If you have any knowledge of PC gaming, you have almost definitely heard of Cooler Master. Founded in 1992 in Taiwan, Cooler Master made their mark on the gaming industry in computer cases, power supplies, cooling pads and more. In recent years, Cooler Master has expanded to includes more peripherals and even gaming chairs. The Cooler Master Caliber R1S is one such chair.
Has Cooler Master continued their excellent execution we have come to expect with their chairs? Let’s find out.
Cooler Master Caliber R1S Gaming Chair Specifications
Recommended User Height: Maximum 6’0
Weight Limit: 330 lbs
Tilt: 90 to 180 degrees
Armrests: 1D
Assembly
Before jumping right into the assembly, we would like to say that opening a gaming chair box to find it not filled to the brim with styrofoam was a nice change of pace. Of course, we understand why most companies use styrofoam on their packaging, but, it is not the most environmentally sound material. So, opening the Caliber R1S to only find cardboard and minimal unnecessary things made us feel good.
The assembly of the Caliber R1S was fairly straightforward. Especially if you have experience putting together gaming chairs. All the pieces were there and easy to get connected to one another. The chair itself doesn’t weigh an obscene amount and construction was pretty easily done with one person.
That being said, there were some small issues. One, the instructions could have been more detailed. We have plenty of experience building gaming chairs, so this was no issue. However, if this was your first time, you may find yourself staring at the instructions a little bit. Additionally, the hex key provided is just a bit on the small side. It works like a dream in most places, but tightening screws on the underside of the chair itself was a tad tedious, as it was just too short to tighten the bolts without hitting other parts.
Pros
The first thing you will notice with the Cooler Master Caliber R1S is the material of the chair itself. The PU material has what looks like little holes covering it, which allow for much more airflow than you would expect. Often when dealing with non-mesh back gaming chairs, overheating and sweating are a problem. But, the Caliber R1S performed far superior in this department than many comparable products.
The next thing you will notice is the construction. The Caliber R1S is a very sturdy chair. There are many other chairs on the market at this price point that use plastics as simply a way to shave of their bottom line. Not Cooler Master. The plastic used in the design is reinforced and strong. Of course, there is also plenty of metal used throughout the chair to provide strength and stability as well.
The Caliber R1S also comes with both a neck and lumbar support pillow. Both are made using the same excellent PU materials as the chair. The neck pillow is solid and nothing to complain about but the lumbar support is something to truly enjoy. It is the perfect feel between too soft and too hard, making long gaming sessions comfortable on the back.
And, of course, Cooler Master offers a wide variety of color options for users. The R1S specifically comes in four different variants, but the base RS model also has another four colors.
Cons
As with many chairs you find in the more “entry-level” category, the materials on the Caliber R1S are not premium. Plastic is used in several places metal could be used, though this is obviously to keep the cost point down for a potential buyer. That’s not to say these parts are going to break or fall apart. As we previously said, the Caliber R1S feels plenty sturdy.
The armrests being just 1D, up and down, is a bit of a bummer. It is really nice to have that extra mobility in the arms to really maximize your comfort. This can lead to the arms being a little more uncomfortable than one would hope.
Finally, the Caliber R1S is not as wide as other models on the market. The seat base is listed at 20.9 inches but that includes the entire bucket seat. If you just measure the flat part of the seat itself, it is closer to 15 inches. That is not drastically smaller than other chairs on the market, but it is something to consider if you have a larger frame.
Conclusion
The Cooler Master Caliber R1S Gaming Chair is about as sturdy and well-constructed as you are getting at this price point. There are some hang-ups, but absolutely nothing that is chair breaking or makes you say “I made a mistake.” The R1S Gaming Chair is absolutely a great entry-level chair for someone figuring out if they will get enough use out of a gaming chair.
