Secretlab Omega SoftWeave gaming chair review: Extreme comfort meets handsome looks

Gaming chairs have gained quite a following in recent years. That's largely due to the comfort they offer for long sessions spent with a controller in your hands or a keyboard at your fingertips. But there's one area where they often get a bad rap: their "extreme" looks and colorful frills.

But when I stumbled upon Secretlab's lineup of gaming chairs, I was pleasantly surprised at their understated looks. In particular the company's new SoftWeave material, which swaps the usual PU leather for a stitched cloth that could fit just as well in an office as it does a gaming setup.

Even better? It's just as comfortable as it looks.

What you'll like about the Secretlab Omega

Like most other so-called gaming chairs out there, the Secretlab Omega features a design inspired by racing seats. That sleek exterior hides a wealth of customization options, however, allowing you to position the chair in nearly any way you see fit.

On the side of the chair, you'll find a reclining lever that very much resembles what you'd find on your car's seat. What surprised me most is just how steeply you can recline the back of the chair. Pulling the lever gives you a smooth action that allows it to go from a straight 90-degree angle to just shy of 180 degrees.

In other words, the Secretlab Omega is great for a mid-day nap over your lunch break (especially if you've got something to prop your feet on).

Along with the reclining action, the Omega includes your standard paddles underneath for locking or unlocking the tilt, as well as raising or lowering the chair to your preferred height. There's also a dial for controlling the tension. What's more, even the armrests can be adjusted to your liking, with buttons for moving them up, down, forward, and backward.

As we noted in our review of the Secretlab Titan, the best part of all of these adjustments is that they're incredibly smooth to operate. The various levers and buttons don't feel janky while making adjustments and, once in place, they feel solid for the most part (more on that later).

As for comfort, the Secretlab Omega is the most comfortable chair I've used in years. The seat padding, in particular, is firm without feeling stiff, giving you enough "bounce" to stay comfortable for long periods. Combine that with myriad positions available from the adjustable levers, and it's easy to dial in the perfect position.

Overall, the chair feels about as solid as you can get. You can tell Secretlab put some thought into the quality of the materials it used here, even down to the casters. And, trust me, I'm not usually impressed by casters, but these are the smoothest and most solid wheels I've felt on any office chair thus far.

Aside from all of that, the chair just looks good. I, like many of my friends, felt for the longest time that gaming chairs were silly, purely based on some of the more extreme versions out there. When I finally got a taste of just how comfortable they were at a local store, my interest was piqued, but I was still turned off by many of the designs available. The Secretlab Omega, particularly in this SoftWeave cloth, bucks that trend by looking handsome, and I could even see it fitting in with an office setup in some areas – so long as you can look past the prominent "Omega" symbol and Secretlab logos.

What you'll dislike about the Secretlab Omega

As good as the Omega looks and as comfortable as it is, I do have some minor quibbles that may be enough to turn some people off.

While most of the levers and buttons to adjust the positioning of the chair's various elements are solid and operate smoothly, I worry about the longevity of the armrests. Specifically, even after they've been locked in place, each armrest has some give to it that causes it to wiggle back and forth. It's by no means a dealbreaker, and I'm confident they'll stay put through the life of the chair, but I could see them becoming looser over time.

Likewise, the chair's padding is extremely comfortable, but it does take some time to break in. When I first took the chair out of the box and put it together, I had some concerns over just how firm it was. However, after two weeks of using it every day, it's now at just the right sweet spot. Ultimately, that firmness is probably a good thing; I've had several office chairs that just turned to mush after a year or two of use. On that note, it also would have been nice to see lumbar support built into the Omega line, but the included lumbar pillow does a good enough job.

I also have concerns about how well the SoftWeave fabric will hold up to any accidental spills. With the PU leather model, you'd simply be able to wipe any food or drinks away without any fuss. Once you venture into stitched cloth, however, it's a different story. In other words, if you opt for the SoftWeave option, make sure you're careful if you're noshing some food during any extended gaming sessions.

Finally, be warned that assembling the chair may require some finesse. While the instructions are easy enough to follow and there aren't too many steps involved, you'll definitely want a second person around to help out. Most steps can be accomplished with one person, to be sure, but screwing pieces like the plastic side covers in place can require a bit of elbow grease.

Should you buy the Secretlab Omega?

I have no problem recommending the Secretlab Omega SoftWeave. Because of my job (and despite my standing desk), I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer, and the Omega SoftWeave has made that time a much more comfortable experience.

The "Cookies & Cream" color I got looks stellar and performs amazingly, but there's also a "Charcoal Blue" option for those who prefer a darker finish.

Whether you're in the market for a gaming chair, or just want an exceptionally comfortable office chair, the Secretlab Omega is one of the best, most comfortable chairs on the market.