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Bulky chairs with PU leather and memory foam cushions have become fixtures in many gaming rooms. Sadly, even some of thebest gaming chairssuffer from heat buildup and foam that gradually changes shape. That’s perhaps why mesh fabric office chairs have become an increasingly popular alternative. The Sihoo Doro S100 utilizes a porous but resilient fabric that can properly support gamers and office workers for years.
Although the Doro S100 is ideal for workplaces, its ergonomic adjustments make it an appealingoffice chair for competitive gaming. The most noticeable aspect of the S100 is its split lower lumbar support, which flexes along with body movements. When sent a sample for review, Game Rant was also anxious to see how well the chair’s sliding backrest would cradle necks and shoulders.
Sihoo Doro S100 Ergonomic Office Chair
The Sihoo Doro S100 showcases innovations normally seen on only the most premium ergonomic office chairs. Instead of conventional lower back support that never feels completely comfortable, the Doro S100 utilizes self-adjusting Dual Dynamic Lumbar technology. Additional adjustments include an independent backrest that slides up and down to five positions, backrest recline, 4D armrests, and modifiable seat height and depth. A seat cushion with a waterfall design maximizes circulation in the legs and hips. Perfect for warmer climates and workspaces, the Doro S100 benefits from an elastic mesh fabric that’s breathable but also surprisingly strong.
Packaging and Assembly
The Sihoo Doro S100 arrives in a somewhat tall and narrow box. There was some tearing on one end, but fortunately, none of the parts inside were damaged.
Larger components like the backrest and seat were wrapped in plastic, with other parts protected by smaller boxes.
Although the Doro S100 is fairly heavy, at 58 pounds, its compact tilt mechanism and being divided into smaller parts make it easier to transport.
Installation
Constructing the Sihoo Doro S100 is slightly more involved than somepremium gaming chairswith pre-assembled parts.
The most difficult portion of the installation is attaching the chair back to the seat base. However, any elevated platform helps immensely to properly line up and secure the two parts with screws. Adding to the installation time, the armrests need brackets affixed to the seat base. The armrests later screw into the seat from below, but it’s not an especially tricky process.
Unlike most office or gaming chairs, the base doesn’t ship in one piece. Installers must attach aluminum chair leg tubes to the center of the base with more screws before popping in the wheels.
It may seem like building the Doro S100 would take longer than an ideal amount of time, but there were very few struggles along the way. Also, the included quick start guide does a nice job illustrating the process, even if the pictures are on the smaller side. Most buyers should have the chair ready for action within 30-40 minutes.
Design
The Doro S100’s appearance will likely cause some divisive reactions. Exposed is the best way to describe the chair’s aesthetic, which isn’t a problem for buyers who like the industrial look. It’s not unusual for ergonomicmesh chairs, but the S100’s mechanisms are on full display, including the springs behind dual dynamic lumbar support.
Another unique aspect of the chair is its backrest, which is separated from the lumbar support below. This backrest also functions as a headrest since it can be moved upwards to five different positions. With this flexibility, the S100 can accommodate occupants from 5'0" to 5'11". If you read some user impressions, it can easily seat even taller buyers.
The S100 uses a fairly extreme example of a waterfall-style seat base. This increasingly common design choice supports legs and thighs better and maintains lower body circulation.
This Sihoo chair’s branding is kept to a minimum, with only a small nameplate showcasing the company’s logo. Along with the aluminum wheel spokes, a strip of silver below the logo brightens up a predominantly black design. Otherwise, there is a small fabric tag on the right side of the backrest. If buyers want to pair the S100 with awhite PC case, Sihoo also sells this model in that alternate color.
The fabric of choice for the S100 is a highly elastic mesh. It’s easy to see how porous the material is, yet it feels more rigid to the touch than expected. Especially in the middle of the summer, the S100 handles heat buildup much more effectively than memory foamergonomic gaming chairs.
Of course, the seat greatly impacts comfort levels and also features the same mesh blend. Buyers won’t be fooled into thinking they are sitting on foam, but the seat has a light and springy feel like a hammock. However, the fabric is on the scratchy side, so skin feels happier pressed against PU leather.
The cushioning of armrests can vary greatly from one chair to another. Fortunately, the 4D armrests on the S100 are quite well padded, sparing elbows from aches and pains.
Considering its current discounted price, the Sihoo S100 exhibits more than adequate build quality. The chair feels solid enough that it won’t tip over easily when reclining. This unit arrived with a few small nicks on the hard plastic backrest, but collisions with agaming deskhaven’t damaged the chair any further. The mesh may feel firmer than some buyers would like, but the fabric is resilient to animal claws and helps justify the chair’s 300-pound weight capacity.
Adjustments
Some ergonomic chairs overwhelm occupants with levers and knobs, but the S100 keeps things more basic. The longest control with a handle serves several different roles. Moving the handle upwards activates the chair’s gas lift mechanism, smoothly adjusting the seat base from 18.5 to just under 22 inches high. Pushing it outwards allows users to freely tilt the backrest while pushing it back in locks the recline angle. There is no dial to fine-tune seat tension, and users won’t find themselves rocking back and forth. Finally, an additional handle above this lever lets the seat base slide back and forth.
The S100’s backrest reclines from 98 to 135 degrees but only locks in three different positions. Also, no clicking feedback indicates when a supported angle is reached, so finding the desired setting can be tricky. More concerning was that after first trying out the chair, the backrest seemed to get stuck fully reclined. However, firmly tapping the backrest released it, and the issue never reappeared.
Not an option on many ergonomic chairs, the backrest above the lumbar support slides up and down into five preset positions. It takes quite a bit of force to move the back of the chair along two grooves in a hard plastic piece, but this has huge benefits for comfort levels. Even though there isn’t a conventional smaller headrest, the backrest is curved at the top sufficiently to cradle necks.
The final adjustments critical to an ergonomic gaming chair are the 4D armrests. Not surprisingly, the armrests can be moved up and down to ensure that arms stay in a healthy position when reaching forgaming keyboardsand mice. What’s somewhat unusual is there is no tab to press to initiate the adjustments. Instead, gamers or workers can simply grab the top or side of the components to raise it. To lower the armrests again, you first need to raise them to their maximum heights and gradually let them fall before they stay in the set position.
Since the armrests also swing back and forth, the chair adapts to a sitter, regardless of wingspan or posture. A common annoyance with adjustable armrests is that they move too easily. That’s also the case with the S100, but they aren’t quite as sensitive as some competing chairs, even though no tab or button is needed to set them in motion.
Comfort
One of the defining features of the Sihoo S100 is its Dual Dynamic Lumbar Support. Some more expensive gaming and office chairs have lower back support with adjustable positioning and intensity. Meanwhile,budget chairsoften have only fixed lumbar cushioning. The S100 takes a different approach with split cushioning that rocks back and forth with natural body movements. It also moves up and down with two springs attached to each half of the lumbar support.
Game Rant reviewed theEureka Ergonomic Python IIearlier this year, which utilizes a similar system. The difference is that the Python II is a fabric chair, and the lumbar support is in the form of a single rotating pillow. While very supportive, this cushion made a slight creaking sound when in motion. The S100 remains quiet, and occupants can shift positions without hearing mechanisms moving behind them. Despite its impressive range of motion, the S100’s lumbar support can’t actually shift up and down like the backrest. Still, the chair’s seat base slides back and forth, affecting how prominent the cushioning feels.
With its steeply sloped waterfall seat, firm but supportive mesh fabric, and innovative lumbar cushioning, the S100 remains comfortable over long hours. However, unlike chairs, including theSecretlab Titan Evo, it doesn’t recline to 165 degrees, so it’s not the best choice for naps or relaxing evening hours. Regardless, the S100 can make intense productivity tasks or competitive gaming a bit less stressful.
Verdict
The Sihoo Doro S100 is a solid value for any gamer or office worker looking for a highly adjustable mesh chair. Its strong fabric flexes just enough to remain comfortable while offering superior breathability. Many buyers tempted by the S100 will focus on its Dual Dynamic Lumbar support. Following body movements effortlessly, its performance outshines the fixed lumbar cushion often used bychairs under $300.
Other ergonomic adjustments on the S100 equally impress, especially its backrest/headset combo that accommodates short and tall occupants. Unfortunately, even though the S100 adjusts with only a few levers, it suffers from somewhat limited recline settings. Before it’s ready for use, the chair also ships with an excess of small parts that lengthens the installation process.
The S100 displays its ergonomic mechanisms for the world to see, which makes it look out of place in casual settings. Still, even with a few quibbles, the Sihoo Doro S100 is a worthy purchase when comfort and breathability are the priorities.
Fabric chair with self-adjusting lumbar support
$370 at Amazon
Mesh office chair with leg rest
$300 at Boulies
6D armrests and an even wider height range
$680 at Amazon
Mesh office chairs can look too modern for some rooms, but theEureka Ergonomic Python IIand its durable woven fabric have a less aggressive look. Like the Sihoo Doro S100, the Python II features no-fuss self-adjusting lumbar support. Staying in the mesh fabric family, theBoulies EP460adds a separate adjustable headrest and an integrated leg rest. Finally, theSihoo Doro S300is a significant step up from the S100 in features and price. The S300 employs an Anti-Gravity Mechanism for a sense of weightless comfort and more advanced 6D armrests.
FAQ
Q: What are the disadvantages of a mesh chair?
Mesh fabric gaming and office chairs are more breathable than PU leather alternatives and thrive in warm climates. However, they usually lack the memory foam cushioning that makes competing chairs feel more luxurious.
Q: Is Sihoo a good company?
Sihoo office chairs are renowned for excellent durability without unreasonable asking prices. Also, they feature many of the same ergonomic adjustments as the priciest chairs while introducing some unique innovations in comfort.
