Steelcase has been gaining popularity since its arrival. Well, the reason behind it is they do a whole lot of research before launching a new Chair. Recently, a common debate on which one is better between Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture is going on.
So, What is the difference between Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture? Steelcase Leap and Gesture’s main differences include that Leap has better lower back and lumbar support while being less expensive. But, Gesture comes with 360-degree armrests and a better headrest than Leap.
This article focuses on providing a detailed understanding of the Chairs Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture. You will also find a clear comparison between them.
Well, I know choosing between these two extraordinary chairs can be cumbersome, but this is why this article will provide you with all the information you need on Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture.
So, what are you waiting for? Keep on reading.
Steelcase Leap Chair
Nowadays, we all are becoming fans of ergonomic chairs, especially those with an S-shaped backrest and lumbar support. Steelcase Leap Chair is also one of this kind. The optimal lumbar support holds your spine perfectly.
The reclining feature of the Steelcase Leap Chair is also remarkable. Moreover, you will have five different recline lock positions. This Chair has a well-adjustable seat, armrest, headrest that allow you to sit in a comfortable position for a long period of time.
To provide an overview of the Steelcase Leap Chair,
- Product Dimensions: 24.75 x 27 x 43.5 inches
- Seat Height (from the floor): 15.5 inches – 20.5 inchesÂ
- Suitable User’s Height: 4’9’’ to 6’4’’
- Seat Depth: 15.75 inches – 18.75 inches  Â
- Seat Width: 19.25 inches
- Overall Chair Height: 38.5 inches – 43.5 inches Â
- Overall Chair Depth: 21.75 inches – 24.75 inches Â
- Overall Chair Width: 27 inchesÂ
- Weight Capacity: 400 lbs.
Pros Of Steelcase Leap Chair
Steelcase Leap Chair is a very comfortable Chair. You can sit in this Chair for an extended period of time without hampering your back.
Now let us see what are all the benefits a Steelcase Leap Chair has to offer;
- Steelcase Leap Chairs are ergonomic and, at the same time, comfortable to sit in.
- You can adjust the lower back firmness just by twisting the controller.
- Steelcase Leap Chair has LiveBackâ„¢ Technology which allows your seat to glide forward so that your can easily recline and not leave your optimal position.
- The seat cushion has air pockets that adapt to your body and have flexible edges, relieving the pressure point present under your thigh.
- The outstanding adjustable armrest can do much more than you imagine. Starting from raising up & down, in & out pivoting, you can also shift it forward & back and side to side.
- Whenever you sit in a Steelcase Leap Chair, your arms and shoulder will always be in your relaxed and comfortable position.
- You can adjust the armrest as per your recline position and also keep it parallel to the desk’s surface.
- The backrest’s reclining feature helps to contour your back in such a manner it moves along with your movement and holds the natural, healthy S-shape.
- Since the Steelcase Leap Chair’s seat height falls between 15.5 inches – 20.5 inches, it is suitable for both short and tall people, mostly for people with 4’9’’ to 6’4’’ height.
- Steelcase Leap Chair has a tilt lock with five different positions.
Cons Of Steelcase Leap Chair
Yes, even this amazing Steelcase Chair has some faults in it. So, let us now discuss all the drawbacks a Steelcase Leap Chair carries.
- The armrest of the Chair is adjustable but does not rotate 360-degree.
- Steelcase Leap Chairs are pretty expensive and unaffordable to many.
- The back-height adjustment is missing in Steelcase Leap Chair.
- Although the seat of the Steelcase Leap Chair is comfortable, the padding is less, which can cause disturbance while sitting for a longer period of time.
- Being 48-pound, Steelcase Leap Chair can be difficult to move for some people.
Steelcase Gesture Chair
Steelcase Gesture Chair carries numerous technologically advanced features which provide the users with a comfortable sitting arrangement.
One of the unique features of the Steelcase Gesture Chair is its 360-degree adjustable armrest, and you can adjust it in the position you want.
Another unbeatable feature of the Steelcase Gesture Chair is with the 3D LiveBack Technology, and the Chair imitates your natural movement and contours your posture evenly.
With several unique adjustments, the Steelcase Gesture Chair gives you a comfortable sitting arrangement so that you can sit for a longer period of time without hampering your body.
To provide an overview of the Steelcase Gesture Chair,
- Product Dimensions – 23.63 x 29.05 x 44.5 inches
- Seat Height (from the floor): 16 inches – 21 inches
- Suitable User’s Height – 4’11’’ to 6’6’’
- Seat Depth: 15.75 inches – 15.75 inches – 18. 5 inches
- Seat Width: 20 inches
- Overall Chair Height: 39.25 inches – 44.25 inches
- Overall Chair Depth: 21 inches – 23.63 inches
- Overall Chair Width: 22.38 inches – 34.63 inches
- Weight Capacity: 400 lbs.
Pros Of Steelcase Gesture Chair
Steelcase Chairs never disappoint with the unique feature in its chairs, and a Steelcase Gesture Chair is a perfect example of that.
Let me mention all the benefits you will receive from Steelcase Gesture Chair.
- The headrest gives the best adjustable feature with its 5-inches range of height adjustment, along with 4 inches forward and backward movement.
- In addition to that, the headrest has 90-degrees of rotation adjustments. You can rotate it if you do not want the headrest.
- The well-adjustable seat has seat depth which can be adjusted up to a 3-inches range. You can pull or push the seat front and back, to arrange it adequately.
- The adjustable armrest can be adjusted as per your need; the armrest’s height and angle in such a manner that the arms, neck, and shoulder stay perfectly aligned.
- The armrests can be pivoted up to a 30-degree angle. Along with that, you can also rotate the armrests, even when you do not need them to push them aside.
- The best part of these armrests is that they can be moved individually, which provides more flexible options.
- When it comes to contouring your back’s natural shape, Steelcase Gesture Chairs will never disappoint you.
- Although the weight capacity of the 400 pounds, according to BIFMA Testing Standard, it can hold more weight up to 500 pounds.
- The cushion of the Steelcase Gesture Chair is very soft and well-padded, which is suitable for the users who spend most of their time sitting.
Cons Of Steelcase Gesture Chair
Steelcase Gesture Chair also has a few drawbacks, which includes;
- Steelcase Gesture Chair can cost a lot and can be unaffordable to many users.
- The Back-Height adjustment is missing; as a result, when you lean backward, it does not hold the curve. You need to get up and balance accordingly.
- Being heavier (78 pounds), many people find it difficult to move the Chair.
Comparison Between Steelcase Leap And Steelcase Gesture
Now that you are completely familiar with both the chairs let’s compare them side by side for better understanding.
We have compared Leap and Gesture in every single category and marked them accordingly.
N.B. The winner gets a “1†point and the loser gets a “0†in each category.
| Category | Steelcase Gesture | Steelcase Leap |
| Pricing: | 0 | 1 |
| Design: | 1 | 0 |
| Comfort: | 0 | 1 |
| Build Quality: | 1 | 1 |
| Lumbar Support: | 0 | 1 |
| Weight Capacity: | 1 | 1 |
| Headrest: | 1 | 0 |
| Armrests: | 1 | 0 |
Let’s not declare the overall winner yet!! Before drawing a final conclusion on which one is better, let me explain everything.
Ergonomic Features
Steelcase chairs are always filled with ergonomic features and ensure the users have comfortable sitting arrangements. Well, it also fits perfectly with Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture chairs.
Let us discuss them in detail.
Back Support
Very few chairs can beat the back support of the Steelcase Leap Chair. The LiveBack Technology perfectly contours your back so that you stay seated in the perfect posture. Whenever you move from your position, the Leap Chair moves with you so that the posture is maintained.
On the other hand, Gesture chairs do not give the overall support to your back. It is because the lower back support does not have adjustable firmness control in Steelcase Gesture Chair. It can be bothersome when you need to properly configure the backrest to your preference.
Summary:
Steelcase leap provides better back support than the gesture. Both of these chairs are great, but while sitting it feels like a leap provides complete support and holds the posture better than the gesture.
Lumbar Support and Recline
In the case of Lumbar Support, Steelcase Leap is still the winner. The Leap has one of the best lumbar support than most other ergonomic chairs.
The height-adjustable lumbar support can be adjusted up to 5 inches so that it fits your lower back. If required, it provided extra support.
Moreover, the recline feature in Leap Chairs has five tilt locks. You can use a slow recline or even a fast recline or just lock it in a certain place.
On the other hand, Gesture also has height-adjustable lumbar support, but it has only three tilt locks when it comes to the tilting option.
Summary:
Steelcase leap has more robust lumbar support with lower back firmness Changing capability. This feature is missing in the gesture. Also, the tilting feature of the leap is better.
Armrests
Both the chairs have adjustable armrests, which can be adjusted as per your preferences. The height, the angle of the armrest can be adjusted so that your arms, neck, and shoulders stay perfectly aligned.
Suppose I have to choose one Chair based on the armrest, then I would be choosing Steelcase Gesture because of its rotatable feature. The armrests on the Gesture and be adjusted in 4 ways. Most interestingly, you can rotate it outside if you do not need them.
Summary:
Steelcase gesture has a 360-degree armrest that you can adjust according to your convenience. Whereas Leap has a 4D armrest that will offer you most of the support but Gesture is the winner in the armrest category.
Headrest
The Headrest of both the Chairs is attached and detachable. Each has an adjustable headrest so that you can relax your head while working.
In Gesture, the headrest can be rotated up to 90-degree so that when you do not need it, you can put it backward. Other than that, the head rest has adjustable features with its 5-inches range of height adjustment and 4 inches forward and backward movement.
When it comes to Leap Chairs, Only the 90-degree rotation is missing. Other than that, all the features of Gesture’s headrest are present.
Summary:
When you try to rest your head on both of these chairs, you might feel like the headrest of the gesture feels better than that of the leap. So, in the case of headrest, the gesture is better.
Check the provided list to compare the ergonomic features of Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture Chairs;
| Adjustments | Steelcase Leap | Steelcase Gesture |
| Seat Height | Present | Present |
| Seat Depth | Present | Present |
| Headrest | Present | Present |
| Armrest Height | Present | Present |
| Armrest Position | Present | Present |
| Armrest Rotating | Absent | Present |
| Lumbar Support | Present | Present |
| Lower Back Firmness Control | Present | Absent |
| Upper Back Support | Present | Present |
| Tilt Lock | 5 positions | 3 positions |
Pricing
The Steelcase Leap and Gesture are extremely costly and can be unaffordable to many people. Although Steelcase Leap costs more than $1,000, the Gesture costs almost $1,500, with a headrest.
You can find the Steelcase Leap chair on Amazon, currently costing $824.00, Check the most updated price here.
Steelcase Gesture currently costs $1,036.00 on Amazon, you can check the most updated price here.
As Steelcase Leap has a lower price than Gesture so, if you don’t want to spend more and get the best ergonomic chair, Steelcase leap would be the clear winner in the price category.
Warranty And Return Policy
The Steelcase Leap and Gesture comes with 12 years of warranty, regardless of its usage. Moreover, Steelcase will provide the best components when it comes to repairing or replacing.
Just like all Steelcase Chairs, Leap and Gesture come with a 14-days money-back guarantee. The best part is that it has free return shipping and no restocking fees included. However, the product must be returned in its original packaging.
Design & Comfort
Although many people claim when it comes to design, Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture both look extremely outstanding. However, I personally like the Steelcase Gesture Chair when it comes to the overall appearance.
Then again, both the chairs are comfortable and help you to sit for long hours. The seat cushion padding is much thicker in Steelcase Gesture than Steelcase Leap chairs. However, the missing lower back support in Gesture can also create botheration.
Furthermore, both the chairs are capable of moving with your posture to ensure a better poster
Summary:
Although the design is a subjective choice, I love the design of the gesture more modern and professional to me. And, when it comes to comfort, the leap is actually more comfortable without any doubt.
Build Quality & Durability
When it comes to comparing the build quality, both Steelcase Leap and Steelcase Gesture are unbeatable. However, there is a slight difference.
Both the chairs originated in Mexico, and various high-quality materials are used during the manufacturing process. The fabric used in the fabric is 100% polyester, and the Chair’s body is made of high-quality plastic.
This high-quality Steelcase plastic helps the Chair bend with your pressure so that it perfectly contours your body. However, the fabric does not help with the airflow, like other popular brands, like Herman Miller.
If you are worried about the durability, then let me tell you the Steelcase chairs are trustworthy and will never compromise with the product’s quality which means both the chairs are top-notch.
Both the Chairs are made of sturdy and to-quality materials which are designed to support up to 400 pounds. Although top-quality chairs are a bit heavier, they require too much pressure to move.
Summary:
When it comes to build quality, Steelcase have not compromised with the quality of both of these chairs. In my perspective both leap and gesture are quite durable and have premium build quality.
Weight Capacity & Size
Steelcase Leap and Gesture both come with 400 pounds weight capacity. When it comes to the weight of these chairs, Gesture (78 pounds) weighs way more than Leap (48 pounds).
The Product Dimensions of Steelcase leap are 24.75 x 27 x 43.5 inches, and of Steelcase gesture is 23.63 x 29.05 x 44.5 inches.
You can see not only the Gesture has a higher weight, but also the size is bigger than the Leap Chair.
Is The Steelcase Gesture Better Than The Leap?
Undoubtedly, Steelcase Gesture and Steelcase Leap both are extremely comfortable and great-looking Chairs. However, when you compare them thoroughly, Steelcase Leap Chair is better than the gesture.
When you are concerned about the ergonomic features and want a good quality Chair, you should choose Steelcase Leap Chair. It also helps to sit for a longer time and complete your work without hampering your body.
We have compared the steelcase gesture and leap in 8 different categories. Let’s have a look at which chair won in which categories and mark them accordingly.
| Category | Steelcase Gesture | Steelcase Leap |
| Pricing | 0 | 1 |
| Design | 1 | 0 |
| Comfort | 0 | 1 |
| Build Quality | 1 | 1 |
| Lumbar Support | 0 | 1 |
| Weight Capacity | 1 | 1 |
| Headrest | 1 | 0 |
| Armrests | 1 | 0 |
| Reclining Feature | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 6 |
Now, it’s time to draw the final conclusion on which chair is a better choice for you.
As you can see, leap is the clear winner here. But The gesture is not lagging far behind. Both of these chairs are too good for providing a premium sitting experience.
If you long for better comfort and soverall sitting experience then Steelcase leap is obviously a better choice. It has better lumbar support as well which is good for your posture.
On the other hand, steelcase gestures have better headrests and armrests. If you want the best headrest and armrests on your chair, then you can definitely choose the gesture over leap.
Now that I have explained everything in detail, which one would you choose? Is it the leap? Or the Gesture? The choice is yours.
