Kinsal Vs. DXRacer

Here we are comparing a chair from DXRacer with a chair from Kinsal. If you’ve read our write ups, you know that we’re fans of DXRacer. They produce very nice, high end chairs designed for distinguishing gamers. DX sponsors multiple eSports teams. They have a fully functional website complete with the ability to size chairs, and make purchases.

Kinsal is a bit different. Their chairs are all under 200 dollars each. They are targeted to budget minded gamers. The company does not have a dedicated website. Instead, they market their products through Amazon. Although, it does appear is if they did have an online shop at one point, but it is no longer functional. They are active on Twitter and other social media sites.

Is it fair to pit Kinsal against against a company like DXRacer? Maybe not, but the truth is many gamers can’t afford high end gaming chairs. In spite of this, they still want the fit, look, and experience of a gaming chair. Many of them are buying these less expensive chairs. The question is, are these purchases worthwhile? Should gamers wait until they’ve saved enough to invest in a high end chair, or are Kinsal chairs a reasonable compromise. Let’s take a look at two different chairs.

Choosing The DXRacer Chair

We didn’t want to compare the Kinsal with a more expensive version of a DXRacer chair. So, we selected the F Series OH/FD01/N. At 289 this is the cheapest chair available from this maker. We bought the base edition with no additions. This is also the smallest model chair they offer. We took this into consideration when picking our lucky tester.

Choosing The Kinsal Chair

We headed to Amazon to pick out a Kinsal gaming chair. We chose a Kinsal high back racing chair for about 153 dollars. These chairs are designed a bit larger than the F Series, but with a limited selection this was our option.

Assembling The Chairs

To be fair, the DXRacer had the advantage of familiarity here. We have put together several of their chairs. They are manufactured the same regardless of series. This meant it was very easy for us to put together. The pieces were all there. The quality of materials was easy to see. The assembled chair is very stable and a bit heavy for its size. These are chairs that last. They are also warrantied.

We also found it fairly easy to put together the Kinsal chair. The instructions were clear. The pieces were all present and clearly marked. Our only complaint was that it became clear in this step that this chair is not made from quality parts. There was more plastic than metal. The seat covering felt cheap. The machining was imperfect, and there were stitching flaws in several of the seams. To be clear, we had to look for these defects, but they were definitely present.

The Testing

We wanted to give both chairs a fair shake. Because of this we didn’t give our tester any information beyond the fact that they would be testing two gaming chairs. They didn’t know about the price difference, lack of web presence, or any other factors.

Our tester tried out the Kinsal chair first. They spent a day with the chair. They spent a couple of hours gaming. Then used the chair to work at their desk, watch television, and otherwise go about their daily routine. Here’s what they had to say.

The Footrest is Uncomfortable And Pointless
The Chair Was Comfortable at First But Not After About an Hour
It Looks Really Nice
It’s Really Roomy
The Adjustments Are Difficult to Move

Next, they moved onto the DXRacer Formula series. They spent the same amount of time with the chair, and stuck to the same basic schedule. Here’s the feedback they sent us.

The Chair’s a Little Small
This is Obviously a DXRacer
It’s Nice Looking But Not Exciting
Like The Smooth Adjustments
Played For Two Hours And my Feet Aren’t Asleep

Obviously the DXRacer came out ahead, and we honestly expected it to. What we really wanted to explore was whether or not the DXRacer was worth waiting for in the case of a gamer on a budget.

Our Final Thoughts

We’re big fans of dedicated gaming chairs. They look great. The best ones are designed to encourage good posture, and can help prevent aches and pains that are associated with hours of gameplay. They are a worthy investment.

We also understand they cost more than many gamers can afford right out of pocket. There may be budget chairs that are worth the money, but the Kinsal just doesn’t fit into this category. Instead, of buying money for a lesser chair, we recommend the following options:

Purchasing a decent used office chair online.
Looking for sales on quality gaming chairs.
Considering financing options.
Selling off used games or picking up extra hours at work
Purchasing a used gaming chair

We’d love to give Kinsal a second chance in the near future. It would be nice to find a budget gaming chair that we can actually endorse. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.