The Secret To Choosing An Adirondack Chair You'll Actually Want To Sit In

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When summer is near, many people picture themselves lounging outside in an Adirondack chair, one of the heavy-duty lawn chairs that adds style to any backyard. But have you ever actually sat in one and found them to be very uncomfortable? That's because not all Adirondack chairs are the same, and there's a secret to choosing an Adirondack chair that you'll actually want to sit in. The secret? It's all about understanding the materials.

These classic outdoor lounge chairs come in a variety of materials. They come in natural wood, plastic, and high-density polyethylene. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages — some are more affordable, some more weather-resistant, and others are more comfortable to sit in for an extended period of time. If you've been thinking about buying one because you're not the type of person to DIY your very own Adirondack chair, you'll want to get familiar with the most common materials and weigh all the pros and cons of each to determine which material would be best for you.

In most cases, comfort is top priority for those interested in these chairs, but durability and value are also just as important. Comfort matters because this is a chair you'll want to be able to lounge in for long stretches of time, while durability and value guarantee you're getting a high-quality chair that holds up for years and years. Let's take a look at your options.

As mentioned above, you'll often find Adirondack chairs that are made from plastic and high-density polyethylene. And, while polyethylene is also plastic, not all plastic is the same. There are significant differences in high-density and low-density polyethylene. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is the everyday plastic we're most familiar with. To make it easier, we'll call LDPE chairs basic plastic Adirondack chairs. 

When it comes to basic plastic Adirondack chairs, they're lighter and are the least expensive of all the Adirondack chairs. Being lightweight has its own pros and cons. It's great, as they're easy to move, but on days with strong winds, they could just as easily be blown away. Basic plastic chairs also don't do well in high temperatures. With extended heat exposure, you may end up with cracked and color-faded chairs. So, if you live in an area that experiences high temperatures in the summer months, do yourself a favor and consider a different material. 

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) Adirondack chairs are made to look and feel like the classic wooden Adirondack chairs, but they require much less maintenance. HDPE chairs are much more durable than basic plastic chairs and are much easier to maintain in comparison to the other materials these chairs are often manufactured from. These chairs are also very weather-resistant, so no need to worry about color fading or cracking. Based on multiple ranking lists, we found that HDPE Adirondack chairs are often ranked the overall best type of Adirondack chairs for their comfortability and for being low-maintenance, specifically the POLYWOOD Modern Adirondack Chair.

Now, let's dive into the most classic material for Adirondack chairs: natural wood. Wood was the very first material used to craft the Westport chair, which is the original version of the Adirondack chair. So, despite the wood version being much pricier than other versions of the chair, the classic look is loved by history buffs and Adirondack chair enthusiasts. 

There is a major downside of wood and it's that it requires a lot of maintenance. Wood Adirondack chairs need some type of regular upkeep, such as staining, resealing, or even painting to have it in its best shape. If left untreated, the chair can easily crack, rot, or warp like any other wooden item. On top of that, the material makes the chair much heavier than basic plastic or HDPE Adirondack chairs, so they won't be as easy to move around. While the biggest pro of wood Adirondack chairs is their durability, that is also very much dependent on how much care you put into the overall maintenance of the chair. If you're a devotee of the classic Adirondack chair and you're someone who doesn't mind the handy work, then a Adirondack chair made of natural wood is perfect for you. If you need help looking for one, you may want to start by checking out Home Depot, as the Adirondack chair is one of the store's best patio furniture pieces based on reviews.