Secretlab gear is hard to get dibs on in the CGM offices, as the brand is so coveted. I was only able to review the Secretlab TITAN XXS because…well, I’m tiny. But it is finally my turn, and the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition has entered the chat, and it’s all mine!
I got to work on a little piece all about Secretlab footrests lately, so naturally, I needed an adult-sized Secretlab chair all of my own to pair with it! The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition is new and one we haven’t looked at here at CGM —why not kill two birds with one stone? I was being completely selfless, right?
Before the chair arrived, decisions needed to be made. The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition comes in two colours, white or black—though it does fit Secretlab SKINS if you’re looking for something a little more lively. It also comes in two sizes, Regular (5’7″–6’2″, up to 220 lbs) or XL (5’11″–6’9″, 175–395 lbs). Naturally, I am 5’1”, so nothing is built for me (aside from children’s chairs, apparently), but after ordering the TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition in black, regular-sized, all that came next was waiting.
Building Secretlab chairs is a pretty straightforward affair, but they do offer a pretty comprehensive assembly guide if you need it. In the box is everything you need, even the handy little tools, but it is always packed neatly and as simply as possible. They really have mastered the art of simplifying chair building, so much so that I can do it on my own without sending for backup. After everything was set up, all that was left to do was try it out!
Of course, we have covered the TITAN Evo a few times at CGM, once for review, and several times for the various editions they have launched, like Minecraft and Fortnite, but the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition is more than just a new skin on the old Evo. Secretlab has developed an entirely new material, aimed at achieving “optimal cushioning.” You can see more about what that means in the video below.
To the naked eye, this doesn’t seem like much. It looks very similar to other Secretlab chairs. However, after a day of sitting, I could really notice a difference. If we are being completely transparent, Secretlab chairs were never my favourite chairs. I preferred something like the MAVIX M9 or X-Tech Ultimate because of the way they contour to my body. I found Secretlab feeling stiff in the past, with a flat, stiff base, and even the back a bit flat despite adjustable lumbar support.
“I am happy to report that the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition features a very comfortable base.”
I am happy to report that the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition features a very comfortable base. After a full day of work, it didn’t feel like I was sitting on a hard office chair. Though the seatbase looks firm, and is firm when you first sit down, it feels like it forms to your body. The really cool part, though, is that there is no wear or indentation on the seat when you get up. It looks like it’s brand-new. It’s a big step for Secretlab and really pushes me toward the brand when it comes to a chair I will be sitting in for long periods of time.
The company is calling this their “Next-Gen” TITAN Evo, so with the NanoFoam comes the next-gen leatherette, the NanoGen Hybrid Leatherette. This is meant to be exceptionally soft and smooth, and according to the company, it is 14 times more durable than regular PU leather. In practice, the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition feels great, and although I have not had the chair long enough to test its endurance, it has certainly held up around the office.
Paired with the jet-black NanoGen Hybrid Leatherette is the classic Secretlab logo and TITAN T on the chair. I love the black-on-black stitching, which gives the chair an ultra-sleek look. Though I haven’t seen it in person, the white version of the chair looks so crisp. I love the all-white, from the stitching to the material, right down to the wheels.
Something I don’t love, however, are the standard wheels on the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition feel. For a chair this premium, with over $200 on the standard TITAN Evo, I want to see rubber wheels. Our office is all carpet, and I wheel between desks often when working with my team or checking our test bench. This is a chore with the TITAN Evo’s wheels. This goes for all the Secretlab wheels, with many in our office being upgraded to wheels we bought separately. I get that costs need to be saved somewhere, but for the price jump from the base Evo, this could have been the cherry on top.
The Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition features all the same mechanisms and specifications as the regular TITAN Evo, aside from the fabric. It can recline from 80-165° and features a tilt lock so you don’t feel like you’re falling (seriously, when will I learn?). It also comes with 4-directional armrests with CloudSwap technology, and the Secretlab PlushCell Memory Foam Armrest tops, which add a little dash of luxury to the chair.
There is also a built-in 4-way L-ADAPT lumbar support, which they claim is “the most advanced ever on a gaming chair”. Sadly, I can’t really judge that, since the chair isn’t built for people my height, it never really sits in the right spot for me. I can’t knock them for it, as the chair clearly states the size ranges. In reality, I could feel the way you can customize this to suit your own comfort; I just wish it came in a chair just a little bit smaller (no, not the XXS).
I will say, even though the chair is meant for people six inches taller than me, it does lower enough that I could touch the floor. That is huge for me! That being said, like I mentioned before, I am currently testing all the Secretlab footrests, so I am spoiled for choice. I really like the way it pairs with the recliner addon, which was so easy to install!
Overall, the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition really did impress me. I found it easier to sit in for long periods of time and really appreciate the new material. That being said, the wheels leave a lot of room for improvement, and the chair is $220 USD more than the TITAN Evo Neo Hybrid Leatherette. The all-day comfort is major for me, the plush arm rests are nice, and that leatherette does feel so, so smooth, but that is a pretty big price to pay. If you have the budget, I would say spring for the Secretlab TITAN Evo NanoGen Edition, but if Secretlab prices are already stretching it, you won’t be disappointed with the basic TITAN Evo.
