There’s a specific kind of frustration that comes with having an outdoor space you can’t fully enjoy. For us, it was a small apartment balcony that baked in the afternoon sun. It was just big enough for two, but bulky, year-round furniture was out of the question. We craved a simple, stylish seating solution—something we could bring out for morning coffee or an evening glass of wine, then tuck away effortlessly. The search for a chair that wasn’t a flimsy, uncomfortable camp chair or a permanent, heavy fixture felt endless. We needed something that blended sophisticated design with grab-and-go convenience. This challenge is familiar to anyone with a small porch, a manicured garden they don’t want to clutter, or the desire for a chic, portable lounger to take to a park or beach. The wrong choice means chairs that are a hassle to store, an eyesore to look at, or worst of all, too uncomfortable to actually use, defeating the entire purpose of creating a relaxing outdoor escape.
What to Consider Before Buying a Lounge Chair
A lounge chair is more than just an item of outdoor furniture; it’s a key solution for crafting moments of relaxation and comfort. It’s your personal retreat for reading a book on the patio, sunbathing by the pool, or simply enjoying the fresh air. The main benefit of a well-chosen lounge chair lies in its ability to transform any outdoor area into a functional and inviting living space. It encourages you to spend more time outside, de-stress, and connect with nature. Without the right seating, a beautiful deck or garden can go unused, becoming a missed opportunity for daily enjoyment and rejuvenation.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who values both aesthetics and practicality. They might be a city dweller with a compact balcony, a homeowner who wants flexible seating for their garden that can be stored during winter, or anyone who appreciates minimalist, mid-century modern design. It’s for the person who wants to upgrade their space without committing to permanent, cumbersome furniture. Conversely, this style of chair might not be suitable for those who require extensive lumbar support for long periods of sitting, need a high weight capacity well over 200 lbs, or prefer a plush, cushioned feel. For those users, a more traditional, stationary patio armchair with thick cushions or a heavy-duty, multi-position recliner might be a better alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Always measure your intended space. The Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair has a footprint of 31″ deep by 24″ wide, but its low profile (28″ high with a 14.5″ seat height) is a key characteristic. Consider not just where it will sit when open, but also your storage space when it’s folded. A chair that is easy to store is more likely to be used.
- Capacity/Performance: Check the maximum weight recommendation. The Sava is rated for 200 pounds, which is standard for a lightweight chair but may not be sufficient for all users. Performance also includes how it handles the elements. Quick-drying materials like the woven nylon on this chair are essential for outdoor use to prevent mildew and ensure it’s always ready for use after a rain shower.
- Materials & Durability: The frame material dictates the chair’s longevity and look. Acacia wood, used in the Sava chair, is a great choice for outdoor furniture as it’s naturally durable and resistant to water. It offers a warm, high-end look compared to plastic or metal. The seat material, in this case, woven nylon webbing, needs to be strong, UV-resistant to prevent fading, and taut enough to provide support.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A major selling point for a folding chair is its convenience. Look for models that require no assembly, like this one. Maintenance is also key; unfinished wood like the Sava’s frame may require occasional sealing or oiling to maintain its luster and protect it from the elements over the long term, so factor that into your decision.
While the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
First Impressions: Unboxing Simplicity and Style
Our experience with the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair began with a moment of pure relief. The box arrived, and upon opening it, we were greeted not by a dreaded bag of screws and a confusing instruction manual, but by a fully assembled chair. This “no assembly required” feature cannot be overstated—it’s an instant win. The chair unfolds with a satisfyingly simple and smooth motion, ready for use in seconds.
The first thing we noticed was the striking visual appeal. The combination of the natural acacia wood frame and the taut, black woven webbing is a classic mid-century modern look that feels both timeless and contemporary. It instantly elevates the look of any space it occupies, a sentiment echoed by users who note how it “really upgraded the small porch.” The wood itself had a pleasant, solid feel, and at 11 pounds, it struck a perfect balance between being sturdy enough to feel secure and light enough to carry with one hand. Some user reports mention receiving units with rough patches or discoloration on the wood, and while our test unit was well-finished, it’s a quality control aspect to be aware of when you check the latest price and availability. Initial impressions were overwhelmingly positive: this is a beautiful, well-conceived piece of portable furniture.
Key Benefits
- Stunning mid-century modern aesthetic that elevates outdoor spaces
- Completely foldable and lightweight (11 lbs) for easy transport and storage
- Zero assembly required; ready to use straight out of the box
- Durable acacia wood frame and quick-drying woven nylon seat
Limitations
- Low seat height may be difficult for some users to get in and out of
- A lower wooden crossbar can create an uncomfortable pressure point on the lumbar back
A Deep Dive into the Sava Chair’s Performance
A chair can be beautiful, but its true test comes from living with it. We spent weeks using the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair in various settings—on a small concrete balcony, a grassy lawn, and even indoors as an occasional accent chair. Our in-depth evaluation focused on the three aspects that matter most: its design and build quality, its real-world comfort and ergonomics, and its ultimate portability and convenience.
Design and Aesthetics: A Masterclass in Portable Style
The strongest attribute of the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair is unequivocally its design. In a market saturated with functional but bland folding chairs, the Sava stands out. The natural finish of the acacia wood frame is warm and inviting, with a grain that gives each chair a unique character. Acacia is an excellent choice for this application, offering much of the durability and weather-resistance of more expensive woods like teak. We left our chair out in a few surprise rain showers, and the woven nylon seat dried remarkably fast, while water beaded up and rolled off the wooden frame. One user confirmed our findings, noting their chairs “didn’t fade at all being in the sun all summer.”
The black woven webbing provides a dramatic, stylish contrast to the light wood. It’s pulled taut, creating clean lines and a supportive, hammock-like seat. This combination of materials is what gives the chair its distinct personality, fitting seamlessly into a variety of decor styles from bohemian to minimalist modern. It’s the kind of chair that earns compliments. We found it looked just as good on our front porch, inviting guests to sit, as it did tucked into a corner of our living room. It’s this aesthetic versatility that makes it more than just a piece of outdoor furniture; it’s a design element. As one happy buyer simply put it, “I love this, so beautiful!!!” The chair’s visual appeal is a massive part of its value proposition; it’s furniture you’re proud to own and display, which you can explore further by viewing its full feature set and user reviews.
Comfort and Ergonomics: The Great Divide
Here is where our review becomes more nuanced, and where prospective buyers must honestly assess their needs. The comfort of the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair is a topic of significant debate among users, and our testing confirmed why. Let’s start with the positives. The slung-back, reclining posture is genuinely relaxing for short-term lounging. The woven seat conforms to your body, providing firm yet flexible support without the pressure points of a solid surface. For enjoying a 20-minute coffee break or reading a chapter of a book, it’s quite pleasant.
However, two significant ergonomic issues emerged during longer periods of sitting. First, the seat height is very low at 14.5 inches. As one user aptly described it, “they reminded me of a child’s chair, but wider.” This low profile contributes to its relaxed, lounging feel but can make getting in and out of the chair a challenge, particularly for taller individuals or those with mobility issues. Second, and more critically, is the placement of the lower wooden crossbar that supports the back webbing. For many sitters, including our testers, this bar aligns perfectly—and painfully—with the lumbar region of the lower back. One user described it perfectly: “The lower horizontal wooden piece… is precisely placed to impinge on your lumbar back area.” This is not a minor inconvenience; after about 30 minutes, it becomes a distinct point of discomfort. We found, as several users did, that this flaw is almost entirely correctable with the addition of a small lumbar or rectangular pillow. With a pillow in place, the chair becomes significantly more comfortable for extended use. It’s a design flaw, but a manageable one. It’s crucial for buyers to understand they may need to budget for an accessory to unlock the chair’s full comfort potential.
Durability and Construction: A Solid, But Imperfect, Build
For a lightweight, folding chair, the Sava feels surprisingly sturdy. The acacia wood frame is robust, and the joints operate smoothly without any worrying creaks or wobbles. During our testing, it felt stable on both hard surfaces and slightly uneven grass. The 200-pound weight limit seems accurate and appropriate for its design. We were impressed with the durability of the nylon webbing; it shows no signs of stretching or fraying after weeks of regular use, confirming one user’s long-term observation: “I was originally worried the straps would get loose over time or fray…hasn’t happened in the many months we’ve had them outside.”
That said, quality control appears to be a point of inconsistency. While our unit was flawless, several users reported issues that detract from the overall premium feel. Reports of the chair arriving “worn on the edge,” or the wood being “very rough and discolored in multiple places” are concerning. Another user pointed out a structural worry: a knot located on a critical rear support piece, which could potentially lead to failure over time. These issues suggest that manufacturing consistency could be improved. While the core design is durable and the materials are well-chosen, there is a chance of receiving a unit with cosmetic or minor structural flaws. This is a risk to consider when evaluating the overall value of this otherwise well-constructed chair.
Portability and Convenience: The Ultimate Selling Point
If the design is the chair’s heart, its portability is its soul. This is where the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair truly excels and justifies its existence. At just 11 pounds, it’s effortless to move around. Folding the chair takes less than five seconds and it collapses into a relatively flat profile that can be slid under a bed, stood up in a closet, or leaned against a wall in the garage. This “fold-and-go” nature completely changes how you can use your outdoor spaces.
We found ourselves using our balcony far more often simply because the barrier to setting up seating was eliminated. Want to catch 15 minutes of sun? Grab the chair. An impromptu dinner outside? The chairs are ready in seconds. This convenience is a game-changer for those with limited space who can’t dedicate a permanent footprint to furniture. As one user noted, they wanted a chair “that could be easily stored in the winter,” and the Sava perfectly fits that bill. The fact that it comes fully assembled is the cherry on top, providing instant gratification and removing any potential frustration from the setup process. This supreme convenience is a primary reason to choose this chair over heavier, non-folding alternatives.
What Other Users Are Saying
Synthesizing feedback from a wide range of buyers provides a clear and balanced picture of the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair. The positive sentiment overwhelmingly centers on its visual appeal and convenience. One user captured this perfectly: “This stylish chair has really upgraded the small porch at our front door. It is very well made and comfortable.” Another enjoyed them all summer for coffee and cocktails, praising that they “fold easily out of the way” and are “very well made.”
On the other hand, the negative feedback is just as consistent and focuses almost entirely on comfort and quality control. The most common complaint, which we confirmed, is the lumbar bar. “The wooden frame across your back just hurts against your Lumbar which makes it uncomfortable,” one review states plainly, adding that an outdoor lumbar pillow is a necessary fix. The low-to-the-ground design was also a surprise for some. Quality control is the other significant issue, with reports of chairs arriving damaged or with “flimsy” and “rough” wood. This feedback is critical: it frames the Sava not as a perfect chair, but as a beautiful and convenient one with a significant ergonomic flaw that can be corrected, and a potential for manufacturing inconsistencies.
How Does the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair Compare to Alternatives?
While the Sava chair carves out a niche with its specific style, it’s important to see how it stacks up against other popular options that prioritize different features. We’ve compared it to three distinct competitors to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your needs.
1. ABORON Folding Patio Chaise Lounge Chair
If your top priority is heavy-duty functionality and adjustability, the ABORON lounge chair is a formidable alternative. Where the Sava is fixed, stylish, and lightweight, the ABORON is a workhorse. It boasts an impressive 500-pound load capacity, making it a much more robust option for a wider range of users. Its key feature is its multi-position adjustability, allowing you to sit upright, recline, or lay completely flat for sunbathing—a level of versatility the Sava can’t match. It’s built for pure, functional relaxation. You trade the Sava’s chic, mid-century aesthetic for a more utilitarian design, but for someone who wants a durable, highly adjustable lounger for poolside or serious backyard relaxing, the ABORON is the more practical choice.
2. GUNJI 3-Piece Outdoor Lounge Chair Set
The GUNJI set represents a value proposition for someone looking to furnish a space rather than just add a single chair. For a comparable price to two Sava chairs, you get two adjustable wicker lounge chairs plus a matching side table. This is a complete patio conversation or poolside set right out of the box. The wicker material offers a different, more traditional patio look compared to the Sava’s wood-and-webbing design. While the chairs are also adjustable, they are larger and less portable than the Sava. This alternative is best for someone who has a dedicated patio space and prioritizes getting a full, matching set for entertaining over the minimalist, grab-and-go portability of the Sava.
3. Signature Design by Ashley Carter Hall Outdoor Lounge Chair
The Carter Hall lounge chair from Signature Design by Ashley sits at the premium end of the spectrum, prioritizing maximum comfort and stationary luxury. Constructed from durable Eucalyptus wood and featuring a thick, plush performance fabric cushion, this chair is designed for long-term, deep-seated comfort. It is not foldable and is meant to be a permanent fixture in your outdoor oasis. A person choosing the Carter Hall chair is not concerned with portability or storing it away for the winter. They are building a permanent, comfortable outdoor living room. It’s the antithesis of the Sava’s lightweight, flexible nature, making it the ideal choice for someone who wants an uncompromisingly comfortable, high-end armchair and has the space to dedicate to it.
The Final Verdict: Is the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair for You?
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair is clear: it is an exceptional choice for a specific user. If you prioritize aesthetics, portability, and the convenience of a no-assembly, easy-to-store chair, it is one of the most stylish and practical options available. It can instantly transform a small or temporary space into a chic, relaxing retreat. It’s the perfect chair for the morning coffee on the balcony, the impromptu evening drink in the garden, or for adding a touch of style to a living room corner.
However, it is not a chair for everyone. If you require deep, long-term comfort for hours of lounging, or if you are taller or have mobility concerns, the low seat and the infamous lumbar bar will likely be significant drawbacks. We strongly recommend purchasing a small lumbar pillow along with the chair to mitigate its primary comfort issue. For those who understand this compromise—trading some ergonomic perfection for unmatched style and convenience—the Sava is a beautiful, functional, and highly rewarding purchase. If you’re ready to elevate your space with a chair that’s as flexible as it is fashionable, we highly recommend you check out the Patio Sense Sava Folding Chair today.