Secretlab Aape Collection gaming chair review: Seriously suave streetwear style

Secretlab Aape Red Gaming Chair Hero Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Fundamental

Secretlab is no stranger to epic chair designs. While the base designs for the Secretlab 2022 series chairs are relatively tame and can blend in with well-nigh office environments, Secretlab also sports a litany of wilder collaborations and licensing partnerships with esports teams and huge games like Globe of Warcraft. The company'southward latest partnership is a limited-edition driblet with an iconic Japanese streetwear brand: Aape past A Bathing Ape.

The collaboration blends Aape's flat camo print with Secretlab's stylish base to create a collection that feels unique in the gaming chair infinite. Available with light-green, crimson, or blueish camo, the print adds some extra street fashion spice that stands out without feeling jarring. That'southward mixed with Secretlab'south solid material choices and construction to create a tempting combination.

But is this drop worth your money? Let's swoop in a little farther to check the collection out.

Secretlab Aape Reco

Secretlab Aape Drove

Bottom line: The Secretlab Aape drove brings a trio of lookers to the gaming chair infinite. If y'all're an Aape fan in need of a super-comfortable office chair, this collection is a no-brainer.

The Good

Excellent materials
Great attending to detail
Very comfortable
Tasteful streetwear-inspired design

The Bad

Pricey
Lumbar back up just congenital-in on Titan model
Camo isn't for anybody

Secretlab Aape Collection: Toll and availability

Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Central

The Secretlab Aape Collection will be available, at least initially, in ii express-edition drops. The starting time volition drop at 2 a.one thousand. ET on March 26, while the 2nd is planned for March 31 at 9 a.thou. ET. There could exist farther drops afterward these two, but it seems Secretlab is looking to keep the whole "limited edition" moniker truly, well, limited.

As for price, the chairs are available in Secretlab's Omega and Titan sizes for $490 and $540, respectively. That includes all 3 colour variants for each model, with prices just varying past size. Notwithstanding, Secretlab is splitting upwardly availability of color variants between drops, with the green camo launching with the March 26 driblet and the crimson and blue patterns coming on March 31.

Secretlab Aape Collection: What you lot'll like

Secretlab Aape Red Gaming Chair Side Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Central

I've been using Secretlab chairs for years at this signal, and at that place's one reason above all else I stick with them: Their quality is unmatched amid even the best gaming chairs. The material choices, whether you're picking upward one of the leather chairs or go with the SoftWeave fabric, all feel great and are built to final. Moreover, everything from the wheelbase to the metal arm mechanisms experience incredibly solid.

Secretlab's quality is unmatched among gaming chairs.

That focus on quality extends to the attention to detail as well. The feedback you go from maneuvering the arm mechanisms is incredibly chunky, and it just feels satisfying to use. When you turn to the designs, of which there is no shortage, every detail feels intentional and thought out. This is something that first hit me when I noticed the dragon scale patterns on the Firm Targaryen blueprint from Secretlab's Game of Thrones lineup, and information technology has extended to each subsequent drop.

That brings united states of america to this new collaboration with Aape, which taps into a bit of streetwear styling without going overboard. I'll be honest: I've never been the biggest fan of camo print. However, there's something about the manner both companies have approached this design that I really dig.

Rather than going total-bore on the camo, Secretlab and Aape kept the same basic styling as the base Omega and Titan chairs while adding the camo equally an accent. The upshot is an heart-catching design that doesn't feel distasteful.

In that location are three colors available: green, scarlet, and blue. All three avoid the garish smash of master color that you might expect, instead leaning on a mix of more subtle, flatter tones.

The blueprint holds up when yous go upward close, with three shades of red overlapping with black accents spread about. It'southward composed of stitched print against a soft, light-red background that feels actually prissy to the touch. Moreover, the stitching is very well washed, without any snags that I could spot.

Rounding the design out are the usual Secretlab logos stitched into the chair's dorsum, along with others for Aape and A Bathing Ape, as you'd expect. What stands out here is the Aape logo on the rear of the back, which looks great in a white leather with white stitching around its edges.

Overall, it's just a very suave manner that give the base Omega and Titan chairs a bit more than edge without being too ambitious. That'due south something that you don't necessarily expect when yous start hear the words "camo print." If you lot're a fan of camo, or just beloved Aape's streetwear styling, you'll really dig this chair.

Secretlab Aape Drove: What you won't like

Secretlab Aape Red Gaming Chair Back Logos Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Cardinal

Despite the quality of this collection, there are still a couple of areas that might trip y'all up. Commencement is a Secretlab thing that has been a gripe of mine for a while: lumbar support is only congenital-in with the Titan models. With the smaller Omega model, you'll get a memory foam lumbar pillow instead. While it's nice, information technology's not quite as comfortable as adjustable back up that's congenital into the chair.

While I'm a fan of the styling, camo print definitely isn't for everyone. It'south done in a tasteful style hither and is more understated than some of the louder chair designs, but it is notwithstanding, well, camo. If yous count yourself among the camo haters out at that place, yous'll be ameliorate served looking into Secretlab'south base designs for the 2022 series.

Finally, in that location'due south the prevalence of logos across the chair. They're not super jarring, but if you just want an part chair that doesn't look similar information technology struck a sponsorship deal, and so y'all'll want to wait elsewhere amidst Secretlab's designs.

Secretlab Aape Drove: Competition

Razer Iskur Hero Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

When you're looking at the gaming chair infinite, there are loads of options to consider, ranging from cheap Amazon knockoffs to incredibly premium designs. Secretlab is definitely one of our favorite brands, but information technology recently got some heated competition from Razer's first gaming chair, the Razer Iskur. Not only did it impress with premium quality, but it sits in the same full general price range as Secretlab'due south offerings and includes pretty robust lumbar support.

On the other cease of the spectrum, you lot tin save quite a bit of cash if yous're willing to take a pace down in quality. The EasySMX loftier-back gaming chair offers a like style to Secretlab's lineup for a much more affordable $250. However, you'll also end upwardly with a step downwardly in the quality of materials and an odd headrest.

Overall, however, the Aape Collection offers a ane-of-a-kind blueprint that you simply won't go anywhere else. If this collaboration strikes your fancy, Secretlab is the mode to become.

Secretlab Aape Collection: Should yous buy information technology?

Secretlab Aape Red Gaming Chair Front Side Angle Source: Dan Thorp-Lancaster / Windows Central

You should buy this if ...

Yous honey camo and Aape'due south designs
Your priority is comfort and quality materials
You want a chair that will last

You shouldn't buy this if...

You don't dig camo designs
Y'all don't want a "gaming" chair
Cost is an effect

Secretlab and Aape knocked information technology out of the park with this design. If you lot already accept a beloved for camo and want ane of the highest quality gaming chairs on the market place, and then this is a corking buy. If you find camo grating, or just don't desire to drop nigh $500 or more on an office chair, you'll want to wait elsewhere.

Ultimately, the reason Secretlab continues to be my become-to for office chairs is because of the quality. While I've reviewed several of its chairs, I've continued to use the Secretlab chair I got in early 2022 every twenty-four hours. More two years later, it all the same looks great, is comfortable, and doesn't show any major signs of wearing down. I can't say the same for the handful of generic office chairs I've purchased in the by.

Price can definitely be a barrier to entry here, especially with this express edition. However, if you spend a lot of time in front of a reckoner, whether for work or play, your back will give thanks you for spending a lilliputian more on a quality chair. The blueprint is just the cherry-red on summit for anyone who'southward really into Aape's streetwear bona fides or detailed camo patterns.

Secretlab Aape Reco

Secretlab Aape Collection

Bottom line: Secretlab's collaboration with Aape marries quality materials with a standout blueprint. If y'all're a fan of both brands (or just similar camo), then y'all can't go wrong here.

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