7 best deckchairs for reclining in comfort and style this summer

With its perfect pale blue stripes, this deckchair really brought a smile to our faces and a lovely splash of colour to our garden. We loved the wide-striped cabana-style print. It brings a contemporary look to any patio or terrace. Okay, so it’s quite low down meaning it’s not going to be the easiest to get in and out of  – but when were deckchairs ever? And once we were sat, it was really comfortable and we could easily while away the hours in it. The matching headrest also helped with comfort levels. The metal frame folds really small, so good for those short on space. It’ll easily jam in a cupboard or slither of space in the shed too.

We can’t quite get over the amazing value of this deckchair. It’s lightweight and easy to fold, without a hint of a creak when sat in. Indeed, it feels stable when we sit on it, even on an uneven patio. It’s also easy enough to take with you around the garden, for slinging in the car boot or for stowing away in the garden shed. We found it looked great even after the British weather turned, and the coated metal frame made it durable. Sure, it won’t win any awards for the exciting colours, but it hides any dirt well and will wipe clean.

Not content with lying in a deckchair when al fresco chilling? Well how about a little rocking action to get you fully relaxed? This durable and sophisticated deckchair has a subtle rocking action to it, which we found had us slipping into a little doze – perfect for lazy summer days.

The soft-yet-hardwearing 100 per cent cotton fabric on the Garden Trading deckchair is printed in subtle colours. And the frame is made out of beach, and has that washed-out shabby chic vibe going on. We found this chair comfortable, although the curved arms do curtain the space slightly.

This is a real classic deck chair, if ever we saw one. It has three reclining positions, so it’s going to work whether you want to sit up and chat with friends or lie back and sunbathe. The frame, which is made from solid FSC timber, feels durable, and is finished in a deep brown tone. We found this deck chair really comfortable, with no constraining arms meaning we could stretch out nicely. The seat fabric is polyester, so it will fair well if it’s caught in a shower, but it is also a tad sweatier than other cottons in this line up.

With a metal frame and wipe-clean fabrics, this is probably the most durable deckchair we found. You could leave it out in all weathers and it’d probably be fine. It’s water and UV resistant, and it looked as good as new at the end of our testing period as it did when we unboxed it. We also appreciated that, given the temperamental British weather, that the fabric is quick dry – although yes, it could get a tad sweaty.

The Duramax deckchair has three recline positions, so you can find your optimal repose position. There’s also a comfy headrest pillow – a touch all testers appreciated. We found this chair pretty comfortable. It is, however, quite heavy thanks to the metal frame – it’s not one you’ll want to sling in the car, or keep having to pack away into the shed.

The classic Adirondack style of this chair added a touch of laid-back sophistication to our garden. Perfect for decking, grass and patio, there’s no garden or outdoor space that this chair won’t make a little better. It is, however, very large and heavy. You won’t want to be shifting about hourly as you chase the sun around your garden, let’s put it that way. It is also worth noting that the Von Haus chair comes flatpacked, though construction only took us around 30 minutes.

We found it very comfortable though, with armrests wide enough to balance a drink on. It’s set in one recline position, but we found it a really good recline for sitting and chatting with friends – you certainly won’t be sitting back staring at the blinding sun in this chair. It feels durable and well made, and is a classic piece that’s never going to go out of style.

Oh how we loved the classic aesthetic of this deck chair. We went for “surfing” stripes – a perfect beachy blue that looked incredibly inviting. The Stripes Company has this deckchair in pretty much every colourway under the sun though and you can get swatches of the fabrics you like before you buy, too. The fabric is a thick, heavy-duty canvas, which is hardwearing yet breathable.

You can, if you want, remove the fabric sling from this deckchair – and even fully replace it once it’s worn out. But with good treatment, the deckchair should last you years. The frame is made from teak, and finished in a warm rich brown shade for the ultimate classic deckchair vibe. With three recline positions, we found this deckchair generously roomy and very comfortable. It ticked all our boxes, basically.