Vertagear SL5800 Review

About the Vertagear SL5800

• Price: Starts at $419
• Weight: 58 pounds
• Upholstery: PUC Leather
• Colors: Black/White; Carbon Black; Midnight Blue; Midnight Green; Midnight Purple, Burgunday Red
• Armrests: 4-directional
• Frame construction: Steel
• Wheelbase: Aluminum Alloy
• Gas lift: Class 4
• Casters: 65mm Penta RS1 casters
• Special features: ContourMax Lumbar support that molds to your body; optional RGB LED light kit; HygennX breathable cloth
• Warranty: The Vertagear SL5800 is covered by a 10-year warranty on the frame and a 2-year warranty on the rest of the chair components. This includes repair, replacement or substitution, but not refunds.

The Vertagear SL5800 has all of the adjustability options expected in a top-tier gaming chair. The armrests can move up and down, in and out at two locations, and twist in and out as well. The back can recline to nearly flat, and the tilt is effortless and easy to balance. The seat itself is extremely comfortable from day one, with memory foam that molds well to your body.

The PUC fabric, which is a mix of polyurethane and PVC leather, is durable and breathable, and stands up well to the demands of day-to-day use. As a gaming chair, it has plenty of upgrades to help fit your style needs, including numerous color choices, additional RGB LED lights for the headrest vents that can pulse with your music, and even the option to have any logo you want engraved into the headrest vents for an additional $29.

What we like

Exceptional lumbar support

Many companies have tried to solve chair lumbar support in different ways. The Vertagear SL5800 has one of the best options that I’ve sat in. The lumbar support is not at all adjustable. However, it’s made with a comfortable mix of memory foam on top of four TPEE lumbar support modules, which are individual plastic square cups inside the backrest itself that flex and move with your body. This combination has enough give that your back sinks into it, but remains firm enough to provide plenty of support.

It is the first chair that both my wife and I have sat down in and said “Oooo, that’s nice.” That lumbar support is enhanced by an equally supportive memory foam seat that keeps your body in the optimal position for less back pain.

All of it is wrapped in a comfortable blend of PVC and polyurethane fabric, which doesn’t leave my back sweaty even after long hours in front of the computer.

The value (for the price)

While certainly not the most affordable gaming chair on the market, the Vertagear SL5800 offers a lot of value for the price. Every single feature of this chair is well-done.

The upholstery is high quality, comfortable, and stylish. The body support is well-designed and works exactly like it should. It has all of the adjustability options that you’d need to make it fit you exactly. And like most of the other chairs at this price point, it’s built on a durable metal frame that should last for years.

While it’s a significant investment up-front at $500, this is the kind of chair that can last you for years and years, keeping you comfortable through long work and gaming sessions.

Fast and easy assembly

Assembly is probably the least important part of a chair, because you typically only worry about it once. However, a good assembly experience shows that the company has an eye for detail and the overall customer experience. The Vertagear SL5800 was one of the best assembly experiences of all the gaming chairs I’ve built for review. Each piece was packaged in an obvious, easily accessible way, the instructions were clear, and there were minimal steps involved. All told, it took about ten minutes to put together, half of what chair assembly typically takes.

What we don’t like

Lumbar support isn’t adjustable

The one possible drawback of this chair is that the lumbar support, comfortable as it is for me, is not adjustable. So while I think it’s got the best back support of any of the chairs that we’ve tested, others might not agree. And if some other user doesn’t like the specific position of the lower back cushions, there’s nothing they can do about it except maybe go out and buy a pillow.

While I’m fairly confident this chair will be comfortable for most people, the lack of lumbar adjustability is a noticeably absent feature in a price category that includes the SecretLab Titan Evo 2022 and the Razer Iskur, both of which are adjustable.

Should you buy the Vertagear SL5800?

Yes, though you should always try chairs before committing

The Vertagear SL5800 is one of the most comfortable gaming chairs I’ve had the pleasure of sitting in. It’s one of the very few chairs that has done an excellent job at every single necessary chair feature. With comfort as a top priority, the seat is soft enough to cushion your body yet still firm enough to support it. This is particularly noticeable when paired with what I think is the best-in-class lumbar support.

For those interested in style, the Vertagear SL5800 has numerous color choices, as well as a few fun upgrades like logo customization and an audio-sync LED light package. This is one of those chairs that wouldn’t feel out of place in a professional office setting if you choose one of the more conservative options, or can be the centerpiece of a stimulating gaming environment for even top-tier streamers.

While there are plenty of great chairs on the market, such as the AKRacing Core Series EX and the Corsair T2 Road Warrior, the Vertagear SL5800 is my favorite, and if I were in the market for a new gaming chair, this is the one I would get. While I always recommend trying chairs before buying because everyone’s definition of comfort is different, the Vertagear SL5800 is as close to a sure bet as I’ve sat in.