Essential Gaming Gear for a Stellar School Year

• Back-to-school season impacts gaming time for students.
• Gaming gear designed for students includes compact speakers and comfy chairs.
• Targus 17-18 Strike II Backpack offers ample space and protection.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X headset is budget-friendly and versatile.
• Logitech M720 Triathlon mouse supports multiple devices and long battery life.

The Best Reveals From The Game Awards 2023

Back-to-school season is upon us, which usually means the endgame for avid players. Nothing puts a crimp in an epic quest quite like a term paper due in the morning.

Thankfully, in recent years, makers of gaming gear have begun to design peripherals with the specific needs of students in mind. Immersive speakers compact enough for even shoebox dorm rooms, high-performance headsets that won't wake your early-riser roommate, and staggeringly comfy chairs well-suited for all-nighters of the midterm and master sword variety.

With the right hardware, you'll set yourself up for academic success this semester without sacrificing achievement hunting. How's that for problem-solving?

Must-Have Gaming Gear

Targus 17-18 Strike II Gaming Backpack

This durable gamer-on-the-go everything bag is ludicrously capacious. There's an ultra-padded laptop compartment big enough for even 18" monster consoles plus dedicated pockets for the rest of your peripherals, including a loop to hang a headset.

Expect ample cushioning and even a sternum strap for added stability so both precious cargo and your back are well protected. Bonus points for the elastic trolley strap that lets you slide your bag on a rolling suitcase. Priced under $80, it clocks in at just under 2 lbs when empty.

Corsair TC500 Luxe

Enthusiasts know the acute pain of suffering through long hours of gameplay in a chair about as comfortable as a bicycle seat. The Corsair TC500 Luxe, priced at $549, offers impressive four-way adjustable lumbar support specifically targeting lower back pain.

The seat itself is wider and flatter than most chairs on the market, accommodating a beefier range of body types. It can support up to 264 pounds and is recommended for heights up to 6'2".

• 4D range of motion armrests
• Reclines up to 160 degrees
• Magnetic memory foam pillow cushion

Available in Shadow grey, Sherwood green, and Frost white.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is ideal for budget-conscious college gamers. Weighing nearly 270 grams, the Arctis Nova 5X is disarmingly light and boasts breathable rotating memory foam-covered earcups.

With clear highs and deep lows, plus intuitive on-ear controls to adjust volume and mute the fully retractable mic, this headset is a gem. Connectivity is a big selling point; the 5X lets you toggle between Xbox, PC, Playstation, Switch, and other devices.

Retailing for under $120, the 5X punches above its weight.

IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII Pair Plus ARC Mic

For students looking to maximize desk space without sacrificing sound quality, the iLoud MTM MKII speakers are a no-brainer. The full kit, priced at $799, comes with a pair of 3.5" high-performance woofers and a 1" high-def tweeter.

Another major selling point is its Automatic Room Correction (ARC) technology, which auto-adjusts the EQ to any room using a mic. Download IK's free XMonitor software to access 20 studio monitor presets.

Logitech M720 Triathlon

The Logitech M720 Triathlon is a sleek ergonomic right-handed design with a scroll wheel that delivers both hyper-fast infinite scrolling and slower incremental movement. The Triathlon can support up to three Bluetooth devices and is powered by a single AA battery for upwards of 24 months.

While serious gamers might hanker for a mouse with a higher DPI, casual gamers can't go wrong with this all-purpose workhorse.

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro

The Huntsman V3 Pro is all about control. Its fully adjustable actuation means you decide how hard you have to press a key for it to register. You can create profiles for different games, and dual function keys mean your character can walk when pressed lightly but run when pressed fully.

Program a key to perform a series of steps with one stroke, particularly helpful in complex gaming. Just be sure to readjust those settings if you plan on using the keyboard for plain-old typing.

Elgato Wave3

The Elgato Wave3 is a simple $150 powerhouse of a USB mic best suited for gamers who stream. A multifunctional dial on the front allows easy control of gain, headphone volume, and mic-PC audio mix. A mute button on top is convenient for quick muting during gaming sessions.

Another standout feature is the Clipguard technology, which prevents audio distortion during sudden outbursts. Comes in white, black, and the neon-yellow splashed quadrant.

Western Digital P40 Game Drive SSD

WD's P40 Game Drive, starting at $100 for 500GB, is compact and lightweight. With speeds of up to 2000MB/s, you get mind-blowingly fast uploads and downloads. The P40's compatibility via a USB-C connects to PCs and laptops as well as PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

While you can't play PS5 or Xbox Series X games directly from the drive, you can store them and transfer them to the console's internal storage when needed. Comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB options.