Which is better choice for 5'3 height.
I’m 5'3 with narrow shoulders, and I tried both the Steelcase Leap and Gesture today for about half an hour.
I really loved the Gesture’s armrests because they kept my shoulders in a natural, relaxed position. But I’m unsure about the backrest , it didn’t feel as comfortable as the Leap, and I can see myself developing pain during long sessions. The unit I tested had the adjustable lumbar, and after coming home I found out that this version can feel less comfortable for some people. Now I’m wondering if the discomfort was because of the lumbar, and whether a unit without lumbar would feel better.
I had no issues with seats on both the chairs aside , gesture seat depth needed to be adjusted manually when reclining to avoid tailbone pressure, which was automatic in leap.
For the Leap, I liked almost everything except the armrests. They still felt a bit too wide for me, and I had to flare my shoulders outward to use them. I didn’t have any issues with the seats on either chair. I’d buy the Leap instantly if the armrests were just a little closer, and I’d buy the Gesture instantly if the backrest felt more comfortable. I’m hoping I could eventually adjust to the Gesture’s backrest, but I don’t want to take that risk ,especially since the store doesn’t allow returns or refunds.
So I need to pick one. I feel like I should try the Gesture again without the lumbar, but the store is too far away and I’m already home.
If anyone around my height has found the Gesture more comfortable after removing the lumbar, I’d really appreciate your input.
Which one would be better choice for me?
Posted Dec 7, 2025, 5:07 AM UTC