Like many gaming chair companies, AndaSeat began in 2007 as a manufacturer of racing car seats. As the gaming industry exploded, the company would soon use its knowledge to make durable and comfortable gaming chairs for consumers and partner with some of the most successful esports teams. The AndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XL is the manufacturer's latest effort to appeal to larger gamers, even if it suits average-sized buyers as well. Besides featuring generous maximum height and weight limits, the Kaiser Frontier Series XL offers ergonomic adjustments that allow it to compete with more expensive big and tall gaming chairs.
In recent weeks, Game ZXC had the opportunity to test out the Kaiser Frontier Series XL, thanks to AndaSeat generously providing a review sample. This gaming chair will have buyers thinking they are sitting in a luxurious sports car with ergonomic qualities that promise to make gaming a pain-free experience. Although the Kaiser Frontier Series XL doesn't take many risks with its styling or features, Game ZXC discovered some surprises that distinguish it from other XL gaming chairs.
AndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XL
The Kaiser Frontier XL combines AndaSeat's best designs to offer a high-end gaming chair perfect for big and tall gamers. Offering top-tier features such as 4D armrests, an extra large lumbar support pillow, and a headrest cushion, this gaming chair packs a lot of punch in a fairly affordable package. Plus, with a recommended height of 5'6"-6'6" and a maximum weight capacity of 330lbs, larger gamers finally have a chair made just for them.
- Upholstery Material
- PVC Leather
- Color(s)
- Black, Maroon
- Adjustability
- 4D Armrests, Tilt
- Brand
- AndaSeat
- Chair Weight Capacity
- 330lbs
- Chair Height Recommendation
- 5'6" to 6'6"
- Lumbar Support
- Pillow
- Seat Dimensions
- 22.44" x 21.26"
- Back Dimensions
- 33.86" tall
- Very durable PVC leather blend
- Raises about 2 feet off of floor
- Wide 4D armrests lock securely into place
- Exceptional build quality
- Can't adjust headrest pillow
- Lumbar pillow sometimes slips out of place
Packaging and Assembly
The AndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XL ships to buyers in a not surprisingly very large 70 lb box. If the chair needs to be transported a fair distance or upstairs, opening the box and moving the parts individually is highly recommended.
Upon opening the package, buyers are greeted with a warning not to activate the backrest lever, which is a point emphasized throughout the installation process. The base of the chair is protected with padding and sits above the rest of the box's contents.
Each component of the Kaiser Frontier Series XL is very well packaged with a variety of plastic wraps and cushioning as well as some AndaSeat branding thrown into the mix.
With all the parts unpacked, the assembly process can begin.
It may seem strange to highlight the instructions, but AndaSeat goes above and beyond what many less premium chair manufacturers include with their manuals. The instruction booklet is the form of a catalog with thick pages and color photos walking buyers through every part of the assembly process. Most of the manual is taken up by the same content in a variety of languages, but it's still a welcome change from having to rely on small 2D black-and-white diagrams.
AndaSeat claims that the Kaiser Frontier Series XL can be assembled by one person. Still, while most gaming chair installations are one-person projects, it's far more difficult than it would be with an assistant. In the case of this AndaSeat chair, buyers should find the installation process simpler thanks to some brackets and hardware already attached to the backrest and seat cushion.
AndaSeat includes 10 M8 screws in the package, plus spares which have some washer-type hardware on them. However, the company does ask that installers remove 4 additional screws from the backrest before connecting the seat later on, during the installation sequence.
As usual with gaming chairs, figuring out which armrest is intended for the left or right side of the seat cushion can take some thinking. Otherwise, the armrests aren't particularly difficult to line up correctly with the holes in the back of the seat.
The brackets on the seat back help immensely in securing the seat to the chair without needing a helper to hold one piece steady. AndaSeat includes some magnetic covers that slide over the exposed hardware to maintain the chair's cohesive appearance. Another quality of the Kaiser Frontier Series XL that makes installation smoother is the fact that its tilt mechanism is more compact than seen with some other ergonomic office chairs.
The lumbar pillow finds a home in the contours of the lower backrest, while the neck pillow has an adjustable strap that runs through the holes toward the top of the seat back. Affixing the neck pillow in this manner was rather tricky with so much tension in the strap, but with a struggle, this brief ordeal was overcome.
Overall, the Kaiser Frontier Series XL was put together in about 25 minutes with a minimal amount of frustration.
Design
The AndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XL is available in two colors including all-black and a two-tone maroon alternative. Buyers who select the maroon option will have a design that takes a few more chances, but the black variety here will blend in with nearly any gaming desk and PC gear. Almost everything on the chair is black, including the base and wheels.
While the AndaSeat logo is not as recognizable as the snake on Razer gaming chairs, the white stitching on the backrest is high quality with only the slightest bit of extra thread showing. The manufacturer may have gone a bit overboard with its logo lettering on the front of the Kaiser Frontier Series XL, since it's found multiple times on the headrest, neck pillow, and lumbar pillow. Still, not every gamer will use the pillows and the chair's branding is not as visible with a body sitting in it.
The Kaiser Frontier Series XL is a large gaming chair that accommodates buyers from 5'6" to 6'6" in height, and up to 330 lbs. Even so, it's not massive enough to look completely out of place near a decent-sized PC setup. The seat base measures just under 17" wide without the sloped sides, and 22.4" inches including the edges. With this generous width, only the largest gamers will find their hips pressing against the curves on each side of the seat cushion.
The backrest alone is 33.86" tall, which is enough to rank it highly among other big and tall gaming chairs. Even so, gamers at the upper end of the suggested height range may find that the neck pillow sits too low to support anything besides their upper back. However, strapping the pillow above the holes on the tip of the headrest may be a viable option.
Premium DuraXtra Leather is the fabric of choice with the Kaiser Frontier Series XL. The material feels especially thick, which is even more crucial on an XL chair likely to experience more stress than standard-sized options. There is enough grittiness on this PVC leather to help resist wear and tear, but it's still smooth enough to feel luxurious. Black stitching on the leather blends in seamlessly with the chair, even with some zippers running up and down some of its more cushioned areas.
To ensure that this XL chair can endure grueling gaming sessions, AndaSeat relies on a one-piece steel frame supporting the backrest and seat base. Not having a series of different components in the frame should prevent parts of the chair from coming loose down the line. Accordingly, gamers will find a high-density foam lining the cushions throughout the Kaiser Frontier Series XL, providing sufficient firmness to hold its shape while being flexible enough to provide relief after a stressful day.
To support its other large components, the metal base of the Kaiser Frontier Series XL measures 28.35" wide. Above the base is a Class-4 Gas Piston to allow the seat base to rise and lower safely and smoothly.
Adjustments
Certain ergonomic office chairs can provide so many possible adjustments that a buyer can feel overwhelmed. There is enough to tinker with in the case of the Kaiser Frontier Series XL, but gamers should find its controls easy to access and use on a daily basis.
Using the large handle that is in close proximity to the right edge of the seat cushion, the backrest on the Kaiser Frontier Series XL can recline from 90 to 165 degrees. Even if the chair can't recline to a perfectly flat position, there is enough flexibility to satisfy most gamers looking to work during the daytime and then unwind at night with gaming or watching some TV.
Underneath the seat base is a knob to adjust the tilt tension of the backrest, so it can rock back and forth to varying degrees. However, even with tension at its lowest levels, it takes some effort to move the backrest, so the Kaiser Frontier Series XL is not the most ideal rocking chair.
4D Armrests are an attractive feature on an ergonomic chair, but if not implemented correctly can become more annoying than useful. Thankfully, after adjustments, the armrests on the Kaiser Frontier Series XL stay in a locked position with just a hint of wiggling. An easily accessible metallic button is hidden toward the inside edge of the armrest. Once pressed, the armrests will tilt left and right or move back and forth. A lever on the outside of the armrest allows these components to rise or lower as much as 2.76". Modifying the width of the armrests takes more effort, as gamers will have to loosen the screws underneath the seat back and slide the hardware into the desired position.
Finally, with the use of a lever underneath the chair, the tilt mechanism can lift the chair nearly 2 feet off the ground, which is impressive even among the top ergonomic gaming chairs. Pushing the same lever in and out will lock or unlock the tilt angle of the Kaiser Frontier Series XL.
Comfort
It's sometimes difficult for a gaming chair to strike the right balance between comfort and encouraging users to maintain a healthy sitting position. While ergonomic office chairs with mesh constructions are what the experts usually recommend, the memory foam cushions found in Kaiser Frontier Series XL make it difficult to go back to hardback alternatives. When sitting in the AndaSeat chair, the necks, lower backs, and hips of gamers are well-supported with the feeling of being in a luxurious leather racing seat.
Gaming chairs take several different approaches to provide relief to lower backs, with some manufacturers opting for either adjustable or non-adjustable integrated lumbar support. The Kaiser Frontier Series XL embraces pillows as their solution to this problem with a rather long cushion that sits in the grooves of the chair's backrest. This pillow is expansive enough to find the sweet spots of larger gamers' lumbar areas. However, there are no straps or magnets to hold it into place, as seen with the optional pillows a buyer can add to a Secretlab gaming chair. The lumbar pillow with AndaSeat's chair will generally stay in place while sitting, but has a tendency to fall forward when standing up, requiring some slight adjustments.
Neck pillows are a common addition to gaming chairs and often use the strapping system employed on the Kaiser Frontier Series XL. While the memory foam pillow is very comfortable, there is a minimal amount of adjustability available which is a concern with a chair with a large suggested height range. Even so, there are enough other adjustments so that most gamers can find a comfortable sitting position in front of gaming desks.
Some buyers have the impression that an XL chair is only pleasant to sit in for plus-sized gamers. In reality, the Kaiser Frontier Series XL is a great option for any gamer of average stature who prefers not to feel too confined in a chair. The seat is wide enough to sit cross-legged without an issue, even if that doesn't promote a typical healthy sitting posture. The chair can be lowered so that the feet of the majority of gamers can stay firmly planted on the floor.
The 4D Armrests are quite wide to match the big and tall theme of the rest of the chair and can also move inward enough to suit gamers of average builds. There isn't an excess of cushioning in the armrests. Consequently, if an elbow touches the AndaSeat logo engraved in the upper portion of the material, the sensation isn't the most pleasant. Regardless, the extensive range of motion of the armrests and their generous size outweigh any annoyances.
Conclusion
AndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XL
The Kaiser Frontier XL combines AndaSeat's best designs to offer a high-end gaming chair perfect for big and tall gamers. Offering top-tier features such as 4D armrests, an extra large lumbar support pillow, and a headrest cushion, this gaming chair packs a lot of punch in a fairly affordable package. Plus, with a recommended height of 5'6"-6'6" and a maximum weight capacity of 330lbs, larger gamers finally have a chair made just for them.
- Upholstery Material
- PVC Leather
- Color(s)
- Black, Maroon
- Adjustability
- 4D Armrests, Tilt
- Brand
- AndaSeat
- Chair Weight Capacity
- 330lbs
- Chair Height Recommendation
- 5'6" to 6'6"
- Lumbar Support
- Pillow
- Seat Dimensions
- 22.44" x 21.26"
- Back Dimensions
- 33.86" tall
- Very durable PVC leather blend
- Raises about 2 feet off of floor
- Wide 4D armrests lock securely into place
- Exceptional build quality
- Can't adjust headrest pillow
- Lumbar pillow sometimes slips out of place
The AndaSeat Kaiser Frontier Series XL boasts stellar build quality starting with the screws and bolts used in its assembly. Installation was refreshingly simple aided by detailed instructions and with some hardware already installed on the backrest and seat base. The rugged but inviting DuraXtra Leather makes the chair look like a premium gaming throne and is also hassle-free to maintain.
As an XL chair with broad appeal, expansive 4D Armrests are suitable resting places for large and medium-sized arms, while a wide seat base accommodates most gamers. The neck and lumbar pillows are as comfortable as the rest of the chair, though the neck cushion may not be in the proper position for taller buyers. It's difficult to find fault with the supersized lumbar pillow, but it has a tendency to fall out of position without the chair being occupied. Still, unless a user is determined to buy a chair with adjustable integrated lumbar support, these minor issues shouldn't spoil an overall positive experience.
Although the Kaiser Frontier Series XL is not the most inexpensive chair, its comfort and craftsmanship rank it among the best big and tall gaming chairs on the market.
Related Products
If a gamer has a bit more money to spend, AndaSeat makes a slightly higher-end chair with some significant differences from the Kaiser Frontier Series XL. The Kaiser 3 has been for sale for over a year and is also available in an XL size. Unlike the Frontier, the Kaiser 3 has built-in lumbar support and a memory foam pillow that secures to backrests with magnets. The 4D armrests are also modular, with the ability to swap them out for different colored options. Gamers who still find the Kaiser Frontier Series XL too small should consider the Frontier 3 XL, since it's designed for buyers from 5'11" to 6'11" and supports a maximum weight of 395 lbs. Finally, for the Frontier 3, there is a linen fabric offered as well as far more color choices than currently in stock with the Frontier Series XL.
It's almost impossible to discuss XL gaming chairs without mentioning the ultra-popular Secretlab Titan Evo. The specs of this chair are remarkably similar to the Kaiser 3, with a suggested height range of 5'11" to 6'9" and a weight capacity of 395 lbs. On the Titan Evo, buyers will find an adaptable 4-Way Lumbar Support System and magnetic attachment points for a head pillow and alternate armrests. One of the reasons why this Secretlab chair continues to sell so well is because it's available in an incredibly diverse amount of fabrics and colors, including limited editions celebrating Diablo IV and other major game releases. Unfortunately, its asking price is higher than both of the AndaSeat gaming chairs discussed here.
Game ZXC reviewed the E-WIN Flash XL earlier this year which at 550 lbs, has one of the most generous weight limits in the industry. This gaming chair relies on a specially-formulated, extra dense cold cure foam resistant to changing shape over time. While the Flash XL has all the adjustments a gamer could ask for, its lumbar pillow has a bit of an awkward shape, and like the Kaiser Frontier Series XL, its neck pillow is positioned too low to support the tallest occupants.
Best Alternatives to the Kaiser Frontier XL Gaming Chair | ||
Best AndaSeat Alternative Chair | $500 | |
Best High-End Alternative Chair | $569 | |
Best Big & Tall Alternative Chair | $519 | |
FAQ
Q: What makes a gaming chair suitable for big and tall gamers?
Gaming chairs for big and tall gamers generally must have wider seat bottoms and taller seat backs. Also, these chairs are constructed with quality materials that can accommodate larger gamers sitting in them for long periods of time.
Q: Can I use a gaming chair at the office?
Yes, absolutely, gaming chairs are an excellent add-on for your office needs. There are multiple options that are not too flashy or too distracting and allow users to benefit from both, excellent build quality and gaming-specific features and add-ons such as neck pillows.