Regarded as one of the leading office chairs in the market, the Steelcase Leap V2 has taken work culture by a storm. It has changed the way people view ergonomic chairs and workspace comfort. So, if you are looking up a detailed Steelcase leap V2 review, I will assume that you are on the lookout for a good-quality ergonomic office chair to buy.
And, to be fair, you are not mistaken. This office chair has made the rounds as one of the best in the market, and all thanks for the design and the level of comfort it brings along. However, don’t get confused thinking this is the best you could find in the market for the price range. In fact, the Herman Miller Aeron is a very close competitor that you might come across.
That said, I am going to give you a detailed review of the Steelcase Leap V2 in this article, with hopes that it helps you decide whether it’s worth your time or not.
Table of Content
- What are the Specifications of Steelcase Leap V2?
- Steelcase Leap V2 vs. Herman Miller Aeron
- Conclusion
What are the Specifications of Steelcase Leap V2?
Before getting in-depth into reviewing every individual feature of this office chair, I should walk you down the list of its specifications.
- Total Height Range – 5 inches to 43.5 inches
- Width of the Chair – 27 inches
- Overall Depth – 75 inches to 24.5 inches
- Seat depth – 15.75 inches to 18.75 inches
- Seat width – 19.25 inches
- Seat height – 16 inches to 21 inches
- Arm height – 22 inches to 31 inches off the ground
- Maximum weight capacity – 400 lbs
Aside from these basic specs, the chair is also integrated with a range of other features, including:
- 4D armrests with width and pivot adjustments.
- LiveBack technology for smoother spine movement.
- Adjustable lumbar support system.
- Five-position tilt lock mechanism.
Is Steelcase Leap V2 worth it?
If this is your first time investing in Steelcase office furniture, it is normal for you to be skeptical about the purchase. With the Leap V2, you get a wide range of adjustability, lower back firmness, and ideal levels of comfort that you need during a stressful day at work.
Here, I will be discussing some of the primary features while reviewing this office chair for you.
Build Quality
Whenever you consider buying an office chair, you need to be very particular about the overall build quality of the product. With the Steelcase Leap, I can assure you wouldn’t be disappointed with the overall construction and how stable the model is.
For an office chair priced below $1000, this sure manages to steal the thunder with its durable and sturdy construction. It has a smooth and sleek finish that assures that the chair has been designed and built with utmost care.
The chair’s overall structure is made with hardened plastic, which can be a little downer for some users. However, keep in mind that this makes the V2 chair such a lightweight and portable option. The flexible design around the chair’s backrest enables you to stretch your upper and lower back optimally whenever you feel like there’s a lot of strain around the back region.
The front of the seat pan also features a comfortable design that molds and moves according to the user’s movement. This is all thanks to the LiveBack technology that reshapes itself according to your body’s contours, ensuring optimal comfort for you throughout the work hours.
Also, the task chair is fully assembled and shipped, which means that you wouldn’t have to worry about getting it all together. So, if you aren’t a pro when it comes to using tools for assembling office chairs, this is your safest bet.
The chair’s exterior design is very minimal and subdued, ensuring that it will easily blend in with the surroundings of the room you keep the chair in. Both the seat and the backrest are filled with foam for added stability and comfort, just what you need to relax your back after a tedious day at work.
Accessibility
Steelcase is extremely inclusive when it comes to their office chairs and other types of office furniture that they manufacture. To say that the Steelcase Leap isn’t one of them would be a lie since it is. Right from the ease of coming assembled to having a weight capacity of 400lbs, this chair accommodates office workers of every shape and size.
The brand has even conducted eleven studies and research with randomized participants to test out the chair’s design and comfort. They also involved multiple ergonomic scientists from four different universities to check the design before it was made accessible to the public, which is a lot of pain for a brand to go through. Still, Steelcase prioritized the comfort of their users before anything, which is commendable.
From the adjustable height settings to the 4D design of the armrests, the Steelcase leap V2 has been designed for enhanced accessibility of every user in the market. Not just for overweight or obese individuals, it also accommodates both short and tall users without any issues at all.
Seat Comfort
The seat comfort in an office chair is crucial. This decides whether the chair is comfortable enough to sit on for extended hours throughout the day. In that prospect, the Leap office chair manages to steal the show as well.
It has a thinner seat pad with extra stuffed foam that made the chair ideal for long hours of sitting without putting an excess strain on the individual’s lower back. Also, the front third of the seat is flexible, which means that it moves with the user, enabling them to have more reign in how they sit and move around while on the chair.
The heightened flexibility in the design further helps with strain on the lower back and the legs that many individuals often complain about.
Lumbar Support
Another factor about the Steelcase leap chair that makes it a superior purchase is the adjustable lumbar support. It was specifically designed and executed, keeping the user’s comfort and end goal in mind, which is highly applaudable.
The chair’s backrest is divided into two separate sections – the LiveBack, which includes the upper portion of the backrest that moves along with the movement of the users, and the static lumbar support on the lower back portion.
The chair further comes with a range of adjustable settings for back support. The lumbar support region in the chair comes in two adjustable settings wherein you can adjust the tension by leaning forward or pushing it back according to your body’s needs. It is in these little features of this chair that make a stark difference.
Back Support
While the concept of lumbar support does cover most of the discussion of back support, I thought of elaborating a bit more. The integration of the LiveBack technology was a game-changer for this office chair. It was what made all the difference in enabling the most comfort for the upper back region of the user’s body.
Adjustable Armrests
Despite the mid-range price, the Steelcase leap features a stunning polished aluminum frame with 4D adjustable armrests, which is mind-blowing. When discussing armrest comfort, the few considerations that I kept in mind were the adjustability settings, the comfort of the padding on the elbows, and how well it contributes to the rest of this ergonomic design office chair.
Thankfully, the adjustable arms are just what you’d expect. It has the desired amount of padding inside the armrests with a touch of softness to it that keeps your arms firmly placed on top without imposing a lot of discomforts.
Also, the armrests are highly mobile, which means that they have a range of motions with adjustable height, width, and overall pivot. Comparing it to other office chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron, I can say that the Steelcase leap does steal the show when it comes to better adjustable arms.
Upholstery
Another factor about this office chair worth considering is the upholstery. It comes with a range of options. There are the standard fabrics for the starting price, and there is premium quality upholstery that is a little more expensive in comparison. Choosing the higher-end upholsteries will cost you extra, though, but the amount isn’t groundbreaking.
Cylinder and Casters
The Steelcase Leap V2 comes with seat height adjustment options, thanks to how durable the cylinder is. The chair’s height generally varies between 16″ to 30″, depending on the height of the users. The heights are adjustable based on the changes made to the standard height, which ranges between 16” to 20.5”, and the stool height adjustment is between 22” to 30”.
As for the wheels or caster options, Steelcase leap has two different ones to choose from. If you don’t want to go overboard with the upward expenses, I’d suggest getting the ones meant for standard carpet settings. Those work more than fine. However, if your office room comprises hard surfaces like tile or concrete, invest in the hard-floor casters to ensure better durability.
Sustainable Approach
Aside from all the standard features, including the seat depth adjustment and the fully adjustable design of this design, the one thing that makes it stand out is its oath towards sustainability. So, Steelcase is not just doing right by its users but also taking care of the planet.
All the products from this brand are sustainably made, and they have certifications to back up their claims, which I think is something every brand should take inspiration from.
The leap chairs are all made with powder-coated paint, water-soluble adhesives, along with VOC-free materials. Every chair from this brand is made with at least 35% recycled material and doesn’t contain non-biodegradable plastics that are harmful to the environment.
Steelcase Leap V2 vs. Herman Miller Aeron
If two chairs in the market go neck to neck in terms of competition, it is these two. So, it was a given that I did a comparative analysis of the two to give you a better understanding of which one is a better option for your needs.
Quality and Durability
If I had to compare the Herman Miller Aeron’s build quality with the Leap V2, I would say Aeron is a better option. It is mostly made with a combination of steel and plastic components in the frame, while the Leap V2 is mostly just made of plastic with a few aluminum elements.
However, that means that while Aeron has a sturdier frame, the Leap V2 is more lightweight and portable.
Adjustability and Ergonomics
When comparing the ergonomics of both the chairs, I would say Steelcase wins the round. It has more adjustable and flexible features than Aeron, especially concerning every part of the chair, be it the seat width and depth or even the chair’s height. The leap V2 also comes with adjustable armrests; a bonus is given how reasonable the price is.
The Leap V2 also beats Aeron concerning the tilt lock mechanism since it locks up to five positions while the Aeron has only three tilt lock positions.
Comfort
You can’t beat Steelcase Leap V2 in this regard, especially after integrating the LiveBack technology into their design. It enables the flexible movement of the upper back while supporting the lower back of the user. Even the front of the seat has flexible motion and moves along with the movement of the users.
The overall foam padding and the ergonomic design of this chair make it ideal for sitting for extended periods without straining your muscles and stature. It keeps the blood circulation in check and prevents the risks of stiffness around the lower limbs and shoulders too.
Price
The last point of comparison between both these ergonomic chairs is the price range. The Leap is a lot more affordable than Aeron, so if you are looking for the best office chair within an affordable price point, the Steelcase variant steals the show. However, the Herman Miller Aeron price is justified since the whole chair is upholstered with high-quality mesh material for a comfortable seating experience throughout the day.
- Back support: Allows the back to contour and adapt to mimic and support the natural movement of your spine
- Manual adjustments: A manually adjustable chair gives you total control over the adjustments to dial-in the level of resistance you feel in...
- Lumbar support: Includes standard height-adjustable lumbar and a lower back firmness dial that lets you adjust the amount of firmness you...
Conclusion
This is not my first review for a Steelcase chair, and I have mentioned how much I swear by their products. They are comfortable, ergonomically designed, sustainably sourced, and come fully assembled. What more could a user need?
So, when it came to reviewing the much-coveted Steelcase Leap V2, I knew I wouldn’t regret doing it for my readers. The question of the hour is, “Should you buy it?” To answer that, I would highly recommend you consider purchasing the Leap V2 if you are looking for the best ergonomic chair for your workspace.
