The Cougar Armor Evo S chair is another example of how gaming chair developers have crossed a certain threshold. Achieving just ergonomics and quality superior to office chairs used to be considered a sufficient level of development. Now, that’s no longer enough. The cheapest chairs are already of good quality, while the more expensive ones come with additional features.
Video review of Cougar Armor Evo S
Market position and price
This is the first model from the “new” lineup that I’ve reviewed in the past few months. In total, there are three chairs: the Cougar ARMOR EVO M, the Cougar EXPLORE Royal F, and, of course, the Cougar ARMOR EVO S. My model isn’t the most expensive, but it’s not the cheapest either—it’s right in the middle, priced at $325, or almost exactly €300.
Assembly
Unlike the previous samples, this one arrived fully assembled. However, judging by the assembly processes of the last few models, I’m confident that the assembly of this chair will be 99% similar.
So, the only thing I might be dissatisfied with is the different types of screws. I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but keep this in mind, as this is the last area where Cougar usually falls short in terms of assembly.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised by any surprises. I’m currently preparing a review for the Cougar E-Star 140 gaming desk, and some screws there were so non-standard that I didn’t even have bits for quick tightening. But I did find an adapter—a round adapter for hex screws. It’s quite strange, but overall, I support it. At least there’s some option for a battery-powered screwdriver.
To the question of why a gaming desk is being reviewed on a channel focused on photo, video, and cinema equipment, I’ll answer quite simply: it turns out that standing desks help compensate for certain stabilization shortcomings of my camera, and I understand that it’s not just mine.
Colors
The only thing I found somewhat unappealing about this chair is the color scheme. The Evo S comes in black with orange accents, which seems quite strange compared to the multicolored models from previous reviews. And please understand me correctly—this isn’t a personal complaint, as it’s actually my favorite color. However, for many who are accustomed to variety, this might feel a bit odd.
Build and materials
So, that’s all I can say negatively about the chair. The materials here are almost entirely perforated eco-leather, with carbon fiber inserts. Everything feels traditionally high-quality and pleasant to the touch.
The cushions are also well-stitched, but the upper one, for the neck, has a mini secret: it’s magnetic. And the magnet is strong enough that I can’t accidentally knock the cushion off.
However, the lumbar support cushion is not secured in any way; it just sits at the bottom. It would have been nice to have the option to fix it higher up, but this feature is lacking even in the more expensive ARMOR EVO M model.
The cushion doesn’t need to be fixed too much—you can simply take it and place it under the desired area higher up, leaning back against it. It won’t fall off as long as you stay seated. However, if you specifically need support for your entire lower back, you should consider either the Cougar Argo One or the flagship Cougar TERMINATOR model.
By the way, write in the comments whether you want to see a review of the Terminator or whether you are interested in how cool a gaming chair for $600 will be, especially if it is the flagship from Cougar.
Adjustable footrest
The Armor Evo S may not be a flagship model, but it has something that the flagship model—due to its release date—lacks: an adjustable footrest. The footrest can be extended to your desired length, allowing you to raise your legs while sitting or fully extend it to lie back comfortably with the backrest reclined.
Both of these use cases are valid—especially sitting with your legs tucked underneath you. It simply keeps you warmer since cold air tends to settle at the bottom while warmer air rises. Of course, you might have turbo fans to circulate the air, as I do, but still, it’s essential to keep your legs warm.
Features
By the way, the Cougar Armor Evo S reclines back to an angle of up to 155°, rises 6.5 cm, has a fully steel frame, and supports a maximum load of 120 kg, thanks to its gas lift of the highest category (Category 4).
Just to remind you, a Category 3 gas lift and below should raise some questions. The armrests are traditionally three-dimensional in this price range, allowing you to move them forward and backward, rotate them around a vertical axis, and adjust their height.
Operating experience
Now, is the chair comfortable to use at all? I mean, when using its unique feature… which, by the way, is also present in the Evo M. I’ll say it right away—it takes some getting used to.
But surprisingly, I found it even more comfortable to sleep in that position. Raising my legs results in them being higher than when I sleep in bed, meaning they’re further away from the cold air. Just a simple blanket, and I’m all set.
Conclusions
Most likely, my next review will be of the Armor Evo M chair, as the Cougar Armor Evo S turned out to be quite progressive, to put it mildly. Along with the usual high quality of construction, it has an advantage that’s particularly useful during blackouts. So, it’s clear that I HIGHLY recommend it. But I still want to try the Terminator.
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