For the past year, I have been testing the Leap alongside other high-end chairs. However, none of the other chairs have been good enough to make me want to get out of the Steelcase Leap. Perhaps, the strongest contender is the Fern, but there are still some features on this chair that make me hesitate to give up the Leap.
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Leap Vs Fern Review Links
1. Seat Comparison
The seats on these chairs are significantly different. While the Leap has a thinner pad, it isn’t necessarily firmer than the Fern. I will admit that it took me about three weeks to get used to the seat on the Leap since I was switching from a much thicker chair pad. Those first few weeks were rough, but I haven’t turned away from the Leap since. With the Fern seat, the padding is visibly thicker, but it is also firmer than the Leap. The padding will soften over time, but you can expect it to feel quite firm for the first few months.
The seats also have different contours. The Fern seat is quite flat while the Leap curves up on each side so that it feels more like the seat is hugging you. The added contour isn’t something that I necessarily love, but I also don’t think of it as a strike against the Leap.
The biggest difference between the seats is the flexibility. The Leap seat manages to feel both solid and flexible at the same time. I typically move around a lot while I work. The seat moves with me whether I am stretching my legs or adjusting for comfort. This unique feature is one of the main reasons why I prefer the Leap.
One bonus feature worth noting on the Fern seat is the angle adjustment. You can pull a lever and pitch the seat forward. Based on how I sit in my chair, this feature tends to be useless. That angle can be important to some, but I can understand how it could be a deciding factor in choosing the Fern.
2. Armrests
The armrest packages on both chairs are top-of-the-line. The Gesture is perhaps the only chair that comes with more arm adjustability. You can adjust the height, width, and depth and pivot the arms. There is an added articulating motion, which sets these chairs apart from other four-way adjustable chairs on the market. The adjustability range on both is great, although I do have to give the Leap credit because the arms feel more solid and don’t wiggle as much.
I also like the arm pads on the Leap better. They are softer, flatter and they don’t have the rolling edge that comes with the Fern.
3. Seat Back
The backs on the Leap and the Fern are designed quite differently, but they both achieve the same goal of providing a supportive and flexible backrest. The Leap pairs a thin, plastic back with their Live Back technology for a truly flexible chair. Users will enjoy lots of freedom of movement. The back is covered in a thin pad which helps to keep the chair cool while still providing plenty of comfort.
The Fern relies on a four-layer design to provide flexibility and breathability. It is actually designed like a fern, hence the name, with layers of “leaves” that move with you as you adjust in the chair. The layered system creates a suspended feeling, and the narrow design of the back allows for even more movement.
While I also appreciate the natural curvature of both seat backs, I don’t like the lumbar support on either. In my opinion, they are both too aggressive and this is especially a big issue with the Fern. On the Fern, you don’t get any lumbar depth adjustment, which means that you can’t dial back the support at all. In addition, you can’t remove lumbar support. On the Leap, I was able to pull out the lumbar support, which made a huge difference in comfort for me.
4. Headrest
I wouldn’t give either chair high marks when it comes to the headrest. The Leap headrest is positioned too far forward so that you end up using it even when you don’t want to. This wouldn’t be such a bad thing if it wasn’t so uncomfortable. The headrest doesn’t have a lot of padding, so there isn’t much in the way of comfort.
With the Fern, the headrest is in a better position and perfect for when you are leaning back in the chair. The problem is that the headrest is way too hard. In fact, it feels overly padded to the point that it loses all softness. In addition, the headrests on both chairs detract from the overall flexibility of the chairs. Ultimately, I don’t think having a headrest is worth sacrificing any flexibility.
5. Recline
Both chairs come with great recline features, but they function very differently, which directly affects how they feel. The Leap comes with a synchro-tilt feature and a seat that slides forward as you push on the back. This is great for ergonomics. The Leap is also great in a static position because it is designed to provide a little friction. You can easily recline back and stay in that position without having to put in a lot of effort. Personally, I think this design is great for the office because you are sitting for longer periods of time. It is a big reason why I continue to stick with the Leap for daily use.
The Fern also has a synchro-tilt mechanism, but it provides more of a traditional feel. The reclining motion is smoother than the Leap. I also prefer the Fern when it comes to leaning all the way back and relaxing because the recline feels deeper and more natural. It feels a lot like the CXO chair, which is what I use at home when I am doing a lot more relaxing than tasking.
Both chairs also come with a five-position tilt limiter and excellent tension controls. This has allowed me to position both chairs right where I want them. Ultimately, the feel and function of the seat recline are much different and you will have to decide for yourself which one you prefer.
For me, the Leap is a major leader in the high-end chair category. While the Fern comes close in many areas, I won’t be giving up my Leap any time soon.
John Plunkett
I recently ordered a Fern. I was able to use it for a month along with a Leap. I greatly preferred the Fern. I think the Leap is a great chair though I like the Amia more for SC chairs.
Like you I am coming from a CXO Nightingale.
The Nightingale has too deep a seat and there is no adjustment spot to give my legs space.
The seats on both the Fern and Leap are short enough for me to sit fully back and not pinch my legs.
However, one critical feature to me is the ability to cross my legs and with the Leap that is just not possible. The Fern pretty much wins right there.
However the Fern for me wins in most other areas as well.
First is that in an upright position the Fern us WAY more comfortable. However the Leap is slightly better at comfort when you allow 1 or 2 notches of recline. The recline on the Leap is amazing for this.
I also prefer the back on the Fern. I really like the mesh on the Fern. I know BTOD prefer the knit, but the mesh is super cool temp wise and i just prefer the back in every way on the Fern. I like the super open Mesh on the Amia. even though I have stubby legs I sit like a typical 6 foot 2 person.
it is interesting to me how important the Arms and flexibility of the chair is to you. I find the 4D arms in both to basically be a pain in the ass as they move around on both and the adjustability is useless. I don’t get it. still got 4D Arms for a little extra width. I prefer the give in the Fern to the the Leap.
also, Fern was MUCH less expensive when upgrading to Brisa for the seat. no interest in reconditioned chairs.
just thought I’d share an alternate view.