INTRODUCTION

   Proper sitting posture versus looks, this is the main dilemma usually people face when out to get a new gaming and/or office chair. Of course, other factors come into play as well including comfort (chair padding), cover material (usually between PU leather, real leather and fabric), brand name, availability and needless to say cost so it's not that uncommon for people to end up making the wrong choice in the end. I've actually been there in the past long before i started testing gaming and office chairs but even today and after dozens of such reviews it's still not possible for me to find a model that delivers on every single thing I’d like. The SKILLER SGS40 line of gaming chairs by Sharkoon is one of their most popular to date and for the past 40 days or so I’ve used the Fabric variant in the office/lab.

   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 SKILLER SGS40 line of gaming chairs by Sharkoon is currently available with 2 different covers (PU leather and breathable fabric) and in 2 different color combinations (black and grey/black). All 4 models are filled with high density mould shaping foam (60-70Kg/m3 – Sharkoon doesn’t specify how much for the seat and the backrest), 22mm steel frame for superior durability, class-4 gaslift with a total weight support of up to 150Kg (backrest and seat included), 4D adjustable armrests (height, position and orientation), 75mm caster wheels with locks, backrest adjustment (up to 160 degrees) and a multifunction tilt/rocking (up to 14 degrees) and height adjustment mechanism. On paper the SKILLER SGS40 looks great, time to find out if that’s really the case.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Same as with the SKILLER SGS30 the SGS40 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 SGS40 are printed on both sides right next to the cover and color selection.

The bundle is wrapped inside plastic bags and placed between sheets of foam and cardboard.

First part to come out of the box was the 86cm tall backrest.

Next was the 5-star aluminum base.

Inside a cardboard box Sharkoon has placed the multifunction mechanism, five 75mm caster wheels, class-4 gaslift and its cover, side covers, two Allen keys, 5 screws, two plastic caps, pair of gloves and the manual.

The seat with the two 4D armrests already attached came out last.

ASSEMBLY

As usual I started the assembly by attaching the caster wheels onto the 5-star aluminum base.

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

75mm caster wheels look great and once again Sharkoon has placed models with locks/stops.

Sharkoon has used a reinforced seat for their SGS40 model (22mm steel).

Each 4D armrest is held in place securely via 4 screws.

Taking a closer look, we see that the seat has two visible metal plates and 3 elastic bands underneath.

The multifunction mechanism attaches onto the base via 4 screws.

Each side of the backrest has two holes occupied by large screws.

After you attach the backrest onto the seat you will need to mount the plastic covers with the bundled caps as seen above.

With the upper end of the SKILLER SGS40 ready it’s time to place it onto the class-4 gaslift.

FINISHED LOOKS

Grey may not be the most attractive and lively color out there but I do like the hue Sharkoon has used.

The company logo is stitched at the top of the backseat.

In terms of quality the breathable fabric Sharkoon has used is very good, it however doesn’t look quite as good as that used with some other models.

The height of the 4D armrests can be adjusted by roughly 8cm 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.

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

    The SKILLER SGS30 gaming chair by Sharkoon may not have been perfect but it did well during the time I used it so naturally I was expecting more from the higher-end SGS40 model and for the most part that’s exactly what I got. Yes, the SKILLER SGS40 is still not the perfect gaming chair (padding for example could be slightly better – still very comfortable regardless) but it scores higher both in build quality and features since it comes ready with 4D armrests and the more robust multifunction mechanism. Yes, I would had liked more color combinations than just black and grey/black but my guess is Sharkoon wanted the SKILLER SGS40 line to be more “serious/elegant” than their SGS30 one.

    At the time of this review the SKILLER SGS40 Gaming Chair (Grey/Black Breathable Fabric model) retails for 375.46Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price tag which is actually set slightly higher than what I was expecting (then again, most prices have risen this past year). At the end of the day what I can say with certainty is that the SKILLER SGS40 by Sharkoon is a very good gaming chair, yes, it’s not perfect but it delivers where it matters and for that it deserves the Golden Award.

PROS

- Very Good Build Quality (Breathable Fabric / 22mm Steel Frame / Multifunction Mechanism)
- Features (Adjustable Height / 4D Adjustable Armrests / 160 Degrees Backrest Adjustment / 14 Degrees Rocking Function / 75cm Caster Wheels With Locks)
- Very Comfortable
- Available In PU Leather & Breathable Fabric Versions

CONS

- Availability (Outside The EU)