You wouldn’t believe how many Adirondack chairs I’ve seen over the last couple of decades working in outdoor furniture. The classic wood ones and the newer Polywood versions – I’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to these iconic patio chairs.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing quite like the warmth and character of a real wood Adirondack. Whether it’s teak, cedar, or good ol’ pine, quality wooden chairs just have a natural vibe that’s hard to beat. Treat ’em right and re-stain every few years, and those babies will probably outlive you.
But I can’t deny the magic of Polywood either. This recycled plastic stuff is practically indestructible. It doesn’t rot, crack, splinter – none of that. The colors are baked right in, so it doesn’t peel or fade no matter how much sun it gets. You could leave a Polywood chair out in a hurricane and it’d probably just get a nice power-washing.
Sure, some people say Polywood feels a bit too fake and plasticky compared to natural wood. And I get the environmental argument that it’s still technically plastic at the end of the day. But for low maintenance and durability, you just can’t beat this stuff.
Anyways, those are the broad strokes. Wood has that authentic rustic vibe but needs more TLC. Polywood is a zero-maintenance synthetic beast. There’s plenty more to unpack on both sides though…
Comparing Wood vs Polywood Adirondack Chairs:
| Feature | Wood Adirondack Chairs | Polywood Adirondack Chairs |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | – Solid wood like teak, cedar, pine, oak, etc. – Natural materials harvested from trees | – Recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic – Contains recycled plastics like milk jugs, bottles |
| Appearance | – Authentic wood grain patterns – Natural color variations – Warm, rustic, traditional look – Ages with a vintage patina | – Simulated wood grain texture – Solid colors with wood-toned hues – Consistent manufactured aesthetic – Retains solid color over time |
| Color Options | – Unlimited wood stain color choices – Can be painted any solid color – Stains add unique tones and effects | – Limited color selection from manufacturer – Usually tan, brown, gray, white, green – Colors are solid and uniform |
| Durability | – Susceptible to weathering, cracking, splintering – Direct sun can cause fading, drying out – Rain/humidity can lead to rotting, mold/mildew – Lifespan 10-15 years with proper care | – Highly durable and weather-resistant – Won’t rot, crack, splinter or degrade – UV-stabilized to prevent fading – Can last 20-30+ years with little maintenance |
| Maintenance | – Limited color selection from the manufacturer – Usually tan, brown, gray, white, green – Colors are solid and uniform | – Very low maintenance – Occasional cleaning with soap/water – Leave outdoors year-round – No sanding, staining or refinishing needed |
| Environmental Impact | – Renewable wood resource – But impacts deforestation if not sustainably sourced – Wood is biodegradable – Some wood treatments contain harsh chemicals | – Made from recycled consumer plastics – Reduces amount of plastic in landfills – But manufacturing has environmental impacts – Polywood is not biodegradable |
| Comfort | – Contoured wood shapes mold to body – Naturally breathable and temperature neutral – Wood has some flexibility/give | – Rigid plastic doesn’t flex or conform as much – Can feel hard and less forgiving – More slick/smooth surface than wood |
| Weather Resistant | – Must be protected from moisture, sun, snow – Rain/humidity causes wood to warp, swell, rot – UV rays lead to drying, cracking, fading | – Impervious to moisture and humidity – Snow/ice won’t damage or stain – UV-stabilized to prevent sun damage – Colorfast and fade-resistant |
| Upfront Cost | – Lower upfront cost – $150-$500 per chair | – Higher upfront investment – $250-$800+ per chair |
| Long-Term Costs | – Restaining/sealing supplies yearly – Repairs and refinishing down the line – May need to replace every 10-15 years | – Virtually no long-term costs – No restaining, refinishing or repairs – Replace after 25-30 years of use |
| Longevity | – 10-15 year lifespan with proper maintenance – Wood slowly degrades over time | – Extremely long 25-30+ year lifespan – Plastic material doesn’t breakdown easily |
Wood Adirondack Chairs
So like I was saying about those classic wood Adirondack chairs – they’re just a total vibe, am I right? There’s something about the whole rustic, natural wood thing that just screams “Kick back and crack open a cold one!” You know what I mean?
Each one is completely unique too, with its own swirls knots, and color variations. Might be my inner hippie talking, but there’s almost like…an energy to them. You can just feel the chair’s life force, ya dig? It’s wild.
And get this – the original Adirondack design is pushing 120 years old now! Not even kidding! But you’d never know it by looking at one. The sloped seat, those signature wide arms, the angled backrest – it’s such a simple, functional form that it hasn’t really needed to change at all over the decades.
Seriously, the Adirondacks are just dummy-proof in terms of pure ergonomic comfort. You plop your butt down in one of those babies and it automatically puts you into that perfect upright-but-reclined sweet spot. No straining, no achiness, just “Ahhhh…” Mega casual chillin’ achieved.
Sure, keeping that wood in primo condition is a bit of work. You gotta re-stain, re-seal, and be militant about covering them in the offseason. But there’s something low-key therapeutic about getting hands-on with refinishing an older chair, you know? Make it your own with a funky new stain color every few years. Shit’s fun!
I’m telling you, there’s just a whole vibe and spirit to a legit all-wood Adirondack that’s impossible to fully capture. They’re outdoor chairs, but they’re also like…functional art pieces in a way. Maybe I’m just rambling now. The point is, Adirondacks are eternal icons for a reason!
Benefits of wooden Adirondack chairs
I mean, you got options too, you know? Cedar’s got that nice reddish tone. Teak is straight up gorgeous with its golden-honey color. Or if you’re on more of a budget, good ol’ pine gets the job done too. Variety is the spice of life, am I right?
But here’s where it gets really fun – you can freaking customize those wood joints any way you want! Want a two-tone number with the seat a different stain than the back? Buy a cheap secondhand one and go nuts restraining it in crazy colors. Dude, I saw this insane wooden Adirondack once that was stained in like splash patterns of green, yellow, and red – looked like an ayre-breathing dragon!
The point is, with wood, you can make each chair totally unique to your own vibe. It’s not just outdoor furniture, it’s like an art project, man. Getting your hands dirty with some fresh stain, and putting your own creative spin on it…that’s living, bro.
Whereas all those plastic “Polywood” Adirondacks? Don’t get me wrong, they’re solid for low-maintenance and all. But they just feel so…lifeless, you know? There’s no soul, no individual natural variation. Just stamped out by machines to be soulless clones.
I’ll take a high-maintenance, wooden beaut’ over那些any day, my friend. Even if it’s a pain re-staining and waterproofing it every couple of years, at least you’re caring for and customizing a piece of nature’s art, not just…consuming something factory-made. That’s what makes the wood Adirondack game so special.
Drawbacks of wooden Adirondack chairs
It’s a whole damn thing having to re-stain and re-seal them bitches every couple of years just to keep that wood lookin’ fresh. Hell, sometimes I’ve forgotten and those chairs have ended up dryer than the Sahara – start crackin’, splittin’, lookin’ like an archaeological dig site. Not a vibe.
And don’t even get me started on what a harsh winter or too much rain can do. I’ve seen plenty of wood Adirondacks straight up rotting and getting all moldy if you don’t cover them up properly. Message! You gotta be borderline obsessive about protecting and maintaining that wood… unless you wanna be stuck with a rundown, musty eyesore on your deck.
Then you have Splinter City to worry about too! One little knick or chip in that wood and suddenly it’s like running a cheese grater over your palm anytime you wanna kick back. I’ve gotten many a sliver from an old neglected Adirondack chair that wasn’t sanded down enough. No bueno, compadre.
Look, I’m not saying ditch the wood entirely. There’s just an inherent rustic charm and character you can’t replicate any other way. But you gotta be prepared to put in the elbow grease regularly. Otherwise, those classic wooden joints will have you regretting dropping good money on a piece that rots and shreds in no time.
Like my pops always said – “If you can’t put in the maintenance, stick to something low-effort like plastic or poly stuff. Unless you wanna make caring for that wood your own personal Hell on Earth!” …Pretty sure he was exaggerating. But you get the point!
Polywood (HDPE) Adirondack Chairs
So this Polywood stuff? It’s basically just a fancy name for lureplastic lumber made from highdensity polyethylene – HDPE for short. The kind of heavy-duty plastic used for those big ass storage bins, PlaygroundShit, you know what I’m talkin’ about.
But here’s the vibe – companies will take old crappycrap like milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and straight grind it up intoeeny plastic pellets. They’ll mix in some solid colors or wood-tone tints and ironic additives to get that straight-from-the-factory look.
Then it’s go-time, baby! They’ll melt down those colored pellets and force the hot liquid plastic mixture into these special molds under crazy pressure. Once it cools, you get yourself one solid figurine log of faux wood!
From there, it’s just a matter of cutting and shaping those plastic logbois into classic Adirondack chair frames, sanding them down ice and smooth, maybe adding some extra accents or finishes if you’re feelin’ fancy. Seriously though, the process is pretty tight!
I dig how HDPE is made from recyclablematerial and all, but there’s still amaranth of energythriftand new plastic Added to turn it into furniture. Suppose it balances out the eco-scales at the end of the day though?
Yo, the best part is that this polywood is basically perpetual! The colored plastic isn’t gonna rot, splinter, shitorfade like classic wood. Elements on; seem to faze these chairshots at all! You could legit leave a Polywoodwhip out in a tsunami and it would just bob around happily.
Benefits of Polywood Adirondack chairs
I’m talking leave those chairs out in a goddamn hurricane and they’ll still be sitting pretty afterward, no damage! The colored plastic doesn’t rot, splinter, crack, or nada. Are UV rays from the sun beating down on them all day? Polywood laughs at that shit. Rain, snow, sleet – Mother Nature can throw whatever, and those chairs will just soak it up like a champ.
The best part is, you don’t gotta lift a finger to keep ’em looking fresh. No sanding, no re-staining, no waterproofing every year. Just plop a Polywood Adirondack on your patio or deck and forget about it for like…ever. Maintenance schmaintenance!
That’s the other low-key awesome thing – they’re made from recycled plastic, so relatively eco-friendly compared to chomping down more trees. Still, some energy is used in the manufacturing process, sure. But melting down old milk jugs and shelving them a second life as patio furniture? I can definitely get behind that reduce-reuse-recycle flow.
I remember this one couple who had the classiest Polywood setups. Bright white Adirondack chairs with these cooler gray accents weaving through. Looked slick as hell even after years of leaving them uncovered. Didn’t have to worry about them turning into a blotchy, mold-ridden mess like traditional wood pieces.
At the end of the day though, that low-key fake wood look is really the only downside of Polywood chairs. They’ll never have that organic, one-of-a-kind grain vibe of the real deal timber. But for hassle-free, maintenance-free chillin’? Can’t be beat!
Drawbacks of Polywood Adirondack chairs
I mean think about it… companies gotta first collect up and grind down all those recycled plastic bottles and shit. Then there’s the whole process of adding color tints, melting it into molds under crazy pressure, and cutting and sanding them into chair shapes. That’s a good amount of energy and manpower right there.
So when you look at the final price tag on a full Polywood patio set, it can definitely make you do a double take. Like damn, I could get a whole solid wood setup for like half as much if I was trying to ball on a budget! The upfront investment for Polywood is no joke.
But then you also gotta factor in how inflation keeps driving up costs across the board these days. Shit’s wild – feels like every time I go shopping, prices have jumped up again! Recycled plastic ain’t getting any cheaper to source.
Another little grip I got with Polywood is the limited color options compared to wood. With real timber, you can stain that shit whatever wacky color your heart desires. Getting creative with fun new stain combinations is half the fun!
Polywood though? You’re basically stuck with whatever pre-baked colors the company decides to make that year. And it’s usually just basic wood tones or primary colors. Like cool, another brown or green option… really inventive.
I had this buddy who was hyped to get a full Polywood setup in this bright ass orange color. But by the time he went to order, they had already discontinued that Line for the season. He was pissed! Ended up stuck with basic clay red instead of his original vibrant vision.
So yeah, while Polywood is solid for low maintenance and durability, that upfront sticker price ain’t no joke. And good luck if you want to get a unique color vibe going. Those are the main drawbacks of my book. But shit, nobody’s perfect, right?
Comparison of Wood and Polywood Adirondack Chairs
I mean, wooden chairs? You already know that vibe. Crazy smooth grain patterns, natural color variations, and that undeniable rustic charm. But you also gotta be ready to put in the maintenance grind for real. Resanding, restaining, waterproofing – caring for that wood is practically a part-time job if you want it to look fresh.
Then you got Polywood up in the mix. This recycled plastic lumber doesn’t rot, splinter, shit, or fade no matter what nature throws at it. Legit zero upkeep is required other than maybe a quick wipe down here and there. Hassle-free kickback seshes for the ultimate chillaxed lifestyle.
But…that synthetic “wood” look just hits differently, you know what I’m saying? It’ll never have that raw, organic, one-of-a-kind energy that real timber exudes. And those plain colored options are whack compared to getting creative with funky new stain combos.
Shitreally comes down to what you prioritize at the end of the day. Do you want that timeless natural look and feel? You gotta be ready to put in the elbow grease constantly. Lazy on upkeep but don’t mind the fake-y plastic vibe? Polywood’s got you covered no problem.
Personally, I’m still a wood guy through and through. Call me old school, but there’s just something about sinking into those traditional Adirondack lines carved from legit lumber that hits differently, you feel me? That unmistakable natural aesthetic and cozy armchair factor – chef’s kiss!
But I 100% respect the Polywood game too for guaranteed low maintenance. My boy Jamal went that route for his new lake house and hasn’t had to lift a finger. Just leaves those plastic wood things kicked out all year round, zero shits given!
At the end of the day, you do you, boo-boo. If Splinterswoodrot and giving your chairs monthly SPAs sounds like a personal hell? Polywood’s probably the move. But if you can handle some commitment for that irreplaceable rustic appeal? Wood is where it’s at, trust me.
Factors to consider when choosing between the two
First up, there’s the maintenance game. We already went over how real wood chairs need mad pampering to keep that fresh finish. Constant re-staining, re-sealing, waterproofing – shit’s a commitment. Meanwhile, Polywood is basically “set it and forget it” with zero upkeep required. So if low-effort living is a priority, plastic lumber’s where it’s at.
Then you have durability and longevity. Quality wood chairs can absolutely last for decades if you take good care of them. But Polywood is borderline indestructible – we’re talking straight up not giving a fuck about any nasty weather or sun damage. Could leave those chairs on the beach for years and they’d still be as good as new.
Location is another biggie to think about. If you’re setting up the Adirondacks poolside or seaside where they’ll get pelted with constant moisture, Polywood is probably the smarter move to avoid rot and warping. But a drier climate like the desert? Wooden chairs would vibe just fine with some decent maintenance.
Budget-wise, you’re typically dropping more coins upfront for Polywood compared to Wood. But then wood requires way more consistent costs long-term for supplies, replacements, repairs, etc. So it’s a trade-off between bigger upfront investment or slow bleeds over time.
Environmentally, Polywood gets kudos for being made from recycled materials. But there’s still new plastic production and high energy usage in the manufacturing process. With wood, you’re sourcing a natural renewable resource – but also contributing to deforestation if it’s not sustainably harvested. Lot of layers to peel back.
Finally, you gotta just vibe out the aesthetic priorities. If you’re all about that organic, one-of-a-kind look and feel, wood’s the only way to go. But if uniform perfection and zero quirks are more your speed, Polywood’s clean synthetic build delivers.
Long story short, there are mad pros and cons to weigh out on both sides before pulling the trigger. Know your climate, lifestyle, budget situation, and design tastes. Then you can make the real informed decision on what camp to pledge allegiance to in the Adirondack wars – wood vs. Polywood!
Personal preferences and outdoor space considerations
As for me personally, I’m just drawn to that classic natural wood vibe, you feel me? There’s something irresistible about sinking into those thick timber armrests and taking in all the knots, grains, and color variations. Every chair is unique – a one-of-a-kind piece of functional art carved straight from the earth’s canvas.
Yeah, the maintenance is madly annoying. Re-staining, re-sealing, waterproofing every damn season gets old quickly. But there’s also a weird satisfaction to breaking a sweat refinishing those bad boys myself. Putting in that hard work to keep them looking fresh…it’s a whole vibe.
But I know that ain’t everyone’s jam. My guy Marcus is all about that low-key Polywood life now. Dude rocks these dope slate gray numbers on his patio and literally does not lift a finger besides an occasional wipe down here and there. While I’m sweating over resanding every spring, he’s just kickin’ it sipping margs without a care in the world!
The way he sees it, Polywood’s synthetic build means no compromises. That colored plastic ain’t ever splitting, cracking, fading – nada. Dude could legit leave those chairs in the wilderness for a decade and they’d be perfectly preserved like museum pieces when he returned.
Me though? I dunno man, there’s just something that rubs me the wrong way about Polywood’s subtly fake wood aesthetic. Maybe it’s the uniformity or the clinical perfection…but it kills that natural, rustic soul that real lumber exudes for me.
Now don’t get it twisted – at the end of the day, I respect both chair games for what they bring to the table. Polywood’s impressive durability and zero maintenance is crazy. But that traditional wood design and look will always have my heart on lock.
Ultimately, it just comes down to your personal tastes and priorities as a homie. If you’re trying to create an organic, rustic patio oasis escape? Can’t beat real wood. But if hassle-free, eternal perfection is more your mood? Can’t go wrong with Polywood’s plastic power moves.
Just don’t be sleeping on the rest of the logistical factors either! Your local climate, budget, yard size – that stuff plays big when it comes to which chair line is truly the right fit. Do some self-reflection on your deepest desires first…then go from there!
Conclusion
So we covered the main points – wood is all about that unbeatable natural vibe and classic rustic aesthetic, but it’s mad high-maintenance constantly re-staining, re-sealing, waterproofing, and all that. Meanwhile, Polywood’s synthetic build is pretty much indestructible and zero-maintenance, but it’s got that kinda fake, mass-produced look and limited color options compared to wood.
We talked about factoring in your local climate too – if you’re in a super wet, humid zone, Polywood is probably the smarter move to avoid rot and warping. But in dry heat? Wood chairs could vibe just fine with some TLC. Cost is another consideration – wood is cheaper upfront but bleeds you dry over time with supplies and repairs, while Polywood is a bigger upfront investment but has no extra costs down the road.
At the end of the day though, what it really comes down to is personal taste and lifestyle priorities as an individual homie. Like for me? I’m just drawn to wood’s natural, one-of-a-kind energy and willing to put in the maintenance commitment to keep that rustic aesthetic glowing. But I have zero hate for my lazy bum buddies who choose Polywood’s hassle-free synthetic life!
Shit, maybe you’re that crafty creative type who would get a kick out of getting weird with funky new stain colors on wood chairs every season? Or perhaps you’d rather not deal with any potential splinters, cracks, or weather damage at all and admire Polywood’s clinical perfection? There are arguments for both sides for real.
My advice? Don’t just blindly buy into the hype of one over the other. Really sit with your own personal wants, needs, and vibes first. Are you about that organic, rough-around-the-edges look or more into that uniform manufactured polish? Want something requiring regular TLC or straight zero upkeep? Get selfish with your own individual priorities and let that guide the decision!
Cause at the end of the day bruh, you’re the one who’s gonna be parking their ass in those Adirondack chairs all summer. Don’t be picking sides just to pick sides – choose the Chair Throne that’s truly gonna vibe best with your needs and bring you max chill. Whether that’s the wood or Polywood Life…only you can make that call for real!
