5 Reasons Homeowners Are Swapping Adirondack Chairs for Outdoor Recliners
Outdoor seating guide · Published by Outdoor Nook, which makes and sells the recliners shown
The Adirondack chair earned its spot on the porch. It looks right, it needs nothing from you, and the first sink-in feels great. Then you try to stand up.
That moment is where the case for a recliner starts. Here are the five reasons that matter most when you move from a fixed-angle chair to an outdoor recliner, each with the measurements or the words of real buyers behind it.
“Amazingly comfortable. Traded in our old Adirondack for these.”
1. You can stand up without pushing off the armrests
Most Adirondack chairs sit low on purpose. Published dimension guides put the seat at 14 to 16 inches at the front edge, tipped back so you settle in. That is the charm and the catch. Adirondack Street notes that the low seat can make it hard to rise for older adults or anyone with mobility challenges, Polywood’s buying guide says much the same about traditional designs, and a chair-height comparison from Foowin describes getting out of a standard one as lowering yourself down and pushing up with the armrests.
Our Keywest recliner 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.
2. Your feet go up, and you can still sit up
An Adirondack holds one angle. The back leans somewhere between 100 and 115 degrees, and if you want your feet up you drag over an ottoman. An outdoor recliner adds the movement: the footrest extends and the back reclines, all the way to a full lounge when you want it. The recliners are fully manual, so there is no cord, outlet or battery to plan around.
Give the space a quick check first. Fully reclined, a recliner runs about 5½ feet front to back.
“Especially like that when the feet are raised, I can still sit up.”
3. It swivels and glides, so the view comes to you
A fixed chair points one way. These swivel a full 360 degrees and glide gently front to back, so the same seat faces the pool at noon, the conversation at dinner and the sunset afterwards. In a pair, turn the chairs toward each other to talk or both toward the view.
“I can swivel Rock and recline all in one chair it's fabulous and it's worth the money.”
4. The cover lives on the chair, and the frame is built for weather
Every recliner has our patent-pending, built-in all-weather cover, so there is no separate cover to buy, find or store. It unfolds from the back of the chair. (A few clearance items differ, so check the product page.)
Underneath, the frames are rust-proof aluminum (handwoven all-weather wicker over aluminum on the wicker models). The recline mechanism is zinc-plated, e-coated steel, a two-stage rust-resistant treatment made for outdoor use, and it is the part that keeps the recline, swivel and glide moving smoothly season after season.
“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.”
“It is super comfortable, easy to take care of and still looks brand new even with daily use!”
5. It feels like the recliner in your living room
This is the reason that comes up in reviews more than any other. Owners compare the chairs with the recliners they have indoors, and some rank them ahead. The pieces 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.”
Adirondack chair vs. outdoor recliner at a glance
| Classic Adirondack | Outdoor Nook recliner | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | Typically 14 to 16 in at the front edge | About 20 in (Keywest) |
| Getting up | Lower yourself in, push up with the arms | About 4 to 6 in higher, so less effort |
| Back angle | Fixed, roughly 100 to 115 degrees | Upright to full recline |
| Footrest | Usually a separate ottoman | Built in, extends as you recline |
| Swivel and glide | No | 360-degree swivel, front-to-back glide |
| Weather cover | Bought separately | Patent-pending cover built in to the chair |
| Frame | Wood, plastic or poly, depending on the chair | Rust-proof aluminum; handwoven wicker on wicker models |
Adirondack figures are typical published ranges and vary by maker. Recliner figures are from the Keywest size chart; other collections differ slightly, and every product page has full dimensions.
What owners say
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!”
“I have been in the furniture business for over 50 years and never buy furniture over the internet. … I have had them for a bit and absolutely love everything about them.”
“We never thought outdoor furniture could match the comfort of our indoor reclining rockers, but these amazing chairs do just that.”
Know before you buy
Good to know before you order
- These are big, deep chairs. A couple of owners mention that with the seat pushed all the way back their feet don’t reach the floor, and one adds a pillow behind the back. If you are on the shorter side, sit a little further forward or add a cushion.
- They are fully manual. No motor, no cord, no battery. One owner wished for a middle recline stop; the chair goes to a single full-lounge position.
- Measure the spot. Allow about 5½ feet front to back for a full recline, and 27.5 to 32 inches of width per chair, depending on the collection.
- 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 for the details.
Choose your recliner
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. 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?
How long does delivery take, and what does it cost?
Can I leave it outside all year?
Should I buy one recliner or a pair?
Sources. Adirondack figures: Adirondack Street, Polywood and Foowin Living. Reviews: Outdoor Nook customer reviews on Reviews.io (102 reviews, 4.87 average), retrieved September 2026, quoted as written. Recliner dimensions: Keywest size chart on the product page.
