Review of the Steelcase Think™ Chair

Features

Chris Boshoff looks at the Steelcase Think ™

The manufacturers of the Think ™ chair claims it is smart enough to think for itself. Really? Maybe we will get smart, thinking chairs in future that will pick up any underlying illness as it will automatically measures our temperature. Or perhaps it will instruct us to lose weight as it suffers more under our weight. But the Steelcase Think ™ is not nearly that advanced. So what is it all about? Glad you asked. Let's have a look.

Can this chair think on your behalf?

Back Support

Your back is supported by what the manufacturer calls flexors. The flexors (twenty of them) run horizontally across the back of the chair. Each flexor has been shaped to best fit the specific portion of the back where it is located - in other words, it mimics the shape of your back.

Lumbar support is available, but as an add-on. You can adjust the height of the lumbar by 4.5 inches, while you sit, by grabbing the lumbar handles, and adjusting it to best match the height of the curve in your back.

Arms

You have a choice between a chair with no arms, fixed arms and adjustable arms. The adjustable arms are adjustable in height, depth and width and they also pivot allowing you to adjust them to your specific task. The arms are adjustable by the following amounts:

• 4.5 inches (2.25" each) in width to support people with different torso and shoulder widths
• 4 inches in height
• Pivot in or out by 30%
• 3 inches backwards in cases where you need to work close to a table

A great feature of the arms is that they stay in touch with your work area when you recline. In other words, they don’t move away as you recline, they stay in the same position.

Recline

There are four levels you can choose from to adjust the amount of resistance the back of the chair gives you when you recline. It is adjustable by turning a knob on the right hand side of the chair.

• Weight Activated. As the name says, your weight will determine the amount of resistance the chair gives when you recline. The chair is smart enough to adjust the resistance to the weight of the person - more for heavier folks and less for lighter folks.
• Boosted. Your weight also determines resistance, but an extra 20% resistance is added.
• Mid stop. The back reclines, but is stopped at mid range.
• Upright. Locks the chair's back in an upright position.

Another interesting feature is that you don’t move away from your work as you recline. On many other chairs the seat rises as you recline, leaving your feet hanging in the air. You won't experience this with the Think™.

Seat

The seat depth on the Steelcase Think ™ is adjustable by 2 inches to accommodate people of different leg lengths. Adjusting the depth is simple. All you have to do is raise a bar at the bottom of the seat and move it forwards or backwards.

Just like it's family member the Steelcase Leap™, the seat edge is flexible, so as you move forward, it flexes down to relieve pressure at the bottom of the leg. If you have never sat on a chair with this feature, you will be pleasantly surprised. It only flexes 1,5 inches, but it makes a big difference.

The height of the seat is adjustable by 5 inches - so that the seat is anything from 16 to 21 inches from the floor. An option is also available where the height is only adjustable by 4 inches to range from 15 to 19 inches. This is a good option for a shorter person.

Other features

The chair comes with standard dual wheeled casters of 2,5 inches for use on carpets and similar surfaces. Softer casters are also available for use on harder surfaces and chair mats.

A headrest is an optional extra and is available at an additional cost. The headrest is adjustable so that it supports you in an upright position as well as when you recline. The base is available in standard plastic or in polished aluminum.

The Steelcase Think ™ is available in both leather and fabric upholstery in a wide variety of colors.

So with all the thinking this chair has been doing did it receive high enough marks to pass the test?

My take

This is a straightforward and honest chair giving you just about everything you need from a good ergonomic chair. Personally, I would like to test it a bit more, for about a month, to see whether any flaws pop up.

The Steelcase Think ™ is available in both leather and fabric upholstery in a wide variety of colors.

Other Reviews

I searched the net and below you can find a summary of the most frequently read pros and cons. Most people gave the chair either four or five stars out of five.

Pros

• Most people found the chair extremely comfortable
• The armrests received a big thumbs up
• The chair is easy to adjust
• The function of staying in touch when reclining

Cons

I found it harder than normal to find negative reviews. As always with Ergonomic chairs, the price was an issue for some.

If you have experience with this chair, please let us have your views.

Best Buys

The following supplier offers the best price I could find

To get the best deal you will have to search long and hard to find a better price than at CSN Stores. They offer to match any price. I suggest you try them first. CSN Stores is a reliable supplier and I can highly recommend them.