Steelcase Leap V1 Review (2026): Remanufactured Value
The Leap V1 is the earlier version of the Steelcase Leap. It is discontinued new, so the way to buy one is remanufactured, where it carries thicker seat and arm padding than the V2 at the lowest price of any Leap.
The Leap V1 has a lumbar that adjusts for both height and firmness, the LiveBack flexing back with the Natural Glide System recline, and a 400 lb weight capacity rated for 24/7 use, the same capacity as the V2. Its arms adjust in three directions; arm depth adjustment arrived with the V2. Its seat and arm padding are thicker than the V2’s. Because it is discontinued new, a remanufactured unit from Crandall is the buy path, and it is the least expensive Leap Crandall lists.
Buy it if you want the Leap’s height-and-firmness lumbar at the lowest Leap price and can live without arm depth adjustment. Skip it if you want a new chair with Steelcase’s own warranty, arms that also adjust in depth, or the V2’s improved back coverage for a tall frame.
Buy the Leap V1 if you…
- Want lumbar support you can set for both height and firmness at the lowest Leap price
- Prefer thicker seat and arm padding than the Leap V2 carries
- Need a 400 lb weight capacity rated for 24/7 use
- Are tall and want shoulder coverage (choose the Highback variant)
- Are comfortable buying remanufactured with a 12-year Crandall warranty
Skip it if you…
- Want arms that adjust in depth
- Want the V2’s cleaner, current-production styling
- Want a new chair covered by Steelcase’s own warranty
- Are very tall and want the V2’s improved back coverage
- Want a softer seat (the Amia’s seat is softer than the Leap’s)
Leap V1 at a Glance
The table covers the Steelcase Leap V1 and the taller-backed Leap V1 Highback. Since the V1 is discontinued new, prices are for Crandall remanufactured units, with the current-production Leap V2 listed as the new-chair alternative.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price (Remanufactured V1, Crandall) | $459 Remanufactured Steelcase Leap V1 at Crandall |
| Price (Remanufactured V1 Highback, Crandall) | $519 Remanufactured Steelcase Leap V1 Highback at Crandall |
| New Availability | Discontinued new; the current-production model is the Leap V2 |
| Leap V2 (New, Amazon) | Steelcase Leap V2 on Amazon (~$1,400) |
| Arms | 4-way (height, width, pivot); the V2 later added depth adjustment |
| Lumbar Support | Adjustable for both height and firmness |
| Recline | LiveBack flex with the Natural Glide System recline |
| Seat and Padding | Thicker seat and arm padding than the later Leap V2 |
| Weight Capacity | 400 lbs (24/7-rated, the same as the V2) |
| Highback Variant | Same chassis with an extended backrest for upper-back and shoulder coverage |
| Warranty | Steelcase 12-year when sold new; remanufactured units carry Crandall’s 12-year warranty (parts, original owner) |
What the Leap V1 Is
The Leap V1 is the first generation of the Steelcase Leap, since replaced in production by the Leap V2. Its back uses Steelcase’s LiveBack flex design, and its recline uses the Natural Glide System. Its lumbar adjusts for both height and firmness, and its weight capacity is 400 lbs with a 24/7 rating. The V2 kept that lumbar system and the 400 lb capacity, and most of its changes were to the arms and the back.
With new production ended, the practical buy is remanufactured. A remanufactured chair from a dealer such as Crandall is restored with new parts and sold with a dealer warranty, which separates it from a used, as-is listing that has neither. Crandall lists the V1 in a standard version and a Highback version.
Adjustability and Fit
The V1’s lumbar adjusts on two axes, height and firmness, so you can move the support to the curve of your lower back and set how hard it presses. Its arms do not adjust in depth. The recline uses the Natural Glide System with the LiveBack flexing back. Seat-depth and recline ranges for the V1 are not listed, so check the Crandall product page before buying if either matters to your fit.
Arm depth is the adjustment the V1 lacks. The V2 added it, so on a V2 the armrests also slide forward and back, while the V1’s arms stay at a fixed depth. If you work close to a desk edge or want the arm pads pulled in under your forearms, weigh that difference against the V1’s remanufactured price, which is roughly 60 percent of a remanufactured V2’s.
The Back and Seat
The back is Steelcase’s LiveBack design, which flexes as you move, paired with the Natural Glide System recline. Both carried over to the V2 unchanged in principle, so a buyer choosing between the two generations is not choosing between different back mechanisms.
The seat is where the generations differ. The V1 has thicker seat and arm padding than the V2, so a sitter who wants more cushioning within the Leap family should look at the V1 first. For a softer seat still, look at the Amia, whose seat is softer than the Leap’s.
V1 Standard vs V1 Highback: Which to Buy
Height decides between the two backs. The standard V1 is the default for most sitters. The Highback is the same chassis with an extended backrest that reaches the shoulders and upper back, and it is the pick for taller sitters. Remanufactured at Crandall, the Highback costs a little more than the standard V1.
If a standard backrest stops below your shoulder blades, the Highback is the better fit; if it already covers them, the standard back is enough. For more on sizing a chair to a tall frame, the guide to the best ergonomic chairs for tall people walks through what to look for.
V1 vs V2: What Changed
The lumbar, the LiveBack flex design, the recline and the weight rating carried over from the V1 to the V2. The V2 added arm depth adjustment, gave the chair cleaner styling, and improved back coverage for taller users. The V1 has thicker seat and arm padding and a lower remanufactured price.
At Crandall, a remanufactured V1 costs roughly 60 percent of what a remanufactured V2 does, and that gap is the price of the V2’s arm depth adjustment and tall-user coverage. Both carry the same 12-year Crandall warranty when bought remanufactured. The full Steelcase Leap V2 review covers the current model if that is the direction you lean.
Build Quality and Warranty
The Leap V1 carries a 400 lb weight capacity rated for 24/7 use, the same as the V2. When it was sold new, Steelcase backed it with a 12-year warranty. A remanufactured unit carries Crandall’s warranty instead of Steelcase’s.
A remanufactured Leap V1 from Crandall carries Crandall’s own 12-year warranty. It covers parts but not labor, applies to the original owner in the US only, and cannot be transferred. Crandall also offers free returns, which lowers the cost of a chair that does not fit when you cannot try it in person first.
Buying the Leap V1 Remanufactured
A remanufactured chair is restored with new parts and sold with a dealer warranty. A used, as-is listing may have no new-parts restoration and no warranty, so check which one a seller is offering before comparing prices. Crandall sells the V1 remanufactured, with the 12-year parts warranty described above.
For more on when a refurbished chair makes sense and how to vet a seller, the guide on whether to buy a refurbished office chair covers the trade-offs. The Leap V1 also appears in the best remanufactured office chairs roundup as the lowest-cost route into a Leap.
How the Leap V1 Compares
Bought remanufactured, the Leap V1 competes with the other rebuilt Steelcase chairs Crandall sells, compared below.
| Feature | Leap V1 | Leap V1 Highback | Leap V2 | Amia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Remanufactured) | $459 | $519 | $749 | $549 |
| Seat Feel | Thicker, padded | Thicker, padded | Not listed | Softer, cushioned |
| Lumbar | Height + firmness | Height + firmness | Height + firmness | LiveLumbar (height) |
| Arms | 4-way (no depth) | 4-way (no depth) | 4D | 4D |
| Back Coverage | Standard | Extended (tall) | Improved over V1 | Not listed |
| Weight Capacity | 400 lbs | 400 lbs | 400 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Best For | Lowest-cost Leap | Tall sitters, upper-back coverage | Current design, better tall fit than V1 | Softer seat, Steelcase value |
For deeper context: Steelcase Leap V2 review · Steelcase Amia review · Steelcase Think review · Best remanufactured office chairs
Strengths and Trade-offs
Strengths
- A lumbar that adjusts for both height and firmness
- Thicker seat and arm padding than the later V2
- A 400 lb weight capacity rated for 24/7 use
- The lowest remanufactured price of any Leap Crandall lists
- A Highback option that adds shoulder coverage for taller sitters
- A 12-year Crandall warranty on remanufactured units
Trade-offs
- No arm depth adjustment, which the V2 added
- Older styling than the current Leap V2
- Discontinued new, so remanufactured is the realistic buy path
- The standard back covers less of a very tall user than the V2
- Crandall’s warranty covers parts but not labor and cannot be transferred
Alternatives to Consider
If you want current production and depth-adjustable arms: Steelcase Leap V2
The V2 adds arm depth adjustment, cleaner styling and better back coverage for tall users to the V1’s lumbar, recline and 400 lb rating. It costs more remanufactured than the V1 and is still sold new, so it suits a buyer who wants the current model or a new chair under Steelcase’s own 12-year warranty.
If you want a softer seat: Steelcase Amia
The Amia has a 400 lb rating, height-adjustable LiveLumbar, 4D arms and a seat with a flexible front edge and adaptive foam bolstering that is softer than the Leap’s. Its lumbar is listed as height-adjustable; the V1’s also adjusts for firmness. Remanufactured at Crandall, it costs somewhat more than the V1.
If you want the lowest Steelcase price: Steelcase Think
The remanufactured Think V1 is the lowest-cost remanufactured Steelcase chair Crandall lists, slightly below the Leap V1. It has a LiveBack flexing back, a height-adjustable lumbar (firmness adjustment not listed), 4D arms, a 15.75 to 18.75 inch seat depth range and a 400 lb rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
Buy it if
You want the Leap’s height-and-firmness lumbar and thicker padding at the lowest price of any Leap, and you are comfortable buying remanufactured.
Skip it if
You want arm depth adjustment, current-production styling, Steelcase’s own new-chair warranty, or better back coverage for a very tall frame, each of which points to the V2.
Remanufactured, the Leap V1 costs roughly 60 percent of a remanufactured V2 and has the same height-and-firmness lumbar and 400 lb rating as the V2. It also has thicker seat and arm padding than the V2, and Crandall backs it with a 12-year parts warranty.
Against the V2, the V1 gives up arm depth adjustment, the newer styling and some back coverage for very tall users; the Highback addresses the coverage gap. If those trade-offs are acceptable, the V1 is the least expensive way into a Leap. The office chair buying guide covers what to check in any chair, the best office chairs guide compares the main picks, and the best remanufactured office chairs roundup shows where the V1 lands among rebuilt chairs.