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Haworth Fern vs Herman Miller Sayl vs Steelcase Gesture
Too close to call: the right one depends on your home.
The verdict in 10 seconds
The Haworth Fern suits you if
- You sit at a desk for long hours and want a chair for the long haul
- You value a flexible, supportive backrest and very adjustable armrests
- You like choosing your own colors, materials and features
May not suit you if
- You're tall and need the deepest seat setting without a gap at your back
- You depend on a good, fully adjustable headrest
- You want a full mesh chair or a lower-cost starter option
The Herman Miller Sayl suits you if
- You're petite to average height and sit at a desk all day
- You have a smaller home office and want a chair that doesn't take over the room
- You like firm, springy support and a breathable back that's easy to clean
May not suit you if
- You're especially tall and need support up to your shoulders
- You want a headrest or like to recline deeply
- You prefer a soft, plush, heavily padded seat
The Steelcase Gesture suits you if
- You sit at a desk for long hours and want all-day comfort
- Several people of different sizes will share one chair
- You like sitting upright and want armrests you can position almost anywhere
May not suit you if
- Your back needs firm, pronounced lumbar support
- You run warm and prefer a breathable mesh chair
- You're very tall, over about six foot four, or on a tight budget
The short version
These are closely matched, so pick by what your home needs. The Haworth Fern suits you if you sit at a desk for long hours and want a chair for the long haul. The Herman Miller Sayl suits you if you're petite to average height and sit at a desk all day. The Steelcase Gesture suits you if you sit at a desk for long hours and want all-day comfort.
We researched 14 expert reviews, analyzed 7,126 owner ratings and comments across 11 sources for the three, and cross-checked them into one verdict, so you don't have to.
See the evidence
The scoreboardProduct Review score 78 vs 81 vs 80 · reliability 73 vs 83 vs 85
| Haworth Fern | Herman Miller Sayl | Steelcase Gesture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Review score | 78 | 81 | 80 |
| Experts | 89 | 79 | 82 |
| Owners | 69 | 83 | 75 |
| Reliability | 73 | 83 | 85 |
| Report problems | 11% | 7% | 6% |
| Evidence | 3 reviews · 158 comments | 5 reviews · 534 comments | 6 reviews · 514 comments |
| Typical price | $1,105 | $1,020–$1,075 | $1,100–$1,700 |
● marks the better number on each row.
Experts vs ownersExperts 89 vs 79 vs 82 · Owners 69 vs 83 vs 75
Haworth Fern
Herman Miller Sayl
Steelcase Gesture
How we reached each verdictThe numbers behind each model's score
Haworth Fern
All 3 expert reviewers used the Fern hands-on and rated it highly (expert score 89 across 2 published scores), praising long-session comfort, adaptive back support, adjustable arms and a 12-year warranty. Owners are cooler (owner score 69 from 158 comments, 111 first-hand): 26% praise comfort and 14% praise back support, but 12% find it uncomfortable and 14% say it isn't worth the money. Failure-related mentions show up in 11% of comments, though only 3% describe the chair actually breaking, with smaller numbers citing armrest issues (5%) and squeaks (3%). The evidence on back problems specifically is thin, since no reviewer assessed it for particular conditions; also, a large Amazon listing matched to this product is a houseplant, so we left it out, and the remaining retail ratings are modest (4.21 stars from 48 at the brand store, 3.92 from 69 on Google).
Herman Miller Sayl
Four of 5 expert sources tested the Sayl hands-on, and all four call it comfortable and well built; Forbes named it its best office chair overall after a month of panel testing. Owners agree: of 534 comments (477 first-hand), 53% praise comfort and 21% specifically praise back support, while only 3% mention back pain and 7% mention any failure. About 80% of the 1,306 star ratings we saw are five stars. The evidence is thinner on back problems specifically, since no expert evaluated it for medical back conditions, Consumer Reports' results are paywalled, and lumbar support depends on an extra-cost option that testers judged differently.
Steelcase Gesture
Five of the six expert sources tested the Gesture hands-on, and all five praise its build, comfort, and unusually adjustable armrests; one source (Consumer Reports) gave no usable verdict. The clearest caveat for back-pain shoppers is lumbar support: 4 of 5 hands-on reviewers describe it as subtle, mild, weak, or minimal, though the New York Times still calls the chair supportive and its top pick. Among 514 owner comments, 45% praise comfort and 22% praise back support, while 18% find it uncomfortable and only 4% mention back pain. Evidence specific to medical back conditions is thin, since no source tested it for that purpose.
Where each one falls shortThe most common complaints
Haworth Fern
- Very expensive for what some owners get
- Seat feels firm or uncomfortable to some
- Lumbar support is an add-on and the headrest is clumsy
Herman Miller Sayl
- Short backrest and no headrest for tall users
- Lumbar support and other add-ons cost extra, and some find the lumbar flimsy
- Armrest adjustment and seat padding wear draw some complaints
Steelcase Gesture
- Very high price
- Weak, subtle lumbar support
- Armrests don't lock and controls are unlabeled or fiddly
Quick answers
Which is better, the Haworth Fern or the Herman Miller Sayl or the Steelcase Gesture?
Neither, clearly. They're closely matched, so choose by your floors, pets and budget.
Based on: Product Review score 78 vs 81 vs 80.Which is more reliable?
Neither stands out. The three have a similar record.
Based on: Reliability 73 vs 83 vs 85; problems mentioned by 11% vs 7% vs 6% of owners.Which is easier to live with day to day?
The Herman Miller Sayl. It's the one people are happiest with once it's home.
Based on: Owners score 69 vs 83 vs 75, from ratings and comments.Which is cheaper?
The Herman Miller Sayl usually costs less.
Based on: Typical prices: Haworth Fern $1,105; Herman Miller Sayl $1,020–$1,075; Steelcase Gesture $1,100–$1,700.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes a score.