We all realize there is a range of durability in folding chairs: some last for a summer or for a single event, yet others last over a period of years. This article looks at the variety of materials that go into making a folding chair: just how different are the materials used and can we predict durability based on the materials used?

Let’s start with two areas of folding chairs: those manufactured and intended for event seating, and those built specifically for sport or outdoor use. The materials used for the latter, the sport gear, are usually built to be weather-resistant, so we’ll consider outdoor folding chairs as a group of its own.

Event seating
Folding chairs for indoor or event use are by definition intended to be used intermittently. Thus these chairs need to be easily set up and moved, store-able, and are generally not as large or comfortable as full-time seating furniture intended for longer-term use.

Generally the materials used for these chairs are either a form of sturdy plastic or some type of wood construction. Usually a metal frame is used to provide the folding mechanism and to add strength to the chair. There are widely different combinations of these materials, of course, and great variety in style, design, weight capacity and features.

From the lightweight white wedding chairs to the sturdier business seating padded chairs, the key to design is quick and easy to store. Manufacturer’s weight capacity is always a consideration for event chairs, but some chairs, such as some in the Hercules brand line, can hold as much as 1500 pounds.

As for predicting durability of an event chair, factors other than just construction materials will help indicate strength and length of use. Brand name, weight capacity and yes, the original material of construction, will together give a good estimate for durability. But the one factor that impacts all of this? The way the chairs are used. Folding tables and chairs that are used reasonably and stored well will last the longest, given even moderate quality of material.

Sport or outdoor folding chairs
For outdoor folding chairs, there is again a range of materials used in construction, but generally these items are made of metal with canvas or wood – or some combination of all these with other less predominant materials.

The metal used is usually steel or heavy duty aluminum. The thickness and weight of the metal is directly related to the durability and weight capacity of the finished product. A powder coating treatment is often used to help the metal retain a new or polished appearance despite exposure to the outdoor elements.

Photo by nuanc

The canvas is often a solid or mesh polyester or nylon, and the strength of the material is an important quality for durability. Most manufacturers will indicate the strength of the material used for folding camping chairs, and the term “denier” is used to indicate the weight of the fabric, and by extension, its strength. Be careful not to compare denier rating across different fabrics, however: a 600D polyester will not be as strong as a 600D nylon because nylon itself is a stronger fabric than polyester.

The use of wood, especially wood treated to be water-resistant, increases the weight of the folding chair, but it may provide better aesthetic value and still be strong and durable. Wood could prove more susceptible to breakage or wear over the years, and it might not be the optimum choice for campers and hikers.

Because of these variables in materials (thickness of metal supports, strength of fabric for seating, construction of the chair’s design), it would appear that a prediction of durability of an outdoor or sport folding chair CAN be made based on the materials used. Usage of these outdoor gear is expected to be rough and tumble, less subdued than indoor event seating endures. For outdoor folding camping chairs, materials can predict how long the chair will last, so consumer: beware.

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