Adirondack chairs are often more comfortable than other types of lounge chairs due to their contoured shape, making them easier to recline in, as well as allowing for the use of extra cushions and pillows. Folding Adirondack chairs are a modern twist that makes storage and transportation easier.
The Adirondack chair got its name from the Adirondack mountains, where Thomas Lee, the inventor, built the prototype from eastern hemlock. Lee called his chair, the Westport chair, after the name of the town where he lived. Thomas was only interested in making furniture for himself, so he gave the design to his friend Harry Bunnell, a local carpenter. It was Bunnell’s customers who began referring to the chairs by their modern name, Adirondack chairs.
Traditionally, the wooden Adirondack chairs were made of cedar, teak, or redwood, because these woods naturally resist insects, sun, and weather damage. Today, Adirondack chairs are made from hardwoods, simulated wood, and plastics which are all durable and resistant to decay.
