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Haworth Fern 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 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 Steelcase Gesture suits you if you sit at a desk for long hours and want all-day comfort.
We researched 9 expert reviews, analyzed 5,581 owner ratings and comments across 10 sources for the two, and cross-checked them into one verdict, so you don't have to.
See the evidence
The scoreboardProduct Review score 78 vs 80 · reliability 73 vs 85
| Haworth Fern | Steelcase Gesture | |
|---|---|---|
| Product Review score | 78 | 80 |
| Experts | 89 | 82 |
| Owners | 69 | 75 |
| Reliability | 73 | 85 |
| Report problems | 11% | 6% |
| Evidence | 3 reviews · 158 comments | 6 reviews · 514 comments |
| Typical price | $1,105 | $1,100–$1,700 |
● marks the better number on each row.
Experts vs ownersExperts 89 vs 82 · Owners 69 vs 75
Haworth Fern
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).
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
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 Steelcase Gesture?
Neither, clearly. They're closely matched, so choose by your floors, pets and budget.
Based on: Product Review score 78 vs 80.Which is more reliable?
The Steelcase Gesture. It's the least likely of the two to give you trouble.
Based on: Reliability 73 vs 85; problems mentioned by 11% vs 6% of owners.Which is easier to live with day to day?
The Steelcase Gesture. It's the one people are happiest with once it's home.
Based on: Owners score 69 vs 75, from ratings and comments.Which is cheaper?
The Steelcase Gesture usually costs less.
Based on: Typical prices: Haworth Fern $1,105; Steelcase Gesture $1,100–$1,700.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes a score.