Anda Seat Novis Max: cold-cure foam, 155° recline

Foam and frame quality

Cold-cure foam is moulded rather than cut from blocks, and it tends to hold its shape longer while still feeling cushioned. Anda Seat says the material is the type used in car seats. Underneath, a steel frame and an aluminium base give the chair a solid footing, and silent 60 mm wheels roll on a range of floors. The chair weighs about 23 kg.

Cover and support

The synthetic PVC leather is described as stain resistant, abrasion resistant and easy to clean, a sensible choice for a gaming room. A removable headrest pillow sits at the top, and the backrest has raised lumbar support shaped into it for spinal alignment. Neither is adjustable beyond moving the pillow, so check the lumbar sits in the right place for your back length.

Adjustment and recline

Recline runs from 90 to 155 degrees, with a 15 degree rocking motion when unlocked. That is a deep range for this level. The armrests are 1D, moving only up and down, with no slide, width or pivot. The gas lift class is not stated in the listing, and no warranty period is given beyond the lifetime claim for the framework.

Because the arms only move vertically, shorter desks with a deep front rail may stop the pads from sliding underneath, so measure the gap between floor and desk edge first.

Who should look elsewhere

Anyone over 90 kg should skip this model. The Corsair T3 Rush carries 150 kg and adds 4D arms in a fabric cover. The Razer Enki has a wide 54 cm seat, 4D arms and a 152 degree recline with a reactive tilt, rated to about 136 kg. Both give more arm adjustment, which matters if you spend long hours at a keyboard.