TTRacing Swift X 2020: Great Option For A Gaming Chair
January 10, 2022Gaming chairs are gaining in popularity these days with the main catalyst being YouTube influencers. Sadly, a grand majority of said chairs only look the part but barely offer any real comfort or lumbar support. Their design is loosely based on racing seats of sports cars, which is meant to invoke the “coolness” factor.
The curved backrest and upright headrest are fused to create a one-piece layout. But what many people fail to realize is that racing seats aren’t made for comfort. They are relatively thin chairs with almost no cushioning. Their sole purpose is to wrap around a racing driver like a cocoon, in order to keep them in place during high-speed cornering.
Gamers who sit at their desks all day don’t experience anything remotely close to what racing drivers are subjected to during the course of a race. This renders the cocoon hugging features, moot. That said, gaming chairs have that “wow” factor that we crave because of said appearance. It makes us look past the practicality aspect of the experience so that we can bask in the idea of owning a unique racing chair.
But what if I told you that you can have your cake and eat it at the same time? Companies like Secret Labs and TTRacing produce gaming chairs that look like racing seats but offer a good amount of comfort and support. One such example is TTRacing’s Swift X 2020. It’s placed at the more affordable end of the company’s product portfolio.
At RM799.00, it sits above the basic Duo V3 but well below the Surge and Maxx chairs. Well, what do you get for your money? For starters, a substantial number of hex screws and a complicated instruction manual. It’s shipped in a large and heavy box that could be mistaken for a 43” 4K TV. Inside are assorted bags of screws, two Allen keys, the backrest, seat, armrests and two optional cushions.
Assembling the chair is quite an ordeal, because the armrests alone require three individual screws to have it attached to the chair’s metal base. This is a recurring theme with the other parts of the chair as well. Due to this, we suggest that you use a ratchet set instead of the included Allen keys. But the best option would be to use a low torque, electric screwdriver or drill. This will speed up the assembly process by a considerable margin.
Once you’ve assembled the base and armrests, it would be wise to build up the wheelbase and gas strut, then attach the units together. This would require much less effort than trying to place the already built-up chair and backrest to said wheelbase. Mind, this is a heavy chair, even without the wheelbase attached, so it would be best to have an extra pair of hands on standby.
This is a labor-intensive process that will probably require about 2 hours of your time. But the end result is very rewarding. The Swift X 2020 is a solid chair built with robustness in mind. The numerous screws ensure that the components are properly attached to the heavy and sturdy metal base. It’s a testament to the engineering work that went into it during the R&D phase.
The wheels and their connecting stems are made from solid metal, but the outer section of said wheels are constructed from a form of hard plastic. They are soft enough that they glide over surfaces without being too abrasive, which is the exact opposite to how cheap plastic wheels behave.
Our unit is the fabric model, which is slightly more expensive than the other variants of the Swift X 2020 line-up. There’s a reason for this, fabric chairs are far more comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. You don’t feel hot, which also lessens the tendency to sweat. TTRacing’s fabric seats are thickly padded, but are still breathable.
The backrest is heavily bolstered which provides an acceptable amount of lumbar and shoulder support. If that isn’t enough, you could use one or both of the included cushions for added padding for your neck and lower back. Depending on your physique, said cushions could prove to be useful.
There’s a sufficient amount of support to keep you in place, yet the fabric cushioning allows for some movement. This is a good thing because it will help you make minor adjustments for better comfort. Cheap gaming chairs have a rigid layout that prevent movement, similar in characteristic to actual racing seats.
The backrest is tilt adjustable, which allows for static adjustment or force-based movement. The headrest section is a little too recessed for my liking, that’s why I use the included neck support. The padding is firm but soft enough that it provides a decent amount of the “cushioning” effect. The same is true of the support for the lower back. Good enough for most people.
Following that same trend, we move to the seat itself. Unlike the Duo V3, the edges curve upwards similar in nature to a racing seat. However, the angle isn’t as obtuse – no pun intended. This effectively keeps you snuggled in place without feeling constricted. It’s a good compromise between comfort and practicality.
The padding here is quite substantial too, so it’s unlikely that you’ll feel uncomfortable when sitting for several hours at a time. However, for the sake of your overall well being, make it a practice to get up and do some stretching for every hour that you remain seated. That said, the Swift X 2020 offers a good amount “butt” cushioning that can rival actual executive chairs.
It’s no match for a Herman Miller chair, but it comes quite close to some of the less expensive options. Our fabric unit comes with the TTRacing logo in silver, stitched to the headrest section. However, if you choose the PU leather option over the fabric one, you have a choice of having the logo blacked out (stealth) or displayed with the original company colors.
The PU leather Swift X 2020 comes in black, red, grey and stealth. If you choose the fabric option like we did, you can have the chair in either black or light grey. It’s up to you to decide which suits you best. But from a practicality standpoint, it would be best to opt for the fabric material over the more stylish PU option.
Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for a cool gaming chair that offers a good amount of back support and seat cushioning, then the Swift X 2020 is meant for you. Despite resembling a racing chair, it doesn’t inherit most of the obvious drawbacks. It’s good enough for most people, WFH folks included.
The only downside we see is the complicated assembly process. If you aren’t good with tools, it would be best to pay someone to have the chair built-up for you. Assembling the Swift X 2020 isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires a fair amount of patience and composure from start to finish.
