Customer Reviews
Great chair for long hours at the desk
I never thought I'd get excited about a desk chair, but this Steelcase Gesture has really changed that for me. After years of sitting at my desk, I finally feel comfortable. I used to have a Steelcase Amia chair, which I thought was good, but the Gesture is on another level. The lumbar support is just right for my back without needing any adjustments. I can lean back a bit and the chair holds me up perfectly, which is great for my posture. Adjusting the seat depth while sitting is a nice feature, and the armrests adjust way better than on my old chair. They've helped with my shoulder and neck pain. I've seen some complaints about the armrests being slippery, but I haven't had that issue at all. The cushioning feels supportive without being too soft, which is what I wanted. The build quality is solid, and I can tell it's going to last me a long time. I picked the Graphite color, which matched my Amia chairs perfectly—didn't expect that, but it was a nice surprise. I’m hoping I can keep working from home so I can stick with this chair. If I do have to go back to the office full-time, I'll probably bring it with me because it's way better than what I have there.
Verified Purchase
The perfect chair for long hours!
I fell in love with the Gesture chair as soon as I sat down. I spend a lot of time in my chair, and comfort is key for my back and health. If you find yourself uncomfortable during the day, just go for it, don't let the price scare you. You have the option to return it if it doesn’t work for you. I'm 6'2" and around 180 lbs. The back supports the middle of my neck, and the seat is adjustable—no pressure points at all. I have long arms, and the chair arms work great for me. It has good tilt options and a nice height range; my partner, who is 5'8", is comfortable too. I love the unique orange color and have gotten lots of compliments. I use multiple computers, and the chair adjusts well for that. The warranty is solid at 12 years. I did notice some issues with the right side of the seat wobbling, and the arm adjustment wasn't even. I contacted support, and after a not-so-great experience, I decided to return it and try the Steelcase Amia instead. It should be here soon. Hopefully, it meets my needs for comfort. Just be careful with colors, as some can be pricier. Overall, I really did enjoy sitting in the Gesture, but I need one that's for me.
Verified Purchase
Solid chair and great service!
I was a bit worried about ordering this chair at such a low price compared to Steelcase, thinking it might not be genuine or maybe a return. But it’s definitely the real deal, brand new, and built sturdy! It showed up 4 days earlier than expected and was packed well—there's no way it would get damaged unless someone tried to break it. The chair looks great and is pretty comfy. At first, I didn’t think it had that ‘magic’ comfort that comes with a pricier chair, but after adjusting it a bit more, I ended up loving it. I’m 5’11” and 210 pounds, and while I’ve read good things about the seat adjustments, I had to push mine all the way forward. Still, there's a little gap between my knee and the seat edge. The armrests are, but I wish they could go a bit further forward. The whole thing feels solid with good materials, and I expect the fabric to hold up well over time. The wheels glide smoothly on my carpet. Is it worth over $1100? Yeah, I think so. This chair should last me a long time, much longer than cheaper options. If I were to do it again, I might look at a Haworth Soji to save some cash but still get a decent warranty.
Verified Purchase
Great chair for working long hours
Honestly, it's tough to get pumped up about a desk chair, but this one is a game changer. After years of staring at spreadsheets, I realized comfort is key if you have to be stuck at your desk. The Steelcase Gesture chair has improved my comfort level so much; I wish I had snagged it sooner! I had two Steelcase Amia chairs that I got for a steal at a surplus sale, and they worked fine until I started working from home full-time. When my wife brought her chair back, I realized I needed an upgrade, especially since the Amia wasn’t doing enough for my lower back. I decided to try the Gesture since I had good luck with Steelcase before. It's way more comfortable! I was worried at first about the lack of adjustable lumbar support, but it actually fits my back perfectly and moves with me. I can lean back a bit without feeling like I’ll fall, and even deeper reclines feel secure. The seat depth adjustment is smooth and can be adjusted while sitting, which is super handy. The armrests are great too; they help keep my shoulders and neck pain-free. I haven’t had any issues with them sliding off, like I've heard others mention. Some say the cushion isn't enough, but I think it’s just right—firm but supportive. The chair feels solid, and I expect it to last a long time. The Graphite color I chose matches perfectly with my Amia chairs, which was a nice surprise. Now I'm just hoping I can keep working from home, but if I have to return to the office, I might have to take this chair with me!
Verified Purchase
The chair you never knew you needed!
As soon as I sat in the Gesture chair, I was hooked. If you spend a lot of time sitting like I do, it's definitely worth it for your comfort and health. Don’t let the price scare you off—if you’re in pain from your current chair, just go for it! You can return it if you don’t like it. I’m about 6'2" and 180 lbs, and the back support hits right at my neck while the adjustable seat is comfortable. No pressure points at all. The armrests worked great for my long arms too, which is a plus. I can switch positions while working at my desk with no issue, and I love the different tilt settings. Plus, it suits a range of heights; my partner, who's 5'8", found it comfy as well. The orange color is ; I've gotten a ton of compliments! However, after a few days, I noticed the seat on one side started to wiggle and make noise. It didn’t feel right when I adjusted it either. Reaching out to Steelcase wasn’t the best experience—they suggested a quick return instead of a lengthy warranty process. I ended up returning the chair due to these issues and paid to have it sent back. I’m trying the Amia next, hoping it’ll be just as comfy and save a bit! If not, I’ll go back for another Gesture, probably with a neckrest next time. Just be mindful about the color options—some have different prices, and I liked the orange. Anyway, keep in mind you have 30 days to return it if it’s not working for you. I just wish Steelcase would find a better way to ship these chairs without them being fully assembled. That would probably save a lot of headaches!
Verified Purchase
I've been using the Gesture at home and the Aeron on my office days, and honestly, I prefer the Gesture. **Pros:** The adjustability is unmatched for an office chair. The arm rests are super sturdy no matter how you set them. It can tilt back far compared to other chairs, which is great. The flexibility of the seat and back lets me move around easily without feeling stuck. Being able to find a comfortable position after a long day is huge. Colby has also been helpful with customer support. They actually honor their 12-year warranty and are quick to address any issues—I've seen it firsthand. After 8 months of heavy use, the chair feels just like new with no signs of wear, and the fabric looks pristine. **Cons:** The cushioning is a bit on the thinner side, but it’s still comfy since it distributes weight evenly. I did have to add some lithium grease where the seat meets the back, or else it squeaks after a few months. There aren't any aftermarket headrest options because the design doesn’t support it. The cloth seats can get a bit warm, though it doesn’t bother me much. And it’s quite heavy, so moving it up stairs isn’t easy. Both chairs are solid, but the Gesture wins out for its flexibility and comfort. The Aeron is more rigid and encourages good posture, but it doesn’t allow for much variation in how you sit. The arms adjust well, but again, the Gesture offers way more options. If you're just at a desk all day, the Aeron is fine, but I love the Gesture for its adaptability and looks. Their customer service is top-notch—when I had an issue, I got a full replacement delivered fast, with no cost to me. Only wish I'd bought the version with a headrest, which I've heard is good too.
Verified Purchase
Stop and behold - the chair of all chairs! Step right up and claim your comfort!
The moment my butt touched the Gesture I was in love. If you sit in a chair for as long as I do, it's an investment in yourself and health. Don't put a price tag on that. If your back is hurting or you're uncomfortable for 70% of the day don't hesitate because of sticker shock, just buy it. If you hate it, send it back. If the thing comes broken, send it back. If the arms are wack, send it back. Just to cover some common questions I had during my search for a new chair before jumping into the whole review.- I am roughly 6'2 & 180 lbs.- The back went up to the middle of my neck.- Seat is very adjustable and my legs were comfy. No weird pressure points whatsoever in the seat.- Chair arms ensure there are virtually no issues for arm height or width. I have lanky arms so this was super nice.- I sit all kinds of weird throughout the day and it adjusted to allllllllll of the positions.- It has several tilt settings and boy are they perfect. Freakin' unmatched in my opinion.- Has a great range of height. I haven't been short in a while but my partner is roughly 5'8 and had no issues getting comfortable/sitting properly.- The orange color is top-notch. Very unique and I had plenty of compliments within days of owning it.- I'm using 3 computers throughout my day, sometimes 4, and there's no issues moving between them as needed. The arms really do help in more ways than you think.- I have an L-shaped desk.- You can't beat a 12-year warranty.- Something noteworthy: thousands of people & how they sit were studied to design this chair, it's comfort is unmatched.- I purchased this model: asin: B016OIEXE0. The pros:Hands down one of the absolute best chairs my as.. S. Has ever sat on. I was extremely skeptical about spending $1k on a chair. But. I spend nearly 12 hours a day on my bum and I started having significant pain in my lower back, shoulders, and leg numbness. I get up plenty during those hours to stretch and walk around - at least 1 to 2 times an hour but that simply isn't enough with the amount of time I spend at my desk. Since a good bit of my desk-time is also spent on Hawkins Woodshop I was able to use their "5-monthly payments" (no credit check/approval needed, no fees, etc.) to split up the payments. That pretty much made it to where I could not pass this chair up. Within one day of using the chairI was -!-sleeping-!- better! I found myself sitting properly, comfortably and not forced. From my experience, depending on your preferred lumbar support, you may need to opt for the model that has the adjustable lumbar support (asin: B08KL9JMVB). For me, that's not an issue and the model without the lumbar adjustability has plenty of support as-is since you can move the seat forward and back. Now.. After all of my praise lets get to the expectations of what comes with a $1k chair.1. I noticed the right side of the seat "wiggled" and kind of made a clanking noise within the first few days. Not a squeaking like some comments have mentioned coming from the backrest when leaning back. It became more and more noticeable as I used it. Eventually, when I went to move the seat forward with the adjustment knob the right side of the chair didn't move the same as the left. There was a slight delay and then a 'catch' - I equated it to an issue with either the track or what's holding the seat to the track was loose or jarred out of place. Eventually I reached out to Steelcase for help - not the best support experience - they suggested to throw some wd-40 on it but after clarifying the issue there were at least honest with me. They told me it would most likely be a better option to return the chair to Hawkins Woodshop because a warranty claim would take at minimum 3 weeks vs a quick return to Hawkins Woodshop for a replacement.2. I thought I was just a bit off with my arm adjustments or it was potentially the leveling of my desk being off but the right arm also was slightly lower than the left. I had a couple of people try it out and even took some measurements - sure enough, it was lower, even when adjusted to the highest and lowest setting. It wasn't drastic but just enough to grab my attention after a few weeks of use.3. It comes fully assembled. Steelcase... Why? Just why... I understand it is a unique build and sure, the arms might throw a few people off if it was assembled at home, but there's no need for it to come fully assembled. It's heavy asf. From my impression - that contributes to about 90% of the problems reported about this chair. I really believe that my issues may have even been caused by shipping mishandling - and not necessarily at the fault of the delivery drivers but because it's 75 pounds and fully assembled. The packaging wasn't all that great either, not what I expected for a fully assembled product at least. So now where am I now with my Steelcase Gesture? I returned it three days ago. Rolled it into a ups store and paid them $50 so they would deal with the packaging and getting it back to Hawkins Woodshop because that massive box had long since left my apartment. I had full intentions of going home and ordering another Gesture (with a headrest this time). However, I'm giving the Steelcase Amia a try - it'll be delivered in two days. It was a toss up between the Gesture and the Amia to begin with so I felt it was only right to try it as well. It also had similar reviews. It's also roughly about $500 cheaper and if it keeps my tushy comfy, my back from dying, and legs feeling like legs, I may just stick with it. But if the Amia does not live up to the Gesture experience - it'll be carried down three flights of stairs and rolled into ups as well. Then I'll have a nice Hawkins Woodshop delivery driver carry a new Gesture chair up a few days after. The next Gesture will be the model with a neck rest though, I enjoyed sitting in it so much that I was watching movies and would 'kick back' so a neck rest would be nice - like mentioned, the back of the chair only came up to my middle/lower neck so I expect the neck rest to be exactly where I'd like it to be. With all of that out of the way, pay attention to this statement... That process with ups and new Gestures will repeat until I get a chair that has no issues - or until @Hawkins Woodshop tells me to cut it out. The chair has a 12 year warranty so I'm less concerned about the long-haul (or a three week process for warranty claim, when have warranty claims ever been fast??), but the first 30 days are crucial for any new purchase. The only reason an Amia is on the way vs a new Gesture is essentially simple curiosity and giving my dollar a run for its money (ha). Low-key, I'm kinda hoping the experience doesn't match up to the Gesture ;)I also have seen more issues in reviews of particular colors (lines in the arm rests - both versions of gray) - so choose wisely, it may also save you a good bit of $ to pick another. Some colors were over a $150 difference which is part of why I went with the orange + it looks pretty awesome, especially in person! Additionally, @Hawkins Woodshop has a 30-day return window for a reason, please use it vs throwing a tantrum in the comments. I understand $1k is a lot to throw around and certain expectations come with that price tag but there's a whole lot that happens between the factory and your doorstep, especially when the product is fully assembled. Again @Steelcase, figure out a way to ship this thing not fully assembled, might help tick some of these ratings up a bit, for real. Like.... Start opening the boxes now and figure it out. Funny enough, I actually would not order one of these directly from Steelcase because I'm sure their returns process would most likely be a pain. @Hawkins Woodshop is doing you a solid - now do your customers one @Steelcase.
Verified Purchase
Amazing. Very good.
Is very good chair. Comfortable reclining, easy to understand instructions. It is sturdy and has adjustable height. Size is great for a bedroom setting. Definitely worth the price. I have spent hours on the chair and do not have any issues as for comfortability. Very supportive for back and multiple sitting positions.
Verified Purchase
Genuine, new & built like a tank!
Given the low price (compared to buying it directly from Steelcase), I was concerned that the chair might not be genuine, or might be a returned item/factory second. But, it is clearly genuine, brand new and built like a tank! It arrived ahead of schedule by 4 days and was very packed well (I don't see how the item could be damaged in shipping unless the shipper damaged it on purpose, and even then it would be difficult... Really almost over protective packaging). It is a very attractive chair (beyond nice looking... Really a beautiful chair) and pretty comfortable... Though it wasn't the "magic" comfort like someone might imagine with a chair this expensive.** Note: my original impression was based on how it felt with my initial adjustments. Once I learned how to better fine tune it for me (and my body settled into it), I found the chair very comfortable. **I am 5' 11", 210 pounds and 31" inseam. I've seen a lot of praise for the seat forward/rearward adjustment, but I found I have to adjust mine as far forward as possible... And still there is about 2-1/2" between the inside of my knee and the forward edge of the seat. I don't believe I have abnormally long thighs so it might be a problem with someone with really long legs (to be clear, not saying it's a problem for me, but I do have the adjustment maxed). The armrest adjustments are pretty amazing, however I wish they moved another inch or more forward. The entire chair is very well built with all quality materials, including the cloth covering which I expect to hold up well even after a lot of use. Rollers work really smoothly on my carpeted floor. Bottom line... Is this chair worth $1100+? I think it is. This chair should last me 12-25 years so if you spread the cost across that time span, it's actually less expensive than the cheap $250 chairs that are shot after about 3 years.* Bottom line though: if I had it to do again, I think I would purchase a Haworth Soji to save several hundred dollars (while still getting a 12 year warranty chair).
Verified Purchase