Apart from typical gaming chairs like the Supernova, Martiangear also sells ergonomic chairs such like the Starfighter. There are currently two models in Martiangear’s ergonomic chair lineup, the Martiangear Starfighter is the entry-level model coming in at S$648, which is quite similar in price to chairs from Secretlab. But of course, you can still apply discount code TECHJIOBLOG for S$60 off, making it S$588.
Build quality and design
Martiangear Starfighter is actually easy to self-assemble. The chair’s seat and backrest is actually already assembled in the box. All you have to do is to fix up the casters to the wheel base, then join the chair to the wheel base. Lastly, screw on the headrest (this part is a little tricky) and the entire chair is assembled.
The Martiangear Starfighter currently comes in two colours – (1) Black Red, or (2) Black. The unit I have is the latter, the full black model. I find the full black model to be the better looking one as it just looks more clean, modern and minimalist – great for any home office space. If like red or want more punch in your setup then the Black Red model will surely be an attractive option. I like how the chair has very minimal branding. You will only find the Martiangear logo etched on the back of the frame.
The frame of the Martiangear Starfighter is made from high quality ADC12 aluminum alloy, giving the chair a really solid foundation. There is close to no rattling when I shake the chair. The mesh upholstery has a good tension and flex, and doesn’t feel overly weak when pressure is applied. The wheels roll around rather smoothly but they are not as quiet as I would have like them to be.
Warranty
Martiangear offers up to 12 years warranty for selected components of the chair. As the frame and base are usually very durable, a more realistic warranty duration you can expect is 5 years – which is a pretty long duration.
| Components | Duration |
|---|---|
| Aluminum Alloy Frame | 12 Years |
| Five Star Base | 12 Years |
| Mesh | 5 Years |
| Seat Mechanism | 5 Years |
| Arm Rest | 5 Years |
| Casters | 5 Years |
| Gas Lift | 5 Years |
Features and functionality
Given the Martiangear Starfighter is considered an ergonomic chair, it offers customisation features that allows you to adjust the chair in order for you to get the best fit.
Mesh upholstery and seat
The mesh on the Martiangear Starfighter has good amount of flex to it – it is not loose that you’ll sink in, nor overly firm that it feels hard. The mesh itself feels okay – I’d say it feels like typical mesh, not a unique blend that I’ve seen on Herman Miller’s Aeron for example. But since it is a mesh upholstery, th Martiangear Starfighter is comfortable to sit for extended periods of time due to greater breathability.
Check out the video below to get a sense of the feel of the mesh on the Martiangear Starfighter:
One thing that the Martiangear Starfighter did well is to design the seat base with a ‘waterfall’ end (ie. having a rounded edge). This makes it comfortable for the part under your thighs as you won’t feel pressure against it, which I have experience with the ErgoTune Supreme after long hours of sitting. Martiangear also added thick foam at the edge of the seat to create a soft surface for the underside of your thighs to rest on.
As the Martiangear Starfighter is an ergonomic chair, the seat depth is adjustable. If you’re someone with longer legs then you can make the seat deeper for better comfort. I appreciate the flexibility of adjusting the seat depth but I do find the range of seat depth to be a little limited. Martiangear states adjustable seat depth from 40-44cm, which isn’t very deep, so if you are rather tall then I think the Martiangear Starfighter‘s seat may feel slightly shallow. But of course, the best way is to head down to Martiangear’s showroom to experience it yourself.
Backrest and lumbar support
The backrest is designed to have an arch at the lower back area in order to support your lumbar. The curve of the backrest provides a good snug fit at my lumbar. To customise the support, you can adjust the height of the backrest to find the position which best supports you. There are three points of height adjustment, and once you max out the height it will reset itself.
Apart from just the mesh backrest, there is a tiny cushion which will provide additional support. People who like to feel an aggressive support against their lower back will like this tiny cushion. The tiny cushion is soft so it doesn’t feel like it is poking you, but you can feel something there. Additionally, you can adjust the height of the cushion to direct where you want the support to be.
The lumbar support on the Martiangear Starfighter will be different from the ErgoTune Supreme as the latter mainly uses the arch of backrest mesh to provide the support. So, if you prefer a support that feels more substantial, the Martiangear Starfighter will better provide that.
Headrest
The headrest doesn’t come pre-installed to the backrest, but you can install it if you need it. The headrest can be adjusted in three dimensions: (1) up/down – height, (2) angle, (3) in/out – depth. The height is adjustable at 6 incremental points. I found the adjusting the height of the headrest to be rather stiff and it takes effort to control your strength if not you’ll end up yanking the headrest to the max height.
Having the ability to adjust the angle of the headrest is a good touch as it allows me to rest my neck at an angle which I prefer. There are 6 points which you can lock the angle of the headrest at. Once the angle is locked in, the headrest is kept well it place and does not move about.
To adjust the depth of the headrest (ie. how far in out our the headrest leans in), you may have to use an Allen key to untighten the screws so that you have push the headrest in/out.
Check out the videos below to get a better understanding:
Armrest
The armrest on the Martiangear Starfighter is quite unique because it contains the control for tilt and height of chair. The left armrest controls the recline tilt, while the right armrest controls the height of the chair. Locating those controls on the armrest makes it easy when you want to make those adjustments since you don’t have to stretch to the base of the chair.
However, do note that these conveniences is a tradeoff for the armrests’ functionality. Personally, I find convenience gain to be more relevant for the tilt control. I don’t usually adjust my chair height once I have set it. Because there are likely cables in the armrest, the adjustments you can make on the Martiangear Starfighter armrests are only height and swivel. You won’t be able to change the distance between both armrests or slide them forward or backward.
The armrest have very slight amount of cushioning, so I wished that it had adopted the new cushions from the upgraded Supernova armrest (note that armrest in the Supernova review is the old one).
Chair tilt
As aforementioned, you can control the recline angle of the chair via the switch under the left armrest. The switch essentially turns on/off the recline. The tilt mechanism found on the Martiangear Starfighter is not a multi-tilt mechanism. This means that once you lock in a recline angle, you lose the ability to bop back and forth.
Under the seat, you’ll find a spin handle which allows you adjust the backrest tilt tension. At the weakest setting, the tension is just enough to lean back and relax without exerting much force.
Conclusion
Overall, the Martiangear Starfighter is comfortable and has great built quality. The size of the chair is not as big as a gaming chair like Supernova, for example. I believe that the Martiangear Starfighter will fit best for people who are between 160 to 175cm in height. It is also one of the better looking ergonomic chairs on the market due to its sleek and modern design. If you’re interested in getting one, you can apply discount code TECHJIOBLOG for S$60 off, making it S$588.
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