You can find Adirondack chairs in all kinds of materials, including wood, aluminum, resin, and plastic. Before selecting a material, ask yourself the following questions:
- How often will I leave my chairs outside?
- How easy is this material to care for?
- What will the material look like over time?
- Is this material comfortable?
- Does the material make the chair too heavy to be moved?
- How much will it cost?
Wood is the classic material used for Adirondack chairs. The original chairs were made out of hemlock, but the downside to this material is that it is extremely heavy. Today, multiple types of wood are used to build Adirondack chairs, including teak, acacia, and cedar. All of these are durable and while teak lasts the longest, it has a tendency to be quite heavy.
The downside of choosing a wood Adirondack chair is that it can fade after being exposed to the sun and rain.
Plastic will also fade, but it's extremely inexpensive and easy to care for. Plastic also lends itself to a lightweight chair, so if you want a chair that's easy to store, this is the way to go.
Resin is another option, as it does not rust, fade, or crack in the sun. Often, resin can be painted to look just like wood, but it tends to be a bit heavy.
A final option is aluminum - although it's heavy, it is durable and resistant to rust. Unfortunately, you'll sacrifice a bit in the way of comfort.
