In a Nutshell:
The Oliver and Smith Wooden Patio Porch Rocker is a handsome, durable, American made outdoor rocker that looks great just about anywhere. Recommended for anyone weighing up to 400 pounds who’s in the market for a high-quality outdoor rocking chair.
Value for the Money
Comfort
Brand Reliability*
Aesthetic Flexibility**
Overall Rating
4.2/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Anyone weighing up to 400 pounds who’s in the market for a high-quality outdoor rocking chair.
Do you love whiling away the afternoon, rocking on your front porch? Are you a bigger, taller, or heavier individual?
If you answered yes to both of those questions, you’ve probably been somewhat frustrated that the broad swaths of the available outdoor furniture aren’t made for you. If you weigh 300 pounds or less, you’ll find an almost endless number of options available. If you’re over that line, the available choices drop off quickly.
The good news is that some pretty amazing outdoor furniture is available to heavier users, and the Oliver and Smith Wooden Patio Porch rocker is an excellent example.
In the following sections, we’ll tell you everything about the chair so you’ll have all the information you need to decide if this is the outdoor rocker you’ve been looking for. Even if you opt for another model, we think you’ll agree: There’s much to like about this chair! Let’s take a closer look and see what it has to offer.
Key Features of the Oliver and Smith Wooden Rocker Chair
The Oliver and Smith Wooden Patio Porch rocker is a handsome, inviting chair. That’s the first impression this rocker makes. It looks like it’s just waiting for someone to take a seat, settle back, relax, and start rocking. Don’t be surprised if it’s one of the first chairs on your front porch that people gravitate to. Everyone loves to rock, and if you have frequent guests, you may need more than one of these.
Chair Specifications
Before we go any further, let’s pause and take a quick look at the stats defining this chair. Here are the basics:
Overall, these are good numbers. The seat width and depth are excellent pairings with the chair’s maximum supported weight limit, although if you’re close to the chair’s 400-pound supported weight limit, you’ll probably want to take a quick measurement just to be sure you’ll fit into it comfortably.
It’s also light enough to allow you to move it around easily, as needed, while being heavy enough that you won’t have to worry about the occasional stronger gust of wind knocking it over. The only potential problem is the seat height, which is 17.25” and isn’t quite in the big and tall range that typically starts at 18” and goes up from there.
Even so, it doesn’t miss that mark by much, which means that taller users should have little difficulty getting into and out of the chair.
Adjustability and Comfort
There’s nothing adjustable about this chair, so again, if you even suspect that the dimensions of this rocker aren’t a good fit for you, just give it a pass. There are plenty of other options available.
Comfort-wise, the Oliver and Smith Wooden Rocker chair should be seen as a blank slate. While the wood slat seat isn’t especially comfortable, it’s trivial to add a seat pad, a seatback pad, or both of whatever thickness you want, which makes it easy to make the chair as comfortable as you’d like it to be. If you’re especially interested in taking the chair’s comfort to the next level, you could invest in a memory foam seat pad.
Assembly is Required
As with much of the furniture you can buy online, the Oliver and Smith Wooden Porch rocker will arrive at your door in a large box and several pieces. Fortunately, the assembly instructions are clear, and it should take no more than 20-30 minutes to get the chair ready for first use.
Unfortunately, in the past, there have been some quality control issues resulting in more than a few complaints about pieces not fitting together properly or even arriving broken. Those issues now seem to have been resolved, and you shouldn’t have any issues on that front. Even if you do, the vendor stands by the product and has a solid reputation for customer service.
In addition, note that this chair has an expert assembly option available. It’s expensive and will add about 33% to the price of the chair. Given that, we don’t recommend it, but if you’re averse to putting your furniture together, you might find enough value to consider it.
Pros and Cons of Oliver and Smith Wooden Rocker Chair
Past issues with quality control aside, this is a good chair that will look great on your front porch, patio, or deck. While it’s certainly possible to find less expensive rockers made of resin or other materials, if you’re a fan of wood furniture and don’t mind paying a bit more to own some, this is an excellent option.
Final Thoughts: Oliver and Smith Wooden Patio Porch Rocker Review
We like the Oliver and Smith Wooden Patio Porch rocker but don’t quite love it. Even so, it’s a good, sturdy piece of furniture that will serve you well and, with proper care, provide you with several years of rocking and relaxation possibilities. We recommend it.
Recommended Reading
Highwood Lehigh Rocking Chair Review
Check out our review of the Highwood Lehigh Rocking Chair, a chair designed to be beautiful and eco-friendly.
SCYL Rattan Rocking Recliner Review
Our analysis focuses on the SCYL Rattan Rocking Recliner, a gorgeous, delightfully comfortable chair, albeit pricey.
References & Resources
- Home Life Company, Official Brand Website.
- 15 Ways to Arrange Your Porch Furniture, Ballard Designs.
- What are the Different Types of Wooden Outdoor Chair?, WiseGEEK.
- Which Outdoor Furniture Material Is Right For Your Space?, My Master Plan.
- Package Arrived Damaged? Here’s What To Do (In This Order), Market Watch.