Assembly

Having assembled a great number of chairs already, we have to conclude that a second pair of hands makes the whole procedure much easier. Since all parts but the base will eventually find themselves above the base, the best option is to start with the base. Flip the five-star base upside-down and install the caster wheels by pressing the stands firmly into the openings on each side. Turn the five-star base the right way and insert the hydraulics into the wheel's base.


The dust-cover shroud goes over the gas lift. With that done, flip the seat's base upside-down. Since only one of two armrests is pre-installed, we need to install the second armrest before we move on to the next piece. noblechairs includes a tool kit containing bolts, washers, split washers, and an Allen key. Using the Allen key, remove the four bolts with their washers and slip washers, which are at the left side of the seat's base. You have to secure the left armrest in place by putting the four bolts back into their respective spots. Finally, make sure to align the left armrest with the right one.


After having placed the left armrest, the seat's base will be stable, and we may proceed with the tilt mechanism, which must be placed under the seat's base. Most of the time, an arrow or a warning label on it mentions the right way to install it; however, this time around, there is no such label. Those unfamiliar with the drill might want to use the instructions manual right now. The knob on the tilt mechanism must point forward. Two levers, which are included in the package, are to be inserted into the two metal handles under the seat's base. It is easier to install these before putting the seat's base on the gas lift. Every lever has recesses that must be aligned with the protruding edges on the metal handles. Even so, it takes some force to install the plastic levers. Once the plastic levers are installed, the seat's base must be put on the gas lift.

The backrest comes with two pre-installed bolts on each side, which need to be removed with the Allen key only to be re-installed after aligning the backrest with the seat's metal brackets. The two metal brackets protrude from the seat's base; one has a safety warning label that covers the screw opening. Thus, we suggest removing it before proceeding. There are two options before aligning the backrest with the openings on the metal brackets; we may either pull the backrest's tilt lever up with extra care or install the backrest with the metal brackets, as they are there to avoid hurting ourselves. Two plastic seat-mount covers are to be inserted next, along with the two remaining bolts in the tool kit. The plastic bits will cover the four bolts that secure the backrest to the seat's base.


The Hero is now ready for use. noblechairs provides complimentary neck and lumbar-support cushions. The neck cushion can be attached to the upper part of the chair with its elastic band, while the lumbar-support cushion is placed on the seat's base like a couch cushion since it has no straps to keep it in place.


A spare bolt with a washer and split washer has been included, should a bolt get lost or be damaged.

Footrest Assembly Procedure

The footrest comes almost fully pre-assembled, so there isn't much work to do here. The upper part of the footrest has an integrated mechanism for the footrest to recline. Thus, we need to flip the footrest's upper part upside down and pull the folded lever. Once you pull the lever out, take the washers and place them as displayed in the footrest's user manual. Lastly, place the four-star base and secure the washers with the included bolt. Flip the footrest and it is now ready for use.

Initial Impression

We need to stress that the Hero complies with the European Standard DIN EN 1335 for office chairs, which includes mechanical test methods for determining the stability, strength, and durability of office chairs. Once a chair has this certification, it can also be purchased as an office work chair in several European countries. We mention the above certificate mainly because there are not very many gaming chairs with the certification, and because it inevitably adds to the Hero's price tag.


In our lab, we almost have every noblechairs product, and judging by these, this brand and its designers keep big-boned users in mind. The Hero is designed to cater to large gamers, which means it is broad. However, the seat's base feels quite hard, especially if you compare it to other high-end chairs. According to noblechairs, this was done on purpose to make the base comfortable for heavy users even after long hours of use. The foam's high density won't allow it to lose its shape, which would have your soft parts touch the chair's frame. This can feel a bit weird, though, if you weigh less than 80 kg since it makes the seat's base feel a bit like a wooden board. If you give it some time, though, that feeling mostly disappears, which makes sitting in the Hero rather comfortable. However, when compared to an Ergohuman featuring mesh material, the Hero doesn't feel all that comfortable after 5–6 hours of use.


The Hero is covered in a black upholstery with some rather intriguing details; both the backrest and the seat's base have an impeccable stitching design in a vibrantly blue diamond pattern, and the backrest has two stripes with a suede feel running along its sides. Despite the Hero being a gaming chair, it is of an austere design with several refined details, which would make it a fine piece for even a business executive's office. Altogether, the Hero makes for an impressive first glimpse.