Besides PC cases and peripherals, Cooler Master also makes gaming chairs. The Cooler Master Caliber X1C is its high-end conventional gaming chair, which deftly combines breathable fabric with sleek, faux leather upholstery; generously dense and thorough faux padding; a tilt function; and a full array of armrest adjustments. At $399, the X1C isn’t the cheapest gaming chair, but it’s significantly less expensive than Editors’ Choice pick Secretlab Titan EVO, and offers comparable build quality. For that, the Caliber X1C joins the Titan EVO as an Editors’ Choice pick for high-backed, reclining gaming chairs.
The Cailber X1C’s fabric material is entirely gray, with black, faux leather on the sides in a textured pattern that resembles carbon fiber. This two-tone design is the only color scheme available for this model. You can get an all-black version of the chair in the Caliber X1 (which is $50 less), but that model is entirely covered in leatherette, with no fabric. The Secretlab Titan EVO comes in an array of colors.
Putting the Gaming Chair Together
The chair features a standard assembly process. Bolt the chair’s back to the brackets on the seat, bolt the armrests and mounting panel to the seat’s underside, pop the casters and gas cylinder into the base, and set the seat on the cylinder’s top. They’re the steps nearly every gaming chair requires, save for some models with pre-attached mounting panels or armrests. We would have liked to see hard plates cover the screw holes on the back of the chair, similar to what Secretlab does with its chairs, because attaching the back to the seat is one of the assembly process’ most annoying aspects. Still, it’s a small complaint.
Capacity and Adjustments
The X1C has a recommended 264-pound weight limit (with a maximum 330-pound weight limit), and it should be comfortable for people who stand between 5’3″ and 6’3”. The chair’s seat is 21.3 inches wide and deep, and its back is 33.9 inches tall and 22.8 inches wide.
You get the full range of gaming chair adjustments with the X1C. The seat height can be set between 19.7 and 22.9 inches using the gas cylinder in the base—standard for any gaming or office chair. The X1C’s back reclines between 90 and 180 degrees with a pull of the lever on the right side of the seat, and the entire chair can freely tilt or be locked at any angle. The height, left-right position, left-right angle, and forward-back position of either armrest can be set with the buttons located beneath them. The X1C has smooth height and left-right adjustments, but the forward-backward and angle adjustments are quite stiff. Finally, a built-in lumbar cushion with hidden straps can be slid up and down the seat back, or removed entirely.
Fabric, Leatherette, and Thick Foam
The X1C is made of dense foam padding upholstered in both faux leather and fabric. The leatherette runs along the sides and back of the chair, while Cooler Master’s Cool-In fabric covers the chair back and seat where your body would make contact. The fabric is breathable, and feels pleasantly soft without seeming flimsy. According to Cooler Master, the chair’s fabric is waterproof and rip-resistant, and should be able to handle sweat easily.
The padding is surprisingly robust, consisting of thick foam along the seat, sides, and the forward-facing half of the chair’s back. Only the back half of the chair back appears to use suspended upholstery and padding. This is a significant upgrade over the R1S and its almost entirely suspended padding; the X1C feels firmer, sturdier, and more supportive.
Besides the built-in-but-removable lumbar cushion, a separate head pillow is included with the X1C. It can be attached to the headrest with its elastic straps, and offers firm foam padding covered in Cool-In fabric.
The X1C is a comfortable seat, thanks to its strong build quality and sturdy materials. The Cool-In fabric is pleasantly soft to the touch, while feeling robust enough to handle everyday abuse. It indeed seems quite breathable, though we couldn’t give it a really grueling sweat test in the lab in January. The leatherette, while mostly limited to accents that you won’t usually touch while sitting in the chair, also feels smooth, and tactilely blends well against the fabric.
The padding is also well-balanced between sheer density and springy give, comparable with the foam used in the SecretLab Titan EVO. It doesn’t feel like you’re sitting on a fabric-covered gym mat or a fluffy pillow. Instead, it’s a nice middle ground between them, with the top surface of the seat and front-facing surface of the chair back featuring softer padding than the more solid foam in the body of those sections. The lumbar cushion is a particularly pleasant touch, attaching securely to the chair with the straps disappearing behind a panel that lets the cushion be easily moved up and down to best fit your back. It isn’t quite as technically advanced as the Titan EVO’s internal lumbar supports with knobs for precise adjustments, but it’s still quite comfortable.
The chair is well-balanced, and the various adjustments are easy to make. The extensive armrest adjustments are always welcome, as is the ability to rock back on the chair in addition to reclining. The aluminum base is sturdy, and the casters freely spin and roll.
Well-Made, Comfortable, and Reasonably Priced
Cooler Master’s Caliber X1C gaming chair has surprised us with its comfort, build quality, and thoughtful design. The combination of breathable, soft-but-sturdy fabric and attractive faux leather give the chair a premium feel, and its generous capacity and selection of adjustments mean most people will find their ideal configuration. It’s comparable with the SecretLab Titan EVO in feel, for a significantly lower price, and that earns it our Editors’ Choice for gaming chairs.
If you’d prefer to spend less on a gaming chair, the Cooler Master Caliber R1S and Razer Enki X are both available for about $100 less than the Caliber X1C, though you’ll lose the tilting function and four-way armrest adjustments. The $319 Respawn Specter is another good, cheaper alternative if you want a more streamlined, mesh-backed chair.
