Steelcase Gesture Review: Is it Worth The Price?

You put in some long hours, so you need a reliable office chair that can support you as you work on your never-ending list of tasks. You’re also looking for a chair that’s comfortable and has ergonomics to ward off pain.

The Steelcase Gesture is one such chair that you’ve come across, but you’re not sure if it’s the right chair for you. You’ve heard it’s rather expensive, which is giving you pause. 

In this in-depth review, you’ll learn everything about the Steelcase Gesture, including its features, specs, price, and warranty. If you’re still not totally sold on the Gesture, I’ll recommend a few alternative chairs that might be more your speed.

About Steelcase Office Chairs

First, what is the Steelcase brand? Steelcase was established in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1912. The company has always retailed office furniture designed for such industries as healthcare and education. 

No other office furniture manufacturer can touch the output that Steelcase commits to, as it’s the biggest of its size. Yes, even bigger than Herman Miller. To accommodate for such massive growth, there are more than 80 Steelcase production facilities around the world. 

The man behind Steelcase is Peter M. Wege. When he started his company, he called it the Metal Office Furniture Company. Since Wege had so much experience in fireproofing and sheet metal construction, the company took off.

By the 1950s, the name changed to Steelcase. Gradually, the move was made to shift from metal furniture to office chairs and other products.

Today, Steelcase is known for its office furniture solutions of all kinds, including storage carts, shelves, bookcases, cabinets, benches, desks, lounge chairs, and office chairs. The manufacturer’s collection of office chairs includes as the Think, Uno, Jersey, Siento, Leap, and Gesture. 

Steelcase Gesture Highlights

The Steelcase Gesture is a fabric office chair that was designed based on the results of a worldwide postural study. This office chair features 3D LiveBack technology, rotating arms, and a specially designed seat cushion built for hours of working. You can use such adjustments as recline lock (in four positions) and seat height adjustments. 

What We Liked

• LiveBack technology is akin to the PostureFit SL backrests found in some Herman Miller chairs, yet the Steelcase Gesture isn’t quite as expensive.
• The sleek body and straight lines of the Gesture give it a timeless appearance. 
• The range of adjustable features lets you customize the fit of the Gesture. 
• The chair comes assembled right out of the box.
• You can pick from a variety of upholstery colors.

What We Didn’t Like

• The Gesture is quite an expensive office chair.
• The Connect fabric is pure polyester, which is kind of cheap and not very breathable.  

Steelcase Gesture Review: Specifications & Features

 

Dimensions	Height: 39 ¼ inches to 44 ¼ inches Width: 22 3/8 inches to 34 5/8 inches Seat depth: 18 ¼ inches Overall depth: 21 inches to 23 5/8 inches
Product Weight	57 pounds
Material	Aluminum, plastic, polyester
Weight Capacity	400 pounds

Sustainability 

Today, paying attention to sustainability is more important than ever. The Steelcase Gesture is an incredibly green office chair. According to Steelcase, up to 85 percent of the Gesture is recyclable by its weight. The chair is also made of 25 percent recycled content by its weight.

All Gesture chairs are produced without releasing volatile organic chemicals or VOCs into the air. The water-based adhesives and powder-coated paints that coat Steelcase chairs are better for our planet too. 

The Gesture is certainly an office chair you can feel good about owning and using! 

Soft, Colorful Polyester

Although mesh is renowned for its breathability, it’s not a recommended office chair material for all users. In colder climates especially, you’re going to feel all that free airflow. You’ll be shivering all day, which is hardly conducive to getting work done.

Polyester and other plush upholstery don’t breathe as well, which reduces the amount of airflow. Your days of shivering in your office chair will be behind you.

The fabric that Steelcase uses for each Gesture chair is known as Connect, which is pure polyester. If drab, colorless office chairs leave you bored to tears, the Connect fabric is available in a rainbow of hues. Here are the options:

• Concord (purple)
• Licorice (pure black)
• Wasabi (yellow green)
• Turmeric (honey)
• Tangerine (bright orange)
• Scarlet (red)
• Coconut (ivory)
• Malt (light beige)
• Nickel (light gray)
• Graphite (light black)
• Blue Jay (teal)
• Royal Blue (dark blue)

Sturdy Base

The aluminum five-star base of the Gesture can support an astounding 400 pounds, which is one of the most generous weight limits available from office chair manufacturers. The five caster wheels roll smoothly and quietly, although it’s not clear from Steelcase’s website whether the casters are designed for only hardwood, only carpeting, or both. 

3D LiveBack + More Ergonomics

As I touched on earlier, the Gesture came into existence after the Steelcase team did their own global postural study. The study involved more than 2,000 participants who lived on six different continents. 

The results of the study identified up to nine postures that the Steelcase team had not been aware of. The team also revealed that these postures are not being supported by the current office chairs on the market (theirs notwithstanding). 

The 3D LiveBack feature changes that. This ergonomic technology is like a built-in spine in your office chair. As your own spine shifts and moves throughout your day, the LiveBack will accommodate your changing posture and positioning. All along, your spine’s S-shape will be supported for less pain.

The LiveBack might be the starring ergonomic feature in the Gesture, but it’s not the only one. The back of this chair features contouring that will also augment spinal support and posture. 

Plush Seating

The seat of the Steelcase Gesture features a proprietary cushion with high-density foam and built-in air pockets. The pockets, like the LiveBack, move as your body does. If you notice that pressure typically builds up in your body after sitting for a long time, the air pockets should reduce that pressure.

Further, the seat edges are made for flexibility. As they bend somewhat under your weight, the pressure points in your thighs will be put at ease, preventing discomfort. 

Huge Range of Adjustments

However you wish to adjust the Gesture, it can accommodate you. The 4D armrests can move an 360 expansive degrees while always staying parallel to your desk or any work surface your job requires. The arms can pivot 30 degrees to a range of 3 inches deep, 4.5 inches wide, and 4 inches tall. 

Recline your chair with the recline tension adjustment, then lock the angle of recline in four different positions. You can also raise or lower the height of this seat (between 15.5 inches and 20.5 inches) using quiet pneumatics. Adjust the seat depth (between 3 and 5 inches) with the Natural Glide mechanism to relieve pressure in your back. 

Steelcase Gesture Review: Our Insights

As you still consider the Steelcase Gesture, I wanted to provide some insights on the chair. This section will begin to make clearer both the pros and cons of the Gesture.  

Build Quality

The build quality of the Steelcase Gesture is practically sterling, but there are a few glaring holes I have to address.

Beginning with what’s great about this chair’s build quality, the base is made of durable yet lightweight aluminum. The five-star base should hold up for a long time even if you use this chair every single day.

As for my issues with the build quality, I have two of them. The first is the caster wheels, which Steelcase didn’t provide a lot of info on, as I mentioned. I also am not super fond of the polyester that Steelcase uses for the Gesture and its other chairs. 

Polyester isn’t very breathable, and it can be low-quality and cheap. For the price of the Gesture (more on this momentarily), you want high-quality fabric, not something that’s likely made with plastic. 

Ergonomics

One of the areas where the Steelcase Gesture most shines is undoubtedly its ergonomics. The 3D LiveBack technology rivals the PostureFit SL backrests featured in the more expensive Herman Miller Aeron.

Although the LiveBack doesn’t have a flexible spine built into the chair like some Herman Miller office chairs do, the micro-movements supported by the LiveBack technology will cradle and maintain the shape of your own spine. 

Adjustability

I also quite like the range of adjustments in the Gesture, as you can tweak how this chair fits and feels down to very minute levels. Here’s a recap. 

• Height adjustment: Some office chairs only let you adjust the height of the seat by a couple of inches, but not the Gesture. You can raise the height 5 inches higher than the default setting. 
• 4D adjustable armrests: The armrests of the Gesture can raise, lower, pivot, and move at various angles like a good pair of 4D armrests should. No matter how you adjust them, they remain parallel to your work surface. 
• Seat pan depth adjustment: With 2 inches of seat depth adjustments, you can get deep into the Gesture or sit upright. 
• Lumbar adjustment: Between the 3D LiveBack and the back contouring included with the Gesture, you shouldn’t be wanting for back support. 

Comfort (Seat, Back, and Arms)

The hardback of the Steelcase Gesture might not look like much at first, but it’s flexible to ease pain, not induce it. The comfortable seat with its air pockets and high-density foam also promotes your comfort and lessens pressure points. 

4D armrests are becoming the norm in office chairs, but you’re still more likely to see them in gaming chairs nowadays. Their inclusion in such a high-profile office chair as the Gesture is certainly appreciated! 

Value

The Steelcase Gesture retails for around $1,099, which is quite a hefty price tag for an office chair! 

Steelcase Gesture Review: Policies and Additional Info

Do you hate assembling office chairs? Will you not proceed with a purchase unless you get a multi-year warranty? Here is some extra info on the Steelcase Gesture that will help with your decision. 

Shipping

When buying the Gesture on Steelcase’s website, the office chair will ship within 10 business days from the date your order is processed. You can get free shipping if you order the chair through FedEx Ground. Otherwise, it’s $186.83 for standard delivery.

Assembly

You don’t have to worry about putting together the Steelcase Gesture. When you order the chair from Amazon, it arrives fully assembled. Steelcase themselves offers a professional installation service, but that’s an additional $219.80.

Warranty

Your purchase of the Steelcase Gesture is protected under the brand’s 12-year manufacturer warranty. According to Steelcase’s warranty page, the following parts of the Gesture are protected for 12 years:

• Steel frames
• Glides 
• Casters
• Foam
• Arm caps
• Pneumatic cylinders
• Lumbar mechanisms
• Other mechanisms

Return Policy

Have you changed your mind on the Steelcase Gesture? I couldn’t find a lot of information about Steelcase’s return policy on their website, but they’re supposed to offer hassle-free returns. You can get refunded for 100 percent of your purchase price as well. 

Is the Steelcase Gesture Worth the Money?

Now that you’re filled in on the multitude of features the Steelcase Gesture boasts, it’s time to make up your mind about this office chair. Is its high price justifiable? Could this really be the office chair you’ve been looking for?

I think it could be, with some caveats, of course. Let’s jump right into what’s not so great about this office chair, then I’ll talk about its benefits.

As I’ve mentioned, polyester upholstery is not a selling point. Yes, it’s bright and colorful, but most polyester is made with plastic, which means it can be scratchy and uncomfortable. 

Even if you like the feel of Steelcase’s Connect fabric, polyester doesn’t breathe. I mentioned earlier how if you live in a cooler climate, you don’t need a very breathable office chair. If your job causes you to work up a sweat or your home is in a warmer climate though, polyester just won’t work.

Sweat and airflow have nowhere to go, so they get trapped within the fibers of the chair, stinking it up and possibly staining it too.

I must concur that $1,000+ is a lot to ask for an office chair. The Gesture is still cheaper than most Herman Miller chairs, but even that’s not saying much. Paying four figures on an office chair might be well outside of your budget, which is reasonable.

I would say this chair is worth the money. The 3D LiveBack technology is second only to Herman Miller’s adjustable PostureFit SL backrests but you’re still not paying as much as you would to own a Herman Miller.

The back contouring is like a double layer of back support, but those aren’t the only support features built into the Gesture. The flexible seat with air pockets and soft foam reduces thigh pressure and keeps you sitting pretty for long periods.

The range of adjustments is thoughtfully added to support more posture ranges, whether you like sitting straight up, leaning back a little, or laying almost all the way back. Plus, who doesn’t love a sustainable chair like the Gesture? 

Steelcase Gesture Alternatives

Before you decide whether you want to buy the Steelcase Gesture, you should look at a few chairs like it. Here are three such selections.  

Steelcase Gesture vs. Steelcase Leap

First is the Steelcase Leap. Like the Gesture, the Leap features upholstered polyester, this time a type called Buzz 2. This fabric looks less comfortable than the Connect fabric, but polyester is still polyester.

The Leap is also equipped with 3D LiveBack technology, but that’s not all. A back firmness control and a height-adjusted lumbar control let you finesse your back support in a way that you can’t in the Gesture. 

Other features that the Leap and Gesture share include 4D arms, foam cushions with air pockets, Natural Glide adjustments, pneumatic height adjustments, recline tension, and height adjustments. You can lock the recline in five positions rather than four with the Leap. 

Also, the Leap’s casters are made for carpeting. This Steelcase office chair costs less than $1,050, so it’s priced about the same as the Gesture.  

Steelcase Gesture vs. Herman Miller Aeron

I recently published a full review of the Herman Miller Aeron that you should certainly read if you’re seriously considering that chair. 

The Aeron is arguably the most renowned office chair in history. It costs almost $1,400, but it has some incredible features. I’ve already talked a lot about the PostureFit SL backrest, which features dual adjustable backrests so you can set the pressure and firmness on one side of your back or even both.

Harmonic Tilt allows for natural reclining. The 8Z Pellicle mesh fabric is breathable and acts as its own ergonomic support. With the mesh pulled taut around the edges of the chair but not in the middle, your back feels cradled as you work or relax.

The Aeron does lack 4D armrests. Its arms are one of its weakest features, as they don’t move as flexibly as you want in today’s office chairs. 

Steelcase Gesture vs. Herman Miller Embody 

The last office chair I want to compare to the Steelcase Gesture is another Herman Miller pick, this time, the Embody. It’s a closer match to the Gesture, as it too is upholstered. No, the Gesture does not use polyester, so it has that going for it. 

This chair, which is made of recycled materials, gives you a free-floating feeling each time you sit due to a feature called Pixelated Support. This support also alleviates pressure. The built-in spine with ribs included in the Embody will move as your spine does, no matter how subtle the motions. 

This level of back support, especially when combined with the BackFit backrest, makes the Embody a true ergonomic powerhouse, even more so than the Gesture. Still, for $1,570, the Embody is a lot more expensive.

Conclusion

The Steelcase Gesture is a $1,000+ office chair complete with 3D LiveBack technology and a contoured back. The 4D armrests are another great feature of this chair. Whether you’ve decided to choose the Gesture, you’re going with another Steelcase chair, or you like one of the Herman Miller chairs from the last section, you can’t go wrong!