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It’s an excellent time to purchase agaming chair, with more affordable models offering advanced ergonomic adjustments. However, an increased selection of chairs also makes it more difficult for prospective buyers. Boulies chairs have established themselves as affordable alternatives to high-end competitors without sacrificing build quality. In particular, the Ninja Pro attempts to distinguish itself from the crowd as a high-back chair with a unique blend of fabrics.
The Ninja Pro is also appealing for larger gamers, with height and weight limits rivaling some XL chairs. Thanks to its deep seat base, 4D armrests, and fully reclining backrest, this Boulies chair is equally suited for gaming, working, and relaxing.
Game Rant reviewed theBoulies Master Serieschair last year, which is supremely comfortable but slightly less gamer-oriented. The manufacturer recently supplied Game Rant with another review sample to see how the Ninja Pro can improve a gaming setup.
Boulies Ninja Pro 2024
The Ninja Pro series gaming chair is a racing-style seat that guides users toward a healthier sitting posture. Featuring upgraded metal armrests and durable materials, the Ninja Pro is an excellent chair for budget-minded shoppers. Offering extensive adjustability and a professional design, the Ninja Pro series provides an unparalleled sitting experience for any gamer.
Contents of Package
The Boulies Ninja Pro arrives in a substantial but not unreasonably difficult-to-move box for a larger chair.
There isn’t much division between the parts inside the box, but each component is well protected.
Some intelligent arranging and layering of the components minimize the dimensions of the packaging. Still, buyers are best served to move some of the heavier parts separately if the targeted room is not nearby.
Installation
Once the parts are laid out, the 11-step installation process can begin. The brief instruction booklet contains color photos, which are somewhat fuzzy and downsized to fit on a single page.
It soon becomes apparent why there aren’t many screws and bolts separated into sealed packaging. The screws needed to attach the armrests are already bolted to the bottom of the seat base, but the manual lets installers know which ones to take out. Attaching the armrests was surprisingly simple, provided the left and right pieces were correctly identified. The tilt mechanism is easy to properly align on the backside of the flat seat with the correct screw holes without checking the instructions.
Lining up the backrest properly with the seat was more problematic, as there is quite a bit of variation in where the screw holes can meet the side brackets. However, having two people handling the backrest at this stage of the process is greatly beneficial. The final task is securing side covers on the exposed bolts where the backrest and seat connect with single screws. If the left cover initially refuses to attach properly, like in this instance, it makes installers envious of gaming chairs with magnetic side brackets.
The included lumbar and head pillows secure to the chair with straps for gamers who decide to use them. Even with a few hiccups along the way, the Ninja Pro came together in around 45 minutes. Having the armrests installed at the factory, as seen withhigher-end chairs, would be beneficial, but the added hassle is minimal.
Design
The gaming chair reviewed here is the black version of the Ninja Pro, but there is red stitching all along the sides of the seat and backrest. Also, the Ninja logo embedded in the upper left corner of the backrest is a nice touch to highlight an otherwise mostly black chair. Thisgaming chair is sold in red, teal, and white if gamers seek a more distinctive look.
Buyers will find that the Ninja Pro doesn’t stray far from the racing seat mold manufacturers likeDXRacerhave popularized. The sides of the backrest curve distinctly inwards to make occupants feel secure, while the seat base has raised edges to hug dangling legs. The sides of the seat don’t run all the way to the end of the cushion, making the seat base look even deeper.
The back of the gaming chair is more ordinary, with only straps from the optional pillows and the white Boulies logo catching an observer’s eye. Reinforced with sturdy aluminum and XL PU casters, the chair’s base can safely seat plus-sized gamers.
Even though the Ninja Pro isn’t marketed as abig and tall chair, its height range of 5'7" to 6'7" suits the tallest gamers. The seat base is also sufficiently wide for larger users, and the chair supports up to 300 pounds. However, the Ninja Pro doesn’t feel quite as solid to sit on as some XL chairs Game Rant has reviewed, like theAndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XL. Regardless, compared to similarly priced chairs for shorter gamers, buyers should not have any complaints about the Ninja Pro’s build quality.
Many gaming chairs simply cover their entire frames in faux leather, but Boulies takes a different approach with the Ninja Pro. Most of this gaming chair is covered by what Boulies calls Ultraflex PU leather with perforations, strips, and patches of microfiber suede scattered along its exterior. The manufacturer claims that this combination of fabrics enhances the breathability of leatherette gaming chairs, which often struggle to match the cooling characteristics ofmesh office chairs. It wasn’t the right season to judge how well the Ninja Pro handles body heat, but the chair remained comfortable throughout extended work and gaming hours.
If gamers prefer a silky type of PU leather rather than a rugged blend, the Ninja Pro obliges with an extremely smooth fabric. It also feels very stretchy, which is undoubtedly why it’s called Ultraflex. The microsuede sections are marginally more gritty but still extremely soft. The alternating fabrics on the Ninja Pro also give the chair a more interesting appearance than other dark-colored competitors.
Since the Ultraflex PU leather is so smooth, it does attract its share of fingerprints, which are obvious on the black version of the chair. Fortunately, they wipe away easily with a microfiber cloth and a small splash of water. The suede elements of the chair could pose more of an issue since it’s not usually recommended to use water with this material. There is currently no all-cloth fabric version of the Ninja Pro, which would attract more buyers but require more effort to keep clean.
Boulies doesn’t go into much detail about what material lies between the chair’s frame and fabric. However, it feels like the typical memory foam found in modern gaming chairs, which is neither too firm nor too soft.
Comfort and Adjustments
Once gamers step up frombudget chairs, they can now often access a full suite of ergonomic adjustments. With the Boulies Ninja Pro, gamers can recline the chair to an almost completely horizontal position if a day is particularly stressful. Taller users can raise the seat base to 21.5 inches with a smooth gas lift mechanism.
Perhaps the most interesting are the 4D armrests, which can move in multiple directions to accommodate different body shapes and postures. Even though this type of versatile armrest is becoming more standard, it’s executed well with the Ninja Pro. There is minimal wiggle once locked into position, and metal inside and outside the mechanisms add a more premium touch to the chair. Boulies utilize aluminum alloy to make the armrests feel more secure and are covered with bouncy material to relieve elbows.
Ergonomic gaming chairswith integrated adjustable lumbar support, like theSecretlab Titan Evo, are the most desirable and priciest. With the more reasonably priced Ninja Pro, buyers instead receive a wide lumbar pillow that nestles against the lower portion of the backrest. Despite being relatively thin, it tended to push legs off the sloping front of the chair during testing. Of course, using the straps to adjust the pillow up or down to fit the grooves of the back can improve the situation.
Some critics argue that a headrest pillow isn’t as necessary on a high-back chair. It’s true that when typing, most heads won’t press against the backrest, but it’s a nice option to have when sitting in a more relaxed position. The pillow with the Ninja Pro has just the right amount of give to feel refreshing and is easy to slide up and down to relieve sore necks.
Below the Ninja Pro’s seat bottom, gamers will find the usual assortment of levels and knobs for an ergonomic chair. The lever to adjust seat height requires considerable force to activate, but once fully depressed, it effortlessly raises or lowers the chair. Otherwise, users can lock the tilt function to minimize rocking back and forth or modify backrest tension with a large knob.
Conclusion
Once gamers dial in the ideal placement of the pillows and armrests, the Boulies Ninja Pro is an extremely supportive chair for necks, backs, and legs. Its classic racing seat design features some distinctiveness with colorful stitching and alternating PU leather and suede. The somewhat unusual mix of faux leather and microfiber suede results in a feeling of breathable luxury. Adding to its mass appeal, the Ninja Pro’s styling is understated enough to look natural in offices andvibrant gaming rooms.
Along with a sophisticated appearance, the Ninja Pro is designed to cradle gamers without suffocating them. This comfort comes at a reasonable cost, especially considering the number of available ergonomic adjustments. The Ninja Pro will especially win over other taller gamers who normally have to pay more for a high-back chair. While not the widest seat base on the market, a weight capacity of 300 lbs is a testament to the chair’s build quality.
When assembling the Ninja Pro, there were a few issues when lining up the backrest and attaching the side covers, which slowed down an otherwise smooth installation process. Also, a stiff backrest recline lever can make it difficult to adjust a sitting angle frequently. Yet, none of these slight annoyances detract from the value of a mid-range chair that rivals the comfort, craftsmanship, and looks of the top brands.
Adjustable built-in lumbar support
$390 at Boulies.com
Excellent build quality and 5-year warranty
$450 at Secretlab.com
Big and tall gamers
$380 at Amazon
Gamers will find a growing assortment of affordable, well-built gaming chairs on the market. Staying in the Boulies family, theMaster Series chairfeatures the adjustable internal lumbar support that the Ninja Pro lacks. However, the standard-sized version does not have as tall of a back, making it not as suitable for tall gamers. TheTitan Evo Litelooks similar to the Ninja Pro but has even more rock-solid build quality and a longer warranty. Finally, theAndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XLhas a slightly wider seat base and a heftier weight limit than the still generously sized Ninja Pro.
FAQ
Q: What chairs do pro gamers use?
Competitive esports pros use many of the same gaming chairs casual gamers rely on from brands like Secretlab, DXRacer, and Razer. However, they are often customized with logos and designs to celebrate an esports team.
Q: How much should you pay for a good gaming chair?
Gaming chairs can be purchased for as little as $100-200, but they often have materials that quickly degrade. Buyers should expect to pay at least $300-400 for a longer-lasting gaming chair that is also very comfortable.
Q: What makes a gaming chair ergonomic?
Most premium gaming chairs have ergonomic qualities. Compared to cheaper office chairs, ergonomic chairs have a backrest that accommodates the shape of the spine and are more comfortable for sitting for long periods. Ergonomic gaming chairs also commonly offer additional lumbar support and adjustable armrests.
