EmailBest Reviewed
Office Chairs
- Budget mesh office chair Ergo Mesh Medium Back Task Chair *Est. $200
- Budget leather office chair Office Star Deluxe Ergonomic Chair *Est. $280
- Ergonomic task chair Herman Miller Mirra *Est. $650
- Plush office chair Steelcase Leap *Est. $850
- Office-chair icon Herman Miller Aeron *Est. $950
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Plush office chair
- Easy to adjust
- Gliding seat and flexible back
- Solid construction
- Plush, traditional appearance
- High price
- Heavy
The Steelcase Leap office chair offers more padding and a more traditional appearance than other high-end ergonomic office chairs that dominate reviews. It's a substantial chair -- the fabric version weighs 45 pounds and the leather version (*Est. $1,200) weighs 60 pounds. One effect of the plush build on the leather model, however, is a whoopee-cushion sound if you plop down on the seat too quickly, and one reviewer wonders if that indicates underlying poor construction. The Steelcase Leap offers another significant difference over its chief competitors -- the gliding seat and flexible back allow for easier and more comfortable reclining. Steelcase's warranty covers three years on the fabric, 10 years on seating mechanisms and a lifetime on the rest.
We found the best review of the Steelcase Leap at Slate.com, which has eight staffers use six office chairs over several weeks. The Wall Street Journal tests five office chairs and offers significant detail on each. CrunchGear.com's review is even more detailed, but just three chairs are included. Reports from Kiplinger.com and Wired magazine also list a few picks. OfficeChairAdvice.com certainly knows office chairs and offers plenty of insight. However, just about every chair gets very high ratings, which doesn't really help you narrow your choices.
| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
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Our Sources
1. Slate.com
Eight Slate.com staffers spend weeks testing six different office chairs in this comparison test. They decide that the Steelcase Leap is "very good but not superb" -- nice-looking and comfortable, but not inventive. Besides, it makes gas-passing sounds when you sit on it, they say.
Review: Sit Happens, Seth Stevenson, Dec. 6, 2005
The Wall Street Journal tests five office chairs, rating the Steelcase Leap as the best overall. The review says it's attractive, "supremely comfortable" and easy to adjust.
Review: Sitting Pretty Smartly, Troy McMullen, Jan. 7, 2005
Three office chairs get individual reviews here, with the Steelcase Leap topping the list. Reviewer Blake Robinson says he injured his back lifting the Steelcase Leap. However, after recovering and using the chair for two weeks, he says he's pleased with it.
Review: Workspace Roundup: Ergonomic Chairs, Blake Robinson, Dec. 28, 2006
4. Kiplinger.comDetails/Subscribe
In this interview with Toyota facilities manager Debi Ertel-Hernandez, office chairs are recommended based on how well they relieve pressure on the spine, meet back contours and accommodate varying body types. The Steelcase Leap is rated best, with the Herman Miller Aeron office chair in second place.
Review: Best Seats in the House, Elizabeth Kountze, Feb. 4, 2004
5. Wired.com
In this dated, but very thorough review, reviewer Bruce Sterling says once you adjust the Steelcase Leap office chair, it is "like a tailored suit -- it's very intimately and specifically about you, including your shoulders, wrists, elbows, thighs and, especially, your spine."
Review: The Hot Seat, Bruce Sterling, July 2000
The editor of this site is a 25-year veteran of the office chair business, which makes the depth of information here quite handy. There are too many five-star ratings to be taken seriously as a critical aid in deciding what to buy. The Steelcase Leap office chair is one of the chairs with a five-star rating.
Review: Executive Chair Reviews, Editors of OfficeChairAdvice.com
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