Gaming chairs are gaining popularity due to the appearance of budget models. A large number of seat, backrest, armrest and material options have been released, giving manufacturers more freedom to combine all this variety to achieve specific goals. GameLab MONOS Black (GL-500) combines low cost, classic design combined with game design.
Specifications
| Model | GameLab MONOS Black (GL-500) |
| Type | Gaming chair with height and back angle adjustment |
| Maximum weight | 130 kg |
| Recommended weight | 120 kg |
| Fillers | Seat and lumbar support: high-density polyurethane foam; armrest and armrests: PVC filler. |
| Finishing materials | Armrests, headrest and seat: eco-leather; back: mesh |
| gas lift | 3rd grade |
| seat height | 43-54 cm from the floor |
| back angle | 90-135 degrees |
| cross | Nylon |
Packaging, appearance, equipment and assembly
A box measuring 730*530*290 mm and weighing about 17 kg is made of black-painted cardboard. All the inscriptions are made using the stencil method, only a little differently – they are not painted over. The cardboard is dense, it will protect against small “shocks” during transportation.
The box has the logo of the manufacturer and the model of the chair. There are no characteristics on the packaging, only weight and size data are on it. Everything else is inside. Each element is in its own package and everything is stacked in layers, between which there are inserts of cardboard sheets. The layout is tight, almost nothing rattles inside, which means it will arrive safe and sound. The first step is to decompose all the components, study the instructions and consider the tool with consumables in the kit.
The instruction is short and made in the form of step-by-step illustrations. The assembly process does not look complicated. Consumables and tools are in a blister, another key is attached to the back of the tape, perhaps more convenient or suitable for a particular chair, because. the blister can be the same for several models of chairs. No additional tool is required. I will assemble in the order shown in the illustrations, from the assembly of the cross.
The crosspiece is completely made of nylon, it is solid and heavy, and the weight, according to Boris Razor, is reliable.
From above it seems solid, but on the reverse side voids with stiffening ribs are visible. There are 5 beams and closer to the edge they have red linings that will dilute the look of the “bottom”, the chair is all the same gaming and should match the appearance. The total length of the beam is 32 centimeters. Fastening is very simple in the form of a lock.
There are special grooves, just attach one part to another, as everything becomes clear, then just straighten the leg and that’s it. Under their weight in the working position, they will finally sit in their place, because. with manual assembly, the extreme positions are difficult to reach.
The back of the medium size at the base is made of plastic, and the rest is made of mesh with a small cell. The mesh will promote ventilation as it the material is synthetic, and it is undesirable to lose it. On the side there is one hole each, to which the armrests will be screwed in the future, and below there is a massive platform for attaching the frame with a tilt and height adjustment mechanism. The straps of the lumbar pillow are visible through the holes, as is the pillow itself, most likely it can be rearranged, for example, in the neck area.
On top, in addition to attaching the headrest, there is a red frame of two holes, which slightly dilutes the black back.
The headrest at the base is plastic, and on the front side it is trimmed with eco-leather, with a small amount of soft filler. It also has a logo and the name of the manufacturer in the form of a line. Fastens easily and simply, for this there are special grooves, and is fixed with a screw.
The gas lift is protected by foamed polyethylene, because. although the thing is heavy, you need to be careful with it, as the engraving on it says. From it you can find out the model, as well as the class – 3. The casing is plastic, the classic layout of 3 parts that fit freely into each other.
The base of the wheels is made of plastic, but the contact part is made of polyurethane, which is a little soft, which will definitely have a positive effect on the softness of the ride and low noise. The stem is metal with a retaining ring, no surprises here – the most common solution, it will be easy to find a replacement. Now we can finally assemble the base.
There are no surprises in the assembly and again no third party tool is required. We just insert one into the other, put a little effort and that’s it. The base is ready, so we can start assembling the mechanism and attaching it to the back of the chair.
The thickness and weight of the mounting plate inspires confidence. You can only bend or break it if it is your goal. For greater confidence in this detail, the manufacturer made a slight bend, which plays the role of a small stiffener. Thanks to the instructions and the reciprocal recess in the chair, the correct installation is guaranteed. The next step is to install the mechanism and seat. Which of these to do first, you can decide for yourself according to the circumstances. I started with the mechanism.
The 2.2mm thick frame is fairly neatly welded and well painted. No burrs or sharp edges. There are plenty of curves for rigidity. Mounted with 4 screws to the mounting plate. It will be possible to fasten the seat to the mechanism.
The seat in the base is most likely plywood, sheet or strip. This is a frequently used solution for not only budget chairs, but also medium budget ones. The filler used is high-density polyurethane foam, which has a kind of pleasant stiffness, but at the same time soft enough for long battles. The outer trim, as in the case of the headrest, is eco-leather, but in order to slightly dilute the appearance and give a little “game” elements, red stitching was used, neatly done and inserts of eco-leather textured “carbon-look”. On the side you can see the second hole for attaching the armrest. On the back of the seat, everything is simple and budgetary, the upholstery and non-woven material hiding the base are fixed with a stapler. It is attached to the frame with 4 screws.
All visible attachment points can be hidden with decorative overlays that come with the kit. This is a long piece to hide the mounting plate and a small triangle to hide the headrest mount.
The triangular part is simply inserted and held by low weight and high friction. The second decorative overlay is inserted into the grooves and fixed with two self-tapping screws. Do not overtighten them, because. there is only plastic, there is a risk that something will simply burst. Only the armrests remained intact, but everything is ready for them.
They are made entirely of plastic, but quite thick. On the top there is a small soft overlay with a thin layer of soft material and eco-leather trim. Bearings are installed in the mounting holes. However, the armrests in this chair are not adjustable, but they move slightly along with the backrest. We fix the armrests, install the resulting “top” on the base with a gas lift and you’re done!
Exploitation
As mentioned above, the dense foam in the seat is very pleasant. You sit down in an armchair and give it quite a bit, but at the same time it is quite soft. There are no side supports, the surface is flat. But the back, on the contrary, has the shape of a bucket, and if you want to lean back in a chair, in the good sense of the word, then I fit exactly in it. The plastic frame does not rest anywhere with the ribs against my body. From the center of the shoulder through the back to the other shoulder I have about 63 cm and for me the chair is neither narrow nor wide.
With a height of 185 cm, the chair has enough height adjustment to sit comfortably. From the floor to the top of the seat 43 cm in the lowest position and 54 cm in the highest position.
The armrests are wide and long, comfortable in any position. In the highest position, which is what I use, the height of the top of the armrest is almost 75 cm, as is the height of the tabletop. Those. in fact, it turns out a single plane with the table and the elbows / hands will lie on the continuation of the table, which, in my opinion, is the correct fit.
The backrest can be in “free float” when the latch is not closed and the backrest can move under pressure. And you can fix it in any convenient position. The tilt angle is adjustable from approximately 90 to 135 degrees.
The crosspiece is larger in area than the chair itself. This is good and it will be more stable. Loosening a small base is easier and faster.
The wheels are noticeably softer and quieter than plastic ones, but louder and stiffer than silicone-coated ones. This is some intermediate option.
Buy
Outcome
GameLab MONOS Black is a budget gaming chair with time-tested solutions and gaming design. The size of the chair allows people up to 1.85 m to be used accurately, and the design provides for a working weight of 120 kg. Seat filled with high-density foam, an excellent solution that is both moderately hard and soft, i.e. there is resilience to support you, and the back-bucket will secure a comfortable position in the chair. The standard gas lift and casters will allow you to service the chair without any difficulty when the time comes.
