So Marvylous

Staying comfortable in the office: Leap Chair by Steelcase

Retired is my 8-year-old, Staples-bought, leather executive chair. It sits ragged, torn, and lonely in the storage room waiting for the next garbage pickup. In its place, a more ergonomically correct Steelcase Leap Chair awaits in glory for my butt to return.

It was expensive. I won’t say how much I spent, but MSRP is $1,325.00. That’s not a typo. You’re probably thinking I’m crazy for shelling out that amount of cash, but let me explain why I splurged. I spend a minimum of 8 hours a day sitting — some days I won’t even see the sun rise and set while buried under work. That amount of hours took its toll on my back in the less favorable Staples chair. So if I’m going to sit for this length of time, why wouldn’t I take the proper precautions to ensure my well-being?

Like other chairs in this price range it has a number of standard features:

• The arm rests adjust up/down with the top portion able to slide left/right and forward/back.
• Seat height adjusts up/down.
• Stop for back lean. (I don’t know what else to call it, it’s what stops the back of the chair from moving when you lean back.)
• Lean back tension can be adjusted.
• Seat bottom position can be moved forward/back.

For me, what really set it apart from other chairs was the back support. The chair’s back has a ribbed system that conforms to your spine’s natural curves. The rib tension is adjustable and the lumbar support can be moved up/down. When you lean back, the bottom slides out a few inches to provide a more natural recline – Think La-Z-Boy recliner, but without feeling so far away from your desk when you recline.

Another plus is the front end of the bottom flexes with your leg position whether they’re stretched out or bent at 90 degrees. This is a lot better than the de facto standard — the Herman Miller Aeron chair — where the hard plastic frame would dig into the back of my legs after sitting for an extended period.

Putting all these features together = HEAVEN! Seriously.