REVIEW – I have four kids, all of whom are gamers. I also game from time to time. We all have a desk with our PC setup, mine is also used to work from home. Needless to say, we all spend a lot of time in front of a screen with our butts parked in a chair. I’ve reviewed a couple of chairs in the past, but I’m always looking for the ultimate throne for those long work or gaming sessions. Of course, I get the newest one and pass the others on down the line. Ah, the privileges of being a Gadgeteer and a Dad. So when the Backforce V-Plus gaming chair came up for review, I was intrigued. A German-engineered gaming chair? Yes, please, and thank you. Does it live up to my expectations? Scroll on to find out, my friends, scroll on.
What is it?
The Backforce V-plus gaming chair is a German-engineered chair designed for ultimate comfort for long gaming sessions.
What’s included?
- Backforce -V-plus chair
- LED badge for headrest
- Tool and hardware kit
- Assembly instructions
Tech specs
Click to expand
5D armrests, fold away and upholstered (fabric cover)
Adjustable lumbar support, horizontal and vertical
Seat with two zones in different firmness levels
High-quality synchronous mechanism, adjustable
Gamer-Pulse LED in the backrest
Seat depth and tilt adjustment
Back shell: plastic, black
Covers: recycled PET fabric, Oeko-Tex 100 & GRS certified
Universal 65 mm wheels (soft casters, braked)
Ideal for heights from 151 – 192 cm / 4´9 – 6´3
Tested for a body weight from 45 – 130 kg / 100 – 300 lbs
10 YEARS WARRANTY
MADE IN GERMANY
Design and features
The first design element I look for in an office/gaming chair is the height and weight specifications. I’m a big guy, 6’6″ and 265 pounds. I need a chair that’s built to support me. Backforce states the V-plus is ideal for gamers from 4’9″ to 6’3″ in height and supports up to 300 lb.
The next important feature is adjustability. The Backforce V-plus has that covered. The V-plus offers both adjustable horizontal and vertical lumbar positioning, a seat with two zones of firmness levels, seat depth and tilt adjustment, 5D armrests that even fold down out of your, and of course, height adjustment. The V-plus even comes with two armrest covers that clip onto the existing armrest to give you a padded rest with even more height. The only thing that isn’t adjustable on the V-plus is the headrest but I didn’t find a time I ever wanted it to.
Aesthetically, I can see they were definitely going for the gamer demographic.
It looks like it would fit right in on the bridge of the Nostromo or, dare I say, the Millennium Falcon. It’s got some sci-fi flair in my opinion. And just in case you were wondering, yes it has LEDs.
On the rear of the chair, there is a removable, rechargeable light-up Backforce badge. The badge can be turned off, solidly lit with one press, or go into breathing mode with two. A quarter counter-clockwise turn will remove it from the chair to recharge with the included USB cable, although you’ll have to supply your own power supply.
It only lights up white during operation but will turn red when the battery is low, and green once fully charged.
The cloth covering the chair is recycled PETG which is a thermoplastic polyester. This plastic is used for its chemical resistance, durability, and excellent formability. On their website, Backforce states, “For the surface of the BACKFORCE V PLUS we use 100% polyester fiber made from recycled PET bottles. The cover fabric is made in Italy and complies with Oeko-Tex 100 and the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). The yarn for the embroidery meets the Oeko-Tex 100 as well. The entire gaming chair is tested for TÜV GS and harmful substances. Therefore you can enjoy the best seating experience with a clear conscience.” With all the talk of microplastics and landfills full of plastic, it’s nice to see Backforce recycling some of it for their chairs.
For a little extra, Backforce offers some personalization that you can get added. The V-plus already comes with 2 velcro patches that are on the shoulders of the chair. You can also order customized patches should you so choose. Backforce was generous enough to me a customized The Gadgeteer badge for my review unit.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Assembly of the Backforce isn’t difficult, although it is easier if you have someone to help you. It’s no different from assembling any other office chair I’ve ever put together. One interesting thing Backforce added in their instructions was the use of the shipping box to aid in assembly. One of the steps says to lay the backrest on the box while installing it to the base. Now someone smarter than me probably would’ve done that instinctively, but I thought that was pretty ingenious. I however may or not be easily impressed. All the necessary tools, 2 differently sized hex wrenches, and hardware were included, and the provided instructions were excellently executed. Being a technical writer, I appreciate it when I see the care taken to write good instructions.
Performance
I’m not going to lie. This was not the most comfortable chair I’ve reviewed. I found it very hard when I first sat down in it. I put that down to being compressed in a shipping box. After a while though, it did get much more comfortable. Once I got all the adjustments made, I liked it much better. I like how the backrest is shaped too. The broad shoulders are great for us big guys.
The 5D armrests are nice because I can position them in all sorts of ways to find the right spot. The problem I have with them is they move too easily. If I shift in the chair, I can easily slide them backward, forward, left, or right. It would be nicer if there was more resistance to keep that from happening. One thing that’s unique, at least to any other chair I’ve had, is that the armrests can completely fold back. So if you want to scoot all the way up to your desk, they can fold out of the way.
Another gripe I have is the cloth used. I like the fact Backforce used recycled plastics. The problem I have with it is it’s a bit rough on the skin. It can be a bit scratchy. What can I say? I’m a sensitive guy.
The last issue I have with the Backforce V-plus is I can’t sit in it all day without my hips hurting towards the end of a workday. I have arthritis and that’s not anything Backforce can fix, but my hips do begin to get sore late in the afternoon after working from my desk all day. You young bucks won’t have to worry about that, but I thought I’d offer that up anyway.
What I like about Backforce V-Plus gaming chair
- Build quality
- Adjustability
- Personalization options
- Recycled materials
What needs to be improved?
- Lockable armrest positions
- Softer cloth would be nice
Final thoughts
I honestly think the Backforce V-Plus is a great chair for some, just not for me. My daughter loves it and was ecstatic when I told her she could have it. It should last her for a long time to come.
Price: 499 Euros, at the time of this review shipping is limited to Europe
Where to buy: Backforce
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Backforce. Backforce did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
