Top 5 Outdoor Rocking Chairs
Best Features: GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Best Portable Rocker: GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker Best Set: SOLAURA Outdoor Rocking Chair Set Best Plastic Rocker: POLYWOOD Presidential Rocking Chair Best Wooden Rocker: Shine Company Vermont Porch Rocker
Best Features: GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker
This outdoor rocking chair uses a unique spring-action rocking system to ensure its base is stable on a variety of surfaces, including porches, yards, and campgrounds. This lightweight outdoor rocker has a durable powder-coated steel frame that folds for easy transportation from place to place. It also has padded armrests for comfort and mesh backing for airflow along with several extra features, including a cup holder and a handle.
Best Portable Rocker: GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker
This 12-pound outdoor rocking chair folds into a convenient carrying bag when it’s not in use for easy transportation to picnics, festivals, or campgrounds. With molded armrests and a mesh backrest, this rocking chair is comfortable to sit in. It also has a built-in cup holder to hold your drink of choice and multiple color options to match your style preferences.
Best Set: SOLAURA Outdoor Rocking Chair Set
This bistro set includes two rocking chairs and a small glass table, providing homeowners with decorative and long-lasting seating for their porch, patio, or other outdoor space. Each chair in this set has a metal frame for durability, a high-density sponge cushion for comfort, and a built-in buckle clip for cushion security. This bistro set also comes in multiple colors to match your outdoor decor.
Best Plastic Rocker: POLYWOOD Presidential Rocking Chair
This rocking chair is made with recycled plastic that emulates the look of traditional wood while providing weather resistance. Because of its stain-resistant design, this outdoor rocking chair is easy to clean with soap and water. Other than that, the chair doesn’t require painting, sanding, or other maintenance. Plus, it has a contoured seat for added comfort.
Best Wooden Rocker: Shine Company Vermont Porch Rocker
This traditional outdoor rocking chair is made with durable hardwood coated in a colorful polyurethane paint for additional protection against inclement weather. This paint can be washed with just soap and water. This wooden rocker arrives with a preassembled seat and back for quick and easy setup. It also has rust-resistant hardware for added durability to support up to 250 pounds.
Buyer’s Guide
Before buying an outdoor rocking chair, it’s important to consider how its design and specifications impact its user experience. Here are four factors to keep in mind before making a purchase.
Material
Outdoor rocking chairs come in a variety of weather-resistant materials, with the most popular being wood, metal, plastic, and fabric. Traditional rocking chairs, including the Shine Company Vermont Porch Rocker, are built with wood that’s coated in weather-resistant paint. To emulate the look of traditional wood, some models use recycled plastic, which provides additional weather resistance and durability. Alloy steel, aluminum, and other metals are used for the frames of many outdoor rocking chairs. The seat that goes over the frame is usually made of mesh or fabric. For example, the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker has a powder-coated steel frame that’s covered in durable canvas with a breathable mesh back piece. On the other hand, the SOLAURA Outdoor Rocking Chair Set uses fabric cushions on the rocking chairs’ metal frames for more comfort.
Weight Capacity
An outdoor rocking chair’s weight capacity refers to how many pounds it can hold. Typically, outdoor rocking chairs have a weight capacity of 250 pounds. However, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s recommendations to be sure before making a purchase.
Rocking Mechanism
Outdoor rockers use a variety of mechanisms to create their back-and-forth motion. The most common rocking mechanism is U-shaped legs, seen in models like the POLYWOOD Presidential Rocking Chair. These legs use their shape and the weight of their user to rock back and forth. Other rocking chairs use spring-action technology to push the back legs into pistons using flexible springs. Many outdoor models, such as the GCI Outdoor RoadTrip Rocker, use this technology because it allows the main frame to rest firmly on an uneven surface as the back attachment rocks.
Additional Features
Many outdoor rocking chairs have additional features that make them more user-friendly. For example, the GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker has a built-in carrying handle that helps users transport the chair from place to place. Other models come in bistro sets that include side tables for convenient storage of drinks, phones, books, and other items.
How do I stop my rocking chair from rocking?
If you have a U-shaped rocker that you want to keep from moving, you can install a wooden wedge between the back of the legs and the ground. The wedge can be cut from a 2x4 and painted to match your rocker.
How can I maintain my outdoor rocking chair?
Here are some cleaning instructions that will help maintain the structural integrity and look of your rocking chair:
Start by using a broom or cloth to wipe off dust and cobwebs. Then use soap on a damp cloth to clean stuck-on dirt and grime.
Are rocking chairs dangerous?
Rocking chairs can be dangerous for babies and young kids. Their moving parts can jam fingers, and their motion can push children to the ground. If you have young children that want to sit in your rocking chair, keep a watchful eye on them at all times.
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