Respawn is a new gamer-focused brand launched by furniture company, OFM. The initial offering comprises eight different gaming chairs which range from $140 to $225. Each has its own unique style, but the one we're looking at is the RSP-205, the range-topper.
This is a gaming/office chair that brings its own unique design to the table in a compact, yet comfortable chair that you won't mind spending hour after hour deposited in.
Features and specs
- Seat Size: 22"W x 20.50"D
- Back Size: 20.50"W x 30.75"H
- Adjustability: 360-degree swivel, 130-degree recline with infinite angle lock, adjustable height (19 inches to 23-inches inches), height adjustable armrests, adjustable lumbar support.
- Weight capacity: 275lbs.
- Materials: Steel tube frame, mesh back, bonded leather headrest, pillow, and lumbar cushion.
- Price: $224.99
Compared to some chairs we've looked at, the RSP-205 is notably cheaper, while delivering similar features. What you notice first about this chair is that it's not one of the now many racing style chairs, instead going for a futuristic, angled appearance.
The overall shape isn't a million miles from these types of chair, but instead of curves you have angled 'wings' at the top and a squared off headrest. The styling is pretty unique, and while I'm personally a fan, it's also easy to see how it might be off-putting to some.
Feature-wise all the basic boxes are ticked. It swivels through a full 360 degrees, reclines to 130 degrees (that's not as far as some other chairs), and it allows you to lock in that recline if you're getting really comfy or fancy an at desk nap. There are only about 4 inches of height adjustment, but in my office, with my short legs, it's perfect for sitting at the right height.
What the RSP-205 misses that I'd have liked to see are fully adjustable armrests. On this chair you can only go up or down, there's no front-to-back or side-to-side adjustments. The armrests aren't the largest you'll find on a chair of this type, so losing out on this adjustment means making a compromise.
That's the only real gripe with the design of this chair though. I've got the gray and black color combo, but OFM will sell it also with red, green or blue accents. Personally, the gray looks fantastic and it really fits in with my office without being too outrageous.
Most interesting is the choice to use mesh on the backrest part of the chair instead of leather. The RSP-205 is very lightweight, and what I particularly like is that with mesh there's more ventilation. So during longer stints sat down, even when it's warm, your back should stay fairly perspiration free. The back of the chair is completely open.
I've used it for a couple of weeks now both with and without the pillows attached and I'm comfortable in saying it's a big improvement on the leather chair I've been using previously in this regard.
Comfort and build quality
Despite the affordable price point, the RSP-205 is exceptionally well made. The instructions to build it are a little small, cramming on to a single sheet of A4, but building it is a breeze. Each part is individually bubble wrapped, and all the various bolts are attached to a board and labeled. Assembly took about 30 minutes and was easy to do with just one person. Attaching the backrest is the most difficult part, but thanks to its lightweight nature it's manageable.
OFM being a furniture company rather than a gaming company, I had high hopes and they've been delivered upon. This is a supremely comfortable chair. It isn't going to be suitable for the larger frame or the taller gamer, sadly, since it's quite compact in its stature, but if you're average height and build you'll love it.
The recline is a little fiddly to get just right, since you have to almost fight against the locking mechanism. The base of the chair doesn't tilt, either, something I've been used to in my chairs of old. But even without this, after two weeks of spending at least 8 hours a day at my desk, I've never felt better.
The lumbar cushion is quite large and does a great job, with the only minor criticism being that it has a habit of moving up and down too much. I expect the lack of friction between the leather and the mesh might be to blame, but it does require a pull down at least once or twice a day. Not a massive inconvenience but it's also not doing its job when it's halfway up your back.
The seat base is really nice, though. Trimmed in bonded leather, soft and deep enough to comfortably sit right back. It's also well balanced and has excellent wheels that don't struggle to move even on the fairly thick carpet in my office.
Bottom line: A great chair at a great price
We've looked at a number of gaming chairs and in some cases they're twice as expensive as this one from Respawn. There are some compromises to be made here, such as the lack of fully adjustable armrests and that it's not going to suit the taller person, but overall it's an excellent product.
I've been using a GT Omega Racing chair for the past 12 months which costs about the same as this and has better armrests and recline. But it's big, heavy, and gets clammy if you're seated for too long. Switching to the Respawn RSP-205 has been a joy, with the airy nature of that mesh back and the large lumbar pillow particular favorites.
Pros:
- Very comfortable.
- Airy mesh back.
- Solid build quality.
- Backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
- Excellent price.
Cons:
- Styling may split opinion.
- No 4D armrest.
- Not good for taller people.
It's a quality product all round, and in my time with it there have been no squeaks or issues of any kind. It's easy to tell that the company behind Respawn is a furniture maker, as it feels solid and something that's built to last. It's also backed by a limited lifetime warranty and year round dedicated representative support. And while you may not like the styling of this particular model, I think it looks excellent. The compact footprint has also opened up a little space in my office.
The OFM Respawn range is available now from retailers such as Amazon, NewEgg and Rakuten. At $225 this is excellent value and a chair I can easily recommend you treat your bottom to. You can find out more about the whole range at the new Respawn by OFM website
