Disclosure: DeskGearReviews is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
The Steelcase Gesture is the only office chair designed specifically for the way modern laptop users actually sit — cross-legged, on your side, leaning forward over a 13″ screen, thumb-typing on a phone. Steelcase’s research found 9 common postures, and the Gesture’s arms move in ways no other chair allows to support all of them.
The arms are the feature
Most office chairs let you adjust arm height. The Gesture lets you adjust arm height, width, depth, AND pivot — each arm swings 360° around your elbow. When you reach for a phone or lean sideways to show a coworker your screen, the arms follow instead of getting in the way. It sounds gimmicky until you’ve used it.
The tradeoff
At $1,299 the Gesture is priced against the Aeron without matching the Aeron’s lumbar support. If you mostly sit upright at a 27″ monitor, the Aeron wins. If you’re on a laptop 8 hours a day in varied postures, the Gesture wins.
Bottom line: Arm rests adjust in ways others don’t. Best for laptop-first workflows.