In the world of gaming setups, it’s fair to say that Secretlab is one of the best, if not the best, in the game. They strive to deliver ergonomically tested, functional, and aesthetically pleasing luxury gaming products, and pretty much without fail, they do so with aplomb.
However, when it comes to their chairs, and most notably, their TITAN EVO series, they have always focused on providing a chair that provides an expert blend of comfort and functionality, never swaying too far in either direction to compromise the other.
Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Review - A Titan of the Industry
We’ve had the chance to test out the Titan Evo 2022 thoroughly, and we have this to say.
Now, don’t get it twisted. Compromising on ergonomic design is never something this brand will do, but with the advent of the Recliner add-on for the TITAN EVO, we definitely see a move toward comfort over function, effectively aiming to turn your bolt-upright gaming chair into a cozy armchair.
It’s something that I never knew I needed until it was a viable option, and thanks to the seamless nature of it’s design, not to mention the comfort it provides. It’s not something I would now ever be without.
You can probably already guess the way this review is going to go, but for a more in-depth run-down, stick around for our Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner Add-on Review
Delivery & Assembly
We kick things off with the process of turning your standard TITAN EVO into a recliner. I had initially assumed this would end up being a rather fiddly and irritating process, but that couldn’t have been further from the case.
Unlike my last delivery,this one was exceptionally smooth with no issues from the 3rd party courier, and thankfully, there was a lot less packaging to lug up and down my stairs.
Upon opening the box, I still found that there was a little too much packaging and filler content for what was actually sent my way, which is a minor gripe, but I’m sure environmentalists appreciate that sort of information.
Not to mention that a toolset was sent out, as is standard, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why I would have ever needed said tools to complete this assembly. I’ll never turn down a snazzy magnetic Secretlab screwdriver, but it seemed a little unnecessary here.
The packaging was a small issue, but I soon forgot all about that as I breezed through the assembly process in just a handful of minutes.
I timed how long the entire process took, from opening the box to reclining and relaxing, and it was approximately 12 minutes.
This unit comes in a single box and requires no assembly at all, as the Recliner comes pre-assembled and ready to be attached to your chair, which is a blessing, let me tell you.
All you need to do is slot in four rubber clips at the bottom of your chair, then slot in your recliner above each clip at an angle. After that you simply secure the Recliner with two outer clips and just like that, you’re practically done.
You just need to slip on the handle provided to the Recliner lever and once you tip your chair back upright, you have yourself a bonafide Secretlab armchair.
The assembly process could not have been quicker or easier, and that bodes well for those who want to change out this accessory on the fly, as it takes no time at all to detatch and re-attach this piece of kit.
To hammer it home, I timed how long the entire process took, from opening the box to reclining and relaxing, and it was approximately 12 minutes. So even the most reluctant builder of new furniture can get behind this one.
Aesthetics and Comfort
Now that the not-so-grueling assembly process is over in what feels like a blink of an eye, we can now look upon our new Recliner in all its glory, and it is a sight to behold.
The Recliner is a slick black Plushcell design that you can tell is as soft as silk merely by looking at it. The material used has a suede feel to it, and has a gleam to it that marries together nicely with the generaldesign and style of the TITAN EVO.
It’s essentially the same quality productas the Plushcell Footrest, but with the recliner attachment to add even more comfort and value.
From the moment I let the recliner out and tilted my chair back, I instantly thought to myself, ‘I could sleep here.’
It’s also worth noting that if you have a black TITAN EVO design like myself, it is designed to blend in seamlessly with the rest of the chair, feeling less like an add-on that came much later, and more like an extension of the chair that was always there.
This is a real strength of this add-on, as there is never any need to detach this feature once you have it installed, as it sits tight to the bottom of the chair in line with the floor, so you never really notice that it’s there unless you’re actively using it. This means you can still use the chair as you would normally, and when the notion takes you, you can kick back.
The only downside to the overall design at this moment in time is that this product only comes in black, which can make pairing it with lighter chairsor more vibrant Skinsa little harder, but the trade-off for the comfort it provides will likely be worth it, even if the design is at odds with your chair’s color palette.
SecretLab MAGNUS Pro Pure White Sit-To-Stand Desk Review
Bright, Sleek, innovative. Everything you could ever want from a Gaming Desk!
Which neatly leads us on to the comfort provided by this little add-on. It’s incredible how one small change like this can highlight just how comfortable and versatile the TITAN EVO is.
From the moment I let the recliner out and tilted my chair back, I instantly thought to myself, ‘I could sleep here’. Which is the exact same thing my wife said when she did the same, so it wasn’t just me that thought so.
The recliner add-on is soft to the touch, extends as much or as little as you want it to, and supports the weight of your legs as you recline and relax. So, in short, it does everything you could possibly ask.
Functionality
When it comes to add-ons and features such as this, the main thing you are looking for is ease of use without impeding the way you used the chair prior to the add-on, which is exactly what the Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner Add-on provides.
This add-on functions via one lever on the right-hand side of the chair, and with this single lever, you’re able to fully extend the recliner with one single pull. Then, to adjust the angle of the recliner, you can simply keep the lever pulled and apply weight to push the recliner to where it suits your preference.
I will note that initially, after the assembly of the product, I encountered some occasional lock-ups from the mechanism that would not allow me to unrecline the chair.
But after some extended use, it seems that this was just a temporary out-of-the-box issue, as the add-on works perfectly as intended now. However, I feel it’s good to mention it in case someone panics and deems the product faulty prematurely.
Plus, as mentioned, the product is so easy to detach if you ever want to attach it to a different chair or lend it to a pal to test out.
Not to mention, the overall design ensures that this add-on takes up no more room than your chair did initially, meaning there’s no reason why this couldn’t work for your current setup if you have a TITAN EVO.
Then, finally, comes how badly this product will sting the wallet if you want to upgrade your current TITAN EVO.
As always with Secretlab products, this is the main pain point of the review and the jumping-off point for most, as these luxury products don’t come cheap.
To get your hands on this one, you’ll need to part ways with $199/£159, which is a lot no matter what way you look at it, especially for a product that only seeks to enhance comfort on what is already a very comfortable and functional chair.
But that said, if you find yourself playing games via a controller, or watching a lot of movies and streaming services via your PC, then you could easily get your money’s worth out of this one.
Effectively, this makes this a product that will only appeal to those who like to have the most comprehensive version of Secretlab’s catalog of products. However, unlike aesthetic add-ons like Skins, this one undisputedly improves the overall design of the chair and your potential comfort.
So, in short, if you feel you may’t put a price on a little powernap in between matches, we reckon you’ll happily pay up for this one, and as someone who has already reclined a lot on this thing, let me say, you won’t regret it.
Closing Comments
The Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner Add-on is a wonderful piece of kit that is a breeze to attach to your current setup, looks the part and immeasurably enhances your levels of comfort when sitting on a TITAN EVO. It’s a pricy add-on, make no doubt about it, but you really do get what you pay for here. The ease of use, quick assembly, and quality materials used to craft this recliner make it a very desirable luxury item. I will say that the lack of color options is an issue at the time of writing, but I can only assume by Secretlab’s track record that this will be a temporary issue. All in all, this is an essential purchase if you want to own the most complete, comfortable version of the TITAN EVO.
Review: Secretlab SKINS Lite
Secretlab launches SKINS Lite, a more affordable way to customize your chair.
