Steelcase Series 1 Vs. Series 2 : Which Is the Better Option?

You can’t talk of ergonomic office chairs without mentioning Steelcase. The brand is among the best office furniture manufacturers worldwide. Among their products are Steelcase 1 and 2, which offers you amazing ergonomic features, innovative designs, and great technology. Even so, these chairs differ in many ways.

So, Steelcase series 1 vs. series 2?

The main difference between Steelcase Series 1 and Series 2 is the backrest design. In Series 2, the back is taller, wider, and more modern than in Series 1. While the Series 1 upper backrest is thinner, the Series 2 one is sleek and streamlined. Series 2 has more advanced features than Series 1.

This article comes to rescue you from the agony of choosing by comparing the two in detail.

Steelcase Series 1 Vs. Series 2: Which One Is Better?

Steelcase Series 1 and 2 have got differences. We’ll get deeper into the two worlds and tell you what to expect from each of these chairs. We’ll also make a perfect comparison of the two chairs so that you can easily distinguish them and pick the ideal one.

Steelcase Series 1

Steelcase Series 1 office chair provides all you desire to get from an office chair. From the style to performance and choice, this chair is excellent. Most importantly, this chair is affordable. You can buy it without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Steelcase Series 1 Office Chair - Ergonomic Work Chair with Wheels for Carpet - Helps Support Productivity - Weight-Activated Controls, Back Supports & Arm Support - Easy Assembly - Nickel

$$ Check Price On Amazon Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Below are this chair’s specifications.

Color: Nickel
Material: Textile
Item Dimensions: 23.75 x 27 x 41.25 inches
Furniture  Finish: Nickel
Capacity: 300 Pounds
Item weight: 29 Pounds
Brand: Steelcase
Warranty: 12 years 

On the item’s dimensions, Steelcase Series 1 breakdown is as follows:

Steelcase Series 1 Features

• 100% polyester mesh back and connect seat fabric
• Carpet flooring wheels
• Adjustable seat depth
• 4D adjustable armrests
• Adjustable lumbar support
• Pneumatic seat height adjustment
• Recline tension adjustment
• Flexing mesh back
• Upholstered seat
• Black base and frame finish

Steelcase Series 1 is a durable, high-quality chair providing maximum comfort and back support throughout the day. It has a back that flexes with your body (a weight-activated mechanism) to support your spine in different postures. 

The chair’s mechanism and back control are technologically enhanced, allowing you to make adjustments quickly and without straining.

Steelcase Series1 Pros

Steelcase Series 1 has various features that work for all body shapes and sizes. These include:

• Advanced weight-activated mechanism: Provides the correct support in line with your body weight. That enhances your productivity because you can focus more on your job.
• Adjustable seat height: The pneumatic height adjustment allows you to adjust your chair upward or downward.  Your feet remain on the floor while your thighs are parallel to the ground.
• Adjustable seat depth: Allows you to move your chair’s seat forward or backward, setting it at your preferred position in which you can lock. That provides the utmost comfort in a long working day.
• Adjustable lumbar support: You can adjust the height of your lumbar to a position at which the lower back gets maximum support.
• Different back control settings: The back control offers you three comfort settings that conform to your sitting preference. They include weight-activated tension full recline, regular use, and upright back lock settings.
• 4D adjustable armrests: You can adjust your chair’s arm within a 2 inches range and 40 degrees in and out. The four dimensions include height, depth, width, and pivot. They support your neck and shoulders at different postures.
• High build-up quality: Series 1 is extremely well-built to support up to 300 pounds of body weight. It’s slim and lightweight for easy portability.
• Cost-effectiveness: This chair comes at an affordable price but doesn’t compromise on quality.

Steelcase Series 1 Cons

After familiarizing yourself with the above advantages, it’s crucial to weigh the disadvantage too. Here are the major ones.

• Fragile armrests: Series 1 armrests are easily movable and breakable. Also, they aren’t suitable for short people because they’re fixed on the wider side.
• Lack of long-term comfort: Although this chair provides sufficient ergonomic support, this isn’t the case when sitting for long hours.
• Recline inappropriateness: You may fail to find your desired recline position among the three settings provided by this chair.

Steelcase Series 2

Steelcase Series 2 is an affordable, high-performing office chair that you can customize with a wide range of style choices.  For that reason, this chair is popular among office workers. Series 2 is extremely durable and offers a great sitting experience due to the extensive support it provides. Furthermore, this chair surpasses the highest standards of the industry.

Steelcase Series 2 Office Chair - Ergonomic Work Chair with Wheels for Hard Flooring - with Back Support, Weight-Activated Adjustment & Arm Support - Adjustable Rolling Chairs for Desk - Licorice

$$ Check Price On Amazon Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Here are Series 2 specifications

Color: Licorice/ Dark frame
Material: Textile
Item Dimension: 22 x 27 x 42.5 inches
Capacity: 400 Pounds
Item weight: 36 Pounds
Brand: Steelcase
Warranty: 12 years

Steelcase Series 2  dimensions breakdown is as tabled below.

Steelcase Series 2 Features

• 100% polyester back mesh and fabric
• Hard flooring wheels
• Adjustable seat depth
• Fully adjustable armrests
• Adjustable lumbar support
• Pneumatic seat height adjustment
• Recline tension adjustment
• Mesh-upholstered and flexing back
• Upholstered seat
• Black base and frame,

What’s more, Steelcase Series 2 can offer you 24/7 maximum comfort and back support due to its high-quality makeup and durability. The top-notch service also results from the chair’s back technology, which has an innovative geometric design. This design comprises a weight-activated tilt mechanism that complies with your body moves to provide support over a long period.

Steelcase Series 2 Pros

There are various benefits that come with this chair as it’s designed to provide quick and simple adjustments and tailed support. They include the following:

• Patent pending Air LiveBack technology: A technology propelled by an innovative mechanism design that flexes in two dimensions. It supports your spine, providing a responsive, personalized posture and comfort.
• Advanced weight-activated mechanism:  Provides maximum support based on how you sit in the chair. As a result, you can focus properly on your job. 
• Adjustable lumbar support: You can adjust the height of your chair’s lumbar support up or down to your preferred position for a comfortable sitting. The lumbar can adjust up to 3.75 inches to provide extra back support and align with the natural curve of your spine. 
• Adjustable seat: The chair’s pneumatic adjustment mechanism allows you to adjust the seat height to your preference within a 5 inches range. 
• Seat depth adjustment: The seat can adjust forward and backward within a 2.5 inches range and lock it at your preferred position. That allows you to position the seat according to your legs’ length.
• 4D armrest adjustment: You can adjust the arms in height, width, depth, and pivot to provide support to your shoulders and neck when working at a desk. The height is within 4 inches, the width is up to 2.25 inches, and the pivot is 30° in and out.
• Comfortable dail back control: Controls the backrest in three different settings that can adjust to your preferred sitting position. They include full recline weight-activated tension, upright back lock, and regular user positions.
• Excellent build quality: Series 2 has a slim profile and light-scale appearance but doesn’t compromise on durability. It provides you with a 400 pounds maximum weight limit. Moreover, the chair quality is above the highest industry standards. 
• Affordability: The chair costs around mid the 400s but still provides ergonomic support and adjustments. That’s unlikely with other office chairs whose price increases with feature advancement.  

Steelcase Series 2 Cons

Although Series 2 is new in the market, several customers have had these negative experiences with the chair:

• Disassembling challenges: You might find it difficult to take the chair apart when you need to transport it to a far distance. Disassembling isn’t as easy as indicated in the instructions kit. You must have special tools and dismantle the chair completely.
• Discomfort: Series 2 fabric seat is hard to sit on, making it uncomfortable, especially for long hours.
• Lack of lumbar support: Some Series 2 chairs come without lumbar support and may require to be taken back for fixing. 

Differences Between Steelcase Series 1 And Series 2

Both models are great ergonomic office chairs. Nonetheless, they have some distinguishing features. Let’s look at the major ones.

Steelcase Series 1 Office Chair - Ergonomic Work...

$$ Check Price On Amazon Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Steelcase Series 2 Office Chair - Ergonomic Work...

$$ Check Price On Amazon Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Let’s look at each of the above differences in detail. Keep reading.

1. Backrest Technology

Steelcase Series 1 has a LiveBack flexor system in the backrest that aligns with your body to support your spine despite any posture change. This mechanism saves time as you don’t have to keep adjusting your chair’s backrest after every move.

On the other hand, Steelcase Series 2 comes with an Air LiveBack technology giving it an innovative 2D geometric design. It provides support to each part of your spine. The mechanism is transparent and breathable, and fitted with a special wave pattern.  It flexes in two dimensions as your body moves to create responsive, tailored posture and comfort.

2. Design And Comfort

One key difference between Steelcase Series 1 and Series 2 is the design of the backrest. The Series 1 backrest has horizontal line patterns. It supports your back and provides comfort through its LiveBack technology. 

Steelcase Series 2 is more modern, a bit taller, and wider than its Series 1 counterpart. The chair’s backrest provides support and comfort through the Air LiveBack mechanism in it. 

On a comfort note, the difference is insignificant. However, I would go for the Series 2 model because its Patent pending Air LiveBack technology makes it more comfortable than Series 1. This type of backrest offers more support to your spine than any other. 

3. Seat Adjustability

Steelcase Series 1 and Series 2 seats are adjustable, but their adjustable areas are different. Series 1 seat adjustability ranges from 36.5 to  41.25 inches, while Series 2 adjusts between 38 and 42.5 inches. 

You notice that the Series 2 range is smaller than its Series 1 equivalent. That may sound inappropriate to the users. Why? You’d expect the more expensive model to have a wider range of seat adjustments than the less costly Series 1 chair.

4. Size, Weight, And Capacity

Steelcase Series 1 is bigger in size, with 23.75 x 27 x 41.25 inches as the chair’s dimension, while that of the Series 2 equivalent is 22 x 27 x 42.5 inches.

Contrastingly, the smaller-sized Series 2 is heavier than Series 1.  It weighs 36 Pounds, while Steelcase Series 1’s weight is 29 Pounds.

The other contradicting sentiment is the weight limit. Steelcase Series 2 has a higher weight capacity than Series 1. While it can handle 400 pounds of body weight, Series 1 can only accommodate up to 300 pounds capacity.

5. Pricing

If you consider the price of Steelcase 2 vs. Series 1, Series 2 is more costly. Its price ranges between $489 and $765, while the Series 1 price bracket is $439 to $693.  The specific price of a chair in either of the categories depends on the extra features present.

If you wish to fix a headrest on your chair, you need about an additional $80  for the Series 1 and $88 for the Series 2. Also, for the 4D armrest adjustment, you might need to add up to $6 to the initial price of Series 1 and even for the Series 2 chair.

For the hardwood casters and back style fitting, you may have to part with $18 to $20 more. At the end of the day, you might end up with a very expensive chair, but it’s worth the cost. If you’re working with a tight budget, a base model would be ideal.

Steelcase Series 1 Vs. 2 Similarities

Since Steelcase Series 2 is an upgrade of Series 1, these chairs have some common grounds. Let’s look at the outstanding feature of these ergonomic chairs.

• Wide Range Of Colors
• 4D Armrests Adjustment
• Ergonomically Fit Seats
• High Build Quality
• Headrest And Lumbar Support
• Weight-Activated Tilt Mechanism
• Caster Choice Privilege
• Lockable Recline 

The above similarities are explained hereunder. Read on.

1. Wide Range Of Colors

The two office chair models come in diverse colors. They offer large color options allowing you to pick your favorite or one that blends well with your decor. 

You can find these chairs in 15 to 20 different colors. Their fabric mesh and back have cool and attractive colors. However, Series 2 leads with more color options. 

2. 4D Armrests Adjustment

Steelcase Series 1 and 2 have 4D adjustable armrests. This feature allows you to move your chair’s arms forward and backward, up and down, side to side, and pivot in and out.

The different arm adjustments support your elbows and shoulders when working. As a result, you enjoy comfortable long hours of sitting in a chair with no pain in your arms.

3. Ergonomically Fit Seats

The flexible seat design of both chairs makes the fit for sitting for long hours. Your body pressure is evenly distributed on the soft seat cushions.  The soft foam seat provides an ideal sitting service by allowing the free flow of blood within the hips and butt region.

What’s more, the seats of both chairs are height and depth adjustable. Therefore, you can get an awesome sitting experience by adjusting the seat to accommodate your body size.

4. High Build Quality

Series 1 and 2 have a solid and strong build quality. They have high-end mesh backrests and fabric seats that are skin-friendly. Additionally, the seat cushions do not collapse, while the frame and base of these chairs are strongly built. The casters also have their fair share of quality.

All the above gives Steelcase confidence to offer an extended warranty because they rarely receive repair or replacement requests.

5. Headrest And Lumbar Support

Both Series have lumbar support. Some chairs in both models can have headrests, and for those without, your can fix them at an extra cost. The two features increase the chairs’ ergonomics. They prevent or minimize back pain during extended sitting hours. How? By maintaining the correct body posture through the straight position of your spine.

6. Weight-Activated Tilt Mechanism

In both chairs, the mechanism synchronizes the seat and back to enhance easy reclining. That means that you don’t have to get out of your chair to recline the backrest. Instead, you only need to place your feet on the floor and recline. 

7. Caster Choice Privilege

The two Steelcase models in question come with hardwood and carpet floorings casters. Hence, you can choose the type that suits your office floor. That keeps your floor safe from the risk of damage by unsuitable casters or failure of the chair to roll smoothly.

8. Lockable Recline

Both chairs have a recline function for perfect relaxation and comfort. Furthermore, you can lock the backrest at your preferred recline position according to your needs. The right angle encourages you to sit for long without any discomfort.

What Should You Consider When Buying An Ergonomic Office Chair?

There are several factors you should consider when buying an ergonomic office chair. While not all chairs with “an ergonomic tag” are fit for you, the checklist below allows you to make an objective decision.

• Adjustable seat
• Build quality
• Full backrest
• Lumbar support
• Adjustable armrests
• Adjustable height and swivel
• Easy-to-roll casters
• Adjustable headrest

The above factors are explained hereunder. Keep reading. 

1. Adjustable Seat

Adjustability is a key element in an ergonomic chair. The seat should be depth and height adjustable to provide the comfort you need.

Your office chair should bend to touch the back of your knees, with a 2 to 4 inches distance between the edge and your knees back. 17 to 20 inches is the ideal seat width and should be deep enough to allow your back to rest properly against the backrest.

Moreover, an excellent seat should allow forward and backward adjustment to your preferred sitting position. Your chair should also allow height adjustability to a position where your feet are flat on the floor and your thighs parallel to the ground.

2. Build Quality

Most ergonomic office chairs are costly. Hence, you want to buy one that can serve you for a considerable amount of time. Such should be made of high-quality material that’s more durable and strong. 

Also, consider a mesh back chair for proper breathability. It ensures free circulation of air between you and the chair to prevent sweating. Also, the seat cushion should be comfortable but firm enough to support your back.

3. Full Backrest

An ergonomic office chair should have an adjustable backrest and lumbar support. An ideal backrest ranges between 12 to 19 inches and should support your spine by aligning with its natural curve. An incorrect posture of the spine may cause your back to hunch or experience back pains. As a result, your productivity declines.

4. Lumbar Support

An ideal office chair should have a firm lumbar that allows its adjustability. It should be height adjustable to the position that provides the utmost comfort. It is even much better if the lumbar support can adjust forward and backward to take a natural curve of your spine and offer maximum support.

5. Adjustable Armrests

Good armrests minimize tension on your arms and shoulders. Ergonomic chair’s armrests should be adjustable in height, width, and angle. For a perfect sitting experience, position your elbow at a right angle while your wrist and forearms remain straight.

6. Adjustable Height And Swivel

A perfect office chair should adjust in height and tilt tension to suit your body weight. While the standard tipping point is the seat’s center, you can buy one with a synchro-tilt or knee-tilt mechanism but at a higher price. 

7. Easy-to-roll casters

The ergonomic chair you choose should have the right casters for your flooring. These casters allow easy movement around your working area, increasing the chair’s usefulness. It also saves time because you don’t have to get in and out of your chair.

8. Adjustable Headrest

A good office chair supports your neck and allows comfortable leaning. Therefore, your head and neck muscles can relax and minimize pressure on the shoulders and back. 

FAQ About Steelcase Series 1 Vs. Series 2

Steelcase Series 1 Vs. Series 2: Which One Do You Prefer?

There’s no doubt that both models are great ergonomic office chairs. They have a great build quality and many amazing features, providing the support and comfort you need as you work at a desk.

However, when it comes to Steelcase Series 1 Vs. Series 2, I’d prefer the former to the latter. Why? Because Series 2 has more advanced features and has a higher weight capacity. 

Although the chair might cost more than the Series 1, it’s worth the cost! The high build quality makes it more durable, serving you for many years, if not a lifetime. It’ll be cost-effective in the long run.

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