GTRACING Gaming Chair Review – Ergonomics, Style & More

A gaming chair should support your body like a pit crew supports a racecar. That means providing enough comfort and ergonomic adaptability to keep you fueled and in the zone all night long. Although GTRACING’s GT099 Gaming Chair is a budget model among fierce competition, it still provides enough features to satisfy most casual players — all at an exceptional price.

GTRACING is an overseas manufacturer that’s been in business for over ten years. In that time, the brand’s R&D team has put together a formidable roster of chairs that start around $100 and reach upwards of $300. The GT099 is by far the most popular option, largely due to its bargain-basement price and well-reviewed ratings on Amazon. But is GTRACING suitable for your setup, or should you look elsewhere?

GTRACING Gaming Chair Pros & Cons

  • Multi-colored leatherette finish offers style and durability
  • Class III Gas lift provides 4″ of height adjustability
  • Tilt tension and lock encourage movement as you work and play
  • 360° free-moving casters glide around hard surfaces with ease
  • Challenging, hour-long assembly requires screwing together dozens of components
  • Thin backrest and cheap pillows may leave you sore after a few hours
  • Armrests prone to rattling and accidental slips
At A Glance
  • Price: $114.99
  • Height: 51.97 inches
  • Weight: 50 lbs
  • Best for: Lower budgets
  • Available Colors: Black, Blue, Gray, Green, Pink, Purple, Red, White
Highlights
  • Robust steel frame and 5-point base support up to 300 pounds
  • Lots of adjustability for the price, including 3D armrests and 90° to 170° of tilt
  • Lower price tag (~$100) makes this an affordable option for gamers on a budget
  • Warranty: 1 Year (extendible)
  • Return: 30 Days
  • Shipping: Free

Check out the GT099 from GTRacing on the manufacturer’s site to see more features.

What Does The GTRACING Gaming Chair Feel Like?

At first, the GTRACING Gaming Chair presents a major pain. The assembly process is downright ridiculous, with dozens of loose components to screw on and word-less instructions that make you want to rip the chair’s stuffing from its seams. While you can finish in about an hour, installation is a grueling process that’s far less intuitive than it has any right to be.

However — all the hard work begins to pay off once you’ve sat down on the finished product. While far from perfect, the GTRACING performs well in the ergonomics and design departments, and it’s not too shabby in comfort or durability.

Comfort

The GTRACING GT099 isn’t a star when it comes to comfort, but it’s no slouch, either. While it lacks padding in the backrest, the thick bucket seat incorporates several inches of GTRACING’s dense molded foam, providing proper cushioning for your posterior. The multi-directional padded armrests are also reasonably comfortable on your elbows and forearms, even if a tad small for my liking.

My chief complaint is the lack of built-in head and lumbar support. Instead of a more thoughtful design, GTRACING relies on cheap pillows to get the job done. These little pillows are a common theme among budget gaming chairs, so this wouldn’t be the end of the world, except both pads are virtually rock-solid. You can’t really sit without them, either, as the thin backrest doesn’t offer nearly enough support without the lumbar cushion, and the head pillow covers hard plastic grommets that give you whiplash every time you lean back.

Ergonomics

Let’s put comfort aside for the moment and take a look at ergonomics, as that’s where the GTRACING really starts to shine. The chair offers all the same adjustment settings found in other base models, including height, recline, tilt lock, and tilt tension mechanisms — but it also goes one step further with 2-directional armrests.

While it may not seem like much, GTRACING is one of the only chairs in its price range to feature height-adjustable, pivoting armrests that support you in every position. Slide them out and away to get up close and personal with your monitor, or position them for perfect support while typing. As a writer and gamer, I spend most of my time sitting, and these armrests are critical for long-term comfort and wellbeing.

Construction & Design

GTRACING incorporates all the chief components of a racing-style design, including a 360° base, bucket seating, and a sizeable executive backrest. It also comes in several colors, with multi-tone palettes that give the latest Forza Horizon cars a run for their money. All the while, the chair’s PU leather and plastic components with occasional flashes of metal are par for the course.

Although it has a pleasing aesthetic, the construction isn’t anything fancy. Upon closer inspection, many of the pieces feel cheap, including the plastic components comprising GTRACING’s mechanisms. Worst of all — and despite all my praise — the armrests aren’t exceptionally sturdy. On the contrary, they’re prone to occasional jitters and even pivot on their own when you sit down too fast or make any sudden movements.

Durability

The GTRACING Gaming Chair offers surprisingly decent durability for a chair in its price range. While the components are relatively cheap, they bind together to provide a stable foundation for users up to 300 pounds. Even the middle-of-the-road Class III gas lift holds its weight, offering 4″ of height adjustability to support users up to roughly 6′. These mechanisms offer more adaptability than many chairs twice the price, so it’s wonderful to see such accommodation in a budget model.

The chair will, however, compress and lose cushioning over time. Moreover, I can’t speak to the longevity of all the components. While they’re fine in the short term, I have my doubts whether they’ll last longer than a few years. Fortunately, GTRACING’s 1-year warranty extends to two when you subscribe to the company newsletter and post about it on social media.

Our Verdict of The GTRACING Gaming Chair

Taking everything into consideration, the GTRACING GT099 is a decent gaming chair with adequate support for driving home victory.

You just need to know what you’re getting into — not a high-caliber DXRACER, but a minimal GTRACING with enough features to keep it in the running, but nothing exceptional. That said, it does provide a fair amount of comfort, particularly when it comes to the thick seat cushion and soft PU leatherette finish. But the thin backrest and way-too-firm cushions mean you shouldn’t expect more than four hours (or so) of support at a time. This isn’t a huge dealbreaker, as you ought to get up and move on the hour anyways.

The primary win for GTRACING comes courtesy of its above-average ergonomics for a chair in its price range. You can use its multitude of mechanisms for sitting up straight in competitive VALORANT or leaning back and relaxing in a casual Hearthstone match. Meanwhile, the 2D armrests accommodate nearly every posture, complete with a cushiony PU top that feels lovely on your elbows. Just to be careful when moving, as the armrests often slip out of place like loose gears.

You’ll also want to plan for its assembly, ideally bringing an IRL friend along for the process. Although the entire chair only weighs 50 pounds, lugging all the components around while assembling the chair is no fun.

The GT099 MSRPs at $135.99, but you’ll often find it closer to $100 on Amazon. That’s exceptional value, as most comparable high-back office chairs retail closer to double that number. As long as you understand the trade-offs, I don’t think you can go wrong with the GTRACING, especially if it’s your first gaming chair or a placeholder while you save up for something a bit better. 

Other Models from GTRACING

  • GTRACING ACE-S1 | Amazon ($169.99) – If you like the racing aesthetic but want something more timeless — à la Secretlab — the ACE-S1 features a heather fabric finish with more adjustability.
  • GTRACING GTF59 | Amazon ($175.99) – Many gamers play on PC and console, yet most gaming chairs support one or the other. The GTF59 combines both worlds with a 5-star office base and a kick-out footrest.
  • GTRACING GT308 Recliner | Amazon ($358.00) – Play the new PS5 or Xbox Series X in comfort and style atop GTRACING’s laid-back recliner that comes complete with cupholders.

Comparable Chairs from Other Brands

  • Homall Gaming Chair | Amazon ($134.99) – Homall and GTRACING compete neck-and-neck, with Homall emphasizing comfort and GTRACING prioritizing ergonomics.
  • DXRACER RV001 | Amazon ($399) – As the original racing chair manufacturer, DXRACER and its RV001 paved the road for the GT099 and its sleek design.
  • Secretlab TITAN Evo ($449) – Secretlab is the king of gaming seats, and the company’s TITAN Evo outperforms the GT099 in every way — for four times the cost.
  • all33 BackStrong C1 ($799) – While the GTRACING provides reliable support for its price point, the all33 BackStrong C1 is a champion of ergonomics and proper posture, making it an excellent option for players who care about their overall health.

Should You Buy The GTRACING Gaming Chair?

If you’re on a budget and prioritize ergonomic adjustability, the GTRACING Gaming Chair beats every other budget model out there. It comes with enough adaptable features for practical support while you game and work for hours at a time.

That said, it’s not the most comfortable model out there. If you care more about sinking in and relaxing, a model like the Homall may be a better option.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that patience is a virtue. Unless you need it right now, I’d consider holding off and buying something more supportive and comfortable overall. Take it from somebody who knows — your body will thank you in the long run.