There are stackable chairs, foldable chairs and rocking chairs. Kitchen table and chair sets, kids table and chair sets, and kids chairs. With such a wide variety of chairs available, how do you know which one is the right one for you?

Portable chairs generally consist of chairs that are light in weight, these will be the ones that weigh a couple pounds each. Many of these types are foldable, however some of them are stackable. If you go to a school gym for a function at the school you will likely see metal, stackable chairs. These are usually grey in color. I will always remember, when I was young, the first time I helped my Dad put away the chairs at the high school. Thousands of grey, metal stackable chairs were laid on their side on carts, then, they were simply rolled under the stage. That was fascinating to me at that young age.

Many chairs are good for occasional use such as events at schools, when company comes over, a day at the beach, or outdoor gatherings. For days at the beach, and outdoor gatherings the most commonly used chairs will be lawn chairs, which fold, or folding camping chairs.

Many foldable or stackable chairs are not suited to outdoor use where you may have to deal with soft surfaces. This is because they have four legs that have a small surface area and may sink in the soft surface, making them unstable or causing them to tip over. The folding camping chairs generally have a circular foot on their legs, with a diameter of approx three to four inches, this disperses the weight over a larger area, and makes them more sturdy on softer surfaces such as sand and grass.

Lawn chairs on the other hand, at least the traditional ones, have a tubular metal frame, which forms one leg and goes across and up to form the other leg as well. This design also makes these chairs much sturdier for softer surfaces. I believe it may be a matter of personal preference, but I much prefer the folding camp chairs.

Now for indoor chairs that you would find, say at the kitchen table. There are a number of different varieties of these chairs as well. You have the straight backed chairs, chairs with arm rests, and many others. On top of that, you also have many different materials to choose from. Many chairs are built from wood, whether straight backed or with arm rests. Many are built using a combination of wood and metal. These ones usually have a metal frame with wood for the seat and back.

Another option is the metal framed chairs that have cushioned seat and backrest. This was a very popular choice at one time. Also you have different types of rocking chairs, the type with two rockers on the floor that the chair attaches to. There is also what I consider to be an interesting type, and that is what is known as the glider rocker. This type of chair I find to be favourable in some settings, because the part of the chair in touch with the floor doesn't move. The chair is actually attached to the base in such a way that the chair glides back and forth over top of the base. Hence the name glider rocker. There are many other chairs out there that we haven't mentioned.