Bo Moore
Secretlab is one of the biggest brands in the world of gaming chairs and hasn’t been shy about releasing new models and accessories. The Ergonomic Recliner Add-on is the accessory we didn’t know we needed. Attaching to the bottom of any Secretlab Evo or Classic gaming chair, it adds a whole new element of comfort to the seating experience and highlights just how poor most other built-in footrests actually are. At $199 for the standard version and $249 for the Founder’s Edition available now, it’s a pricey accessory that you definitely don’t need but, if you have a Secretlab gaming chair, you should definitely want.
Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner Add-on – Design and Features
Note: For this review, we tested the standard version of the recliner. The Founder’s Edition is available at launch and is functionally the same, but includes a layer of cooling gel above the memory foam and more intricate patterning on the upholstery.
When it comes to gaming chairs, “recliners” aren’t exactly new. Manufacturers, especially in the budget space, have been sticking them on chairs for a number of years. The problem is that, for the most part, they’re not “recliners” at all. They’re simple footrests that slide out on rigid poles and don’t offer much adjustment. They’re mostly pretty bad and certainly aren’t worth paying extra for.
The Ergonomic Recliner add-on from Secretlab is something else entirely. It’s a whole separate product that attaches to the bottom of its existing Evo and Classic series chairs and is easy enough that anyone can install it within minutes, no tools required (at least mostly). It functions like a true recliner, extending out with the pull of a lever, and can tuck away when not in use. Although, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be using it more often than not.
The recliner comes as one whole unit that slides onto the bottom of the chair and locks into place. It’s mostly made out of steel and is rock-solid once it’s attached. The cushion is only a couple inches narrower than the seat and extends out about 14 inches to support your calf. It’s also about nine inches wide, so it should land in the proper place for most gamers that would fit in the regular and small size Evo and Classic chairs. It’s also a plush four inches where it meets your leg, so you settle right in.
The cushion is Secretlab’s PlushCell Memory Foam, trimmed with a soft velour fabric. It’s very similar to the neck pillows the company ships with its chairs and is super comfy to rest your legs on. At launch, the recliner add-on will only come in black, though I hope to see other materials arrive in the future to match some of the company’s other popular finishes, like the SoftWeave “Cookies and Cream” version pictured throughout this review.
Secretlab is making a big deal out of the ergonomic benefits of the recliner. It claims that every design element, from the material used in the cushion to the gap between the seat and the footrest, was made using data. In fact, the company tells us that it even utilized feedback from its independent ergonomics advisory board (a group composed of experts in ergonomics, biomechanics, and physical therapy) to ensure that it was ergonomically sound.
A recliner promoting proper ergonomics sounded a little far-fetched to me. But, as it happens, there does appear to be sound principles behind it. For the recliner on its own, elevating the feet and reducing pressure on the back of the thigh and knee area improves leg circulation. If you spend a lot of time sitting, you probably already know that prolonged sitting increases the risk of forming blood clots in the legs (otherwise known as Deep Vein Thrombosis). Used in conjunction with a slight recline of the backrest, it can also decrease compression of the spine.
Of course, this is all dependent on how you sit. Hunched over like a shrimp or crossing your legs, you’ll still face the same health challenges over time. But, used properly, the combination of the footrest and backrest made my Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 more comfortable right away.
The recliner uses a gas piston to support any angle you choose. Unlike some living room recliners, there are no set positions, so you’re free to adjust it to whatever angle you like, up to 80-degrees. It’s a great range of adjustment for a product like this and really sets it apart from the competition. It’s the only footrest I’ve encountered that’s actually useful if you’re sitting up and working at your desk. Similar to living room recliners, when you’re done, you can pull the lever and push it all the way down so it clicks into place out of the way so you can forget it’s there when not in use.
The company highlights three new sitting positions the add-on offers: Focus, Unwind, and Recharge. Focus references an upright posture with the footrest extended only enough to offer calf support. Unwind is more for controller play: your feet are kicked up, you’re a bit more reclined. Recharge is the nap position: fully laid back, the footrest up at 80-degrees. Essentially, it’s a recliner and lets you recline. These are the positions you would naturally find anyways, but I did appreciate the cue to try extending the recliner a touch even while sitting upright. It makes for a comfier work experience to be sure.
Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner Add-on – Assembly
Adding the Ergonomic Recliner to an Evo or Classic chair is dead simple. The add-on comes pre-assembled, so all you need to do is clamp it to the chair. The entire process can be done by a single person in less than five minutes.
The hardest part is tipping the chair onto its side. Secretlab recommends using the included square foam to protect the base and your floor in the process. Once it’s there, you need to remove the two plastic levels from the bottom. They pulled on and off and slid off easily on my chair. From there, you need to add four rubber tabs onto the two bars behind the tilt base. The recliner has four hooks that match the location of these tabs. You simply slide it into place, press the lock bar for each side down, and it’s secured. You can then replace the handles you removed, slide the handle for the recline lever into place, and you’re done.
If you’re on the smaller side, you can also adjust the depth of the recliner by loosening a pair of bolts on either side of the frame. It comes maximally extended but can be drawn in a couple of inches if you need support closer to the seat.
Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner Add-on – Performance
Over the years, I’ve been able to try a number of different footrests on gaming chairs. Almost universally, they’ve been terrible. The Secretlab Ergonomic Recliner is the first that I’ve actually enjoyed and find practically useful anytime I’m sitting in the chair. It’s one of those products that “just works” and provides an immediate upgrade to an already great sitting experience. Frankly, I love it.
Because there really aren’t many other products like this in the gaming space, the most I’ve ever done to elevate my feet while working at my PC was to prop them up on the printer under my desk. Since adding the recliner to my chair, I almost always have it extended. Often, it’s only a slight amount, supporting my legs, though I frequently have it all the way up too. Between its softness and the support it offers, it just plain feels good to have this pillow supporting my legs all the time.
Before this review, I wouldn’t have thought that having my legs fully extended under my desk would be comfortable but, much to my surprise, it is. It also makes other postures, like sitting with one or both legs crossed more accommodating than the Evo was previously able to provide. Naming the different sitting positions makes me chuckle but the recliner makes the chair much more versatile and enjoyable to use.
The recliner also provided me with a bit of a first. I’ve never, ever been one to doze in my gaming chair. Not even with it fully reclined. That was always a gimmick for me, even if others enjoyed it. But with the recliner, I found myself leaning back on a particularly early morning and actually caught up on a couple hours of lost sleep.
Of course, it’s not a one-to-one for the recliner you have in your living room. The recline lever doesn’t unlock the backrest at the same time, so you need to adjust one and then the other, but that’s a small quibble. The bigger issue is that, without wheel locks, you can find yourself rolling out of place if your floor isn’t level or you move too much and cause the chair to shift. The recliner gets in the way of being able to reach the floor, forcing you to push it down or awkwardly straddle it to pull yourself back into position. I would love to see locking casters become an option on Secretlab’s site or included as an optional add-on with this product.
There’s also no way around the price. At $199 for the standard version, tested here, and $249 for the Founder’s Edition that’s available at launch, it’s an expensive add-on to an already premium-priced chair. The basic Titan Evo starts at $549, so purchased together free of any bundle or promotion, the chair jumps to around $750. It’s also one of the best gaming chairs you can buy and gets significantly better with the recliner added in.
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