If we’re going to get a folding beach chair so we’re able to enjoy our vacation even more, then we need to make sure ours is the best and most durable one available. What do you look for when you want quality, durable seating gear for the outdoors? To avoid cheap beach chairs, start by demanding superior materials, reputable construction and a manufacturer and retailer you can trust.

Materials:
• You’ll generally find some combination of a canvas or polyester / nylon fabric that provides the seating area. Beach chairs need to be strong enough to support the body well but also resistant to the outdoor elements. So a mesh fabric made of any of these materials works well. Check the strength and weight of the fabric: manufacturers often indicate this by some denier equivalent. The Rio brand of chairs (sold through many retailers) offers a sturdy beach chair that is made of 600D polyester fabric. Other models offer a polyester – nylon combination for greater strength.
• Metal frames come in light weight aluminum or steel, and manufacturer specifications usually indicate the thickness of the metal. The WearEver brand offers a folding beach chair with a metal steel frame that is 19 millimeters thick. Usually you’ll find chairs with frames that are 17 to 22 mm thick. Powder coating on the steel helps resist rust and moisture damage to the frame.

Construction:
• The complexity of the folding design directly impacts the quality of construction. The simplest folding beach chairs consist of a simple X metal frame with a poly blend fabric sling attached. So the design of this style posits it durability of construction in the strength of the metal frame. The Sol Lite Folding Beach Chair (available at Target in stores and online) is an example of this simple design, and it offers one of the thicker steel frames for beach chairs: 22 mm. The mesh fabric is water resistant and cleans with mild soapy water.
• More complex designs for folding beach chairs (such as a backpack beach chair) require more care in the construction itself. REI offers a Travel Chair Big Bubba that will work for bubbas that don’t weigh over 300 pounds. The ripstop polyester fabric seat is reinforced with webbing and is bar-tacked and double stitched. The reputation that REI carries for its outdoor gear and equipment is a reinforcement for the buyer as well.

Photo by Denver Pam

Retailers
• When you shop for quality beach lounge chairs at local stores or online, pay attention to the name and return service that retailers offer. Names tell a lot, and whether it’s the manufacturer or the retailer, check the reviews and recommendations of friends and family who have used those names.
• Manufacturers of generally quality products: check for Rio, Kelsyus and WearEver are brand names that show up often and should provide lots of user feedback to help make shopping decisions.
• Retailers such as Land’s End, L.L.Bean and Amazon offer great return policies should the individual chair not work as it should. Wherever you shop, make sure you understand the customer support and return policies before you buy.

For best quality in a beach chair, pay attention to these details: materials, construction and manufacturer / retailer names. Make sure your life has the best beach chair available.

Comments are closed.