Why are these beach chairs made?
It’s summer, and my kids are looking forward to swimming at our little river-washed beach. I’m so tired of buying camping chairs that break after a year or two, and end up living forever in a landfill because they’re not repairable, reusable, or biodegradable.
I’ve been making wooden chairs for the outdoors in our garden, but what about a chair that’s portable enough to travel?
I’m definitely not the creator of this design (I’m not sure who to credit here), but I gave it my own twist by using cedar fence pickets to make the chairs lighter, more durable, and less expensive. I also went through many prototypes trying to find the perfect balance between comfort, durability, portability, and ease of construction.
The result is a very comfortable and lightweight chair. It’s perfect for myself and the kids. My husband thought it needed to be a little stronger to support it, so we also offer a plan option for a stronger version (that’s also heavier).
The 1×2 version of the chair as embedded in the video is lighter, but not as strong and more difficult to build
The back rises to shoulder level, so you can lie down fully. The seat height is low enough to support your seat, but keeps you close enough to the ground that a footrest is not needed.
It should be noted that when leaning forward, the chair can tilt forward. I made prototypes with forward legs and tested different angles, and in the end, I decided that the forward tilt capability wasn’t worth the extra moving parts, weight, and complexity (more to break) needed to solve the problem. The chair is very low to the ground, and your feet will always be on the floor (unless you are under four feet tall). So yes, the chair can recline, but your feet will always be there to support you.
How were these chairs built?
These chairs were quick to build, very easy, and I hope these chairs become a favorite with young people. But there are some techniques you can use to help you build the square of the chairs, and make sure they fit together. Please take a second to watch the quick build video here:
Free plans to build your own wooden beach chairs
We are happy to be able to provide free plans for you to use in building your own beach chairs. I can’t wait to see your photos!
