As I’ve entered my thirties, one thing has become very apparent: back problems ain’t a myth, and if you’re sitting at your desk every day for work, as well as for those late-night gaming sessions, you’re going to want something comfortable to sit in.
I’ve been using a basic Boulies Master Series for a little while now, so when I got the chance to test out a newer, upgraded version of the seat I currently have, in the form of the Master Rex 2026, I didn’t sit on it; I jumped at it.
The main thing you want to be worrying about in any chair is the comfort, and I’m happy to report that the Boulies Master Rex has it in droves.
The seat itself feels really thick and supportive, leaving none of those ‘dents’ you get in cheap chairs, even with hours of sitting. The version I’m testing is the Ultraflex PU option, but there is also a Water Repellent Fabric variant that may even offer an additional ‘sofa-like’ feeling.
Based on my experience with this, and the aforementioned Master Series I own, there’s little to no chance you’re going to wear the seat cushion down to a point where you’ll need a replacement, even a few years in. For the price you pay, you’d expect this to be the case, but there are some chairs out there that are surprisingly poor in this regard.
The comfort is shared throughout the backrest, too, with thick cushioning all the way around and an extremely customizable lumbar support system that can be adjusted for pretty much wherever you want it, aiding those areas you need a little help with.
Paired with this is the ability to go full recline, almost to a horizontal level, for those times when you’re larping as a Californian Lowrider driver. All jokes aside, the recline is great, and the accompanying tilt mechanism is equally solid.
I’m going to give a special shoutout to the padded ‘6D’ armrests, which also have a crazy amount of adjustability. You can not only tweak the height of their position but also move them in a full 360-degree rotation, put them on a tilt, and just generally get them in a place for maximum comfortability.
The one feature that sets the Master Rex apart from Boulies’ regular Master Series chairs is the inclusion of an extendable footrest. This obviously takes things to another level if you’re a serious leg extender, giving you the option to really stretch out when you’re diving deep into an engrossing campaign.
The way you access the footrest, however, is a little clunky, I must say. It’s a manual pull-out from the bottom and then a swivel of the cushion to get it into place, which isn’t a huge deal, but would be infinitely cooler if it were on an automatic lever, where it pops out. Maybe even voice-activated. If you’re listening Boulies…
That being said, when you do utilize the footrest, it works nicely, and has enough robustness to make it feel like it’s going to take your weight. You’re not going to be whipping the footrest out all the time, but if you’ve had a particularly arduous week of writing about chairs, it does feel like a nice treat.
The main problem I have with not just the Boulies Master Rex but pretty much every chair of this ilk is that the back is just not high enough to support my head fully when I want to enter relaxation mode.
I’m not the tallest (around 185cm), but enough of my head is off the top of the backrest to make it mildly annoying, especially when used in conjunction with the head pillow, which is a shame.
Boulies does recommend a height that tops out at 180cm so my gripe makes sense, but contrary to the regular Master Series, the Master Rex doesn’t have a ‘Max’ variant, meaning you won’t be able to purchase a larger chair. Something to keep in mind if you’re the same height as me.
As for my final verdict, there’s no question that this is a really good chair whether you’re a gamer or just want a really well-made home office improvement.
Yes, it’s pretty pricey, retailing at $499, but all chairs in this category are. For me, you need to be spending this sort of money to get something that’s not only going to stand the test of time, but also has the comfort features that ensure you’re not feeling crippled after an eight-hour shift.
I’d recommend the Master Rex 2026 to anyone looking to switch to a seat like this, and I’m very much looking forward to continuing to game or work in this thing. What I would say, though, is that if you already own a similar chair, maybe from Boulies, or a different brand, I wouldn’t be eager to splash the cash, since there aren’t any ground-breaking improvements to the formula.
Jacob has been gaming since the original Game Boy was placed in his hands. Due to his passion for the field, writing talent, and a keen eye for SEO, he made his games journalism debut in 2019. When he isn’t playing the latest titles, he is tinkering with retro tech to bring it into the modern era.
