Choosing the best garden recliner will depend on a few factors – storage, comfort and size. Of course, there are always additional factors to consider as well, like colour and additional accessories!
Take a look at the following guide to choose the best garden recliner.
Comfort
Comfort is achieved in a few different ways when it comes to garden recliners, primarily chair style, canvas type, and padding.
Chair Style
Zero gravity recliners are some of the most comfortable because of the way they suspend you, near weightlessly. This takes a lot of pressure off different muscles and joints, and is why this style of recliner has become so popular in recent years. If you don’t want a zero gravity recliner, there are still the classic recliners on the market where you lift up the armrests to adjust the chair’s back position.
Canvas Type
Next up, canvas type. The best recliners for comfort will allow a bit of give from the canvas – this makes them more comfortable than still, solid backrests. Therefore, it’s worth looking out for a chair canvas that is attached to the chair’s frame using elasticated roped or bungee cords. These feel a lot less solid and are therefore much more comfortable.
Another thing to check is that the canvas is breathable. Either a cotton blend, or woven plastic like texteline, will allow for your skin to breathe whilst sitting on the chair.
Padding
Finally, and this is the big one – padding. Naturally, padding is quite a key player when it comes to comfort. I recommend choosing a recliner that at least has a removable head pillow. These don’t have to be used all the time, but can be great for head, neck and even lumbar support.
If you want a luxury recliner experience, choose a chair which is padded all over. These are extremely comfortable but there is one downside – they’re quite bulky, so they’re not a good option for holidays when the chair needs to be carried over distances or packed into a full car.
Maximum Weight Capacity
This might not be something that you immediately consider when looking at reclining chairs, but all recliners have a maximum weight capacity – and some of them might be lower than you’d expect.
The best garden recliners will have a high weight capacity of 150 kg. It’s also possible to get chairs with a higher weight capacity than this, but you will need to check the specifications carefully.
Some garden recliners have a much lower ‘maximum weight capacity’ of 100 kg. These might not be suitable for everyone, so don’t get caught out and be sure to double check the weight capacity before purchasing a garden recliner.
If the weight capacity isn’t stated, ask the manufacturer directly. Also, don’t be tempted to exceed the maximum weight capacity. Even if the recliner seems to withstand heavier weights, exceeding the weight capacity will put stress on the components and construction of the recliner. This will weaken it over time.
Size and Width
There are a couple of things to check when it comes to size and width, to make sure the recliner will be as comfortable as possible for you.
Back and Leg Length
First of all, it is worth checking the back height of the recliner. For people with a longer torso, this can be especially important. Secondly, the same check should be done for the lower half of the chair, to make sure it is a suitable length for your legs. Particularly with zero gravity recliners, it is important that the legs meet the footrest bar, in order to push the chair into a reclining position.
Recliner Width
Many recliners have a seating area that is around 45 – 50 cm wide.
If you would appreciate more space, look for a recliner with a seat that is over 53 cm wide. These can feel more accommodating and spacious.
Portability and Weight
Garden recliners may weigh more than you initially expect.
Some of the heaviest recliners featured here weigh around 10 kg. In some cases, a lighter recliner, around 6 kg, may be easier to move in and out of the shed.
For the most part, you might be able to get away with a heavier recliner if you will only be using it in your garden. However, if you intend to take the recliner on day trips or camping, you may need to consider how easy it is to carry.
I recommend looking at lighter recliners (again, around 6 kg) if you want to easily be able to carry the recliner to and from the beach or lake. If you won’t need to carry it far from the car, you could consider a slightly heavier, bulkier chair.
Also, chairs with a lot of padding and cushioning can be quite bulky to carry. For ease, it might be worth considering a chair with less padding if you want the recliner to be easy to carry.
Back To Contents