The following materials are some of the most common you'll find in popular gaming chairs.
Leather
Real leather, also referred to as genuine leather, is a material made from animal rawhide, usually cow hide, through the process of tanning. Although many gaming chairs promote some sort of “leather” materials in their construction, it’s usually a faux leather like PU or PVC leather (see below) and not the genuine article.
Genuine leather is far more durable than its imitators, able to last generations and in some ways improve with age, while PU and PVC a more likely to crack and peel over time. It is also a more breathable material compared to PU and PVC leather, meaning it is better at absorbing and releasing moisture, thereby reducing sweat and keeping the chair cooler.
PU Leather
PU leather is a synthetic composed of split leather — the material left behind after the more valuable top grain layer of “genuine” leather is stripped away from a rawhide — and a polyurethane coating (hence the “PU”). In relation to the other “leathers,” PU is not as durable or breathable as genuine leather, but it does have the advantage of being a more breathable material than PVC.
In comparison to PVC, PU leather is also a more realistic imitation of genuine leather in its appearance and feel. Its major drawbacks in relation to genuine leather are its inferior breathability and long-term durability. Still, PU is cheaper than genuine leather, so it makes for a good substitute if you don’t want to break the bank.
PVC Leather
PVC leather is another imitation leather that consists of a base material coated in a mix of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and additives that make it softer and more flexible. PVC leather is a water-, fire-, and stain-resistant material, which makes it popular for a myriad of commercial applications. Those properties make for a good gaming chair material too: stain and water resistance means less potential cleanup, especially if you’re the kind of gamer who likes to enjoy a tasty snack and/or beverage while you play. (As for fire-resistance, hopefully you’ll never have to worry about that, unless you’re doing some really crazy overclocking and setting your PC aflame).
PVC leather is generally less expensive than leather and PU leather, which can sometimes result in the savings being passed onto the consumer; the trade-off to this reduced cost is PVC’s inferior breathability in relation to genuine and PU leather.
Fabric
One of the most common materials found on standard office chairs, fabric is also used in many gaming chairs. Fabric chairs are more breathable than leather and its imitators, meaning even less sweat and retained heat. As a downside, fabric is less resistant to water and other liquids compared to leather and its synthetic brethren.
A major deciding factor for many in choosing between leather and fabric is whether they prefer a firm or soft chair; fabric chairs are generally softer than leather and its offshoots, but also less durable.
Mesh
Mesh is the most breathable material highlighted here, offering cooling beyond even what fabric can deliver. It’s more difficult to clean than leather, usually requiring a specialized cleaner for removing stains without risk of damaging the delicate mesh, and typically less durable long-term, but it holds its own as an exceptionally cool and comfortable chair material.
Post time: Aug-09-2022