Before you set out to buy a folding chair (or chairs) it may be worthwhile just taking some time out to establish which type of folding chair will suit your particular needs, best.

Folding chairs have been around for thousands of years. The Egyptians developed folding stools for ceremonial purposes and maybe even they copied the idea from some older civilization; who knows?

What we do know is that over the centuries folding chairs have evolved into the very versatile seating we enjoy today.

There are a number of ways in which today’s folding chairs are made. The first being moulded plastic with resin frames. These are great if you’re looking for something that’s lightweight, inexpensive and easy to clean. However, they can tend to be a little on the fragile side when compared to the remaining types and are only really intended for light, occasional use.

The next type is the metal-framed fold up chair. These are manufactured by suspending some sort of comfortable material from a collapsible tubular framework (usually aluminium alloy or steel) or nowadays, come with moulded propylene seats and backrests, which clip onto the framework. These plastic may or may not be padded with foam rubber and some form of flexible material.

Again, due to the ease of manufacture involved, these tend to be inexpensive but certain types can look a little industrial. You usually find this type of seating in meeting halls and other similar establishments. They are more often than not, very easy to wipe clean and tend to last for year upon year.

There’s also the folding camping/backpacking chair. These have an extremely lightweight, aluminium alloy frame, which can be folded down very compactly so as to take up a minimal amount of space and are relatively comfortable if used for short periods of time.

And, there is another type of metal-framed foldable chair and that is the reclining (or zero gravity) folding chair. These make excellent garden and/or poolside sun loungers and are extremely comfortable. They’re also a big hit with reflexologists due to the stability of the chair when a patient is put into the zero gravity position during treatment

The last type of folding chair is the wooden folding chair. These are a little more expensive but are very versatile; they look great too, no matter whether you use them in the garden/patio, in a conservatory/summer house or use them in the house for when friends and relatives call.

No matter which type of folding chair you end up buying, the really great thing about them is that, when they’re not needed you can fold them up and store them away in the tiniest of closets.