Steelcase vs Herman Miller Gaming Chairs (2021): Comparing the Leap V2 and Embody Chairs

Steel Case and Herman Miller may be dominating the office chair market, but their exceptional ergonomic technologies have made them great gaming chair options as well. As gamers sit for extended periods, the Steelcase and Herman Miller make for great gaming chairs because of their design that provides impressive back support and helps improve oxygen flow. We compare and review some of their most popular chairs, the Steelcase Leap V2 and the Herman Miller Embody, to guide you in choosing your next gaming chair. 

Steelcase vs Herman Miller Gaming Chair Comparison Chart

Design and Build Quality

Both have top-notch quality, but the Steelcase Leap sports a more conventional aesthetic while the Herman Miller Embody chair has a more modern look 

Both the Steelcase Leap and Herman Miller Embody gaming/office chairs are robust and well-built, but the Herman Miller feels more premium. That is expected, however, as it is also typically more expensive than the Steelcase. These models are made of high-quality upholstery that won’t disappoint. The Herman Miller Embody features its patent Pixelated Support™ material that’s designed to adapt to your every movement. However, the Steelcase has a slight edge over the Herman Miller when it comes to its cushion. Its padded seat and backrest feel a tad bit softer than the Embody’s firmer design. Having said that, both are still comfortable gaming/office chairs.  

The Steelcase Leap and Herman Miller Embody gaming/office chairs are equipped with dual-wheel casters that roll over floors effortlessly. Something to keep in mind, however, is the Steelcase is installed with wheels for hard floors while the Herman Miller’s default wheel configuration is for soft, carpet floors. You can ask for hard floor casters, but at a small additional cost. It’s further worth noting that the Steelcase can handle heavier weight of up to 400 lbs than the Herman Miller gaming/office chair that has a max weight capacity of 300 lbs. 

These gaming/office chairs come in a wide array of colors to choose from, with the Steelcase offering up to 22 choices, not including the leather choices. From the standard black and gray to the more vibrant pumpkin and barley shades, the Steelcase Leap’s options are sure to please every taste. While it doesn’t come in as many colors as the Steelcase, the Herman Miller Embody gaming/office chairs are available in 15 colors. 

Comfort and Support 

Both are designed to consistently support your back even when you’re moving, but the Herman Miller slightly outperforms the Steelcase in this regard

The concept behind the ergonomic design of the Steelcase Leap’s LiveBack® and Herman Miller Embody Backfit™ is similar. Both designed these gaming/office chairs to consistently support your back even when you’re moving or changing positions. They follow the natural curves of your lower back and spine to help avoid back pains and improve blood and oxygen flow even when you’re seated for hours. While both deliver excellent support, the Herman Miller Embody, and its flexible ribs throughout the backseat, does it better. 

What some may consider a drawback of the Steelcase Leap is its reclining capabilities. The Steelcase is rigid and doesn’t allow that rocking motion that you can easily do on the Heman Miller gaming/office chair. On the Herman Miller Embody, if you recline and want to sit back again, you can do so effortlessly right away. This makes sitting for extended periods more comfortable as you can lean back and forward almost instantaneously on the Herman Miller Embody.

Ergonomic Adjustments

The Steelcase Leap offers better armrest adjustment features and more lockable tilt positions than the Herman Miller Embody  

To ensure that users of different body types can sit comfortably and maximize the chairs’ ergonomic features, the Steelcase and Heman Miller gaming/office chairs are equipped with thoughtfully-designed adjustment capabilities. Their seat height can be changed to fit your height, and so do their armrests’ height and distance width. The Steelcase outshines the Herman Miller in this category as its armrest adjustment mechanisms are more intuitive and smoother. On top of that, the Leap’s arm caps pivot up to 30°, a feature that the Herman Miller Embody lacks. 

The Steelcase Leap has five lockable tilt positions while the Herman Miller Embody gaming/office chair only has four. However, as mentioned earlier, the Herman Miller continually supports your back even when you lean forward while the Embody is reclined.  

Verdict

Get the Steelcase Leap if you need to stay within a certain budget. Otherwise, the Heman Miller Embody is more comfortable as a gaming/office chair overall.

Both the Steelcase Leap V2 and the Herman Miller Embody are comfortable, excellent gaming chairs and choosing between the two will highly depend on your budget limit. If the cost is no object, we recommend getting the Herman Miller Embody as your next gaming chair as its ergonomics is unparalleled. Its materials are plush and breathable, thus sitting on Herman Miller’s gaming chair for extended periods won’t cause discomfort. It might be more expensive upfront, but the comfort and health benefits that the Embody gaming/office chair brings make it worth the investment. 

Meanwhile, the Steelcase Leap V2 is the better choice for entry-level ergonomic chairs for gaming. It will still provide overall better comfort and spinal support than most gaming chairs without the steep price tag of the Embody. On top of that, the Leap V2’s armrest adjustments are better and more intuitive than Herman Miller’s gaming chair.