Searching desperately for reviews for this chair, I concluded that my only hope was skroutz. It's chaos though; I was trying to make sense of things by picking bits from here and there, and I definitely didn't understand... Half-blind and with little hope, I chose it among 4-5 chairs in the end. Now I come to write the review that would have helped me in my decision before I bought it.
Search stage:
I had a budget of 100-120. I wanted a bucket gaming chair with cushions, that the back would go all the way back, and that the armrests would be adjustable. So, the whole package of a decent gaming chair and economically. I ended up with 2 companies, Homemarkt and Woodwell. There are also some unbranded chairs called GT chairs; I wasn't thrilled by them, but I mention them as a viable option for you who are searching. After days of searching, I realized that the other bucket chairs (e.g., HM1072, HM1056) did NOT have adjustable armrests. Don't fall into the trap just because a chair looks bucket... I made the mistake for all of us. The only other seemingly good and available option I found with adjustable armrests is the BF9000, which just came out from Woodwell and only comes in black-red. The only difference I see it has from the HM1062 is that the mechanism for the armrests is different, presumably better in the BF9000. Everything else seems to be the same; these companies seem to prefer the same Chinese manufacturers for gaming chair parts, so it's logical. I didn't take the BF9000 despite the seemingly better mechanism for the armrests because its color doesn't... I liked the design and color of the HM1062.04 more.
Assembly:
I read the horror stories in the reviews, I made a will in case I took my last breath in the 28th hour of screwing while holding the one and only one-sided instruction page. Well, come on, some of you are really tragic... I start with a tip for anyone who gets it. The screws are all loose in a bag. Empty them, separate them, write on a piece of paper which letter in the manual corresponds to each one, and then start the assembly. From there on, the rest is a piece of cake; you'll save a lot of time and a lot of nerves. I also recommend tightening all the screws well; they don't have fear of the parts, and that's a positive aspect of the construction. Now for the negatives. The 8 screws that go into the bottom of the seat need preparation in the female parts. That is, screw in one screw into the 8 holes a little first to open the hole slightly, take it out, and THEN put the pieces in and screw normally. This way, you'll have a perfect result without problems. The screws that go into the side (back mechanism) are not well centered. They do screw the pieces together, but you have to pull this way and that on each piece to find the hole; it's obviously out of position. There's no way for a piece to sit perfectly in place like this... Because of this, one of the 4 plastics, since it's held only by one screw, pops out towards the outside. If someone sees it, they won't understand; it doesn't look aesthetic, but I'm a perfectionist, and it bothered me. If you're reading this at Homemarkt, you need to do something, guys... Despite this, there is no problem with the chair's functionality. Overall, there is absolutely no functional problem. So, in total, quite easy assembly with the small exception of the sides; I give it a moderate rating due to the issues combined with the fact that it took me 2 hours to put it together. I don't complain at all about the time, I would just rate it as "easy" for something that takes 30-40 minutes at most.
Quality:
Here I can't give a review, I'm giving a preview since I've only had the chair for a day. I like the leather it has. The cushions didn't blow me away; I wanted something softer. Basically, not soft, I would have preferred it thicker. It's not hard or bad, but it should be a bit softer for maximum comfort, and with a few more centimeters in thickness, it would have been just right. In some areas of the back, I would have liked more filling. The 2 extra head and lumbar cushions are just soft enough, though. The elastic (yes, they used elastic) to tie the extra cushions to the seat doesn't appeal to me; I believe it will stretch with use. One day in, and I already feel like I have to be VERY careful not to damage it. I expected something better instead of this elastic. Do good gaming chairs have elastic? I wish I knew to compare; for now, I'm just mentioning it. The cushions hold up fine, but the back one gives me the impression that it will stretch and become unadjustable over time. I hope I'm wrong.
The seams on the main part of the chair are wonderful; I believe they will hold up. I'm only a bit concerned about the bucket pieces on the edges where a piece with seams (decorative?) sticks out, but not particularly. Time will tell, and I'm expecting a positive outcome.
The wheels and their base are plastic. As they appear in the photos, I expected them to be from black carpet to OK. I was wrong; they are just fine and feel sturdy.
The frame and mechanisms are also sturdy. The biggest negative I find (besides the elastic) is in the armrests. There, I also find a big positive compared to other chairs. The problem is that the armrests have some play. The upper part that goes into the mechanism for adjustment is not stable, and this is the point we lean on. It's important to emphasize, though, that there is no weakness or problem that makes me fear they will break or something like that. The base of the armrests screws in with 2 very thick and stable screws. I don't fear at all to lean on it or put weight (within reasonable limits); it holds up, and I feel just fine. This is a huge positive because I read reviews where you fear to lean on some chairs, armrests with only one screw, etc. In daily use, this play doesn't bother me. If I rest my hand, it stays in place. It wouldn't prevent me from buying the chair, but it does have its play. It's a big negative in the first impression, though, and yet another flaw. It can't be fixed with screwing or tightening; it's a problem with the construction of the mechanism. Also, on the positive side, the upper part that rests the arm. It's either a very hard cushion or something like elastic (?). I don't know, nor will I tear it apart to see, but if you pinch it, it squishes. It's not soft and has a very thin leather covering. I expected it to be a simple piece of plastic, to be honest; however, what it has now is enough for the elbow to sink in a bit if resting without causing pain and to avoid making marks and redness with patterns, for example. I like it, and it has been convenient for me.
As for the creaking that many mentioned, it's too early to say. I hear a slight noise now and then when it's completely quiet, which may develop into a normal creak in the future. I hope it remains silent since I did quite a good job in the assembly. Make the chair yourself, kids, for this reason alone; in stores, they try to do as much work as possible, they won't spend too much time on it. And if they were to give it to me pre-assembled, I would have asked for it in a box to put it together myself to have peace of mind. Overall, the quality of the chair for this price is quite good. I rate it as average because it has imperfections and I would like the cushions to be a bit softer. The quality of the materials seems good to me, and it is a fairly sturdy chair.
Comfort: At first, I was a bit put off that the seat cushion wasn't softer. However, I got used to it and could easily describe it as ergonomic. Keep in mind that comfort and ergonomics are different things, so I would say satisfactory seating comfort; I would like a little more. As for the backrest, it is not comfortable at all (without the extra cushions). Especially without the headrest, you can't even lean back for fun. Above the holes where the head should rest, the design goes inward, and it is very annoying; you can't rest your head there. I don't know what logic they thought it was a good idea to design something like this; it's not a matter of cushions or softness; the chair simply doesn't allow you to lean back. Without the lumbar cushion, the chair is okay, nothing special. The lumbar cushion is perfect, though; when you sit back, it does a lot for body posture, as I have back issues, it relieves me a lot. And with the two extra cushions, it is very comfortable, convenient, and relaxing. I enjoy leaning back and watching a series, movie, YouTube, etc. I believe they designed it to have the extra cushions on permanently; with those, it is very good. Overall, for work, etc., it is ergonomic, and when you want to recline the backrest and relax, it is very comfortable and stable; I am quite satisfied. I also elevate my legs and sit cross-legged; I have no issues. I should just mention that it is somewhat narrow. Personally, I find it positive because it fits my body perfectly, but if someone is very bulky or quite overweight, I believe they won't be comfortable and will find the side bucket-like areas restrictive.
Finally, I will comment on some things I read here that scared me, but in the end, they were nonsense. Someone wrote that if they recline the backrest, they fear it will fall because the chair has no center of gravity. Intentionally, because I remembered how they wrote it, I tried it as soon as it arrived. I have no problem and leaned back in all positions. Obviously, if I try to tip it over, I will fall, but I can lean back feeling safe. Maybe the friend who wrote that should learn to screw better? I don't know. I also read about how hot it is, and I wonder... Are some people okay? You get a chair with leather; it doesn't have temperature levels. You get leather? And you will get hot and sweat wherever you touch it. Whether you spend €50 or €500 on a leather chair, you will experience the same. Come on, seriously. Get a chair with cooling under the leather, guys, to say it's good. There are fabric chairs that itch and leave marks on bare skin, and there are also ones with woven metal that are very comfortable and freeze you when you touch them. Leather AND permanently cool is not possible; you need to go for something else for coolness, how can we do this?
In closing, I would give it an 8.5/10 with very strict criteria. If I consider what else is available in the market in this budget, I would raise it by another point because there is a lot of junk out there. Honest for its price, a good choice as a first impression. If you end up getting it, I would suggest assembling it yourself for the best possible result.
Quick update after 4 years of use: I'm now dropping to 2 stars, due to quality not holding up well in the end. The pump falls off from time to time since last year, and the handles have easily frayed from the very beginning at the joints. Now the mechanism of the right handle is broken (the plastic cracked), so I keep them permanently low. The cushions' rubber has stretched as I expected, and the faux leather has peeled as I also anticipated (I didn't take care of it at all). I'm uploading a photo for you to see, after 4 years of daily use. I think it held up well, but it could have lasted much longer with better handles and a pump