Considering the average office worker is likely to spend as much time in his desk chair as he does in bed, it pays to invest in a chair that's ergnomic and won't contribute to the back, arm, and neck pain that every tech worker seems to suffer from.

I've used the standby of desk chairs -- Herman Miller's Aeron -- for a couple of years now, but newer chairs have come out since Aeron made the scene. Could any of these Johnny Come Latelys up the ante on the classic?

I've spent a week in Steelcase's $899 Leap, a highly adjustable seating situation that many will find wholly agreeable. Let's start with the looks: The Leap is probably the most classically-designed of the heavily ergonomic chairs on the market, using traditional materials in the seat and back instead of mesh or other post-modern-looking materials. With its traditional armrests and relatively plain-looking profile, this chair would look totally at home in either a conservative boardroom or a hipster's loft (various colors are available).

Of course, a chair like this is designed to be adjusted, and a gaggle of controls can be found on either side of the seat. While the options seem overly complex, everything is surprisingly intuitive, and a little trial and error quickly helps in locating the seven adjustments you can make to fit your body. The usual stuff like seat height and armrest height is all as expected, and the Leap also includes a seat depth adjuster, which lets you slide the seat forward or back to more accurately fit the length of your thighs.

As well, the armrests don't pivot in and out like the Aeron's do: These are on independent sliders that can move in and out, back and forth, analog style -- they can actually move with your elbows so you don't have to make a special adjustment every time you reach for the mouse. Another switch lets you quickly control how far back you can recline, from perfectly erect to practically lying down.

The only adjustment that didn't do much for me was the lower back firmness setting. I just didn't feel much difference no matter how much I raised or lowered it.

For me (6' 4") the chair was also a little cramped. I'm used to a little more spaciousness in my seat, and with the Leap I felt a little pinned in. Some people may like this snugness, but I found the effect a bit claustrophobic. The chair is also a little heavy to push around, at least compared to the lighter-weight Aeron.

Finally there's the strange issue of the odor: A week after unboxing the chair, it's still got what I can only describe as New Chair Smell, a kind of smoky chemical aroma that is quite strong and headache-inducing. Either plan on a long airing-out period or upgrade to the leather version (which adds $400 to the price), which I would imagine will not have the same problem.

Overall I'm impressed with the Leap. Shorter users who aren't as olfactorily sensitive will probably like it a great deal.