Today guys I have got another German designed gaming chair for you guys: The E220 Evo from Nitro Concepts. This brand, however, focuses on a low to medium level price range – around 150 quid – that is sought after by a majority of (younger) gamers.
Is the E220 Evo a viable option if you are looking for a quality racing seat? Does it offer a sufficient value for money ratio? Can it compete with chairs from brands like Arozzi and does it have any unique characteristics?
To cut a long story short: Let us get right into today’s review to find out how the E220 Evo performs! Also, do not miss my guides in matters of user’s size and finding the best offers in the UK.
I was pretty excited to do this E220 Evo review since I am used to testing chairs within the premium sector but have not had the chance to take a closer look at smaller budget seats, yet. Why is that?
Well, in general, I choose a PC chair because I like it for myself and I usually go for quality products. So I thought before my reviews start getting too monotonous I should start adding some more affordable chairs into the mix – just like the E220 Evo from Nitro Concepts!
The E220 Evo comes in 7 (!) different colours, but I found the black chair with red highlights the most appealing – it also fits the brand’s name perfectly I think. There is a totally blacked out version available as well that looks badass.
The overall design with the single big venting window, material mix, accentuated casters and bold logo looks unique rendering the chair modern as well as valuable. I like that the company, even tough they focus on very affordable products, has the ambition to do something different not buying off the rack or only copying established shapes.
To provide breathability, the contact areas are covered in a soft fabric material while colour contrasting sections like the side boulders are encased with an elegant as well as carefree faux leather. The fabric areas have a velvety feel to them which in combination with the soft padding will most likely please a lot of customers.
The logo itself is in line with the overall concept, and I like the fact that even though it is somewhat flashy Nitro Concepts did not overdo it by printing the branding all over their chair – a sign of class in my opinion. You can find a small label attached to the side as well as a bigger logo stitched into the headrest of the E220 Evo.
The wheels that are attached to the chair’s nylon base (user’s weight limit is 120 kilos) have left me a bit torn. On the one hand they look great with the little red circle complimenting the rest of the design, but on the contrary, they do not roll as smoothly as I had wished for.
No question, you can not have everything when you restrict the cost of purchase to a certain extent, but personally, I would have the involved two tone design swapped for improved functionality any time. But that is just me and to be honest, the E220 Evo’s casters are by no means bad, they just lose ground compared to more expensive chairs. It still beats an IKEA chair by miles, and in matters of floor-friendliness, the castors are certainly within expectations.
I guess you could say that the story continues, but I do not like the somewhat negative undercurrent going with that saying. True, the armrests are stiff and could use a softish padding at the top to provide more comfort, but firstly you have to remember that we are talking 150 quid here and secondly they look cool. I adore the futuristic appearance of the E220 Evo’s armrests that render the chair strikingly stylish.
Now we’re talkin’: Rock it, lock it, lift it up!
Everyone enjoys a little rocking now and then – luckily Nitro Concepts did not skip this function while designing the E220 Evo. Many cheaper chairs for gaming forgo this feature, but the Evo comes with a fully vested rocking mechanism that can be adjusted to the user’s weight through the handy knob at the bottom of the seating surface. The rocking comprises a range of 15 degrees and can be locked in almost any position with the depicted lever.
The lever featured in the above picture also regulates the seat height via the sturdy class 4 gas lift within a span of 9 centimetres.
I guess one could say that I have a gaming chair inflation going on in my office, so I had to source the field-testing of the E220 Evo out to my little brother who has been sitting on it for eight months now.
Sitting down on the E220 Evo feels great. The first thing you notice is the incredibly soft cushioning accompanied by a correspondingly soft fabric covering. Even though the seat’s tenderness might turn out to be a problem for heavier gamers hitting the scale at around a 100 kilos it fulfils the dreams of many customers – people just tend to prefer batting on the softer side. The fact that the fabric material allows for more breathing to happen since it absorbs humidity was also a nice bonus during the hotter periods of the year.
The reserved but efficient bulge within the lumbar area allows for an ergonomic posture while seated. Of course, the lack of adjustability in this case and also regarding the armrests narrows the target audience a bit but if you are built more or less averagely, you are good to go. A centimetre of elbow-protecting cushioning on the armrests would also be a welcome upgrade.
Steel frame: Many chairs within the cheaper price range use plywood to support their user which is cheap but also not as resistant to wear. The Evo is based on robust metal just like more expensive seats.
Class 4 gas lift: Surprisingly the E220 rests upon a class 4 gas lift which is the industry’s gold standard. This is rarely seen in chairs of this price range.
Fire retardant covering: Even though it is obligatory to equip an office chair with a fire retardant coating in the UK many companies go without it. The German heads behind this brand did their homework and fulfil the UK’s legal requirements to the fullest (just like noblechairs does).
Besides these three points the quality of the E220 Evo is decent and within expectations – considering the pricing I would even say the manufacturing and material quality is above average.
The fabric covered seating surface shows light imprints of my brother’s buttocks. Do not get me wrong it is neither scuffed nor what you would call “down”, it just shows slightly visible imprints. This, of course, is something to be expected of a cheaper chair and nothing earth-shattering but it should get mentioned.
Other than that the Evo looks almost as good as new and the signs of wear noted above only come to one’s attention on closer inspection.
As I have already mentioned, there are seven different colour variants available altogether, so there is most likely a model suitable to your taste as well. As far as accessories go there is nothing officially accessible to the public right now but since gas lifts and casters are usually standardised there are several opportunities to upgrade your E220 Evo.
Nitro Concepts does not suggest anything specific concerning appropriate user’s size – besides the fact that the Evo carries up to 120 kilos. All in all, this chair is made for averagely sized gamers slightly below 180cm, and 80kg give or take 5-10 percent up and down. If you are exceptionally small or big, you are better off looking for a gaming chair that offers more flexibility.
Final Conclusion: A New Hope For The Low Budget Sector?
If you think this brings me to a negative conclusion you are mistaken – do not forget: I compared the Evo to other chairs I have reviewed yet, and these are all pretty much premium league. If you put the pros and cons in relation to its price of about 150 quid it paints a different picture.
The Nitro Concepts E220 Evo does what it is supposed to do: It offers a lot of value for its price. It stands out with a unique design, breathable hybird cover, above average stirdiness – steel frame, class 4 gas lift, fire retardant cover – and last but not least with an impeccable customer support. If you are of an average stature and looking for a gaming chair on a budget the Evo is worth checking out!
Overclockers is the official reseller in the UK, and they do an exceptional job at customer support. They are even comfortable with technical questions and do not just refer you to the manufacturer. Furthermore, they offer the best conditions. What more could you ask for?