Is It Time to Retire the Adirondack Chair?
Advertisement · Published by Outdoor Nook, which makes and sells the recliners shown
What owners say after moving from a fixed-angle chair to an outdoor recliner.
The Adirondack chair earned its place on the American porch. It looks right at any hour, it asks nothing of you, and the first sink-in feels like a small victory. Then dinner is ready, and you try to stand up.
Anyone who has spent a summer in one knows the routine: rock forward, plant both hands on the arms, push. It is a small thing, and it is also the reason some owners eventually start looking at something different.
The one thing an Adirondack can't do
An Adirondack is built around a single angle and a low seat. Published dimension guides put the seat at 14 to 16 inches at the front edge, with the back leaning somewhere between 100 and 115 degrees. That is the charm, and it is also the limit. Adirondack Street notes that the low seat can make rising hard for older adults or anyone with mobility challenges, and Polywood's buying guide says much the same about traditional designs. If you want your feet up, you drag over an ottoman.
One owner in Lutz made the swap and wrote it down:
“Amazingly comfortable. Traded in our old Adirondack for these.”
What changes when the chair moves with you
An outdoor recliner keeps the part everyone loves, a chair you sink into, and adds the parts an Adirondack leaves out. Our Keywest measures about 20 inches from the floor to the seat, roughly four to six inches higher, with the arms at 25.2 inches where your hands naturally land. Standing up takes far less effort, and sitting down is a plain sit rather than a controlled drop.
Lean back and the footrest extends, all the way to a full lounge. The recliners are fully manual, so there is no cord, outlet or battery to plan around. Each chair also swivels a full 360 degrees and glides gently front to back, so the same seat faces the pool at noon, the conversation at dinner and the sunset afterwards.
“I can swivel Rock and recline all in one chair it's fabulous and it's worth the money.”
The living-room test
The comparison owners reach for most is not another patio chair. It is the recliner they already have indoors. The ingredients are simple: high-resilience foam cushions, a high back for support, and the freedom to lean all the way back with your feet up.
“They are very comfortable and make sitting on our deck feel the same as sitting in our recliners in the living room.”
“They are better than our recliners inside.”
“We never thought outdoor furniture could match the comfort of our indoor reclining rockers, but these amazing chairs do just that.”
Built to stay outside
The other thing outdoor seating teaches you is what to do with the cushions when it rains. Every Outdoor Nook recliner has a patent-pending all-weather cover built into the chair, so there is no separate cover to buy, find or store. It unfolds from the back. (A few clearance items differ, so check the product page.)
Underneath, every frame is rust-resistant aluminum, with handwoven all-weather wicker over the aluminum on the wicker models. The recline mechanism is zinc-plated, e-coated steel, a two-stage rust-resistant treatment made for outdoor use.
“The recliners have an attached pouch to store the cover. No longer do I have to have extra storage just to keep covers or walk them back and forth to the garden shed.”
What to know before you switch
These are big, deep chairs, and they are not for everyone. Three things owners mention:
- Size. Fully reclined, a recliner runs about 5½ feet front to back (64.5 to 67 inches), and each chair is 27.5 to 32.2 inches wide depending on the collection. Measure the spot first.
- Depth. With the seat pushed all the way back, shorter sitters may not reach the floor.
- One recline position. The chair goes to a single full-lounge position; there is no middle stop.
“Know that they are big. … I am a 5'6" woman and my feet don't touch the floor. Fortunately I like to have my feet tucked up under me anyway.”
“I would have given it 5 out of 5, but the recliner only has one reclining position. … it is comfortable and was easy to set up.”
Not sure which size or look? Keywest is our most compact, Newport is mid-sized, and Malibu II, Huntington and Shoreline are our largest. Wicker suits relaxed, traditional spaces; aluminum suits modern and poolside ones. Every recliner is sold on its own or as a pair, so you can start with one.
In their words
4.87 out of 5 across 102 Outdoor Nook customer reviews on Reviews.io. Quoted as written; excerpts are marked.
“We absolutely love these swivel rocker recliner chairs. The comfort and style of the chair is a 5 star all the way. Would buy more if I had the room.”
“My patio now has the best looking and most comfortable furniture in the neighborhood. I can actually use it as a second living room. I love the recliners. I am able to put my feet up and watch tv out there.”
“I purchased 2 recliners with built in covers from Outdoor Nook and would have purchased additional products if my patio was bigger. The assembly was super easy, the chairs were sooo comfortable and easy to clean. They make relaxing in my patio so enjoyable!”
Good to know before you order
- Delivery is free. We ship by FedEx to the 48 contiguous states, typically within 7 to 10 working days. Assembly is minimal and needs no tools.
- You get a 14-day return window. Return an undamaged item in its original condition within 14 days of delivery for a full refund. After that, returns are accepted up to 90 days with a 20% restocking fee. See our returns policy.
- The frame carries a 5-year limited warranty and the cushions 2 years, against defects in materials and workmanship, for the original buyer. Read the full warranty.
Choose your recliner
Start with one recliner, or a pair. Delivery is free, typically 7 to 10 working days.
Questions before you order? Call 1-800-296-0232 or email cs@outdoornook.com.
Quick answers
How much space does one recliner need?
Can I leave it outside all year?
Should I buy one recliner or a pair?
Sources. Adirondack figures: Adirondack Street and Polywood; typical ranges that vary by maker. Reviews: Outdoor Nook customer reviews on Reviews.io (102 reviews, 4.87 average), retrieved September 2026, quoted as written; excerpts are marked. Recliner dimensions: Keywest size chart and product pages. Prices are as of September 2026 and can change.
