Do you know what defines American summer? Adirondack chairs.
Adirondack chairs are inarguably one of the most popular outdoor chairs. In Canada, they are known as Muskoka chairs. Known for their wide seats, large armrests, and angled backs, they are usually made of wood or plastic.
If you are new to these chairs and surprised why everyone loves these chairs so much, we’d like to clarify that they are super comfortable and you can easily sit and lounge on them for hours at a time.
Adirondack chairs History
The history of Adirondack chairs goes back to 1903 when a novice woodworker, Thomas Lee, created the first prototype. In fact, he made several prototypes of comfortable outdoor chairs from 11 pieces of wood of the same tree. Then his family tried out each of those chairs and eventually decided upon the chair we now popularly known as the Adirondack chair.
Lee showed his design to a friend, Harry Bunnell who was a carpenter and asked him to start making these for the people. Bunnell recognized the potential of these chairs and without Lee’s knowledge got them patented under his name. For the next twenty years, Bunnell received huge profits out of making these chairs while Lee got nothing and there is no proof that he sought any profit as well.
And where did this incident took place? The Adirondack region in upstate NY.
With time, other chair manufacturers started copying the design and making similar chairs and while Bunnell named his chairs the Westport chairs ( the town in which Lee and Bunnell lived), ultimately the chairs got the name of Adirondack chairs.
Types of Adirondack chairs
Not many changes have been done to Adirondack chair since it was invented in 1903. But still, with time, they have evolved and are now available in different types
The Traditional Adirondack Chair
This is the chair you will see in most people’s backyards. It has been used for a long time as patio furniture and is popular because of its spacious seat which gives a recline and a headrest. The back of this chair is straight whereas you’d find the seat to be backward angled. The large armrest is also much appreciated. This chair is made of wood which gives it a classy look
Plastic Adirondack chair
if you wish to buy some inexpensive garden furniture, we would like to suggest you plastic Adirondack chairs. Also, the chair is extremely lightweight so you can easily carry it with you to places. Usually, plastic Adirondack chairs will weigh around 8 lbs, making it extremely portable. Also stacking these chairs is much easy than in the case of wooden Adirondack chairs. These chairs also come in numerous colors, so choose any that goes with your style.
Adirondack Chairs with Ottomans
If you ask us, we are biased towards these. Cause who doesn’t like to relax, put their feet up and enjoy being in the sun. One problem people with leg problem face in the Adirondack chair is that it is really close to the ground. Sitting on it for a few hours only will give them leg pain. But with Adirondack chairs that come with ottomans, they can spread their legs easily and have a great time.
High-density Polyethylene Adirondack chair
High-density Polyethylene or HDPE is a great choice for your Adirondack chair if you want something durable and easy to maintain. Water resistant, wind resistant and rust resistant- what more can you ask for. The chair will last you a long time and hence it’s a very good investment. But it is also more expensive than your wood or plastic chair but with the benefits it provides, we are sure you won’t feel that extra pinch.
Different Styles of Adirondack Chairs
Adirondack chairs have evolved keeping in mind the comfort of people and there are different styles available in the market to suit the different needs of the people. If you think all Adirondack chairs are the same, we got a list for you that’s going to help you make a better purchasing choice:
We love Adirondack chairs and we are quite certain that you do too. This staple summer garden furniture is amazing and a must have for every person who likes spending his/her time relaxing and having fun with friends and family outside. And with so many types of these chairs available, we are sure you going to have a gala time purchasing one for your home. Learn more about Adirondack chairs on Our website.
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This Adirondack chair is recommended for kids aged 2 to 7 years. Made of wood, it comes in 4 color options- unfinished, green, red and solid white. The unfinished chair is the cheapest one in the range while the price of the finish range chair varies according to the finish you have selected. The unfinished Adirondack chair can be finished any way you want to.
Very affordably priced, this tiny tots’ Adirondack chair comes with a pre-stained finish. So if you are not too much into painting, we would recommend Maxim chairs for you. These chairs are recommended for kids between 2 to 5 years old and comes with a wide base so as to prevent your kids from tripping over. The assembly is not that hassle free but since it comes pre-finished, we would ignore that flaw readily. The chair is painted with a non toxic paint thus keeping in mind the health of your children.
It is a white colored chair which can be customized with your kid’s name. This personalization is available in four colors- pink, black, red and blue. Which kid wouldn’t want a chair with his/her name inscribed on it? Recommended for kids between 2 to 7 years old, it is made of solid wood and can be folded for ease of storage.
Made of Cedar wood, this chair is sturdy and can be used for a number of years without much wear or tear. This natural colored chair can be painted according to your choice or left as it is so that it weathers into a beautiful silver gray color. The age recommendation for the chair is not provided by the manufacturer but customers have bought it for kids’ aged 2 years onwards
This unfinished chair is affordably priced and has a weight capacity of 250 lbs and is a perfect fit for children between 2 to 7 years old. The chair is made of high-quality Canadian Hemlock wood and is lightweight and weighs around just 11 pounds. You can easily carry this Adirondack chair to beaches and as it is foldable, it takes up less space and even fits easily in cars. The structure of the chair is ergonomic which ensures that your children get maximum comfort while sitting and reading on these chairs or just simply idling.
This wooden toddler Adirondack chair is fit for kids that are under 42 inches tall (3 years and up) and comes in 3 attractive colors- brown, red and gray. Weighing just 7 pounds, it can also be carried easily to outdoor lunches and picnics. This chair is durable as it is made from fir wood and is painted with non-toxic paint. The chair also comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.
This kids Adirondack chair by Winland Company comes with an outdoor table and a chair and an umbrella. Reasonably priced, this chair set is recommended for children between 3 years to 10 years of age. The chair and table are carved with a beautiful handcrafted design and looks quite adorable. The umbrella ensures that your kid has a gala time outside without facing any harmful rays of the sun. We love that their chair set comes with a table which makes it easy for your kids to eat or write something.
We can easily call 
Your Budget
Warranty
Plastic or wood
Look of the chair
Age recommended
Safety
Pine is accessible commonly, and this is comparatively inexpensive than the other woods. But all you need is the maintenance. If you are able to maintain the pine wood, then you will be able to keep the chair for a long time without any damage. In addition to that, it can last almost a couple of years as well. Pine is good for the short term, but this is actually prone to water damage and rotting. Besides, pine can last long once this is finished along with the primer and also UV rating top coat. But as the wood is way cheaper than any other wood, a lot of people out there opt for this material.
Cedar is the most excellent softwood for permanence, as it is logically impermeable to rot and the cedar oils deter insects. Cedar is the option wood for boardwalks, decks, and such due to its high sturdiness and simple accessibility over the places. The blemishes and some marks can be easily sanded away, and Cedar can last many generations. If left unfinished, this will eventually turn to the actual soft silvery grey. Check out 
Teak is also one of the toughest materials, which have gained huge popularity. This is actually a very heavy hardwood that can last for generations. So it can be used for constructing some heavy Adirondack chairs. Its thickness makes the heavyweight to this wood, and like cedar, this is normally impervious to termites. Teak is also imported and not the native wood to North America, and along with the actual heavyweight and high demand it is quite expensive (up to 3 times the price of products made of cedar, and up to 6 times the price of products made of pine). Teak is quite difficult to care for as it does not take a stain well. Make sure to check 
When it comes to wood for making the chairs, 
Mahogany is also one of the preferred woods when it comes to choosing the best Adirondack chair. It offers an ample amount of character. This is basically a hardwood, so is resistant to decompose and this is much more scratch resistant than pine and cedar.
When it comes to choosing one of the best woods for the Adirondack chair, you need to make sure that you research about the woods in a proper manner and then decide to keep your hands on the one. So, besides each and every wood, Eucalyptus is also one of the best woods to use in making the chair. Just like Teak, Eucalyptus has also gained massive popularity. One of the interesting things about the wood is that this is absolutely weather resistant. And you can easily maintain the chair even after continuous exposure to harsh weather. This is durable and long-lasting, but this is quite lightweight.
Most of the Cypress trees are found in the Southern US States and the South Atlantic States. It simply grows in the swamps and has a conical base, along with roots that seem to stand out in the water. Cypress is logically resistant to deterioration from UV sunlight, insects and moisture.
