ChairsFX asserts that gaming chairs are perfectly suitable for office work. When Anda seat offered to send over a Dark Wizard chair for review, we decided to put that idea to the test. Instead of reviewing the Dark Wizard in-house, we had it shipped to an “essential worker” in Toronto. Is the Dark Wizard chair any good? Did it help to improve wellness and productivity? How did his co-workers react? Find out in this Anda Seat Dark Wizard gaming office chair review/ case study.
Shoutout to Anda Seat for making this case study possible. The team was generous enough to offer any chair in their lineup for review. They were also fine with our idea to review the chair as a case study.
Dark Wizard gaming office chair case study
Anda Seat’s Canadian headquarters is in Richmond Hill, a suburb north of Toronto. “Byron P” works as a logistics professional in a suburb west of Toronto. Byron stands 5’9″ and weighs 175 pounds.
Free to choose any model in the Anda Seat Canada collection, he went with the Dark Wizard for two reasons. First, its executive styling matched his office environment. Second, his size was a good fit for the chair.
We asked him to follow the basics in our Gaming Chair User Guide. Then, we left him with some predictions:
- He would need an adjustment period to get used to a new way of sitting.
- Once adjusted, he would enjoy noticeable health, wellness, and productivity benefits.
- Coworkers would react with either derision or curiosity.
- The chair’s presence in the office would inspire others to re-think their workstation ergonomics.
- After someone gets comfortable in a gaming chair, it’s hard to go back to using a traditional office chair.
Dark Wizard chair features
The Dark Wizard has a full suite of pro esports ergonomic features. Compared to the other large Anda Seat chairs, the Dark Wizard stands out with thicker padding and a higher grade of PVC leather.
The result is a plush, fully adjustable chair with sleek executive styling. For a closer look, see this Dark Wizard Review. Quick specs:
- Armrests: adjustable in three directions.
- Adjustability: recline from 90 to 160 degrees; multifunction seat angle tilt-lock.
- Upholstery: cold-cured foam with 65Kg/M3 density; premium PVC leather with carbon fiber trim.
- Size rating: 5’9″ to 6’9″; maximum weight capacity 400 pounds.
- Warranty: lifetime frame warranty; 2-year standard warranty; 6-year extended warranty with a social share (details).
The dual-fabric upholstery adds a regal design touch. Most of the chair is covered in black PVC leather. Along the wings and pillow are carbon fiber accents.
The accents have a pebbled, rubbery feel that provides an excellent contrast to the smooth PVC leather. It’s a nice extra that gives the Dark Wizard a premium feel.
Dark Wizard chair dimensions
Another unique aspect of the Dark Wizard design is the extra-large neck pillow. Instead of filling the neck’s curve like smaller pillows, this version spans the shoulders to the top of the head.
The Dark Wizard’s neck pillow provides more support than conventional pillows.
That makes this chair extra-versatile. Taller users can adjust up to support their height. In contrast, the Dark Wizard isn’t ideal for shorter users. Our tester Byron stands 5’9″ and weighs 175 pounds (average-sized). If he were an inch or two shorter, this chair would be too big. As is, the fit is just right for his size.
Check out our Gaming Chair Sizing Guide to learn the importance of choosing the appropriate sized gaming chair for your body type.
Sizing specs:
- Seat width x depth: 21.65″ (W) x 23″ (D)
- Backrest width x height: 23.8″ (W) x 34″ (H)
- Chair height: 51.7-54.3 inches
- Size rating: 5’9″ to 6’9″; maximum weight capacity 400 pounds.
Dark Wizard health and wellness benefits
Here, we summarize Byron’s feedback about the chair after one month of use:
- Adjustment period: “It took a few days to find that comfortable zone with the chair — less than one week. Found the right height and tilt to make it comfortable.”
- Energy boost: “In my regular chair, I felt sluggish and drowsy mid-way through the day. With this Anda gaming chair, I didn’t get that tired feeling. I am able to leap to my feet a lot quicker when I leave my office.”
- Physical benefits: “Before using this chair, I was always sliding in my chair, poor lumbar support, and my feet would actually start to feel sore. The Dark Wizard helps me sit more in an upright position. I also used to suffer from occasional sciatica. But after using this chair for a few weeks, I did not notice any sciatic pains.”
Byron’s observations are consistent with ChairsFX literature. Check out this feature to learn how gaming chairs boost wellness, energy, and performance levels:
Dark Wizard impact on office culture
When the chair arrived in Byron’s office, his co-workers expressed interest. “They really liked the look of the chair, with many positive comments. Everyone wanted to try it out. It went through a full office test drive.”
We also wondered how Byron’s superiors would react. Traditionally, office chairs have been based on hierarchy — the highest-ranking staff get the nicest chairs. What happens when a subordinate shows up with the nicest chair in the office?
In Byron’s case, his superior found the chair educational. “When a new manager joined our office, he did not like having to use someone’s old chair. So he bought a new office chair for himself. After seeing my chair, he says he wished he had waited to get one like mine!”
Conclusion
Byron struggled to find something to criticize about his Dark Wizard chair. “It is hard to find something with this chair that does not appeal to me. One minor detail would be the forward / backward movement of the arm rest. It’s kind of hard to lock into place.”
Despite that quibble, he gives the Dark Wizard a big thumbs up. “Now that I have tried this chair, I would definitely buy one with my own money. I find it to be comfortable, relaxing, and it wraps around your body. The seat is comfy, and also allows for support. I would recommend others to get a similar chair as well as opposed to traditional office chairs. They would also made a great addition to a modern board room.”
As such, every one of our predictions came true. Byron needed a few days to get adjusted to a healthier way of sitting. Once adjusted, back pain vanished and his energy levels increased. His co-workers were interested in the chair. His boss wishes he had known about gaming chairs earlier.
Finally, Bryon confirms that he feels better and more productive now that he has proper support. Case closed.
The bottom line is that Anda Seat makes a range of solid gaming chairs for the Canadian market. For both gaming and office work, these models can have a positive impact on your health, wellness, and productivity. For other options within the Anda Seat CA collection, check this review:
Best Anda Seat Chairs For Canadians
The Anda Seat Dark Wizard is only available in Canada and comes with free shipping nationwide. Buy the Dark Wizard from Anda Seat for $549.99.
