Usage and Final Thoughts
I have been using the Cooler Master Caliber R2 as my main chair for over a month now, and I have definitely enjoyed my time with it. I have typically been of the opinion that these gaming chairs were nothing more than a money grab by companies looking to squeeze more money out of gamers, but I think they actually play a pretty important role. Coming from an old, squeaky chair that had cloth surfaces, I was happy to relax in the PU leather of the Caliber R2, and adjust the seat recline and armrest to my liking. The material surfaces found on the cushion areas look and great, and the perforated sections should help keep temperatures in check. I’m not one to get overly warm when gaming, so I don’t really have an issue with overheating, but material breathability is something that has been proven in other areas like athletic wear. Overall I found the cushioning to be soft, but a little more stiff feeling when sitting on it due to the frame coming into contact with the bottom side of the seat cushion. I did find the chair to be comfortable for long periods of sitting, which is a must for those marathon gaming sessions. I’m not a large guy by any measure (5′ 10″ and 165ish pounds), so I was able take full advantage of the seating surface by sitting cross-legged, as I tend to do quite often when at my PC, and there was plenty of room for me to sit comfortably in this style. I’m not a big fan of extra pillow padding, but I can definitely appreciate the fact that Cooler Master includes an optional lumbar and neck cushion for those that like that added support.
All of the adjustments available on the Caliber R2 let buyers customize the chair to fit their comfort needs. With the ability to recline flat, the backrest offers all of the movement you could want, and adjusting this angle is as simple as pulling a small lever on the right side of the chair. This is where I found the somewhat wobbly recline covers to be a bit bothersome, as when using the recline lever, I was bumping into the cover and it just didn’t seem to be as secure as it could have been if another mounting method had been used. I found the factory calibrated tilt spring to be a bit too stiff for my liking, but with a few turns of the adjustment knob, I was able to tilt the entire chair back with ease. Adjusting the arm rests is a simple process as well, and the multiple angles and heights of the arm rests allowed me to get them set just right for my desk setup. I do however wish that you could adjust the armrest placement forward and backward a bit, as I found them running into my desk at times. The height of the chair can also be adjusted with a lever beneath the seat, allowing the seatbase to adjust around 3″. This same lever can also slide in and out to lock and unlock the tilt option of the chair.
Cooler Master offers the Caliber R2 in multiple color options, though I really like the black and purple combination that exemplifies the Cooler Master look perfectly. From the purple material accents and purple stitching, to the embroidered logos, Cooler Master has done a good job of making the chair look like it deserves to carry the Cooler Master name.
The Cooler Master Caliber R2 has an MSRP of $219.99, but is currently available for $179.99 at our favorite online retailer. This is a great price point for getting into quality chairs like the Caliber R2, which combined with its features, earns it a 8 out of 10.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Easy to Assemble
- Solid Construction and Feel
- Multiple adjustments allow for lots of customization
Cons
- No Linear Armrest Adjustment
- Some Minor Finish Adjustments Needed
