Boulies Master Series Max 2024 Gaming Chair
design and assembly
I’ve looked at a few gaming chairs this year and that means I’ve had to put together a few, I’m far from an expert but even without that experience I don’t think I’d have struggled with the Boulies Master Series 2024. Unlike the AndaSeat Kaiser 4, constructing this chair was simple though the unboxing experience lacked the wow factor of a more expensive option like the Secretlab Titan Evo. Where Secretlab had everything in the Evo’s box labeled and branded in a way that felt super high-end, every piece of the Boulies Master Series was wrapped in plain plastic. It does the job, but it didn’t hold the same excitement.
This is best illustrated by something as simple as the way the included tools are presented. On the Titan Evo they’re in a branded, re-usable box – on the Boulies Master Series mine arrived in a banged up, single-use blister packet. Again, they both got me to the same place but Secretlab sent a chauffeur and Boulies booked a taxi.
Boulies is keen to pitch the Master Series as a genuine work and play option, designed to look just as good in a home office as it does behind a gaming battle station and I’d say they’ve succeeded. The overall shape is simple and refined with no over the top flourishes or needless add-ons. It retains that popular racing seat shape but in a way that feels executive and grown up. The Boulies Master Series is available in two sizes, I’ve been testing the larger Master Max Series which is a couple of cm larger in all directions.
Size isn’t your only choice, you’ll also need to decide on a colour and upholstery material. The Master Series comes in Ultraflex PU, Nappa Leather and water repellent fabric, with my test chair covered in the latter. Where the Kaiser 4 went loud and brash with its colour choices, across all three upholstery options the Master Series colours are muted and reserved. I went with ‘Como’, a pastel moss green that looks almost grey at times and it’s rather fetching.
performance
It’s nice that the Boulies Master Series is easy on the eye, but whether it’s easy on the behind is rather more important. Thankfully, the Boulies Master Series has that covered too because it’s really quite comfortable.
I’ve been using the Master Series 2024 for a couple of weeks now, both working during the day and for a few evening streams too. Across both situation I was impressed by what it had to offer and actually found the Master Series slightly more comfortable when you first sit down than the considerably more expensive Secretlab Titan Evo. That’s mainly thanks to the 100% Cold-cure foam seat cushion which does an excellent job of riding the line between soft and supportive. The Titan Evo is aggressively firm by design and it’s noticeable when you first sit down, on the Boules Master Series though there’s enough give to feel like you’re being welcomed and it makes a surprising difference initially.
The Master Max Series keeps things pretty simple overall, a refreshing change from others like the AndaSeat Kaiser 4 that seems to include features for the sake of features. The armrests offer adjustability across the four directions you’d expect and while a little firmer than I’d ideally like, are a nice size overall. The backrest embraces the recent trend of clever hidden lumbar support adjustment with a knob on either side delivering quite fine changes. I’ve never been one for aggressive lumbar support but was impressed at how easy it was to dial in a comfortable, supportive position on the Boulies Master Series.
At a base level, the Boulies Master Max Series 2024 is impressive – it’s a no-frills chair that doesn’t feel under specced and it’s comfortable to sit on throughout the day. It’s not perfect though and the compromises Boules has had to make to bring that price tag down into an accessible range do show at times.
A great example is the headrest. It’s great that it’s included and not an added extra, it’s also wonderfully soft and comfortable, but it’s only attached with an elastic strap and it will throw itself onto the floor at every opportunity. C’mon Boulies – how expensive are magnets realistically? The neat magnetic mounting solution on the likes of the Kaiser 4 or Titan Evo is much more effective and feels more premium too.
It may be isolated to my specific chair, but in my experience the Boulies Master Series is a noisy beast. From day one the fabric of the backrest has squeaked and creaked against the frame in a couple of places, rather annoying when you’re trying to work in an otherwise quiet office space. I managed to find one of the culprit areas and resolved the issue by jamming a piece of paper between the side of the backrest and the bracket to stop it rubbing, but the source of the second squeak is still a mystery.
There’s also a consistent clicking noise from within the seat base anytime you rock backwards or move around. I’ve tried to find where it’s coming from, I’ve loosened and tightened every screw and even hosed down the base with WD40 but I’ve never managed to work out what’s going on. Again, not terminal, just annoying.
summed up
Putting aside a few little quirks that make its accessible price point possible, the Boulies Master Series 2024 is excellent. Focusing on the bits that matter has paid off for Boulies and it’s easy to recommend the Master Series as an all day office and gaming chair.
Regardless of which upholstery or colour you choose this reserved seat should fit handsomely into any setup with enough personalisation on offer to help anyone dial in a really comfortable sit. You might need to put up with a few creaks and squeaks, and others do include more premium flourishes, but those other options will cost you plenty more too.
