Then, we tested their limits: slamming them with medicine balls to assess durability; dousing them with a garden hose to see how well they repelled moisture; and smearing them with barbecue sauce and melted marshmallows to check how easy we could clean off outdoor cookout goop. Finally, each tester evaluated their product for its setup, comfort, support, adjustability, durability, and design. After testing these chairs, we sent them home with volunteers who used them in their outdoor living spaces for a month. Our favorite Adirondack chair, the Highwood Hamilton Made in the USA Adirondack Chair, is available in several color finishes, has three adjustable reclining positions, and is easy to assemble and maintain over time. Here are the best Adirondack chairs, as tested by The Spruce. The imitation wood not only adds to the chair’s appearance but is also practical. First, you’ll find no splinters; we liked that it felt comfortable against bare skin. Also, while wooden chairs can absorb water, soaking the chair with a hose simply caused water to bead up. We also found it was easy to clean up barbecue sauce; the melted marshmallows required a bit of scrubbing with a wet paper towel and dish soap, but eventually came off. While this chair doesn’t have any additional features, such as a cup holder, you could confidently set a beverage on its flat, wide arms. “The cutouts of the arms were a nice touch for comfort and style,” our Lab tester offered. The cutouts also make the chair comfortable for larger bodies and for parents cuddling small kids. The adjustable back has three reclining positions, which appealed to our tester. But she noted that changing the position of the chair’s back requires two hands and can still be quite difficult to accomplish. Our at-home tester also noted this chair does seem narrower than other Adirondack chairs she has purchased, but added it was still comfortable to sit in and get out of. She also said she has left this chair outside for the entire month that she’s had it and it has not suffered any damage from weather and the elements. Assembly in our lab took over 10 minutes, but we had no problem, thanks to threaded inserts for the bolts and separate pieces. We also like that although the chair’s durable material doesn’t require storage, the piece can easily be folded flat to store during colder months.  All this does come at a price. But overall, we believe this chair’s intuitive design, comfortable and durable frame, and easy-to-clean surface make it a great investment piece for several seasons of comfortable outdoor living. Price at time of publish: $500 “Not only does it look nice, it’s actually enticed me to use my patio more,” our tester said. “I can sit outside and read for a couple hours in total comfort, with a cold drink resting on the wide arm and my dog lying underneath the chair.” It’s lightweight enough to be moved to different areas of your home and yard, but its durable plastic withstood a hit from two 15-pound medicine balls. Our tester, who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, noted she fit in it comfortably, especially with the added lumbar support (but it may not be as comfortable for taller individuals).  Aside from this chair’s durable resin frame, we also like that its armrests are parallel to the ground, so you can easily use them as drink rests without worrying about spillage. Although this chair doesn’t fold up, it could easily stack on top of others of the same style. Our home tester said she appreciated this chair’s design, even though it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive options. This chair has also held up well on her outdoor patio against blistering heat and intense thunderstorms. While the RealComfort Charcoal Resin Plastic Adirondack Chair may not be the best chair of its kind, it fulfills its purpose while being comfortable and affordable. Price at time of publish: $30 This Adirondack chair is made from FSC-certified teak, which means the wood meets strict environmental and economic standards established by the Forest Stewardship Council. So you can not only enjoy the comfort of this chair, but also feel good about how it was created.  We found that this was the easiest Adirondack chair to clean: Both the melted marshmallows and the barbecue sauce easily wiped off with a wet rag. While it mostly repelled water when we soaked it with a hose, it did soak up some water, so we’d recommend letting these chairs dry for a few hours after any rain or dewy mornings. Also, being left outside for a month in what turned out to be a hot, dry summer has caused the chair to develop a patina; our home tester said she plans on purchasing a protectant for it. Assembly was easy but required studying the graphic provided in the instructions (you have to build the chair as if you were looking at the front of the chair, rather than sitting in it). But the parts, such as the wooden pegs provided to fill in the screw holes, were manageable. Our at-home tester said she does not recommend picking this chair up by the arms, as they feel easily breakable, and she has only carried it from the bottom when she’s needed to move it. Overall, we deem this Adirondack chair a worthy investment, especially if you’re looking for a handsome piece for your deck or patio. We found the chair’s recline comfortable, and enjoyed the option of reclining further or sitting more upright. Somewhat unsettlingly, the chair creaked when leaning side to side or backwards. The chair back also bent slightly and tipped over during our durability test.  The online product listing notes that this chair only takes 15 minutes to assemble, but it took a single tester 29 minutes; 15 might have been doable with additional help to hold the heavier pieces. While this Adirondack chair is still expensive, we appreciate that it’s priced less than similarly designed chairs. After adding this chair to her back deck, our home tester said she and and her husband both prefer to sit in this chair opposed to the other seating they have. She added that it looked great on her deck surrounded by potted plants and an outdoor rug. We recommend this chair for anyone who is in the market for a reliably designed Adirondack chair that’s durable and available in numerous color options. Price at time of publish: $160 The modern-style chair easily passed our ordeals: It didn’t move or crack when we slammed it with two 15-pound medicine balls, and the barbecue sauce and melted marshmallows wiped off relatively easily with a wet cloth. Our home tester said this chair has also held up beautifully on her deck against rain, wind, and bird droppings. She also loves how easily this chair wipes off and how she can sit on it after a rainstorm without getting her clothes wet. Despite all of this chair’s accolades, we wish it were easier to put together; the provided instructions weren’t clear, and we had to consult the manufacturer’s website, where detailed videos helped with assembly. Once we put it together, however, we found this Adirondack chair a great option for anyone looking for a modern and durable version of this classic outdoor chair. Price at time of publish: $240 The manufacturer terms this chair “all-weather resistant,” but teak wood does patina to a silver color over time. If you prefer that it not fade, consider staining or sealing the wood and possibly sanding it regularly to maintain a fresh finish. After using this chair for a month in her backyard, our home tester loved this chair so much that she purchased a second one for her partner to sit outside with her. She also said it has faired several rain storms with no issues and without a sealant on it. Putting this chair together can be a chore without a power drill and screwdriver, which our tester resorted to, out of her own tool box. Besides that, the Grandin Road All-Natural Teak Adirondack Chair wooden chair is a great choice for anyone wanting the traditional charm and original style of the Adirondack chair. Price at time of publish: $349 This chair also isn’t as deep as other Adirondack styles, which made it more comfortable to sit in; plus, because of its painted surface, we didn’t have to worry about splinters. Our home tester noted this chair felt deep to her (she is 5'5"), so she may add a cushion for more back support. But her husband sits very comfortably in it (he is 6'3"). We also were impressed that this chair didn’t stain from the barbecue sauce and melted marshmallows we spilled on it during lab testing.  This chair arrived with all its pieces well labeled once out of the box, but it did take some time to assemble; we recommend having additional help and a power drill available. Some pieces were missing pre-drilled holes, which also slowed down assembly, and portions of the instructions were difficult to understand. But once we assembled this chair, we had nothing but good things to say about it. It’s reasonably priced and well-made, and a good value for the money.  Price at time of publish: $98 This chair is made from poly lumber, which is a high-grade recycled plastic material that’s waterproof and fadeproof. It’s also available in 23 colors, so you’re sure to find one that speaks to you, and it’s foldable, so you can easily store it during the off-season. Our at-home tester said this chair has improved her outdoor space and she loves using it while she’s outside. She also has not noticed any wear or fading of the color over the month that she’s had it. As with several of the Adirondack chairs we tested, the major downside was assembly: Our tested chair arrived with a deformed lag screw, so additional work was required. Also, be sure to have screwdrivers or a power drill on hand. But past this, we loved the comfort of this chair, its thoughtful design with two (!) cup holders, and its easy-to-clean surface. Durability was as much a testing factor as comfort, occupying a significant proportion of our evaluation. First, we threw two 15-pound medicine balls at each chair and noted any marks or cracks after impact. Then, to see how well each chair resisted staining from predictable cookout crud, we microwaved a marshmallow to s’mores consistency, smeared it on a chair arm, and let the goop set for 10 minutes before attempting to wipe it off with a damp paper towel. We repeated the process with a tablespoon of barbecue sauce. For both, we rated the chair on how easy it was to clean and whether there was any residue or staining. Finally, we hosed the chair with water, allowed it to pool on its surface, and noted whether it beaded up or soaked into the material, and how easily we dried it off with a towel.  If a chair featured adjustability, we noted the comfort of each option and the ease of switching between positions. To evaluate each chair’s design, we considered the material, color options, and additional features. Finally, we asked testers to note their chairs’ listed prices, and asked them to rate the chair’s value, and whether they’d recommend it to a friend or family member or purchase it themselves. After putting these chairs through the ringer in the lab, we sent them home with 10 volunteer testers, who used them in their outdoor living spaces for a month. These volunteers evaluated each chair based on its long-term durability, comfort, and practicality, and they considered how they’d store these chairs during colder months.

What to Look For in an Adirondack Chair

Durability

Adirondack chairs tend to be pretty sturdy. But some are more durable than others, so consider how involved you want to be in caring for it. Do you want an all-weather option that’s easy to clean, or would you prefer something a little fancier—even if it means more upkeep? Our best portable pick, the Christopher Knight Home Hanlee Acacia Wood Folding Adirondack Chair, performed well in both lab and home durability tests. Our at-home tester said she would likely leave the chair on her porch year-round.

Material

Although traditionally made from wood, you can find Adirondack chairs made from thick, weather-resistant plastic, like many of the options in our roundup. “You can go for the heavy originals,” says Kristin Bartone, creative director and principal designer at Bartone Interiors. “Or there are many current models made from heavy-duty plastic that you’ll never have to refinish and [that] are super easy to clean with a garden hose.” Selecting an Adriondack chair based on its material is largely up to personal preference and desired maintenance level.

Style

The classic Adirondack chair is crafted from wood paneling, and it boasts a chair back that’s slightly reclined and rounded along the top. You still can find Adirondack chairs fitting that traditional mold, but you also can find more contemporary options with sleeker, straighter lines. And you can snag Adirondack chairs in a range of different materials and in many colors.

Size

Adirondack chairs tend to be large and hefty, with solid wood chairs generally heavier than their plastic counterparts. Weight is important only if you want to move your chair around, such as from your yard to your patio, or if you need to stow it indoors during indoor seasons. Also, remember to double-check the dimensions of an Adirondack chair before buying, and including the seat size and overall height and width.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was updated by Emma Phelps, an Updates Writer for The Spruce, who compiled the current roundup based on exclusive results from tests we performed at The Spruce Lab in Des Moines, Iowa. Each of the selected Adirondack chairs in this tested roundup stand out for their construction, durability, design, and overall comfort. For extra insight, Emma consulted two experts—Johnathan Brewer, a licensed general contractor and member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board, and Andi Morse, founder and principal designer of Morse Design. With decades of experience in construction and interior design, Brewer and Morse provided helpful advice on what to look for in Adirondack chairs and how to care for them over time. Original reporting for this article was done by Deanna McCormack, a writer specializing in home, outdoor, and family products. Deanna reached out to Kristin Bartone, creative director, and principal designer at Bartone Interiors, to gain more insight on what to look for in Adirondack chairs.

What Is Spruce Approved?

Here at The Spruce we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend, and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. We also pride ourselves on transparency and will always let you know if we received a product for free.