Just as I sat down in my new Flexispot Soutien office chair to collect and write my thoughts on it, I saw some chatter on Twitter. Apparently gaming chairs aren't as good as they're cracked up to be, and office chairs are the way to go for ergonomics. Now of course you can't trust everything you read on the internet, so while I did go down the rabbit hole a bit, I decided to feel it out for myself. Here's what I found after a few weeks of trading in my slick leather gaming chair for an ergonomic office chair.

My gaming chair is the Arozzi Forte, and I've always loved the support the neck and lumbar pillows give me. The Flexispot Soutien trades these in for adjustable, mesh headrest and back supports built into the chair's frame. This gives them the benefit of being more versatile than pillows that just strap on, as they can be slid into various positions. The lumbar support in particular is listed as a feature, as it has a "3D" design that slides with you when you sit. I definitely feel it more when I lean back, as it instantly props me up so I don't feel tempted to slouch.

These features appear to be a double-edged sword, however, in that they don't seem versatile enough. The odd thing about the lumbar support is that it advertises three height levels, yet whenever I sit it automatically slides to the lowest one. I am on the shorter side, and the position feels right, so I'm not sure if this is actually a bug or a feature. My girlfriend also doesn't think the headrest comes down far enough, but then she tends to hate headrests (she even took one out of her car). It's worth noting that she still prefers the Soutien to my gaming chair.

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The biggest surprise to me was the mesh. I love that my gaming chair is pleather, both from an aesthetic and comfort aspect. I was not, at first glance, a fan of the mesh back (the seat is still solid fleece). My first sit quickly alleviated that, as I found the mesh to be surprisingly firm yet comfy. In this case, I feel like the gaming and office chairs are tied, and it's more of a matter of personal preference. If looks are really important to you (and who doesn't want a chair with a sword on it?), then gaming chairs have the edge. But if you don't mind a more utilitarian aesthetic, the mesh makes for a clean, supportive, and cheaper chair.

The final thing to touch on, and most important to me personally, is value. The Soutine goes for $269.99 (and is on sale at the time of this writing). The average gaming chair can run anywhere from $300-$500. While my personal experience isn't enough to conclude that the office char is indeed better than a gaming chair, it is definitely on par. When it comes to features, the Soutine might even have some gaming chairs beat. It has "4D" armrests that slide side to side, go up and down, back and forth, and can twist to suit whatever angle you might need. My gaming chair can't do that, although a $500 one TheGamer recently reviewed can. That's just as much functionality at almost half the price.

Is the Flexispot Soutien an example of why office chairs are better than gaming chairs? I'd need to spend more time with it to know for sure. Like at least a year, to see if it lasts as long as my gaming chair has. But after a few weeks, I can say that the Soutien is an equal that comes at a way better price. If working from home is going to be your reality for the foreseeable future, and sleek looks aren't a concern, then the Flexispot Soutien is a great way to take care of yourself.

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A Flexispot Soutien was provided to TheGamer for this review, find out more on the official website.