In a Nutshell:
Sleek, modern, and stylish with a vaguely industrial look, these Flash Furniture Hercules “X” Back Restaurant Chairs were originally designed for commercial use but would look great in homes decorated with an industrial aesthetic. Recommended for bigger, taller users who like the industrial look and feel.
Value for the Money
Comfort
Brand Reliability*
Aesthetic Flexibility**
Overall Rating
3.6/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Bigger, taller users who like the industrial look and feel.
Are you a bigger, taller, or heavier person? Have you struggled to find attractive dining chairs that are sturdy enough to support you properly?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, know that you’re not alone. It can be a daunting challenge because so many dining chairs offered by the big national brands only support up to three hundred pounds of user weight. The good news is the search doesn’t have to be complicated, thanks to Flash Furniture.
Flash isn’t a huge brand, but they’ve been in the furniture business for a long time, and they make consistently good furniture. While we readily admit that these dining chairs won’t be for everyone, if your home is decorated in a modern industrial style, the Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Restaurant chairs will be a superb addition that will last you for years.
In the sections that follow, we’ll give you full details on what these chairs have to offer, and we won’t pull any punches when outlining the shortcomings of the design. That way, you’ll have all the information you need to decide if these are the dining chairs you’ve been looking for. If your interest is piqued, read on and let’s take a closer look.
An Overview of the Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Metal Chairs
Industrial. That’s the unmistakable vibe the Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Restaurant chairs give off, so right off the bat, if you’re not a fan of that aesthetic, there’s no need to keep reading. These aren’t the chairs you’re looking for.
If you are a fan of that look and feel, these chairs are pretty amazing and would be a great addition to your home. Even better, Flash sells these either individually or in packs of two so you can get exactly the number you want and need for your home.
Seat Options
Best of all, when you place your order, you can choose from the following seat and color options:
Vinyl Seats
Wood Seats
Whichever option you select, the frames on all of these chairs are clear coated metal, which protects against rust and scratches. In addition to that, these chairs feature hard plastic glides that protect your flooring from scuffs, so you can use them on your hardwoods without concern.
Chair Specifications
As to the stats that define this model, here are the basics:
These are good numbers. The chairs are lightweight, and yet capable of supporting an impressive amount of user weight, and the seat height is a good middle ground that’s just shy of what you typically see in big and tall furniture.
These restaurant chairs are part of Flash’s Hercules product line, which was specifically with heavier people in mind. The entire Hercules line is uniformly excellent, and these sturdy chairs are a great addition to it. Although aesthetically, they are somewhat narrowly targeted and only likely to appeal to a modest subset of the market.
Adjustability and Comfort
There’s nothing adjustable about the Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Metal chairs, so there’s nothing to say on that front. Comfort-wise, these are slightly better than you might expect, with the vinyl covered, padded seats being slightly more comfortable than the wooden ones. Even the wooden ones aren’t bad, comfort-wise, though, because they feature a sculpted seat design.
Normally we’re not a huge fan of vinyl because it’s not breathable, not pet-friendly, and tends to start showing its age very quickly. In this case, though, vinyl is a good choice because you’re typically only going to be sitting in your dining chairs for short periods each day, which won’t put as much wear and tear on the vinyl, which in turn, will help it last longer.
Even so, the vinyl will start to wear long before the virtually indestructible frame does. Inevitably, the day will come when you’ll have to get your vinyl seats reupholstered. That’s to be expected, and there’s not a lot of upholstery to contend with.
Having them re-covered won’t be a major expense that will greatly extend the useful life of these chairs, especially if you opt for a more durable upholstery material when the time comes.
Some Assembly Required
The Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Metal Restaurant chairs don’t come assembled, but the assembly process amounts to screwing the seat on with four screws. The company offers an expert assembly option, but honestly, given how straightforward the process is, it’s a waste of money. It will probably take you longer to get the chairs out of the box than it will to get them ready for first use.
Pros and Cons of Flash Furniture Hercules “X” Back Restaurant Chair
Aesthetics make or break this model with prospective buyers. You’re either a fan of the industrial look and feel of the chairs, or you’re not. If you are, this model is a no-brainer and a great option. If you’re not, there are plenty of other high weight capacity dining chairs out there that offer different aesthetics that will be more to your liking.
Final Thoughts: Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Restaurant Chairs Review
The Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Restaurant chairs are unquestionably great, but they are somewhat narrowly targeted. If your home doesn’t sport a modern industrial décor scheme, these will be a poor fit. If it does, these are almost certainly the chairs you want. On that basis, we provisionally recommend them.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
- Flash Furniture, Official Brand Website.
- Flash Furniture Hercules X Back Restaurant Chair User Manual.
- Choosing the Best Restaurant Furniture, Katom.
- 3 Best Tips For Choosing Best Restaurant Chair For Your Cafe Setting, James Mcavoy.
- Restaurant Furniture Buying Guide: Tables & Chairs, McDonaldPaper Restaurant Supplies.