Secretlab’s Titan Evo Ash Leatherette chair features a subtle greyish tint that softens the starkness of pure, blinding white. After two years of using one, I’ve found that it delivers a clean and refreshing aesthetic. However, maintaining its pristine appearance requires careful upkeep. This review focuses on the long-term experience of using the Titan Evo Ash Leatherette variant.
My general Secretlab Titan Evo review evaluates the chair’s long-term usability and technical performance. It highlights the Titan Evo’s exceptional posture support, versatile design, and ability to promote healthy movement.
This review specifically dives into the unique aspects of using the Ash Leatherette chair. Unlike the Titan Evo’s technical aspects, the Ash Leatherette’s color is subjective and can vary in perception.
Secretlab’s website presents it as a soft gray. After unboxing, I found it to be a stark, pure white. Over time, a subtle grayish undertone became apparent. This softens the starkness of pure white, giving it a more relaxed, less sterile feel.
Available from Secretlab in North America, the EU and UK, Oceania, Singapore, and Malaysia.
2022 Series Titan Ash (medium) $549
Titan Ash (small) $549 | Titan Ash (XL) $599
Titan Ash Leatherette Chair Review
Secretlab’s latest 2022 Series models are a big step ahead of competing gaming chairs. The ergonomic functionality, durability, and aesthetics are on a completely different level.
This section assesses those aspects using a 2022 Series Ash Leatherette chair.
Neo Hybrid Leatherette Ash Upholstery
I found the Ash Leatherette Titan Evo to be a brighter aesthetic choice compared to my previous Titan 2020 Series Stealth edition. The Stealth edition’s dark color absorbs light and blends into workspaces.
In comparison, the Ash Leatherette edition has a lighter color that brightens up the space and stands out. It comes clad in Neo Hybrid Leatherette upholstery, an upgrade over the Prime 2.0 PU Leather used in the 2020 Stealth edition.
According to Secretlab, Neo Hybrid Leatherette is more breathable and four times more durable than Prime 2.0. I also found it to be noticeably smoother, which you can see under a macro lens.
Ash Color Appeal For Desk Work
The Ash chair has a pale white base accented with black suede side wings and black/ silver threading. Under normal lighting conditions, a very mild grey tinge dampens the intensity of the white.
Instead of a blinding white, it brightens a workspace discretely, without overwhelming the senses. As the centerpiece of a corporate workstation, expect elegant grace with a clean, fresh feel.
Black and white are staples in office interior designs. Black surfaces absorb all colors of the visible spectrum. As a result, when light reflects off black upholstery, none reflects back to the eyes.
In contrast, white contains all the colors of the spectrum. White objects reflect back all color wavelengths that shine on them.
Doctors wear white to convey clinical cleanliness and efficiency. The white in referee uniforms symbolizes purity and impartiality. In professional settings, white conveys cleanliness, reliability, and integrity.
White gaming chairs are also the most color reflective. If you have RGB in your setup, the Secretlab Ash will reflect back the exact colors that shine onto it!
Ash Leatherette Maintenance
The best way to clean Secretlab faux leather chairs clean is with a damp microfiber cloth. Regular towels can leave behind dust and residue. Microfiber cloths have fibers 100 times thinner than a human hair. These effectively trap dirt, dust, and even bacteria due to their split structure.
My old Stealth Titan 2020 chair’s dark colors did a good job at hiding blemishes. In contrast, the Ash Leatherette’s lighter shade makes blemishes more noticeable.
For instance, a drop of coffee can leave a stain that you can luckily scrub out. Scuffing your seat with shoes may leave permanent marks.
Bottom line: the Ash Leatherette is easy to clean with a damp cloth. However, it requires more attention to prevent stains compared to darker colored chairs.
Other Standard Leatherette Colors
There are five standard designs in Secretlab’s Leatherette collection. Unlike Secretlab’s artistic specialty chairs, these have plain designs in subdued, corporate-style colors.
Neutral (aka achromatic) colors are white, grey, and black. White contains all colors in the spectrum, while black is the absence of light. Neutral blacks, greys, and whites are office design staples.
They complement other colors well, and pair well with wooden desks. In a corporate setting, they also stimulate a sense of formality and group harmony.
2022 Series Titan Ash (medium) $549
Also available in small ($549) and XL sizes ($599) in the Secretlab Store.
Titan Stealth
If you can’t decide on a Titan design, this is the safest pick in the bunch. The Secretlab Titan’s original design is still one of its most popular. Its base black leatherette layer gives it the power look of an executive chair. Carbon fiber side wings and red accent stitching add subtle touches of pop.
The Stealth chair’s golden embroidery touches also add an interesting effect. Under bright light, they give the chair a brownish hue. As lighting darkens, the chair blends in with the shadows like a stealthy ninja.
Also available in small ($549) and XL sizes ($599) in the Secretlab Store.
Titan Black
The all-black Titan is a slightly riskier pick than the Titan Stealth. It has the same dark leatherette as the Stealth, but no contrasting effects. The suede side wings are black, as is the threading.
The ‘risk’ is that some might find the lack of contrast boring. There are no special details to marvel over except darkness. Even so, that’s exactly what some people want in an executive chair.
If you prefer a look that connotes power, elegance, and formality, the Titan Black is a solid option.
Also available in small ($549) and XL sizes ($599) in the Secretlab Store.
Titan Classic
The Titan Classic is a riff on the Titan Stealth. Both feature a black leatherette base with red accent stitching. The difference is in the side wings. Instead of black carbon fiber wings like the Stealth, the Classic has white suede wings.
Black absorbs light; white reflects it. As a result, the white accents give the Classic chair a bit more visual ‘pop’ than the Stealth.
Even so, its ubiquitous white and black color scheme is a true classic. For a corporate workspace, it offers crisp, predictable aesthetics. For a home office or game room, it’s a safe pick to blend into your decor rather than stand out.
Also available in small ($549) and XL sizes ($599) in the Secretlab Store.
Titan Royal
Black, grey, and white aren’t technically considered colors. Thus the Titan Royal the only colored chair in the standard leatherette collection. Even so, like the other models, it continues the executive design theme.
Blue is a staple in corporate design. It’s a cool, natural color that evokes tranquility and mental stimulation. Some studies have shown that people are more productive in blue rooms than white ones.
As such, many designers use blue in places where people need to focus and get work done.
Also available in small ($549) and XL sizes ($599) in the Secretlab Store.
Titan Ash Leatherette Chair Conclusion
Last year, I also tested out a bright yellow Titan Cyberpunk chair. That proved to be a dizzying, high-energy thrill ride. In comparison, the Titan Ash has a more subdued, executive style feel.
When I first ordered the Ash chair, I was expecting a light grey model. Had I known it’s actually off-white, I might have been too scared to order it. For one thing, I feared that a blinding white chair might be too distracting. For another, white stains easily.
My experience with the Ash chair has rendered those concerns irrelevant. It’s not a blinding white, but rather a soft, soothing greyish-white.
It’s also near-indestructible — guaranteed to support full-time use for 5 years or more. I don’t baby mine at all and have no worries. Once first-time buyers get a feel for the nuanced qualities of Neo Hybrid Leatherette, they won’t either.
Both gamers and executives will find the Ash chair lends a cleaner, brighter look to a workstation. Gamers will appreciate its reflective reactions against RGB lighting.
Executives will find a crisp, clean alternative to the other standard leatherette dark designs. It’s out-of-the-ordinary, yet still within corporate design parameters.
If you’re looking to stand apart from the crowd without pushing boundaries, the Ash chair is a great choice.
2022 Series Titan Ash (medium) $549
Also available in small ($549) and XL sizes ($599) in the Secretlab Store.
