cases, precision keyboards or mice and comfortable gaming chairs – all these represent an elegant blend of high-quality design and modern technology. Numerous awards from the international trade press underscore the performance and quality of the Sharkoon brand.

   The SGS30 is the latest addition in the growing SKILLER line of gaming chairs by Sharkoon and is currently available in 4 different color combinations (black/beige, black/white, black/pink and black/red). All 4 models feature a faux leather (PU) or fabric cover filled with high density mould shaping foam (55kg/m3 for the backrest and 60kg/m3 for the seat), steel frame for superior durability (19-22mm in diameter), class-4 gaslift with a total weight support of up to 130Kg (backrest and base excluded), 88cm tall backrest with support for people up to 1.85m in height, 3D adjustable armrests (height, position and orientation), removable head and lumbar support pillows (dressed with high quality velour fabric), 75mm caster wheels with locks, backrest adjustment (up to 165 degrees) and a butterfly tilt/rocking (up to 14 degrees) and height adjustment mechanism. So, is the SKILLER SGS30 the gaming chair of your dreams? Let's find out.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

As with most gaming chairs the SKILLER SGS30 arrived inside a plain cardboard box the front of which has a drawing of the chair, its name and the company logo.

The features and specifications of the SKILLER SGS30 are printed on both sides.

The bundle is wrapped inside plastic bags and placed between sheets of foam and cardboard (the user manual and mounting instructions was placed on top).

First thing to come out of the box was the 88cm tall backrest with its two support pillows.

Next in line was the 5-star aluminum base.

The base was followed by the butterfly mechanism, five 75mm caster wheels, class-4 gaslift and its cover, side covers, two Allen keys, 3 screws and a pair of gloves.

The seat with the two 3D armrests was last.

ASSEMBLY

The seat Sharkoon has used for their SGS30 model is quite reinforced so it should be durable enough.

4 Allen screws are used for each 3D armrest.

Mounting the butterfly mechanism requires 4 more screws.

Next is to attach the caster wheels onto the 5-star aluminum base.

75mm caster wheels look great and on top of that Sharkoon has also placed locks/stops something which I’ve only seen once before.

Attaching the class-4 gaslift with its plastic cover onto the 5-star aluminum base comes next.

Each side of the backrest has a piece of plastic with 5 holes in it (2 are the ones on the chair itself).

After you attach the backrest onto the seat you will need to mount the plastic covers.

FINISHED LOOKS

Black and white is one of the most classic color combinations so the SKILLER SGS30 does look nice (and it’s also quite padded as well).

The company logo is stitched at the top of the backseat while the name is placed further on the left.

Sharkoon has engraved the model’s name at the center of the backrest and it does look very nice.

Both the PU leather and the stitching are of very good quality.

The height for the 3D armrests can be adjusted by roughly 13cm whereas the top can move forward, backwards and diagonally to suit your body type.

Both the company name and logo are placed at the rear top of the backrest.

The support pillows are dressed with good quality velour (the lumbar pillow as you can all see is quite large).

Thanks to its backrest adjustment of up to roughly 165 degrees and tilt function of up to 14 degrees you should also be able to take short rests after long periods of gaming.

SCORE

Many of you recommended (including some manufacturers) that I place a chart pointing to the pros and cons of each gaming chair that finds its way to the lab. Now of course since there's really no way for me to "benchmark" gaming chairs i decided to rate them based on their size, comfort and quality after using each chair for at least one full week. Size and comfort usually go hand to hand (the larger the chair the more comfortable it usually is - that however also depends on the amount of padding and also the type and quality of the cover) while in terms of quality having tested dozens of models over the past years, i think i have a good idea about that as well. Of course, these scores are based on my personal opinion (always based on the samples i get – isolated/early sample issues are always possible) so do take them with a grain of salt.

CONCLUSION

   As with most chairs to arrive in the lab I ended up using the Sharkoon SKILLER SGS30 for a total of almost 1 full month during which it did extremely well, for the most part anyways. As a matter of fact, I only had a slight issue with the butterfly mechanism which wasn’t very steady and yes, I’ve had numerous problems with that type of mechanism all along (which is why it’s no secret that I prefer the Z-support more). This doesn’t mean the chair will fall apart or anything but had Sharkoon used another type things would probably be better. That being said PU leather quality is very good, I encountered no issues with any of the stitching and as for comfort levels the large size of the chair combined with its good amount of padding offer plenty of it. The two velour dressed support pillows complete the chair and even though the lumbar piece is not something I used a lot during that month I’m sure many will come to value a lot both due to its size and padding. What stood out the most for me however were the 75mm caster wheels which the end user can lock in place. This is not a new feature, some high-end office chairs have had it for decades, still it’s only the 2^nd time I’ve seen it up close with a gaming chair model so kudos to Sharkoon for that.

   As I type these lines the SKILLER SGS30 Gaming Chair by Sharkoon retails for 299Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price tag which lands it at the center of many similar models (limited availability outside the EU). That being said I really like the SKILLER SGS30, yes, it’s not perfect (which product is?) but it still delivers as advertised and for that it deserves the Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Build Quality (PU Faux Leather / Steel Frame)
- Features (Adjustable Height / 3D Adjustable Armrests / 165 Degrees Backrest Adjustment / 14 Degrees Rocking Function)
- Very Comfortable
- Large Head & Lumbar Support Pillows
- 75cm Caster Wheels With Locks
- Available In 4 Color Combinations (PU Leather & Fabric)

CONS

- Butterfly Mechanism (Not Very Sturdy / Isolated Issue?)
- Availability (Outside The EU)