How To Choose The Best Adirondack chairs [Guide]

The Adirondack chair looks like a little frog on the ground, this shape not only increases its stability but also its unique aesthetics. the wooden surface with its clear textures adds lightness to the enriching design in the overall decor of your coastal home decor. You can find below some of our best Adirondack chairs collections.

Table of Contents

• Why is it called an Adirondack chair?
• The Adirondacks chairs rise
• What is so special about Adirondack chairs?
• Are Adirondack chairs bad for your back?
  • What are the most comfortable Adirondack chairs?
  • How Do I Make My Adirondack Chairs More Comfortable?
• How long do Adirondack chairs last?
• The basic criteria for choosing the right Adirondack chair
  • The material of the chair
  • The shape of the seat
  • The type of stability
  • The aesthetics of the chair
• In Summary

Why is it called an Adirondack chair?

The Adirondack Chair is named after the Adirondack Mountain chain in Upstate New York. The Adirondack National Park is the largest historic landmark park in the United States with an area of 24,000 square kilometers. It was founded in 1885.

The name “Adirondacks” is from the Mohawk, which means “they eat trees”, a pejorative name that the Mohawks have historically applied to neighbor Algonquian-speaking tribes. When food was scarce, the Algonquins would eat the buds and bark of trees (Source Wikipedia).

It is in the heart of the Adirondacks in Lake Placid that the Olympic Winter Games were organized twice in 1932 and 1980.

The Adirondacks chairs rise

The history of the Adirondack chair began in 1903. Mr. Thomas Lee spent his vacations at Stony Sides, his summer home in Westport in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Dissatisfied with his garden furniture he decided to make the best garden chair in the world! An optimal chair for observing nature, reading, eating, drinking, and relaxing.

He made various prototypes and had them tested by the 22 members of his family. Using boards and nails, he created the chair that was to become the Westport chair. A chair to be used indoors as well as outdoors, with wide armrests for books, glasses, cups, etc… as well as a small footrest.

He decided to have this chair made for his personal use by a carpenter friend from Westport, Harry Bunnell. He wanted to add a winter activity to his work as a carpenter. He quickly realized that these chairs would be a hit with summer vacationers.

Thomas Lee filed the patent application on April 4, 1904, which was granted on July 18, 1905, under the name “Westport Chair” for a period of 25 years.  His patent prevented anyone from making this chair. However, his “Westport chair” was distributed only around Westport. It was not as successful as expected and still today it is the Adirondack chair inspired by the Weston chair that is the most popular.

These chairs were made of fir and then painted in dark brown or green. Many variations inspired by the original model were created, in rocking chair, head to head, with an Ottoman footrest… This chair was popularized thanks to the gentleman farmer style, present in the rich families of the east coast of the USA. It is now present in most gardens in North America. It is also called Muskoka chair.

Nowadays they are manufactured all over the world, from the United States to China: in fir, cedar, teak, plastic, painted, etc… In the end, Thomas Lee’s idea will have gone around the world of gardens.

What is so special about Adirondack chairs?

The adirondack chair is generally made of very strong, sturdy and weather-resistant wood. also, it doesn’t crack or chip easily. in addition, the high quality rustproof screws are perfect for outdoor use. the adirondack chair is sturdy and can support up to heavy weights.

Are Adirondack chairs bad for your back?

The Adirondack chair with its wide seat gives you plenty of room to sit. also, the wide armrest and high backrest of this wooden chair give you good support. most importantly, the Adirondack chair has airy wooden slats for good breathing. of course, for more comfort you can add a cushion.

Specifically designed for hours of lounging, the legendary Adirondack chair makes it almost impossible not to relax or even fall asleep completely once you’ve settled into its high backrest and rearward tilting seat resting close to the floor. An added benefit: the extra-wide armrests are ideal for balancing drinks and small plates while having the added benefit of providing support for your back and buttocks.

What are the most comfortable Adirondack chairs?

In our case, we prefer teak wood because its comfort tends to compensate for some of the material’s limitations, while others believe that recycled plastic wood offers the best comfort with the strength and durability of wood, but softer with built-in bending characteristics.

There is a wide selection of choice for comfortable Adirondack chairs, we can cite for example:

The folding and tilting wooden chair :

The chair takes up the codes of the true Adirondack with a seat flush with the ground and absolute comfort for the back. Also, note that the folding and tilting wooden chair, that can be folded to be stored in the garage in the winter.

The Adirondack with footrest:

It takes again the codes of the lounge chairs while keeping the aspect of the Adirondack. Here a removable footrest allows you to lie down if necessary in the garden.

The two seater Adirondack Rocking Chairs:

With an atypical style, this model can accommodate two people in absolute comfort. This Adirondack is mounted on rocking chair type feet which makes it a small swing to discuss at the bottom of the garden quietly. It is the relaxing armchair for lovers who will love to spend time together in privacy.

How Do I Make My Adirondack Chairs More Comfortable?

to make your Adirondack chair more comfortable, nothing could be simpler than using accessories such as a footstool or a leg rest for your legs, so you can sink in and rest. this is a great way to make your Adirondack chair more comfortable.
we also recommend the use of pillows and headrest pillows which are also a great option, as they will add padding to an already comfortable piece of furniture.
You can even add side tables and other pieces to create a complete set of beautiful furniture.

How long do Adirondack chairs last?

the adirondack chair is generally made of very strong, sturdy and weather-resistant wood. also, it doesn’t crack or chip easily. in addition, the high quality rustproof screws are perfect for outdoor use. the adirondack chair is sturdy and can support up to heavy weights.

The basic criteria for choosing the right Adirondack chair

Seriously, not everyone is a handyman and doesn’t necessarily have the time to make their own chair. So it is often preferable to order his or her model(s) to prepare the terrace of the house or gite. But choosing an adirondack chair requires a check of a few points so as not to end up with a product that is too fragile and not very durable over time. To do so, we have established a list of criteria to be taken into account before selecting a model.

The material of the chair

Although wood is predominant in this style of a garden chair, there are nowadays more modern things that will require less maintenance. One thinks in particular of plastic or more precisely of resin which makes it possible to have a comfortable, resistant, and especially washable seat in the twinkling of an eye. Note that the resin Adirondack chair can stay outside all winter without risk of damage in early spring.

The shape of the seat

It is an element that can vary from one model to another with more or less pronounced armrests or the possibility to lengthen the feet. You will choose your Adirondack chair according to your needs. For example, for elderly people, a chair with leg support will be preferred for better comfort.

The type of stability

This is a point that is not often mentioned and yet we find stable models that are not designed to move and rocking chair type chairs to spend a relaxing moment while being rocked by the chair. We present in our selection a model of this type to spend pleasant moments of relaxation.

The aesthetics of the chair

Already basic it is a seat that does not go unnoticed so we now find more colorful models to brighten up your outside. The style of the armchair can also be totally vintage with the wood to give a rustic touch to the terrace. Also, think about choosing a chair that will suit your taste and that will enhance the exterior of the house. a good video on how to make Arindock chairs can be found on John Heisz – I Build It Youtube channel.

In Summary

Inspired by American classics, the Adirondack chair has all its features: the depth of the seating surface, the straight, slightly curved backrest, not to mention the wide armrests that are big enough to hold your favorite drink.

A classic design that is also durable, the Adirondack chair will stand up to the rain without damage and withstand cold weather. The Adirondack Chair will blend in with the terrace, balcony, or garden and will be a perfect match for the latest trends. Because no matter what generation, everyone will find comfort and rest here.