Ahhh...the folding chair.  The folding chair brings back memories of parties growing up.  They remind me of graduation parties, 4th of July parties, weddings, and even wakes.  The folding chair is a fantastic practicality that many people find themselves in need of at one time or another.  First of all, most college kids can tell you that the cheap folding chair is the best alternative for home furnishings.  If you have ever thrown a party, then you know the need for folding chairs and you usually end up beg, borrowing and stealing them in order for all your guests to have a place to sit.  Folding chairs come in many different varieties and materials, but there is one thing they all have in common.  They fold for ease of use and portability.

There are three characteristics that makes a chair a folding chair and these characteristics make them more practical to use than the standard fixed chairs. These characteristics are ease of storage, ease of portability and their durability. Of course, a folding chair is not a folding chair unless it folds!

Of course one of the great benefits of a folding chair is the lightweight frame and ease of portability. This concept is evident in many things in our lives these days from the laptop computer to the cell phone. The folding chair was ahead of the curve on this one though and has had many more years to perfect its design. Folding chairs also have made the transition outdoor folding chairs in the form of camping chairs, beach chairs and lawn chairs. Those chairs are made from materials that suit their purpose and have become very popular in recent years.

Additional seating is the main purpose of the folding chair. During parties it is common to count the people that are going to be attending and provide each guest with a chair. If a large party is the order of the day, it is usually easy to order the number of folding chairs needed. These companies and even some people who throw a lot of parties have many of these folding chairs, whether they be nice wooden ones or practical metal ones, and because of the practicality of them all folding and stacking together, space is saved and we all know saved space is saved money. These might also be referred to as stacking chairs. Saved space is also more room for things that are fun like arcade games and pool tables...or at least that is the way of things at my house!

Durability of folding chairs is also a big factor for anyone considering purchasing them. Most today are made from strong material and some are even weather resistant. A metal folding chair is usually made of lightweight alloys, but even wood and plastic folding chairs are treated with chemicals to keep them strong and in good working order for a long time to come. Manufacturers have made it a point to make folding chairs sturdy because they are intended to bear weight and it is important that they are made correctly in order to last a very long time.

Below is a video of a folding chair that is very unique.  The typical ugly metal folding chair is not your only option!  Open your eyes to new ideas and see what becomes :)