My New Leap (Chair)
For the past 10 years, I’ve been a telecommuter working for East/West coast technology companies. I have been very fortunate in this regard and am thankful for this work/life arrangement. About 5 years ago, I was in the market for a new office chair. At that time, Herman Miller Aeron chairs were still well over $500. I remember reading about the Steelcase Leap chair that had just been introduced into the market. It was much more of a traditional looking chair, but from an ergonomic point of view, it received accolades from many reviewers. Unfortunately, the Leap was in the $800 – $1200 range. So, I ended up settling for a $200 Aeron knock-off. This was a bad move. Over the past 5 years, I’ve probably spent anywhere between 8000 – 10,000 hours in that chair. I can say with some degree of confidence that my posture along with my productivity has paid the price.
Over the past few weeks, the chair started falling apart. I noticed a screw on the ground. It creaked incessantly everytime I would swivel or lean back. The armrest padding came undone. It was time for a new chair.
After a bit of research, I pulled the trigger on a Steelcase Leap. It has only been 2 days, but the difference is night and day. The chair enforces good posture; no more slouching for me. With all of the adjustments on this chair, it can truly be customized to my sitting style. It is a great chair and a worthy investment that should easily last me for the next 5 years.
The Steelcase Leap