Thermaltake has constructed a long-standing popularity amongst PC builders, particularly with its instances. The firm can also be making an attempt its hand at PC-related furnishings today, and the Thermaltake X Fit Real Leather is its second costliest gaming chair as of writing (topped solely by Thermaltake’s CyberChair E500 White Edition). Undoubtedly, the usage of actual leather-based, a standout among the many sea of PVC and PU fake leather-based choices dominating the market at this time, provides to the chair’s $580 MSRP. But it takes greater than actual leather-based to make one of many finest gaming chairs.
The X Fit Real Leather is claimed to assist players weighing as much as 265 kilos, between 5 toes 5 and 6 toes 3 inches tall, and comes with nice detailing harking back to the seats in a luxurious automobile. But the X Fit’s fancy exterior is the place the thrill ends. Despite a excessive price ticket, the chair does little to distinguish itself from the competitors, together with cheaper gaming chairs. And I want the exhausting foam would conform to my physique higher.
Thermaltake X Fit Real Leather Specs
| Upholstery | Leather |
| Total Height (with base) | 45-54 inches |
| Seat Height | 18.7-22.6 inches |
| Backrest Width (Shoulder Level) | 20.8 inches |
| Seating Area Width (Total) | 22 inches |
| Seating Area Width (Point of Contact) | 18.1 inches |
| Seating Area Depth | 22 inches |
| Armrest Width | 3.9 inches |
| Armrest Height | 25.5-32.6 inches |
| Recommended Maximum Weight | 265 kilos |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Design
You can get the X Fit Real Leather in both black or burgundy red leather-based, and every has totally different stitching patterns. The black model I examined has extra diamonds on the shoulder space, whereas the burgundy crimson one covers the mid and decrease again space with the sample. Note that, for much less cash, there’s the common X Fit chair, which has a $350 MSRP, fake leather-based and fewer detailed stitching. However, inventory for that mannequin appears to be restricted as of writing.
Because I like automobiles, the X Fit Real Leather’s look excites me. With its leaner design, bonded leather-based and tailor-quality stitching, it’s clear that Thermaltake was impressed by modern-day sports activities automobiles. The diamond-stitched sample and matte black leather-based of my evaluation unit jogs my memory of an Audi R8. The stitching could be very tight and clear all through the chair, and I didn’t see one free thread.
Thermaltake logos reside on the headrest, in addition to the fanny pack-shaped lumbar pillow and neck pillow. I’m so glad that Thermaltake has moved on to their present emblem, slightly than the older Dragon Ball-looking logo. The Thermaltake emblem truly seems to be good with the diamond-stitched sample.
Despite utilizing actual leather-based, the X Fit didn’t get heat over lengthy durations of time, and that claims so much as a result of I sweat very simply. The upholstery seems to be fairly sturdy and proved simple to scrub, too. I spilled a few teaspoon of Crystal Light iced tea on the chair, and the mess got here proper up with a moist paper towel. Just to be protected, I went over it with a bit of Armor All leather-based automobile wipes.
But as good because the leather-based seems to be on this chair, the standard is simply scratching the floor when it comes to how luxurious leather-based can really feel. The leather-based used appears to be bonded leather-based, which explains the matte end and less-than-smooth texture. It seems to be good to the eyes, but it surely’s not the highest quality leather-based and doesn’t evaluate, for instance, to good leather-based furnishings you’d discover in a luxurious front room.
The armrests are usually not coated in leather-based in any respect. Instead, they’ve a rubber end that feels a bit coarse and uncomfortable. On the opposite hand, the X Fit Real Leather’s detachable foam neck and lumbar pillows use leather-based, too. Both have the identical stage of high quality and well-crafted stitching because the chair itself. Both are additionally detachable, and you may slide the lumbar pillow up and down the backrest to suit your physique.
Like most gaming chairs that we check — even ones less expensive than our evaluation focus — the X Fit completes the bundle with a gasoline piston and aluminum base that feels very stable. The chair carried out as anticipated throughout my roll check, the place I slid from my desk to my pictures setup 5 toes away. The chair glided simply however not so uncontrollably that I felt like I wanted to anchor myself.
Comfort and Adjustments
Remember that scene from The Incredibles when Mr. Incredible is sitting at an workplace desk and simply looks extremely uncomfortable? That’s how I felt when utilizing the X Fit Real Leather. The chair’s foam is simply too exhausting and dense, whereas the armrests lack ample padding and the seat is slender. This all made it exhausting to calm down and really feel like I belonged within the chair.
After a pair hours of taking part in Mass Effect Legendary Edition whereas sitting within the X Fit Real Leather, my tailbone was not comfortable. I wasn’t in agony, however there was a straining feeling there. I additionally discovered the lumbar pillow to be needed for my again to not harm.
The X FIt Real Leather has a 22mm metal skeleton coated in 75kg high-density foam on the backrest and 55kg on the seat base. According to Thermaltake’s product web page, the froth is supposed to not lose its form, which on this case is definitely a disgrace as a result of I want it contoured to my physique higher.
At 6 foot 1 and about 200 kilos, I’m towards the upper finish of the really useful peak and weight vary, but I by no means felt like I used to be too tall for the chair. I did, nonetheless, want for extra wiggle room.
Although the backrest was sufficiently big for me, the seat was annoyingly slender. Bumpers on the aspect of the seat make for a good, safe match, which might make sense if I had been racing round within the chair, however I’m simply sitting at my desk. Measuring 18 inches throughout and 22 inches from the again of the knees to the backrest, I felt like I used to be sitting in a locker. For comparability, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022’s regular-sized chair (5’ 7” – 6’ 2” and as much as 220 kilos) is about 22 inches throughout and 19.3 inches deep. With Thermaltake’s X Fit, I used to be barely in a position to sit in my bizarre (however most popular) place with my left foot up on the seat.
I requested my Mom, who’s 5 toes 3 inches and round 109 kilos, and a feminine (5’ 9″ and about 130 kilos) to attempt the X Fit. The former additionally discovered the chair too slender, whereas the latter discovered the tighter match to be snug, suggesting the X Fit’s seat could also be extra becoming for some, particularly those that wish to really feel very cosy and/or with slim frames.
My favourite half in regards to the chair are its armrests, that are very adjustable. It’s frequent for gaming chair armrests to maneuver up and down, however the X Fit’s armrests additionally transfer diagonally out and in, towards and away out of your sides and towards and away from the desk. I liked transferring them bowed inward as a result of it considerably improved my ergonomics when typing. When I typed like this and on my Keyboardio Atreus, a break up mechanical keyboard, I felt like I used to be doing my physique a favor.
But after lower than an hour, I started to note how little padding there’s on the armrests. Further, it appears Thermaltake reduce some corners when establishing the armrests as a result of although they’re very maneuverable, they’ve a good quantity of wobble.
The chair pressured me to take a seat with correct posture higher than every other gaming chair I’ve tried earlier than, even with out the lumbar pillow, which is at the very least good for my long-term again well being. The X Fit can recline from 90 levels again to 160 levels, but it surely wasn’t snug absolutely reclined, as a result of slender backrest. It did really feel sturdy in any place, although. However, as a result of the chair is so slender and exhausting, I didn’t really feel relaxed, even when leaning again within the chair.
The X Fit has an adjustable tilt angle of 3-14 levels, and tilting was the one factor that I discovered to make the X Fit snug. This is as a result of tilting it allowed me to press extra weight into the chair and eventually get the dense foam to cushion my physique a bit.
Height changes are managed by a class-4 gasoline piston, which comes very greasy out of the field and is then hooked up to the sturdy base. A devoted lever raises the chair as much as 9 inches, so the chair’s complete peak could be 45-54 inches, identical to the Mavix M5. Both chairs can get nearer to the bottom than the Titan Evo (51.2-54 inches tall), which might come in useful if in case you have a small or brief desk — or should you’re simply not very tall your self.
As talked about, the lumbar pillow did its job in enhancing again consolation in comparison with with out it, but it surely’s nothing particular. It’s of medium density, however I’d have favored to see one thing extra thrilling, particularly at this value level. For instance, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 has a built-in lumbar assist system that allows you to modify firmness and placement. You can, although, additionally modify the situation of the lumbar pillow by utilizing its straps and transferring it up or down.
Assembly
At first, assembling the X Fit appeared easy sufficient, because of Thermaltake’s detailed directions. The printed directions within the field embrace a useful exploded view of the chair, in addition to clear instructions in good English. But when it got here to attaching the backrest to the seat, the sweating and swearing began.
With my evaluation unit, I struggled to get the holes on the aspect of the backrest to line up. This is a standard wrestle within the gaming chair meeting course of and a irritating one at that. Exacerbating my woes, once I lastly bought the backrest on, the plastic cowl that goes over the backrest wouldn’t keep on. It merely wouldn’t snap into place, however I truly most popular the chair with the plastic off as a result of it jogged my memory of a gutted-out monitor automobile.
I’m very grateful that Thermaltake included an Allen wrench that was sufficiently big for me to really grip, in contrast to different items of furnishings that include a small key. Besides persistence, that was the one software I wanted.
Bottom Line
The Thermaltake X Fit Real Leather has a number of potential. Its upholstery has lovely stitching and opts for actual leather-based when so many gaming chairs go for the pretend stuff. But that’s a part of what makes the chair so costly. We’ve discovered the chair on sale for $500 slightly than its $580 MSRP, however you possibly can nonetheless get an excellent gaming chair with a special kind of upholstery for much less.
For instance, the Secretlab Omega remains to be obtainable with fake leather-based for $360 or cloth upholstery for $379, and it has rather more luxurious pillows than our evaluation focus and is supportive with out being stiff. The newer model of that chair, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, could be had with fake leather-based for $450 or cloth for $470 and has a extra spacious seat.
If you insist on actual leather-based, the X Fit Real Leather’s upholstery appears sturdy however nonetheless not like very premium leather-based. Although you do get actual leather-based with Thermaltake’s chair, it’s clearly cheaper leather-based. That mentioned, that is nonetheless value for a leather-based gaming chair. Secretlab’s Omega and Titan Evo chairs begin at $750 and $900, respectively, for an actual leather-based end. But there are even cheaper, non-gaming choices, just like the La-Z-Boy Delano I take advantage of. Its leather-based is smoother and shinier, and the chair is rather more snug.
On prime of that, the X Fit Real Leather is a tough, cosy chair that I discovered exhausting to get snug in. Without any distinctive options added in in comparison with the competitors, I can’t name the X Fit Real leather-based an actual match.
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