You ever get that feeling where you just want to plop down somewhere crazy comfortable and soak up some sun? Yeah, me too. That’s why I’m low-key obsessed with Adirondack chairs. Those iconic outdoor thrones are the ultimate vibe for kicking back.
Over the years, I’ve test driven more Adirondack models than I can count on both hands. But two that really made me do a double take were the Polywood Modern and the LL Bean Classic. Totally different looks, same great chair game.
The Polywood is like the James Dean of Adirondacks – too cool for school with its crisp, modern style. I won’t lie, those clean lines had me swooning at first glance. But you know me, I’m all about that comfort life. Well, this baby more than delivered on plush support. Legit cloud-like seated feeling.
Then there’s the LL Bean, your weekend cabin’s best friend. This rustic hunk just screams “fireplace and fuzzy blanket.” With its old-school Adirondack vibes, it’s like sinking into a beautiful reminder to slow down and breathe that fresh mountain air. Yes, please!
I put these two stunners through the full wringer – sea breezes, scorching sun, you name it. I’m talking real-life field testing here, folks. And let me tell you, they both passed with flying colors in terms of holding up to the elements.
Whether you want that contemporary swank or more of a laidback, traditional kick-it situation, I gotchu. I’m spilling all the deets on these prime Adirondack specimens so you can pick your perfect outdoor throne. It’s lawn life upgrade time!
Okay, who wants a crisp lemonade? I’ve got plenty of chair gab to go around. Let’s do this!
Comparison table between the Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair and the LL Bean All-Weather Classic Adirondack Chair:
| Feature | Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair | LL Bean All-Weather Classic Adirondack Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Clean lines, minimalist aesthetic | Traditional Adirondack slat design with elegant curves |
| Sleek, contemporary style | Rustic, timeless charm inspired by early 20th century originals | |
| Material | HDPE polywood lumber | Marine-grade hardwood like acacia, eucalyptus or teak |
| Synthetic wood alternative | Dense, weather-resistant tight grain | |
| Comfort | Gently reclined back at 16-20 degree angle | Reclined back angled around 15 degrees |
| Contoured seat with lumbar support | Curved, contoured seat for ergonomic support | |
| Shorter 12-14 inch front seat height | Taller 15+ inch front seat height better for long legs | |
| Weatherproofing | Will not splinter, crack, chip, peel or rot | Factory stain/sealant protects against moisture |
| UV protection prevents fading | Develops silver-gray patina over years if unsealed | |
| Durability | Extremely durable – 20+ year lifespan | Very durable hardwood – 10-15 year lifespan |
| Impervious to insects, salt spray | Resists rot, insect damage when properly treated | |
| Maintenance | Just requires occasional cleaning | Regular resealing extends life, avoid leaving uncovered |
| Stain resistant and easy to wipe clean | Wood can get weathered look if not maintained | |
| Setup | Typically requires full assembly | Usually shipped pre-assembled for easy setup |
| Aesthetics | Modern, sleek furniture piece | Rugged, natural New England charm |
| Variety of colors like black, white, teak | Natural wood tones like cedar, mahogany | |
| Weight | Moderately heavy at 35-45 lbs | Fairly heavy around 30-40 lbs depending on wood |
| Price | $200-$400 range | $150-$300 range |
Both offer excellent all-weather patio seating but with the Polywood favors ultra-low maintenance and contemporary style, while the LL Bean highlights classic Adirondack comfort and traditional hand-crafted character. The right choice comes down to prioritizing design aesthetics, ergonomic needs and expected lifespans.
Design and Comfort
Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair
Alright, alright, let me circle back to the Polywood for a sec. This modern masterpiece isn’t just a pretty face – it’s packing some serious comfort too.
The design is all sorts of sophisticated with those clean, contemporary lines. But don’t let the minimalist vibe fool you. These babies were carefully engineered for chillin’ in sublime seated bliss.
The lumbar support and slightly reclined angle make it feel like this chair was literally molded to your body’s contours. No more awkward slouching or pinched lower back action. Just you, melting into that perfect lounge pose.
Now, I won’t deny that getting this Polywood all set up was a bit of a process at first. There were some steps involved beyond just dropping it wherever. But hey, anything worth having is worth working for a little, am I right?
Once that initial setup was done though, I could finally savor the pure relaxation this chair brings. Frosty beverage in hand, sunglasses on, an entire sunny afternoon stretching before me with not a care in the world. That’s the Polywood vibe.
Whether you’re soaking up some vitamin D on the deck or hosting backyard hangs, this modern Adirondack owns the combo of style and stupid amounts of comfort. It’s an elite outdoor lounge experience.
The only bad thing is having to eventually peel myself out of those contoured depths when day turns to night. But such is life when you’ve ascended into next-level seat bliss!
LL Bean All-Weather Classic Adirondack Chair
Okay, let’s switch gears to the LL Bean Classic. If the Polywood is the cool kid on the Adirondack block, this one’s your vintage, salt-of-the-earth OG.
But don’t let that classic, old-school design fool you into thinking it’s just trading on nostalgia. LL Bean built this sturdy beast to withstand whatever nature throws its way – scorching sun, driving rain, you name it. The all-weather construction means this chair’s sticking around for the long haul.
Despite its rugged durability, the ergonomics are on point too. The contoured seat and angled back provide way more support than you’d expect from something so stripped-down looking. I’m talking hours upon hours of leaf-peeping, beer-sipping, chillin’ without feeling like I’ve been broken in half once I stand up again.
And can we talk about how stupid simple this chair is to set up? No multi-step instructions, no craving an engineering degree. It comes pretty much ready to go right out of the box. A couple tweaks here and there and bam – you’ve got a classic Adirondack throne ready to be parked wherever your outdoorsy heart desires.
Whether you’re camping, posting up in the backyard, or just wanting to zhuzh your patio with some real New England character, the LL Bean checks all the boxes. Durable, comfortable, and with a laidback traditional vibe that just feels right at home amongst the pines or by the lake.
I swear, somethings about kicking back in this chair just makes me want to whip out a beat-up old paperback, maybe whittle some stick figures to park alongside me. It’s the simple pleasures, you know? The LL Bean’s all about easy breeziness.
Material and Durability
Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair
Alright, let’s talk materials and durability for a sec. With the Polywood, we’re dealing with some seriously hardy stuff here.
This chair isn’t messing around with any real wood nonsense that’ll leave you with splinters in your butt after a few seasons. Nope, it’s made from this polywood material that’s engineered to basically laugh in the face of whatever nature decides to throw at it.
We’re talking full-on resistance to cracking, splintering, peeling – all those annoying things that can turn a nice outdoor setup into a rundown eyesore over time. The polywood stands sturdy against the most extreme heat, blistering sun, you name it.
And forget about staining from spilled drinks or sauces too. This stuff wipes clean like a dream. You could probably shovel mud all over it and then hose it right off afterwards without it batting an eye.
Plus, polywood is straight up bug proof. No worrying about termites or other wood-munching pests trying to stake their claim. They take one look at this material and move right along in search of greener (or should I say woodier) pastures.
Basically, the Polywood is built to endure pretty much any wear and tear you can imagine from the great outdoors. You could drag it behind your truck through a hurricane and it would probably just be like “Thanks for the carwash, bro!”
So while sure, you may pay a little more upfront for this space-age wood alternative, you’re getting one seriously stubborn outdoor chair in return. An investment in no-fuss, no-muss resilience that’ll keep looking fresh for many summers to come!
LL Bean All-Weather Classic Adirondack Chair
Now let’s talk about what makes the LL Bean such an enduring classic – its rugged, all-weather construction.
This isn’t some flimsy lawn chair you’ll be replacing every couple years. Nope, LL Bean builds these babies to last through pretty much any hell Mother Nature can dish out.
The materials are specifically engineered to laugh off moisture, scorching sun, you name it. We’re talking weather-resistant heavy duty stuff that won’t warp, splinter or disintegrate into a sad heap after a couple seasons outdoors.
Whereas some outdoor chairs start looking haggard and beaten down when exposed to the elements year after year, the LL Bean just seems to gain more character. It’s like a wizened old sea captain who’s sailed through countless storms but has the battle scars to prove they can take it.
Stability and durability are obviously top priorities here too. No wishy-washy wiggling or that slow sad lean all cheap outdoor furniture eventually succumbs to. With its rock solid construction, you could probably use this chair as a step-stool and it still wouldn’t buckle.
I’m talking the kind of sturdy, resolute build that shrugs off high winds, torrential downpours, whatever. Just parks its heels and says “That all you got, nature? Bring it on!”
So sure, while the LL Bean may not make you do triple takes with its cutting edge design, it MORE than makes up for it by being the outdoor chair equivalent of a tank. This sturdy New England icon will be holding court on your patio or lawn longer than you’ll probably want it around!
Comfort Level and Longevity
Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair
Alright, let’s get into the nitty gritty on comfort and longevity with the Polywood.
Comfort-wise, it delivers a pretty solid experience overall. The lumbar support and reclined angle make it a nice option for kicking back without your lower back screaming at you after an hour. It’s got that contoured, body-cradling feel that really lets you settle in nicely.
That said, if you’re like mega tall, the low-ish front seat height could potentially be a bit of a leg-dangler for you. Might not be an issue for average-height folks, but anyone pushing 6’2″ or above may want to take that into consideration.
But where the Polywood really pulls ahead is its built-to-last resilience. We’re talking next-level longevity here, folks.
Thanks to that synthetic polywood construction, this chair is pretty much impervious to all the things that normally degrade outdoor furniture over time. Splintering, cracking, fading, you name it – the polywood just doesn’t care. It almost taunts those usual aging issues like “You gonna cry about it? You gonna cry?”
Seriously, with just some basic cleaning and care, this material can easily keep looking fresh and new for decades with zero issues. You could prob even hand this chair down to ungrateful future generations and it still wouldn’t be showing its age.
So while the comfort may not quite reach divineят levels of celestial seating for the tallest among us, the polywood scores big for its ridiculously low-maintenance longevity. An investment that’ll keep on giving through many, many summers of outdoor lounging bliss!
LL Bean All-Weather Classic Adirondack Chair
Okay, let’s take a look at what the LL Bean brings to the table when it comes to comfort and long-lasting performance.
In the comfort department, this classic really shines. It may look all simple and straightforward, but the design is deceptively ergonomic. The contoured seat and angled back provide way better support than you’d expect from such a no-frills aesthetic.
I’m talking full-on extended lounging capabilities here. You can easily park it in this chair for hours on end without feeling like you’ve been twisted into a human pretzel once you finally stand up again. Whether you’re reading, snoozing, or just zoning out staring at the clouds, it cradles you in a deliciously laidback recline.
But beyond just being cozy in the moment, LL Bean built these chairs to go the distance. The weather-resistant materials are clearly made to handle whatever nature decides to hurl their way over the years.
We’re talking heavy-duty construction that doesn’t even blink at driving rain, blazing sun, or pretty much any other elemental beating. While so many outdoor chairs eventually succumb to warping, cracking, and just looking downright haggard after repeated seasonal abuse, the LL Bean just gains more personality.
It’s almost like expose it to some intense meteorological pummeling, and it’s just like “Thanks for the massage, Mother Nature! Let me lounge here and work on my rustic patina some more.” Zero fussing over coddling this chair to preserve its looks.
So whether you’re seeking the perfect reading nook or just want an all-weather Adirondack companion for carefree years of patio posts-ups, the LL Bean brings comfort and hardiness in one classic New England package. Low-maintenance relaxation for the long haul!
Conclusion
Alright, time to sum things up between these two Adirondack heavyweights – the sleek Polywood modern model and the timeless LL Bean classic.
The way I see it, both chairs absolutely bring their own unique strengths to the outdoor lounging game. It really comes down to whether you prefer that contemporary vibe or more of a laidback, rustic aesthetic.
If you’re all about the clean, minimalist look and low-maintenance longevity, then the Polywood is gonna be your jam. That synthetic polywood material is basically Mother Nature’s worst nightmare – impervious to all her tricks like cracking, splintering, fading, you name it. You could probably hand this chair down to ungrateful grandkids and it still wouldn’t be showing its age.
Comfort-wise, it delivers a pretty solid reclined lounging experience too, especially if you dig that contoured seat and lumbar support thing. Though I will say, any fellow Lankys out there over 6’2″ may want to test drive it first thanks to that lower front seat.
On the flipside, the LL Bean is pure New England cottage charm. This sturdy, weather-resistant beast somehow makes ruggedness look refined and cozy as hell. It’s built to shrug off whatever elements come its way while cradling you in that oh-so-supportive, low-key ergonomic design. A laidback comfort king.
So if you’d rather your outdoor seating feel more like an old friend that’s been through some stories versus a space-age lounger, the LL Bean’s got you covered. Just don’t expect the same ultra-modern panache as the Polywood’s sleeker vibes.
At the end of the day, there’s no objectively “better” choice here. It just comes down to personal preference for aesthetics, weighing comforts, and deciding how extreme you want to go on that all-weather durability factor.
Whichever you choose, just know you’re getting an A+ outdoor lounging experience perfect for long, lemonade-sipping summer days of absolute patio or lawn bliss. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some more field testing to attend to!
