Southern Motion Hercules Recliner Review 2024

Has your search for a new recliner been frustrating? Has finding a well-built chair sturdy enough to support you properly been a part of that challenge?

If you answered yes to either of those questions, you’ll be intrigued by what you read here.

Southern Motion is not one of the industry titans, but it has a long history of making quality furniture. What stands out about the recliners they offer is their modularity. This varies from one model to the next. But many of the recliners they have for sale allow you to pick and choose the features you want included, enabling you to build your perfect chair rather than simply settling for stock options.

The Southern Motion Hercules Recliner follows this tradition. Although it’s not as modular as some of the company’s other models, you’ll find a lot to like in this chair. Unfortunately, it also has its share of weaknesses.

In the following sections, we’ll give you the full scoop on this model, both the good and the bad, so you can decide if this is the elusive recliner you’ve been looking for or if the search must continue. If that sounds good to you, let’s jump in and look closer!

Key Features of the Southern Motion Hercules Recliner

Understated. That’s what’s likely to cross your mind when you see the Southern Motion Hercules recliner for the first time. It’s perhaps a bit of a surprise because, with a name like that, you might be expecting some epic, ostentatious chair.

You won’t find that here. The Hercules is designed along purely conventional lines and, as such, should blend in easily with just about any home décor scheme. We don’t necessarily mean this as a bad thing, but it looks like a generic recliner.

The generic look is okay because many people like conventionally designed furniture, but there’s no aspect of this chair other than the size that makes you notice it. If you put it in a room that’s big enough, it will politely fade into the background.

Chair Specifications

Before we go any further, let’s look at the stats defining the chair. Here are the basics:

These numbers mesh together pretty well. There’s nothing out of place here. The seat is generously wide, complementing the chair’s 400-pound supported weight limit. With a seat height of 21,” it was clearly built with taller, heavier people in mind.

Adjustability and Comfort

The Hercules by Southern Motion is a manual, three-position recliner. You can sit up in the chair, partially recline to the “TV watching” position, or fully recline. If you opt for full recline, note that the chair will not lay completely flat. It goes back to about 160 degrees, which is close enough to make a good napper, but sleeping a full night in the chair will probably be uncomfortable.

The one possible exception is if you’ve recently had some surgery that makes sleeping flat on your back uncomfortable or impossible, but that’s a limited use case.

According to Southern Motion, they designed this chair to compete head-to-head with Lane Furniture’s Stallion recliner. Overall, this chair doesn’t fare all that well against the Stallion, which is cheaper, better looking, and every bit as well-padded and comfortable, given that they both use spring-supported block foam for padding and are present in almost identical quantities in both chairs.

The one area where Hercules wins out is in the implementation of its wall-hugging technology, which only requires about 5” of clearance between the back of the chair and whatever wall you place it near, vs. twice that for the Stallion.

Even in terms of upholstery, this chair is at least a half step behind the Stallion. The Stallion is upholstered with bonded leather, which is problematic on several levels. Still, the Hercules is upholstered with a polyester/polyurethane blend.

We regard that as a bad thing because both materials are decidedly low-end upholstery options on their own, and blending them together does nothing to change or improve that. Expect the upholstery to start showing its age after about a year, even under the best of conditions. If you have pets, it probably won’t survive the first full day in your home.

That’s a pity and something of a surprise, given the chair’s price. There is a bit of a silver lining here, though. The frame itself is sturdy and durable and will provide years of reliable service with proper care. So, when the upholstery starts to go (and it will, much more quickly than you’d like), it’s easy enough to have the chair reupholstered with something more durable and long-lasting.

Earlier, we mentioned that this chair is modular. It is, but there are only two options available on this model: Wall Hugger technology and the Recline-a-Pedic feature. Both add to the price of the chair marginally, but both are highly recommended.

The wall-hugging technology is a space-saving feature that makes it easier to fit the chair into smaller rooms. The recline-a-pedic feature adds a layer of memory foam on top of the conventional block foam padding, which enhances the chair’s comfort, making it superior to the Stallion, which it was designed to compete against. Our overall ranking was based on the assumption that both features would be added to the chair you buy.

No Storage & Extras

This will be a short section in our Southern Motion Hercules Recliner review because, unfortunately, the Hercules doesn’t come equipped with side storage pockets or extras. It’s just a basic, three-position recliner. If that’s all you’re looking for, it will serve you well, but if you’re looking for extras, this isn’t the chair for you.

No Assembly Required

On the other hand, the Hercules does arrive at your door fully assembled and ready to use. Unfortunately, Southern Motion doesn’t offer White Glove service. They’ll deliver it to your door, but you’ll have to figure out how to get it into the room in which you plan to use it on your own. Given the chair’s weight, you’ll almost certainly want to have an extra pair of hands standing by when the chair arrives, as it’s too big for most people to manhandle into position by themselves.

Pros and Cons of Southern Motion Hercules Recliner

Southern Motion Hercules Recliner Review Conclusion

The Southern Motion Hercules is a very good recliner. With both extras included, it’s almost, but not quite, a fantastic recliner. Even so, if you’ve been underwhelmed by the other options you’ve been finding and are cramped with space, it belongs on your shortlist for consideration. On that basis, we provisionally recommend it.

Recommended Reading

Lane Stallion Big Man Comfort King Wallsaver Recliner Review

Check our review of the Lane Stallion Big Man Comfort King, designed for heavier individuals seeking comfort and durability.

Catnapper Burns 4847 Review

Check our thorough review of the Catnapper Burns 4847 Power Lift Recliner, a durable and affordable option for users.

Official Manufacturer Support

References & Resources:

• Southern Motion, Official Brand Website.
• 10 Simple Ways to Dog Proof Your Furniture, Puppy Leaks.
• 4 Great Tips For Sleeping After Shoulder Surgery, Optivus.
• Tips On Improving Sleep After Surgery, TheraMed.
• Sleeping Positions After Spine Surgery, Neuro MicroSpine.