Herman Miller Embody vs Steelcase Leap – Best Office Chair?
The best office chair is something many of us are looking for and I can say I finally found it. Today I’m going to tell you about the Herman Miller Embody vs Steelcase Leap chairs. This comparison is something I was hoping I’d find already, before buying any of them, but I had no effective luck.
Most of the reviews are too technical or lack the personal experience with the chairs. So, it’s my pleasure to present my honest opinion here.
The following article represents no advertising, and it is based solely on my experience.
As a full time blogger, comfort while working is of extremely high importance. In my case, I sit in front of my laptop for 9+ hours a day. Therefore, I was searching for the perfect chair, as I’ve been struggling with annoying back pain and spine issues for quite some time now.
Today I’m going to review two of the most amazing office chairs. I will insist on the differences and what worked for me and what didn’t.
I have used a Steelcase Think chair (leather) for a many years. However, because of my aggravated back pain, I have to declare this one uncomfortable and far from the best office chair. Obviously, it’s my personal opinion based on my custom made spine problems.
Finally, I have both Embody and Leap, some of the top chairs of all time. So, why not write a complete review on these two? Here’s what I found to be the pro’s, the con’s, the differences and the similarities, but also my recommendations.
Herman Miller Embody photos
Before anything else, be reminded that it’s very important to adjust your chair. Believe me, for the price of a Herman Miller Embody or a Steelcase Leap, you do want to make all the wonderful adjustments and enjoy the comfort.
Here’s a useful video on how to adjust the Herman Miller Embody chair.
Steelcase Leap photos
Here’s a good video to help with the adjustments for Leap chair.
I won’t insist on the features of these products as they were already written and discussed in many reviews already. My article comes to highlight the differences and how they might affect you.
1. The seat.
HM Embody has a generously wide seat, but no padding. The adjustment of the depth is basic, you can only unroll or roll back in the mesh fabric. To some, this might be comfortable. To me, it was not enough.
SC Leap has a soft and quite thick cushion that increases the comfort and you can change the seat depth by sliding it in or out. I found this a lot better than the Embody.
If you have lower back pain, sciatic nerve problems and tailbone pressure, then you need a really comfy seat. It is exactly what I found to work the best in my case.
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2. The armrests.
Both chairs have amazing armrests flexibility.
But if you first play with a HM Embody, you are tempted to say it cannot get any better than that. Well, it can! SC Leap has even more armrests functions and some of us might appreciate that.
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3. The headrest.
While Herman Miller doesn’t bother with the headrest in general, Steelcase takes it into consideration, but usually on the leather models. It is the same with the Leap chair.
For many years I’ve been seeing the headrest mandatory for the upmost comfort, but my Leap just proved me wrong. The correct position at the desk doesn’t require the headrest, that’s only if you want to take a break and relax. But, I would recommend to actually stand up and take a few steps as a break, instead of sitting for even longer.
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4. Durability
My chairs are not brand new. For financial reasons and without a real chance to properly test each chair before spending a lot, I opted for used ones. With my spine problems and all the disappointment in the past, I didn’t want to end up with a great collection of expensive chairs and no luck.
So, with two used chairs in front of me, there’s no negative aspect to be mentioned, apart from superficial scratches. Also, both chairs tend to make some minor screeching sounds at times, but nothing out of the ordinary or to be worried about.
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My conclusions and the verdict on the best office chair in 2019
Some reviews say that the quality of a Herman Miller is second to none. I tend to differ here, as I honestly never had any issue with the quality of a Steelcase. Moreover, the HM Embody that I have now has some worn out issues that say the quality isn’t that fantastic after all.
Both chairs are great, but if you want more comfort for your seat as you spend many hours sitting, go with the Leap. If you want a chair that really stands out of the crowd with its design, then go with the Embody.
Is Steelcase Leap the best office chair of the moment? To me, it is and my two kittens agree.
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